Video podcasting isn't a trend anymore - it's the default. Over 50% of podcast shows now post full video episodes on YouTube, a 130% increase from 2022. And with YouTube claiming the #1 spot among US podcast platforms (used by 39% of monthly listeners), the pressure to produce studio-quality video recordings has never been higher.
Riverside has been a go-to for remote podcast and video recording since its COVID-era launch in 2020. Founded by brothers Nadav and Gideon Keyson in Tel Aviv, it's landed clients like The New York Times, Spotify, Microsoft, and NPR. The local recording approach - capturing each participant's audio and video at source rather than compressing over the internet - was genuinely innovative.
But here's the thing: a growing number of creators are running into walls. Audio-video sync issues, sluggish exports (some users report 24+ hour upload times), limited editing capabilities, and a mobile app that lacks core features like Magic Clips and downloading. On Trustpilot, complaints about customer support - from generic bot responses to multi-day wait times - show up regularly alongside the praise.
Whether you need better editing, more reliable recordings, live streaming capabilities, or a tool that turns your recordings into polished, publish-ready content, there are strong options out there.
We tested 9 AI video maker alternatives to Riverside, comparing recording quality, AI features, editing power, pricing, and real user sentiment from G2, Capterra, Reddit, and Trustpilot. Here's what we found.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best For | Starting Price | Key Differentiator |
|---|---|---|---|
| ngram | Professional video from any recording | Free / $17.40/mo | AI-powered, context-aware video generation |
| Descript | Text-based video editing | Free / $15/mo | Edit video by editing the transcript |
| StreamYard | Live streaming + recording | Free / $44.99/mo | Multistream to 10+ platforms simultaneously |
| Zencastr | Audio-first podcasters | $18/mo | All-in-one record, edit, host, publish |
| Podcastle | Budget-conscious creators | Free / $11.99/mo | 1,000+ AI voices and voice cloning |
| SquadCast | Failsafe remote recording | Included w/ Descript | Progressive upload with automatic backups |
| Zoom | Guest convenience | Free / $13.33/mo | Universal familiarity, zero guest friction |
| OBS Studio | Full control, zero cost | Free forever | Open-source, unlimited customization |
| Ecamm Live | Mac-native live production | $16/mo | Apple-optimized with pro streaming tools |
1. ngram
If you've been using Riverside to record podcasts, interviews, or demos and then spending hours in a separate editor trying to make the output look professional - ngram was built for exactly that problem.
Where Riverside stops at recording, ngram picks up and runs. Upload your screen recording, raw interview footage, a document, some screenshots, or even a URL. Tell ngram who the video is for, what it should accomplish, and where it's going. It handles the script, storyboard, visuals, pacing, captions, and brand styling - giving you a polished, publish-ready video in minutes.
What makes ngram stand out
Context-aware generation is the core differentiator. Tell ngram your audience (developers vs. executives), your goal (educate vs. convert), and your channel (LinkedIn vs. website). The output adapts automatically. A YouTube podcast clip gets different pacing and structure than a sales follow-up video.
Plan first, generate second means you review the script and storyboard before anything renders. This is where most video tools fail - they make you commit to a final product before you've confirmed the direction. With ngram, you fix problems at the cheapest possible moment.
For podcast and video creators specifically, ngram's AI-powered editing is a game changer. Automatic filler word removal, smart zoom on interactions, cursor emphasis for demos, and callouts driven by your prompts. No timeline editing required - just describe what you want.
Key features
- Context-aware generation - Adapts structure, pacing, and tone to your audience and channel
- Plan first, generate second - Script and storyboard review before rendering
- Any asset in - Text, images, docs, URLs, screen recordings as input
- AI editing - Auto-cut, filler removal, smart zoom, cursor emphasis
- Multi-format export - 16:9, 9:16, 1:1 with captions included
- Brand kits - Logo, colors, fonts applied to every video automatically
Who is ngram best for?
Product Marketing, Growth, Sales Enablement, Customer Success, and Agencies who need professional videos without production timelines. If your recordings need to go beyond raw footage - to customers, prospects, or public audiences - ngram is the pick.
ngram has a very generous free plan with paid plans starting at $17.40 per month.
Ready to try ngram? Create your first video in under 5 minutes. Start free
2. Descript
Descript takes a fundamentally different approach to video editing: edit your video like you'd edit a Google Doc. Delete a word from the transcript, and the video cuts accordingly. Founded by Andrew Mason (yes, the Groupon founder), Descript has raised over $104M and now serves 7 million+ creators.
