For hosts
PodcastGuests.com says it never charges hosts to use its system to book guests.
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Podcast guest booking comparison
Podzay vs PodcastGuests.com: which fits your workflow?
Both help podcast hosts and guests find each other. PodcastGuests.com is a long-running directory of expert profiles and says it never charges hosts to book guests. 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 discussion, not a hands-on test of either service. Plans and features change, so review current details before choosing.
| What matters | Podzay | PodcastGuests.com |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Help hosts find relevant guests and guests discover podcasts that fit their expertise. | A directory that connects podcasters with guest experts. |
| Discovery | AI-powered matching using topics, expertise, interests, audience, and podcast requirements. | Browse expert profile pages and listings. Public discussions say it takes time to sort through the options. |
| Profiles | Host and guest profiles, with verification status shown where available, plus PodLink, a personal booking page that collects your podcast appearances. | Expert profile pages with a bio and the topics each guest can speak about. |
| Contact and booking | Direct messaging and interview scheduling within Podzay. | Hosts reach out to guests they find in the directory. Built-in messaging and scheduling are not described in the public pages we reviewed. |
| Analytics | Match analytics. | Not described in the public pages we reviewed. |
| Fee policy and scam guidance | Not covered on this page. | Says it never charges hosts to book guests, says guests cannot charge podcasters to appear, and publishes a guide to fake podcast invitation scams (July 2025). |
| Directory size | A growing community. No directory count is published on this page. | One 2022 Reddit commenter said the site claimed about 40,000 users (not verified). |
| Cost to start | Free to use for Founding Members, with a free trial. No credit card required. | Hosts are not charged to book guests, per the site. A 2022 Reddit post described a paid profile at about $10 a month. Confirm current plans. |
| Access model | Everyone joining during the founding period receives full access free as a Founding Member, with a free trial. No credit card required. | This page does not quote a price. Check its current plans on its website. |
| 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 straightforward directory to browse and do not mind sorting through options themselves. |
Reviewed October 2026.
What the public says
What people say about PodcastGuests.com
We looked at the site's own pages and public discussions so you do not have to. In the sources we reviewed, we did not find a pattern of serious complaints. The recurring themes are how much time it takes to sort through options and whether a paid listing is worth it. Every comment is one person's opinion, so test both platforms yourself.
For guests
Its FAQ says guests cannot charge podcasters for their appearance.
Scam safety
It published a guide in July 2025 to fake podcast invitations, including pay-to-play schemes.
- Reddit, r/podcasting (about seven years ago): when a host asked whether anyone had used it, one user replied that they had a great experience.
- Reddit, r/podcasting (about five years ago): another user said they had good luck overall.
- Reddit, r/podcasting (about seven months ago): a commenter listed it among sites they had used to find guests and said free tiers are often enough.
- Its own testimonials page: a guest says they appear on two to four podcasts a month. These are testimonials chosen by the company.
- Reddit, r/podcasting (about five years ago): the same user who had good luck added that you need to take your time combing through the options.
- Reddit, r/podcasting (about four years ago): a host asked whether a paid profile, described as about $10 a month, was worth it. One commenter said it is cheap enough to try for a month. Another said a paid listing puts you in the directory but does not by itself bring listeners, and that growth comes from appearing on other shows.
Summarized from PodcastGuests.com's own pages and public r/podcasting threads as of October 2026. Commenters are not named, and some posts are several years old.
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 PodcastGuests.com is ahead.
Start from:
Podzay
0 of 0
PodcastGuests.com
0 of 0
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
Relevance first
AI-powered matching draws on topics, expertise, interests, audience, and podcast requirements, so you spend less time sorting and more time talking to the right people.
Message and book in one place
Review a profile, send a direct message, and schedule the interview without moving between tools.
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 who wants guests suggested to you, not just a list to browse.
- You are a guest looking for shows where your experience is relevant, and you want a PodLink page for your appearances.
- You want a free start with a free trial and no credit card.
Consider PodcastGuests.com if…
You want a straightforward directory to browse, with a published no-fee policy for hosts.
- You like to browse profiles and choose guests yourself.
- You value a site that publishes guidance on fake podcast invitation scams.
- You are comfortable spending time sorting through options.
Where PodcastGuests.com is the stronger pick
PodcastGuests.com has a longer public track record, a stated policy that hosts are never charged to book guests, and a published guide to podcast scams. Those are real strengths, and we would rather you choose the tool that fits your process than one that only looks good on a feature page.
If you want relevant matches suggested for you, a place to message and schedule, and a personal PodLink page, 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. PodcastGuests.com lets hosts browse expert profiles and reach out to the guests they like. Try a real guest search on either service and ask whether the profiles give you enough context to make a confident invitation.
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. PodcastGuests.com lets experts create a profile that hosts can find. One 2022 discussion noted that a listing alone does not bring bookings, so plan to pitch shows directly on any platform.
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. PodcastGuests.com says it never charges hosts to book guests, and a 2022 Reddit post described a paid profile at about $10 a month. 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, messaging, scheduling, fee policy, 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. Is there enough information to write a confident, personal message, and how long did it take to find them?
- Check unexpected invitations carefully. Be wary of hosts who use a personal email address, ask for passwords or payment, or push you to reply fast. This applies on any platform.
- Compare the cost to the result. Podzay is free to use and includes a free trial. For PodcastGuests.com, confirm the current plans.
Common questions
Podzay vs PodcastGuests.com FAQs
Is Podzay the same type of tool as PodcastGuests.com?
Both help podcast hosts and guests find each other. Podzay emphasizes AI-powered matching, verified profiles, direct messaging, scheduling, and PodLink. PodcastGuests.com is a directory of expert profiles that hosts browse and reach out from.
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 PodcastGuests.com charge hosts?
According to its own scam guidance page, PodcastGuests.com never charges hosts to use its system to book guests. A 2022 Reddit post described a paid profile at about $10 a month. Confirm current plans on its website.
Is PodcastGuests.com legitimate?
Public discussions going back several years describe people using it, and the site publishes its own guide to fake podcast invitation scams. Scammers can impersonate hosts on any platform, so check unexpected invitations carefully.
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 PodcastGuests.com 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