Best podcast recording software
What you need depends on your show. Interview podcasts need clean remote recording; solo shows mostly need easy editing. These three cover both ends, from free to paid.
Prices and features come from each vendor's own pages, last checked Oct 26, 2026. We haven't finished hands-on testing of Riverside, Descript, and Audacity yet, so this page compares published facts only. How we choose.
Quick comparison
| Riverside | Descript | Audacity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | From $24/mo billed yearly | From $16/mo billed yearly | Free; paid prices vary |
| Free plan | Free: 2 hours of separate-track recording (one-off), 720p, watermark | Free: 60 media minutes a month, 720p export with watermark | Completely free and open source |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed | None listed |
| Fees and limits | The pricing page lists recording-hour limits inconsistently; check current limits before you buy. | Prices are per person. The page shows two prices per plan; the lower appears to be annual billing. | None. |
| Best for | Interview podcasts with remote guests | Podcasters and YouTubers who edit their own content | Solo audio podcasts on a zero budget |
| Website | Visit Riverside | Visit Descript | Visit Audacity |
Our picks
Riverside
Records each guest on their own device for separate, high-quality tracks, up to 4K from the Pro plan ($24 a month billed yearly). The free plan is a one-off 2 hours, at 720p, with a watermark.
- Interview podcasts with remote guests
- Recording video podcasts in high quality
- Solo audio podcasts recorded at your desk (a free editor may be enough)
Descript
Edit audio and video by editing the transcript, with transcription in 25 languages. The free plan gives 60 media minutes a month; Hobbyist removes the watermark from about $16 a month billed yearly.
- Podcasters and YouTubers who edit their own content
- Turning long recordings into clips quickly
- People who only need to record, not edit
Audacity
Free and open source on Windows, macOS and Linux. It doesn't record remote guests, but for a solo audio show it covers recording and editing at no cost.
- Solo audio podcasts on a zero budget
- Cleaning up and editing audio files
- Recording remote guests
- Video editing
How we chose
We compared these tools on:
- Remote guest recording
- Editing tools
- Free plan limits
- Price to remove watermarks
Order reflects fit for a one-person business, not commission. Our method.