Podcast & Audio Publishing · head to head
Podcast.co vs Anchor
Podcast.co
Podcast & Audio Publishing
Professional podcast hosting and distribution
- From
- $19/month
- Rated
- -
Anchor
Video & Audio Production
Free podcast hosting and creation platform by Spotify
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Anchor has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Podcast.co limited advanced podcast customization compared to enterprise solutions; Anchor no longer a standalone product. Spotify folded Anchor into its own podcaster tooling, and anchor.fm now redirects to creators.spotify.com
- They diverge on capability: Podcast.co covers Unlimited hosting, Anchor covers Unlimited podcast hosting.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Podcast.co and Anchor actually diverge.
| Attribute | Podcast.co | Anchor |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $19/month | Free |
| Pricing model | Unknown | free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web | Web, Ios, Android |
| Category | Podcast & Audio Publishing | Video & Audio Production |
| Founded | 2017 | 2015 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).
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 Podcast.co
- Unlimited hosting
- Podcast websites
- Distribution
- Advanced analytics
- Team collaboration
- YouTube
- SSL encryption
- GDPR compliant
Only in Anchor
- Unlimited podcast hosting
- One-click distribution
- Built-in recording
- Episode scheduling
- Monetization tools
- Analytics
- Amazon Music
- Spotify authentication
Both cover
- Spotify
- Apple Podcasts
- Google Podcasts
- Social media
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Podcast.co
- Podcast hostingnot Anchor
- Corporate podcastingnot Anchor
- Network hostingnot Anchor
Anchor
- Free podcast hosting and distributionnot Podcast.co
- Recording and basic editing from a phonenot Podcast.co
- Distributing an episode to Spotify and other directoriesnot Podcast.co
- Audience analytics for a shownot Podcast.co
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Podcast.co
- Limited advanced podcast customization compared to enterprise solutions
- Transcription service costs extra at $20/month for only 10 hours
- Download limits vary by plan; Lite tier caps at 15,000 monthly downloads
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
Pricing, plan by plan
Podcast.co
$19/month- Lite$19/month
- 1 user
- 15,000 monthly downloads
- Basic podcast pages
- Growth$49/month
- 5 users
- 75,000 monthly downloads
- Advanced podcast pages
- Premium$99/month
- Unlimited users
- 200,000 monthly downloads
- Advanced podcast pages
Anchor
Free- FreeFree
- Unlimited hosting
- Automatic distribution
- Built-in recording tools
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.
Questions people ask
- Is Podcast.co or Anchor better?
- Neither clearly leads. Podcast.co starts at $19/month and Anchor at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Podcast.co or Anchor?
- Anchor has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $19/month for Podcast.co and Free for Anchor.
- Does Podcast.co or Anchor run on more platforms?
- Podcast.co runs on Web. Anchor runs on Web, Ios, Android.
- Can I use Anchor for free?
- Yes. Anchor has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Podcast.co starts at $19/month.
- What is Podcast.co best used for?
- Podcast.co is most often used for podcast hosting, corporate podcasting, network hosting. Of those, podcast hosting and corporate podcasting are not what Anchor is typically brought in for.
- What can Podcast.co do that Anchor cannot?
- Podcast.co covers Unlimited hosting, Podcast websites, Distribution, Advanced analytics. Anchor covers Unlimited podcast hosting, One-click distribution, Built-in recording, Episode scheduling. Both handle Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Social media.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Podcast.co: How many podcasts can I host?
All Podcast.co plans allow unlimited podcasts and unlimited episodes. You can create and manage multiple shows under one account, with the Growth and Premium plans offering team collaboration for managing different podcasts.
SourcePodcast.co: Which platforms does Podcast.co distribute to?
Podcast.co provides one-click distribution to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and other major podcast directories. The platform also offers scheduled publishing and custom episode artwork.
SourcePodcast.co: What analytics are included?
All plans include audience data showing most popular episodes, listener locations, and top-performing platforms. Growth and Premium plans include more advanced analytics with team insights and subscriber tracking for private podcasts.
SourcePodcast.co: Is transcription included?
Audio transcription is available as an add-on service at $20 per month for 10 hours of audio transcription. This helps repurpose podcast content into blog posts and social media snippets.
SourcePodcast.co: Can I monetize my podcast?
Growth and Premium plans support private podcasting with invite-only episodes for paying subscribers. Podcast.co integrates with billing systems to deliver exclusive content to the right subscribers.
SourcePodcast.co: Is there a free trial?
Podcast.co offers a 14-day free trial with no hidden fees, allowing you to test the platform before committing to a paid plan.
Source