How Many Downloads Is Good for a Podcast?
Real published benchmarks, not a vibe — enter your numbers below.
Podcast Download Benchmark Calculator
A high percentile isn't the whole story: a small, engaged audience that actually acts on what you recommend monetizes better — and is more sustainable — than a large, disengaged one. Percentile rank measures reach, not value.
Based on Buzzsprout, first 7 days (Data from Aug 2026), 27 downloads in the first 7 days is the median (top 50%), 96+ puts you in the top 25%, and 407+ puts you in the top 10%. Enter your own downloads below to get your actual percentile against real published data.
Wondering what your downloads are actually worth?
Switch to the revenue calculator tab, or check typical CPM rates by ad slot and type.
Growth mostly comes from promotion, not luck — repurposing your episode into short clips is one of the more reliable levers.
What is the average number of downloads for a new podcast?
Based on Buzzsprout, first 7 days (Data from Aug 2026), the median (top 50%) is 27 downloads in the first 7 days. That's genuinely the midpoint of all shows on that platform — half get more, half get less. A brand-new show with far fewer than that isn't unusual; it's most shows.
How many downloads per episode is considered good?
Above 96 downloads in the first 7 days puts a show in the top 25% by Buzzsprout's own published data; above 407 puts it in the top 10%. "Good" depends entirely on what you're comparing against — the calculator above gives your actual percentile, not a guess.
Why do different sources give different download benchmarks?
Because they're measuring different platforms and different windows. Buzzsprout publishes 7-day figures from its own hosted shows; Libsyn publishes 30-day figures from its own hosted shows. Neither is wrong — they're different samples measured differently, which is exactly why blogs quoting a single flat number as "the industry standard" are oversimplifying.
Is a low download count a sign my podcast is failing?
Not necessarily. A small, engaged audience that actually acts on what you talk about — buys the product, joins the community, shows up to the event — is worth more than a large, passive one. Download count measures reach, not the value of that reach.
What counts as a "download" for these benchmarks?
Both Buzzsprout and Libsyn count IAB-certified downloads — a request for at least a defined percentage of the episode file, deduplicated for repeat requests from the same source. It is not the same as a completed listen; someone can register as a download without finishing the episode.