Software · head to head
Restream vs Anchorfree
A
Anchorfree
Software
Platform for hosting and distributing live events
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Restream the free plan applies Restream branding to the stream; 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: Restream covers Multistreaming, Anchorfree covers Live streaming.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Restream and Anchorfree actually diverge.
| Attribute | Restream | Anchorfree |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2015 | 2017 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), 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 Restream
- Multistreaming
- Live studio
- Chat aggregation
- OBS
Only in Anchorfree
- Live streaming
- Audience management
- Multi-platform delivery
- Zapier
Both cover
- Analytics
- Recording
- YouTube
- Twitch
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Restream
- Streaming one broadcast simultaneously to several platformsnot Anchorfree
- Running live shows with guests and recording the outputnot Anchorfree
Anchorfree
- Professional Worknot Restream
- Content Creationnot Restream
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Restream
- The free plan applies Restream branding to the stream
- Simultaneous destinations are rationed tightly, at 2 on free, 3 on Standard and 5 on Professional
- Recording storage is 15 days on free and Standard, rising to 30 only on Professional
- Reaching 8 destinations costs $199 a month on the Business plan
- Resolution is not the differentiator, since every tier including free offers 4K, so the plans sell reach and retention instead
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
Restream
Free- FreeFree
- 2 channels
- Restream branding
- Basic features
- Standard$19/month
- 7 channels
- No branding
- Recording
- Professional$49/month
- 8+ channels
- Custom graphics
- Analytics
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 Restream if
- You need multistreaming.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want live studio.
Choose Anchorfree if
- You need live streaming.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want audience management.
Questions people ask
- Is Restream or Anchorfree better?
- Neither clearly leads. Restream starts at Free and Anchorfree at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Restream or Anchorfree?
- Restream starts at Free and Anchorfree at Free.
- Does Restream or Anchorfree run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use Restream for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Restream best used for?
- Restream is most often used for streaming one broadcast simultaneously to several platforms, running live shows with guests and recording the output. Of those, streaming one broadcast simultaneously to several platforms and running live shows with guests and recording the output are not what Anchorfree is typically brought in for.
- What can Restream do that Anchorfree cannot?
- Restream covers Multistreaming, Live studio, Chat aggregation, LinkedIn. Anchorfree covers Live streaming, Audience management, Multi-platform delivery, Zapier. Both handle Analytics, Recording, YouTube, Twitch.