Podtrac, one of the podcast industry’s most respected analytics and measurement platforms, recently released its December 2025 Top Podcasts, Publishers & Networks monthly rankings — data that offers a snapshot of audience behavior, performance shifts, and competitive movement across the medium.
For podcasters focused on growth, strategy, and shows that resonate, these monthly reports provide critical insights and benchmarks you can’t get from your hosting dashboard alone.
Podtrac’s measurement system has been a trusted barometer for podcast reach for years, providing data based on unique audiences and certified by industry standards. Tens of thousands of podcasters and networks rely on this information to make decisions about content, advertising, and strategy.
What’s in the December 2025 Rankings
The December 2025 report shows how top podcasts and publishers performed as the year closed, including:
- Audience Growth Month‑Over‑Month: Several top podcasts and publishers saw increases in their Unique Monthly Audience (UMA) compared with November. That means more people were tuning in during December — a strong signal of engagement heading into 2026.
- Download Increases: Eleven of the U.S. ranking participants showed month‑over‑month growth in downloads, suggesting that content continued to attract and retain listeners late in the year.
- Global Momentum: Even on the global stage, multiple ranking participants registered increases in audience and downloads, reinforcing the idea that quality shows continue to build worldwide audiences.
Podtrac’s rankings also include Top Podcasts by Country, giving creators a sense of how shows resonate not just in the U.S. but internationally. These rankings are updated monthly and available for dozens of countries.
Why Podtrac Rankings Matter to Creators
Podtrac’s data goes beyond simple “ranking lists.” It is rooted in unique monthly audience measurement — a metric that captures how many individual listeners engaged with a show over the course of a month, rather than simply counting raw download numbers. This makes it especially relevant for creators and advertisers alike.
Here’s why this matters:
1. Benchmark Your Show Against the Field
Podtrac’s rankings let you see how your audience compares to other shows in your genre or category. This is crucial when setting realistic growth goals and understanding where you fit in the broader podcast ecosystem.
2. Identify Trends in Audience Growth
Seeing which shows increased audience month‑over‑month helps creators understand what kinds of content and formats are currently resonating. For example, steady growth in certain formats — interview shows, serialized storytelling, niche topics — can suggest opportunities for new creators or refinements for existing ones.
3. Use Rankings for Monetization and Sponsorships
Advertisers often look to Podtrac’s published rankings as third‑party verification of a show’s audience size. Being part of these lists — or trending upward — can strengthen your pitching position when negotiating sponsors.
4. Track International Reach
Podtrac’s country‑by‑country rankings help creators identify which markets are responding to their content. If a show is climbing in a particular region, that can become a target for promotion, translation, or collaboration.
Tools and Data Beyond Rankings
Podtrac offers more than just monthly leaderboard reports. Its suite of analytics services includes:
- Audience measurement dashboards with traffic, download, and demographic breakdowns.
- Promotional tools and link attribution services that help creators understand where their listeners are coming from and how promotional campaigns perform. This includes features like Smartlinks, which track click and download behavior from campaigns across platforms.
- Historical data and trend analysis for seeing how growth unfolds over time, rather than only on a month‑by‑month basis.
Together, these resources help podcasters answer key questions like:
Is my show retaining listeners? Which episodes perform best? Where should I invest promotional energy?
What Creators Should Watch in 2026
As the podcast landscape continues to evolve — with more shows, more global audiences, and more platforms supporting video and hybrid formats — having accurate, third‑party metrics becomes increasingly valuable. Rankings from Podtrac provide one of the most transparent and industry‑respected yardsticks out there.
For creators who want to grow in 2026, here are a few ways to leverage Podtrac insights:
- Monitor month‑over‑month trends in your category to spot opportunities early.
- Aim for rankings improvement by analyzing which episodes or formats gained traction.
- Use verified audience metrics in sponsor and partnership conversations.
Importantly, Podtrac’s measurement is free to participate in, making it accessible even for smaller creators who want to be included and benchmarked.
More about trends and podcast growth:
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Staff Report
Staff Report
