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Video Production · head to head

Avid Media Composer vs Riverside.fm

Avid Media Composer logo

Avid Media Composer

Video Production

Broadcast and film editing built around shared storage and multi-editor workflow

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Riverside.fm logo

Riverside.fm

Video Production

High-quality remote podcast and video recording platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Riverside.fm has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Avid Media Composer the value is concentrated in shared storage, bin locking and media management, so a solo editor pays for infrastructure complexity that returns nothing.; Riverside.fm free plan limited to 2 hours of multi-track recording and adds a watermark
  • They diverge on capability: Avid Media Composer covers Bin locking, Riverside.fm covers Remote recording.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Avid Media Composer and Riverside.fm actually diverge.

Attributes where Avid Media Composer and Riverside.fm differ
AttributeAvid Media ComposerRiverside.fm
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelPer user per monthfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, macOSWeb, Ios, Android
FoundedUnknown2019

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Video Production).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Avid Media Composer

  • Bin locking
  • Media management
  • Avid NEXIS integration
  • Script-based editing
  • Media Composer Ultimate
  • AAF interchange

Only in Riverside.fm

  • Remote recording
  • High-quality capture
  • Automatic transcription
  • Video editing
  • Live streaming
  • Distribution tools
  • Zapier
  • IFTTT

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Avid Media Composer

  • Cutting an episodic series where several editors and assistants share the same media and bins concurrentlynot Riverside.fm
  • Working to a broadcaster delivery specification that assumes Avid media handling and AAF interchangenot Riverside.fm
  • Running a facility where editors, assistants and producers need controlled, role-limited access to the same projectnot Riverside.fm
  • Handing an audio conform to a Pro Tools mixer without translation problemsnot Riverside.fm

Riverside.fm

  • Remote podcast and video interview recording with multi-track separationnot Avid Media Composer

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Avid Media Composer

  • The value is concentrated in shared storage, bin locking and media management, so a solo editor pays for infrastructure complexity that returns nothing.
  • Avid expects to own the media in its own managed MXF structure, and working outside that convention produces relinking problems that consume assistant time.
  • The free Media Composer First tier was discontinued in 2021, so there is no longer a no-cost path for a student or a new hire to learn the application.
  • Effects and colour tooling trail DaVinci Resolve and Premiere, so facilities round-trip to a separate finishing application, adding a step and another licence.
  • The interface and keyboard model share almost nothing with other editors, so an experienced Premiere or Resolve editor needs weeks rather than days to reach normal speed.

Riverside.fm

  • Free plan limited to 2 hours of multi-track recording and adds a watermark
  • Pro plan at $29 per month caps separate-track recording at 5 hours per month
  • Business plan with unlimited storage and SSO is quote only, requiring contact with sales

Pricing, plan by plan

Avid Media Composer

On request
  • Media Composer$undefined/month
    • Core editing
    • Media management
    • Standard media formats
  • Media Composer Ultimate$undefined/month
    • Advanced tooling
    • Shared project workflow
    • Facility licensing options
  • Media Composer Enterprise$undefined/year
    • Role-based interface lockdown
    • Central deployment
    • Integration with MediaCentral

Riverside.fm

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 2 hours of multi-track recordings
    • 720p video quality
    • 44.1 kHz audio
  • Pro$29/month
    • $24 per month annual
    • 4K video and 48kHz audio
    • No watermark
  • Grow$39/month
    • $34 per month annual
    • 1080p live streaming
    • Social media scheduling
  • Webinar$99/month
    • $79 per month annual
    • Host webinars up to 100 registrants
    • Lead capture tools

Which should you pick?

Choose Avid Media Composer if

  • You need bin locking.
  • You work on Windows, macOS.
  • You also want media management.
Avid Media Composer review

Choose Riverside.fm if

  • You need remote recording.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want high-quality capture.
Riverside.fm review

Questions people ask

Is Avid Media Composer or Riverside.fm better?
Neither clearly leads. Avid Media Composer starts at On request and Riverside.fm at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Avid Media Composer or Riverside.fm?
Riverside.fm has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Avid Media Composer and Free for Riverside.fm.
Does Avid Media Composer or Riverside.fm run on more platforms?
Avid Media Composer runs on Windows, macOS. Riverside.fm runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Riverside.fm for free?
Yes. Riverside.fm has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Avid Media Composer starts at On request.
What is Avid Media Composer best used for?
Avid Media Composer is most often used for cutting an episodic series where several editors and assistants share the same media and bins concurrently, working to a broadcaster delivery specification that assumes avid media handling and aaf interchange, running a facility where editors, assistants and producers need controlled, role-limited access to the same project, handing an audio conform to a pro tools mixer without translation problems. Of those, cutting an episodic series where several editors and assistants share the same media and bins concurrently and working to a broadcaster delivery specification that assumes avid media handling and aaf interchange are not what Riverside.fm is typically brought in for.
What can Avid Media Composer do that Riverside.fm cannot?
Avid Media Composer covers Bin locking, Media management, Avid NEXIS integration, Script-based editing. Riverside.fm covers Remote recording, High-quality capture, Automatic transcription, Video editing.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Avid Media Composer: Is it worth it for a solo editor?

Generally no. The multi-editor and shared storage workflow is the reason to pay for it, and a single editor uses none of it.

Riverside.fm: How much does Riverside FM cost?

Pro plan is $29/month ($24 annually), Grow is $39/month ($34 annually), and Webinar is $99/month ($79 annually). A Free plan with 2 hours recording is available. Business plan requires contacting sales.

Source
Avid Media Composer: Is there still a free version?

No. Media Composer First was discontinued in 2021.

Riverside.fm: Does Riverside FM offer annual billing discounts?

Yes, annual billing provides up to 20% discount compared to monthly rates. Specific savings vary by plan tier.

Source
Avid Media Composer: Why do broadcasters still specify Avid?

Because delivery, media management and audio conform workflows across the industry assume it, and because bin locking on shared storage remains the reliable way to put many editors on one production.

Riverside.fm: What is included in the Free plan?

The Free plan includes 2 hours of multi-track recordings, 720p video quality, 44.1 kHz audio, unlimited single-track recording, and a Riverside watermark on exports.

Source
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