AI Index / Podcast hosting platforms / History

Podcast hosting platforms — AI Recommendation History

What AI assistants recommended for podcast hosting platforms, date by date. Every ranking we publish is frozen the day it publishes, so this is a record of what was said — not a re-computation of what today's data would say about the past.

Record: 26 dated snapshots · Aug 14, 2026 – Sep 8, 2026

Answer archive Methodology Data studies JSON

What changed

Computed by comparing each dated snapshot with the one before it. Share moves smaller than 1pp are treated as noise and left out — the same threshold that suppresses trend arrows on the ranking.

Sep 8, 2026vs Sep 7, 2026

No change above the noise floor.

Sep 7, 2026vs Sep 6, 2026

No change above the noise floor.

Sep 6, 2026vs Sep 5, 2026

No change above the noise floor.

Sep 5, 2026vs Sep 4, 2026

No change above the noise floor.

Sep 4, 2026vs Sep 3, 2026

No change above the noise floor.

Sep 3, 2026vs Sep 2, 2026

Methodology change: extraction rules 4-7 → 7 between these dates. Differences below may reflect the rule change rather than a change in what AI recommends — see the methodology changelog.

▲Libsyn moved #8 → #7
▼Apple Podcasts moved #7 → #8
▲Podbean +10pp (54.3% → 64.3%)
▼Apple Podcasts -8.5pp (37.1% → 28.6%)
▲Libsyn +7.1pp (28.6% → 35.7%)
▲Transistor +6.4pp (54.3% → 60.7%)
▲Spotify for Creators +6.4pp (40% → 46.4%)
▲Buzzsprout +4.3pp (74.3% → 78.6%)
▲Captivate +4.3pp (45.7% → 50%)
▼RSS.com -1.4pp (37.1% → 35.7%)

Sep 2, 2026vs Sep 1, 2026

▲ INWordPress entered the top 10 (#11 → #10)
▼ OUTCastos left the top 10 (#10 → #11)
▲Spotify for Creators moved #6 → #5
▼RSS.com moved #5 → #6
▲WordPress moved #11 → #10
▼Castos moved #10 → #11
▼RSS.com -16.9pp (54% → 37.1%)
▼Apple Podcasts -13.7pp (50.8% → 37.1%)
▼Libsyn -11.1pp (39.7% → 28.6%)
▼Spotify for Creators -10.8pp (50.8% → 40%)
▼Captivate -9.9pp (55.6% → 45.7%)
▼Podbean -9.2pp (63.5% → 54.3%)
▼Castos -7.3pp (30.2% → 22.9%)
▼Transistor -6pp (60.3% → 54.3%)
▼Simplecast -3.1pp (31.7% → 28.6%)

Sep 1, 2026vs Aug 31, 2026

No change above the noise floor.

Aug 31, 2026vs Aug 30, 2026

No change above the noise floor.

Aug 30, 2026vs Aug 29, 2026

No change above the noise floor.

Aug 29, 2026vs Aug 28, 2026

No change above the noise floor.

Aug 28, 2026vs Aug 27, 2026

▲Captivate moved #6 → #4
▼RSS.com moved #3 → #5
▼Apple Podcasts moved #5 → #7
▲Transistor moved #4 → #3
▲Spotify for Creators moved #7 → #6
▲Simplecast moved #10 → #9
▼Castos moved #9 → #10
▼RSS.com -4.9pp (58.9% → 54%)
▼Libsyn -4.9pp (44.6% → 39.7%)
▼Apple Podcasts -4.6pp (55.4% → 50.8%)
▲Simplecast +3.1pp (28.6% → 31.7%)
▲Captivate +2pp (53.6% → 55.6%)
▲Buzzsprout +1.4pp (73.2% → 74.6%)
▲Transistor +1.4pp (58.9% → 60.3%)
▼Spotify for Creators -1pp (51.8% → 50.8%)

Aug 27, 2026vs Aug 26, 2026

Methodology change: extraction rules 4 → 4-7 between these dates. Differences below may reflect the rule change rather than a change in what AI recommends — see the methodology changelog.

