PPluckly
Comparison

OBS Studio vs Riverside

Side-by-side comparison of OBS Studio and Riverside.

Tool
OBS Studio

Free, open-source software for streaming and recording

Riverside

Studio-quality remote recording for serious podcasters

Starting price
Free
24/mo
Founded
2012
2020
Pricing model
free
freemium
Free option
Free tier
Free tier

What they are

OBS Studio

OBS Studio is a free, open-source tool for video recording and live streaming to platforms like Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook Live. It is used by gamers, podcasters, educators, and professional broadcasters who need granular control over their audio and video setup. The feature set rivals paid alternatives, but the interface has a steep learning curve that can frustrate beginners.

Riverside

Riverside records audio and video locally on each participant's device, then uploads lossless files to the cloud, so a shaky internet connection never ruins a take. It's used by podcasters, journalists, and video creators who need broadcast-quality recordings from remote guests. The built-in AI tools handle transcription, clip creation, and basic editing. One honest note: the interface has a learning curve for guests who aren't tech-savvy.

Choose
OBS Studio

if you need video editing. It has a usable free tier to start with.

  • +Completely free with no paywalled features
  • +Cross-platform: Windows, macOS, and Linux
  • +Highly customizable through an extensive plugin ecosystem
Choose
Riverside

if you need video editing and hosting. It has a usable free tier to start with.

  • +Local recording preserves audio and video quality regardless of guest internet speed
  • +Up to 4K video recording per participant track
  • +Automatic transcription with decent accuracy on clean audio

Which to choose

OBS Studio and Riverside both cover video editing, so this is a real either-or for some teams. The right pick depends on which one's wider feature set and pricing fit how you work.

Read the full reviews for OBS Studio and Riverside.

Pricing checked 5 Jun 2026.