Software · head to head
Acast vs Anchor
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.
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 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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