This guide started as an older Anchor Audio post on this site. I rewrote it in 2026 because the product, the name, and the advice all changed to Spotify for Creators.
If you still think of it as “that free Anchor app,” you are not behind. Spotify bought Anchor in 2019, renamed it Spotify for Podcasters, then folded it into Spotify for Creators. The free hosting idea is still there. The old “hit record on your phone and you have a radio station” pitch is not.
For a solopreneur testing a show, it can still be the easiest way to start. For a business that needs clean, cross-platform stats or does not want to live within Spotify’s system, it is no longer the only answer.
Table of Contents
Key takeaways
- Anchor, Spotify for Podcasters, and Spotify for Creators are the same hosting path with new names.
- You can still host a podcast for free and send an RSS feed to other directories.
- The best features and analytics live on Spotify.
- Built-in recording tools were stripped back. You now upload finished audio or video, or record through their Riverside integration.
- Use it to start. Switch later if you outgrow Spotify-first tools.
What Anchor Became
Anchor made podcasting feel possible for people who did not want to buy a host, an editor, and a second brain.
That part is still true:
- Free hosting.
- Distribution to Spotify plus an RSS feed for other apps.
- A creator dashboard at creators.spotify.com.
- A mobile app still listed as Spotify for Creators (the old Anchor app ID).
What is not true anymore:
- Google Podcasts is gone, so do not promise that directory.
- The old social “radio station,” Echo, call-in, and in-app episode builder features are not the product.
- You should not tell people to live inside anchor.fm as the main home.
If someone lands on this URL from an old backlink, send them here: the tool still exists, the workflow is different, and the brand name you want in 2026 is Spotify for Creators.
Who This Is Still Good For
This is a fit if you:
- Want to test a podcast without a monthly hosting bill.
- Are fine with Spotify as the main listening home.
- Can record elsewhere and upload a finished file.
- Need a simple way to get listed on Apple Podcasts and other directories through RSS.
- Run a small business or solo brand and would rather publish than build a studio stack.
Look elsewhere first if you:
- Need the same analytics on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify.
- Want full ownership of the hosting relationship outside Spotify.
- Plan to sell a lot of off-platform sponsorship inventory.
- Need advanced episode builder tools inside the host itself.
Free is not the same as “best for every show.”
How To Start In 2026
- Create or log in with a regular Spotify account.
- Go to creators.spotify.com and add a new show.
- Choose “Create a new show” if this is a new podcast you want Spotify to host.
- Upload your first audio or video episode. Do not wait for a perfect studio.
- Add a clear show name, cover art, and a short description that says who it is for.
- Publish on Spotify first, then use the RSS/distribution options to submit to Apple Podcasts and other directories.
- Put the show link on your website, in your email, and in your social bios. Hosting does not market the show for you.
If your podcast already lives on Buzzsprout, Libsyn, Podbean, or another host, you can still claim or submit it in Spotify for Creators with your RSS feed.
👉 You do not have to move hosting to appear on Spotify.
What You Can Still Do For Free
- Host audio podcasts.
- Upload video episodes.
- Distribute beyond Spotify with RSS.
- See Spotify-side analytics, including discovery vs returning listeners.
- Use comments and some audience tools inside Spotify.
- Test monetization later through Spotify’s creator programs if you qualify.
👉 Treat Spotify as the home base. Treat Apple Podcasts and the rest as extra doors.
What Changed That Old Anchor Posts Get Wrong
Older guides, including the first version of this one, made Anchor sound like a full social audio network. That is not the 2026 product.
Spotify has also moved creation away from the old in-app recorder. Some recording, music-plus-talk, voice message, and episode-builder tools were removed. The current path is:
- Record and edit in a real tool (phone app you already like, Riverside, or another editor).
- Upload the finished file to Spotify for Creators.
- Use the dashboard for distribution, analytics, and growth on Spotify.
That is actually cleaner for most small businesses. You are not stuck learning a half-studio inside a hosting app.
Also check login names. A listener Spotify account and a creator dashboard are easy to mix up if you have not opened the backend in a while.
A Simple Way To Use It Without Overbuilding
You do not need a 40-episode plan to justify the tool.
A workable start:
- One show topic you can talk about for 15–20 minutes.
- One publishing day you can keep.
- Show notes on your blog so Google has something to index.
- A short clip for YouTube, Reels, or Shorts.
- A link back to the full episode and your site.
Audio is the show. The blog post is how people find you later. That pairing is still one of the better business podcast SEO moves you can make.
If you already have a show and need listeners, hosting will not fix that. Use podcast marketing tips after the first episodes are live.
👉 Live audio is a different animal. If you want rooms instead of episodes, that is closer to X Spaces than to a hosted podcast.
Music, Rights, And “Free” Tracks
Do not drop commercial songs into a podcast because they sound good in the car.
Use music you have a license to use, or Spotify’s allowed podcast sound library if it is still offered in your dashboard when you publish. If you are unsure, publish without a bed track. Bad audio is better than a takedown.
When To Leave Free Hosting
Move to a paid host when one of these is true:
- You need better stats off Spotify.
- You want easier sponsor inserts across every platform.
- You are tired of product names and menus changing.
- Your show is making money and the host is now part of the business, not a test.
You can start here and migrate later. That is the point of a free first host. Just keep copies of your audio files. Do not assume a dashboard will keep them forever if an old login goes inactive.
My Take
For most readers of this site, Spotify for Creators is still a fair way to start.
It is no longer the cute Anchor experiment from 2018. It is a Spotify product that wants your show to live in its app. That can be a feature if your listeners are already there. It is a limitation if you want a host that treats every directory the same.
Start free if the alternative is never publishing. Upgrade when the show is real.
FAQ
The name is not. The hosting path is Spotify for Creators.
Hosting and distribution are still free. Some growth and monetization tools depend on Spotify’s current programs and thresholds.
Yes, through the RSS feed after the show is set up. Confirm the submission inside your creator dashboard.
I would not plan on it. Record with a tool you control, then upload.
No. Audio still works. Video can help inside Spotify and when you repurpose clips.
No. Use this to choose a host. Use the podcast marketing post to get the episodes heard.
Disclosure: This Inspire To Thrive blog post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Some sections were drafted with AI tools and carefully reviewed/edited by me.
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