Apple Podcasts Subscriptions are finally getting video, so the shows you pay for in the Apple Podcasts app on an iPhone 18 Pro Max or any of the best iPhones will soon be able to offer subscriber-only video episodes, ad-free video, early access and bonus content. There's no launch date yet, though.
Apple Podcasts Subscriptions are adding video, just not today
Apple announced the change in a post on its Apple Podcasts for Creators site on September 22, saying video is coming "soon" to Apple Podcasts Subscriptions in more than 170 countries and regions. Creators will be able to put subscriber-exclusive episodes, ad-free video, early access and bonus content behind the same paywall they already use for premium audio, and subscribers will be able to watch across Apple devices and the web.
Apple says it's working with podcast hosting providers across the industry on the integration, with more details from participating partners coming in the months ahead.
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Apple Podcasts is years behind Spotify and YouTube on paid video
This is the second half of a push Apple started back in February. Video podcasts arrived in Apple Podcasts with iOS 26.4 in March, letting you flip between watching and listening, go full-screen and download episodes for offline viewing. However, that video has only ever been free, while Apple Podcasts Subscriptions have stayed audio-only since they launched back in 2021.
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Video podcasts have been playing in Apple Podcasts since iOS 26.4, but only for free shows so far. | Image by Apple
Of course, Apple is showing up late here. Spotify has offered video podcasts since 2020, and its Partner Program pays eligible creators from both Premium video engagement and ad revenue. According to a new report, that program is expanding to 35 regions this fall, with monthly payouts to shows up by a third since January.
YouTube, meanwhile, had already pushed Apple Podcasts down to third place among US podcast listeners back in 2024. Apple's approach is different, since fans pay a creator directly, show by show, at a price the creator sets. If you watch your podcasts on Spotify or YouTube, nothing changes for you unless a favorite show moves its extras behind an Apple paywall.
What paid podcast video means for iPhone owners
The people who stand to gain the most are those already paying for a show in Apple Podcasts, since their perks should soon cover video too, without a second app. Creators get the bigger practical win, though, because a single subscription can carry both the audio and video versions of the same episode.
Still, "soon" is carrying a lot of weight here. Until hosting providers announce support, there's nothing for you to switch on, so keep the app updated and watch for your favorite shows to announce video perks.
A paywall alone won't catch Apple Podcasts up
I think this is a sensible move, and one Apple could have made alongside the free video rollout back in March. However, paying per show is a harder sell when Spotify and YouTube already let creators earn from video without asking fans to sign up for a separate subscription for every show.
Where Apple does have an edge is that the Podcasts app comes preinstalled on every iPhone, and that's no small thing. I'm hoping the hosting partners come through quickly, because I'd personally love to watch a bonus episode of a show I already support without ever leaving the app.
Johanna Romero is a Senior News Writer at PhoneArena, covering mobile technology news across Android, iOS, wearables, and the Google ecosystem she knows best. Drawing on 15 years in IT and tech support from 2007 to 2022, she brings a user-friendly eye for the practical features and lesser-known tricks readers care about. Google named her an official #TeamPixel member in 2022, and she also reviews the latest devices on her YouTube channel, JoJo the Techie.
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