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Review status: Editorially reviewed. Researched from Apple Podcasts for Creators, Spotify for Creators support, each host's migration documentation and the Podcasting 2.0 namespace spec on October 7, 2026. We haven't run a migration for this page; every step below is what the platform or host documents. How we review.
You can switch podcast hosts without losing subscribers, and Apple says so directly: done right, listeners keep their downloads, their follow and their play position. The whole move rests on two signals from the old feed: a permanent 301 redirect to the new feed URL, and an `<itunes:new-feed-url>` tag naming it. Apple Podcasts, Spotify and the other apps follow those signals and quietly update everyone's subscription.
What you can lose is everything that lives with the host rather than in the feed: your download history, your dynamic ad campaigns, private subscriber feeds, Spotify-only features, and transcript and chapter files the old host stored for you. Export it before you flip the switch.
The order matters more than the host you pick: import, check the new feed, redirect, confirm Apple and Spotify have moved, then cancel.
If you haven't chosen where to go yet, start with our roundup of the best podcast hosting, then come back here.
How a podcast migration works
A podcast is an RSS feed, and every app stores your feed URL. Changing hosts gives the show a new URL that every app needs to pick up. Four parts make that happen.
1. The import. Your new host reads your current RSS feed and copies the episodes, artwork and show notes into its system. Most hosts verify you own the show by emailing the address in your feed's `<itunes:email>` tag, so make sure it's an inbox you can open. RSS.com instead has you add a code ("RSSVERIFY") to your show description, and its staff run the import in 24 to 48 hours.
2. The 301 redirect. At the old host, you turn on a permanent redirect so anyone (or any app) requesting the old feed URL gets sent to the new one. Apple says a third-party host handles this for you; you only build it yourself if you self-host.
3. The `<itunes:new-feed-url>` tag. Apple asks for this tag in the feed alongside the redirect. Most hosts add it when you turn on the redirect. Libsyn and Podbean document it as a separate option you switch on.
4. The lock tag. Some hosts add `<podcast:locked>yes</podcast:locked>` to your feed. The Podcasting 2.0 spec says a "yes" tells other platforms to reject imports. RSS.com locks feeds by default (it calls it Copy Protection), and Transistor won't import a locked feed. Turn it off at the old host before you start.
The one thing that must not change: episode GUIDs. Every episode has a unique ID in the feed. Apple says changing GUIDs "may result in duplicate episodes" for listeners and odd analytics. Apple tells you to check with an RSS viewer that GUIDs, enclosure URLs, and season and episode numbers survived the import. We couldn't find a host that documents preserving GUIDs on import, so check them yourself.
What moves and what doesn't
| Item | Moves? | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Subscribers / followers | Yes, through the redirect | Keep the redirect live long enough (see below) |
| Episodes, artwork, show notes | Yes, through the import | Make sure every episode is actually in the old feed. Some hosts cap feed length, and Spotify warns that episode-count limits can leave episodes out |
| Episode GUIDs | Should, but check | Compare a few GUIDs in the old and new feeds before redirecting |
| Show-level `<podcast:guid>` | Should, per the Podcasting 2.0 spec | Confirm the new feed carries the same value |
| Download history and analytics | No | Export CSVs first. Buzzsprout, Captivate and Podbean let you import old totals, but they're marked or treated as not IAB-certified |
| Dynamic ad insertions | No | Turn off dynamic ads before importing, so the importer copies clean audio. Rebuild campaigns on the new host |
| Private or premium feeds and their subscribers | Not documented by any host we checked | Plan this separately (see below) |
| Transcripts (`<podcast:transcript>`) | Usually not | Captivate says it doesn't import them. Download them and re-upload |
| Chapters (`<podcast:chapters>` JSON) | Usually not | Captivate says it doesn't import them. Chapters embedded in the MP3 travel with the audio file |
| Video episodes | Depends | Riverside's importer skips video episodes. Video uploaded to Spotify for Creators plays only in Spotify |
| Spotify-only features (polls, Partner Program, Spotify transcripts and auto-chapters) | No | These live inside Spotify, not in your RSS feed |
Private and premium feeds deserve their own plan. Each subscriber's private feed URL comes from the host, and no host we checked documents moving them. If you sell Apple Podcasts Subscriptions, Apple says to authorize your new host with a new API key, if the new host supports the feature. Otherwise, ask both hosts in writing how private subscribers will move before you redirect anything.
