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Software · head to head

Anchorfree vs Microsoft Teams Live Events

A

Anchorfree

Software

Platform for hosting and distributing live events

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Microsoft Teams Live Events logo

Microsoft Teams Live Events

Software

Enterprise live event and webinar platform by Microsoft

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • 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; Microsoft Teams Live Events teams live events retired on June 30, 2026, and only events scheduled before that date remain supported through February 28, 2027
  • They diverge on capability: Anchorfree covers Live streaming, Microsoft Teams Live Events covers Live Q&A.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Anchorfree and Microsoft Teams Live Events actually diverge.

Attributes where Anchorfree and Microsoft Teams Live Events differ
AttributeAnchorfreeMicrosoft Teams Live Events
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
PlatformsWebWindows, Mac, IOS, Android, Web
Founded20171975

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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

  • Live streaming
  • Audience management
  • Analytics
  • Multi-platform delivery
  • YouTube
  • Facebook
  • Twitch
  • Zapier

Only in Microsoft Teams Live Events

  • Live Q&A
  • Attendee engagement
  • RTMP support
  • Microsoft 365 integration
  • Microsoft 365
  • Azure
  • SharePoint
  • Outlook

Both cover

  • Recording
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Anchorfree

  • Professional Worknot Microsoft Teams Live Events
  • Content Creationnot Microsoft Teams Live Events

Microsoft Teams Live Events

  • One to many broadcast of company town halls to large internal audiencesnot Anchorfree
  • Streaming an externally produced RTMP feed from a hardware encoder to Teams viewersnot 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

Microsoft Teams Live Events

  • Teams live events retired on June 30, 2026, and only events scheduled before that date remain supported through February 28, 2027
  • Microsoft directs users to the separate unified Teams events experience instead
  • Organizers must use the Teams web client to schedule a live event; scheduling is not available in the desktop client
  • Users cannot schedule meetings or live events when offline or running with limited bandwidth
  • Keeping internal broadcast traffic off the corporate network requires an eCDN, either Microsoft's own or a certified partner such as Hive, Kollective or Ramp

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

Microsoft Teams Live Events

Free
  • Microsoft Teams FreeFree
    • Up to 300 participants
    • Live events
  • Microsoft 365 Business Basic$6/month
    • Enhanced live events
    • 10000 attendees
  • Microsoft 365 Business Standard$12.5/month
    • Advanced features
    • Unlimited events

Which should you pick?

Choose Anchorfree if

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

Choose Microsoft Teams Live Events if

  • You need live q&a.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Mac, IOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want attendee engagement.
Microsoft Teams Live Events review

Questions people ask

Is Anchorfree or Microsoft Teams Live Events better?
Neither clearly leads. Anchorfree starts at Free and Microsoft Teams Live Events at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Anchorfree or Microsoft Teams Live Events?
Anchorfree starts at Free and Microsoft Teams Live Events at Free.
Does Anchorfree or Microsoft Teams Live Events run on more platforms?
Anchorfree runs on Web. Microsoft Teams Live Events runs on Windows, Mac, IOS, Android, Web.
Can I use Anchorfree for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Microsoft Teams Live Events is typically brought in for.
What can Anchorfree do that Microsoft Teams Live Events cannot?
Anchorfree covers Live streaming, Audience management, Analytics, Multi-platform delivery. Microsoft Teams Live Events covers Live Q&A, Attendee engagement, RTMP support, Microsoft 365 integration. Both handle Recording, Web support.
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Related pages

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