We Reviewed the 9 Best Podcast Recording Software on the Market

Podcasting has come a long way since its inception in 2004. Today, it's a diverse medium covering everything from niche hobbies to global news, reaching millions of listeners worldwide.

As the podcast landscape becomes more competitive, the quality of your audio can make or break your show's success. That's where podcast recording software comes in. These tools are essential for creating professional-sounding episodes, but… how do you choose the right one?

In this Cleanvoice article, we'll dive into the world of podcast recording software to help.

What is Podcast Recording Software?

Podcast recording software is a surprisingly broad category of digital tools.

It encompasses everything from standalone AI editing tools like Cleanvoice to comprehensive all-in-one platforms like Riverside that handle recording, editing, and distribution. Even video conferencing applications adapted for interview recording fall under this umbrella.

Why is Podcast Recording Software Important?

Professional Sound Quality

These tools offer features like noise reduction and audio leveling, ensuring your podcast sounds polished and professional. This quality boost can significantly enhance listener engagement and retention.

Effortless Collaboration

With multi-track recording and remote guest integration, podcast software makes it easy to create content with co-hosts or guests from anywhere in the world. This opens up possibilities for diverse perspectives and engaging discussions.

Time-Saving Editing

Advanced editing tools allow you to clean up recordings, add effects, and structure your content efficiently. This streamlines post-production, letting you focus more on creating great content.

Criteria to Consider When Choosing Podcast Recording Software

  • Recording Method: Opt for software with local recording capability for better audio quality, especially if you have an unreliable internet connection.
  • Guest Capacity: Ensure the software can accommodate your desired number of participants, whether for solo shows or multi-guest episodes.
  • Interface: Choose between browser-based or app-based software based on your convenience and technical preferences.
  • Editing Features: Assess whether you need basic trimming tools or advanced editing capabilities.
  • File Format Support: Verify that the software can export to common formats like .mp3, .wav, .m4a, or .flac.
  • Output Quality: Look for software that supports high-quality output (1080p, 2K, or 4K) to future-proof your content.
  • Audio and Video Support: Choose software that aligns with your podcast format, whether audio-only or including video.

Our List of Top 9 Podcast Recording Software

To keep things simple, we’ve broken this list into three categories based on the core use case for the recording tool:

  • Audio Enhancement Tools

These tools are best for podcasts that primarily focus on enhancing the quality of your audio as you record.

  1. Cleanvoice
  2. Adobe Audition
  3. AI Coustics
  • Local Recording Tools

These tools are best for podcasts that prefer to record locally and upload the files later.

  1. Riverside
  2. StreamYard
  3. Waveroom
  • Video Conferencing Tools

These tools are best for podcasts that include video and require remote recording capabilities.

  1. Zoom
  2. Skype
  3. Google Meet

Audio Enhancement Tools

1. Cleanvoice

Cleanvoice is an AI editing tool for removing filler words, stuttering, and mouth sounds from your podcast or audio recording. Rather than spending hours manually removing audio imperfections before adding tracks to the mix, Cleanvoice automates the process in minutes.

Not only can you upload your pre-recorded episode, but you can also record an audio or video directly from Cleanvoice. It will enhance the quality automatically. Everything is customizable, so you stay in the driver’s seat when it comes to what edits are made.

Key Features
  • Audio Enhancing Tools: Remove background noise, silence, filler words, stutters, and mouth sounds in minutes.
  • Podcast Summary & Show Notes: Automatically generate show notes, chapter breakdowns, and SEO-optimized content.
  • Podcast Transcription: Transcribe and subtitle your podcast in any language, making it more accessible.
  • Podcast Mixing: Normalizes loudness, removes noise, and gets your podcast upload-ready in minutes.
  • Integrations: Connect Cleanvoice with audio editors like Adobe Audition that support EDL (Edit Decision Lists).
  • Multi-Track Support: Simultaneously record multiple sounds and mix them for a cohesive audio output.
  • API: Automatically upload audio files for Cleanvoice to edit, access edited files, and export them in various formats—all via our REST API.
Pricing

