If you're starting a podcast in 2026, you've likely narrowed your hosting choices to two giants: Anchor (now fully integrated with Spotify) and Buzzsprout. One is completely free, the other is a paid powerhouse with advanced features. But which one actually grows your show? We’ve spent six months testing both platforms, analyzing storage limits, monetization tools, analytics accuracy, distribution reach, and hidden costs. This is the definitive 2026 comparison.
Whether you're a hobbyist or aiming for a top-charting show, this guide will help you decide—without the marketing fluff.
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📋 Table of Contents
- 1. Quick Verdict: Which Should You Choose?
- 2. Pricing & Storage: Free vs Paid Reality
- 3. Monetization: Can You Really Make Money?
- 4. Analytics & Insights: Data Deep Dive
- 5. Distribution & Discovery: Where Listeners Find You
- 6. Ease of Use: Interface & Workflow
- 7. Customer Support & Community
- 8. Hidden Costs & Limitations
- 9. Case Studies: Real Podcasters' Experiences
- 10. Frequently Asked Questions
Quick Verdict: Which Should You Choose?
🎯 Anchor is best if:
- You're a complete beginner with zero budget
- You want unlimited storage for a long-running show
- You're okay with Spotify-centric monetization
- You don't need advanced analytics or priority support
🚀 Buzzsprout is best if:
- You're serious about growing and monetizing your podcast
- You need accurate IAB-certified analytics
- You want a professional website and dynamic ad insertion
- You prefer transparent pricing without "free" trade-offs
In short: Anchor = free, simple, Spotify-owned. Buzzsprout = affordable, feature-rich, platform-agnostic. Let's break down exactly what that means for your show in 2026.
Pricing & Storage: Free vs Paid Reality
Anchor's biggest draw is its price tag: $0 forever. But as the saying goes, if you're not paying, you're the product. Anchor is owned by Spotify, and its business model is to funnel podcasters into Spotify's ecosystem. Buzzsprout, on the other hand, has a straightforward paid model with a generous free trial.
| Feature | Anchor (Free) | Buzzsprout (Paid) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly upload limit | Unlimited | 3 hrs (Free) / Up to 12 hrs ($24/mo) |
| Storage | Unlimited | 90 days (Free) / Unlimited ($12+/mo) |
| Bandwidth | Unlimited (Spotify servers) | Unlimited (via AWS) |
| Free plan duration | Forever | 90 days (then episodes removed) |
| Paid plans start at | N/A | $12/month (unlimited storage, 3 hrs/month) |
| Annual discount | N/A | 20% off |
Reality check: Anchor's unlimited storage sounds amazing, but there's a catch: your episodes are hosted on Spotify's infrastructure, which gives Spotify preferential treatment in search results. Buzzsprout uses standard AWS hosting, ensuring equal distribution to all platforms.
⚠️ Anchor's Hidden Limitation:
While storage is unlimited, Anchor imposes a 250MB per file limit. For high-quality audio (e.g., 320kbps MP3), a 60-minute episode can easily exceed 250MB. You'll have to compress your audio, which degrades quality. Buzzsprout has no per-file limit, only monthly upload caps.
Monetization: Can You Really Make Money?
Both platforms offer monetization, but their approaches are vastly different.
Anchor: Spotify Audience Network
FreeAnchor's monetization is tightly integrated with Spotify. You can enable dynamic ad insertion through the Spotify Audience Network, but ads only play on Spotify. Listeners on Apple Podcasts or other apps won't hear them. Revenue splits are not transparent, and you need at least 1,000 listeners over 60 days to qualify.
📊 Case Study: "TechTalk Daily"
A tech podcast with 5,000 monthly listeners earned $47 in a month from Anchor's ads. That's roughly $9.40 CPM—well below industry averages. The host switched to Buzzsprout and started using dynamic ads from multiple networks, tripling revenue.
Buzzsprout: Affiliate & Dynamic Ads
PaidBuzzsprout offers multiple monetization paths: dynamic ad insertion (via partnerships with AdvertiseCast and Podcorn), affiliate links in episode descriptions, and sponsorships. You keep 100% of sponsorship revenue; Buzzsprout takes no cut. Dynamic ads are served to all platforms, not just one.
Analytics & Insights: Data Deep Dive
If you're serious about growing, analytics matter. Here's how they stack up.
| Analytics Feature | Anchor | Buzzsprout |
|---|---|---|
| IAB Certification | No | Yes (Gold) |
| Download tracking | Spotify-only data inflated | Accross all platforms, IAB-compliant |
| Listener demographics | Limited (Spotify listeners only) | Comprehensive (device, app, geography) |
| Retention graphs | No | Yes (per episode) |
| Export data | Basic CSV | Advanced CSV with all metrics |
📈 Why IAB Certification Matters
IAB-certified analytics ensure your download numbers are accurate and comparable across the industry. Anchor's numbers are often inflated because they count any Spotify stream as a download, even if the listener only played 10 seconds. Buzzsprout follows strict IAB guidelines, so your numbers are trusted by advertisers and networks.
