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Video Production · head to head

Riverside.fm vs Transistor.fm

Riverside.fm logo

Riverside.fm

Video Production

High-quality remote podcast and video recording platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Transistor.fm logo

Transistor.fm

Podcasting

The podcast host built for professional broadcasters

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Riverside.fm free plan limited to 2 hours of multi-track recording and adds a watermark; Transistor.fm add-on pricing for transcription services is listed but actual prices omitted from display
  • They diverge on capability: Riverside.fm covers Remote recording, Transistor.fm covers Unlimited episodes.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Riverside.fm and Transistor.fm differ
AttributeRiverside.fmTransistor.fm
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWeb, Mobile
CategoryVideo ProductionPodcasting
Founded20192016

Identical on both: starting price (Free), 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
  • Video editing
  • Live streaming
  • Distribution tools
  • IFTTT
  • Google Drive
  • Slack

Only in Transistor.fm

  • Unlimited episodes
  • Advanced analytics
  • Custom player
  • Email newsletters
  • White-label options
  • Apple Podcasts
  • Spotify
  • Google Podcasts

Both cover

  • Automatic transcription
  • Zapier
  • YouTube
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android 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 Transistor.fm

Transistor.fm

  • Podcast hosting and distributionnot Riverside.fm
  • Video podcast publishingnot Riverside.fm
  • AI transcriptionnot Riverside.fm
  • Dynamic ad insertionnot Riverside.fm
  • Private podcast networksnot 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

Transistor.fm

  • Add-on pricing for transcription services is listed but actual prices omitted from display
  • Enterprise pricing lacks specificity and requires direct contact
  • Private subscriber limits appear restrictive for scaling large networks
  • No transparent usage overage costs shown

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

Transistor.fm

Free
  • Starter$19/month
    • 20K monthly downloads
    • 50 private subscribers
    • Unlimited podcasts
  • Professional$49/month
    • 100K monthly downloads
    • 500 private subscribers
    • Dynamic ads
  • Business$99/month
    • 250K monthly downloads
    • 3K private subscribers
    • Branded removal
  • Enterprise$199/month
    • Custom limits exceeding 250K downloads or 3K private subscribers

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.

Choose Transistor.fm if

  • You need unlimited episodes.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want advanced analytics.

Questions people ask

Is Riverside.fm or Transistor.fm better?
Neither clearly leads. Riverside.fm starts at Free and Transistor.fm at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Riverside.fm or Transistor.fm?
Riverside.fm starts at Free and Transistor.fm at Free.
Does Riverside.fm or Transistor.fm run on more platforms?
Riverside.fm runs on Web, Ios, Android. Transistor.fm runs on Web, Mobile.
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 Transistor.fm is typically brought in for.
What can Riverside.fm do that Transistor.fm cannot?
Riverside.fm covers Remote recording, High-quality capture, Video editing, Live streaming. Transistor.fm covers Unlimited episodes, Advanced analytics, Custom player, Email newsletters. Both handle Automatic transcription, Zapier, YouTube, 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
Transistor.fm: Does Transistor.fm offer a free trial?

Yes, Transistor offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required.

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
Transistor.fm: What's the least expensive plan?

The Starter plan costs $19 per month USD and includes 20K monthly downloads, 50 private subscribers, unlimited podcasts, and unlimited collaborators.

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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