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Video Production · head to head

Anchor vs Fireside

Anchor logo

Anchor

Video Production

Free podcast hosting and creation platform by Spotify

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Fireside logo

Fireside

Podcasting

Podcast hosting with community features

From
$20/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Anchor has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • 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; Fireside starter plan at $9 per month allows one podcast and 5 episodes per month
  • They diverge on capability: Anchor covers Unlimited podcast hosting, Fireside covers Unlimited hosting.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Anchor and Fireside actually diverge.

Attributes where Anchor and Fireside differ
AttributeAnchorFireside
Starting priceFree$20/month
Pricing modelfreesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWeb
CategoryVideo ProductionPodcasting
Founded20152018

Identical on both: 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
  • Spotify
  • Apple Podcasts
  • Google Podcasts

Only in Fireside

  • Unlimited hosting
  • Community features
  • Distribution
  • Listener engagement
  • Monetization
  • All podcast platforms
  • Email services

Both cover

  • Analytics
  • Social media
  • Content protection
  • Privacy controls
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Anchor

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

Fireside

  • Hosting a podcast together with a customisable podcast websitenot Anchor
  • Running several shows as a podcast network from one accountnot Anchor
  • Tracking episode download metrics and link clicksnot 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

Fireside

  • Starter plan at $9 per month allows one podcast and 5 episodes per month
  • Custom domain with SSL requires the $19 per month Standard plan; Starter sites sit on a Fireside subdomain
  • Additional podcasts beyond the one included on Standard cost $8 per month each
  • Bandwidth is capped at 1TB per month on Standard and 5TB per month on Professional
  • Advanced download metrics and click tracking require the $49 per month Professional plan

Pricing, plan by plan

Anchor

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

Fireside

$20/month
  • Creator$20/month
    • Unlimited hosting
    • Community features
    • Distribution
  • Network$50/month
    • Multiple shows
    • Team management
    • Advanced analytics

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 Fireside if

  • You need unlimited hosting.
  • You also want community features.
Fireside review

Questions people ask

Is Anchor or Fireside better?
Neither clearly leads. Anchor starts at Free and Fireside at $20/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Anchor or Fireside?
Anchor has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Anchor and $20/month for Fireside.
Does Anchor or Fireside run on more platforms?
Anchor runs on Web, Ios, Android. Fireside runs on Web.
Can I use Anchor for free?
Yes. Anchor has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Fireside starts at $20/month.
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 Fireside is typically brought in for.
What can Anchor do that Fireside cannot?
Anchor covers Unlimited podcast hosting, One-click distribution, Built-in recording, Episode scheduling. Fireside covers Unlimited hosting, Community features, Distribution, Listener engagement. Both handle Analytics, Social media, Content protection, Privacy controls.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Anchor: Does Spotify for Creators charge a fee for podcasters?

No pricing information is published on the main Spotify for Creators page. The site focuses on features like growth tools, monetization, and customization.

Source
Anchor: How do I find pricing for Spotify for Creators?

Pricing details would need to be found in the sign-up flow, help center, or by contacting Spotify support directly.

Source
Anchor: What monetization features does Spotify for Creators include?

The site mentions monetization as a feature but does not specify details, rates, or minimum thresholds for creators to earn revenue.

Source
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