Softwr

Video Production · head to head

Riverside.fm vs Spotify

Riverside.fm logo

Riverside.fm

Video Production

High-quality remote podcast and video recording platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Spotify logo

Spotify

Entertainment

Music for everyone

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; Spotify ad-free listening, offline downloads, lossless audio and unlimited skipping all require Premium at $12.99 a month
  • They diverge on capability: Riverside.fm covers Remote recording, Spotify covers Music streaming.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Riverside.fm and Spotify differ
AttributeRiverside.fmSpotify
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWeb, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers
CategoryVideo ProductionEntertainment
Founded20192006

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Spotify

  • Music streaming
  • Podcast streaming
  • Playlist creation
  • Music discovery
  • Social sharing
  • Offline downloads
  • Cross-device sync
  • Audio quality options

Both cover

  • Privacy controls
  • Web support

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 Spotify

Spotify

  • Music listeningnot Riverside.fm
  • Podcast consumptionnot Riverside.fm
  • Playlist sharingnot Riverside.fm
  • Music discoverynot Riverside.fm
  • Background musicnot 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

Spotify

  • Ad-free listening, offline downloads, lossless audio and unlimited skipping all require Premium at $12.99 a month
  • Lossless streaming tops out at 24-bit/44.1 kHz
  • The Duo plan at $18.99 a month covers two people and the Family plan at $21.99 covers a household, with no per-seat option between them

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

Spotify

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Ad-supported listening
    • Standard audio quality
  • Premium Individual$12.99/month
    • 1 account
    • Ad-free listening
    • Offline downloads
  • Premium Student$6.99/month
    • 1 verified account for eligible students
    • Hulu access included
    • Ad-free listening
  • Premium Duo$18.99/month
    • 2 accounts for couples at same address
    • Ad-free listening
    • Offline downloads

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 Spotify if

  • You need music streaming.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers.
  • You also want podcast streaming.
Spotify review

Questions people ask

Is Riverside.fm or Spotify better?
Neither clearly leads. Riverside.fm starts at Free and Spotify at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Riverside.fm or Spotify?
Riverside.fm starts at Free and Spotify at Free.
Does Riverside.fm or Spotify run on more platforms?
Riverside.fm runs on Web, Ios, Android. Spotify runs on Web, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Smart-speakers.
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 Spotify is typically brought in for.
What can Riverside.fm do that Spotify cannot?
Riverside.fm covers Remote recording, High-quality capture, Automatic transcription, Video editing. Spotify covers Music streaming, Podcast streaming, Playlist creation, Music discovery. Both handle Privacy controls, Web support.

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
Spotify: Does Spotify offer a free plan?

Yes, Spotify offers a free ad-supported tier with standard audio quality. Users can listen to any song but do not get offline downloads, full playback control, or ad-free listening.

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
Spotify: What is the difference between Spotify Premium Student and Premium Individual?

Premium Student costs $6.99/month (half the price of Premium Individual at $12.99/month) and includes Hulu access. Premium Student is available only to verified higher education students with an introductory offer of $0 for 1 month, whereas Premium Individual has a $0 for 3 months introductory offer.

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
Spotify: How many people can share a Spotify Premium Family plan?

Spotify Premium Family plan allows up to 6 accounts for family members living at the same address, includes parental controls, and provides Premium access (including ad-free listening and offline downloads) for members under 13. The plan costs $21.99/month.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Riverside.fm

More on Spotify

Keep looking

Other head to heads