If you’re starting a podcast, one of the first decisions you’ll have to make is where to host it. At first, podcast hosting can seem like a pretty simple thing. You upload your audio file, give your episode a title, publish it, and your listeners can find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other apps.
But your choice of hosting platform can make a bigger difference than you might expect. It affects how much you pay, how easy it is to publish episodes, what kind of analytics you get, how you can monetize your show, and what happens when your podcast starts growing.
Two names that often come up in this conversation are Podbean and Anchor. There’s one important thing to clear up before comparing them, though.
Anchor is no longer a separate podcast platform. Spotify acquired Anchor and later combined Anchor’s tools with Spotify for Podcasters. The service is now called Spotify for Creators. Spotify says Anchor’s previous users can access their existing shows through Spotify for Creators, and an Anchor account can no longer be used to log in directly.
So when people search for Podbean vs. Anchor, they’re really comparing Podbean with what used to be Anchor and is now Spotify for Creators. And honestly, the comparison is pretty interesting.
Podbean is a traditional podcast hosting platform with a large collection of podcasting tools. Spotify for Creators takes a much more Spotify-focused approach and is especially attractive to creators who want free hosting and strong integration with Spotify.
What Happened to Anchor?
If you’ve searched for Anchor recently, you might be confused about why you’re being directed to Spotify.
You’re not imagining it. Anchor was acquired by Spotify and eventually became part of Spotify’s broader podcast creator platform.
In 2023, Spotify announced that Anchor and Spotify for Podcasters were being combined into one platform. Spotify said the new platform would combine Anchor’s free hosting and distribution with Spotify’s creator tools.
The platform later evolved again. In 2024, Spotify announced that Spotify for Podcasters was becoming Spotify for Creators, with an increased focus on both audio and video creators. Spotify also introduced new monetization and audience-growth features as part of that transition.
So if you were an Anchor user years ago, your podcast hasn’t necessarily disappeared. You now manage it through Spotify for Creators.
That’s why I’ll use Spotify for Creators throughout the rest of this comparison, while referring to Anchor when necessary.
What Is Podbean?
Podbean is a traditional podcast hosting platform that has been around for years. It gives creators the tools needed to host, publish, distribute, analyze, and monetize podcasts.
Its current plans include podcast hosting, RSS feeds, customizable podcast websites, embedded players, analytics, monetization, and one-click distribution.
Podbean also supports video podcasts, AI-powered tools, subscriptions, advertising, and dynamic ad insertion.
The platform is essentially trying to give you everything you need to operate a podcast from one dashboard.
Its current Unlimited Audio plan costs $12 per month when billed annually or $17 monthly. It includes 1GB of new uploads per month, unlimited total storage, unmetered bandwidth, advanced statistics, a customizable podcast website, monetization features, and distribution tools.
There’s also an Unlimited Plus plan at $29 per month when billed annually, designed for creators working with both audio and video. That’s quite a lot of functionality.
What Is Spotify for Creators?
Spotify for Creators is the modern version of what many people still call Anchor. Its biggest selling point is that it makes podcasting accessible without requiring you to pay for traditional podcast hosting.
The platform lets creators upload or record content, publish podcasts, distribute episodes, track performance, and use Spotify-specific audience features.
Spotify originally described the combined Anchor and Spotify for Podcasters platform as an all-in-one place for creating and growing podcasts. The platform has also expanded beyond audio.
Spotify now emphasizes both audio and video podcasts, and its creator tools include features for audience engagement, analytics, discovery, and monetization.
This makes Spotify for Creators a very different product from the old Anchor. It isn’t just “free podcast hosting” anymore. It’s increasingly a creator platform built around Spotify.
Pricing: Podbean vs. Spotify for Creators
This is probably the easiest category to compare. Spotify for Creators wins on price because hosting is free. That’s a huge advantage for beginners.
If you’ve never made a podcast before, spending $12 or $20 every month before you’ve even published your first episode can feel unnecessary.
Spotify for Creators removes that barrier. Podbean does offer a free option, but its more useful features are available through paid plans.
