Softwr

Video Production · head to head

Anchor vs RedCircle

Anchor logo

Anchor

Video Production

Free podcast hosting and creation platform by Spotify

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
RedCircle logo

RedCircle

Podcasting

Free podcast hosting with sponsorship opportunities

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; RedCircle the free Core plan is limited to 1 podcast; unlimited podcasts require the Growth plan at $14.99 per month
  • They diverge on capability: Anchor covers Unlimited podcast hosting, RedCircle covers Unlimited hosting.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Anchor and RedCircle actually diverge.

Attributes where Anchor and RedCircle differ
AttributeAnchorRedCircle
CategoryVideo ProductionPodcasting

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web, Ios, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), founded (2015).

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 RedCircle

  • Unlimited hosting
  • Distribution
  • Sponsorship marketplace
  • Podcast website
  • Monetization
  • All podcast platforms
  • Advertising networks

Both cover

  • Analytics
  • Social media
  • Content protection
  • 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 RedCircle
  • Recording and basic editing from a phonenot RedCircle
  • Distributing an episode to Spotify and other directoriesnot RedCircle
  • Audience analytics for a shownot RedCircle

RedCircle

  • Hosting and distributing podcasts with unlimited storage and downloadsnot Anchor
  • Monetising a podcast through host-read and programmatic ad marketplacesnot Anchor
  • Selling paid subscriptions and exclusive episodesnot 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

RedCircle

  • The free Core plan is limited to 1 podcast; unlimited podcasts require the Growth plan at $14.99 per month
  • The free Core plan caps AI transcripts at 5 per month
  • The Core plan podcast webpage carries a Related Shows section that cannot be removed
  • Support on the Core plan is standard with a 72 hour response; 48 hour Advanced support starts on Growth
  • Team seats are not available on Core or Growth; Pro at $29.99 per month includes 5 seats and unlimited seats require Enterprise at $99.99 per month
  • Video file upload to episodes and one-click YouTube distribution require the Pro plan
  • Running your own ads and tracking URLs require the Pro plan
  • A dedicated account manager is Enterprise only
  • The trial is 7 days

Pricing, plan by plan

Anchor

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

RedCircle

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited hosting
    • Automatic distribution
    • Sponsorship opportunities

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 RedCircle if

  • You need unlimited hosting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want distribution.
RedCircle review

Questions people ask

Is Anchor or RedCircle better?
Neither clearly leads. Anchor starts at Free and RedCircle at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Anchor or RedCircle?
Anchor starts at Free and RedCircle at Free.
Does Anchor or RedCircle run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Ios, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
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 RedCircle is typically brought in for.
What can Anchor do that RedCircle cannot?
Anchor covers Unlimited podcast hosting, One-click distribution, Built-in recording, Episode scheduling. RedCircle covers Unlimited hosting, Distribution, Sponsorship marketplace, Podcast website. 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
Share

Related pages

More on Anchor

More on RedCircle

Keep looking

Other head to heads