Growth factors in tumor environments are regulators of cell survival and metastasis. Here, we reveal the dichotomy between TGF-β superfamily growth factors BMP and TGF-β/activin and their downstream SMAD effectors. Gene expression profiling uncovers SOX2 as a key contextual signaling node regulated in an opposing manner by BMP2, -4, and -9 and TGF-β and activin A to impact anchorage-independent cell survival. We find that SOX2 is repressed by BMPs, leading to a reduction in intraperitoneal tumor burden and improved survival of tumor-bearing mice. Repression of SOX2 is driven by SMAD1-dependent histone H3K27me3 recruitment and DNA methylation at SOX2’s promoter. Conversely, TGF-β, which is elevated in patient ascites, and activin A can promote SOX2 expression and anchorage-independent survival by SMAD3-dependent histone H3K4me3 recruitment. Our findings identify SOX2 as a contextual and contrastingly regulated node downstream of TGF-β members controlling anchorage-independent survival and metastasis in ovarian cancers. Display omitted •SOX2 is a key node for anchorage-independent survival in cancer•SOX2 levels are differentially balanced by TGF-β/activin and BMPs in cancer•BMP9 is a robust intraperitoneal metastasis suppressor by lowering SOX2•SOX2 regulation is contextual and at the transcriptional level Tumor cell survival upon loss of attachment is critical for metastasis. Shonibare et al. identify SOX2 as a contextual node regulated contrastingly by BMPs and TGF-β. Regulation occurs via distinct SMAD1- and SMAD3-dependent histone recruitment and DNA methylation mechanisms influencing anchorage-independent cell survival and intraperitoneal ovarian cancer metastasis.