OP3
OP3 is a free, open-source service for measuring podcast episode downloads.
What OP3 is
OP3 is a free, open-source service for measuring podcast episode downloads. Podcasters or hosting companies place `https://op3.dev/e/` before episode URLs in a podcast feed; each measured show then receives a public stats page with download metrics, detailed breakdowns, and spreadsheet exports covering its history. The service also provides an API for collected podcast data, with calls requiring a bearer token tied to a valid API key. OP3 describes its approach as focused on open data and listener privacy. It stores basic request attributes, hashes and encrypts listener IP addresses before storage, and says it does not combine those addresses with third-party data or services. Its privacy policy says it uses no cookies and names Cloudflare as its sole hosting provider and data store. OP3 says its redirect service uses a global CDN with edge nodes in more than 335 cities across more than 125 countries. Its setup guide names Megaphone, Transistor, and Castopod as hosts supporting custom prefixes. The project is independent, by John Spurlock; its terms identify SKYMETHOD LLC as doing business as OP3.
Good
- Free plan requires no signup or login.
- Public stats pages include detailed breakdowns and exports.
- Stores hashed and encrypted listener IP addresses.
- Privacy policy says it uses no cookies.
Watch out
- API calls require a bearer token and valid API key.
- Hit-query filtering by URL or hashed IP is limited to 90 days.
Who it suits
OP3 suits podcasters and podcast hosting companies that want download analytics through a feed prefix. It may also suit users who want public stats pages or API access to collected data.
Verdict
OP3 offers podcast download metrics through a feed prefix, with public stats pages and spreadsheet exports. Its API has an access requirement, and hit-query filtering has a 90-day limit.
Plans and prices
From OP3's own pricing page, checked 15 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | No signup or login required · public stats page · download metrics · spreadsheet exports · API access |
| OP3 Sponsorship | $100 a month | Sponsorship to help fund development · $100/mo |
The facts
Each one read from OP3's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- API
- The OP3 API provides access to collected podcast data, and API calls require a bearer token associated with a valid API key.checked 8 Oct 2026
- API capabilities
- Documented API resources include raw hits, show information, episode download counts, transcript queries, top-app queries and monthly or weekly download queries.checked 15 Oct 2026
- API endpoint
- The public API uses https://op3.dev/api/1 and requires a bearer token associated with an API key.checked 15 Oct 2026
- API formats
- The hits endpoint documents TSV plus three JSON output formats: object-based JSON, array-based JSON and the default TSV.checked 15 Oct 2026
- API specification
- The API documentation offers a downloadable OpenAPI specification and identifies the API license as MIT.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Audience
- The project describes its intended users as podcasters and podcast hosting companies.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Changelog
- A release dated August 7, 2025 added an API query for episode download counts.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Cookies
- The privacy policy states that OP3's website uses no cookies.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Download caveat
- OP3 states that a download is an upper-bound server request measure and does not necessarily equal an actual listen.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Download filtering
- OP3 ignores non-GET requests, very small range requests, duplicate requests within 24 hours and identified bots or preloaders when calculating downloads.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Global delivery
- OP3 says it runs on a global CDN with edge nodes in more than 335 cities across over 125 countries.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Hosting
- The privacy policy identifies Cloudflare as the sole hosting provider and data store.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Hosting architecture
- OP3 says its production services are automatically deployed to Cloudflare, which acts as the sole hosting provider and data store.checked 15 Oct 2026
- How it works
- Podcasters or hosting companies add https://op3.dev/e/ before episode URLs in their podcast feed to measure downloads.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The setup page specifically mentions Megaphone, Transistor and Castopod as hosts that can add OP3 through dashboard settings or support.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Legal entity
- The terms identify SKYMETHOD LLC as doing business as OP3.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Limit: IAB certification
- A Reddit reviewer said OP3 was not IAB certified despite finding its numbers similar to several other measurement systems.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: interface
- The Podosphere characterized OP3's user interface as minimal and aimed at technical users comfortable with raw data.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: no dynamic ad insertion
- Podcast Pontifications says OP3 does not serve media or insert ads, so advertising requires a separate host or service.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: no exact listening behavior
- Podcast Pontifications says OP3 does not provide listening duration, episode completion, ad-skip or in-app play data.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: no subscriber tracking
- Podcast Pontifications says OP3 cannot track follows or subscriber-growth trends on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: prefix required
- Podcast Pontifications says OP3 has no retroactive data and only begins measuring after the prefix is added to episode URLs.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limits
- The API documentation says hit-query results can be filtered by URL or hashed IP address only for the last 90 days.checked 8 Oct 2026
The company
- Founded
- 2022checked 28 Sep 2026
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