Relevance first
AI-powered matching draws on topics, expertise, interests, audience, and podcast requirements, so the people you see are worth a conversation.
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Podcast guest booking comparison
Podzay vs MatchMaker.fm: which fits your workflow?
Both platforms connect podcast hosts and guests. MatchMaker.fm is an established directory with search filters, ratings, and an Android app. Podzay focuses on AI-powered matching, verified profiles, messaging, scheduling, and PodLink, and is free to use with a free trial for Founding Members. The better fit depends on the work you need the platform to handle.
At a glance
Two ways to reach a relevant interview
The table describes publicly stated capabilities and public reviews, not a hands-on test of either service. Plans and features change, so review current details before choosing.
| What matters | Podzay | MatchMaker.fm |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Help hosts find relevant guests and guests discover podcasts that fit their expertise. | Help podcasters find guests, and guests find shows, through a searchable directory. |
| Discovery | AI-powered matching using topics, expertise, interests, audience, and podcast requirements. | Search filters such as industry, expertise, and location, plus a matches page. |
| Profiles | Host and guest profiles, with verification status shown where available, plus PodLink, a personal booking page that collects your podcast appearances. | Customizable host and guest profiles. Its listing describes its experts as vetted. |
| Contact and booking | Direct messaging and interview scheduling within Podzay. | Built-in inbox and scheduling tools, with automated reminders. |
| Analytics | Match analytics. | Its listing describes audience and engagement data for guests. |
| Ratings and fee tools | Not currently a Podzay feature. | Ratings and reviews from hosts and guests, a "May Charge a Fee" tag, and a "Doesn't Charge a Fee" search filter. |
| Directory size | A growing community. No directory count is published on this page. | Says it connects people with over 70,000 shows and guests (company statement, not independently verified). |
| Mobile app | Not currently a Podzay feature. | Android app on Google Play (MatchMaker.fm Messenger), listed with 5K+ downloads. |
| Cost to start | Free to use for Founding Members, with a free trial. No credit card required. | Reviewers describe a free plan with limits, such as around ten outreach messages and ten saved profiles, and paid membership for full access. Confirm current limits. |
| Access model | Everyone joining during the founding period receives full access free as a Founding Member, with a free trial. No credit card required. | Paid membership plans. Its G2 listing does not publish pricing, so this page does not quote a price. |
| Often a good fit for | People who want relevant AI-powered matches, one place to message and book, and a free start. | People who want a large searchable directory, fee tags and filters, ratings, or a mobile app. |
Reviewed October 2026.
What the public says
How MatchMaker.fm is rated today
We looked at public ratings and reviews so you do not have to. Each rating below comes from a small number of reviews and every review is one person's opinion, so treat them as one signal and test both platforms yourself.
- G2 (2024): reviewers describe it as easy to sign up for, simple to use, and quick to search, with filters that work well. One said they had already appeared on a podcast found through the platform.
- G2 (2024): a host said they use it weekly to contact potential guests and that the information is presented clearly.
- Reddit, r/podcasting (about two years ago): a long-time free user called it a steady source of new guests, while noting that some requests were unsuitable.
- Trustpilot and G2 (August 2026): a reviewer who upgraded to the paid annual plan said the shows they found had low engagement and that outreach often led to requests for payment. MatchMaker.fm replied that it offers a "May Charge a Fee" tag and a "Doesn't Charge a Fee" filter, that shows operate independently, and that it would look into a refund.
- Trustpilot (September 2025): another reviewer raised similar concerns about fees and the value of paid membership. MatchMaker.fm replied that its subscription is separate from any fees a show or guest sets, and that it takes no cut of those.
- Trustpilot (December 2025): one reviewer reported being charged after cancelling. MatchMaker.fm's reply disputes this and says a refund was completed.
- G2 (2024): a reviewer wanted more on the free plan, which they said limits outreach after about ten messages and caps saved profiles unless you are a full member.
- Reddit, r/podcasting (about two years ago): one commenter advised against paying for access to guests, pointing to free ways to find them.
Ratings and reviews are summarized from public listings on Google, Trustpilot, G2, and Reddit as of October 2026. The Facebook rating is shown on MatchMaker.fm's Google profile. Reviewers are not named here.
Fit checker
Tick what you need. See who covers it.
Most comparison pages tell you which tool they prefer. This one lets you decide. Pick what matters to you and see how many of your needs each platform covers, including the ones where MatchMaker.fm is ahead.
Start from:
Podzay
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MatchMaker.fm
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Tick a few needs above, or pick a starting point, to see how each platform lines up.
Based on publicly stated capabilities reviewed in October 2026, and written by Podzay. "Not listed" means we did not find it in the public descriptions we reviewed, not that it is certainly absent. Confirm details with each service.
