Squadcast vs. Riverside: The Ultimate Remote Recording Showdown

For podcasters, journalists, and content creators, the ability to record high-quality remote interviews is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. The rise of remote work has led to a surge in demand for platforms that can deliver studio-quality audio and video from anywhere in the world. Two of the leading contenders in this space are Squadcast and Riverside. Both platforms have earned a reputation for their reliability, high-fidelity recordings, and user-friendly interfaces. But which one is the right choice for you? In this comprehensive comparison, we’ll explore the features, pricing, and unique strengths of both Squadcast and Riverside to help you make an informed decision.

An Overview of Squadcast and Riverside

Before we dive into a detailed comparison, let’s take a high-level look at each platform.

Squadcast: The Reliable and High-Fidelity Recording Studio

Squadcast has established itself as a trusted name in the world of remote recording. It’s known for its exceptional audio quality, thanks to its progressive upload technology and local recording capabilities. This ensures that your recordings are safe and sound, even if your internet connection is unstable. Squadcast is a favorite among professional podcasters and media companies that demand the highest level of reliability and audio fidelity.

Riverside: The All-in-One Recording and Editing Platform

Riverside has quickly become a popular choice for creators who want a comprehensive solution for their remote recording and editing needs. Like Squadcast, it offers local recording to ensure high-quality audio and video. But Riverside goes a step further by providing a suite of AI-powered editing tools, including a text-based video editor, that make post-production a breeze. This makes it an ideal choice for creators who want to streamline their workflow and create polished content with minimal effort.

Detailed Feature Comparison

Core Features

Both Squadcast and Riverside are built on a foundation of high-quality local recording. This means that they record each participant’s audio and video directly on their computer, which eliminates the risk of internet-related quality issues. Both platforms also offer progressive uploads, which means that your recordings are saved to the cloud in real-time.

Squadcast’s integration with Descript is a major selling point. Descript includes a powerful audio and video editing tool that enables editing recordings by simply editing the transcript text. This can save you a significant amount of time and effort in post-production.

Riverside’s built-in editing tools are also a major advantage. The text-based video editor is incredibly intuitive, and the AI-powered tools can help you create a polished final product with minimal effort.

Unique Features

• Squadcast: The “green room” feature lets you prepare for your session, chat with guests, check audio/video, and ensure everyone is ready before recording.

• Riverside: The “Magic Editor” automates editing by switching between speakers, removing background noise, and creating a polished final product.

Pricing and Plans

Squadcast Pricing

Plans start at $20 per month, including local recording, progressive uploads, and cloud backups. Higher-tier plans add more recording hours, advanced features, and priority support.

Riverside Pricing

Plans start at $15 per month, including local recording, AI-powered editing tools, and automatic transcription. Higher-tier plans provide more hours, premium features, and dedicated support.

Ease of Use

Both platforms are browser-based with user-friendly interfaces.

• Squadcast: Extremely intuitive and quick to set up, ideal for beginners.

• Riverside: Slightly steeper learning curve due to advanced features, but excellent documentation and support ease the process.

Video and Audio Quality

• Squadcast: Records uncompressed WAV audio and up to 4K video, ensuring professional results.

• Riverside: Matches with 48kHz WAV audio and up to 4K video, plus “Magic Audio” to remove noise and enhance clarity.

Guest Management

• Squadcast: Up to 10 participants with browser-based access and a helpful green room for pre-show prep.

• Riverside: Up to 8 participants, with the addition of a producer mode for managing sessions without being on camera.

Integrations

• Squadcast: Works with Descript, Adobe Audition, Hindenburg, Zapier, and Dropbox.

• Riverside: Works with Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, Descript, and Zapier.

Customer Support

• Squadcast: 24/7 live chat, knowledge base, and community forum.

• Riverside: 24/7 live chat, detailed help center, and community forum.

Who is it for?

• Squadcast is best for:

  • Professional podcasters prioritizing top-tier audio quality.

  • Media companies needing reliability and scale.

  • Creators who prefer a straightforward recording platform.

• Riverside is best for:

  • Creators seeking an all-in-one recording and editing platform.

  • Podcasters aiming to streamline workflow and reduce editing time.

  • Video podcasters who want polished, professional results.

Conclusion: The Final Verdict

Both Squadcast and Riverside deliver outstanding performance for remote recording.

• Choose Squadcast if pristine audio and reliability are your top priorities.

• Choose Riverside if you want a comprehensive recording + editing solution with AI-powered enhancements.

The best way to know which fits your workflow is to try them both. Each offers a free trial so you can see firsthand which aligns better with your creative process.