Can You Make Money from a Podcast? 15 Ways & Tools (2025 Guide)

You launch a podcast, start having great conversations, and before long you’re wondering… can you make money from a podcast?

I’ve been there.

After a few solid interviews, I started getting invited onto more shows. A couple hosts even asked me to speak at their events. 

One thing led to another and next thing I knew, we landed a 12-month sponsorship with Vimeo just from showing up and sharing value.

So yes, you can make money podcasting. But it’s not magic. 

You need to know how the money actually flows (ads, sponsors, subscriptions, support) and the way to make money with premium content, even if you plan to start a podcast from scratch.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the real ways people are making money from podcasts, how much you can expect to earn, and what you need to monetize your podcast even if you’ve only got a small podcast audience. 

I’ve also added a free podcast monetization checklist to help you kick things off so you’re not left scrambling or frustrated before your first podcast episode.

Ready to start making money as a podcaster? Let’s go get you that paycheck.

Can You Make Money From a Podcast?

Yes, you can. But don’t expect to get rich quick. 

It’s not just about podcast downloads or luck. Making money means figuring out what works for your audience like ads, memberships, live events, or products you create related to your podcast.

Many podcasters who do well treat it like a business, not just a hobby. They keep showing up, build trust, and try different ways to monetize a podcast.

So if you’re ready to get creative and start monetizing your show, there’s definitely money to be made.

How do people make money from a podcast?

Here are 15 solid ways you can turn your podcast episodes into income. Some take time to build up, others you can set up today to help you make money:

1. Podcast sponsorship: Brands pay to promote their product on your podcast recording. Rates depend on your audience size and niche.
2. Affiliate marketing: Recommend tools, books, or services you use. It’s a great way to make money when your listeners buy using your link.
3. Listener donations: Set up platforms like Ko-fi, Buy Me a Coffee, or Locals for one-off or monthly support.
4. Paid podcast subscriptions: Offer bonus content or early access through Apple Podcasts and Spotify subscriptions.
5. Merchandise: Offer digital products or use Gumroad to sell courses, guides, or bonus content. No physical inventory needed.
6. Online courses: Teach something your audience wants to learn. Promote your course directly on your show.
7. Coaching or consulting: Host paid workshops, launch a course on Podia, or offer consulting calls that provide value to your listeners if you’re an expert in your niche.
8. Digital products: Think templates, workbooks, guides, or paid toolkits you’ve created.
9. Live events: Run workshops, webinars, or in-person meetups and charge for entry or upgrades.
10. Virtual summits: Bring niche podcasts and experts together, charge for replays or VIP access. It’s how I built most of my own audience.
11. Podcast advertising networks: Join any of the best podcast platforms for monetization like RedCircle or Podbean that plug in ads for you, even with a small audience.
12. YouTube monetization: Repurpose your podcast for free into video format. After publishing your podcast, you can earn from views and ads on YouTube.
13. Crowdfunding: Launch a Kickstarter for a podcast project or season upgrade and invite your audience to back it as another way to make money podcasting.
14. Books: Use your podcast content to write a book or promote an existing one.
15. Podcast editing or production services: If you’re good with the tech side, offer this as a service to other creators outside of the podcast.

You don’t need to do all of these podcast monetization methods. Just pick a couple that fit where you are right now and build from there. Consistency and connection matter more than downloads when it comes to the money you make.

How can you make money from a podcast?

There’s no one right way to make money on a podcast. 

Some podcasters go all-in on ads, others build paid communities or offer bonus content behind a paywall. The best setup depends on your show, your audience, and how you want to earn. 

Here are ten of the most solid platforms that can help you start making money from your podcast:

1. Patreon: Great for building tight-knit types of podcast communities. You can offer extras like bonus episodes, merch, or early access to keep listeners engaged.
2. Supercast: Ideal if you want to offer premium content behind a paywall. Listeners subscribe for exclusive perks and ad-free episodes.
3. Spotify for Creators: Gives you options like automated ads and paid subscriptions, plus tools to grow and track your audience.
4. Apple Podcasts Subscriptions: Let Apple users pay for ad-free content, early access, or bonus material. Podcast directories usually let you set the price and perks.
5. Podbean Ads Marketplace: Makes it easy to earn from ads. You just set your CPM and Podbean handles the placements.
6. RedCircle: Offers dynamic ads, paid subscriptions, and donations. Works for all show sizes and is simple to use.
7. Acast+: Lets you charge for bonus episodes or remove ads for paying listeners. No big audience needed to get started.
8. Buzzsprout Ads: A hands-off way to earn from ads. Just turn it on and they’ll place ads in your episodes automatically.
9. Spreaker: Built-in ad monetization with no audience size requirement. Great if you want something fast and simple.
10. Ko-fi: Lets fans chip in with one-off donations or support you monthly. Easy to set up and works well for smaller shows.

