Best Podcast Recording Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Riverside is ranked #1 of 22 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Iris.fm and Async. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Iris.fm. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Iris.fm at $9/mo.
Podcast recording software can capture conversations for later audio or video work. Compare local recording, separate participant tracks, and maximum participants to understand the recording setup each option supports. Audio export format, automatic transcription, and video recording are further listed differences to consider, along with the recording platform. Riverside, Cleanfeed, and Iris.fm open the ranking, followed by Async and Spreaker. Check whether a free plan is offered and the listed paid-from price, then weigh those details against the participant setup and output options you need.
22 podcast recording software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
9 of the 22 here have a free tier you can use, 0 have open-source code on record, and 0 have full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RiversideWeb · Windows · Mac · Android · iPhone · API | Three bars | — | 5 of 6 | $19/mo | 6.8 | |
| 2 | Iris.fmWeb · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | $9/mo | 6.6 | |
| 3 | AsyncWeb · iPhone · API | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 4 | SpreakerWeb · Windows · Mac · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 5 of 6 | $20/mo | 6.5 | |
| 5 | ZencastrWeb · iPhone | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 6 | Adobe PodcastWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $19.99/mo | 6.4 | |
| 7 | Airtape StudioWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 8 | BoomcasterWeb · API | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $20/mo | 6.4 | |
| 9 | WaveroomWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 10 | CleanfeedWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone | One bar | — | — | 6 of 6 | — | 5.6 |
| 11 | NowMaxWeb · Windows · Android · iPhone | One bar | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 12 | CraigWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 13 | ElvaWeb | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 14 | HiliteWeb | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 15 | OpenStudioWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 16 | StreamStudio.aiWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 17 | SureTakeWeb | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 18 | TributaryWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 19 | WesterAudioWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 20 | PodspliceWeb · Android | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | $29/mo | 5.0 |
| 21 | AlituWeb | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | $31.67/mo | 4.9 |
| 22 | PodcaptureWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 4.8 |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which podcast recording software is ranked first on Freedom251?
Riverside is ranked #1 of 22 with a score of 6.8. Iris.fm is second and Async third.
How many of these have a free plan?
9 of the 22 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Iris.fm has the lowest first paid tier we found: $9/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.