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Video & Audio Production · head to head

Anchor vs Auphonic

Anchor logo

Anchor

Video & Audio Production

Free podcast hosting and creation platform by Spotify

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Auphonic logo

Auphonic

Podcast & Audio Publishing

Automated audio mastering and loudness processing

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Anchor no longer a standalone product. Spotify folded Anchor into its own podcaster tooling, and anchor.fm now redirects to creators.spotify.com; Auphonic the free tier covers 2 hours of processed audio a month
  • They diverge on capability: Anchor covers Unlimited podcast hosting, Auphonic covers Automatic loudness optimization.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Anchor and Auphonic actually diverge.

Attributes where Anchor and Auphonic differ
AttributeAnchorAuphonic
Pricing modelfreefreemium
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWeb
CategoryVideo & Audio ProductionPodcast & Audio Publishing
Founded20152010

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Anchor

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

Only in Auphonic

  • Automatic loudness optimization
  • Noise reduction
  • Audio restoration
  • Intelligent processing
  • API integration
  • Auto-upload
  • Podcast hosts
  • Dropbox

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Anchor

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

Auphonic

  • Automatic loudness levelling and noise reduction on podcast audionot Anchor
  • Batch processing an archive of recordingsnot Anchor
  • Generating transcripts and chapters from an episodenot Anchor
  • Producing consistent output across multiple formats from one uploadnot Anchor

Where each one falls short

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

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

Auphonic

  • The free tier covers 2 hours of processed audio a month
  • Billing is by audio duration with a 3 minute minimum per production, so many short clips cost more than the running time suggests
  • Multilingual speech recognition, automatic chapters and show notes all require a paid plan
  • Watch folders, batch productions and team accounts are paid features
  • Free output carries an Auphonic jingle

Pricing, plan by plan

Anchor

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

Auphonic

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 2 hours/month processing
    • Basic mastering
    • Download files
  • Personal$10/month
    • 50 hours/month
    • Advanced mastering
    • API access

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.
Anchor review

Choose Auphonic if

  • You need automatic loudness optimization.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want noise reduction.
Auphonic review

Questions people ask

Is Anchor or Auphonic better?
Neither clearly leads. Anchor starts at Free and Auphonic at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Anchor or Auphonic?
Anchor starts at Free and Auphonic at Free.
Does Anchor or Auphonic run on more platforms?
Anchor runs on Web, Ios, Android. Auphonic runs on Web.
Can I use Anchor for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Anchor best used for?
Anchor is most often used for free podcast hosting and distribution, recording and basic editing from a phone, distributing an episode to spotify and other directories, audience analytics for a show. Of those, free podcast hosting and distribution and recording and basic editing from a phone are not what Auphonic is typically brought in for.
What can Anchor do that Auphonic cannot?
Anchor covers Unlimited podcast hosting, One-click distribution, Built-in recording, Episode scheduling. Auphonic covers Automatic loudness optimization, Noise reduction, Audio restoration, Intelligent processing. Both handle Web support.
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