What Is a Podcast Recording Platform (Riverside, Zencastr, SquadCast) and Which Is Best?

If you record interviews with remote guests, you've probably run into the problem with Zoom: it sounds like Zoom. The audio is compressed for real-time transmission, making it sound thin and telephony-like. Video is similarly compressed and prone to pixelating during connection drops.

Remote podcast recording platforms exist to solve this specific problem.

How They Work

Unlike video calling tools that prioritize low-latency real-time transmission (and sacrifice quality to achieve it), remote podcast recording platforms record locally on each participant's device. Each person's audio is captured at high quality on their own computer, then uploaded to the platform's cloud storage after the call ends.

The result: each participant has a full-quality audio (and video) recording regardless of their internet connection quality. Even if the internet connection drops during the call, the local recording continues uninterrupted. Poor connections affect what you hear in your earpiece during the call — they don't affect the quality of what gets recorded.

The Main Options

Riverside.fm: Currently the most popular option and arguably the most polished. Records up to 4K video and 32-bit float audio locally, uploads automatically. Has a built-in clip creation tool and AI-powered transcription. The UI is clean and most guests can figure it out without a tutorial.

Zencastr: One of the originals in this space. Audio-focused with solid quality. Has added video recording. Good browser-based experience.

SquadCast: Strong reputation for stability. Now owned by Descript, which means good integration with Descript's editing tools. Video and audio recording with per-track files.

Podcastle: AI-focused platform with noise reduction built into the recording process. Good for hosts who want an easier post-production experience.

Which Is Best?

For most podcasters in 2026, Riverside is the leading choice because of its combination of video quality, audio quality, ease of use for guests, and built-in editing tools. If you're already using Descript for editing, SquadCast has obvious integration advantages.

The right question isn't which is technically best — the technical differences are small between the top options. It's which one your guests can navigate without help. Remote recording requires both parties to be in the platform. If your guests are non-technical, ease of use matters enormously.