The surge in podcasting has introduced a myriad of remote recording services, making it challenging to choose the best one. In this article, we pit Riverside.fm against SquadCast to determine the superior choice for podcasters.
If you’re searching for a podcast recording service, it’s crucial to find one that provides studio-quality audio, user-friendly features, and reliable performance.
We’ll evaluate these two contenders, Riverside.fm vs. SquadCast, examining their key features, user experience, and overall performance to help you make an informed decision.
SquadCast vs Riverside Compared
| Podcast Tool | Audio Quality | Video Quality | Ease of Use | Feature Set | Editing Tools | Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| SquadCast | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Riverside.fm
Founded in 2019, Riverside.fm was created by brothers Nadav and Gideon Keyson and has become a host for many highly influential people, including Hillary Clinton, Mark Zuckerberg, Gary Vaynerchuk, and more!
Below, you will find everything you need to know about Riverside.fm.
User Experience
Riverside presents an extremely user-friendly experience. The dashboard features a clean and practical design, making navigating the platform easy and getting your podcast episode up and running.
Before you join an episode, you’re placed in a ‘waiting room’ where you can double-check your output, input, and yourself ahead of recording.
Riverside supports up to eight people on a single recording, with one host and seven guests.
Audio Quality
Riverside enables you to record uncompressed clear audio at 48kHz WAV from your browser.
Video Recording
Riverside’s top-quality recording feature is a game-changer for many podcasters. Whether or not you have a strong Wi-Fi connection, Riverside will record up to 4K video quality.
This is because the video gets recorded locally while simultaneously being uploaded in the background, guaranteeing a clean video.
Video recordings are important for podcasts. YouTube is among the most used podcast platforms with a massive audience reach; therefore, publishing your content here is advantageous.
Pricing
- Basic – $9/month ($7.50/m paid yearly) – Allows you to record up to 2 hours of video and audio per month, live streaming on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, separate video and audio tracks, and you can accept live call-ins.
- Standard – $19/month ($15/m paid yearly) – Allows you to record up to 5 hours of video and audio per month, live streaming on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, separate video and audio tracks, and you can accept live call-ins.
- Pro – $29/month ($24/m paid yearly) – Allows you to record up to 20 hours of video and audio per month, live streaming on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, separate video and audio tracks, you can accept live call-ins, and it includes transcriptions.
SquadCast
Established in 2016, SquadCast was co-founded by Zachariah Moreno and Rockwell Felder, who were on a mission to amplify collaboration.
Below, you will find everything you need to know about SquadCast.
User Experience
SquadCast features a simple, easy-to-use user interface. All you need to do is create a new session (or utilize a former one) and invite your guests with a link or via email.
Once you join a session, you will be placed in a ‘Green Room’, where you can check your input and output, and make sure your hair is looking good before going on camera.
SquadCast allows you to record with a total of four people, with one host and three guests.
Audio Quality
SquadCast features excellent audio quality for remote recording.
While many services claim to have ‘studio-quality audio’- SquadCast comes the closest to having it.
One feature includes a built-in-echo cancellation, which is only good when not wearing headphones.
Once the recording has finished, you’ll be presented with audio files for all your guests in .mp3 and .wav formats.
A feature that sets SquadCast apart from other podcast recording services is its ‘progressive upload,’ which ensures that audio files are uploaded in real-time as the conversation progresses.
Other podcast recording platforms upload your recording once finished, although this runs the risk of losing your audio files to a bad connection or accidentally closing the browser.
You don’t have to worry about this with SquadCast; your audio is uploaded in real-time.
Video Recording
Similar to Riverside, SquadCast allows you to record high-quality video.
This makes a great difference when recording remote conversations and interviews. Moreover, with the demand for video content, podcasters should upload their content to reach a wider audience.
Likewise, it makes for a much more natural conversation, which results in a more professional podcast.
Pricing
SquadCast offers a wide range of pricing options that become progressively more expensive depending on the features and audio recording you purchase.
The pricing structure can sometimes be quite difficult to comprehend since there are two payment options: audio and video or audio-only.
- Audio plans – Start at $10 a month for 2 hours worth of audio. This can go up to $150 a month for 25 hours’ worth of audio.
- Audio and video plans – Start at $40 a month for 5 hours of video and audio, and this can go up to $300 a month for 25 hours.
Riverside.fm Vs SquadCast – Which Is Better?
Since both remote podcasting recording services are extremely similar, choosing the right one for you can be difficult. Ultimately, the decision is based on your personal podcasting requirements.
Although, if you’re looking for an extremely professional podcasting service, Riverside.fm would be your winner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use SquadCast vs Riverside for live streaming?
Yes, both Riverside.fm and SquadCast support live streaming to platforms like Facebook and YouTube.
Does Riverside.fm offer video recording?
Yes, Riverside.fm allows recording in up to 4K video quality, ensuring high-definition content for your podcast.
How many guests can I have on Riverside.fm and SquadCast?
Riverside.fm supports up to eight participants, while SquadCast allows up to four participants in a single session.
Is there a difference in audio quality between Riverside.fm and SquadCast?
Both platforms offer high-quality audio, but Riverside.fm records uncompressed 48kHz WAV files, while SquadCast focuses on real-time progressive uploads to ensure no loss of data.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right remote podcasting recording service can sometimes be a very difficult task. You have to factor in features, pricing, audio quality, and user experience, to name a few.
However, choosing a recording service doesn’t have to be difficult. Hopefully, this article has provided you with all the information you need to decide which service, Riverside or SquadCast, is right for you.