Making money from a podcast: Pros and cons

Making money from your podcast sounds great, but it’s not all smooth sailing. Here’s a quick look at the upsides and the challenges you’ll face:

Pros:

• You can build different cash streams so you’re not relying just on ads. Like mixing sponsorships, merchandise, and coaching to make money from your podcast.
• It deepens your bond with fans. When you offer something extra, they feel like insiders.
• It can turn a hobby into a legit income source that covers more than just your hosting costs.
• You get to choose the brands and offers that align with your podcast and values.

Cons:

• It takes time to figure out what works. You might try selling merchandise and get zero sales before you hit gold.
• Balancing content and promotion is tricky; push too hard and you risk annoying your audience.
• Income won’t be steady at first. Expect ups and downs while you build trust and scale.
• You’ll need some marketing and sales skills on top of podcasting to really cash in.

Free monetization checklist for new podcasters

Making money from your podcast doesn’t have to be confusing. 

This checklist shows you the main ways to start earning, so you can focus on what actually works and skip the stuff that doesn’t to grow your podcast and pick the right monetization strategies. Copy this Google Doc.

• Grow your audience first: Focus on consistent publishing and promotion to hit at least 5,000 downloads per episode from listeners who support your podcast. That’s when advertisers start paying attention.
• Know your numbers: Track downloads, listener demographics, and engagement so you can confidently pitch sponsors with solid data.
• Start with simple ad placements: Use platforms like RedCircle or Podbean to plug in ads automatically once you have steady downloads.
• Pitch sponsors directly: Reach out to brands for podcast sponsorships that fit your niche and show them why your audience matters. Cut out middlemen to keep more cash.
• Offer bonus content: Use Supercast, Ko-fi, or Memberful to give superfans early access, exclusive episodes, or a private feed.
• Build your email list: Capture listener contacts to market products, courses, or services directly and keep the cash flow independent from platform changes.
• Experiment with affiliate links: Recommend products you trust and earn a commission on sales without extra work.
• Create multiple income streams: Use platforms like Kajabi or Substack to sell mini-courses, downloads, or run live sessions.
• Invest in quality: Better sound, editing, and branding attract higher-paying sponsors and keep listeners coming back.
• Stay consistent: The more episodes you publish, the more opportunities you create to monetize your podcast show. This is one of the most effective ways podcasts make money that a lot of people forget about.

How Much Money Can You Make From a Podcast?

Most podcasters don’t make much or anything at all. About 99% of podcasts aren’t profitable, and many quit before episode seven. 

Finding the right way to monetize your podcast is a tough nut to crack. Success depends on skill, podcast advertising and marketing, time, and some luck.

That said, some successful podcasts pull in serious cash from side income to full-time earnings or even millions per year.

But keep in mind: it takes years, multiple revenue streams, and many listeners who are loyal to start earning money with your podcast.

How much can you earn from a podcast?

For the average podcast host? Very little at first.

Advertisers usually won’t work with shows under 5,000 downloads per episode. And to start monetizing through ads, you typically need 40,000+ downloads.

Podcast ads pay between popular podcast shows $15 and $30 CPM (cost per 1,000 downloads). 

For example, at $20 CPM, 5,000 downloads nets about $100 per ad. Run two ads per episode? That doubles. But this only adds up once your audience is solid.

Listener support platforms like Patreon also play a role in how successful podcast hosts monetize their podcasts. Many podcasts on Patreon bring in tens of thousands monthly, but most podcasters expect to make under $30 per month.

How much money can a podcast generate?

Here are some real-world numbers from top podcasters who actually make money from podcasting:

• Tim Ferriss: Around 500,000 downloads/episode, charging $60 CPM with 2 ads. That’s roughly $60,000 per episode or $3 million yearly.
• Joe Rogan: Estimated 1 million downloads per episode, 4 ads at $20 CPM. About $80,000 per episode, 3 episodes weekly, multiple millions annually.
• John Lee Dumas: Makes over $100,000/month from daily episodes packed with affiliate links and ads to products or services as his monetization method.
• Jordan Harbinger: Runs 60+ ad slots monthly, earning $2 million+ a year.
• Steven Bartlett (Diary of a CEO): Built a $1.2 million/year podcast by landing direct brand deals, cutting out ad middlemen. His sponsors pay over $100,000 monthly combined.

Big networks like Wondery, NY Times, and This American Life pull in millions monthly from ads alone.

