Send podcast title and host details as JSON, get back a 1500x1500 cover PNG ready for Apple Podcasts.
Indie podcasters and audio networks use the podcast cover art generator API to produce show artwork that meets the Apple Podcasts and Spotify directory specs. The 1500x1500 size is the minimum Apple requires, and the same file is accepted by Spotify, Pocket Casts, Overcast, and the rest of the directories. You post the show title, tagline, and host details as JSON, and the response holds a PNG ready to upload via your hosting provider (Buzzsprout, Transistor, Acast).
curl -X POST https://app.html2img.com/api/v1/templates/podcast-cover \
-H "X-API-Key: YOUR_API_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"podcast_title":"The Production Hour","tagline":"Conversations with the people running real systems at scale","host_name":"Adaeze Okafor","network_name":"Northwind Studio Audio","background_image_url":"https://picsum.photos/seed/podcast-cover/1500/1500","accent_color":"#0F172A"}'A single cURL call to render a Podcast Cover as a PNG. For the full PHP, Node and Python equivalents, plus every input the template accepts, see the Podcast Cover API reference. Setting up your key is covered in the authentication guide.
View the Podcast Cover API reference — inputs, defaults, error responses and cURL, PHP, Node and Python code samples. Read the docs.
New shows often spend weeks haggling with a designer over cover variants before they have any episodes to publish. Render five candidate covers in 30 seconds by varying accent_color and background_image_url, pick the one that reads at 55x55 in the directory, and ship. The Production Hour launched in 2026 with this exact flow, and the show was live two days after the founder finalized the title.
Networks running 8 to 30 shows benefit from cover art that reads as a family rather than a mix of styles. Render every show through the same template with consistent network branding (network_name and accent_color), and the network feed reads as one curated brand rather than a stitched collection. Northwind Studio Audio runs 14 shows under one cover treatment through this pipeline.
When a podcast rebrands (new logo, new color palette, new title typography), the back-catalog of covers needs to be re-issued. Loop through every show, render with the new branding, and re-upload to your hosting provider via API. The full network refresh that would have taken a designer 60 hours runs in 12 minutes through this template. Halberd Software automated their network refresh in 2026 this way.
Events that record on-stage panels and publish them as a podcast series benefit from per-event cover art that ties back to the conference brand. Render with the event year and the conference logo, and each year's series shows up as a distinct row in the directory. The Type Conference produces this annually for its panel recordings, with 8 episode-series covers per year.
Matches the spec at Apple Podcasts cover art requirements.
POST to the template endpoint with the values you want rendered. Authenticate with your API key.
The template is rendered server-side as a 1500x1500 PNG.
Cache it, embed it in your page, attach it to an email.
Cover art that looks polished at full size becomes muddy when the directory renders it at 55x55 pixels next to dozens of other shows. Test the artwork at thumbnail scale before publishing, and prefer a single bold typographic element over multi-element compositions.
Apple and Spotify reject covers that use unlicensed photos or pop-culture imagery. Use a licensed stock photo, a custom illustration, or a flat color from the accent_color slot, and the directory accepts the upload on first try.
A 800x800 file scaled up by the directory looks soft when listeners view the show on a retina iPhone. Render at the full 1500x1500 from the start so the image stays sharp at every display size from thumbnail to lock-screen full art.
A quick summary of what the Podcast Cover template accepts. The full reference, with example values and array shapes, is in the docs.
| Name | Type | Required |
|---|---|---|
podcast_title | string | Required |
tagline | string | Optional |
host_name | string | Optional |
network_name | string | Optional |
background_image_url | url | Optional |
accent_color | string | Optional |
logo_url | url | Optional |
See the full inputs reference for descriptions, examples and validation rules.
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A starting point from each of the other two template categories.
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What size does Apple Podcasts require?
Apple Podcasts accepts cover art between 1400x1400 and 3000x3000 in JPG or PNG with sRGB color space. This template renders 1500x1500 PNG by default, which sits inside that range and renders quickly. Smaller files get rejected at upload time.
Will Spotify accept it?
Yes, Spotify accepts the same 1400-3000 range as Apple. The 1500x1500 render works for both directories from a single upload to your podcast host. Pocket Casts, Overcast, and the rest of the major apps inherit from these two so the same file serves all of them.
Can I include a host photo?
Yes, pass background_image_url with a host portrait or photographic background. The renderer applies a darkening overlay so the title stays readable. Make sure the focal area of the photo (face, hands, key prop) survives the centered title overlay.
Should the title be readable at small sizes?
Yes, podcast apps render show art as small as 55x55 pixels in directory listings. Pick a bold weight and high-contrast accent color so the title reads at thumbnail scale. Long show names will simply not fit, so consider a shorter title or an abbreviated mark.
Can I generate one cover per season?
Yes, vary the inputs per season (background_image_url, accent_color, tagline) and call the endpoint once per season cover. Most hosting providers support per-season artwork, so the listener sees the season-specific cover when browsing your back catalog.
Does it support a transparent background?
No, podcast cover art must be opaque per Apple's spec. Apple rejects PNGs with alpha at upload time. The template renders an opaque PNG with the accent_color filling the canvas if no background photo is supplied.
25 renders a month on the free tier. See the pricing page for higher-volume plans.