YouTube has grown to be the most popular podcast platform in recent years. Despite being the top dog on the block, usage for YouTube is only growing as Spotify has remained relatively steady, new data from Coleman Insights and Amplifi Media shows.
In August 2023, 60% of survey respondents shared that they used YouTube as a podcast platform. Meanwhile, Spotify was at 53% and Apple Podcasts rested at 30%.
In March 2025, 70% of those surveyed said they used YouTube as a podcast platform. The figure for Spotify dropped by 1% to 52%, while Apple Podcasts grew to 32%.
Amazon Music remained flat at 21%. The iHeartRadio app, meanwhile, slumped from 17% to 14% in the timeframe.
Additionally, respondents were asked which platform they used the most for podcast consumption. In August 2023, 31% said YouTube was their top platform. That figure grew to 41% in March 2025. Spotify, however, dropped one percent from its August 2023 percentage, from 27% down to 26% in March 2025. Apple Podcasts remained steady at 15% in each survey.
“Although they haven’t taken away consumption from other platforms,” Coleman Insights Vice President of Marketing and Consultant Jay Nachlis said. “YouTube is the only one that’s grown in any notable way in the last year and a half.”
Among audio-only podcast consumers Spotify grew from 34% in August 2023 to 37% in March 2025. However, YouTube also grew from 7% to 13% in that same time window.
When YouTube and Spotify were compared to the heavy podcast consumers, the differences were clear. When asked which was more enjoyable to consume podcasts on 70% said YouTube. Those same respondents were asked which platform between YouTube and Spotify was easier to use. 70% said YouTube was easier. An additional 63% said the Google-owned video platform made better podcast recommendations. Another 57% said YouTube had a better selection of podcasts compared to Spotify.
Some could question if YouTube has hit its peak with podcast listeners. However, the data suggests that’s not likely, as 36% of respondents that didn’t list the platform as one of their preferred methods of consumption didn’t know podcasts were available on the video service.
“The answer is no,” Nachlis said about whether or not the platform had topped out. “Because, first of all, you have 30% of podcast consumers that are not using it. And of those, 36% don’t even know that YouTube offers it yet.”
Other data showcased by Coleman Insights and Amplifi Media highlight the built-in advantage YouTube possesses over Spotify. For the first time, social media now tops the list of ways consumers find podcast recommendations. 57% of respondents said that was the most likely way to find out about new podcasts. That tops 54% of those who said they learn about new shows from friends and family.
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