Top Riverside Alternatives for 2024

Creators and professionals are always seeking flexible, high-quality platforms to produce and deliver their content. While Riverside.fm has made a name for itself in the world of recording and video editing, it isn’t always the best fit for everyone. Whether you’re looking for more interactivity, stronger multistreaming capabilities, or better value, exploring Riverside alternatives may help you find a solution that’s just right for you. In this post, we’ll cover some of the best Riverside alternatives for 2024, showcasing each platform’s features and strengths to help you make an informed choice.

Why consider Riverside.fm alternatives?

Riverside.fm has earned popularity with its audio and video recording capabilities, especially for podcasters and interview hosts. However, users may find themselves limited by certain aspects of the platform, including:

• Limited streaming options: Riverside’s primary focus is on recording, so it falls behind in multistreaming features and platform integrations.
• Limited interactivity: Users seeking a more interactive experience may find tools like live chat to be limited.
• Cost-effectiveness: Riverside’s pricing can be high relative to its feature set, and it often includes tools that some creators may not fully get to use.
• Complexity and reliability: While Riverside offers a comprehensive feature suite, it is relatively new and not always intuitive, which may overwhelm new users.

These factors drive many creators and professionals to seek Riverside competitors that offer more flexibility, better value, and enhanced interactivity. Below, we’ll explore some of the top options.

Best Riverside.fm alternatives

1. Restream

Restream is a comprehensive platform designed to offer creators and brands maximum flexibility and audience reach. Whether you’re a live streamer, podcaster, or video creator, Restream provides a full suite of tools that allow you to go live on multiple platforms at once, engage viewers in real-time, and ensure high-quality productions every time.

Key benefits:

• Stream across 30+ platforms: Restream lets you stream to over 30 supported platforms, including YouTube, Twitch, X, and more. Multistreaming to 2 channels is also completely free.
• Interactive tools: Restream aggregates chat from multiple platforms into one unified feed, making it easy to interact with your viewers in real time and increase engagement.
• Advanced production: Restream’s browser-based live Studio is packed with features like on-screen guests, customizable layouts, media files, and so much more.
• High-quality recordings: Restream produces high-quality audio and video recordings, with options to download split-track versions of your audio or video for further editing.
• Scheduling live or pre-recorded streams: Restream makes it easy to schedule upcoming streams and includes support for pre-recorded videos.
• RTMP streaming: Restream works with tools like OBS and Zoom, allowing you to combine features from various platforms in one stream.
• 24/7 customer support: Restream stands out for its 24/7 live support; it is powered by real humans, not bots, and makes it easy to get help when you need it.
• Value for money: Restream flexible pricing and competitive features make it a very cost-effective choice for creators seeking a comprehensive solution.

Cons:

• Branding for free users: While Restream offers many of its features at no cost, free users should keep in mind that streams done via Restream Studio will have a watermark.
• Advanced features for business users: Some features, like SRT protocol support, are currently limited to Business plans or higher.

2. StreamYard

StreamYard is another popular choice among content creators. It is a popular, beginner-friendly streaming platform that focuses on simplicity and is ideal for those who prioritize straightforward streaming setups over advanced features. It also offers options for recording, streaming, and inviting guests.

Key benefits:

• Beginner-friendly: StreamYard’s interface is designed for ease of use, even for newcomers.
• Multistreaming support: Offers multistreaming and integrates with 7 platforms.
• Branded streams: StreamYard’s Studio includes custom branding tools for a polished look.
• Recording abilities: Allows you to stream and record in Full HD.
• Browser-based: Like Riverside and Restream, StreamYard requires no downloads.

Cons:

• High price point: After a recent price increase, StreamYard’s subscription plans don’t compete well with other streaming solutions.
• Lacking integrations: StreamYard’s integrations with streaming channels are limited, which makes it difficult for users to manage their channels or live chat.
• Multistreaming is paid: Multistreaming starts at $44/mo for only 3 channels.
• Unreliable customer support: StreamYard recently switched from live chat support to email, which has prolonged the ticket resolution time for its users.

