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Software · head to head

Libsyn vs Riverside.fm

Libsyn logo

Libsyn

Software

The original podcast hosting platform since 2004

From
$5/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Riverside.fm logo

Riverside.fm

Software

High-quality remote podcast and video recording platform

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Libsyn basic plan at $12 per month allows only 3 hours of audio upload per month; Riverside.fm free plan limited to 2 hours of multi-track recording and adds a watermark
  • They diverge on capability: Libsyn covers Reliable hosting, Riverside.fm covers Remote recording.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Libsyn and Riverside.fm differ
AttributeLibsynRiverside.fm
Starting price$5/monthOn request
Founded20042019

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), platforms (Web, Ios, Android), 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 Libsyn

  • Reliable hosting
  • Advanced analytics
  • Monetization platform
  • Distribution network
  • Custom website
  • Ad insertion
  • Apple Podcasts
  • Spotify

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.

Libsyn

  • Hosting podcast audio and distributing it to Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTubenot Riverside.fm
  • Measuring audience with IAB certified download statisticsnot Riverside.fm
  • Monetising shows through advertising on enterprise plansnot Riverside.fm

Riverside.fm

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

Where each one falls short

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

Libsyn

  • Basic plan at $12 per month allows only 3 hours of audio upload per month
  • Advanced IAB verified stats require the $25 per month Advanced plan; Basic gets basic stats only
  • Spotify video distribution requires the Advanced or Max plan
  • Dynamic ad insertion sits on Professional and Enterprise plans that are quoted by sales with no published rate
  • The top published tier, Max at $150 per month, still caps audio uploads at 55 hours per month

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

Libsyn

$5/month
  • Classic 50$5/month
    • 50 MB monthly storage
    • Basic statistics
    • Podcast page
  • Classic 150$15/month
    • 150 MB monthly storage
    • Advanced statistics
    • Custom website
  • Advanced 400$20/month
    • 400 MB monthly storage
    • Premium analytics
    • Multiple shows
  • Advanced 800$40/month
    • 800 MB monthly storage
    • Full analytics suite
    • Priority support

Riverside.fm

On request
  • StarterFree
    • 1 hour/month recording
    • 1080p recording
    • Automatic transcription
  • Professional$19/month
    • 20 hours/month recording
    • 4K recording quality
    • Advanced editing
  • Studio$99/month
    • Unlimited recording
    • 4K video quality
    • Team collaboration

Which should you pick?

Choose Libsyn if

  • You need reliable hosting.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want advanced analytics.
Libsyn review

Choose Riverside.fm if

  • You need remote recording.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want high-quality capture.
Riverside.fm review

Questions people ask

Is Libsyn or Riverside.fm better?
Neither clearly leads. Libsyn starts at $5/month and Riverside.fm at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Libsyn or Riverside.fm?
Libsyn starts at $5/month and Riverside.fm at On request.
Does Libsyn or Riverside.fm run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Ios, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is Libsyn best used for?
Libsyn is most often used for hosting podcast audio and distributing it to apple podcasts, spotify and youtube, measuring audience with iab certified download statistics, monetising shows through advertising on enterprise plans. Of those, hosting podcast audio and distributing it to apple podcasts, spotify and youtube and measuring audience with iab certified download statistics are not what Riverside.fm is typically brought in for.
What can Libsyn do that Riverside.fm cannot?
Libsyn covers Reliable hosting, Advanced analytics, Monetization platform, Distribution network. Riverside.fm covers Remote recording, High-quality capture, Automatic transcription, Video editing. Both handle Web support, Ios support, Android support.
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