Best Podcast Software: Recording & Editing for All Podcasters

Entering the dynamic world of podcasting can be daunting, from equipment to podcast software to marketing and no one-size-fits-all solution. However, there are some must-haves if you want to launch a successful, high-quality podcast. Whether you’re a complete beginner or you’re looking to level up your podcasting game, this round-up will guide you through recording, editing, hosting, and every little detail in between.

Best podcast software for every step of your podcasting workflow

To help you get a quick overview, here’s a look at the top podcast software for different needs.

Best all-in-one podcasting software: Riverside

Price: Free plan available. Paid plans starting at $24/month.

Skill level: Beginners and advanced users

Forget about the headache of exporting and importing files between different apps. Riverside is the ultimate online all-in-one podcasting platform. Record in studio quality, edit with AI, livestream to multiple locations, and host your podcast episodes in one place. 

The interface is easy enough for anyone to hop in and start creating. But it offers all you need as a professional podcaster as well.

Streaming

Prefer to host podcasts live?

Multistream your show to unlimited platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, and more, all simultaneously. You can stay on brand with live overlays, lower-thirds, and your own background and logo. Plus, spice it up with music and sound effects from the media board. 

Stream in up to 1080p and engage with your audience in real time. Invite viewers to call in live, or interact with a poll and the centralized Omnichat. Meanwhile, everything automatically records. 

Recording

With Riverside, record in uncompressed 48 kHz WAV audio and up to 4K video resolution. 

All tracks record locally directly from each participant’s device. This means you get studio-quality recordings regardless of your internet connection. And, you’ll get separate audio and video tracks for each person.  

Record with up to 10 remote participants at a time. And if you’re recording in a hybrid setup, you can split one track into two with an audio interface. 

Editing

Editing in Riverside is simple and accessible, even with zero experience editing. 

Let AI do the hard work, with your new AI editing agent: Co-creator. Prompt co-creator to:

• Create a full episode
• Add captions and branding
• Generate b-roll for your show
• Spice things up with music 
• Choose the best opening hook

And more. 

Or for a more hands-on experience, try the full video editor with:

• Text-based editing: Any text you adjust in your recording transcript, automatically edits the matching video.
• Audio clean up: Remove background noise, equalize your tone, and enhance audio ina  few clicks with AI. 
• Overlays: Add images, titles, lower thirds, and branded elements to give your video a professional look.
• Captions: Style your auto-generated captions to improve accessibility and engagement on social media.
• Music: Set the mood with a library of hundreds of royalty-free tracks or import your own media.
• Filler word removal: Instantly cut out “um,” “uh,” “ahs,” and awkward pauses with one click.

Hosting

With Riverside, you don’t need to leave your dashboard even for a second. 

After recording and editing, host your show and distribute it to Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Podcasts with a single click. 

You get unlimited cloud storage, analytics, and the option to add custom episode covers. 

Best podcast recording software

Technically, you can record your podcast with basic meeting software, like Zoom. However, your quality will suffer greatly as your audio and video will be compressed. If a single internet glitch happens to you or one of your guests, your whole recording is pretty much ruined. 

That’s why dedicated podcasting software is essential for anyone who wants to meet (or exceed) their audience’s expectations. 

Here’s what you should look for (hint: Riverside ticks all the boxes):

• Resolution: Higher resolution means better quality. For audio, look for uncompressed formats like WAV. For video, 1080p is a great start, and 4K is the professional standard.
• Video support: If you’re creating a video podcast or even thinking about future YouTube content, make sure your podcasting software supports video recording.
• Local recording: Unless you can tolerate your quality dropping every time someone’s connection falters, make sure your software records every participant’s track on their own devices.
• Separate track recordings: Saving each individual audio and video file separately gives you much more control during post-production. Without separate tracks, for example, if someone laughs too loud, that entire segment is pretty much ruined.

Read more: For a deeper dive, read our full guide to the best podcast recording software.

GarageBand

Price: Free.

Ease of use: Beginner. 

Resolution: 44.1 kHz sample rate at 16-bit or 24-bit depth.

Video compatibility: No.

Local recording: Yes, but no remote recording.

Separate track recording: Yes.

GarageBand is a fantastic entry point for podcast recording. It’s free, lightweight, included with all Apple devices, and really easy to use. Just start a new project, add a track for each microphone, and hit record.