The platform acquired SquadCast in 2023 for remote recording, giving it a complete record-to-publish pipeline. It's particularly strong for long-form content where transcript-level control matters.
Key features
- Text-based editing - Edit video by editing the transcript
- Studio Sound - AI enhancement that makes any recording sound professional
- Filler word removal - One-click ums, ahs, and "you knows" removal
- AI voice cloning (Overdub) - Fix mistakes without re-recording
- SquadCast integration - Remote recording in up to 4K
- Screen recording - Built-in recorder with webcam overlay
What users say
The text-based editing concept consistently blows people away. On Reddit, users call it "mind-blowing for long-form content" and a massive time-saver for podcast post-production. The Studio Sound feature gets particular praise for making home recordings sound polished.
The flip side: longer-term users report increasing bugginess, corrupted recordings, and video-audio sync issues. The September 2025 pricing overhaul introduced "Media Minutes" and "AI Credits" - a consumption model that has confused many users. Some describe the tool as becoming "increasingly clunky and unfocused" as it adds features.
Best for
Solo creators and podcasters who work with long-form content and want transcript-level editing control. Less ideal for teams who need fast, templated output or live streaming.
Pricing starts at $15/user/month (annual) with a limited free tier.
3. StreamYard
StreamYard is the polar opposite of Riverside's approach. Where Riverside focuses on high-fidelity local recording for post-production, StreamYard is built for going live - broadcasting to YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitch, and up to 10 platforms simultaneously from your browser.
Originally founded in 2018, StreamYard was acquired by Hopin for $250M and later by Bending Spoons in April 2024. It supports up to 10 on-screen participants with custom branding, overlays, and audience engagement tools.
Key features
- Browser-based live streaming - No downloads, no software installs
- Multistreaming - Broadcast to 10+ platforms at once
- Custom branding - Overlays, logos, backgrounds, lower thirds
- Audience engagement - Live comments overlay, banners, tickers
- Up to 10 participants - Panel discussions and multi-guest shows
- Recording + streaming - Record locally while streaming live
What users say
Users consistently highlight the dead-simple interface. Going live on multiple platforms in minutes, with professional-looking overlays, is StreamYard's superpower. The free plan (with watermark) lets you test everything before committing.
The big complaints center around recent pricing hikes after the Bending Spoons acquisition - some users report 80%+ increases. On lower-tier plans, recordings are cloud-only (if your guest lags, the recording lags too). You need the $39/month Pro plan for 1080p resolution.
Best for
Content creators who prioritize live streaming to multiple platforms over recording quality. If your podcast is a live show first and a recording second, StreamYard fits.
Free plan available (branded). Paid plans start at $44.99/month.
Looking for the fastest way to turn recordings into professional videos? ngram transforms your raw footage, docs, and images into polished, on-brand videos in minutes. Try ngram free
4. Zencastr
Zencastr is the all-in-one podcaster's toolkit - record, edit, host, publish, and monetize from a single browser-based platform. Founded in 2015 by Josh Nielsen, it bootstrapped for five years before raising $5.1M and now services roughly 6% of all podcasts, with over 15% of active podcasters having used it.
The standout feature is local recording for each participant with automatic backup to Google Drive and Dropbox. Your audio quality doesn't depend on your guest's Wi-Fi.
Key features
- Local recording - Lossless audio, up to 4K video, separate tracks per participant
- AI-powered post-production - Automatic leveling, noise reduction, loudness normalization
- Smart filters - Filler word removal (ums, ahs, repeated words) and pause shortening
- Live soundboard - Up to 10 audio clips per session for intros, effects, sponsor messages
- Unlimited podcast hosting - Analytics, monetization, and distribution built in
- ZenAI text-based editing - Edit audio by editing the transcript
What users say
Users love the audio quality and the local recording approach that protects against internet drops. Customer support gets genuine praise for being "quick and helpful" - a contrast to some competitors. The all-in-one workflow from recording to published episode in one tool saves significant time.
The downsides: Chrome-only (no Safari support), which frustrates Mac users. Some report crashes after ~30 minutes of recording on macOS. The interface has hidden menus that new users find confusing. No free-forever plan is available.
Best for
Audio-first podcasters who want a complete record-to-publish workflow with automatic post-production. Especially strong for interview-style shows.
Pricing starts at $18/month for Standard, $24/month for Grow (4K video + AI clips).
5. Podcastle
Podcastle (currently rebranding to "Async") is the budget pick with a surprisingly deep AI toolkit. Founded in 2020 in Armenia, it's raised $22.45M including a $13.5M Series A in 2024. The standout: over 1,000 AI voices powered by their proprietary Asyncflow v1.0 model, plus voice cloning from a short audio sample.
