Get your podcast featured and ranked
Xcelcast ranks podcasts across audio and video and covers the shows that are moving. Get Accelerated Indexing with FastTrack, a packaged News & PR feature with Signal, or ongoing insight with PodMember.
Xcelcast Top 20 · November 2026
What do you want for your show?
Pitch a News feature for free, or unlock Accelerated Indexing with FastTrack. PodMember and the Breakout consulting package are below.
Get featured on Xcelcast News
Our newsroom covers the shows that are moving: breakouts, comebacks, category shifts and head-to-heads. Free pitches are editorial. Signal adds a packaged News & PR placement.
- Pitch your story: a growth spike, a new format, a big guest, a move to video
- Every free pitch is reviewed by the Xcelcast News desk
- Selected shows get a data-backed story with charts and art
- Want a packaged placement? Choose Signal ($499)
Get indexed with FastTrack
Accelerated Indexing is part of FastTrack. We add or refresh your show in the Xcelcast Universal Podcast Ranking System across audio and video platforms, with priority queue placement.
- We match your RSS feed and YouTube channel into one profile
- Your show becomes eligible for the Top 20
- Includes tracking and a platform optimization audit
- Rankings are never for sale. FastTrack never changes a show's score
Three steps
Choose a path
Pick FastTrack, Signal, PodMember or Breakout on Pricing, or send a free editorial pitch through the contact form.
We review
We match your show across audio and video platforms and check it for features and indexing.
Get ranked & covered
Indexed shows enter the ranking. Selected shows get an Xcelcast News story.
One rank across audio and video
We analyze shows based on growth, sentiment and velocity of audience. A fast-rising show can outrank a giant that stopped moving. FastTrack Accelerated Indexing puts your show on that board.
These are platforms we track, not partners or endorsers.
See the rankingsWho's still moving
Choose your path
Free editorial pitches stay open. Paid offerings add packaged News & PR, Accelerated Indexing, ongoing membership and a one-time consulting package. Rankings are never for sale.
Signal
Packaged visibility on Xcelcast News and across the platform.
- Featured Xcelcast News post with sector comparisons
- Featured badge in relevant rankings
- Priority placement in Rising Stars
- Inclusion in the weekly trending newsletter
- Dedicated social mention from @xcelcast
FastTrack
Accelerated Indexing into the Universal Podcast Ranking System, plus tracking.
- Accelerated Indexing included — priority queue
- RSS + YouTube matched into one ranked profile
- Eligible for the Top 20
- Priority monitoring of engagement and trends
- Platform optimization audit for discoverability
PodMember
Ongoing coaching built on the data we already produce.
- Creator Insider email
- Index Analysis of your show over time
- Monthly category benchmark report
- Early access to rankings
- Members-only playbooks & templates
- Quarterly group office hours
Breakout
A full review of your content, distribution and marketing plan.
- Content audit
- Distribution / platform audit (incl. video)
- Marketing plan review
- Advertiser-readiness review
- Written action plan with prioritized next steps
Rankings are never for sale. Paid services never change a show's score.
Questions
Does it cost anything to pitch a story?
No. Free editorial pitches go through the contact form and are judged on merit. Signal, FastTrack, PodMember and Breakout are optional paid offerings.
Can I pay to rank higher?
No. Rankings are never for sale. Paid services never change a show's score.
How is the ranking calculated?
We analyze shows based on growth, sentiment and velocity of audience. Boards draw on listener ratings, review sentiment, recent growth, and channel size.
What is Accelerated Indexing?
It's included with FastTrack ($999). It moves your show into the priority indexing queue for the Xcelcast Universal Podcast Ranking System across audio and video platforms. It never changes your score.
What's the difference between a free pitch and Signal?
A free pitch is reviewed by the News desk on editorial merit. Signal is a paid News & PR package: a featured post, ranking badge, Rising Stars placement, newsletter inclusion and a social mention.
What do I get with PodMember?
The Creator Insider email, an Index Analysis of your show over time, a monthly category benchmark report, early access to rankings, members-only playbooks and quarterly group office hours, for $49/month. See Membership →
What is Breakout?
A one-time $1,499 review of your content, distribution (including video), marketing plan and advertiser readiness, with a written action plan. Strategy only, with no guaranteed outcomes.
Do I need a YouTube channel?
No. Audio-only shows are welcome. Adding a channel lets us track your video audience too.