You can even perform basic edits like trimming, splitting, and volume adjustments, as well as move audio regions or add music and sound effects from its extensive library. GarageBand’s biggest drawbacks are that it doesn’t support video or remote recording, so it’s only suitable for solo, audio-only podcasters.

Adobe Audition

Price: Starts at $22.99/month.

Ease of use: Advanced.

Resolution: Supports up to 192kHz sample rate at 32-bit depth.

Video compatibility: No, but you can integrate it with Adobe Premiere Pro.

Local recording: Yes, but no remote recording.

Separate track recording: Yes.

With a very steep learning curve, Audition caters to a professional audience, featuring advanced post-production and restoration tools. Not only is it one of the most robust digital audio workstations (DAWs), it’s also a powerhouse when it comes to in-studio recording sessions. 

You can capture incredibly high-quality audio with low-latency monitoring, making it perfect for solo narration and in-person multi-mic setups. But, you can’t record remotely, so if you want to interview a guest who’s not sitting beside you, you’ll need to opt for double-ender recording.

Best podcast editing software

After you’ve recorded your raw cut, it’s time to shape it into a polished, engaging episode. Editing software should be smooth and efficient to use.

Key editing software features to consider include (yes, Riverside has them all):

• Multitrack track editing: The ability to edit audio and video on separate tracks is important for precise tasks, such as aligning interview segments or inserting ads.
• AI automations: AI can handle tedious and repetitive tasks like removing silences, enhancing audio, fixing eye gaze, or generating promotional clips.
• Timeline trimming vs. Text-based editing: Traditional timeline editing involves manipulating waveforms, while modern text-based editing lets you edit your recording by editing the transcript.
• Customization: Tools to add music, logos, captions, and other branding elements can make your show look and feel more professional.

Read more: Check a full list of options in our complete guide to the best podcast editing software.

CapCut

Price: Free. Pro plan starts at $9.99/month.

Ease of use: Beginner.

Multitrack editing: Yes.

Text based editing: Yes.

AI tools: Auto-captions, text-to-speech, background removal, vocal isolation, AI clip generator.

Built by ByteDance (the makers of TikTok), CapCut is a user-friendly editor for creating social content. Its mobile-first interface is very intuitive for beginners, and it comes packed with a library of templates, effects, filters, and sounds.

For podcast editing, CapCut is a slick tool for creating promotional clips (especially with the help of AI). It’s not as full-featured for audio editing as more advanced editors, but it can make your life easier with auto-captioning and transcript-based editing.

Premiere Pro

Price: Starts at $22.99/month.

Ease of use: Advanced.

Multitrack editing: Yes.

Text-based editing: Yes.

AI tools: Enhance Speech, Auto Reframe, Scene Edit Detection, Auto Color.

Adobe Premiere Pro is the industry-standard editing software for professional filmmaking and video editing. It is the ideal tool for complex edits (e.g., high-quality multi-camera footage). You get precise control over cuts and transitions, with advanced features like color grading tools and motion graphics capabilities.

Even if Adobe has introduced some beginner-friendly features recently (like text-based editing), Premiere Pro still has a steep learning curve. The interface is complex, with many panels and tools, some of which you’ll probably never use. 

Best podcast hosting software

Once your podcast episodes are recorded and edited, it’s time to distribute them to the public. To list your podcast on major directories like Apple Podcasts or Spotify, you need a host first.

Podcast hosting software is a service that stores your audio and video files. It creates the RSS feed that podcast directories use to find and share your show. Without it, your podcast won’t have a home on the internet.

When choosing a host, consider (you can do all of this with Riverside):

• Storage and upload limits: Check how much content you can upload each month and whether your episodes are stored indefinitely.
• Analytics: Most hosts provide stats about your audience, including download numbers, listener locations, and popular apps. The more advanced ones are often IAB-certified, making it easier to pitch your show to potential sponsors.
• Publishing/distribution: Ideally, your hosting platform should automatically distribute your new episodes to major directories and offer one-click distribution.

Read more: Find more options in our guides to the best podcast hosting and free podcast hosting.

Spotify for Creators

Price: Free.

Skill level: Beginner.

Storage and upload limits: Unlimited audio and video hosting.

Analytics: Basic.

Publishing/distribution: Automatic for Spotify; manual setup for other directories. 

Spotify for Creators is a 100% free, no-friction podcast hosting platform. It offers unlimited hosting and built-in monetization tools at no cost. You can upload both audio and video podcasts and even record episodes thanks to the integration with Riverside.