For podcasters who want AI-powered production without Riverside's price tag, Podcastle delivers.
Key features
- Magic Dust - One-click AI noise removal and audio enhancement
- 1,000+ AI voices - Text-to-speech with proprietary AI model
- Revoice - Clone your voice from a short sample for corrections
- AI text-based editing - Edit by transcript with auto-transcription
- Unlimited podcast hosting - Distribution to major directories
- Video recording - Browser-based with separate tracks
What users say
Budget-conscious creators appreciate the generous free plan (unlimited audio recording, 3 hours of video). The AI features, especially Magic Dust for cleaning up audio, are described as genuine time-savers. The interface is clean and approachable for beginners.
Limitations include no live broadcasting support, limited video features compared to dedicated video tools, and occasional software crashes. The platform is less mature than Descript or Riverside for video-heavy workflows.
Best for
Budget-conscious podcasters and educators who want AI-powered audio tools, especially text-to-speech and voice cloning, at an affordable price point.
Free plan available. Paid plans start at $11.99/month (annual).
6. SquadCast (now part of Descript)
SquadCast was the gold standard for reliable remote recording before Descript acquired it. The platform's claim to fame: progressive upload technology that continuously backs up locally recorded audio and video to the cloud. If a participant's internet drops, you don't lose the recording.
Now included free with all paid Descript subscriptions, SquadCast has become the recording arm of the Descript ecosystem. Companies like Spotify, ESPN, and Shopify have used it.
Key features
- Local recording in up to 4K - Quality independent of internet connection
- Progressive upload - Continuous cloud backup while recording
- Automatic backup recordings - Every participant, every session
- Separate audio tracks - Individual tracks per guest for editing
- Browser-based - No downloads required for guests
- Direct Descript integration - Recordings flow straight into the editor
What users say
Reliability is the recurring theme. Users describe SquadCast as "rock solid" for remote recording with the backup system providing genuine peace of mind. The guest experience is smooth - just send a link, no software install needed. The Descript integration creates a seamless record-to-edit workflow.
The downsides: occasional glitches when initiating calls, no free-forever plan (just a 7-day trial), and some users feel SquadCast's independent identity is fading under Descript's umbrella.
Best for
Podcasters who prioritize recording reliability above all else, especially those already using Descript for editing.
Included with Descript paid plans (starting at $15/user/month annual).
7. Zoom
Let's be honest: Zoom isn't a podcast tool. It's a video conferencing platform that 300 million+ daily users already know how to use. And that familiarity is its single biggest advantage.
With 55.91% global videoconferencing market share and 70% of Fortune 100 companies on board, every guest you invite already has Zoom installed. No "what's Riverside?" questions. No browser compatibility issues. No guest onboarding friction.
Key features
- Universal guest familiarity - Everyone knows Zoom, period
- Separate audio tracks - Available on paid plans
- Built-in noise suppression - Decent enough for casual recording
- AI Companion - Meeting summaries and smart chapters (higher plans)
- Cloud recording - 5GB per license on paid plans
- Up to 1,000 participants - Depending on plan
What users say
The praise is simple: zero guest friction. No explaining how the tool works, no browser compatibility drama, no "can you hear me?" troubleshooting for most users. For casual interview-style podcasts, it works.
The criticism is equally straightforward: VoIP audio compression makes everything sound "underwater" or "echoey" compared to local-recording tools. Quality degrades with any internet instability. No built-in editing, publishing, or podcast-specific features. Multiple industry experts explicitly advise against using Zoom for podcast recording if quality matters.
Best for
Podcasters on a zero budget who value guest convenience over audio/video quality, or those recording casual interview content where broadcast quality isn't critical.
Free plan available (40-minute limit). Pro starts at $13.33/user/month (annual).
8. OBS Studio
OBS Studio is the free, open-source powerhouse that powers more live streams and recordings than any commercial tool. With 70,200+ GitHub stars and a community-funded development model, it offers zero cost, zero limitations, and zero hand-holding.
Founded in 2012 (originally to stream StarCraft II gameplay), OBS runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. The latest version (32.0) added a Plugin Manager and Metal renderer for Apple Silicon.
Key features
- Completely free - No paid tiers, no watermarks, no feature gating
- Scene composition - Unlimited sources (cameras, screens, images, text, browser)
- Advanced audio mixer - Per-source filters (noise suppression, gain, EQ)
- Multi-platform streaming - RTMP, HLS, SRT, RIST, or WebRTC
- Plugin ecosystem - Community-built extensions for nearly anything
- Studio Mode - Preview scenes before switching live
What users say
Universally respected as the gold standard for free recording and streaming. The plugin ecosystem extends functionality in ways no commercial tool matches. Audio capture from multiple sources with precise level control is praised by power users.
