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Software · head to head

Kaltura vs Riverside

Kaltura logo

Kaltura

Software

Video platform for learning, media, and engagement

From
On request
Rated
-
Riverside logo

Riverside

Software

Studio-quality remote podcast and video recording

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Riverside has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Kaltura the pricing page lists ten separate products and publishes no rate, no minimum and no named cost driver for them, routing visitors to a quote request; Riverside the free plan gives a single one off 2 hours of recording rather than a monthly allowance
  • They diverge on capability: Kaltura covers Video creation, Riverside covers Local recording.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Kaltura and Riverside actually diverge.

Attributes where Kaltura and Riverside differ
AttributeKalturaRiverside
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, Mac, IOS, Android, WebWeb, Ios, Android, Desktop
Founded20062020

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

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 Kaltura

  • Video creation
  • Analytics
  • Interactive content
  • Mobile apps
  • Canvas
  • Blackboard
  • Moodle
  • Salesforce

Only in Riverside

  • Local recording
  • 4K video capture
  • Separate audio tracks
  • AI transcription
  • Magic Editor
  • Zoom
  • YouTube
  • Facebook Live

Both cover

  • Live streaming
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Kaltura

  • Enterprise video portals and internal town hallsnot Riverside
  • Virtual classrooms and lecture capture for universitiesnot Riverside

Riverside

  • Recording remote podcast and video interviews in local quality per participantnot Kaltura
  • Producing multi track recordings for editing after the sessionnot Kaltura

Where each one falls short

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

Kaltura

  • The pricing page lists ten separate products and publishes no rate, no minimum and no named cost driver for them, routing visitors to a quote request
  • Capabilities are split across separate products such as Webinars, Virtual Events, Town Halls, Video Portal and Virtual Classroom, each licensed on its own

Riverside

  • The free plan gives a single one off 2 hours of recording rather than a monthly allowance
  • Free exports are capped at 720p, so remote recording quality is the paid feature
  • Separate track recording is metered monthly, at 5 hours on Pro and 15 on Grow
  • Downloadable separate tracks are metered on a different allowance again, at 15, 20 and 25 hours
  • Removing all time limits requires the Webinar plan at $79 a month or a custom Business contract

Pricing, plan by plan

Kaltura

On request
  • Starter$400/month
    • Video library
    • Basic features
  • Professional$1000/month
    • Live streaming
    • Analytics
  • Enterprise$2500/month
    • Custom solutions
    • Support

Riverside

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 2 hours recording
    • 720p video
    • Separate audio tracks
  • Standard$15/month
    • 5 hours recording
    • 4K video
    • AI transcription
  • Pro$24/month
    • 15 hours recording
    • All features
    • Live streaming
  • Business$39/month
    • Unlimited recording
    • Team collaboration
    • Priority support

Which should you pick?

Choose Kaltura if

  • You need video creation.
  • You work on Windows, Mac, IOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want analytics.

Choose Riverside if

  • You need local recording.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Desktop.
  • You also want 4k video capture.

Questions people ask

Is Kaltura or Riverside better?
Neither clearly leads. Kaltura starts at On request and Riverside at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Kaltura or Riverside?
Riverside has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Kaltura and Free for Riverside.
Does Kaltura or Riverside run on more platforms?
Kaltura runs on Windows, Mac, IOS, Android, Web. Riverside runs on Web, Ios, Android, Desktop.
Can I use Riverside for free?
Yes. Riverside has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Kaltura starts at On request.
What is Kaltura best used for?
Kaltura is most often used for enterprise video portals and internal town halls, virtual classrooms and lecture capture for universities. Of those, enterprise video portals and internal town halls and virtual classrooms and lecture capture for universities are not what Riverside is typically brought in for.
What can Kaltura do that Riverside cannot?
Kaltura covers Video creation, Analytics, Interactive content, Mobile apps. Riverside covers Local recording, 4K video capture, Separate audio tracks, AI transcription. Both handle Live streaming, Web support.

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