The main trade-offs are the somewhat basic analytics and the steep 50% cut on any revenue generated through its ad programs. Still, if you're just starting out, Spotify for Creators is probably your top choice.

Buzzsprout

Price: Free plan with limitations. Paid plans start at $12/month.

Skill level: Beginner and advanced.

Storage and upload limits: Unlimited storage; up to 3–12 hrs of uploads per month.

Analytics: Advanced, IAB-certified.

Publishing/distribution: One-click distribution to all major podcast directories.

If you are serious about growing your podcast into a business, BuzzSprout offers valuable tools to improve and monetize your show, including subscriptions and affiliate marketing.

The interface is user-friendly, making it suitable for beginners as well, but the platform is uniquely scalable as you level up your podcast. You’ll get advanced, IAB-certified analytics, and some nice extras, like automatic audio enhancement and built-in transcriptions.

Overall, Buzzsprout is a great choice if you need more control and a much more favorable revenue share than free alternatives.

Best live streaming software for podcasting

Live streaming your podcast can add a whole new dimension to your episodes. You can build a community with interactive content and special events, but you need software you can rely on.

Here’s what you should prioritize (guess what? Riverside has everything):

• Resolution: If you want your live podcast to look professional, 720p might not cut it, so make sure your software at least supports at least 1080p.
• Multistreaming: Maximize your reach by broadcasting to multiple platforms, like YouTube, X, and Twitch, simultaneously.
• Engagement: Look for engagement features, like live call-ins, polls, Q&As, real-time chats, unified chats, etc.
• Analytics and registration: Some streaming solutions have their own analytics to keep track of audience engagement, as well as custom registration tools to collect emails.

Read more: Discover more top platforms in our guide to the best streaming software.

StreamYard

Price: Free plan available. Price of paid plans is undisclosed.

Ease of use: Beginner.

Resolution: 1080p.

Multistreaming: 3–8 destinations, depending on the plan.

Recording: Yes.

StreamYard is all about ease of use: you open it in your browser, invite your guests with a link, click a button, and you’re live. No downloads, no setups, no tech degrees.

You get all the essential features for an engaging live show: branding options, screen sharing, displaying comments on screen, and audience interaction tools. You can multistream to several destinations, but unlike Riverside, the number is capped. There’s even an option to live stream a pre-recorded video.

Using StreamYard is easy and straightforward, but this simplicity comes at the expense of control. That, and the monthly cost to access this platform’s best features isn’t exactly cheap.

OBS Studio

Price: Free (open-source).

Ease of use: Advanced.

Resolution: Up to 4K and beyond.

Multistreaming: Yes, with plugins.

Recording: Yes. 

OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) Studio is a free and incredibly powerful live streaming software. With it, you get complete creative and technical control over your broadcast.

If you want to run complex setups with screen shares, multiple cams, and pre-recorded videos, OBS is your best pick. Even if the basic UI can’t execute a particular task, there’s always a plugin that will support it.

While this makes OBS the top choice for professional streamers, you need to be very tech-savvy to properly use it. Because it’s open-source software, there’s no official customer support and you’ll have to rely on community forums and tutorials. In other words, you’re on your own.

How to choose the best podcast software

The ‘best’ software is the one that fits your unique needs. So, first and foremost, ask yourself what your needs are.

Here are a few key factors to take into account:

Purpose and goals

Are you a solo podcaster starting a casual, audio-only show? Or are you building a professional interview-based podcast to promote your business? 

Your goals determine the features that are essential to your production workflow, such as AI editing, video recording, livestreaming, and so on.

Budget

Software costs range from free to quite expensive. You can start a hobby podcast with no budget using tools like GarageBand and Spotify for Podcasters. Once you’re ready to invest, paid platforms, like Riverside or Buzzsprout, offer more quality and control for a monthly fee.

Skill level and experience

If you’re a beginner, starting with user-friendly software, like Riverside, will flatten the learning curve. 

If you have no audio engineering skills, for example, a tool with AI audio enhancement will get you pro results with zero effort. 

If you're an experienced audio or video editor, you might prefer the comprehensive control that Adobe Audition or Premiere Pro offer.

Device and compatibility

Make sure the software you choose is compatible with your computer. 