Podzay is free to use, with a free trial. Start with a real guest or show search and see how the matches feel.
Join Podzay for freeWhy people try Podzay
What Podzay is built around
Your appearances in one place
PodLink gives you a personal booking page that collects all of your podcast appearances, so hosts can see your work at a glance.
Free to join now
Founding Members get full access free, plus a free trial, with no credit card required. Future paid plans would apply only to people who join afterward.
Choose by your needs
Which approach makes sense for you?
Consider Podzay if…
You want to find relevant people, learn about their show or expertise, start a conversation, and arrange an interview in one place.
- You are a host searching for guests aligned with your topics and audience.
- You are a guest looking for shows where your experience is relevant.
- You want a free start with a free trial and no credit card.
Consider MatchMaker.fm if…
You want a large searchable directory with extra tools for checking fees and reading ratings before you reach out.
- Search filters, ratings, and a "Doesn't Charge a Fee" filter matter to you.
- You want automated interview reminders and an Android app.
- You are comfortable checking each show's real audience before you commit.
Where MatchMaker.fm is the stronger pick
If you want a big directory to browse, ratings and fee tags to screen shows, automated reminders, or a mobile app, MatchMaker.fm lists those and Podzay does not. We would rather you choose the tool that fits your process than one that only looks good on a feature page.
If your priority is relevant matches, a personal PodLink page, and a free start, Podzay is built for that.
A closer look
Start with fit, then examine the workflow
For podcast hosts
A useful guest brings expertise that fits the show's topics and offers something worthwhile to its audience. Podzay lets hosts review profiles, discuss an episode, and arrange the interview. MatchMaker.fm also supports host search with filters and a built-in inbox. Try a real guest search on either service and ask whether the profiles give you enough context to make a confident invitation. On any platform, ask about fees before you agree to anything.
For podcast guests
The right show is one whose audience and topics suit the conversation you can offer. Podzay helps guests explore relevant podcasts and contact hosts. MatchMaker.fm lets guests search shows by category and location, with limits on the free plan according to reviewers. Compare actual shows you would approach, check how engaged their audience really is, and see how easy it is to make a thoughtful introduction.
On pricing
Podzay's Founding Member policy gives everyone who joins during the founding period full access free, along with a free trial and no credit card requirement. Future paid plans would apply only to new members who join afterward. MatchMaker.fm offers paid membership. Its G2 listing does not publish pricing and reviewers describe free-plan limits, so check its current plans before you decide.
For more detail on Podzay's workflow, see the features page. If you are deciding whom to approach, read our guide to finding podcast guests .
Decide in five minutes
A quick way to choose
- Write down your top three needs. Matching, scheduling, fee screening, ratings, or something else. Use the fit checker above if it helps.
- Search for five real people or shows. Pick guests or podcasts you would genuinely approach, not generic examples.
- Check the profiles and the real audience. Is there enough information to write a confident message, and does the show's actual engagement match what it claims?
- Ask about fees up front. Before you agree to an interview on any platform, confirm whether the host or guest expects payment.
- Compare the cost to the result. Podzay is free to use and includes a free trial. For MatchMaker.fm, confirm the current plan limits and price.
Common questions
Podzay vs MatchMaker.fm FAQs
Is Podzay the same type of tool as MatchMaker.fm?
Both connect podcast hosts and guests. Podzay emphasizes AI-powered matching, verified profiles, direct messaging, scheduling, and PodLink. MatchMaker.fm describes a larger directory with search filters, ratings and reviews, automated reminders, and an Android app.
Is Podzay free for hosts and guests?
Everyone who joins during Podzay's founding period becomes a Founding Member and keeps full access free. Podzay also includes a free trial, and no credit card is required. See Podzay pricing for the full policy.
Does MatchMaker.fm have a free plan?
Reviewers report a free plan with limits, such as a cap on outreach messages and saved profiles, and paid membership for full access. Limits can change, so confirm the current terms on MatchMaker.fm before you sign up.
Do podcasts charge guests to appear?
Some public reviews of MatchMaker.fm say shows or guests asked for money. MatchMaker.fm says creators operate independently and offers a "May Charge a Fee" tag and a "Doesn't Charge a Fee" filter. On any platform, ask about fees before you agree to an interview.
Which platform will get me more interviews?
Neither platform can guarantee bookings. The outcome depends on the relevance of the people available, the information in your profile, your outreach, and whether both sides want the conversation. Test the workflow against your actual podcast topics or guest expertise.
Can I use Podzay and MatchMaker.fm together?
Yes. Podzay is free to use and includes a free trial, so you can test it alongside any other tool you already use.
Find people worth talking to.
Join Podzay as a Founding Member. Explore relevant hosts or guests, review profiles, send a message, and arrange the next conversation.
Join Podzay for free