Articles on: Analytics

Why are my stats in Transistor different from Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube?

Your numbers in Transistor will rarely match what you see in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube, and that's expected. Each one measures something different.


Delivery metrics and consumption metrics


  • Downloads are a delivery metric. Transistor counts each time an episode's audio is delivered to a listener's device, once per listener, per episode, per day. We can't see what happens after that: whether they listen, for how long, or how often. See What counts as a podcast download?
  • Plays, streams and listening time are consumption metrics. Only the app that plays the episode can see when someone presses play, how long they listen and where they stop. Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube each report these in their own way, and they can count the same listener more than once.


The two are often close, but they're measuring different moments, which is why they don't match.


Can I see how many people pressed play?


Not in Transistor. Podcasts are delivered through open RSS feeds, so once an episode is delivered, the listening happens inside each app. To see plays, listening time and drop-off points, use the apps' own analytics:



How the different metrics compare


Roughly from highest to lowest:


  • Apple Plays: everyone who pressed play in Apple Podcasts, including repeat plays
  • Spotify Starts: everyone who pressed play in Spotify, for any length of time
  • Spotify Streams: plays in Spotify that lasted at least 60 seconds
  • Transistor Downloads: each delivery of an episode, with duplicates from the same listener in a day removed
  • Apple Engaged Listeners: listeners who played at least 20 minutes or 40% of an episode
  • Apple and Spotify Listeners: unique people, based on their device or account
  • Apple and Spotify Followers: everyone who followed your podcast in the app


Why the numbers move apart


  • An episode is delivered but never played. Transistor counts a download; the app counts nothing.
  • An episode is delivered now and played later. Transistor counts the download today; the app counts the play when it happens, maybe weeks later.
  • An episode is played several times. Transistor counts one download a day; the app may count every play.
  • A new follower's app downloads your back catalog. Transistor counts each episode as it's delivered; the app only counts the ones they actually play.


So Transistor can be lower than an app's plays, or higher. Two more reasons it can be higher: Apple Podcasts only reports data from newer devices (Apple's data requirements), and Spotify only counts an episode saved for offline listening once it's played.


Learn more



If you have additional questions please reach out to us:


Updated on: 30/10/2026

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