Head-to-head comparison
International Podcast Day 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 September 30th celebration with virtual sessions and global podcaster meetups.
Best for: Annual community event
Brooklyn audio festival mixing live tapings, performances, and industry conversations.
Best for: Creative craft festival
At a glance
The honest trade-offs
International Podcast Day
Pros
- Genuinely global participation
- Free virtual sessions
- Good for cross-promotion via the hashtag
Watch-outs
- One day a year
- Less programming than commercial events
- Site updates slowly between editions
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 International Podcast Day if
You’re building around annual community event. The loose, decentralized annual celebration of podcasting on September 30. Started in 2014 by Steve Lee.
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
Frequently asked
What does International Podcast Day do better than On Air Fest?
International Podcast Day's standout is "Genuinely global participation". 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 International Podcast Day; if the second does, pick On Air Fest.
What are the trade-offs?
International Podcast Day: one day a year. 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 International Podcast Day and On Air Fest together?
Both are resources tools so most teams pick one. Some workflows do combine them — for example, using International Podcast Day for one show or episode type and On Air Fest for another. Worth trying both free tiers before committing.