Pricing comparison
Riverside vs SquadCast (now Descript-powered)
Side-by-side pricing breakdown for Podcast Production Tools decision-makers
Each amount uses its recorded currency; no currency conversion is applied. Confirm billing units, commitments, and current regional terms.
Compare the plan that fits your requirements
Check billing units, included usage and renewal terms. Starting prices alone do not establish an overall winner.
Dataset dated 2026-04-21. Sources: Riverside pricing and SquadCast (now Descript-powered) pricing.
Affiliate links may earn us a commission. Both vendors remain available for comparison.
Recorded starting rates: Riverside $24/mo; SquadCast (now Descript-powered) $16/mo. Billing units and commitments can differ. Compare the plans that include your required features, then request quotes for the same quantity and term.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | | |
|---|---|---|
| multi track recording | Free lists two one-time multitrack hours; paid allowances vary by plan | All plans |
| video quality | 720p Free / 4K Pro+ | Not recorded |
| audio quality | 44.1 kHz Free / 48 kHz Pro+ | Not recorded |
| magic clips | All plans - AI short-form clip generator | Not recorded |
| magic audio | Pro+ - AI audio enhancement | Not recorded |
| eye contact | Pro+ - AI gaze correction | Not recorded |
| unlimited transcriptions | Pro+ | Not recorded |
| teleprompter | Pro+ | Not recorded |
| live streaming | Live+ | Not recorded |
| multistreaming | Live+ - YouTube + FB + LinkedIn + IG + X + Twitch | Not recorded |
| webinars | Webinar tier ($79 annual) / Business (10k registrants) | Not recorded |
| producer mode | Business only | Not recorded |
| api access | Business only | Not recorded |
| recording hours total session | Confirm how session duration, tracks and participant time count toward the allowance | Not recorded |
| domain shift | Current links in this record use riverside.com | Not recorded |
| cloud backup recordings | Not recorded | All plans |
| unlimited recording sessions | Not recorded | All plans |
| unlimited recording storage | Not recorded | All plans |
| guests no account required | Not recorded | Participants can join without signup |
| mainstage backstage participants | Not recorded | 10 main + 10 backstage per session |
| descript ai editing | Not recorded | Post-acquisition integration with Descript AI editing capabilities |
| text based video editing | Not recorded | Descript-inherited feature |
| ai transcription | Not recorded | Paid plans |
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Dive Deeper
SquadCast (now Descript-powered)
About the podcast production tools category
Podcast tools cover recording, editing, hosting and audio processing. Riverside and SquadCast focus on remote sessions, Async combines recording with AI-assisted editing, Alitu connects production and publishing, and Auphonic processes existing audio. These services are not interchangeable, and their hour or credit allowances measure different work.
How to choose between podcast production tools options
Rehearse with a remote guest and inspect the separate tracks, backup files and export format. Check whether recording hours reset monthly or are a one-time allowance. For editing, try a noisy sample and review the transcript before publishing. Include hosting, storage and any human editing service in the complete budget.
Building Your Business Stack?
Decision-makers comparing tools often need more than one category. Here are related comparisons:
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do Riverside and SquadCast (now Descript-powered) prices compare?
- Riverside: $24/mo. SquadCast (now Descript-powered): $16/mo. These are recorded starting prices; compare billing units, included usage and contract terms before treating them as equivalent costs.
- Which is better for my requirements, Riverside or SquadCast (now Descript-powered)?
- Compare the recorded features and plan limits against your requirements, then confirm them with each vendor. This page does not establish hands-on testing or an overall winner.
- What happens after the first billing term?
- Use any recorded renewal rate as a dated observation. When a future rate is missing, ask the vendor; do not assume the starting price remains unchanged.