One tool per job
| Tool | Pricing | Free plan / trial | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside | Free plan; Pro $29/mo ($24 annual), Grow $39/mo ($34 annual) | Yes, 720p with watermark, 2 hours of multi-track recording | Recording remote podcasts and video interviews in studio quality |
| Descript | Free plan; Hobbyist $24/mo ($16 annual), Creator $35/mo ($24 annual) | Yes, 1 media hour/month, 720p export | Editing podcasts and talking-head video by editing the transcript |
| OpusClip | Free plan; Starter $15/mo, Pro $29/mo | Yes, watermarked exports that expire after 3 days | Turning long videos and podcasts into short vertical clips automatically |
| Castmagic | Hobby $19/mo, Starter $48/mo, Team $139/mo (billed annually) | Not listed on the pricing page | Podcasters and video creators turning recordings into newsletters, show notes and posts |
| ElevenLabs | Free (10k credits); Starter $6/mo, Creator $22/mo, Pro $99/mo | Yes, 10,000 credits/month, no commercial licence | AI voiceovers, voice cloning and audio versions of your newsletter |
Official sources, checked Nov 2026. Riverside · Descript · OpusClip · Castmagic · ElevenLabs. Prices in USD unless shown otherwise. Vendors change pricing, so confirm on their site before buying.
Riverside
Best for recordingFree plan; Pro $29/mo ($24 annual), Grow $39/mo ($34 annual)
- Separate audio and video tracks per guest
- Podcast hosting included on Pro
- Free plan to test a recording
- Free plan is watermarked and 720p
- Live streaming needs Grow
- Webinar tools cost $99/mo
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
OpusClip
Best for short clipsFree plan; Starter $15/mo, Pro $29/mo
- Free plan to try the auto-clipping
- Pro adds a social scheduler and multi-aspect reframing
- Pro exports to Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve
- Free exports are watermarked and expire after 3 days
- Only 9:16 output below Pro
- Cloud storage starts at Pro
Castmagic
Best for show notes & newslettersHobby $19/mo, Starter $48/mo, Team $139/mo (billed annually)
- Turns one recording into show notes, newsletter drafts and social posts
- Imports from RSS, YouTube, Zoom and Google Drive
- Unlimited AI outputs, re-generations and clips on every plan
- Prices we verified are for annual billing
- Hours are a library total, not a monthly allowance
- API access starts at Starter ($48/mo)
ElevenLabs
Best for voice & dubbingFree (10k credits); Starter $6/mo, Creator $22/mo, Pro $99/mo
- Commercial licence from $6/mo
- Annual billing gives two months free
- Generous free tier for testing voices
- Free plan has no commercial licence
- Credits are shared across all features
- Professional voice cloning starts at Creator ($22/mo)
What a lean stack costs
Start with Riverside + Descript; add the rest when the show is weekly
Recording and editing are the non-negotiables. Clips, write-ups and voice tools save hours once you publish every week, and most have a free plan or trial to prove it first.
Descript vs RiversideCastmagic alternativesElevenLabs pricing
Frequently asked questions
What’s the best free AI tool for podcasters?
Riverside and Descript both have free plans, Riverside for recording (720p, watermark) and Descript for editing (1 media hour a month).
Can AI write my podcast show notes?
Yes, Castmagic turns recordings into show notes, newsletter drafts and social posts; plans start at $19/month billed annually.
Keep comparing
Descript vs Riverside
Descript and Riverside both record and edit with AI, and both cost $24 a month on annual billing at the level most creators need.
Read the guideCastmagic alternatives
Castmagic turns recordings into written content, show notes, newsletters, posts.
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OpusClip vs Submagic
Both turn your videos into short-form clips with AI, but they start from different ends. OpusClip finds the clips in a long video; Submagic makes a…
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