Software · head to head
Anchor vs Buzzsprout
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; Buzzsprout upload hours do not carry over monthly; unused allocation lost
- They diverge on capability: Anchor covers Unlimited podcast hosting, Buzzsprout covers Audio optimization.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Anchor and Buzzsprout actually diverge.
| Attribute | Anchor | Buzzsprout |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | free | freemium |
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android | Web, Mobile |
| Founded | 2015 | 2009 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Anchor
- Unlimited podcast hosting
- One-click distribution
- Built-in recording
- Episode scheduling
- Monetization tools
- Analytics
- Amazon Music
- Spotify authentication
Only in Buzzsprout
- Audio optimization
- Automatic distribution
- Episode transcription
- Custom podcast website
- Analytics dashboard
- Magic Mastering
- WordPress
- SSL encryption
Both cover
- Spotify
- Apple Podcasts
- Google Podcasts
- Social media
- Privacy controls
- Web support
- Ios support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Anchor
- Free podcast hosting and distributionnot Buzzsprout
- Recording and basic editing from a phonenot Buzzsprout
- Distributing an episode to Spotify and other directoriesnot Buzzsprout
- Audience analytics for a shownot Buzzsprout
Buzzsprout
- Podcast hostingnot Anchor
- Audio and video podcast distributionnot Anchor
- Transcription and show notes generationnot Anchor
- Podcast analytics and monetisationnot 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
Buzzsprout
- Upload hours do not carry over monthly; unused allocation lost
- Overage charges apply at plan rate for additional uploads
Pricing, plan by plan
Anchor
Free- FreeFree
- Unlimited hosting
- Automatic distribution
- Built-in recording tools
Buzzsprout
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Buzzsprout review.
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.
Choose Buzzsprout if
- You need audio optimization.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Mobile.
- You also want automatic distribution.
Questions people ask
- Is Anchor or Buzzsprout better?
- Neither clearly leads. Anchor starts at Free and Buzzsprout at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Anchor or Buzzsprout?
- Anchor starts at Free and Buzzsprout at Free.
- Does Anchor or Buzzsprout run on more platforms?
- Anchor runs on Web, Ios, Android. Buzzsprout runs on Web, Mobile.
- 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 Buzzsprout is typically brought in for.
- What can Anchor do that Buzzsprout cannot?
- Anchor covers Unlimited podcast hosting, One-click distribution, Built-in recording, Episode scheduling. Buzzsprout covers Audio optimization, Automatic distribution, Episode transcription, Custom podcast website. Both handle Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Social media.
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