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Video Production · head to head

Riverside.fm vs ScreenFlow

Riverside.fm logo

Riverside.fm

Video Production

High-quality remote podcast and video recording platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ScreenFlow logo

ScreenFlow

Video Production

Mac-only screen recording and editing sold as a one-time purchase

From
On request
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: Riverside.fm free plan limited to 2 hours of multi-track recording and adds a watermark; ScreenFlow it runs on macOS only, so a mixed fleet cannot standardise on it and project files cannot be handed to a Windows colleague in any form.
  • They diverge on capability: Riverside.fm covers Remote recording, ScreenFlow covers Screen and device capture.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Riverside.fm and ScreenFlow differ
AttributeRiverside.fmScreenFlow
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreemiumOne-time purchase
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidmacOS
Founded2019Unknown

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 Riverside.fm

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

Only in ScreenFlow

  • Screen and device capture
  • Callouts
  • Animated zoom and pan
  • Caption authoring
  • Stock media library
  • Direct publishing

What people use each for

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

Riverside.fm

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

ScreenFlow

  • Producing a paid online course where a recurring software subscription would erode the marginnot Riverside.fm
  • Recording software tutorials for a support knowledge base on a fixed annual budgetnot Riverside.fm
  • Capturing an iOS app demonstration directly from a connected device without a screen mirroring workaroundnot Riverside.fm
  • Training teams who need captioned, annotated walkthroughs without a full editing suitenot Riverside.fm

Where each one falls short

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

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

ScreenFlow

  • It runs on macOS only, so a mixed fleet cannot standardise on it and project files cannot be handed to a Windows colleague in any form.
  • Each major version is a paid upgrade rather than an included update, so the one-time purchase is in practice a purchase every eighteen months to two years if you want current macOS compatibility.
  • New macOS releases have repeatedly broken screen and audio capture until an update arrives, which is a scheduling risk for anyone recording to a publication calendar.
  • Media lives inside a project bundle that grows quickly and there is no real media management, so a long-running series consumes disk with no straightforward way to consolidate or relink.
  • It is a recorder with an editor attached; multicam, colour work and audio repair beyond simple cleanup all require a proper non-linear editor.

Pricing, plan by plan

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

ScreenFlow

On request
  • ScreenFlow$undefined/year
    • Perpetual licence for one major version
    • Screen, camera and device capture
    • Full editing timeline

Which should you pick?

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

Choose ScreenFlow if

  • You need screen and device capture.
  • You work on macOS.
  • You also want callouts.
ScreenFlow review

Questions people ask

Is Riverside.fm or ScreenFlow better?
Neither clearly leads. Riverside.fm starts at Free and ScreenFlow at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Riverside.fm or ScreenFlow?
Riverside.fm has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Riverside.fm and On request for ScreenFlow.
Does Riverside.fm or ScreenFlow run on more platforms?
Riverside.fm runs on Web, Ios, Android. ScreenFlow runs on macOS.
Can I use Riverside.fm for free?
Yes. Riverside.fm has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. ScreenFlow starts at On request.
What is Riverside.fm best used for?
Riverside.fm is most often used for remote podcast and video interview recording with multi-track separation. Of those, remote podcast and video interview recording with multi-track separation is not what ScreenFlow is typically brought in for.
What can Riverside.fm do that ScreenFlow cannot?
Riverside.fm covers Remote recording, High-quality capture, Automatic transcription, Video editing. ScreenFlow covers Screen and device capture, Callouts, Animated zoom and pan, Caption authoring.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
ScreenFlow: Is it a subscription?

No. The application is bought outright. Major version upgrades are charged separately, and the optional stock media library is a subscription.

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
ScreenFlow: Will it ever run on Windows?

No. It is a macOS application and Telestream has never shipped a Windows version.

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
ScreenFlow: How does it compare with Camtasia on cost?

Both are bought rather than rented and both charge for major upgrades. ScreenFlow is Mac only; Camtasia runs on both platforms, which usually decides it for a mixed team.

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