Host-by-host: moving in and moving out
What each host documents, checked October 7, 2026. "Keep old host" is the host's own advice when you're importing to it.
| Host | Moving in | Moving out | Keep old host |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buzzsprout | RSS import; a few episodes free, the rest copy after you upgrade without using your upload hours; optional manual entry of old download totals (not IAB-certified) | Redirect tab, then "Redirect RSS Feed and Downgrade to the Buzzsprout Free Plan". The free plan keeps the redirect at no cost; keep the account at least three weeks | 2 to 3 weeks |
| Transistor | RSS import of MP3s, artwork and show notes; won't import locked feeds; analytics don't migrate | 301 redirect "permanently, free of charge", even after you cancel | 2 weeks |
| Captivate | Free import; transcripts and chapters not imported; Legacy Analytics CSV importer (not IAB-certified); turn off dynamic ads first | Export CSVs, then Cancel Show and choose "Moving" with your new feed; Captivate sets up the 301 (duration not stated) | 3 weeks |
| RSS.com | Staff-run import in 24 to 48 hours; verify with "RSSVERIFY" in your description; analytics don't transfer | Keep paying 45 to 90 days; no redirect on free trials or after you cancel; feeds locked by default | Not stated for incoming |
| Spotify for Creators | Switch page import; new episodes won't reach listeners until the redirect completes; analytics start from the switch date | Settings > Redirect your podcast, on the web only; turn off Subscriptions first; redirect can take up to 7 days | Close old host only after the redirect is confirmed |
| Riverside | Hosting needs Pro, Grow, Webinar or Business; imports up to 1,500 episodes (3 hours / 10 GB each); video episodes not imported | Settings > Publishing > RSS feed > Redirect; live within an hour, apps update in 24 to 48 hours | Not stated |
| Podbean | Import needs Unlimited Audio or higher; option to import per-episode download totals | No official "leave Podbean" doc found; new-feed-url tag is a setting | Not stated |
| Libsyn | One-time import; checks podcast:locked and emails the owner if it's "yes" | Redirect stays active after you close the show, but content is removed; if Libsyn submitted your show to Apple under its Apple ID, transfer ownership rather than resubmit | Up to four weeks |
Apple Podcasts and Spotify: what you need to do
Apple Podcasts. If your old host runs the redirect and adds the new-feed-url tag, you don't need to touch Podcasts Connect. Apple's guidance is to keep the 301 and the tag in place "for at least four weeks." If you can't reach your old host (it shut down, or you lost the login), Apple lets you change the feed URL yourself: sign in to Podcasts Connect, choose the show, click Edit next to the RSS feed URL and save. Don't point the new-feed-url tag at the "Mirror URL" Podcasts Connect shows. Apple also says your host's download numbers may look odd after a move, but Apple Podcasts Analytics "should remain consistent." If they don't, or listeners see duplicates, suspect changed GUIDs.
Spotify, if your show is hosted elsewhere. Spotify picks up the redirect from your feed. If it hasn't, you can update the feed link in Spotify for Creators under Settings. If your old host doesn't offer a 301 at all, Spotify says it can break the link manually.
Spotify, if you're leaving Spotify for Creators. Import to your new host first, then go to Settings > Redirect your podcast in Spotify for Creators on the web (the mobile app can't do it). Turn off Subscriptions in the Monetize tab before you redirect. Spotify says the redirect can take up to 7 days, so don't delete the account for at least a week. Three things stay behind: Spotify Partner Program eligibility (Spotify requires your show to be hosted on Spotify for Creators to qualify), video you uploaded there (it plays only in Spotify apps), and Spotify-only polls. Download your transcripts as VTT first. Coming back later means a new account.
Spotify, if you're moving to Spotify for Creators. Use its Switch page, wait for the import to finish, set the redirect at your old host, then click "Check redirect status". Export your old analytics first; Spotify's start from the switch date.
How long to keep the old host
Keep it until the move is confirmed everywhere, then for the longest window your hosts document:
- Minimum: four weeks, which matches Apple's "at least four weeks" for the redirect and tag, and Libsyn's guidance.
- If you're leaving RSS.com: 45 to 90 days, per RSS.com, because the redirect stops when you cancel.
- If you're leaving Buzzsprout or Transistor: you can stop paying sooner. Buzzsprout keeps the redirect on its free plan, and Transistor says its redirect is permanent and free after you cancel.
- Never cancel before Apple and Spotify show new episodes from the new feed.
Where a host offers a free permanent redirect, take it: some smaller apps check feeds rarely.
Pick the host with the exit you'd want
Every host here imports by RSS. What differs is what it brings across, what it charges to leave, and how much of your history you can bring with you.
Transistor: best exit terms
Transistor documents the cleanest way out of any host we checked: a 301 redirect it describes as permanent and free of charge, even after you cancel. A future move never depends on keeping a subscription alive. Coming in, Transistor imports your MP3s, artwork and show notes from your feed and verifies ownership through your feed's email address. Its prep checklist is the most useful we read: unlock the feed, confirm every episode is in it, strip dynamic ads, and check publish dates. Two caveats. Analytics don't migrate, so export them first, and Transistor won't import a locked feed. Read our Transistor review.