The steep learning curve is the consistent complaint. The interface overwhelms beginners, setup requires significant technical knowledge, and there's no built-in editing, transcription, or remote guest recording. One Reddit user summed it up: "powerful but not beginner-friendly." For podcasting specifically, you'll need separate tools for editing and remote guests.
Best for
Technically proficient creators who want maximum control and zero cost, and are comfortable building their own production workflow with separate tools for editing and remote recording.
Completely free. Forever.
9. Ecamm Live
Ecamm Live is the Mac-native option for creators who want OBS-level production power with a more approachable interface. It's optimized specifically for Apple hardware, taking advantage of the Apple Silicon architecture for smooth performance.
For podcasters who record and stream from a Mac and want professional overlays, multi-camera setups, and RTMP streaming without the OBS learning curve, Ecamm fills that gap.
Key features
- Mac-native performance - Optimized for Apple Silicon
- Multi-camera support - Switch between camera angles in real time
- Screen sharing + overlays - Professional-looking broadcasts
- RTMP streaming - Stream to YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, and more
- Interview mode - Bring in remote guests via a link
- Local recording - High-quality local capture while streaming
What users say
Mac users praise the performance and reliability. The interface is significantly more approachable than OBS while still offering professional-grade features. Multi-camera switching and custom overlays make productions look polished without complex setup.
The dealbreaker for many: it's Mac-only. Windows users are completely out of luck. The remote guest experience is less refined than dedicated tools like Riverside or SquadCast. And it's primarily a streaming/recording tool with no built-in editing.
Best for
Mac users who want professional live streaming and recording with a cleaner interface than OBS, especially for shows that combine live production with recorded content.
Pricing starts at $16/month.
The shift toward video podcasting is accelerating. In 2020, video podcasts made up just 18% of all podcast content. By 2025, that figure hit 36%. Among podcast listeners who consume video, 71% say it delivers a richer, more engaging experience - and 61% specifically point to facial expressions and body language as the reason.
The global podcasting market is projected to hit $40.5 billion in 2026 and could reach $131 billion by 2030, growing at a 27% CAGR. With 619 million podcast listeners expected worldwide in 2026 and US podcast ad spending projected at $2.56 billion, the tools you use to record and produce content directly impact your ability to capture this growth.
Meanwhile, AI is reshaping production economics. 61% of podcasters plan to integrate AI tools into their workflow, and early adopters report slashing post-production time by up to 80%. AI transcription costs roughly $0.10 per audio minute versus $1-$3 for manual transcription - a 90%+ cost reduction.
How we evaluated these Riverside alternatives
We didn't just list tools - we tested them, read hundreds of user reviews, and compared them across five weighted criteria:
| Criteria | Weight | What we looked at |
|---|---|---|
| Recording Quality | 30% | Local vs. cloud recording, max resolution, audio fidelity, separate tracks |
| Ease of Use | 25% | Learning curve, guest experience, onboarding, UI/UX quality |
| AI Capabilities | 20% | AI editing, transcription, clip generation, post-production automation |
| Value | 15% | Pricing relative to features, free tier generosity, cost at scale |
| Post-Production | 10% | Built-in editing, publishing, distribution, analytics |
We also factored in:
- Real user reviews from G2, Capterra, TrustRadius, Trustpilot, Reddit, and Product Hunt (qualitative sentiment, not numerical scores)
- Market presence and company stability (funding, user base, years in market)
- Integration ecosystem with common podcasting and business tools
- Industry trends and where the market is heading - particularly the shift toward video podcasting and AI-powered production
For a detailed head-to-head, see our ngram vs Riverside comparison.
The bottom line
Riverside built its reputation on high-quality local recording for remote interviews, and it still does that well. But the podcasting landscape has evolved. 55% of Americans now listen to podcasts monthly, video podcasts are the fastest-growing format, and AI tools are cutting production time by 80%.
If you need your recordings to become polished, publish-ready videos without hours of manual editing, ngram is the AI video maker that gives you AI-powered generation and editing that turns raw footage into professional content in minutes. Learn more about ngram's AI editing features.
Every tool on this list solves a different slice of the recording and production problem. The right choice depends on whether you need AI-powered video generation (ngram), transcript-based editing (Descript), live streaming (StreamYard), all-in-one podcasting (Zencastr), or maximum control at zero cost (OBS Studio).
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