Migrate Your Podcast Without Losing Listeners
Switching podcast hosts feels risky. You have subscribers across multiple platforms, reviews you have earned over months or years, and download history that proves your show's trajectory. The good news: RSS feed redirects make it possible to migrate without losing any of it.
This guide covers the exact process for moving your podcast to a new host, what happens technically during the transition, and how to avoid the 3 mistakes that cause podcasters to lose subscribers.
How RSS redirects preserve your audience
When you migrate podcast hosts, you are moving your audio files and RSS feed from one provider to another. The critical mechanism that keeps everything intact is a 301 redirect.
A 301 redirect tells every podcast directory: "This feed has permanently moved to a new URL. Update your records and follow the new one from now on."
Here is what happens step by step:
- Your old host sets up a 301 redirect from your original feed URL to your new feed URL.
- When Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or any other directory checks your old feed URL, they receive the redirect instruction.
- The directory follows the redirect, finds your new feed, and updates its internal records.
- From that point forward, the directory checks the new feed URL directly.
- Your subscribers, reviews, ratings, and download history remain attached to your show because the directory recognizes it as the same podcast.
The entire process is invisible to your listeners. They do not need to resubscribe, and they will not miss any episodes.
Step-by-step migration process
Follow these 8 steps in order to migrate safely:
1. Set up your new hosting account
Create an account with your new host. If you are moving to Jellypod, sign up and complete the onboarding process before touching anything on your old host.
2. Export your podcast data
Download all your audio files from your current host. Most hosts offer a bulk export option. Also save your show description, episode descriptions, artwork, and any other metadata.
3. Import everything to the new host
Upload your audio files and recreate your show details on the new platform. Double-check that episode titles, descriptions, and publication dates match exactly. Mismatched dates can cause episodes to re-download or appear out of order.
4. Verify the new RSS feed
Before redirecting, confirm your new RSS feed is valid and complete. Check that every episode appears with correct metadata, audio links work, and artwork loads properly.
5. Set up the 301 redirect
In your old hosting dashboard, find the redirect or migration option. Enter your new RSS feed URL. The old host will configure a 301 redirect from your original feed URL to the new one.
6. Wait 48 to 72 hours
Give directories time to detect and follow the redirect. During this window, do not publish new episodes on either platform. The waiting period lets the redirect propagate across all directories.
7. Verify the redirect is working
Visit your old feed URL in a browser. It should redirect to your new feed URL. Check that your show still appears correctly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other directories.
8. Keep your old hosting active for 60 to 90 days
Some directories take longer to update their records. Keep the old account active with the redirect in place for at least 2 months before closing it.
3 mistakes that lose subscribers
- Canceling your old host before the redirect propagates. If your old feed URL returns a 404 instead of a 301, directories assume your show is dead and may remove it entirely.
- Changing episode GUIDs during migration. Each episode has a unique identifier in your RSS feed. If these change, directories may re-download all episodes or lose playback progress for subscribers.
- Publishing new episodes during migration. Wait until the redirect is confirmed working across platforms before releasing new content. Publishing during the transition can cause episodes to appear on some platforms but not others.
How Jellypod handles migrations
Jellypod's hosting supports both inbound and outbound migrations. Importing an existing podcast preserves your episode GUIDs and metadata. If you move away from Jellypod, the platform maintains 301 redirects so your audience follows you.
The migration wizard guides you through each step, validates your imported feed, and alerts you to potential issues before you flip the switch.
Final thoughts
Podcast migration is a technical process with real stakes, but it is not complicated if you follow the steps. Set up your new host completely before touching the old one, configure the 301 redirect, verify it works across platforms, and keep the old account active for 60 to 90 days. Your subscribers, reviews, and download history will follow you to the new location.
