SquadCast vs. Riverside: Which Remote Recording Platform Fits Your Podcast? 🎙️

If you're producing a podcast that involves remote guests or multiple participants, you've likely encountered SquadCast and Riverside as options for capturing high-quality audio and video. Both platforms solve a real problem: standard video conferencing tools like Zoom compress audio to save bandwidth, which sounds unprofessional in edited episodes. SquadCast and Riverside record each participant's audio and video locally on their device, then upload those files to the cloud for you to download—a process called local recording.

But "both do local recording" doesn't mean they're interchangeable. The right choice depends on your specific workflow, budget, technical comfort, guest experience preferences, and long-term podcast goals. This guide walks through how these platforms work and what factors should shape your decision.

How Remote Recording Platforms Actually Work

Before comparing SquadCast and Riverside directly, it helps to understand the mechanics both platforms share.

Local recording is the core feature. When your guest joins a SquadCast or Riverside session, the platform doesn't just stream their audio and video to you in real time—it also instructs their device to save a high-quality copy locally. You do the same. After the session ends, those files upload to the platform's cloud storage, and you download them for editing.

This matters because compression during streaming degrades quality. A Zoom call sounds compressed because Zoom prioritizes a smooth, low-latency stream. A locally recorded file, by contrast, can be 320 kbps MP3 or higher—the difference is noticeable in a final edited episode.

Both platforms also provide a backup recording of the conversation as it happened, in case local files fail to upload (rare, but it happens). This safety net is valuable for professionals who can't afford to lose an hour of interview.

The second shared feature is speaker separation: each participant's audio arrives in its own track in your editing software. If your guest sounds echoey, you can adjust their track without affecting your voice. This is impossible with a Zoom recording where everything is baked into a single stereo file.

Core Feature Comparison

Both platforms are browser-based, meaning your guests don't download software—they click a link and join from their browser. This lowers friction compared to tools that require installation.

Where the Platforms Diverge 📊

Audio Quality and Format Options

SquadCast records audio in MP3 format with variable bitrate encoding. Riverside offers more flexibility: you can download MP3s or lossless WAV files. If you're recording music, conducting acoustic interviews, or working in a genre where audio fidelity is a selling point, WAV files preserve more detail and give your editor more room to work.

That said, most speech-focused podcasts (news, interviews, storytelling) are indistinguishable between high-bitrate MP3 and WAV in the final mix. The difference matters most if you plan extensive post-production or have listeners using high-end audio equipment.

Guest Experience

Riverside includes virtual backgrounds, letting your guest blur or replace their background without owning OBS (streaming software). SquadCast's background options are more limited. If your guests are recording from home offices or cluttered spaces, Riverside reduces friction and improves professionalism in video clips you might share on social media.

Interface and Workflow

Reviewers and podcasters generally describe SquadCast as more straightforward and Riverside as feature-rich but steeper. SquadCast's dashboard is sparse—you create a session, share the link, guests join, you download files. Riverside includes more customization (show names, episode metadata, custom layouts for video recording).

If you're building video content alongside audio, or if your workflow includes metadata entry and show branding, Riverside's interface may feel less like a detour. For podcasters who record audio only and handle all editing in a DAW (digital audio workstation), SquadCast's simplicity may be preferable.

Pricing and Storage

Both platforms use a subscription model (not one-time purchase). Free tiers exist for both, but they come with real limitations: shorter session times, fewer participants, or watermarks. Paid plans scale with the number of monthly episodes or concurrent participants you need.

Storage is included in most plans, but caps vary. If you're recording 10-hour research sessions weekly, you'll hit storage limits faster than someone recording 45-minute interviews monthly. Both platforms allow you to download and delete files to manage space, but that requires active management.

Current pricing changes frequently, so checking both platforms directly is essential before deciding. What matters more is understanding what you're paying for: Are you paying per episode, per month, or per feature tier?

Key Variables That Should Influence Your Choice

Your decision shouldn't rest on a single feature. Instead, consider:

Volume and frequency: How many episodes do you produce monthly? How many guests per episode? Platforms tier their plans by these metrics. A podcaster with one guest per week will have different needs than someone publishing three episodes daily with two guests each.

Post-production workflow: Do you edit in Adobe Audition, Logic Pro, Reaper, or another DAW? Both platforms export standard audio files, so compatibility isn't an issue—but Riverside's ability to export lossless formats appeals to editors who want that option.

Video as a product: Are you recording for audio only, or do you plan to publish video clips to YouTube, TikTok, or your website? Riverside's video recording and virtual background features integrate more smoothly into a video-first workflow. SquadCast is functional for video but not the core strength.

Guest technical comfort: Do your guests tend to be non-technical (journalists, subject matter experts, celebrities)? SquadCast's simpler interface may result in fewer connection issues and questions. More technical guests might appreciate Riverside's options.

Budget constraints: Free and entry-level plans differ. If you're testing the concept before investing, both offer free tiers—though they're limited. Compare what you get for free and what the first paid tier costs.

International guests: Both platforms work globally, but server location and latency can matter. If most of your guests are in a specific region, test both with a friend there before committing.

Common Misconceptions

"Local recording guarantees perfect quality." Local recording captures audio at higher bitrate than streaming, but your guest's microphone, room acoustics, and internet stability still matter. A guest on a built-in laptop mic will sound like a guest on a built-in laptop mic, whether you're using SquadCast or Zoom. Local recording is a significant upgrade, not a magic fix.

"One platform is obviously better." The podcast community uses both successfully. The "best" platform is the one that fits your specific workflow, not the one with more features in the abstract.

"You need to stick with one forever." You can record with SquadCast for six months, switch to Riverside for a project, then switch back. Your podcast archive doesn't care which tool created each episode. Testing both is reasonable if you're uncertain.

What to Evaluate Before Deciding

1. Test both free tiers with a friend or colleague. Spend 20 minutes on each. Does the interface feel intuitive? Does audio quality impress you? Do guests encounter friction?

2. List your non-negotiables. (Virtual backgrounds? WAV export? Lowest price? Simplest interface?) Then check if each platform delivers them.

3. Project your growth. If you plan to add co-hosts or record multiple guests monthly, confirm that each platform's paid plans can scale affordably.

4. Check storage math. How many hours per month do you record? How long do you need to store files before editing and deleting? Will the included storage work, or will you pay overages?

5. Review each platform's reliability. Search podcaster forums or Discord communities for reports of upload failures, customer support responsiveness, or service outages. Both platforms are established, but reliability matters for your deadline.

The right choice depends entirely on how you work, who you work with, and what matters most to your production. Both SquadCast and Riverside solve the core problem—local recording for remote guests—excellently. The decision comes down to the details of your situation, not the merits of the tools in the abstract.