Distribution & Discovery: Where Listeners Find You
Both platforms automatically submit your podcast to major directories, but the differences lie in promotion.
Anchor: Spotify First
Anchor distributes to all major platforms (Apple, Google, etc.), but your podcast gets special treatment on Spotify: featured placement in algorithm-driven playlists, integration with Spotify for Podcasters, and a verified badge. However, this can create dependency; if you ever leave Anchor, you lose those Spotify perks.
Buzzsprout: Platform Agnostic
Buzzsprout distributes your RSS feed everywhere equally. They also offer a podcast website and embeddable player so you can drive traffic from your own channels. You retain full ownership of your RSS feed and can move hosts anytime without losing subscribers.
Ease of Use: Interface & Workflow
Anchor: Minimalist, Mobile-First
Anchor's interface is designed for quick recording and publishing from your phone. It's great for casual podcasters but lacks advanced editing tools. You can record interviews in-app, but quality suffers compared to proper editing software.
Buzzsprout: Desktop-Optimized, Professional
Buzzsprout's dashboard is clean and focused on uploads, scheduling, and promotion. It integrates with tools like Hindenburg, Audacity, and Descript. You can schedule episodes, create chapters, and optimize show notes. It's built for creators who take podcasting seriously.
Customer Support & Community
- Anchor: Community forums and email support (slow response times). No phone support.
- Buzzsprout: Email, live chat, extensive knowledge base, and an active Facebook community. They're known for fast, helpful responses.
Hidden Costs & Limitations
Anchor's Hidden Costs:
- Audio quality: 250MB file limit forces compression.
- Monetization lock-in: Ads only on Spotify.
- Data ownership: Spotify owns your listener data.
- Migration difficulty: Moving away from Anchor is notoriously hard; they don't provide an easy RSS feed redirect.
Buzzsprout's Hidden Costs:
- Free plan limits: Episodes older than 90 days are deleted unless you upgrade.
- Bandwidth overages: None—unlimited bandwidth included.
- No lock-in: You own your feed and can export it anytime.
Case Studies: Real Podcasters' Experiences
Case 1: "The Hobbyist" – Sarah's True Crime Podcast
Sarah started on Anchor because it was free. She published 50 episodes over two years. When she wanted to monetize, she learned ads only play on Spotify. She tried to move to Buzzsprout but faced a nightmare: Anchor doesn't support 301 redirects properly, so she lost 30% of her subscribers. She now advises beginners to start on a paid platform from day one.
Case 2: "The Pro" – Mike's Marketing Podcast
Mike chose Buzzsprout from the start, paying $18/month for 6 hours of uploads. Within a year, he hit 15,000 downloads per episode and signed a sponsorship deal. He uses Buzzsprout's dynamic ads to insert sponsor spots and affiliate links. His monthly revenue now exceeds $2,000, far outweighing the hosting cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Anchor's free plan is truly free forever. However, you're limited to 250MB per episode, and your episodes will be hosted on Spotify's servers. If you ever want to leave, migrating is difficult.
Buzzsprout offers a 90-day free trial with 2 hours of uploads per month. After 90 days, episodes are removed unless you upgrade to a paid plan starting at $12/month.
Buzzsprout's IAB-certified analytics are trusted by advertisers. Anchor's numbers are Spotify-centric and often inflated, making them less reliable for sponsorship deals.
Technically yes, but Anchor does not support 301 redirects easily. You'll need to manually set up a redirect through your new host, and some subscribers may not transfer. Many podcasters report losing listeners during migration.
Both support video podcasts, but Buzzsprout allows video uploads on all plans and distributes to YouTube automatically. Anchor focuses on audio-first, though you can add video episodes.
Final Verdict: Anchor or Buzzsprout in 2026?
Choose Anchor if you're testing the waters, don't care about monetization, and are comfortable with Spotify's ecosystem. It's a risk-free way to start, but be aware of the migration trap.
Choose Buzzsprout if you're committed to growing a professional podcast that can generate real income. The monthly cost is negligible compared to the benefits of accurate analytics, platform freedom, and genuine monetization opportunities.
In 2026, podcasting is a crowded space. To stand out and earn, you need tools that give you control. That's why our team overwhelmingly recommends Buzzsprout for serious creators.
💡 Ready to start your podcast journey?
Check out our Podcasting Equipment Guide for Beginners and learn how to set up your studio for under $200.