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Software · head to head

Anchorfree vs Crowdcast

A

Anchorfree

Software

Platform for hosting and distributing live events

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Crowdcast logo

Crowdcast

Software

Live video Q&As, interviews, and webinars

From
$49/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Anchorfree has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Anchorfree the vendor's own domain (anchorfree.com), as captured by the Internet Archive on 11 January 2023, redirects to and displays the Pango Group corporate site, stating Pango Group is owned and operated by Aura and describes itself as a portfolio of consumer security brands; AnchorFree's original product (Hotspot Shield) survives only under the Pango/Aura ownership structure, confirming the acquisition in the vendor's own words rather than a third party account; Crowdcast exceeding the plan's attendee limit costs $0.15 per extra live attendee, so an unexpectedly popular session bills on the spot
  • They diverge on capability: Anchorfree covers Audience management, Crowdcast covers Q&A sessions.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Anchorfree and Crowdcast actually diverge.

Attributes where Anchorfree and Crowdcast differ
AttributeAnchorfreeCrowdcast
Starting priceFree$49/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
Founded20172015

Identical on both: platforms (Web), 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 Anchorfree

  • Audience management
  • Recording
  • Analytics
  • Multi-platform delivery
  • YouTube
  • Facebook
  • Twitch

Only in Crowdcast

  • Q&A sessions
  • Polls
  • Multi-speaker
  • Replay library
  • ConvertKit
  • Mailchimp
  • Stripe
  • PayPal

Both cover

  • Live streaming
  • Zapier
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Anchorfree

  • Professional Worknot Crowdcast
  • Content Creationnot Crowdcast

Crowdcast

  • Hosting live webinars and interactive Q and A sessionsnot Anchorfree
  • Running paid online events with registrationnot Anchorfree

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Anchorfree

  • The vendor's own domain (anchorfree.com), as captured by the Internet Archive on 11 January 2023, redirects to and displays the Pango Group corporate site, stating Pango Group is owned and operated by Aura and describes itself as a portfolio of consumer security brands; AnchorFree's original product (Hotspot Shield) survives only under the Pango/Aura ownership structure, confirming the acquisition in the vendor's own words rather than a third party account

Crowdcast

  • Exceeding the plan's attendee limit costs $0.15 per extra live attendee, so an unexpectedly popular session bills on the spot
  • Session length is capped by plan, at 2 hours on Lite, 4 on Pro and 6 on Business
  • Team seats are tightly limited, at 1 on Lite and 2 on Pro, with additional seats at $29 each
  • Studio storage is capped at 1 GB on Lite and 5 GB on Pro
  • The 14 day trial allows 10 live attendees and 60 minute sessions, which is short of any real event

Pricing, plan by plan

Anchorfree

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Basic streaming
    • Limited audience
  • Professional$49/month
    • Advanced features
    • Larger audience
  • Enterprise$199/month
    • Custom solutions
    • Premium support

Crowdcast

$49/month
  • Lite$49/month
    • 50 live attendees
    • 2-hour sessions
    • Basic features
  • Pro$89/month
    • 100 attendees
    • 4-hour sessions
    • Custom branding
  • Business$195/month
    • 500 attendees
    • Multi-day events
    • Priority support

Which should you pick?

Choose Anchorfree if

  • You need audience management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want recording.
Anchorfree review

Choose Crowdcast if

  • You need q&a sessions.
  • You also want polls.
Crowdcast review

Questions people ask

Is Anchorfree or Crowdcast better?
Neither clearly leads. Anchorfree starts at Free and Crowdcast at $49/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Anchorfree or Crowdcast?
Anchorfree has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Anchorfree and $49/month for Crowdcast.
Does Anchorfree or Crowdcast run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Anchorfree for free?
Yes. Anchorfree has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Crowdcast starts at $49/month.
What is Anchorfree best used for?
Anchorfree is most often used for professional work, content creation. Of those, professional work and content creation are not what Crowdcast is typically brought in for.
What can Anchorfree do that Crowdcast cannot?
Anchorfree covers Audience management, Recording, Analytics, Multi-platform delivery. Crowdcast covers Q&A sessions, Polls, Multi-speaker, Replay library. Both handle Live streaming, Zapier, Web support.
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