Substack continues to strengthen its position in podcasting with expanded integrations and new tools aimed at helping creators reach wider audiences while retaining ownership of their work.
Spotify Integration for Wider Reach
Through Spotify’s Open Access program, Substack podcasters can now distribute both free and paid episodes directly to Spotify.
- Free episodes appear normally in Spotify’s podcast catalog.
- Paid episodes are marked with a padlock. Listeners authenticate by linking their Substack account, giving paying subscribers seamless access in Spotify’s app.
Podcasters also gain access to Spotify for Podcasters analytics, including audience demographics and playtime data. Substack has said this data will gradually integrate into its own analytics dashboard, offering creators a consolidated view of performance.
New Creator Tools
Beyond Spotify distribution, Substack has been rolling out improvements to support podcasting and video publishing:
- Custom transcripts and captions: Creators can upload their own transcripts for improved accessibility and accuracy.
- Video podcast enhancements: Separate audio tracks and preview clips for RSS feeds provide more flexibility.
- Clip sharing upgrades: Both creators and listeners can share direct links to specific timestamps in podcast videos, or download clips for social platforms like Instagram, TikTok and X.
- Mobile video experience: Substack’s inline video player on iOS and Android lets users watch while browsing posts, with playback progress saved automatically.
Growth and Future Outlook
Substack is coming off a strong year of growth:
- In July 2025, Substack announced a $100 million Series C investment, valuing the company at $1.1 billion.
- The platform now supports over 5 million paid subscriptions, more than double what it reported in 2023.
With continued investment in audio and video publishing, Substack is positioning itself as a long-term home for independent podcasters and multimedia creators, balancing reach on major platforms like Spotify with direct subscriber relationships.
