Head-to-head comparison
Podfest Expo vs Podnews
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.
Longest-running annual in-person podcasting conference, held each January in Orlando.
Best for: Indie podcaster conference
Daily podcast industry news read every weekday morning by working podcasters.
Best for: Industry news
At a glance
The honest trade-offs
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
Podnews
Pros
- Updated every weekday since 2017
- Genuinely global coverage
- Free with no paywall
Watch-outs
- Inside-baseball tone
- Not for casual listeners
- Light on creative craft topics
Which one should you pick?
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.
Pick Podnews if
You’re building around industry news. If you only read one podcast newsletter, this is it. James Cridland's daily dispatch is short, dense, and global — heavy on platform moves, hires, and tech changes.
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Frequently asked
What does Podfest Expo do better than Podnews?
Podfest Expo's standout is "Indie and beginner friendly". Podnews doesn't make that promise — it leans into "Updated every weekday since 2017" instead. If the first sentence describes your workflow, pick Podfest Expo; if the second does, pick Podnews.
What are the trade-offs?
Podfest Expo: less industry deal-making than podcast movement. Podnews: inside-baseball tone. Whether either matters depends entirely on what you actually need — neither is a deal-breaker by itself.
Can I use Podfest Expo and Podnews together?
Both are resources tools so most teams pick one. Some workflows do combine them — for example, using Podfest Expo for one show or episode type and Podnews for another. Worth trying both free tiers before committing.