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Software · head to head

Acast vs Anchor

Acast logo

Acast

Software

Enterprise podcast hosting and advertising

From
On request
Rated
-
Anchor logo

Anchor

Software

Free podcast hosting and creation platform by Spotify

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Anchor has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Acast the free Starter tier is limited to 1 show and 5 episodes; unlimited episodes require making the show available in Acast's advertising marketplace; Anchor no longer a standalone product. Spotify folded Anchor into its own podcaster tooling, and anchor.fm now redirects to creators.spotify.com
  • They diverge on capability: Acast covers Enterprise hosting, Anchor covers Unlimited podcast hosting.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Acast and Anchor actually diverge.

Attributes where Acast and Anchor differ
AttributeAcastAnchor
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotefree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20142015

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Acast

  • Enterprise hosting
  • Dynamic ad insertion
  • Sponsorship platform
  • Monetization
  • API access
  • All podcast platforms
  • Advertising networks
  • CMS systems

Only in Anchor

  • Unlimited podcast hosting
  • One-click distribution
  • Built-in recording
  • Episode scheduling
  • Monetization tools
  • Spotify
  • Apple Podcasts
  • Google Podcasts

Both cover

  • Analytics
  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Acast

  • Hosting and distributing a podcast to all major listening appsnot Anchor
  • Monetising episodes through the Acast advertising marketplace and sponsorshipsnot Anchor
  • Publishing video podcast episodes alongside audionot Anchor

Anchor

  • Free podcast hosting and distributionnot Acast
  • Recording and basic editing from a phonenot Acast
  • Distributing an episode to Spotify and other directoriesnot Acast
  • Audience analytics for a shownot Acast

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Acast

  • The free Starter tier is limited to 1 show and 5 episodes; unlimited episodes require making the show available in Acast's advertising marketplace
  • Multiple shows require the paid Influencer plan at $14.99 per month billed annually or $25 per month billed monthly
  • Team management, prioritised support and the Publishing API require the Pro plan at $29.99 per month billed annually or $40 per month monthly
  • Publishing video episodes to Apple Podcasts requires the Video plan at $39.99 per month billed annually or $50 per month monthly
  • The Video plan includes only 10,000 monthly video views
  • A payment card is required to sign up even for the free tier
  • The Creator Network tier is quote only with no published price

Anchor

  • No longer a standalone product. Spotify folded Anchor into its own podcaster tooling, and anchor.fm now redirects to creators.spotify.com
  • Tying hosting to Spotify's platform means the analytics and monetisation follow Spotify's terms rather than a neutral host's

Pricing, plan by plan

Acast

On request
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Unlimited hosting
    • Dynamic ad insertion
    • Sponsorship marketplace

Anchor

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited hosting
    • Automatic distribution
    • Built-in recording tools

Which should you pick?

Choose Acast if

  • You need enterprise hosting.
  • You also want dynamic ad insertion.

Choose Anchor if

  • You need unlimited podcast hosting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want one-click distribution.

Questions people ask

Is Acast or Anchor better?
Neither clearly leads. Acast starts at On request and Anchor at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Acast or Anchor?
Anchor has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Acast and Free for Anchor.
Does Acast or Anchor run on more platforms?
Acast runs on Web. Anchor runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Anchor for free?
Yes. Anchor has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Acast starts at On request.
What is Acast best used for?
Acast is most often used for hosting and distributing a podcast to all major listening apps, monetising episodes through the acast advertising marketplace and sponsorships, publishing video podcast episodes alongside audio. Of those, hosting and distributing a podcast to all major listening apps and monetising episodes through the acast advertising marketplace and sponsorships are not what Anchor is typically brought in for.
What can Acast do that Anchor cannot?
Acast covers Enterprise hosting, Dynamic ad insertion, Sponsorship platform, Monetization. Anchor covers Unlimited podcast hosting, One-click distribution, Built-in recording, Episode scheduling. Both handle Analytics, Web support.

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