Apple Podcasts Subscriptions vs Passes
Side-by-side comparison on fees, payouts, monetization, and audience ownership.
Platform fee
30% Y1 / 15% · of revenue + $19.99/yr
10% · of revenue
Payout speed
monthly
instant
Minimum payout
Apple default
$50
Countries
170+ regions
Primarily US, Stripe-supported
Email list export
None
Limited
Custom domain
No
Yes (subdomain)
Community features
None
DMs, group chats, 1:1 video calls
Best for
Podcasters with large Apple Podcasts audiences
Mainstream creators, influencers, coaches wanting low-fee subs and merch
Apple Podcasts Subscriptions vs Passes: which one wins?
Apple Podcasts Subscriptions charges 30% Y1 / 15% (of revenue + $19.99/yr) versus Passes at 10% (of revenue).
On payout speed, Apple Podcasts Subscriptions pays monthly while Passes pays instant. For creators where cashflow matters, the faster cadence usually wins.
For audience ownership, Apple Podcasts Subscriptions offers none email export and Passes offers limited. Email portability matters most for creators planning to migrate later or build a list independent of any single platform.
Best for: Apple Podcasts Subscriptions suits podcasters with large apple podcasts audiences. Passes fits mainstream creators, influencers, coaches wanting low-fee subs and merch.