Castbox vs Spotify:Which is more popular by branded search?
In August 2026, Spotify had more branded searches than Castbox among podcast apps worldwide. Spotify was estimated to have 55.6M branded searches compared to Castbox’s 18.1K, and held a 99.5% Share of Search versus Castbox’s 0.03%. These are worldwide searches for English-language branded terms.
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Which is more popular in search, Castbox or Spotify?
Compare the apps people listen to podcasts in. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time.
Share of Search by month for Spotify, Castbox. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of search table
| Month | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Overcast | Pocket Casts | Castbox |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 99.6% | 0.29% | 0.07% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Nov 2025 | 99.6% | 0.29% | 0.07% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Dec 2025 | 99.6% | 0.29% | 0.07% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Jan 2026 | 99.5% | 0.36% | 0.09% | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| Feb 2026 | 99.5% | 0.36% | 0.07% | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Mar 2026 | 99.6% | 0.29% | 0.07% | 0.04% | 0.02% |
| Apr 2026 | 99.6% | 0.29% | 0.07% | 0.04% | 0.02% |
| May 2026 | 99.6% | 0.29% | 0.07% | 0.03% | 0.02% |
| Jun 2026 | 99.6% | 0.29% | 0.07% | 0.03% | 0.02% |
| Jul 2026 | 99.5% | 0.3% | 0.09% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Aug 2026 | 99.5% | 0.36% | 0.09% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Sep 2026 | — | — | — | — | — |
How has the Castbox and Spotify comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Spotify was ahead of Castbox in every measured month of the 11 months ending August 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Castbox’s estimated Share of Search among podcast apps worldwide held steady at 0.03%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 22.2K to 18.1K.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Spotify’s estimated Share of Search among podcast apps worldwide moved from 99.6% to 99.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 68M to 55.6M.
How did search popularity change for podcast apps worldwide in August 2026?
2 changes
How each brand is measured
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Castbox’s and Spotify’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.