▲Podbean moved #4 → #2
▼Apple Podcasts moved #3 → #5
▼RSS.com moved #2 → #3
▲Transistor moved #5 → #4
▲Castos moved #10 → #9
▼Simplecast moved #9 → #10
▼Apple Podcasts -13.2pp (68.6% → 55.4%)
▼RSS.com -9.7pp (68.6% → 58.9%)
▼Captivate -6.4pp (60% → 53.6%)
▼Simplecast -5.7pp (34.3% → 28.6%)
▼Castos -3.9pp (34.3% → 30.4%)
▼Spotify for Creators -2.5pp (54.3% → 51.8%)
▲Buzzsprout +1.8pp (71.4% → 73.2%)
▲Libsyn +1.7pp (42.9% → 44.6%)
▲Podbean +1.4pp (62.9% → 64.3%)
▼Transistor -1.1pp (60% → 58.9%)

Aug 26, 2026vs Aug 25, 2026

▲Apple Podcasts moved #4 → #3
▼Podbean moved #3 → #4
▼Simplecast -6.5pp (40.8% → 34.3%)
▼Libsyn -6.1pp (49% → 42.9%)
▲Apple Podcasts +5.3pp (63.3% → 68.6%)
▲Captivate +2.9pp (57.1% → 60%)
▲RSS.com +1.3pp (67.3% → 68.6%)

Aug 25, 2026vs Aug 24, 2026

No change above the noise floor.

Aug 24, 2026vs Aug 23, 2026

No change above the noise floor.

Aug 23, 2026vs Aug 22, 2026

▲Podbean moved #4 → #3
▼Apple Podcasts moved #3 → #4
▼Libsyn -2pp (51% → 49%)
▼Spotify for Creators -1.8pp (56.9% → 55.1%)
▼Captivate -1.7pp (58.8% → 57.1%)
▼Transistor -1.6pp (60.8% → 59.2%)
▲Simplecast +1.6pp (39.2% → 40.8%)
▼Apple Podcasts -1.4pp (64.7% → 63.3%)
▲Castos +1.4pp (33.3% → 34.7%)
▼Buzzsprout -1.1pp (72.5% → 71.4%)

Aug 22, 2026vs Aug 21, 2026

▲Apple Podcasts moved #5 → #3
▼Podbean moved #3 → #4
▼Transistor moved #4 → #5
▲Spotify for Creators +8.3pp (48.6% → 56.9%)
▲Apple Podcasts +7.8pp (56.9% → 64.7%)
▲Captivate +6pp (52.8% → 58.8%)
▲RSS.com +5.6pp (61.1% → 66.7%)
▲Castos +4.1pp (29.2% → 33.3%)
▲Libsyn +2.4pp (48.6% → 51%)
▲Podbean +1.6pp (61.1% → 62.7%)
▲Transistor +1.1pp (59.7% → 60.8%)

Aug 21, 2026vs Aug 20, 2026

No change above the noise floor.

Aug 20, 2026vs Aug 19, 2026

No change above the noise floor.

Aug 19, 2026vs Aug 18, 2026

No change above the noise floor.

Aug 18, 2026vs Aug 17, 2026

No change above the noise floor.

Aug 17, 2026vs Aug 16, 2026

No change above the noise floor.

Aug 16, 2026vs Aug 15, 2026

No change above the noise floor.

Aug 15, 2026vs Aug 14, 2026

No change above the noise floor.

The ranking, date by date

Top 10 on each archived date, exactly as published. Cite a date and it stays true: snapshots are append-only, and a correction appends a new revision rather than overwriting the original.

Sep 8, 202628 sampled answers · window 2026-08-11 – 2026-09-08 · rules v7

#1Buzzsprout78.6%
#2Podbean64.3%
#3Transistor60.7%
#4Captivate50%
#5Spotify for Creators46.4%
#6RSS.com35.7%
#7Libsyn35.7%
#8Apple Podcasts28.6%
#9Simplecast28.6%
#10WordPress28.6%

Sep 7, 202628 sampled answers · window 2026-08-10 – 2026-09-07 · rules v7

#1Buzzsprout78.6%
#2Podbean64.3%
#3Transistor60.7%
#4Captivate50%
#5Spotify for Creators46.4%
#6RSS.com35.7%
#7Libsyn35.7%
#8Apple Podcasts28.6%
#9Simplecast28.6%
#10WordPress28.6%

Sep 6, 202628 sampled answers · window 2026-08-09 – 2026-09-06 · rules v7

#1Buzzsprout78.6%
#2Podbean64.3%
#3Transistor60.7%
#4Captivate50%
#5Spotify for Creators46.4%
#6RSS.com35.7%
#7Libsyn35.7%
#8Apple Podcasts28.6%
#9Simplecast28.6%
#10WordPress28.6%

Sep 5, 202628 sampled answers · window 2026-08-08 – 2026-09-05 · rules v7

#1Buzzsprout78.6%
#2Podbean64.3%
#3Transistor60.7%
#4Captivate50%
#5Spotify for Creators46.4%
#6RSS.com35.7%
#7Libsyn35.7%
#8Apple Podcasts28.6%
#9Simplecast28.6%
#10WordPress28.6%

