If you have a podcast, choosing the right category might not seem like a big deal.
You may be more focused on recording your first episode, creating a good cover, writing your podcast description, or finding your first listeners.
But don’t ignore your podcast category.
Apple Podcasts uses categories to organize podcasts by topic. When people browse Apple Podcasts, categories help them find shows that match their interests. Choosing the right category can help your podcast reach the people who are actually interested in what you talk about.
The good news is that choosing a category isn’t complicated.
In this guide, we’ll explain Apple Podcasts categories in simple language, why they matter, how to choose the right one, and what mistakes you should avoid.
What Are Apple Podcasts Categories?
Think of Apple Podcasts categories like sections in a library.
If you go to a library looking for a book about science, you probably won’t start looking in the cooking section. You would go to the science section.
Apple Podcasts works in a similar way.
Podcasts are organized into different categories based on what they are about.
For example, you might find podcasts about:
- Business
- Comedy
- Education
- News
- Sports
- Technology
- History
- Science
- Music
- Health & Fitness
- True Crime
- Society & Culture
- Arts
- Fiction
- Kids & Family
Many categories also have smaller subcategories.
For example, a business podcast might focus on investing, entrepreneurship, marketing, careers, or management.
When you choose a category, you’re basically telling Apple:
“This is what my podcast is mainly about.”
That helps Apple organize your show and helps listeners understand what they can expect.
Why Do Categories Matter?
Imagine you have a podcast about personal finance.
Your episodes talk about saving money, investing, credit cards, budgeting, and managing debt.
Now imagine someone opens Apple Podcasts because they want to learn about money.
They browse podcasts related to business or finance.
If your podcast is listed in a relevant category, there is a better chance that the person will come across your show.
That’s one reason categories matter.
But don’t think of categories as a magic trick for getting thousands of listeners.
Choosing a category won’t suddenly make your podcast successful.
Your episodes still need to be interesting. Your titles need to make people want to click. Your cover needs to look good, and you still need to promote your show.
The category simply helps put your podcast in the right place.
What Are the Main Apple Podcasts Categories?
Apple Podcasts has many different categories, so there is usually a suitable option for almost every type of show.
Some of the main categories include:
- Arts — Art, books, design, and creative topics
- Business — Companies, careers, money, and entrepreneurship
- Comedy — Stand-up, funny conversations, and comedy shows
- Education — Learning, teaching, and educational content
- Fiction — Fictional stories and audio dramas
- Government — Government and public affairs
- Health & Fitness — Exercise, wellness, nutrition, and healthy living
- History — Historical events, people, and stories
- Kids & Family — Shows made for children and families
- Leisure — Hobbies, games, food, and other interests
- Music — Music-related shows
- News — News and current events
- Religion & Spirituality — Religious and spiritual topics
- Science — Science and scientific discoveries
- Society & Culture — People, culture, relationships, and society
- Sports — Sports news, analysis, and conversations
- Technology — Computers, software, gadgets, and technology
- True Crime — True crime stories and investigations
- TV & Film — Movies, television, and entertainment
Apple can change its categories and subcategories over time, so it’s a good idea to check the current options when you’re setting up your show.
How Do You Choose the Right Category?
The easiest rule is this:
Choose the category that best describes what your podcast is about.
Don’t overthink it.
Look at your last 10 or 20 episodes and ask yourself:
“What is the main topic I talk about?”
For example, imagine your podcast is called Money Made Simple.
You talk about:
- Saving money
- Credit cards
- Investing
- Budgeting
- Paying off debt
A business or finance-related category would make much more sense than Comedy or Technology.
Now imagine another podcast called The Startup Show.
It focuses on entrepreneurs, startups, business ideas, and company growth.
Business would be a natural choice.
The category should match what people will actually hear when they press play.
Don’t Pick a Category Just Because It Looks Easy
This is a mistake some new podcasters make.
They look at different categories and think:
“This category has less competition. Maybe I can rank here more easily.”
That might sound smart, but it can backfire.
Let’s say you make a podcast about accounting but choose a completely unrelated entertainment category because you think there will be less competition.
Someone browsing that category might find your show, click on it, and realize it’s about accounting.
