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Webinars · head to head

Riverside vs Zoom Webinars

Riverside logo

Riverside

Webinars

Studio-quality remote podcast and video recording

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zoom Webinars logo

Zoom Webinars

Webinars

Dedicated webinar platform by Zoom for large-scale events

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Riverside has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Riverside the free plan gives a single one off 2 hours of recording rather than a monthly allowance; Zoom Webinars exact pricing amounts not published on pricing pages
  • They diverge on capability: Riverside covers Local recording, Zoom Webinars covers Attendee registration.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Riverside and Zoom Webinars actually diverge.

Attributes where Riverside and Zoom Webinars differ
AttributeRiversideZoom Webinars
Starting priceFreeOn request
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, DesktopCloud-based SaaS
Founded20202011

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Webinars).

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

  • Local recording
  • 4K video capture
  • Separate audio tracks
  • AI transcription
  • Magic Editor
  • Live streaming
  • Zoom
  • YouTube

Only in Zoom Webinars

  • Attendee registration
  • HD video
  • Screen sharing
  • Polls and surveys
  • Q&A
  • Breakout rooms
  • Recording
  • Analytics

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Riverside

  • Recording remote podcast and video interviews in local quality per participantnot Zoom Webinars
  • Producing multi track recordings for editing after the sessionnot Zoom Webinars

Zoom Webinars

  • Interactive webinarsnot Riverside
  • Virtual events with multiple sessionsnot Riverside
  • Ticketed eventsnot Riverside
  • Hybrid event hostingnot Riverside
  • Networking eventsnot Riverside

Where each one falls short

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

Riverside

  • The free plan gives a single one off 2 hours of recording rather than a monthly allowance
  • Free exports are capped at 720p, so remote recording quality is the paid feature
  • Separate track recording is metered monthly, at 5 hours on Pro and 15 on Grow
  • Downloadable separate tracks are metered on a different allowance again, at 15, 20 and 25 hours
  • Removing all time limits requires the Webinar plan at $79 a month or a custom Business contract

Zoom Webinars

  • Exact pricing amounts not published on pricing pages
  • Multiple webinar tiers exist but costs not specified online
  • Requires direct sales contact for pricing quotes

Pricing, plan by plan

Riverside

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 2 hours of multi-track recordings (one-time)
    • Up to 720p video quality
    • 44.1 kHz audio quality
  • Pro$29/month
    • 5 hours per month of multi-track recordings
    • Up to 4K video quality
    • 48kHz audio quality
  • Grow$39/month
    • 15 hours per month of multi-track recordings
    • Everything in Pro plus
    • Social media scheduling
  • Webinar$99/month
    • Everything in Grow plus
    • Webinar hosting (up to 100 registrants)
    • Pre-record & stream as live

Zoom Webinars

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Zoom Webinars review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Riverside if

  • You need local recording.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Desktop.
  • You also want 4k video capture.
Riverside review

Choose Zoom Webinars if

  • You need attendee registration.
  • You work on Cloud-based SaaS.
  • You also want hd video.
Zoom Webinars review

Questions people ask

Is Riverside or Zoom Webinars better?
Neither clearly leads. Riverside starts at Free and Zoom Webinars at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Riverside or Zoom Webinars?
Riverside has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Riverside and On request for Zoom Webinars.
Does Riverside or Zoom Webinars run on more platforms?
Riverside runs on Web, Ios, Android, Desktop. Zoom Webinars runs on Cloud-based SaaS.
Can I use Riverside for free?
Yes. Riverside has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Zoom Webinars starts at On request.
What is Riverside best used for?
Riverside is most often used for recording remote podcast and video interviews in local quality per participant, producing multi track recordings for editing after the session. Of those, recording remote podcast and video interviews in local quality per participant and producing multi track recordings for editing after the session are not what Zoom Webinars is typically brought in for.
What can Riverside do that Zoom Webinars cannot?
Riverside covers Local recording, 4K video capture, Separate audio tracks, AI transcription. Zoom Webinars covers Attendee registration, HD video, Screen sharing, Polls and surveys. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Riverside: How much does Riverside Pro cost?

Riverside Pro costs $29/month (monthly) or $24/month when paid annually ($288/year). It includes 5 hours of multi-track recordings per month, 4K video, 48kHz audio, no watermark, teleprompter, 1 studio, and podcast hosting.

Source
Zoom Webinars: What are Zoom Webinars pricing tiers?

Zoom's webinar pricing is not publicly displayed on the pricing page. Customers must contact Zoom sales directly or log into their account to view available plans and rates.

Source
Riverside: What are the recording hour limits for Riverside plans?

Free plan: 2 hours total. Pro: 5 hours/month. Grow: 15 hours/month. Webinar: 15 hours/month. Business: unlimited. Download limits range from 15-25 hours depending on plan, except Business which is unlimited.

Source
Zoom Webinars: Does Zoom offer a free webinar plan?

No pricing or trial information is visible on Zoom's public pricing page. Contact Zoom sales to learn about trial options and starter plans for webinars.

Source
Riverside: How many studios are included in each Riverside plan?

Free: 0 studios. Pro: 1 studio. Grow: 2 studios. Webinar: 3 studios. Business: unlimited studios.

Source
Riverside: Does Riverside offer webinar hosting?

Yes, webinar hosting is available starting at the Webinar plan ($99/month or $79/month annually). It supports up to 100 registrants, with the Business plan supporting up to 10,000 registrants.

Source
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