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Video Production · head to head

Riverside.fm vs Synthesia

Riverside.fm logo

Riverside.fm

Video Production

High-quality remote podcast and video recording platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Synthesia logo

Synthesia

Video Production

AI video creation with digital presenters

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; Synthesia free plan limited to 10 minutes of video per month
  • They diverge on capability: Riverside.fm covers Remote recording, Synthesia covers AI avatars.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Riverside.fm and Synthesia differ
AttributeRiverside.fmSynthesia
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWeb
Founded20192017

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), 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 Synthesia

  • AI avatars
  • 140+ languages
  • Video templates
  • Brand customization
  • API access
  • LMS integrations
  • PowerPoint
  • Api support

Both cover

  • 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 Synthesia

Synthesia

  • Training video creation with AI avatarsnot Riverside.fm
  • Multilingual video localisation with AI dubbingnot Riverside.fm
  • Enterprise video production and managementnot 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

Synthesia

  • Free plan limited to 10 minutes of video per month
  • Starter plan limited to 10 minutes of video per month
  • Creator plan capped at 30 minutes of video per month
  • SSO/SAML authentication restricted to Enterprise tier

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

Synthesia

Free
  • BasicFree
    • 1,200 credits per month
    • Up to 10 minutes of video per month
    • 9 AI avatars
  • Starter$29/month
    • 14,500 credits per year
    • Up to 120 minutes of video per year
    • 125+ AI avatars
  • Creator$89/month
    • 44,000 credits per year
    • Up to 360 minutes of video per year
    • 180+ AI avatars

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 Synthesia if

  • You need ai avatars.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want 140+ languages.
Synthesia review

Questions people ask

Is Riverside.fm or Synthesia better?
Neither clearly leads. Riverside.fm starts at Free and Synthesia at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Riverside.fm or Synthesia?
Riverside.fm starts at Free and Synthesia at Free.
Does Riverside.fm or Synthesia run on more platforms?
Riverside.fm runs on Web, Ios, Android. Synthesia runs on Web.
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 Synthesia is typically brought in for.
What can Riverside.fm do that Synthesia cannot?
Riverside.fm covers Remote recording, High-quality capture, Automatic transcription, Video editing. Synthesia covers AI avatars, 140+ languages, Video templates, Brand customization. Both handle 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
Synthesia: How much does Synthesia cost?

Synthesia offers a free Basic plan with 10 minutes of video per month, Starter at $29 per month with 120 minutes per year, and Creator at $89 per month with 360 minutes per year. Annual billing provides 38% savings. Enterprise plans are available with custom pricing.

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
Synthesia: What is included in Synthesia's free plan?

The free Basic plan includes 1,200 credits per month (approximately 10 minutes of video), 9 AI avatars, 3 personal avatars, and access to 160+ languages and voices. No credit card is required.

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
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