Riverside
Studio-quality remote recording, locally per guest.
Riverside records each participant locally in high quality and uploads in the background. It also includes a text-based editor and an AI clip maker.
Visit Riverside
Is Riverside worth it?
Riverside is worth it for video podcasts and remote interviews where quality matters, because it records each participant locally and uploads in the background. Its text-based editor and AI clip maker cover quick edits and short clips. The catch is that higher resolutions and more recording hours need paid plans, and uploads rely on guests keeping the tab open.
The short version
- Best for
- Video podcasts and remote interviews.
- Made for
- Podcasters, YouTubers
- Free plan
- Yes
- How it charges
- Free tier, then monthly plans by recording hours. Prices change often; check the current plans on Riverside’s site.
Good at
- Local recording per participant, audio and video
- Guests join from a browser link
- Editor and clip maker in the same place
Where Nub hesitates
- Higher resolutions and more hours need paid plans
- Uploads depend on guests keeping the tab open
Pick Riverside if
- You record video podcasts or remote interviews and want high-quality files
- You want separate tracks per guest even when their connection is weak
- You want editing and short clips in the same tool as recording
Skip it if
- You mainly go live to several platforms: StreamYard or Restream fit better
- You run an audio-only show and want hosting in the same account: compare Zencastr
- Your guests are unlikely to keep a browser tab open until uploads finish
Why Riverside recordings look and sound better than a video call
On a normal video call, what you record is the compressed stream that reached your computer, with every dropped frame and glitch included. Riverside records each participant locally on their own device, audio and video, and uploads the files in the background. Your guest’s internet connection affects the live conversation, but much less the files you edit afterwards. It is the same idea as asking each guest to record themselves, without asking them to manage files.
The workflow is simple for guests. You send a link, they join from a browser, and Riverside handles the recording. After the session, you get separate tracks per participant. The key rule is that guests should keep the tab open until their upload finishes, because closing early can leave parts of their recording missing. A quick test call before the real interview catches microphone and camera problems early.
Once recorded, you can edit in Riverside’s text-based editor, cutting the conversation by editing its transcript, and use the AI clip maker to pull short clips for Shorts, Reels or TikTok. That keeps a video podcast’s workflow in one place. Creators who want deeper editing still export the tracks to Descript, Premiere Pro or another editor. Clips from the AI clip maker are worth a quick review before posting.
Compared with Zencastr, Riverside is stronger on video; Zencastr is audio-first and adds hosting. Compared with StreamYard, which is built around live streaming, Riverside is built around recording quality. The free tier lets you try a session, while higher resolutions and more recording hours need a paid plan, priced by recording hours. Check current limits at the time of writing.
Riverside vs similar tools
| Tool | Best for | Free plan | How it charges |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside | Video podcasts and remote interviews. | Yes | Free tier, then monthly plans by recording hours |
| Zencastr | Audio-first shows that want recording and hosting together. | Check site | Free and paid plans |
| Async | Audio podcasters who want one simple app. | Check site | Free and paid plans |
Riverside FAQ
Is Riverside free?
Yes, Riverside has a free tier, so you can try a recording. Higher resolutions and more recording hours need a paid monthly plan. Limits change, so check the pricing page at the time of writing.
Riverside vs Zencastr: which is better?
Riverside is the stronger choice for video podcasts, with local recording of audio and video, a text-based editor and a clip maker. Zencastr is audio-first and adds hosting so a small show can record and publish in one place.
Riverside vs StreamYard?
StreamYard is built for live streaming with guests, overlays and multistreaming. Riverside is built for recording quality, with each guest recorded locally. If you go live, StreamYard fits; if you record and publish later, Riverside fits.
What happens if a guest closes the tab during upload?
Riverside uploads each participant’s local recording in the background, so closing the tab early can leave parts of that guest’s recording missing. Ask guests to keep the tab open until the upload completes.
Can I edit podcasts in Riverside?
Yes. It includes a text-based editor and an AI clip maker for short clips. For complex edits you can export the separate tracks to another editor.
Alternatives
- Zencastr · Audio-first shows that want recording and hosting together.
- Async · Audio podcasters who want one simple app.
- StreamYard · Shows that go live and publish the recording afterwards.
- Restream · Live shows that want every platform at once.
- Descript · Talking-head videos, interviews and video podcasts.
