Software · head to head
Anchor vs Squadcast
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; Squadcast free plan limited to 1 recording hour per editor per month and exports capped at 720p with watermarks
- They diverge on capability: Anchor covers Unlimited podcast hosting, Squadcast covers Local recording.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Anchor and Squadcast actually diverge.
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
- Spotify
- Apple Podcasts
Only in Squadcast
- Local recording
- Progressive upload
- Video recording
- Screen sharing
- Dolby audio
- Cloud storage
- Descript
- 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 Squadcast
- Recording and basic editing from a phonenot Squadcast
- Distributing an episode to Spotify and other directoriesnot Squadcast
- Audience analytics for a shownot Squadcast
Squadcast
- Remote podcast recording with per-editor hour-based billingnot 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
Squadcast
- Free plan limited to 1 recording hour per editor per month and exports capped at 720p with watermarks
- Hobbyist plan monthly price of $24 per person rises to $35 per person if paid monthly instead of annually
- Recording hour rollover is capped at twice the plan's monthly hour allotment
Pricing, plan by plan
Anchor
Free- FreeFree
- Unlimited hosting
- Automatic distribution
- Built-in recording tools
Squadcast
$12/month- Indie$12/month
- 5 hours recording
- Audio only
- Up to 3 guests
- Creator$20/month
- 10 hours recording
- Audio + Video
- Up to 5 guests
- Studio$44/month
- 25 hours recording
- All features
- Up to 9 guests
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 Squadcast if
- You need local recording.
- You work on Web, Desktop.
- You also want progressive upload.
Questions people ask
- Is Anchor or Squadcast better?
- Neither clearly leads. Anchor starts at Free and Squadcast at $12/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Anchor or Squadcast?
- Anchor has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Anchor and $12/month for Squadcast.
- Does Anchor or Squadcast run on more platforms?
- Anchor runs on Web, Ios, Android. Squadcast runs on Web, Desktop.
- Can I use Anchor for free?
- Yes. Anchor has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Squadcast starts at $12/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 Squadcast is typically brought in for.
- What can Anchor do that Squadcast cannot?
- Anchor covers Unlimited podcast hosting, One-click distribution, Built-in recording, Episode scheduling. Squadcast covers Local recording, Progressive upload, Video recording, Screen sharing. Both handle Web support.
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