Riverside vs SquadCast vs Zencastr.
Three local-recording platforms: Riverside for video, SquadCast for existing Descript users, Zencastr for a free start.
Quick answer
Riverside is better if…
- →You run a video podcast and want 4K local tracks.
- →You want built-in clips, captions and an editor for social repurposing.
SquadCast is better if…
- →Your show already runs on SquadCast and relies on its API, booking integrations or conference backup.
- →You accept that Descript says Rooms will eventually replace it, and you keep your own copies of recordings.
Zencastr is better if…
- →You are launching a new show and want to start for free.
- →You want recording, hosting and distribution in one place, and can live with basic post-production tools.
Remote recording that doesn't sound like a Zoom call.
Still running and still a capable recorder, but Descript no longer sells it on its own and says Rooms will replace it. Existing users can keep recording; new shows should start in Rooms or Riverside.
The free remote recorder that grew a whole podcast toolkit.
For podcasters choosing where to record remote interviews. All three record each guest locally so your episode does not sound like a call — the differences are video quality, how gracefully they recover when something breaks, and what you pay.
The problem it solves: a lost or ruined interview costs you a guest, not just an afternoon. This three-way table shows which platform is safest, which produces the best video for clips, and which gets a new show on air for the least money.
| FEATURE | RIVERSIDE | SQUADCAST | ZENCASTR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recording quality | 4K video, 48kHz audio, separate local tracks per guest. | 48kHz audio with a lossless WAV option; video up to 4K at a variable frame rate (up to 30 fps). | 48kHz WAV audio and 4K video on the free plan, up to 6 participants. |
| Reliability & recovery | Good progressive upload, occasional web-app wobbles on long sessions. | Progressive upload in about 5-second chunks plus two cloud backups, per Descript's docs. | Local recording with cloud backup. |
| Ease for guests | Browser link, clear mic check. Guests need to close other apps. | Browser join with no install; wide browser and OS support, including iOS (beta). | Easiest of all — a link and a name, nothing else. |
| Editing & repurposing | Built-in editor, AI clip generator, captions — best for social clips. | Hands off to Descript through Edit in Descript (beta); Dolby files and backups import by hand. | Basic post tools; plan to edit somewhere else. |
| Integrations | Descript, YouTube, Zapier, Drive, Dropbox. | Descript, Dropbox, Zapier, API and webhooks, Captivate and SavvyCal booking. | Hosting and distribution built in, plus YouTube, Google Drive, Dropbox and livestreaming. |
| Support | Responsive chat and docs, priority on higher plans. | Docs now live in Descript's help center. | Slowest to respond of the three. |
| Extras beyond recording | Clips, transcripts, live streaming, teleprompter. | Comes with a Descript account; Descript says Rooms will eventually replace it. | Hosting, distribution, transcripts and an ad marketplace. |
| Entry price | See current plans below | No standalone plan; included with Descript plans | Free (Vibecastr plan, hosting included); Enterprise is custom |
| Get it | TRY RIVERSIDE → | TRY SQUADCAST → | TRY ZENCASTR → |
| PLAN | PRICE | WHAT YOU GET |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 2 hrs of multitrack recording, one time only (not monthly), up to 720p, Riverside watermark |
| Pro | $29 /mo ($24 /mo billed annually) | 15 hrs/mo separate-track downloads, up to 4K, 1 studio, unlimited transcriptions |
| Grow | $39 /mo ($34 /mo billed annually) | 20 hrs/mo separate-track downloads, up to 4K, 2 studios |
| Webinar | $99 /mo ($79 /mo billed annually) | 25 hrs/mo separate-track downloads, up to 4K, 3 studios |
| Business | custom | unlimited separate-track downloads, unlimited studios |
| PLAN | PRICE | WHAT YOU GET |
|---|---|---|
| Descript Free | $0 | SquadCast account at no extra cost; Rooms recording 2 hours; Descript exports at 720p with a watermark |
| Descript Hobbyist | $16/mo billed annually, $24 monthly | 10 media hours/month, Rooms 5 hours/month, 1080p exports |
| Descript Creator | $24/mo billed annually, $35 monthly | 30 media hours/month, Rooms 15 hours/month, 4K exports |
| Descript Business | $50/mo billed annually, $65 monthly | 40 media hours/month, Rooms 25 hours/month, 4K exports |
| PLAN | PRICE | WHAT YOU GET |
|---|---|---|
| Vibecastr (free) | $0 | Up to 6 participants, unlimited separate-track recording, 4K video and 48kHz WAV audio, local recording with cloud backup, unlimited hosting and transcription, up to 5 shows, 4 seats, 1080p livestreaming, distribution to podcast and social platforms, advanced analytics. Unlimited production credits for a limited time |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom limits, seats and contracts. Contact sales |
