Pricing side by side
| Tier | Descript | Riverside |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 1 media hour/month, 720p export | No free plan, 14 day free trial |
| Entry | Hobbyist $24/mo · $16/mo annual | Pro $29/mo · $24/mo annual |
| Creator level | Creator $35/mo · $24/mo annual | Grow $39/mo · $34/mo annual |
| Business | $65/mo · $50/mo annual | Webinar $99/mo · $79/mo annual |
Official sources, checked Nov 2026. Descript · Riverside. Prices in USD unless shown otherwise. Vendors change pricing, so confirm on their site before buying.
Record remote guests? Riverside. Edit everything yourself? Descript.
Riverside records each guest on a separate track in high quality and includes podcast hosting on Pro. Descript is the better editor, you cut the episode by editing its transcript, and its Hobbyist plan is the cheapest way into either tool.
Descript
Best for editingFree plan; Hobbyist $24/mo ($16 annual), Creator $35/mo ($24 annual)
- Edit audio and video like a document
- Free plan to learn the workflow
- 4K export from Creator
- Free exports top out at 720p
- Media hours and AI credits are capped monthly
- Monthly billing costs up to 50% more than annual
Riverside
Best for recordingPro $29/mo ($24 annual), Grow $39/mo ($34 annual), 14 day free trial
- Separate audio and video tracks per guest
- Podcast hosting included on Pro
- 14 day free trial on Pro, Grow and Webinar
- No free plan, you pay once the trial ends
- Live streaming needs Grow
- Webinar tools cost $99/mo
Plenty of podcasters record in Riverside and edit in Descript. If you only pay for one, decide which part of the job takes you longest.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Descript or Riverside cheaper?
Descript’s Hobbyist plan is the cheapest paid option at $16/month billed annually; at the creator level both are $24/month on annual billing (checked Nov 2026).
Do Descript and Riverside have free plans?
Descript does. Descript Free gives 1 media hour a month at 720p. Riverside has no free plan, but Pro, Grow and Webinar come with a 14 day free trial (checked Nov 2026).
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