Buzzsprout: easiest for a first move
Buzzsprout's migration is built for people who've never touched an RSS feed. It imports a few episodes on the free plan so you can see the result, then copies the rest after you upgrade, and Buzzsprout says the imported back catalog doesn't count against your monthly upload hours. You can also type in old per-episode download totals so your dashboard doesn't start from zero, though Buzzsprout marks them as not IAB-certified. On the way out, its redirect sits on the free plan, so you can downgrade and keep the 301 without paying. The trade-off is hours-based pricing, which a long weekly show can outgrow. Read our Buzzsprout review.
Captivate: best if you sell ads
Captivate's import guide is thorough about the things other hosts skip. It warns when your old host caps how many episodes appear in the feed, tells you to turn off dynamic ads first, and says plainly that transcripts and chapters don't come across and need re-uploading. Its Legacy Analytics importer accepts a CSV of your old numbers (not IAB-certified), which helps when you pitch sponsors and need a longer history. When you leave, its cancel flow has a "Moving" option that sets up the 301, though the doc doesn't say how long the redirect lasts. Read our Captivate review.
Riverside: only if you already record there
Riverside now hosts podcasts on its Pro, Grow, Webinar and Business plans, which makes it tempting if you record there already: record, edit and publish in one place. Its importer takes up to 1,500 episodes (3 hours and 10 GB each). The catch for a video podcast is significant: Riverside says video episodes aren't imported, so your back catalog arrives as audio. Old analytics stay with your previous host. Leaving is quick by Riverside's account: the redirect takes effect within an hour. Read our Riverside review.
Rebuild transcripts and chapters
Sidecar files and ad campaigns are the part of a migration that lands on you. Plan an afternoon for it.
DescriptAFFILIATE: re-create transcripts and clean audio
If your old host generated your transcripts or chapter files, assume they stay behind. Captivate says outright that it doesn't import them, and the Podcasting 2.0 spec stores both as separate files your feed links to. If you edit in Descript, you already have a transcript of every episode you cut there, and Descript can export transcript and caption files you can upload to your new host. For back-catalog episodes you didn't edit in Descript, you'd re-import the audio to transcribe it, which uses media minutes, and Descript's minutes don't roll over. For a large archive, check whether your new host auto-transcribes first. One more reason to keep clean masters: if you ran dynamic ads, the importer copies whatever audio the old feed serves, so turn ads off first or upload ad-free masters. Read our Descript review.
Workflow: the move, step by step
- Export what you own. Need: a record of the old host's data. Solution: download analytics CSVs, transcripts, chapter files and audio masters. Tools: old host.
- Clear the lock and clean the feed. Need: an importable feed. Solution: set podcast:locked to "no", turn off dynamic ads, confirm every episode is in the feed. Tools: old host.
- Import. Need: episodes on the new host. Solution: run the importer and verify ownership. Tools: Buzzsprout, Transistor, Captivate, Riverside.
- Check the new feed. Need: proof nothing changed. Solution: compare GUIDs, enclosure URLs, episode numbers and podcast:guid in an RSS viewer. Tools: new host.
- Rebuild sidecars and ads. Need: transcripts, chapters, campaigns, subscriptions. Solution: re-upload files, recreate campaigns, re-authorize Apple Subscriptions. Tools: Descript, Captivate.
- Redirect. Need: apps pointing at the new URL. Solution: turn on the 301 and new-feed-url tag. Tools: old host.
- Confirm. Need: proof the move landed. Solution: publish an episode and check Apple and Spotify. Tools: new host.
- Cancel late. Need: no orphaned listeners. Solution: keep the old account at least four weeks (45 to 90 days on RSS.com). Tools: old host.
- Will I lose subscribers if I switch podcast hosts?
Not if the old feed redirects properly. Apple says listeners keep their downloads, following status and play state. Problems come from cancelling the old host too early or from changed episode GUIDs.
- What is a 301 redirect for a podcast?
It's a permanent redirect from your old feed URL to your new one. Apps that request the old feed are sent to the new one and update their records. Your old host sets it up; you don't need server access.
- What is the itunes:new-feed-url tag?
A tag in your old feed that names your new feed URL. Apple asks for it alongside the 301 and says to keep both for at least four weeks. Most hosts add it when you turn on the redirect.
- Do my download stats transfer to the new host?
No. Download history stays with the old host. Export it first. Buzzsprout, Captivate and Podbean let you import old totals, but those numbers aren't IAB-certified.
- Can I leave Spotify for Creators?
Yes. Import to your new host, then use Settings > Redirect your podcast on the web, after turning off Subscriptions. Spotify says the redirect can take up to 7 days. You lose Spotify Partner Program eligibility, which requires hosting on Spotify for Creators, and video uploaded there plays only in Spotify.
- What is podcast:locked and why won't my import work?
It's a Podcasting 2.0 tag that, when set to "yes", tells other platforms to reject imports of your feed. RSS.com sets it by default and Transistor won't import locked feeds. Set it to "no" at your old host and try again.