Overview

Riverside records video and audio in a browser or desktop environment, with local recording, separate participant tracks, and automatic transcription. WAV and MP3 exports suit different audio workflows. The combination is useful for interview productions that need individual speaker tracks and video, while the free plan is better for occasional sessions than a regular publishing schedule.

Key features

Recording and editing

Free supports up to 720p video and 44.1 kHz audio, alongside unlimited single-track recording and editing. Pro raises recording quality to up to 4K video and 48 kHz audio, and adds in-person multi-camera recording. That makes Pro the more capable choice for polished productions, but the free plan’s watermark and two hours of multi-track recording limit its appeal for finished, recurring shows.

Pro also includes unlimited text-based editing, an AI editing and repurposing agent, Magic Clips, show notes, and audio enhancement. These tools give creators several post-production jobs in the same service rather than requiring a separate editing workflow. Pro, Grow, and Webinar allow unlimited recording, but cap monthly separate-track downloads at 15, 20, and 25 hours respectively. Frequent editors should compare that download allowance with their actual post-production volume; Business removes the cap.

Publishing and webinars

Pro includes podcast hosting and analytics, with publishing to YouTube, Spotify, Apple, Instagram, LinkedIn, and other destinations. Integrations and workflows include Spotify, Transistor, Castos, HubSpot, Salesforce, webinar webhooks, Adobe Premiere Pro, and Final Cut Pro. This makes the service a stronger fit for creators who want recording and distribution connected than for those seeking only a basic recording tool.

The Webinar plan supports up to 100 registrants and includes branded registration forms, Q&A, live call-ins, polls, analytics, and HubSpot lead syncing. Business raises the stated webinar capacity to 10,000 registrants, so larger events may need its custom-priced plan.

Pricing

Riverside has a free plan, a 14-day trial, and paid plans. Free costs 0.00 USD per free and includes two hours of multi-track recordings, up to 720p video, 44.1 kHz audio, a Riverside watermark, and unlimited single-track recording and editing. It is a practical way to try a multi-track workflow, but the recording quota and watermark make it a poor fit for frequent, polished releases.

Standard costs 19.00 USD per month, billed monthly, and includes five hours of multi-track recording per month and 4K video. It suits users who prioritize recording quality and need a modest monthly multi-track allowance. The lower-cost option does not carry Pro’s listed editing, hosting, or analytics bundle.

Pro costs 24.00 USD per month, billed $288 annually. It includes up to 4K video, 48 kHz audio, one studio, and 15 hours of separate-track downloads; it is the clearest fit for creators who want editing and podcast publishing tools as part of the plan. Grow costs 34.00 USD per month, billed $408 annually, and adds 1080p live streaming, unlimited multistream destinations, two studios, and 20 hours of separate-track downloads. It is better suited to creators who need live distribution or a second studio, though it does not remove the download cap.

Webinar costs 79.00 USD per month, billed $948 annually, with up to 100 registrants, three studios, 25 hours of separate-track downloads, and HubSpot integration. Choose it for structured webinars rather than as a general upgrade to podcast production. Business has custom pricing and includes unlimited studios, unlimited separate-track downloads, and up to 10,000 webinar registrants, alongside a dedicated customer success manager and 24/7 live priority chat support.

Platforms

Riverside supports Android, iOS, macOS, web, and Windows, as well as an API. On computers, supported browsers are Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Safari 18.2 or newer; some studio features are unavailable in Safari. Linux computers are unsupported for recording, which rules Riverside out for Linux-based recording setups.

Who it's for

Riverside is a strong match for podcasters and video interviewers who value separate participant tracks, local recording, and an integrated editing and publishing workflow. Grow suits creators adding live streams, while Webinar is aimed at event organizers who need audience interaction and lead syncing. Linux users and producers whose separate-track downloads routinely exceed their plan allowance should look elsewhere or consider Business.

Pros and cons

Pros: Pro combines up to 4K video and 48 kHz audio with editing, audio enhancement, hosting, analytics, and publishing destinations.
Pros: Webinar includes registration, audience interaction, analytics, and HubSpot lead syncing for up to 100 registrants.
Pros: Business provides unlimited separate-track downloads and studios, plus priority support.
Cons: Free multi-track recording is limited to two hours and adds a watermark, restricting its usefulness for ongoing public releases.
Cons: Paid creator plans still cap separate-track downloads monthly, despite unlimited recording on Pro and above.
Cons: Linux computers are unsupported for recording, and Safari lacks some studio features.

Alternatives

Iris.fm is worth considering for a lower-cost entry point: its free plan lets guests join in a browser without a credit card, and Starter costs 9.00 USD per month. Adobe Podcast may fit users focused on audio enhancement and web-based audio work; its free plan includes Enhance Speech, subject to file and daily limits. Async offers a free tier with 10 lifetime AI credits, one hour of media upload to AI chat, up to 720p export, and 2 GB storage, making it an option for limited AI-assisted media work.

Zencastr is an alternative with a free plan that includes six participants, unlimited recording and downloads, up to 4K video, unlimited track storage, and five podcast shows. Spreaker may suit publishers who want a free plan for one podcast and unlimited episodes, with six months of statistics.

Waveroom is a candidate for users who prioritize generous free recording: its plan includes unlimited audio and video recordings, up to 2K video, 48 kHz WAV audio, and up to five participants. Airtape Studio is another browser-based option, with a free plan that includes two recording hours per month and two participants total. Readers comparing categories can also browse Podcast Recording Software, Live TV streaming services, Live Streaming Software, and Audio Editing Software.

Verdict

Choose Riverside if you want remote podcast or video-interview recording tied to editing, hosting, and distribution, and your separate-track downloads fit the plan allowance. Its integrated production tools are the main reason to pay; download caps and lack of Linux recording are the clearest reasons to look elsewhere.

	Riverside	Soundation
Free plan	Yes
Free trial	Yes
Paid from	$19/mo	$30/mo
Platforms	Android, api, iOS, macOS, Web, Windows	Web
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Paid from	$19/mo
Separate participant tracks	Yes
Local recording	Yes
Audio export format	wav_and_mp3
Video recording	Yes
Automatic transcription	Yes
Recording platform	browser_and_desktop
Collaboration mode		both

Riverside vs Soundation

Riverside

Soundation