Podtrac measures how many people download your podcast, independently of your host. It's for podcasters who want third-party numbers to show sponsors, and for anyone curious about the shows topping the charts. Basic measurement is free for any podcast on the Getting Started plan. Paid plans (Grow Your Show, Grow Your Show Plus and Enterprise) add smart links and promotion tracking, but Podtrac's pricing page doesn't show their prices.
What it can do for you
Add Podtrac's prefix in front of the episode links in your feed (many hosts have a setting for it, while others ask you to email support), and it starts counting downloads. Reports update daily, and your first report arrives within a day or two. Its measurement is certified by the IAB Tech Lab, the industry standards body. You can also run Podtrac's free audience survey to learn who your listeners are, and ask other measured shows for promo swaps. Paid plans add a smart link and landing page for your show, with reports on clicks and downloads.
Podtrac also publishes free monthly rankings of the top US podcasts and publishers, based on shows it measures.
What people like
Reviewers value that it's free, independent of your host, and a name advertisers recognise, having measured podcasts since 2005. One comparison picks it as the best overall option for independent podcasters.
The honest downsides
- The dashboard is dated. Reviewers say it looks and feels a decade behind newer tools, with limited breakdowns.
- Numbers won't match your host. Podtrac mostly counts requests for your file, not how much was downloaded, so figures can run a little higher. Reddit podcasters advise picking one source and sticking with it.
- Demographics are self-reported survey answers, best treated as a rough guide.
- Paid plans are opaque and strict. Prices aren't published, plans renew yearly, and the terms say there's no refund on cancelled subscriptions.
- The free rankings are a top 20. They're useful industry news, but most shows won't appear in them.
- Data starts on day one. Nothing is counted from before you add the prefix.
Skip it if
- your host's own stats already tell you what you need
- you want polished charts or real-time data
Alternatives
- Better pick for a clear second opinion: OP3. It's free and open source with no signup, has app, device and country breakdowns, and publishes how it counts. Reviewers rate it more transparent and modern. The catch: every show's stats are public, and there's no demographic survey or rankings.
- Your podcast host's built-in analytics are the simplest private option.
Some links may be affiliate links. They help keep WebTools.directory running at no extra cost to you.
Comments