Riverside.fm vs. StreamYard

Riverside.fm is well suited for video content that you are recording ahead of time in order to edit and release where you are inviting people to participate that are not part of your organization. You can send them a link and they just have to go to the website and be in the conversation. There is no software to download and they do not have to worry about handling their video files after they are done.

Incentivized

Because it's browser-based, StreamYard is especially well-suited for a situation like mine, where I'm unlikely to have repeat podcast guests very often. It's great that guests don't have to download special software just for a one-time appearance! I haven't personally used StreamYard for livestreaming, but based on its name and reputation, I imagine it's especially well-suited for that use case

• Great looking platform with a handsome layout.
• Makes it easy to invite interviewees into your "studio"
• Provides livestream capabilities

Incentivized

• It has an easy and comfortable interface for participants and admins.
• It provides the opportunity to add videos, banners, and slides to your session.
• It provides the opportunity to show live comments and answer to them right from StreamYard.

Incentivized

• I have had some times where there are video glitches, and I have been told that it could be because of other software running. It would be good if the software were more robust and able to more consistently get smooth video.
• I have had a couple instances of people being kicked off and their video files were not recoverable.

Incentivized

• One big downside is that you can't download separate high quality video and audio files for each person in the stream.
• The simplicity takes away from the "customization" that you could potentially have in other platforms.
• A backroom where you could communicate with other people in the stream, without streaming it while live, would be very useful.

Incentivized

When you get to the platform, it's unclear where to start. You're driven to join your "studio" and invite someone to interview...but if that's not the kind of show you're creating, it's not easy to figure out the next steps.

Incentivized

You don't need to be an expert and you don't have anything to install.

Incentivized

I have not needed to use the Riverside.fm support that much, which in itself is a good sign of how good their product is, but when I have had to use their support it was prompt, and helpful, and the people were very kind. I am glad to know there is someone there to help quickly if I am having a problem.

Incentivized

StreamYard may have fewer capabilities than Riverside.fm, but it knows exactly what it is: a place to record/stream video conversations. Riverside.fm, in trying to be all things to all users, may need to improve its UI to serve all constituents.

Incentivized

I've already covered this in other responses. The key reasons I wound up using Descript for certain elements of my process was the better usability of its transcripts and the more-robust AI capabilities it offers. Its suggestions for strong clips seemed more on-point, and it offered functionality like chapter suggestions

• Since I need their platform, which again is actually pretty good, I had to waste money to sign up again, so that I had a workable password.
• from experience, wasted weeks of going back and forth with their support team - throwing off my podcast schedule.

• It has increased the reach rate and the number of followers on social media pages, for example, on our Youtube page, the number of followers increased by 2 times the original amount.
• It has reduced the amount of time our communications team spends on editing videos.
• More team members are able to use StreamYard by themselves, which has allowed us to reduce the time our communications team spends on managing live sessions before.

Incentivized