For example, GarageBand only runs on Apple devices, while OBS Studio and Premiere Pro are resource-heavy and require a powerful computer. 

If you want to edit on your iPad or phone, look for mobile-friendly options, like Riverside or CapCut.

Additional tools to enhance your podcasting experience

Beyond your core podcast software, there are ancillary tools that can streamline your workflow and help you grow your show.

Let’s explore a few that can make your life easier:

Scheduling software

Scheduling software, like Calendly and Book Like A Boss, is an absolute necessity if your podcast involves interviews or guests. Instead of emailing back and forth to settle on a date and time, you can send a simple link that shows all your available time slots. The software then blocks off that time in your linked calendar.

Transcription

Episode transcripts are essential for accessibility and marketing. Many platforms, including Riverside, offer highly accurate, automatic transcriptions as an integrated part of the workflow. 

You can also use your transcriptions for show notes and blog posts, boosting your podcast SEO efforts and expanding your reach. 

Podcast promotion software

Your promotion strategy can make or break the success of your podcast. From social media to email newsletters, a few key tools can help you take things to the next level. 

With software like Headliner or Wavve, you can take a 1-minute highlight from your episode and transform it into an audiogram for Instagram or X. To create customized newsletter campaigns, you can use ConvertKit; while Buffer or Hootsuite can help you share content at optimal times. Or you can do all of this just by prompting Co-Creator, Riverside’s AI assistant. 

Lastly, you can create short, engaging clips for social media with Riverside. Just use Magic Clips and AI will automatically identify the best moments in your recording.

FAQs about podcast software

What is podcast software?

Podcast software refers to any software tool that helps you create, manage, improve, and distribute a podcast. This includes different types of software for recording, streaming, editing, and hosting your show, as well as ancillary tools to help you promote and manage it.

DAWs, video editors, hosting platforms, and scheduling tools can all be considered podcast software. However, there are some dedicated, all-in-one podcasting platforms out there, like Riverside, that combine all of these functions into a single workflow.

What is the best free podcast software available?

The best free podcast software depends on your goals. 

For recording and editing an audio-only show on a Mac, GarageBand is a surprisingly complete option. If you prefer to work on mobile, CapCut is great for creating social clips. 

For hosting, Spotify for Podcasters offers unlimited storage. For a complex livestream with multiple camera angles, OBS Studio offers professional-level control. 

And for the highest quality remote recording with multiple guests, Riverside’s free plan is the best choice.

What are the best podcast software options for beginners?

Beginners should look for software that is quick and easy to use. Riverside is the best all-in-one podcasting platform for beginners, since you can record in studio-quality, then edit in minutes with AI. 

Other great options include GarageBand for its simple interface, CapCut for easy social video creation, and StreamYard for a simplified live streaming experience.

What are the best podcast software options for pros?

For advanced post-production, Adobe Audition and Premiere Pro are the top choice (and they integrate with each other). 

For hosting with advanced monetization and analytics, Buzzsprout is an excellent option. For live streaming with complete customization, OBS Studio is unmatched. 

Many pros, including Guy Raz and Marques Brownlee, use Riverside for recording to ensure they capture uncompressed source files.

How do I host my podcast after recording?

After you’ve recorded and edited your episode, you need to upload the final audio or video file to a podcast hosting platform. 

Simply sign up for a host like Spotify for Podcasters or Buzzsprout, upload your file, and fill in the episode title, description, and show notes. The hosting platform will then update your podcast’s RSS feed, which automatically distributes your new episode to directories (like Spotify and Apple Podcasts). 

Platforms like Riverside integrate this step, so you can publish your episodes without leaving your dashboard.

How can I improve my podcast audio quality?

Garbage in, garbage out. You can’t have great audio quality if the source is bad. The best way to improve your sound is to use a quality microphone and record in a quiet space using software that captures high-quality audio locally. 

However, if you can’t afford a good external mic and an acoustically treated studio, Riverside can still improve the quality of your audio in post-production. Just run Magic Audio and AI removes background noise and equalizes levels to give you a professional, studio-quality sound with one click.

Read more: Check our guide on how to improve the audio quality of your recording.

How do I integrate social media with my podcast?

The most effective way to use social media for your podcast is to repurpose your long-form episodes into short, engaging clips. 

Riverside's Magic Clips and Co-Creator will automatically identify key moments and generate dozens of shareable assets from a single recording. This way, it’s much easier to maintain a consistent social media presence.