They’re probably going to leave.
You may get a few extra views, but you aren’t attracting the right audience.
It’s much better to have 1,000 people who really care about your topic than 10,000 people who don’t.
Your goal isn’t just to get people to see your podcast.
Your goal is to get the right people to listen.
Think Like Your Listener
Here’s an easy trick for choosing your category.
Don’t think about yourself.
Think about your listener.
Imagine you’re a person who would love your podcast.
What would you expect to see when you’re browsing Apple Podcasts?
For example, suppose you make a podcast that teaches small business owners how to manage their money.
You might cover:
- Business taxes
- Bookkeeping
- Business credit
- Cash flow
- Business budgeting
Your listener is probably looking for business or money-related content.
So your category should help that person understand that your podcast belongs in that area.
Your category should make sense to someone who has never heard of your show before.
Can Your Podcast Have More Than One Category?
Podcasts can have more than one category or category level depending on how the show is set up.
This can be helpful if your podcast covers two closely related subjects.
For example, imagine you have a podcast about entrepreneurs.
Most of your episodes are about starting businesses, but you also talk about investing and personal finance.
You can use category information that gives Apple a better idea of what your show covers.
However, don’t try to make your podcast sound like it covers everything.
If your show is mostly about business, make that clear.
Having a clear topic makes it easier for listeners to understand what your podcast offers.
Apple Podcasts Categories and Charts
You’ve probably seen podcast charts on Apple Podcasts.
Charts show popular podcasts and can give shows more visibility.
Categories are connected to these sections of Apple Podcasts, which is one reason podcasters pay attention to them.
You might hear someone say:
“We reached the Top 10 in our category!”
That’s exciting because it can bring extra attention to a podcast.
But here’s something important:
Don’t choose a category just because you think it’s easier to reach the charts.
Your podcast should actually belong there.
Trying to manipulate your category won’t replace having a good podcast.
If people click on your show and don’t like what they find, they aren’t likely to become regular listeners.
Can You Change Your Podcast Category?
Yes, you can update your podcast information if your show changes.
This can be useful if the focus of your podcast changes over time.
For example, maybe you started with a general business podcast.
After a year, you realize that almost all of your episodes are about investing.
Your original category may no longer be the best fit.
In that case, it makes sense to review your category and see whether another option describes your show better.
Don’t change your category every few weeks just because another category looks more attractive.
Make a change when your content or audience has genuinely changed.
Categories Are Not the Same as Keywords
It’s also important to understand the difference between categories and keywords.
A category is a broad label for your podcast.
Keywords are words and phrases that describe specific topics.
For example, imagine your podcast is about personal finance.
Your category might be related to Business or another relevant finance-focused area.
But your individual episodes might be about:
- Credit cards
- Investing for beginners
- Saving money
- Retirement
- Budgeting
- Debt
Those specific topics help explain what your episodes are about.
So don’t try to put every topic you cover into your category.
Choose the category that best describes the overall podcast.
A Simple Example
Let’s say you create a podcast called The Beginner Investor.
Your episodes cover:
- How stocks work
- What an index fund is
- How to start investing
- Common investing mistakes
- How to build a portfolio
- Long-term investing
Your main topic is clearly investing.
You wouldn’t choose Comedy just because comedy podcasts are popular.
You wouldn’t choose Technology because you sometimes talk about financial apps.
You would choose the category that most closely matches investing and finance.
It’s that simple.
Final Thoughts
Choosing an Apple Podcasts category doesn’t have to be complicated.
Start with one simple question:
“What is my podcast mainly about?”
Then choose the category that best matches the answer.
Don’t choose a category just because you think it will be easier to rank. Don’t choose one because it sounds popular. And don’t try to make your podcast fit into a category that doesn’t match your content.
A good category helps Apple understand your podcast and helps listeners understand what they can expect from it.
Your category won’t make a bad podcast successful.
But when you combine the right category with useful content, strong episode titles, good cover art, and consistent publishing, you give your podcast a much better chance of reaching the right audience.
In the end, the goal isn’t simply to get more listeners.
It’s to get listeners who actually want to hear what you have to say.