From Hosting To Analytics, Podcast Platforms Rule dotFM’s 2025 Rankings.

Podcasting isn’t just prominent in dotFM’s FM Top 100 Hits of 2025 — it dominates the digital audio landscape outright, according to the newly released rankings that track traffic and engagement for the audio and podcast brands using the .FM top-level domain registry. Now in its 14th year, the chart offers a data-driven look at how podcast platforms, hosting companies, and creator tools have become the primary drivers of audience behavior across the audio web.

At the top of the 2025 ranking is Castbox.fm, which claims the No. 1 position with more than 2.4 billion hits last year thanks to global adoption and role as one of the world’s largest podcast discovery platforms. Podcast infrastructure follows closely behind. Anchor.fm, now Spotify for Creators, which was on top in 2024, fell to second place in 2025 with 1.67 billion hits. Holding steady in third was analytics and attribution provider pdst.fm. The Podsights analytics prefix used by brands and podcasters had 1.6 billion hits last year.

The top 10 alone underscores how podcasting has expanded beyond playback. Hosting and publishing platforms such as Omny.fm, Megaphone.fm, and Captivate.fm all rank among the most-visited .FM domains globally, while creator-facing services like Podscribe, Transistor.fm, and Fireside.fm post tens of millions of annual queries. Together, they illustrate how podcasting has matured into a full-stack business ecosystem built around hosting, analytics, attribution, and growth — not just content distribution.

Fast climbers in the 2025 rankings further reinforce that shift. Airbuds.fm jumped into the top 10 as a social listening and discovery tool, while Earn.fm and Gateway.fm reflect growing experimentation around alternative revenue models and Web3-enabled infrastructure. Even newer entrants like Slingshot.fm, a business management platform for creators, signal how podcasters are increasingly seeking ownership and operational control rather than relying solely on large platforms. Overall, podcast-related domains account for a substantial share of the Top 100 list, far outpacing traditional broadcasters and music-only services.

“The FM Top 100 Hits of 2025 illustrates how audio has matured into a creator-driven business economy,” BRS Media CEO George Bundy says. “From traditional podcasts to emerging AI audio-driven platforms, this year’s chart underscores the convergence of technology, community, and artistry that now defines audio influence globally.”

Overall last year, total .FM query activity reached 56.4 billion, a 9.81% increase from 2024. It marks a dramatic rise from 16.6 billion queries in 2015, underscoring a decade of growth in online discovery and direct engagement. Download the complete .FM Top 100 Hits of 2025 ranking HERE.