Head-to-head comparison
The Podcast Academy 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.
Not-for-profit professional membership organization for the podcasting industry.
Best for: Industry membership
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 Podcast Academy
Pros
- Ambies voting eligibility
- Multiple membership tiers including student discount
- Open to industry-adjacent and freelance roles
Watch-outs
- Annual dues required
- Reference requirement adds friction
- Value depends on active participation
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 Podcast Academy if
You’re building around industry membership. The professional membership body behind the Ambies. Membership unlocks Ambies voting eligibility, educational programming, member-only events, networking, and discounts.
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 Podcast Academy do better than School of Podcasting?
The Podcast Academy's standout is "Ambies voting eligibility". 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 Podcast Academy; if the second does, pick School of Podcasting.
What are the trade-offs?
The Podcast Academy: annual dues required. 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 Podcast Academy and School of Podcasting together?
Both are resources tools so most teams pick one. Some workflows do combine them — for example, using The Podcast Academy for one show or episode type and School of Podcasting for another. Worth trying both free tiers before committing.