Riverside no longer has a free plan, and the cheapest plan costs more. I have been an occassional user of Riverside, but as my usage is small I don’t see the reason to go for $39 (€35) per month.
I am moving to an alternative of Riverside with a free plan called Chord.fm.
What Changed at Riverside in 2026
Two changes raise the cost to be a creator on Riverside.
1. The free plan is gone
Riverside does not offer freemium anymore, it moved to a 14-day free trial with a credit card since September 10, 2026.
2. Monthly prices went up
Hacking Demand spotted the first move in July 2026. Riverside’s plan cards showed $35 and $45 a month, while its own FAQ still quoted $29 and $39. Riverside’s September post now confirms the new monthly prices.
| Riverside plan | Before (monthly) | Now (monthly) | Change | Now (billed annually, per month) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 (2 hrs of separate tracks, 720p, watermark) | Removed, 14-day trial with card | Gone | Gone |
| Pro | $29 | $35 | +21% | $29 |
| Grow | $39 | $45 | +15% | $39 |
| Webinar | $99 | $99 | 0% | $79 |
| Business | Custom | Custom | No public price | Custom |
Sources: Riverside blog, Sept 10, 2026, Riverside pricing page FAQ (old prices), PodcastHostLab, Hacking Demand.
Before You Cancel Riverside
I am leaving Riverside, but don’t do it rushly. Here is a checklist:
- Check what you have. Raw recordings, edited episodes, transcripts, captions, clips, and your podcast feed if Riverside hosts it.
- Download your separate tracks first. These are the per-participant, studio-quality files.
- Export your work. Edited episodes, transcripts, subtitles and clips. Keep a folder per episode.
- Move your feed before you cancel. If you use their RSS feed, remember to set up your new host and the feed redirect first.
- Cancel the plan. Go to Settings, then Plan & Billing, then Cancel plan.
- On a trial? Cancel before the trial expires, I usually do trials and cancel immediately so I am not auto-charged at the end.
Riverside Alternative With a Free Plan: Chord FM
Chord is a browser-based studio for podcasts and interviews. You record, edit and clip in one tab. I have tested it before, but now I am fully moving to it.
The latest updates make it a good alternative to Chord, while they catch up on features, reduce bugs, and is a reliable growing alternative with a fast growing user base.
They have a €10/month right now, and I will be taking advantage of it!!
Chord pricing
| Chord plan | Price | Video quality | Recording | AI credits | Also included |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | €0, no card needed | 720p | 2 hrs/month | 20 | Separate tracks, basic support, watermarked exports |
| Creator | €10/month with the current offer | 1080p and 4K | 10 hrs/month | 100/month | Separate tracks, live audience, watermark-free exports, priority support |
| Custom | Quote | Up to 4K | Flexible hours | Scalable | Multi-platform streaming, priority support |
Sources: Chord pricing page, Chord’s Riverside comparison
What you get
- Local-first recording in up to 4K, with cloud backup. A guest’s weak Wi-Fi doesn’t ruin the take.
- Separate and combined tracks for every session, so you get a ready mix next to the individual files.
- Guests join from a link. No account, no download.
- Real-time noise cancellation for everyone in the session, then AI voice enhancement with presets after you record.
- A focused editor: trim, frame, transcript and subtitles.
- Long-to-shorts: captioned clips from the full episode, exported in 16:9, vertical or audio-only.
- Support from real people, with priority support on Creator.
Not supported yet
Honestly, I did not use these features:
- No podcast hosting or RSS publishing. Pair Chord with a dedicated host.
- No webinar product. Multi-platform streaming sits on Custom plans.
- A simpler editor than Riverside’s text-based editor and AI co-creator.
- No native mobile apps in the comparison. Riverside has iOS and Android apps.
- A recording cap. Creator includes 10 hours of recording a month. Riverside records without limits on paid plans but caps separate-track downloads.
- AI runs on credits: 20 on Free, 100 a month on Creator.
- Newer, with fewer integrations.
If you operate a team and have a big budget for video production, Riverside still makes sense. I advocate moving for small creators!
