Head-to-head comparison
The Ambies vs On Air Fest
Two of the resources tools podcasters reach for. Here's how they differ on pricing, features, audience, and the trade-offs that actually matter day-to-day.
Annual Podcast Academy awards recognizing excellence in audio across genres.
Best for: Audio awards
Brooklyn audio festival mixing live tapings, performances, and industry conversations.
Best for: Creative craft festival
At a glance
The honest trade-offs
The Ambies
Pros
- Peer-voted by Podcast Academy members
- Genre breadth across the medium
- Permanently tied to On Air Fest from 2026
Watch-outs
- Submission fees per entry
- Heavily US-skewed entries and voters
- Niche genres can be overlooked
On Air Fest
Pros
- Strong creative programming and live tapings
- Three walkable Brooklyn venues
- Ambies awards now embedded in the weekend
Watch-outs
- Smaller than Podcast Movement
- Mostly NYC-centric attendees
- Public passes sell out quickly
Which one should you pick?
Pick The Ambies if
You’re building around audio awards. The closest thing podcasting has to a peer-voted industry awards show, run by The Podcast Academy. The 2026 sixth annual ceremony was held at Arlo Williamsburg on February 25 as part of On Air Fest — a permanent move announced this year.
Pick On Air Fest if
You’re building around creative craft festival. Called the "Coachella of Podcasts" by Fast Company. Leans creative and editorial rather than ad-tech and sales.
Also worth comparing
Or see all The Ambies alternatives.
Frequently asked
What does The Ambies do better than On Air Fest?
The Ambies's standout is "Peer-voted by Podcast Academy members". On Air Fest doesn't make that promise — it leans into "Strong creative programming and live tapings" instead. If the first sentence describes your workflow, pick The Ambies; if the second does, pick On Air Fest.
What are the trade-offs?
The Ambies: submission fees per entry. On Air Fest: smaller than podcast movement. Whether either matters depends entirely on what you actually need — neither is a deal-breaker by itself.
Can I use The Ambies and On Air Fest together?
Both are resources tools so most teams pick one. Some workflows do combine them — for example, using The Ambies for one show or episode type and On Air Fest for another. Worth trying both free tiers before committing.