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Software · head to head

Anchor vs Podcast.co

Anchor logo

Anchor

Software

Free podcast hosting and creation platform by Spotify

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Podcast.co logo

Podcast.co

Software

Professional podcast hosting and distribution

From
$19/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; Podcast.co limited advanced podcast customization compared to enterprise solutions
  • They diverge on capability: Anchor covers Unlimited podcast hosting, Podcast.co covers Unlimited hosting.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Anchor and Podcast.co actually diverge.

Attributes where Anchor and Podcast.co differ
AttributeAnchorPodcast.co
Starting priceFree$19/month
Pricing modelfreeUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWeb
Founded20152017

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 Anchor

  • Unlimited podcast hosting
  • One-click distribution
  • Built-in recording
  • Episode scheduling
  • Monetization tools
  • Analytics
  • Amazon Music
  • Spotify authentication

Only in Podcast.co

  • Unlimited hosting
  • Podcast websites
  • Distribution
  • Advanced analytics
  • Team collaboration
  • YouTube
  • SSL encryption
  • GDPR compliant

Both cover

  • Spotify
  • Apple Podcasts
  • Google Podcasts
  • Social media
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Anchor

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

Podcast.co

  • Podcast hostingnot Anchor
  • Corporate podcastingnot Anchor
  • Network hostingnot 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

Podcast.co

  • Limited advanced podcast customization compared to enterprise solutions
  • Transcription service costs extra at $20/month for only 10 hours
  • Download limits vary by plan; Lite tier caps at 15,000 monthly downloads

Pricing, plan by plan

Anchor

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

Podcast.co

$19/month
  • Lite$19/month
    • 1 user
    • 15,000 monthly downloads
    • Basic podcast pages
  • Growth$49/month
    • 5 users
    • 75,000 monthly downloads
    • Advanced podcast pages
  • Premium$99/month
    • Unlimited users
    • 200,000 monthly downloads
    • Advanced podcast pages

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 Podcast.co if

  • You need unlimited hosting.
  • You also want podcast websites.
Podcast.co review

Questions people ask

Is Anchor or Podcast.co better?
Neither clearly leads. Anchor starts at Free and Podcast.co at $19/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Anchor or Podcast.co?
Anchor has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Anchor and $19/month for Podcast.co.
Does Anchor or Podcast.co run on more platforms?
Anchor runs on Web, Ios, Android. Podcast.co runs on Web.
Can I use Anchor for free?
Yes. Anchor has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Podcast.co starts at $19/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 Podcast.co is typically brought in for.
What can Anchor do that Podcast.co cannot?
Anchor covers Unlimited podcast hosting, One-click distribution, Built-in recording, Episode scheduling. Podcast.co covers Unlimited hosting, Podcast websites, Distribution, Advanced analytics. Both handle Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Social media.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Podcast.co: How many podcasts can I host?

All Podcast.co plans allow unlimited podcasts and unlimited episodes. You can create and manage multiple shows under one account, with the Growth and Premium plans offering team collaboration for managing different podcasts.

Source
Podcast.co: Which platforms does Podcast.co distribute to?

Podcast.co provides one-click distribution to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and other major podcast directories. The platform also offers scheduled publishing and custom episode artwork.

Source
Podcast.co: What analytics are included?

All plans include audience data showing most popular episodes, listener locations, and top-performing platforms. Growth and Premium plans include more advanced analytics with team insights and subscriber tracking for private podcasts.

Source
Podcast.co: Is transcription included?

Audio transcription is available as an add-on service at $20 per month for 10 hours of audio transcription. This helps repurpose podcast content into blog posts and social media snippets.

Source
Podcast.co: Can I monetize my podcast?

Growth and Premium plans support private podcasting with invite-only episodes for paying subscribers. Podcast.co integrates with billing systems to deliver exclusive content to the right subscribers.

Source
Podcast.co: Is there a free trial?

Podcast.co offers a 14-day free trial with no hidden fees, allowing you to test the platform before committing to a paid plan.

Source
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Related pages

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