Podcast ROI & Revenue Calculator
Estimate your podcast revenue from ads, sponsorships, affiliates, and premium content. See growth projections and per-episode earnings.
Monthly Revenue
$200
Annual Revenue
$2,400
Per Episode
$50
Revenue Breakdown
Growth Projections (5% monthly growth)
3 months
$232/mo
1,158 downloads
6 months
$268/mo
1,340 downloads
12 months
$359/mo
1,796 downloads
24 months
$645/mo
3,225 downloads
How to Calculate Podcast Revenue
- Enter your average downloads per episode and publishing frequency
- Set your CPM rate and number of ad slots
- Add any sponsorship, affiliate, or premium subscription revenue
- Review monthly/annual totals and growth projections
Podcast Monetization Strategies
The most successful podcasters diversify their revenue. CPM-based ads provide baseline income that scales with audience size. Direct sponsorships often pay more than network ads for niche shows. Affiliate marketing works well when you genuinely recommend products. Premium content (bonus episodes, early access, ad-free feeds) creates recurring revenue from your most engaged listeners.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do podcasters make?
Podcast revenue varies enormously. A show with 1,000 downloads per episode can earn $50-200/month from ads. At 10,000 downloads, expect $500-2,000/month. Top podcasts with 100,000+ downloads can earn $10,000-50,000+ monthly from combined revenue streams.
What is CPM in podcasting?
CPM (Cost Per Mille) is the rate advertisers pay per 1,000 downloads. Average podcast CPM ranges from $15-25 for mid-roll ads, with premium shows commanding $50-100+. Pre-roll ads typically have lower CPM than mid-roll.
How many downloads do I need to monetize?
Most ad networks require 5,000-10,000 downloads per episode to join. However, you can monetize earlier through direct sponsorships, affiliate marketing, premium content, and listener support platforms like Patreon.
What are the main podcast revenue streams?
The four main revenue streams are: CPM-based advertising (pre-roll, mid-roll, post-roll), direct sponsorships, affiliate marketing, and premium/subscription content. Diversifying across multiple streams provides the most stable income.
How does the growth projection work?
The growth projection assumes 5% monthly listener growth, which is a reasonable average for actively promoted podcasts. It compounds your current listener count and recalculates revenue at each milestone.
What's a realistic CPM rate?
For most podcasts, $15-25 CPM is realistic. Niche shows with highly targeted audiences (finance, tech, health) can command $30-50+. Celebrity and top-chart shows may get $50-100+ CPM.
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