Apple Podcast Ads: How to Get Rid of Them (2026)
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Why Does Apple Podcasts Have Ads?
Section titled “Why Does Apple Podcasts Have Ads?”Apple doesn’t insert them. The ads you hear are baked into the audio file by each show’s hosting service via dynamic ad insertion, before the episode ever reaches your app. That’s why there’s no “turn off ads” setting: Apple Podcasts plays the audio it’s given, and the app can’t cut what’s inside the file.
Ad-Free Apple Podcasts with ZeroAds
Section titled “Ad-Free Apple Podcasts with ZeroAds”ZeroAds removes the ads from the original feed and hands you a clean RSS URL you add to Apple Podcasts.
- Sign up at zeroads.ai. Your first 5 episodes are free.
- Add the podcast you want cleaned and play your free episodes in the ZeroAds app.
- Subscribe to unlock your personalized ad-free RSS URL.
- In Apple Podcasts: Library → ⋯ → “Follow a Show by URL…” (on Mac it’s in the File menu).
Does Apple Podcasts have ads? The app itself doesn’t insert ads, but most popular shows carry ads in the audio itself, host-read or dynamically inserted. That’s why episodes have ads no matter which app you use.
Can I turn off ads in Apple Podcasts settings? No. There’s no setting. The ads are part of the audio file. Removing them requires processing the audio itself, which is what ZeroAds does before the episode reaches your app.
Does this work on iPhone and Mac? Yes, anywhere Apple Podcasts syncs your library.
Is this allowed? You’re processing a public RSS feed for personal use. ZeroAds is also building a revenue-sharing program for creators (see our Creator FAQ).
Want the full picture on podcast ads? Read the complete guide to removing podcast ads.