Typical earnings by audience size

How much you make depends a lot on how many people listen. Bigger audience, more cash. Here’s a quick look at what different download numbers usually bring in.

At 100,000 downloads with four episodes per month and two ads each, you could earn around $16,000 monthly just from ads. But CPM rates vary and podcast networks take a cut.

Platforms like Spotify for Podcasters (formerly Anchor) help hosts who want to make money podcasting with automated ads and listener support. Henry G made over $13,000 on Anchor, including a $12,600 “Ambassador Ad” at $17.50 CPM.

What influences your podcast income

It’s not just about downloads. How you make money, how often you put out episodes, and how loyal your listeners are all play a part in what lands in your pocket.

• Audience size: More downloads mean more ad revenue and sponsorship interest.
• Engagement: Loyal fans support affiliate offers, Patreon, merchandise, and direct sponsorships better.
• Monetization model: Ads aren’t the only way. Coaching, merchandise, affiliate links, consulting, and Patreon add up.
• Episode frequency: More episodes = more ad slots and opportunities. John Lee Dumas’ daily show is a prime example.
• Platform: YouTube offers ads, memberships, and bonuses, adding to income streams. Flow Podcast and Cerbero Podcast earn $600,000 to $120,000+ yearly from these combined methods.
• Quality and investment: Better production attracts higher-paying sponsors. Steven Bartlett spent $50k on cameras before earning a cent.

Can You Make Money From a Podcast on Spotify?

Yes. But not straight away, and not for everyone. Spotify does offer a few solid ways to earn, but they won’t open the gates unless your show’s doing numbers.

Here’s what’s on the table:

• Paid subscriptions: Fans pay monthly for bonus content.
• Ad and video revenue: Through the Spotify Partner Program.
• Open Access: Link your Patreon or Supporting Cast so subscribers can listen on Spotify.

But here’s the catch: you’ll need to host your show with Spotify for Creators, and hit some minimum stats before you see a dollar from ads or video.

Can you earn money from Spotify Podcast?

Yes, if you meet the criteria. Spotify has a few solid ways to earn through subscriptions, ads, and now video.

Spotify Subscriptions: Let fans pay monthly for exclusive content.

• Minimum 2 public episodes.
• 100 unique listeners in the last 60 days.
• You pick the monthly price.
• Paid via Stripe once you hit $10+.

Spotify Partner Program: Earn ad revenue and video payouts. You get 50% of ad earnings and extra pay for Premium video views.

To qualify, you need:

• 12 or more published episodes.
• 10,000 listening hours in the last 30 days.
• 2,000 unique Spotify listeners.
• An eligible country and bank account.

Important: You have to place at least one ad marker per episode. No marker, no ad or video revenue.

Spotify handles all ad booking through their Spotify Audience Network, which now includes brands like McDonald’s, Google, and Chelsea FC, so there’s real potential if your show hits the right audience.

Payout timing:

• First payout: After a 30-day wait once you join.
• After that: Monthly, as long as you’ve earned at least $10.
• Paid through Spotify Payouts or Stripe (for subscriptions).
• Funds usually hit your account within 3 business days.

What are creators actually earning on Spotify for Creators?

Spotify paid out $100 million in Q1 2025 to podcasters worldwide and video is playing a big role in that growth.

Some public examples:

• We’re All Insane earned $17K (579K monthly downloads) and saw a 6x jump in total hours watched year-over-year after adding video.
• Kinda Funny Gamescast made $10K (124K downloads).
• Your Mom’s House and 2 Bears 1 Cave brought in $105K together with weekly consumption for Your Mom’s House up 45% since joining the Spotify Partner Program.
• Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast saw total watch time rise 30% from January to March.
• Two Hot Takes saw a 12% boost in weekly consumption after going video.

Spotify Premium users still see ads at the beginning and end of video episodes (just no mid-roll interruptions), and those impressions help drive earnings too.

CPMs vary depending on your audience:

• Around $16 for general shows
• $29 for mid-tier
• $80+ for tight, loyal niches

And because baked-in ads are still allowed, this revenue stacks; it’s not either/or.

Mic On, Money In

So… can you make money from a podcast?

Yes. But not by just hitting record and hoping for the best. 

Platforms like Spotify are opening the door with subscriptions, ads, and video-based payouts but building reach and revenue still takes strategy, structure, and visibility.

That’s where Talks comes in.

Create your free Talks creator profile and get seen by top podcasters looking for experts to feature.

No algorithm. No complex steps. Just real conversations with the right audience and a shortcut to more reach, trust, and income.

Create Your Free Talks Creator Profile Here

Be the guest they remember. Grow the brand they buy from.