Now’s the perfect time to showcase your story using the increasingly popular podcast format. Selecting the right host for your podcast is essential to ensure its success. Anchor.fm by Spotify is a fantastic podcast hosting platform that provides a free service and makes your podcast available in multiple directories. Let’s investigate further the advantages of Anchor.fm and its exclusive no-cost hosting services.
I am offering my opinion on whether Anchor is a suitable platform to create and manage a podcast.
What Is Anchor?
Anchor.fm is a podcast hosting platform founded in 2015 by Michael Mignano and Nir Zicherman. Originally, the platform aimed to simplify the podcast creation process by allowing users to record and edit their podcasts using only their smartphones. This approach departed from traditional podcasting, which required more complex equipment and software.
Over time, Anchor.fm evolved into a comprehensive podcasting platform that supports recording and editing, hosting, distribution, and monetization. In 2018, Anchor.fm was acquired by Spotify, which has since integrated it into its own podcasting ecosystem.
Today, Anchor.fm remains a popular choice for podcasters of all levels of experience, thanks to its intuitive interface, robust features, and low barrier to entry. Whether you’re a seasoned podcaster or just starting out, Anchor.fm provides a user-friendly platform that can help you create, distribute, and monetize your podcast with ease.
Main Features
 One-click podcast distribution
Submitting your podcast to multiple podcast directories can help you reach a wider audience. Anchor simplifies this process by handling the submission and providing automatic updates whenever you upload a new episode. This is an ideal way of keeping parents and students up-to-date with a regular bulletin, as they can access it from their Spotify or Apple Music apps without receiving links from you. |
 In-Built Recording & Editing
Anchor stands out from its competitors with its recording and editing features. You can record your podcast anytime, anywhere, and with multiple people. You can even invite other podcasters to send you audio snippets and rearrange segments to your liking. Additionally, you can use Spotify music in your podcast and schedule advertisement slots that can be filled with ad rolls from potential sponsors. |
 Analytics Dashboard
Anchor offers a substantial range of analytics, including a daily plays graph (with episode identifications), the most popular episodes, the geographic distribution of listeners, and an illustration of listening platforms. Gain invaluable insights into your podcast’s success with IAB 2.0-certified metrics from Spotify in a single dashboard.
Plus a gender breakdown (sourced from Spotify, accounting for female, male, non-binary and unspecified categories) and an age breakdown (also supplied by Spotify). All statistics are customizable for a selected period. |
 Anchor App
Record and produce your podcast with ease using the Anchor App. With a single button, you can start recording, and the app will keep track of the duration with a timer. Additionally, a waveform is visible to indicate if it is picking up sound. You can also add flags to specific points in the recording to easily go back to them for editing. The mobile app allows up to 120 minutes of recording time, and multiple segments can be recorded and edited together.
Anchor App supports smartphone mics and Bluetooth podcast equipment for recording; however, it is not recommended to use headsets for recording, as they are usually designed for phone calls and may not work correctly with Anchor. |
 Interactive Podcasts
Anchor now offers interactive polls and Q&A features on both web and mobile applications. This allows podcast hosts to ask their audience questions and collect data on their responses, creating an engaging experience that encourages active participation in the community. |
 Website Integration
Anchor offers a public website that allows listeners to access your podcast from your own website. All you need to do is insert the code in the designated field and save it, and your listeners will be able to listen to your latest episodes on your website in no time! |
 Collaborative Software
Anchor’s collaborative capabilities are a great asset, allowing up to 10 users to work together on the same project. Teachers can utilize it to set group-based classwork or projects, and to provide a cross-subject bulletin for other teachers centered on a single student. |
 Music Tool
Anchor offers a useful music tool that allows adding tracks from Spotify to your podcast. This is ideal if you have a music-based podcast and want to share parts or entire songs with your listeners. Additionally, if you’re looking for a catchy theme song for your podcast intro, this tool is perfect too. However, any podcast episodes that feature Spotify songs must be reviewed before being published on the streaming platform. |
 Monetization
Anchor provides a convenient way to make money from your podcasts by featuring ads in your episodes. All you have to do is activate the monetization option with a single click. This is an exclusive service that only Anchor can provide.
You can give listeners the option to financially support your podcast via a “Support this podcast” button on your Anchor landing page. Through this, people who appreciate your podcast can make a voluntary monthly contribution.
Additionally, Anchor also offers monetization opportunities through its ‘Ads by Anchor’ platform. This system pairs eligible podcasts with potential sponsors, enabling creators to incorporate ads into their content and make money. If chosen by a sponsor, the podcaster has to make an advertisement and incorporate it into their podcast episode using the Anchor website or app’s editing tools. |
Pricing & Plans
This hosting website is suitable for budget-conscious podcasters.
With no fees to pay, you can get your content out there and increase your potential listeners. Furthermore, Anchor provides an easy way for your followers to offer financial support by subscribing to your channel at $0.99, $4.99, or $9.99 a month.
 PROS
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 CONS
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| Utilize this platform for free to host your podcast! |
When recording over the phone, the quality may be difficult to maintain. |
| Generate income through ads and sponsorships. |
All content is the property of Anchor. |
| No limitations on storage, bandwidth and channels. |
Limited options for customizing the landing page or using your own domain name. |
| Automate most of your work. |
Monetization is only available in the United States. |
| Quickly access and modify your episodes remotely. |
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| Add creative flair with musical intros, background effects and sound effects. |
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| Engage your listeners with interesting features. |
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Final Verdict: Anchor, A Must–Have Tool for Podcast Hosts
Anchor is an excellent, free podcast hosting and creation tool with impressive features and an easy way to distribute content. It’s a close partnership with Spotify and also offers access to Spotify’s analytics and music. However, the file size restrictions may be too small for some users, and the analytics and metrics provided are not as detailed or comprehensive as other platforms. Despite these drawbacks, Anchor remains a top choice for many podcasters looking for a user-friendly, free way to share their audio content online.
Thank you for considering our review to help you make an informed decision about the best podcast hosting platform for your show. We value your support and feedback.
