Best Video Podcast Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Restream is ranked #1 of 40 as of 8 October 2026, ahead of Descript and Riverside Magic Audio. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Descript. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Iris.fm at $9/mo.
Video podcast software can support a show built around recorded conversations, live broadcasts, or both. Compare the entries on automatic transcription, local recording, live streaming, guest capacity, maximum video quality, and separate audio tracks. Descript, Async, and Boomcaster are among the first options shown, with Zencastr and Iris.fm also near the start. Check whether a free plan is available and weigh the paid-from price against the production features you need. If your format depends on remote participants or distinct audio files, guest limits and separate tracks are useful criteria to examine alongside recording and video quality.
40 video podcast software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
22 of the 25 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 | RestreamWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone · API | Three bars | — | 6 of 6 | $19/mo | 6.8 | |
| 2 | DescriptWeb · Windows · Mac | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | $1,624/mo | 6.6 | |
| 3 | Riverside Magic AudioWeb · Mac · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | $24/mo | 6.6 | |
| 4 | AsyncWeb · iPhone · API | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 5 | Iris.fmWeb · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | $9/mo | 6.5 | |
| 6 | OBS StudioWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 7 | PodbeanAndroid · iPhone | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | $17/mo | 6.5 | |
| 8 | VDO.NinjaWeb · Android · iPhone · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 9 | VimeoWeb · Android · iPhone · API | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | $12/mo | 6.5 | |
| 10 | Adobe PodcastWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $19.99/mo | 6.4 | |
| 11 | BoomcasterWeb · API | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $20/mo | 6.4 | |
| 12 | BuzzsproutWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $18/mo | 6.4 | |
| 13 | Meld StudioWindows · Mac | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | $16.67/mo | 6.4 | |
| 14 | OpencastWeb · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 15 | SquadCastWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $16/mo | 6.4 | |
| 16 | WistiaWeb · API | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $79/mo | 6.4 | |
| 17 | ZencastrWeb · iPhone | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 18 | ElvaWeb · Self-hosted | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $19/mo | 6.3 | |
| 19 | OpenStudioWeb · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 20 | StreamYard On-AirWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 21 | WaveroomWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 22 | DescriptNo platforms listed | Two bars | — | 0 of 6 | $16/mo | 6.2 | |
| 23 | Zoom SchedulerWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 6 of 6 | — | 5.8 |
| 24 | WatchityWeb · Android · iPhone · API | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.5 |
| 25 | Spotify for CreatorsWeb · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Maximum guests | Maximum video quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Restream | 6.8 | Free plan | $19/mo | Yes | 19 /mo | — | — |
| 2 | Descript | 6.6 | Free plan | $1,624/mo | Yes | — | — | — |
| 3 | Riverside Magic Audio | 6.6 | Free plan | $24/mo | Yes | 24 /mo | — | — |
| 4 | Async | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | 11.99 /mo | — | — |
| 5 | Iris.fm | 6.5 | Free plan | $9/mo | Yes | 9 /mo | — | — |
| 6 | OBS Studio | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 7 | Podbean | 6.5 | Free plan | $17/mo | Yes | 12 /mo | — | — |
| 8 | VDO.Ninja | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | 4k |
| 9 | Vimeo | 6.5 | Free plan | $12/mo | Yes | — | — | — |
| 10 | Adobe Podcast | 6.4 | Free plan | $19.99/mo | Yes | 19.99 /mo | — | — |
| 11 | Boomcaster | 6.4 | Free plan | $20/mo | Yes | 20 /mo | — | — |
| 12 | Buzzsprout | 6.4 | Free plan | $18/mo | Yes | 15 /mo | — | — |
| 13 | Meld Studio | 6.4 | Free plan | $16.67/mo | Yes | 20 /mo | — | — |
| 14 | Opencast | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 15 | SquadCast | 6.4 | Free plan | $16/mo | Yes | — | 9 guests | 4k |
| 16 | Wistia | 6.4 | Free plan | $79/mo | Yes | 79 /mo | — | — |
| 17 | Zencastr | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 18 | Elva | 6.3 | Free plan | $19/mo | Yes | 19 /mo | — | — |
| 19 | OpenStudio | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 20 | StreamYard On-Air | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | No | — | — | — |
| 21 | Waveroom | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 22 | Descript | 6.2 | Free plan | $16/mo | Yes | — | — | — |
| 23 | Zoom Scheduler | 5.8 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 24 | Watchity | 5.5 | No | — | — | — | — | 4k |
| 25 | Spotify for Creators | 5.4 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which video podcast software is ranked first on Freedom251?
Restream is ranked #1 of 40 with a score of 6.8. Descript is second and Riverside Magic Audio third.
How many of these have a free plan?
22 of the 25 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.