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Entertainment · head to head

Jellyfin vs Riverside.fm

Jellyfin logo

Jellyfin

Entertainment

The free software media system

From
Free
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

  • Each has a real cost: Jellyfin no commercial support or SLA available; project is volunteer-maintained; Riverside.fm free plan limited to 2 hours of multi-track recording and adds a watermark
  • They diverge on capability: Jellyfin covers Media server, Riverside.fm covers Remote recording.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Jellyfin and Riverside.fm actually diverge.

Attributes where Jellyfin and Riverside.fm differ
AttributeJellyfinRiverside.fm
Pricing modelfreefreemium
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Desktop, DockerWeb, Ios, Android
CategoryEntertainmentVideo Production
Founded20182019

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Jellyfin

  • Media server
  • Streaming
  • Library management
  • Open source
  • Self-hosted
  • Smart TVs
  • Streaming devices
  • Mobile devices

Only in Riverside.fm

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

Both cover

  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Jellyfin

  • Open-source media streamingnot Riverside.fm
  • Self-hosted librarynot Riverside.fm

Riverside.fm

  • Remote podcast and video interview recording with multi-track separationnot Jellyfin

Where each one falls short

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

Jellyfin

  • No commercial support or SLA available; project is volunteer-maintained
  • Self-hosted deployment required; no cloud hosting provided by project

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

Jellyfin

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited streaming
    • Open source
    • No ads

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 Jellyfin if

  • You need media server.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Desktop, Docker.
  • You also want streaming.
Jellyfin 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 Jellyfin or Riverside.fm better?
Neither clearly leads. Jellyfin starts at Free and Riverside.fm at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Jellyfin or Riverside.fm?
Jellyfin starts at Free and Riverside.fm at Free.
Does Jellyfin or Riverside.fm run on more platforms?
Jellyfin runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Desktop, Docker. Riverside.fm runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Jellyfin for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Jellyfin best used for?
Jellyfin is most often used for open-source media streaming, self-hosted library. Of those, open-source media streaming and self-hosted library are not what Riverside.fm is typically brought in for.
What can Jellyfin do that Riverside.fm cannot?
Jellyfin covers Media server, Streaming, Library management, Open source. Riverside.fm covers Remote recording, High-quality capture, Automatic transcription, Video editing. Both handle Web support, Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Jellyfin: How much does Jellyfin cost?

Jellyfin is completely free with no costs, hidden fees, or subscriptions. The Jellyfin server and official clients are free to download and use for personal, commercial, or any other purpose. There are no paid tiers or premium features.

Source
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
Jellyfin: Is Jellyfin open source?

Yes, Jellyfin is free and open-source software distributed under the GNU General Public License (GPL). Users can download, use, study, modify, and distribute it at no cost. The project is maintained by volunteers and supported through user donations.

Source
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
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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