Head-to-head comparison
The Ambies vs School of Podcasting
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
One of the oldest paid podcasting courses, founded 2005, now owned by Podpage.
Best for: Structured podcast course
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
School of Podcasting
Pros
- Two decades of continuous teaching
- Hall of Fame instructor with unlimited coaching access
- Free tier rolling out via Podpage acquisition
Watch-outs
- Curriculum in transition right now
- Older content still being refreshed
- Tone is folksy rather than slick
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 School of Podcasting if
You’re building around structured podcast course. Dave Jackson has been teaching people to podcast for two decades and was inducted into the Academy of Podcasters Hall of Fame in 2018. In 2025, Podpage acquired the school and is rolling out a free tier and rebuilt curriculum in 2026.
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Frequently asked
What does The Ambies do better than School of Podcasting?
The Ambies's standout is "Peer-voted by Podcast Academy members". School of Podcasting doesn't make that promise — it leans into "Two decades of continuous teaching" instead. If the first sentence describes your workflow, pick The Ambies; if the second does, pick School of Podcasting.
What are the trade-offs?
The Ambies: submission fees per entry. School of Podcasting: curriculum in transition right now. Whether either matters depends entirely on what you actually need — neither is a deal-breaker by itself.
Can I use The Ambies and School of Podcasting 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 School of Podcasting for another. Worth trying both free tiers before committing.