Riverside vs Zencastr

Riverside9.4Visit Zencastr9.0Visit

Higher score Riverside #1 in Podcast Recording Software 9.4/10 Free plan · 14-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 4 of 4 features Visit Riverside

vs

Zencastr #4 in Podcast Recording Software 9.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit Zencastr

• Riverside fits best

  Creators wanting polished recording and publishing

• Zencastr fits best

  Free creators needing editing and publishing

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature	Riverside 9.4/10 Visit ↗	Zencastr 9.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.4	9.0
Ranking	#1 in Podcast Recording Software	#4 in Podcast Recording Software
Best for	Creators wanting polished recording and publishing	Free creators needing editing and publishing
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	$15/mo	—
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	14 days	—
Deployment	Cloud, Desktop, Mobile	Cloud, Mobile
Platforms	Web, macOS, iOS, Android	Web, iOS
Support	Live chat, Docs · 24/7	Email, Live chat, Docs
Compliance	SOC 2, ISO 27001, SSO/SAML	GDPR
Integrations	8 integrations	5 integrations
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Riverside 4/4 · Zencastr 4/4
Separate participant tracks	✓	✓
Local recording	✓	✓
Video recording	✓	✓
Automatic transcription	✓	✓
Specs
Maximum participants	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Audio export format	Wav_and_mp3	Wav_and_mp3
Recording platform	Browser_and_desktop	Browser
Our review
Pros	Local, synchronized audio and video tracks for each participant Transcription, text-based editing, clips, hosting, and publishing in one workspace Works across web, macOS, iOS, and Android with major platform integrations	Free plan includes separate local audio and video recording Automatic transcription includes speaker labels and unlimited hours Supports hosting, publishing, clips, and major podcast platforms
Cons	The Free plan allows only 2 hours of multi-track recordings as a one-off allowance Free exports include a watermark and are limited to 720p video and 44.1 kHz audio Separate-track downloads are capped monthly on Pro, Grow, and Webinar	The free plan supports up to six participants Enterprise pricing and capacity are custom Its broad feature set may exceed simple recording needs
Our verdict	Riverside is an online recording and production platform for podcasters, creators, marketers, and businesses producing remote audio and video. Each participant’s device records locally while files upload continuously, creating separate… Read the review →	Zencastr is a podcast creation platform for individual creators and podcast teams that need recording, editing, transcription, hosting, and publishing tools in one workflow. Sessions can run in a browser, on desktop, or through iOS. Each… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Riverside — where it wins

  • Local, synchronized audio and video tracks for each participant
  • Transcription, text-based editing, clips, hosting, and publishing in one workspace
  • Works across web, macOS, iOS, and Android with major platform integrations

  Where it doesn't

  • The Free plan allows only 2 hours of multi-track recordings as a one-off allowance
  • Free exports include a watermark and are limited to 720p video and 44.1 kHz audio
  • Separate-track downloads are capped monthly on Pro, Grow, and Webinar

• Zencastr — where it wins

  • Free plan includes separate local audio and video recording
  • Automatic transcription includes speaker labels and unlimited hours
  • Supports hosting, publishing, clips, and major podcast platforms

  Where it doesn't

  • The free plan supports up to six participants
  • Enterprise pricing and capacity are custom
  • Its broad feature set may exceed simple recording needs

• Riverside9.4/10 · Free plan · 14-day trial

  A full recording-to-publishing workspace for creators who want polished remote production.

  Visit RiversideFull verdict →
• Zencastr9.0/10 · Free plan

  A capable free option for creators who need recording, editing, and publishing tools.

  Visit ZencastrFull verdict →