Apple is getting ready to challenge YouTube and Spotify in one of the fastest-growing corners of digital audio: video podcasts. This spring, the Apple Podcasts app will roll out a new video podcast experience designed to make watching just as seamless as listening, giving users more reasons to stay inside Apple’s ecosystem instead of jumping to competing platforms.
With the update, Apple Podcasts will let you switch instantly between watching a show and listening to it, depending on what you’re doing. Start a podcast on the go as audio-only, then continue later as full video without changing apps or hunting for a separate version. Apple is also adding a horizontal viewing mode for a more traditional video experience, and users will be able to download video podcasts for offline playback—useful for flights, commuting, or anywhere streaming isn’t reliable.
Under the hood, Apple Podcasts is set to adopt Apple’s HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) video technology, a system built for smooth playback and efficient streaming. That’s a clear signal this isn’t a small add-on feature—Apple is building a video-first foundation meant to scale as more creators and audiences embrace the format.
The timing makes sense. Video podcasting has surged, and recent research shows just how mainstream it’s become: 51% of people in the U.S. have watched a video podcast, and 37% say they watch video podcasts monthly. As audiences increasingly expect podcasts to come with a visual experience—whether it’s a studio setup, interviews, or on-screen context—platforms are racing to become the default destination.
Rival services have already moved aggressively. YouTube has reported more than 1 billion monthly active viewers consuming podcast content. Spotify has said it hosts around half a million video podcasts, and that nearly 400 million users have watched them. Even Netflix has started experimenting with video podcasts through partnerships. Apple’s move is clearly about competing head-on by making Apple Podcasts a place where video feels native, not secondary.
Beyond the user benefits, Apple is also positioning the upgrade as creator-friendly. Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Services, framed the announcement as a milestone in Apple’s long relationship with podcasting, emphasizing that the company wants creators to have full control over their content and how they build their businesses—while giving audiences a simpler way to either listen or watch.
Although the revamped video podcast experience is slated for a spring launch, Apple is already opening it up for early testing. The first wave is available through beta versions of iOS 26.4, iPadOS 26.4, and visionOS 26.4, giving users and creators a preview of how Apple Podcasts is evolving into a more complete audio-and-video platform.