3. Zencastr

Zencastr is primarily known for high-quality podcast recordings. It’s ideal for podcasters who prioritize audio quality and stable recordings over real-time engagement or streaming abilities.

Key benefits:

• High-quality audio: Zencastr is great for podcast creators focusing on audio fidelity.
• Simple recording interface: Easy-to-use design for recording audio and video.
• Record with guests: Ability to invite and record with on-screen guests.
• Multi-track recordings: Offers unlimited hours of multi-track audio/video recordings.

Cons:

• No live streaming: Zencastr can offer video hosting on its embed player, but if you’re looking to stream to channels like YouTube or Facebook, you’d need a different tool.
• Reliability: While Zencastr focuses on high-quality productions, user reviews question its stability, and the tool averages less than 4 out of 5 stars on multiple review websites.

4. SquadCast

SquadCast is another popular recording tool, mainly catering to podcasters and interview hosts who are focused on audio quality. While reliable for recordings, it lacks the features necessary for a complete live streaming experience.

Key benefits:

• User-friendly: Straightforward interface, especially for collaborative recordings.
• Screen recording: Screen recording is available on all plans, including the free one.
• Browser-based: SquadCast is available on your browser, so no downloads are needed.
• Guest support: Up to 10 participants on-screen to record with.

Cons:

• No live streaming: Like Zencastr, SquadCast is only intended for producing recordings. If you’re someone who wants to both stream and record, you’ll need a tool like Restream.
• Limited integrations: Zencastr limits the number of integrations available per plan. Their free plan supports a single integration, and their $19/mo plan supports only 2.

5. OBS Studio

OBS Studio is open-source software that is widely used by professional streamers and hobbyist content creators. It provides extensive customization for live streaming, but it can be complex to set up, especially for new users.

Key benefits:

• Very customizable: Advanced setup for those who want more control over their streams.
• Free and open-source: Available at no cost with a versatile plugin library.
• Live stream and record: OBS supports live streaming and recording at the same time.
• Compatibility: OBS can downloaded and installed on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Cons:

• Complex for beginners: OBS has a steep learning curve, which makes it challenging for users who are new to streaming or producing recordings.
• No built-in multistreaming: OBS doesn’t have a built-in multistreaming feature, so users often combine it with Restream.
• Limited support: OBS’s support is limited to online forums and basic materials available in their knowledge base.
• Lacks guest support: OBS falls behind on inviting guests, as it doesn’t include a built-in feature that browser-based tools, like Restream, offer.
• Requires more resources: As a desktop app, OBS tends to take up more resources than its browser-based competitors, which may impact your experience and output.

Final verdict: Choosing the right Riverside alternative

Selecting the best Riverside alternative depends on your specific use case and technical preferences. Each tool has its own strengths and weaknesses, so it’s essential to weigh which features best align with your content creation goals, engagement needs, and comfort level with tech. To narrow down your options, consider whether you’re more focused on recording, streaming, or both.

If you’re looking for a customizable, open-source solution, OBS Studio is a great tool for users who are comfortable with a more complex setup. StreamYard offers a beginner-friendly interface with basic multistreaming for a few platforms, making it a solid choice for those who prioritize ease of use over advanced features. For podcasters and interview hosts who focus on recording, Zencastr and SquadCast both deliver quality options, though they lack engagement tools and streaming flexibility.

Among Riverside’s competitors, Restream stands out for many creators. With unmatched multistreaming options, interactive features, comprehensive support, and strong integrations, Restream is ideal for both beginners and professionals. Restream is also one of the few tools out there that help you balance your streaming and recording needs within a single interface. Overall, Restream is a powerful solution for creators aiming to grow their audience, engage viewers, and deliver high-quality content. Try Restream today and see how it can transform your content creation experience.