  1. Free Trial: Your first 30 minutes of editing are completely free

  2. Pay-as-you-go:

  • $11 for 5 hours/month ($2.20/hour)
  • $20 for 10 hours/month ($2/hour)
  • $45 for 30 hours/month ($1.50/hour)
  1. Subscription
  • $11 for 10 hours/month ($1.10/hour)
  • $30 for 30 hours/month ($1/hour)
  • $90 for 100 hours/month ($0.90/hour)
Pros
  • Advanced audio editing tools ensure studio-quality output.
  • Flexible pricing for hobbyists and professionals.
  • Very wide range of automated editing tools.
  • Features automatic transcription and content repurposing.
  • Free trial doesn’t require a credit card.
  • Positive user reviews
Cons
  • Not as customizable as manual editing.
  • The video editing customization is improving but it still has limited options.

2. Adobe Audition

Adobe Audition is a professional audio editing tool that's part of the Adobe Creative Cloud suite. It's ideal for podcasters who are already familiar with Adobe's ecosystem.

Key Features
  • Comprehensive Audio Editing: Record, edit, and mix multi-track sessions with precision.
  • Volume Adjustment: Fine-tune audio levels for entire recordings or specific sections.
  • Noise Reduction: Effectively remove unwanted background noise from your podcast.
  • Integration: Seamlessly works with other Adobe Creative Cloud applications.
Pricing

  1. Free Trial: 7-day free trial of the full version of the app
  2. For Students and Teachers: $19.99/month for the first year and $34.99/month subsequently
  3. For Businesses:
  • Creative Cloud Single App for teams: $37.99/month/license
  • Creative Cloud All Apps for teams: $89.99/month/license
  • Creative Cloud for Enterprise: Contact sales
Pros
  • Seamless integration with Adobe Creative Cloud ecosystem
  • Supports both audio and video file editing
  • Full-featured free trial available
  • Stable performance with minimal glitches
Cons
  • Requires download and installation for both trial and free versions
  • Potential for audio lag and clarity issues in live recordings

3. AI Coustics

AI Coustics is an AI audio recording and enhancement tool. It helps you create and edit studio-quality podcasts from any device, anywhere.

Key Features
  • Automatic Noise Reduction: Filters out background noise while preserving audio clarity.
  • Real-time Audio Enhancement: Optimizes audio quality on the fly for consistent output.
  • Customizable Audio Profiles: Offers preset profiles tailored to various recording types.
  • Transcription: Provides real-time audio-to-text conversion.
Pricing
  • Free trial: Supports editing for up to 10-minute files per month
  • Mini: €2/month
  • Starter: € 10/month
  • Creator: € 20/month
Pros
  • Provides optimum audio enhancement
  • Has adequate noise reduction capacity
  • Customizable audio profiles for varying needs
  • Offers real-time transcription of audio to text
Cons
  • Minimal features in the basic plan

Local Recording Tools

4. Riverside

Riverside is a versatile AI-powered tool that excels in recording separate audio and video tracks for podcasts. It offers local recording capabilities, ensuring high-quality output regardless of internet connection stability.

Key Features
  • High-Quality Recording: Captures studio-grade audio and video, with screen recording option.
  • Local Recording: Stores files directly on your device, preventing quality loss from poor internet connections.
  • Transcription: Provides accurate transcriptions with timestamps and captions in over 100 languages.
  • AI Editing: Offers quick and easy edits powered by artificial intelligence.
Pricing
  • Free trial: Allows up to 2 hours of multi-track recording per month
  • Standard: $15/month for 5 hours of multi-track recordings
  • Pro: $24/month for 15 hours of multi-track recordings
  • Business: Book a demo for unlimited multi-track recordings
Pros
  • Offers a forever free account (though limited)
  • Enables accurate audio transcriptions in 100+ languages
  • Leverages AI for quick and easy edits
  • Its local recording capability ensures high-quality audio and video recordings
Cons
  • Occasional sync issues between video and audio tracks

5. StreamYard

Streamyard is a live streaming and recording platform that works well for podcast production. Like Riverside, it enables local recording and ensures good sound and video quality.

