Async (formerly Podcastle) vs Riverside (2026): Which AI Tool Is Better?

Both are popular podcast & audio tools. Here is how Async (formerly Podcastle) and Riverside stack up on price, strengths and weaknesses, and which one we would pick.

Async (formerly Podcastle)

Podcastle rebranded as Async: recording, editing, AI voices and generation in one studio

7.2 /10

Pricing: Free plan, paid from $19.99/mo

Pros

Recording, editing and AI voices in one browser app
Voice API from the same company
40% saving on yearly plans
Existing Podcastle accounts carried over

Cons

Free plan is a lifetime trial (1 hour, 10 credits)
Generation models aren't named publicly
Credits don't roll over
Product still changing after the rebrand

Visit Async (formerly Podcastle) ↗

Riverside

Remote podcast and video recording studio with AI editing, clips and translation

8.6 /10

Pricing: Free plan, paid from $29/mo

Pros

Local multitrack recording up to 4K/48 kHz
Transcript editing plus Magic Clips and AI Co-Creator
Translation and dubbing into 30+ languages
Mobile and Mac apps

Cons

Free plan has a 720p watermark and only 2 one-time hours of multitrack
Recording and download hours are capped per month
Livestreaming and multiple studios require Grow ($39)
AI models aren't disclosed

Visit Riverside ↗

Async (formerly Podcastle) vs Riverside at a glance

	Async (formerly Podcastle)	Riverside
Editor score	7.2 / 10	8.6 / 10
Pricing model	Freemium	Freemium
Starting price	$19.99/mo	$29/mo
Reader upvotes	0	0
Best for	podcast-editor, ai-voice, recording	podcast-recording, remote-interviews, video-podcast
Model choice	No	No
Commercial use	No	No
No watermark (free)	No	No
API	Yes	No
Official MCP server	No	No
MCP client	No	No
Agent Skills	No	No
Brand kit	No	No
Teams	Yes	Yes
Content Credentials	No	No
Mobile app	No	Yes
20+ languages	No	Yes
Makes	Podcasts, Voiceovers & narration, YouTube & long video, Short-form video	Podcasts, YouTube & long video, Short-form video, Captions & transcripts
AI models inside	0	0

Our pick

Riverside edges it with a score of 8.6 versus 7.2. Riverside is the better fit if you value: local multitrack recording up to 4k/48 khz, transcript editing plus magic clips and ai co-creator. Choose Async (formerly Podcastle) instead if you need: recording, editing and ai voices in one browser app, voice api from the same company.