The current Podbean Unlimited Audio plan is $12 per month when paid annually, while Unlimited Plus costs $29 per month annually.
The question isn’t really whether Podbean is expensive. It’s whether you need what you’re paying for.
If you’re making a simple podcast and want to spend as little as possible, Spotify for Creators makes a lot of sense.
If you’re building a serious podcast business and want advanced hosting and monetization tools, Podbean’s paid plans become more interesting.
Ease of Use
Both platforms are relatively easy to use, but they approach things differently. Spotify for Creators is attractive because the basic workflow is simple.
You create or upload an episode, add your information, and publish it. Because Spotify is such a large platform, the experience is also designed to make your podcast visible within Spotify’s ecosystem.
Podbean gives you more controls. You have more hosting settings, analytics, monetization tools, website options, and other features. That’s great if you want control. But it can also make the platform feel more complicated.
For someone who says, “I have never made a podcast before and just want to get started,” I’d probably recommend Spotify for Creators.
For someone who says, “I want a professional podcast platform with lots of options,” Podbean is more appealing.
Podcast Hosting
This is where the two platforms start to separate.
Podbean is fundamentally a podcast hosting platform.
You get an RSS feed for each podcast channel, and Podbean lets you distribute your episodes to major directories. It also offers unlimited total storage on its main paid plans and unmetered bandwidth. That gives you a traditional podcast hosting experience.
Spotify for Creators also provides hosting, but the platform is more tightly connected to Spotify. That can be a major advantage if most of your listeners are on Spotify.
But if you’re building a podcast as a completely independent media property, Podbean gives you more of the traditional podcast-hosting tools you’d expect.
This isn’t necessarily a situation where one platform is technically “better.” It’s more about what you’re trying to build.
Analytics
Analytics are incredibly important once your podcast starts getting listeners. You want to know which episodes are performing well. You want to understand where listeners are located. You want to know how people are discovering your show. And you want to see whether your audience is actually growing.
Podbean provides advanced podcast statistics, including listener locations, devices, sources, trends, episode comparisons, and engagement information.
Spotify for Creators also provides analytics, with particularly strong insight into how your show performs within Spotify.
Spotify has continued adding audience-growth and discovery tools to its creator platform. If Spotify is where most of your audience listens, those insights can be extremely useful.
If you want broader podcast-hosting analytics and a more traditional hosting dashboard, Podbean is attractive. I’d call this one a tie, but for slightly different reasons.
Monetization
This is another area where the platforms take different approaches. Podbean provides several built-in monetization tools.
Its current plans include access to features such as the Ads Marketplace, dynamic ad insertion, and Apple Podcasts subscriptions.
This means you can potentially make money from advertising, premium content, and subscriptions without building the entire system yourself. spotify has also invested heavily in podcast monetization.
In 2024, Spotify introduced its Spotify Partner Program, designed to provide eligible creators with multiple ways to generate revenue from their shows.
However, availability and eligibility for Spotify’s monetization programs can vary by market and creator. That’s important.
Don’t choose Spotify solely because you see someone online talking about a monetization feature that may not be available in your country.
For a creator who wants multiple monetization options built directly into the hosting platform, I’d give Podbean the edge.
For a creator whose audience is primarily on Spotify and who qualifies for Spotify’s monetization programs, Spotify for Creators can be very attractive.
Video Podcasts
Video is one of the biggest changes in podcasting. People aren’t just listening anymore. They’re watching.
Spotify has been pushing heavily into video podcasts, and Spotify for Creators has evolved accordingly. Spotify says its creator platform is designed for both audio and video podcasts.
Podbean also supports video. Its Unlimited Plus plan supports two audio or video podcasts and 10GB of uploads per month, which Podbean estimates at up to 10 hours of video.
This makes both platforms viable for video creators. But Spotify has a natural advantage when it comes to Spotify video distribution and discovery.
If Spotify is a major part of your video podcast strategy, I’d lean toward Spotify for Creators.
Podcast Website
This is an area where Podbean has an advantage. Podbean’s paid plans include a customizable podcast website and embedded player. You can also use your own domain on supported plans.