Sep 4, 202628 sampled answers · window 2026-08-07 – 2026-09-04 · rules v7

#1Buzzsprout78.6%
#2Podbean64.3%
#3Transistor60.7%
#4Captivate50%
#5Spotify for Creators46.4%
#6RSS.com35.7%
#7Libsyn35.7%
#8Apple Podcasts28.6%
#9Simplecast28.6%
#10WordPress28.6%

Sep 3, 202628 sampled answers · window 2026-08-06 – 2026-09-03 · rules v7

#1Buzzsprout78.6%
#2Podbean64.3%
#3Transistor60.7%
#4Captivate50%
#5Spotify for Creators46.4%
#6RSS.com35.7%
#7Libsyn35.7%
#8Apple Podcasts28.6%
#9Simplecast28.6%
#10WordPress28.6%

Sep 2, 202635 sampled answers · window 2026-08-05 – 2026-09-02 · rules v4-7

#1Buzzsprout74.3%
#2Podbean54.3%
#3Transistor54.3%
#4Captivate45.7%
#5Spotify for Creators40%
#6RSS.com37.1%
#7Apple Podcasts37.1%
#8Libsyn28.6%
#9Simplecast28.6%
#10WordPress28.6%

Sep 1, 202663 sampled answers · window 2026-08-04 – 2026-09-01 · rules v4-7

#1Buzzsprout74.6%
#2Podbean63.5%
#3Transistor60.3%
#4Captivate55.6%
#5RSS.com54%
#6Spotify for Creators50.8%
#7Apple Podcasts50.8%
#8Libsyn39.7%
#9Simplecast31.7%
#10Castos30.2%

Aug 31, 202663 sampled answers · window 2026-08-03 – 2026-08-31 · rules v4-7

#1Buzzsprout74.6%
#2Podbean63.5%
#3Transistor60.3%
#4Captivate55.6%
#5RSS.com54%
#6Spotify for Creators50.8%
#7Apple Podcasts50.8%
#8Libsyn39.7%
#9Simplecast31.7%
#10Castos30.2%

Aug 30, 202663 sampled answers · window 2026-08-02 – 2026-08-30 · rules v4-7

#1Buzzsprout74.6%
#2Podbean63.5%
#3Transistor60.3%
#4Captivate55.6%
#5RSS.com54%
#6Spotify for Creators50.8%
#7Apple Podcasts50.8%
#8Libsyn39.7%
#9Simplecast31.7%
#10Castos30.2%

Aug 29, 202663 sampled answers · window 2026-08-01 – 2026-08-29 · rules v4-7

#1Buzzsprout74.6%
#2Podbean63.5%
#3Transistor60.3%
#4Captivate55.6%
#5RSS.com54%
#6Spotify for Creators50.8%
#7Apple Podcasts50.8%
#8Libsyn39.7%
#9Simplecast31.7%
#10Castos30.2%

Aug 28, 202663 sampled answers · window 2026-07-31 – 2026-08-28 · rules v4-7

#1Buzzsprout74.6%
#2Podbean63.5%
#3Transistor60.3%
#4Captivate55.6%
#5RSS.com54%
#6Spotify for Creators50.8%
#7Apple Podcasts50.8%
#8Libsyn39.7%
#9Simplecast31.7%
#10Castos30.2%

Aug 27, 202656 sampled answers · window 2026-07-30 – 2026-08-27 · rules v4-7

#1Buzzsprout73.2%
#2Podbean64.3%
#3RSS.com58.9%
#4Transistor58.9%
#5Apple Podcasts55.4%
#6Captivate53.6%
#7Spotify for Creators51.8%
#8Libsyn44.6%
#9Castos30.4%
#10Simplecast28.6%

Aug 26, 202635 sampled answers · window 2026-07-29 – 2026-08-26 · rules v4

#1Buzzsprout71.4%
#2RSS.com68.6%
#3Apple Podcasts68.6%
#4Podbean62.9%
#5Transistor60%
#6Captivate60%
#7Spotify for Creators54.3%
#8Libsyn42.9%
#9Simplecast34.3%
#10Castos34.3%

Aug 25, 202649 sampled answers · window 2026-07-28 – 2026-08-25 · rules v4

#1Buzzsprout71.4%
#2RSS.com67.3%
#3Podbean63.3%
#4Apple Podcasts63.3%
#5Transistor59.2%
#6Captivate57.1%
#7Spotify for Creators55.1%
#8Libsyn49%
#9Simplecast40.8%
#10Castos34.7%

