Top Podcasts

Podcast charts are typically based on a mix of factors like new subscribers, listens/views, downloads, and podcast ratings. Each platform has its own method.

For the Riverside chart, our proprietary AI algorithm surfaces the top podcasts with data from all major platforms – Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. The algorithm calculates a score for every show weighting a number of factors, which then leads to generating our master podcast chart.

Other platforms have their own way of calculating charts:

• Spotify looks at your podcasts’ category, recent plays, and listener engagement.
• Apple Podcasts looks at new followers, playback activity, and whether listeners complete listening to your episodes.
• YouTube’s Top Podcast Show chart ranks the most popular podcasts according to watch time.

We process charts data daily. We update our charts weekly to surface and share the most current trends across all major platforms.

Platform-specific charts on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts get updated daily, often reflecting changes overnight.

Edison Research revealed that YouTube is the platform where most people listen to/watch podcasts nowadays. This used to be Spotify and Apple, but since YouTube jumped on the podcast bandwagon, it surpassed the two fast.

You can find the top podcasts for Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Podcasts. Simply filter by platform to get the most popular shows across all categories. Or use additional filters to discover the top podcasts by country or genre.

If you don’t filter by platform, our algorithm combines the data from all three platforms to give you the most comprehensive chart of top shows.

The #1 podcaster can change depending on the platform. Nowadays, most often, Joe Rogan is considered the top podcaster in the world. His show, The Joe Rogan Experience, consistently ranks at the top of podcast charts and draws millions of listeners. He also has nearly 20 million YouTube followers, adding to his massive reach. 

Other top contenders include Andrew Huberman (Huberman Lab) and Mel Robbins (of The Mel Robbins Podcast). Each has millions of followers and regularly appears in top podcast rankings.

As of now, Joe Rogan is widely considered the richest podcaster in the world. He brings in millions annually and has an exclusive licensing deal with Spotify worth over $200 million.

Other high-earning podcasters include Dax Shepard (Armchair Expert) and SmartLess hosts Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett.

See our guide on how much podcasters make to see which shows generate the highest revenue.

You can find podcast rankings right here! Our chart is generated based on cross-platform data and podcast ratings. Our AI algorithm aggregates and scores rankings across all three major platforms to show you the most accurate snapshot of the top podcasts –all in one place.

You can filter by platform if you want to find podcast rankings on a specific platform. Or, you can check on each platform’s website for daily updates.