Riverside vs Chord: Head-to-Head
Recording quality is a tie. Riverside wins on breadth. Chord wins on price, the free plan and the path from recording to clips.
| Category | Riverside | Chord |
|---|---|---|
| Free option | 14-day trial, card required | Free plan, no card |
| Entry paid price | Pro: $35/month, $29/month billed annually | Creator: €20/month, €10/month with the offer |
| Max video quality | 4K on paid plans | 4K on Creator |
| Recording limits | Unlimited recording; 15 hrs/month of separate-track downloads on Pro | 10 hrs/month of recording on Creator |
| Tracks | Separate tracks | Separate and combined tracks |
| Guests | Join from a link, no account | Join from a link, no account or download |
| Audio cleanup | AI audio enhancement after recording | Real-time noise cancellation, then AI voice enhancement |
| Editing | Text-based editor, AI co-creator | Trim, frame, transcript, subtitles |
| Clips | Magic Clips | Long-to-shorts in 16:9, vertical or audio-only |
| Podcast hosting | Included on paid plans | Not included |
| Live streaming | Grow plan and up | Custom plan |
| Webinars | Webinar plan, $99/month | Not offered |
| Mobile | iOS and Android apps | Browser |
| Support | 24/7 priority chat on Business | Real people, priority on Creator |
Who should switch
- Solo podcasters and vloggers who record a few hours a month.
- Interview shows that only need clean audio and captioned clips.
- Marketers, founders and agencies turning expert conversations into episodes and LinkedIn clips, with no editor on staff.
- Anyone who wants to test a show before paying anything.
Who should stay on Riverside
- Teams that host the podcast on Riverside and don’t want a second tool.
- Webinar-led demand gen teams that use the HubSpot sync and lead capture.
- Creators who record on their phones and need native apps.
- Editors who live in the text-based editor every day.
Switch From Riverside to Chord
- Test on Chord Free first. Record a 10-minute session with a colleague. Check the separate tracks, the noise cancellation and one vertical clip. No card needed.
- Run an episode on Chord. See if you like it.
- Move your feed to a dedicated podcast host.
- Lock the price. Upgrade to Creator before November 30, 2026, if you want €10 a month for as long as you stay subscribed.
- Export, then cancel Riverside. Follow the checklist above, inside the download caps.
- Rebuild the content flywheel. Cut 3 to 5 captioned vertical clips per episode, and turn the transcript into an article.
FAQ
Is Riverside free?
No. Riverside replaced its free plan with a 14-day trial of Pro, Grow or Webinar. The trial needs a credit card and bills on day 15 unless you cancel, per Riverside’s post updated September 10, 2026.
Did Riverside raise its prices?
Yes, on monthly billing. Pro went from $29 to $35 a month and Grow from $39 to $45. Webinar stayed at $99.
What is the best free alternative to Riverside?
Chord has a free plan with 720p recording, 2 hours a month, separate tracks and 20 AI credits, with no card needed. Free exports carry a watermark, so treat it as a real test, not a production plan.
Do I lose my recordings if I cancel Riverside?
Riverside says existing recordings stay in your account after you cancel. Download your separate tracks first anyway. They are capped at 15 hours a month on Pro.
Is Chord’s €10 a month offer permanent?
For subscribers who join before November 30, 2026, yes. The 50% discount lasts for as long as you stay subscribed. If you cancel, it ends.
Does Chord record in 4K like Riverside?
Yes, on the Creator plan. The free plan records in 720p.
Do guests need a Chord account?
No. Guests join from a link in the browser, with no account and no download.
The Bottom Line
Riverside is still a strong studio. It is just no longer the default for people who want to start free or keep costs low.
If you need hosting, webinars or mobile apps under one bill, stay and switch to annual billing.
If you record conversations and turn them into clips, move to Chord. Start on the free plan, and lock Creator at €10 a month before November 30.
Nick Malekos is the Head of Growth & Demand Generation at Cyberbit, with a background in SEO, Content Marketing, and Performance. He is specializing in helping SaaS startups and scale-ups grow.