- +Records each guest locally — no internet artifacts
- +Up to 4K video per track on paid plans (the free plan caps at 720p and 44.1kHz audio)
- +Live editing tools are improving fast
- +Clip generator is actually useful
- −Guests need to behave (close other apps)
- −The browser studio has requirements: Chrome, Edge or Safari 18.2+ (Safari lacks some studio features), no private mode, and about 5 GB of free browser storage
- +Progressive upload sends each participant's recording in small chunks (about 5 seconds) during the session, per Descript's documentation
- +Separate local audio and video files for every participant, 48 kHz, with a lossless WAV option
- +Two cloud backups: a combined conference recording (up to 1080p) and isolated per-participant tracks
- +Video up to 4K
- −Not sold as a standalone product; you get it through a Descript account
- −Descript says Rooms will eventually replace it; no sunset date and no confirmed feature mapping
- −squadcast.fm still shows 2023 events and an outdated pricing table
- −Edit in Descript import is in beta; Dolby-mastered files and cloud backups have to be downloaded and imported by hand
- +Cheapest credible local-recording option
- +Hosting, distribution and monetisation bundled in
- +Free plan covers 4K video, 48kHz audio, hosting and transcription
- +Simple enough that guests never need a walkthrough
- −Pricing model changed in August 2026, so long-term free terms are not guaranteed
- −Post-production tools are basic
- −Unlimited production credits are a limited-time offer
- −Support responses can be slow
Riverside wins overall because most podcasts are now video podcasts. The 4K local tracks are the best raw material of the three, and the clip generator turns an interview into a week of social posts without another subscription. It is the platform whose output does the most work for you after the recording ends.
SquadCast is now a pick only for shows already using it. Its recording design (local tracks, progressive upload, two cloud backups) is still sound, but Descript no longer sells it on its own and says Rooms, the recorder built into Descript, will eventually replace it, with no date set. New shows that edit in Descript should start in Rooms instead.
Zencastr wins on money. Since August 2026 its single free plan covers recording up to 4K with 48kHz audio, plus hosting, transcription and distribution, so a new show can get on air without a bill. You give up post-production depth and fast support, and the pricing model is new, so expect it to change.
| IF YOU... | PICK | WHY |
|---|---|---|
| Video podcasts and social clips | Riverside | 4K local tracks plus the best built-in clip and caption tools. |
| High-stakes interviews you cannot re-record | Riverside | Local tracks with progressive upload, from a recorder that is actively developed and sold on its own. |
| Shows already recording in SquadCast | SquadCast | Keep recording, but download your files and test Descript Rooms, which Descript says will replace it. |
| New shows on a tight budget | Zencastr | Recording, hosting and distribution on a free plan. |
Remote recording that doesn't sound like a Zoom call.
TRY RIVERSIDE →Still the best way to edit a podcast or talking-head video by editing text. Pick your plan by media hours and AI credits, not by the feature list.
TRY DESCRIPT →Free voice cleanup that punches absurdly above its weight.
TRY ADOBE PODCAST →The friendliest on-ramp into podcast hosting, with a generous free tier and a paid Cohost AI add-on (titles, descriptions, chapters and social posts) that's more useful than it sounds.
TRY BUZZSPROUT →- Riverside, SquadCast or Zencastr — which is best in 2026?
- Riverside wins our head-to-head. Remote recording that doesn't sound like a Zoom call. Scores: Riverside 8.6/10, SquadCast 6.5/10, Zencastr 7.7/10.
- Which one is cheapest?
- Riverside starts at $0 ($$ tier); SquadCast starts at $0 ($$ tier); Zencastr starts at $0 (Free tier). List prices change often, so confirm with each vendor before buying.
- Which is better for video podcasts and social clips?
- Riverside. 4K local tracks plus the best built-in clip and caption tools.
- Which is better for high-stakes interviews you cannot re-record?
- Riverside. Local tracks with progressive upload, from a recorder that is actively developed and sold on its own.
- Which is better for shows already recording in squadcast?
- SquadCast. Keep recording, but download your files and test Descript Rooms, which Descript says will replace it.
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- FULL REVIEWRiverside review8.6 / 10
- FULL REVIEWSquadCast review6.5 / 10
- CATEGORYAll podcast recording reviews