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Video Production · head to head

Riverside.fm vs Shotcut

Riverside.fm logo

Riverside.fm

Video Production

High-quality remote podcast and video recording platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
S

Shotcut

Video Production

Free, open-source, cross-platform video editor built on the MLT framework

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Riverside.fm free plan limited to 2 hours of multi-track recording and adds a watermark; Shotcut interface is dense and less polished than commercial competitors like VEGAS Pro.
  • They diverge on capability: Riverside.fm covers Remote recording, Shotcut covers Native timeline editing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Riverside.fm and Shotcut differ
AttributeRiverside.fmShotcut
Pricing modelfreemiumopen-source
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Androidwindows, mac, linux
Founded20192004

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Shotcut

  • Native timeline editing
  • Wide format support
  • 4K resolution support
  • Blackmagic Design SDI/HDMI capture
  • Multi-format timelines
  • Text and audio filters

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 Shotcut

Shotcut

  • Free cross-platform video editingnot Riverside.fm
  • Working with mixed-format footage in one projectnot Riverside.fm
  • 4K video editing without a subscriptionnot Riverside.fm
  • Capturing footage from Blackmagic SDI/HDMI hardwarenot 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

Shotcut

  • Interface is dense and less polished than commercial competitors like VEGAS Pro.
  • No built-in cloud collaboration or team review features.
  • Performance on very large 4K projects can lag on modest hardware.
  • Community-driven support model means no official paid support channel.

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

Shotcut

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full editor
    • All filters and effects
    • Community support

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 Shotcut if

  • You need native timeline editing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on windows, mac, linux.
  • You also want wide format support.
Shotcut review

Questions people ask

Is Riverside.fm or Shotcut better?
Neither clearly leads. Riverside.fm starts at Free and Shotcut at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Riverside.fm or Shotcut?
Riverside.fm starts at Free and Shotcut at Free.
Does Riverside.fm or Shotcut run on more platforms?
Riverside.fm runs on Web, Ios, Android. Shotcut runs on windows, mac, linux.
Can I use Riverside.fm for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Shotcut is typically brought in for.
What can Riverside.fm do that Shotcut cannot?
Riverside.fm covers Remote recording, High-quality capture, Automatic transcription, Video editing. Shotcut covers Native timeline editing, Wide format support, 4K resolution support, Blackmagic Design SDI/HDMI capture.

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
Shotcut: Is Shotcut free for commercial use?

Yes. Shotcut is distributed under the GPLv3 license, which grants the freedom to run the program for any purpose, including commercial use, at no cost.

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
Shotcut: Does Shotcut collect personal data?

No. Shotcut does not collect, store, or share any personal information, and it requires no network connection for activation or usage tracking.

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
Shotcut: What operating systems does Shotcut support?

Shotcut supports Windows 10 (build 1809) and later, macOS 12-26, and 64-bit Linux with glibc 2.35 or higher.

Source
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