Software · head to head
BlueJeans vs Anchorfree
A
Anchorfree
Software
Platform for hosting and distributing live events
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Anchorfree has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: BlueJeans shut down. Verizon announced the closure on 8 August 2023 and wound the service down through the first half of 2024, starting with the Basic tier and free trials on 31 August 2023; 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
- They diverge on capability: BlueJeans covers HD and 4K video, Anchorfree covers Live streaming.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which BlueJeans and Anchorfree actually diverge.
| Attribute | BlueJeans | Anchorfree |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $10/month | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | freemium |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android | Web |
| Founded | 1983 | 2017 |
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 BlueJeans
- HD and 4K video
- Audio conferencing
- Screen sharing
- Recording and playback
- Chat and messaging
- Virtual backgrounds
- Hand raising
- Breakout rooms
Only in Anchorfree
- Live streaming
- Audience management
- Recording
- Analytics
- Multi-platform delivery
- YouTube
- Twitch
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
BlueJeans
- Enterprise meetingsnot Anchorfree
- Healthcare consultationsnot Anchorfree
- Financial servicesnot Anchorfree
- Government communicationsnot Anchorfree
- Large eventsnot Anchorfree
Anchorfree
- Professional Worknot BlueJeans
- Content Creationnot BlueJeans
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
BlueJeans
- Shut down. Verizon announced the closure on 8 August 2023 and wound the service down through the first half of 2024, starting with the Basic tier and free trials on 31 August 2023
- bluejeans.com no longer resolves
- Verizon bought it for $400 million in 2020 and closed it citing a changing market, so there is no successor product to move to within the same vendor
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
Pricing, plan by plan
BlueJeans
$10/month- Essentials$10/month
- 100 participants
- HD video
- Screen sharing
- Pro$15/month
- 300 participants
- 4K video
- Virtual backgrounds
- Business$20/month
- 500 participants
- Custom branding
- Advanced security
- Enterprise$undefined/month
- Unlimited participants
- Custom deployment
- Dedicated account team
Anchorfree
Free- FreeFree
- Basic streaming
- Limited audience
- Professional$49/month
- Advanced features
- Larger audience
- Enterprise$199/month
- Custom solutions
- Premium support
Which should you pick?
Choose BlueJeans if
- You need hd and 4k video.
- You work on Web, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android.
- You also want audio conferencing.
Choose Anchorfree if
- You need live streaming.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want audience management.
Questions people ask
- Is BlueJeans or Anchorfree better?
- Neither clearly leads. BlueJeans starts at $10/month and Anchorfree at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, BlueJeans or Anchorfree?
- Anchorfree has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $10/month for BlueJeans and Free for Anchorfree.
- Does BlueJeans or Anchorfree run on more platforms?
- BlueJeans runs on Web, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android. Anchorfree runs on Web.
- Can I use Anchorfree for free?
- Yes. Anchorfree has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. BlueJeans starts at $10/month.
- What is BlueJeans best used for?
- BlueJeans is most often used for enterprise meetings, healthcare consultations, financial services, government communications. Of those, enterprise meetings and healthcare consultations are not what Anchorfree is typically brought in for.
- What can BlueJeans do that Anchorfree cannot?
- BlueJeans covers HD and 4K video, Audio conferencing, Screen sharing, Recording and playback. Anchorfree covers Live streaming, Audience management, Recording, Analytics.