---
title: "Long episodes"
slug: "long-episodes"
updated: 2026-01-23T10:21:29Z
published: 2026-01-23T10:21:29Z
canonical: "support.iono.fm/long-episodes"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://support.iono.fm/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Long episodes

Our platform supports podcast episodes with very long durations, but special rules apply to episodes longer than 1 hour in length.

Larger audio files impact both listeners and hosting infrastructure. With this in mind, the following rules apply to podcasts over an hour in length.

> See also our [podcast recording recommendations](/v1/docs/podcast-creation-recommendations) for comments on podcast durations.

## Long episodes

Any episode longer than 1 hour is considered a "long" episode, and the following rules apply:

1. The podcast package determines the maximum episode length allowed.
2. Episodes count 1 towards the episode storage limit **for every hour of audio.**
3. Episodes above 90 minutes are delivered in only one quality profile.
4. Podcast ad-stitching is only available for episodes shorter than 90 minutes.

## 1. Episode duration limits

The podcast package determines the maximum allowed episode duration:

| Package | Maximum duration |
| --- | --- |
| Free | 1 hour (60 mins) |
| Starter | 2 hours (120 mins) |
| Pro | 3 hours (180 mins) |
| Studio | 10 hours (600 mins) |
| Radio | 12 hours (720 mins) |

Episodes longer than the package limit will not be accepted for publishing.

## 2. Episode storage count

Each podcast package has a limit to the number of episodes that can be stored on our platform.

Every episode counts as **1** towards this package limit.

For episodes longer than 60 minutes, our platform incurs an additional usage of **1** for every hour of audio, rounded up.

Examples:

- A `45 minute` episode counts as **1** towards the package limit.
- A `1h 45m` episode counts as **2** towards the package limit.
- A `4h 1m` episode counts as **5** towards the package limit.

## 3. Quality profiles

To manage the size of these files and ensure customers have a good listening experience, episodes longer than 90 minutes are not available in our all our audio formats and quality levels.

| Episode duration | Output formats |
| --- | --- |
| Less than 90 minutes | All [Podcast audio formats & processing](/v1/docs/podcast-publish-supported-formats) |
| 90 - 180 minutes (1.5 - 3 hours) | Single 128k MP3 file |
| More than 180 minutes (3 hours+) | Single 64k MP3 file |

## 4. Podcast ad-stitching

Dynamic ad stitching is **not** available on episodes longer than 90 minutes in duration. These episodes cannot be monetised when delivered to third-party platforms and players like Apple, Google, etc.

Listeners using our web player may still receive client side ads when listening to the episode.