Best Podcast Recording Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Riverside is ranked #1 of 22 as of 8 October 2026, ahead of Cleanfeed and Spreaker. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Cleanfeed. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Craig at $1/mo.
A podcast recording setup shapes how participants are captured and what you can do with the finished recording. Compare local recording, separate participant tracks, and maximum participants, then weigh audio export format, automatic transcription, and video recording. Recording platform is another listed point of comparison. Riverside, Spreaker, and Iris.fm offer names to consider alongside Adobe Podcast and Zencastr. Check free-plan availability and paid-from pricing as well, so you can weigh the listed recording features and plan details against the kind of conversation and output you need.
22 podcast recording software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
22ranked
15free plans on this page
$1/molowest paid tier
8 Oct 2026last checked
Input list Podcast Recording Software 22 channels on this page · 121 of 176 spec lines stated by the makers
Ch Tool Free planPaid fromSeparate participant tracksLocal recordingMaximum participantsAudio export formatVideo recordingAutomatic transcription Spec sheet Score
01 Riverside Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSeparate participant tracksYesLocal recordingYesMaximum participantsnot statedAudio export formatwav + mp3Video recordingYesAutomatic transcriptionYes 6/8spec lines stated 8.1
02 Cleanfeed Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSeparate participant tracksYesLocal recordingNoMaximum participants32 peopleAudio export formatwavVideo recordingYesAutomatic transcriptionnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 7.8
03 Spreaker Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSeparate participant tracksnot statedLocal recordingnot statedMaximum participantsnot statedAudio export formatnot statedVideo recordingnot statedAutomatic transcriptionnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 7.7
04 Alitu Free planNoPaid fromnot statedSeparate participant tracksNoLocal recordingYesMaximum participants10 peopleAudio export formatmp3Video recordingYesAutomatic transcriptionYes 7/8spec lines stated 7.4
05 Adobe Podcast Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSeparate participant tracksYesLocal recordingYesMaximum participantsnot statedAudio export formatwavVideo recordingYesAutomatic transcriptionYes 6/8spec lines stated 7.3
06 Iris.fm Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSeparate participant tracksYesLocal recordingYesMaximum participants9 peopleAudio export formatnot statedVideo recordingYesAutomatic transcriptionYes 6/8spec lines stated 7.3
07 Async Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSeparate participant tracksYesLocal recordingYesMaximum participants10 peopleAudio export formatwav + mp3Video recordingYesAutomatic transcriptionYes 7/8spec lines stated 7.2
08 Elva Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSeparate participant tracksYesLocal recordingYesMaximum participants4 peopleAudio export formatnot statedVideo recordingYesAutomatic transcriptionYes 6/8spec lines stated 7.2
09 Zencastr Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSeparate participant tracksYesLocal recordingYesMaximum participantsnot statedAudio export formatwav + mp3Video recordingYesAutomatic transcriptionYes 6/8spec lines stated 7.1
10 Boomcaster Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSeparate participant tracksYesLocal recordingYesMaximum participants6 peopleAudio export formatwavVideo recordingYesAutomatic transcriptionYes 7/8spec lines stated 7.0
11 Podsplice Free planNoPaid fromnot statedSeparate participant tracksYesLocal recordingYesMaximum participantsnot statedAudio export formatwavVideo recordingYesAutomatic transcriptionYes 6/8spec lines stated 6.9
12 SureTake Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSeparate participant tracksYesLocal recordingYesMaximum participants6 peopleAudio export formatwav + mp3Video recordingYesAutomatic transcriptionYes 7/8spec lines stated 6.9
13 Waveroom Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSeparate participant tracksYesLocal recordingYesMaximum participantsnot statedAudio export formatwavVideo recordingYesAutomatic transcriptionYes 6/8spec lines stated 6.9
14 Airtape Studio Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSeparate participant tracksYesLocal recordingYesMaximum participantsnot statedAudio export formatnot statedVideo recordingYesAutomatic transcriptionYes 5/8spec lines stated 6.8
15 Craig Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSeparate participant tracksYesLocal recordingYesMaximum participantsnot statedAudio export formatnot statedVideo recordingNoAutomatic transcriptionYes 5/8spec lines stated 6.8
16 OpenStudio Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSeparate participant tracksYesLocal recordingYesMaximum participantsnot statedAudio export formatwav + mp3Video recordingnot statedAutomatic transcriptionYes 5/8spec lines stated 6.8
17 NowMax Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedSeparate participant tracksYesLocal recordingYesMaximum participantsnot statedAudio export formatwavVideo recordingYesAutomatic transcriptionnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 6.3
18 Hilite Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSeparate participant tracksYesLocal recordingYesMaximum participantsnot statedAudio export formatwav + mp3Video recordingYesAutomatic transcriptionYes 6/8spec lines stated 5.9
19 WesterAudio Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSeparate participant tracksYesLocal recordingYesMaximum participants3 peopleAudio export formatwav + mp3Video recordingNoAutomatic transcriptionnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 5.9
20 Tributary Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedSeparate participant tracksYesLocal recordingYesMaximum participantsnot statedAudio export formatwavVideo recordingYesAutomatic transcriptionYes 5/8spec lines stated 5.8
21 StreamStudio.ai Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSeparate participant tracksYesLocal recordingnot statedMaximum participantsnot statedAudio export formatnot statedVideo recordingYesAutomatic transcriptionYes 4/8spec lines stated 5.7
22 Podcapture Free planNoPaid fromnot statedSeparate participant tracksYesLocal recordingYesMaximum participantsnot statedAudio export formatnot statedVideo recordingYesAutomatic transcriptionnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 5.6
Compare all 22 in a table
| # | Tool | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Separate participant tracks | Local recording |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Riverside | 8.1 | Free plan | $19/mo | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 2 | Cleanfeed | 7.8 | Free plan | $12/mo | Yes | — | Yes | No |
| 3 | Spreaker | 7.7 | Free plan | $20/mo | Yes | — | — | — |
| 4 | Alitu | 7.4 | No | $10/mo | No | — | No | Yes |
| 5 | Adobe Podcast | 7.3 | Free plan | $19.99/mo | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 6 | Iris.fm | 7.3 | Free plan | $9/mo | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 7 | Async | 7.2 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 8 | Elva | 7.2 | Free plan | $19/mo | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 9 | Zencastr | 7.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 10 | Boomcaster | 7.0 | Free plan | $20/mo | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 11 | Podsplice | 6.9 | No | $29/mo | No | — | Yes | Yes |
| 12 | SureTake | 6.9 | Free plan | $24/mo | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 13 | Waveroom | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 14 | Airtape Studio | 6.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 15 | Craig | 6.8 | Free plan | $1/mo | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 16 | OpenStudio | 6.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 17 | NowMax | 6.3 | No | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| 18 | Hilite | 5.9 | Free plan | $19/mo | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 19 | WesterAudio | 5.9 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 20 | Tributary | 5.8 | No | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| 21 | StreamStudio.ai | 5.7 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 22 | Podcapture | 5.6 | No | — | No | — | Yes | Yes |
Is your tool on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which podcast recording software is ranked first on Specifiction?
Riverside is ranked #1 of 22 with a score of 8.1. Cleanfeed is second and Spreaker third.
How many of these have a free plan?
15 of the 22 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Craig has the lowest first paid tier we found: $1/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing.
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