That’s useful if you want your podcast to have its own branded home on the web.
Spotify for Creators is much more focused on the Spotify experience.
You can certainly have a podcast presence online, but it doesn’t have the same traditional podcast-host website emphasis as Podbean.
If you’re building a brand around your podcast and want a dedicated podcast website without building one yourself, Podbean is the better option.
AI Features
This is another area where Podbean has expanded considerably. Podbean currently includes AI credits with its paid plans.
Its AI tools can help with audio optimization, noise reduction, leveling, filler-word removal, silence removal, automatic EQ, titles, show notes, chapter markers, transcripts, and even AI-generated podcast creation.
That’s a surprisingly large collection of AI features. Spotify for Creators has also been adding creator-focused tools, but its major advantage remains the Spotify ecosystem, audience data, discovery, and monetization.
If you’re specifically looking for AI-powered podcast production tools inside your hosting platform, Podbean has the stronger offering.
Multiple Podcasts
What if you want to run several shows? This is another place where Podbean can make sense.
Its Network plan currently costs $79 per month when billed annually and supports unlimited public audio and video podcasts, 40GB of uploads per month, network-level analytics, and up to 50 team members.
That’s designed for something much bigger than one-person podcasting.
Spotify for Creators also lets creators manage multiple shows under one Spotify account. Spotify’s support documentation says multiple shows can be placed under the same account and managed from one dashboard. For a small creator with two shows, either can work.
For a podcast network that needs detailed team management and network analytics, Podbean has more specialized tools.
Which Is Better for Beginners?
If you’re completely new to podcasting, I would choose Spotify for Creators. The main reason is simple: it’s free. You can experiment without worrying about another monthly subscription.
You can see whether you actually enjoy podcasting before spending money. And you get the advantage of being directly connected to Spotify. That’s a pretty good combination for someone just starting.
Podbean is also beginner-friendly, but its larger feature set can feel like overkill if you’re only publishing one simple podcast.
Podbean vs. Anchor: Pros and Cons
Podbean Pros
Podbean offers a large collection of podcasting features in one place. You get hosting, analytics, websites, monetization, video support, AI tools, distribution, subscriptions, and more.
Its paid plans also offer unlimited total storage and unmetered bandwidth on the main creator plans.
It’s also a good option for people who eventually want to run multiple podcasts or build a podcast network.
Podbean Cons
The biggest downside is cost. If you’re only starting a podcast, paying for hosting may not make sense when free alternatives exist.
The platform can also feel more complicated than simpler podcast hosts.
Spotify for Creators Pros
The biggest advantage is obvious: It’s free to host. You also get excellent integration with Spotify, access to Spotify-specific audience features, analytics, video podcast capabilities, and monetization opportunities for eligible creators.
It’s a particularly attractive option for someone starting their first podcast.
Spotify for Creators Cons
The biggest limitation is that you’re operating inside Spotify’s ecosystem. If you want a more traditional podcast-hosting platform with a customizable website, extensive hosting controls, and a broad collection of independent monetization tools, Podbean may be a better fit.
Also, some Spotify monetization features have eligibility and geographic requirements.
Final Thoughts
So, Podbean vs. Anchor — which is better? There’s no universal winner. And remember, when people say “Anchor” today, they’re really talking about Spotify for Creators, because Anchor has been integrated into Spotify’s creator platform.
For a beginner, Spotify for Creators wins. It’s free, easy to get started with, and deeply connected to Spotify.
For a serious independent podcaster, Podbean wins. It gives you more control and a broader collection of traditional podcast hosting and business tools.
The most important thing, though, is not which platform has the longest list of features. It’s which platform fits the way you actually plan to podcast. If you’re just testing an idea, don’t overthink it. Start free with Spotify for Creators.
If your show starts growing and you want more control, Podbean gives you a much broader set of tools.
And if you’re already building a podcast business, there’s a good chance you’ll appreciate Podbean’s extra flexibility from the beginning.
Either way, the platform won’t make the podcast successful by itself. The episodes will. The consistency will. And most importantly, giving people a reason to come back every week will.