Aug 24, 202649 sampled answers · window 2026-07-27 – 2026-08-24 · rules v4

#1Buzzsprout71.4%
#2RSS.com67.3%
#3Podbean63.3%
#4Apple Podcasts63.3%
#5Transistor59.2%
#6Captivate57.1%
#7Spotify for Creators55.1%
#8Libsyn49%
#9Simplecast40.8%
#10Castos34.7%

Aug 23, 202649 sampled answers · window 2026-07-26 – 2026-08-23 · rules v4

#1Buzzsprout71.4%
#2RSS.com67.3%
#3Podbean63.3%
#4Apple Podcasts63.3%
#5Transistor59.2%
#6Captivate57.1%
#7Spotify for Creators55.1%
#8Libsyn49%
#9Simplecast40.8%
#10Castos34.7%

Aug 22, 202651 sampled answers · window 2026-07-25 – 2026-08-22 · rules v4

#1Buzzsprout72.5%
#2RSS.com66.7%
#3Apple Podcasts64.7%
#4Podbean62.7%
#5Transistor60.8%
#6Captivate58.8%
#7Spotify for Creators56.9%
#8Libsyn51%
#9Simplecast39.2%
#10Castos33.3%

Aug 21, 202672 sampled answers · window 2026-07-24 – 2026-08-21 · rules v4

#1Buzzsprout72.2%
#2RSS.com61.1%
#3Podbean61.1%
#4Transistor59.7%
#5Apple Podcasts56.9%
#6Captivate52.8%
#7Spotify for Creators48.6%
#8Libsyn48.6%
#9Simplecast38.9%
#10Castos29.2%

Aug 20, 202672 sampled answers · window 2026-07-23 – 2026-08-20 · rules v4

#1Buzzsprout72.2%
#2RSS.com61.1%
#3Podbean61.1%
#4Transistor59.7%
#5Apple Podcasts56.9%
#6Captivate52.8%
#7Spotify for Creators48.6%
#8Libsyn48.6%
#9Simplecast38.9%
#10Castos29.2%

Aug 19, 202672 sampled answers · window 2026-07-22 – 2026-08-19 · rules v4

#1Buzzsprout72.2%
#2RSS.com61.1%
#3Podbean61.1%
#4Transistor59.7%
#5Apple Podcasts56.9%
#6Captivate52.8%
#7Spotify for Creators48.6%
#8Libsyn48.6%
#9Simplecast38.9%
#10Castos29.2%

Aug 18, 202672 sampled answers · window 2026-07-21 – 2026-08-18 · rules v4

#1Buzzsprout72.2%
#2RSS.com61.1%
#3Podbean61.1%
#4Transistor59.7%
#5Apple Podcasts56.9%
#6Captivate52.8%
#7Spotify for Creators48.6%
#8Libsyn48.6%
#9Simplecast38.9%
#10Castos29.2%

Aug 17, 202672 sampled answers · window 2026-07-20 – 2026-08-17 · rules v4

#1Buzzsprout72.2%
#2RSS.com61.1%
#3Podbean61.1%
#4Transistor59.7%
#5Apple Podcasts56.9%
#6Captivate52.8%
#7Spotify for Creators48.6%
#8Libsyn48.6%
#9Simplecast38.9%
#10Castos29.2%

Aug 16, 202672 sampled answers · window 2026-07-19 – 2026-08-16 · rules v4

#1Buzzsprout72.2%
#2RSS.com61.1%
#3Podbean61.1%
#4Transistor59.7%
#5Apple Podcasts56.9%
#6Captivate52.8%
#7Spotify for Creators48.6%
#8Libsyn48.6%
#9Simplecast38.9%
#10Castos29.2%

Aug 15, 202672 sampled answers · window 2026-07-18 – 2026-08-15 · rules v4

#1Buzzsprout72.2%
#2RSS.com61.1%
#3Podbean61.1%
#4Transistor59.7%
#5Apple Podcasts56.9%
#6Captivate52.8%
#7Spotify for Creators48.6%
#8Libsyn48.6%
#9Simplecast38.9%
#10Castos29.2%

Aug 14, 202672 sampled answers · window 2026-07-17 – 2026-08-14 · rules v4

#1Buzzsprout72.2%
#2RSS.com61.1%
#3Podbean61.1%
#4Transistor59.7%
#5Apple Podcasts56.9%
#6Captivate52.8%
#7Spotify for Creators48.6%
#8Libsyn48.6%
#9Simplecast38.9%
#10Castos29.2%

Read any date directly

Every archived date is machine-readable at /api/index/podcast-hosting-platforms/as-of/<YYYY-MM-DD>, which returns the ranking as it stood, with the extraction version and revision it was published under. Dates before the record begins return no_record rather than a recomputation — we do not reconstruct history on demand and present it as what we said. See what the engines actually said.

[ORBATOR]