Head-to-head comparison

Podcasters' Roundtable vs Podfest Expo

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.

Long-running podcast about podcasting, with rotating creator guests and live chat.

Best for: Peer creator discussion

Longest-running annual in-person podcasting conference, held each January in Orlando.

Best for: Indie podcaster conference

At a glance

Field
Podcasters' Roundtable
Podfest Expo
Best for
Peer creator discussion
Indie podcaster conference
Price tier
Freeverify
Platforms
Web
Web
Audience
Solo creatorsSmall teams
Solo creatorsSmall teams

The honest trade-offs

Podcasters' Roundtable

Pros

  • Decade-plus archive of working-podcaster discussion
  • Multi-host roundtable format
  • Open to listener participation via chat

Watch-outs

  • Episodes can run long
  • Audio quality varies by guest setup
  • US-creator centric

Podfest Expo

Pros

  • Indie and beginner friendly
  • Lower pass cost than competitors
  • 12 years of continuous programming

Watch-outs

  • Less industry deal-making than Podcast Movement
  • Orlando travel not ideal for everyone
  • Brand sponsorship leans podcasting-vendor

Which one should you pick?

Pick Podcasters' Roundtable if

You’re building around peer creator discussion. Running for over a decade, hosted by Ray Ortega of The Podcasters' Studio and joined by Daniel J. Lewis (The Audacity to Podcast) and Dave Jackson (School of Podcasting) plus rotating guests.

Pick Podfest Expo if

You’re building around indie podcaster conference. Friendlier and more accessible than Podcast Movement, with a strong indie creator base and lower price point. The 2026 edition ran January 15-18 at the Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld — its 12th annual event and the longest-running annual in-person podcasting conference in the world.

Also worth comparing

Or see all Podcasters' Roundtable alternatives.

Frequently asked

What does Podcasters' Roundtable do better than Podfest Expo?

Podcasters' Roundtable's standout is "Decade-plus archive of working-podcaster discussion". Podfest Expo doesn't make that promise — it leans into "Indie and beginner friendly" instead. If the first sentence describes your workflow, pick Podcasters' Roundtable; if the second does, pick Podfest Expo.

What are the trade-offs?

Podcasters' Roundtable: episodes can run long. Podfest Expo: less industry deal-making than podcast movement. Whether either matters depends entirely on what you actually need — neither is a deal-breaker by itself.

Can I use Podcasters' Roundtable and Podfest Expo together?

Both are resources tools so most teams pick one. Some workflows do combine them — for example, using Podcasters' Roundtable for one show or episode type and Podfest Expo for another. Worth trying both free tiers before committing.