August 2026 Podcast Rankings
Summary
SXM Media’strue crime podcast, Morbid, makes its way into the ranks at #10 (2.7M) in audio reach for the month of August.
Crime Junkie, The Daily and The Joe Rogan Experience stay atop the audio reach ranks despite a decline in listenership for Crime Junkie and TJRE.
Crime Junkie jumps up one place to #1 (4.4M) for downloads and views per episode.
Candace moved up two places with an 18% increase in downloads and views per episode in the month of August, now ranking at #7 (2.3M). Candace also moved up with a 20% increase into #6 (31.3M) in downloads and views per month.
Call Her Daddy had a 35% boost, moving it into #10 for downloads and views per episode.
Smosh Reads Reddit Stories is back in the rankings at #9 (23.5M) for downloads and views per month.
Top Podcasts by Audio Reach
Ranked by the estimated number of monthly listeners who download at least one episode. Excludes YouTube viewers.
| Rank | Show | Audio | Dls. & Views / Ep. | Dls. & Views / Mo. | Ad Load | YT Ad Load | % Ads Direct Response | % Ads Host Read | Top Advertisers |
|---|
Top Podcasts by Downloads & Views per Episode
Ranked by the average estimated downloads and views an episode receives within its first 60 days. Includes podcast and YouTube metrics.
| Rank | Show | Audio | Dls. & Views / Ep. | Dls. & Views / Mo. | Ad Load | YT Ad Load | % Ads Direct Response | % Ads Host Read | Top Advertisers |
|---|
Top Podcasts by Downloads & Views per Month
Ranked by the total estimated downloads and views across all episodes for the month. Includes podcast and YouTube metrics.
| Rank | Show | Audio | Dls. & Views / Ep. | Dls. & Views / Mo. | Ad Load | YT Ad Load | % Ads Direct Response | % Ads Host Read | Top Advertisers |
|---|
*Data captured from August 1st - August 31st, 2026.
**Wondery data is computed solely from public data such as Apple & Spotify ratings, not direct download data.
About Podscribe’s Ranker
The Podscribe Ranker is the industry's most comprehensive podcast ranker, offering a complete view of show, publisher and advertiser performance. Unlike traditional rankers, we go beyond RSS data—tracking podcast downloads, YouTube views, Spotify Video, and more—to reflect how audiences consume podcasts today.
We also include every known show and publisher in the rankings, to always ensure a complete industry view.
Rather than a static snapshot, Podscribe provides live growth trends, helping buyers and publishers spot rising shows early. With cross-platform tracking and direct data from major shows, it delivers the most accurate rankings available, even for podcasts without a prefix.
