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Webinars · head to head

Panopto vs Riverside

Panopto logo

Panopto

Webinars

Video management and live streaming platform for enterprises

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Riverside logo

Riverside

Webinars

Studio-quality remote podcast and video recording

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Riverside has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Panopto no price list is published, and the vendor states there are no tiers at all; Riverside the free plan gives a single one off 2 hours of recording rather than a monthly allowance
  • They diverge on capability: Panopto covers Video management, Riverside covers Local recording.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Panopto and Riverside actually diverge.

Attributes where Panopto and Riverside differ
AttributePanoptoRiverside
Starting priceOn requestFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, Mac, IOS, Android, WebWeb, Ios, Android, Desktop
Founded20072020

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Webinars).

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 Panopto

  • Video management
  • Recording
  • Search
  • Analytics
  • Microsoft 365
  • Canvas
  • Blackboard
  • 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.

Panopto

  • Recording, hosting and searching lecture and training videonot Riverside
  • Integrating video libraries with learning management systemsnot Riverside

Riverside

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

Where each one falls short

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

Panopto

  • No price list is published, and the vendor states there are no tiers at all
  • Cost depends on user count, integrations, add ons and deployment model, so several negotiated variables set the figure
  • Four capabilities are separately priced add ons on top of any quote
  • Every route to a figure is a demo or a conversation with sales

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

Panopto

On request
  • Professional$500/month
    • Video storage
    • Basic features
  • Business$1000/month
    • Live streaming
    • Analytics
  • Enterprise$2500/month
    • Custom solutions
    • Dedicated support

Riverside

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 2 hours of multi-track recordings (one-time)
    • Up to 720p video quality
    • 44.1 kHz audio quality
  • Pro$29/month
    • 5 hours per month of multi-track recordings
    • Up to 4K video quality
    • 48kHz audio quality
  • Grow$39/month
    • 15 hours per month of multi-track recordings
    • Everything in Pro plus
    • Social media scheduling
  • Webinar$99/month
    • Everything in Grow plus
    • Webinar hosting (up to 100 registrants)
    • Pre-record & stream as live

Which should you pick?

Choose Panopto if

  • You need video management.
  • You work on Windows, Mac, IOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want recording.
Panopto review

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.
Riverside review

Questions people ask

Is Panopto or Riverside better?
Neither clearly leads. Panopto 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, Panopto or Riverside?
Riverside has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Panopto and Free for Riverside.
Does Panopto or Riverside run on more platforms?
Panopto 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. Panopto starts at On request.
What is Panopto best used for?
Panopto is most often used for recording, hosting and searching lecture and training video, integrating video libraries with learning management systems. Of those, recording, hosting and searching lecture and training video and integrating video libraries with learning management systems are not what Riverside is typically brought in for.
What can Panopto do that Riverside cannot?
Panopto covers Video management, Recording, Search, Analytics. Riverside covers Local recording, 4K video capture, Separate audio tracks, AI transcription. Both handle Live streaming, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Panopto: How much does Panopto cost?

Panopto does not publish pricing rates. Instead, each organization receives a custom quote based on unique factors including the number of users, storage needs, integrations required, and deployment model.

Source
Riverside: How much does Riverside Pro cost?

Riverside Pro costs $29/month (monthly) or $24/month when paid annually ($288/year). It includes 5 hours of multi-track recordings per month, 4K video, 48kHz audio, no watermark, teleprompter, 1 studio, and podcast hosting.

Source
Panopto: What is included in Panopto's base enterprise plan?

The base enterprise plan includes enterprise-scale storage, AI capabilities like search and auto-captions, content creation tools, security and compliance features, LMS integrations, and dedicated implementation support.

Source
Riverside: What are the recording hour limits for Riverside plans?

Free plan: 2 hours total. Pro: 5 hours/month. Grow: 15 hours/month. Webinar: 15 hours/month. Business: unlimited. Download limits range from 15-25 hours depending on plan, except Business which is unlimited.

Source
Panopto: Does Panopto offer a free trial?

Panopto offers free product demonstrations for prospective customers, with pricing discussions typically conducted through direct contact with their sales team.

Source
Riverside: How many studios are included in each Riverside plan?

Free: 0 studios. Pro: 1 studio. Grow: 2 studios. Webinar: 3 studios. Business: unlimited studios.

Source
Riverside: Does Riverside offer webinar hosting?

Yes, webinar hosting is available starting at the Webinar plan ($99/month or $79/month annually). It supports up to 100 registrants, with the Business plan supporting up to 10,000 registrants.

Source
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