How do I use Apple Podcasts Subscriptions with Transistor?

Apple Podcasts Subscriptions lets listeners pay for a subscription to your podcast in Apple Podcasts. In return, they get the benefits you choose: bonus episodes, early access and ad-free listening. Once it's connected, you manage those benefits for each episode in Transistor, so you don't need to upload subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts Connect.

Learn more about Apple Podcasts Subscriptions at Apple Podcasts for Creators.

Before you start

To use Apple Podcasts Subscriptions, your show needs:

• At least one published episode. A trailer works well as a preview: see How do I add a trailer to my podcast?
• To be submitted to and approved by Apple Podcasts in Apple Podcasts Connect

If you don't have an Apple Podcasts Connect account, sign in at podcastsconnect.apple.com with your Apple account to set one up. If you don't have an Apple account, create one at account.apple.com.

Enable Subscriptions in Apple Podcasts Connect

Connect your podcast in Transistor

Once subscriptions are set up in Apple Podcasts Connect, connect your Transistor podcast so you can manage them from Transistor:

• Go to the Distribution tab for your podcast and open the Apple Podcasts settings
• In the Apple Podcasts Subscriptions section, click Add Apple API Key +
• Upload the API key file you downloaded from Apple Podcasts Connect. It ends in .pem. Don't rename it.
• Click Connect to Apple

We check that the key works, then sync your existing episode information from Apple. Then choose your settings:

• Early access availability: how many days before an episode goes public that paid subscribers can listen to it
• Ad-free listening: if you use Transistor's Campaigns for dynamic ads, turn on Upload subscriber-only audio to Apple without dynamic campaign ads. The audio we send to Apple then has no campaign ads or other dynamic audio.

Set prices and show details

Add subscriber benefits to an episode

When you create or edit an episode, choose a benefit under Paid Subscription Benefits. On an existing episode, click Add Paid Subscription Benefits + first, or Change benefit to switch to a different one.

When you save, we sync the episode's details and audio with Apple. Once that's done, the episode shows a View in Apple Podcasts link.

Exclusive / Bonus content

Choose Exclusive / Bonus content for an episode that's only for paid subscribers. It never appears in your public RSS feed, and it can't be shared or embedded.

Early Access

Choose Early Access to let paid subscribers listen before everyone else. For example, with 3 days of early access availability, an episode scheduled to go public on November 15 is available to paid subscribers from November 12.

Ad-free episodes

If you use Campaigns and have turned on ad-free listening, the audio we send to Apple is always ad-free. For an episode that isn't exclusive or early access, paid subscribers get it ad-free, and everyone else hears the public episode with your campaign ads.

Where do I see analytics for subscriber content?

Apple serves subscriber-only audio directly, so analytics for it, and your paid subscriber numbers, are in Apple Podcasts Connect rather than Transistor. Apple explains its analytics in Measure podcast analytics & stats on Apple Podcasts for Creators.

Who can subscribe?

Listeners can subscribe in the Apple Podcasts app on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV and Apple Vision Pro, or on the web at podcasts.apple.com. There's no Apple Podcasts app for Windows or Android, but listeners on those devices can subscribe and listen on the web.

For how listeners subscribe and manage their subscriptions, see Apple's guide Get and manage your Apple Podcasts Subscriptions.

If you have additional questions please reach out to us:

• Email - support@transistor.fm
• Live Chat: https://transistor.fm/contact/

Updated on: 01/11/2026