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Squadcast vs Anchor

Squadcast logo

Squadcast

Software

Professional remote recording for podcasters

From
$12/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Anchor logo

Anchor

Software

Free podcast hosting and creation platform by Spotify

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Anchor has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Squadcast free plan limited to 1 recording hour per editor per month and exports capped at 720p with watermarks; 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: Squadcast covers Local recording, Anchor covers Unlimited podcast hosting.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Squadcast and Anchor actually diverge.

Attributes where Squadcast and Anchor differ
AttributeSquadcastAnchor
Starting price$12/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, DesktopWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20172015

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 Squadcast

  • Local recording
  • Progressive upload
  • Video recording
  • Screen sharing
  • Dolby audio
  • Cloud storage
  • Descript
  • Dropbox

Only in Anchor

  • Unlimited podcast hosting
  • One-click distribution
  • Built-in recording
  • Episode scheduling
  • Monetization tools
  • Analytics
  • Spotify
  • Apple Podcasts

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Squadcast

  • Remote podcast recording with per-editor hour-based billingnot Anchor

Anchor

  • Free podcast hosting and distributionnot Squadcast
  • Recording and basic editing from a phonenot Squadcast
  • Distributing an episode to Spotify and other directoriesnot Squadcast
  • Audience analytics for a shownot Squadcast

Where each one falls short

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

Squadcast

  • Free plan limited to 1 recording hour per editor per month and exports capped at 720p with watermarks
  • Hobbyist plan monthly price of $24 per person rises to $35 per person if paid monthly instead of annually
  • Recording hour rollover is capped at twice the plan's monthly hour allotment

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

Squadcast

$12/month
  • Indie$12/month
    • 5 hours recording
    • Audio only
    • Up to 3 guests
  • Creator$20/month
    • 10 hours recording
    • Audio + Video
    • Up to 5 guests
  • Studio$44/month
    • 25 hours recording
    • All features
    • Up to 9 guests

Anchor

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited hosting
    • Automatic distribution
    • Built-in recording tools

Which should you pick?

Choose Squadcast if

  • You need local recording.
  • You work on Web, Desktop.
  • You also want progressive upload.
Squadcast review

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.
Anchor review

Questions people ask

Is Squadcast or Anchor better?
Neither clearly leads. Squadcast starts at $12/month and Anchor at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Squadcast or Anchor?
Anchor has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $12/month for Squadcast and Free for Anchor.
Does Squadcast or Anchor run on more platforms?
Squadcast runs on Web, Desktop. 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. Squadcast starts at $12/month.
What is Squadcast best used for?
Squadcast is most often used for remote podcast recording with per-editor hour-based billing. Of those, remote podcast recording with per-editor hour-based billing is not what Anchor is typically brought in for.
What can Squadcast do that Anchor cannot?
Squadcast covers Local recording, Progressive upload, Video recording, Screen sharing. Anchor covers Unlimited podcast hosting, One-click distribution, Built-in recording, Episode scheduling. Both handle Web support.
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