kitio.aiRiverside vs Async
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Async has the lower starting price: about $15 a month, against $29 for Riverside.
At a glance
Best for
Category
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Local multitrack recording
- Transcript-based editing
- Magic Audio cleanup
- AI clips and show notes
- Live streaming
- Remote multitrack recording
- Magic Dust audio enhancement
- Transcript editing
- Voice cloning and TTS
- Podcast hosting
- Voice API
| Feature | Riverside | Async |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Studio-quality remote podcast recording with AI editing | AI podcast and video creation platform, formerly Podcastle |
| Category | Audio & voice | Audio & voice |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | $29/mo | $14.99/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Made by | Riverside | Async |
| Based in | – | United States |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Async has the lower starting price: about $15 a month, against $29 for Riverside.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
5 plans
Free
Free
- 2 hours of multi-track recording (one-off)
- Full suite of editing tools
Pro
$29/mo
- 5 hours multi-track recording / month
- Up to 4K video, 48kHz audio
- No watermark
- 14-day free trial
Grow
$39/mo
- 15 hours multi-track recording / month
- Social scheduling and newsletter
- Podcast hosting for 2 shows
Webinar
$99/mo
- Unlimited multi-track recording
- Webinars up to 100 registrants
- Pre-recorded and recurring webinars
Business
Contact sales
- Unlimited studios
- Produce at scale with full control
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Riverside
- Reliable quality on bad connections
- Separate tracks per guest
- Clips and editing built in
- Free plan has tiny track download limits
- Browser recording can strain old devices
Async
- Recording, editing and hosting together
- Good audio enhancement
- Cheaper than most rivals
- AI credits make costs hard to predict
- Rebrand means older guides use Podcastle
Which one should you choose?
Choose Riverside if you want:
- Reliable quality on bad connections
- Separate tracks per guest
- Clips and editing built in
Watch out: free plan has tiny track download limits.
Choose Async if you want:
- Recording, editing and hosting together
- Good audio enhancement
- Cheaper than most rivals
Watch out: ai credits make costs hard to predict.
Riverside vs Async FAQ
What is the difference between Riverside and Async?
Riverside: Studio-quality remote podcast recording with AI editing. Async: AI podcast and video creation platform, formerly Podcastle. Both are audio & voice tools.
Is Riverside or Async cheaper?
Async has the lower starting price: about $15 a month, against $29 for Riverside.
Do Riverside and Async have free plans?
Riverside: Yes. Async: Yes.
Who makes Riverside?
Riverside is made by Riverside.
Who makes Async?
Async is made by Async, based in United States.
Which should I choose, Riverside or Async?
Choose Riverside if you value reliable quality on bad connections and separate tracks per guest. Choose Async if you value recording, editing and hosting together and good audio enhancement.