Key Features
  • Multi-platform Streaming: Broadcast your content simultaneously to multiple platforms like YouTube, Twitch, and Instagram.
  • Local Recording: Capture high-quality audio and video directly on your device, independent of internet connection.
  • Brand Customization: Personalize your show with custom colors, logos, and overlays.
  • Interactive Elements: Engage your audience with live chat, polls, and Q&A sessions during streams.
Pricing

StreamYard offers free and paid versions, but you can only access its pricing details by creating a free account.

Pros
  • Multistreaming to different platforms
  • High-quality audio and video recordings
  • Multiple interactive features live polls and live chat
  • Allows you to customize your show branding
Cons
  • No pricing transparency
  • Limited offline editing options.

6. Waveroom

Waveroom is a free online recording studio for interviews—and podcasts. The app supports local recording, ensuring the clarity of your audio and video tapes. It also leverages AI for noise removal and enables multi-track recording, remote podcasting, and powerful editing, all within your browser.

Key Features
  • Multi-track Recording: Simultaneously record separate audio and video tracks.
  • Local Recording: Ensures high-quality output regardless of internet connection.
  • AI Noise Removal: Automatically eliminates background noise.
  • Collaboration Tools: Support for up to 5 participants (1 host, 4 guests).
Pricing
  • Free plan: Allows unlimited recording for 5 participants (1 host and 4 guests)
  • Enterprise: Allows unlimited recording for 5+ participants; contact the Waveroom sales team for paid plan details
Pros
  • Enables collaboration with remote contributors.
  • Eliminates background noise and other noise.
  • Allows downloading and organizing the separate recordings efficiently.
  • Cloud storage for file management.
Cons
  • Advanced features like gap removal, speech-to-text, and mobile support are still under development.
  • Free trial option may prevent more paying subscribers

Video Conferencing Tools

7. Zoom

Zoom is originally a video conferencing tool that streamlines communication and collaboration. However, you can co-opt it to record audio or video podcasts over the internet.

Key Features
  • High-quality Audio/Video Recording: Capture calls in various quality settings.
  • Cloud Storage: Option to save recordings directly to the cloud.
  • Screen Sharing: Share screens or specific applications during recording.
  • Participant Management: Support for large numbers of participants.
Pricing
  • Basic: Free
  • Pro: $12.49/month/user billed annually or $14.99 billed monthly
  • Business: $18.32/month/user billed annually or $21.99 billed monthly
  • Business Plus: Contact sales
Pros
  • Allows screen sharing for interaction
  • Can be accessed remotely via mobile devices
  • Broadcasts of live or pre-recorded presentations
  • Extensive integration with other tools
Cons
  • Glitches in audio and video recording when internet connection is weak
  • No editing features

8. Skype

Like Zoom, Skype is primarily a video conferencing tool with calling and messaging functionalities. It has evolved to include features useful for content creators, and podcasters.

In recent years, the Microsoft-owned app has introduced special products and this product lets you directly record full podcast episodes or seamlessly integrate incoming Skype calls into them.

Key Features
  • Call Recording: Built-in functionality to record audio and video calls.
  • Live Subtitles: Real-time transcription of conversations.
  • Screen Sharing: Share screens or presentations during recording.
  • File Sharing: Exchange files during calls.
Pricing

Skype pricing is call-based and differs based on the location you’re calling. You can also buy and use Skype credit like you would when recharging your phone line for calls.

Some of its most popular pricing plans for mobile and landlines include:

  • United States: $3.05/month
  • India: $8.15/month
  • North America: $7.13/month
Pros
  • Provides easy access through mobile devices
  • Keep your sensitive conversations private
  • Engage in real-time and instant chats
  • Allows file sharing during calls
Cons
  • Complicated to integrate into podcast workflows.
  • Prone to glitches during calls, especially when internet connection is weak

9. Google Meet

Google Meet is a platform for video calls and meetings. It works great for office professionals, creators, and personal users. With its presentation, recording, and transcription features, you can comfortably host podcast episodes on Google Meet and export them to your desired editing app (e.g., Cleanvoice.

Key Features
  • Integration: Seamlessly integrate with other apps within the Google Workspace (e.g., Gmail, Google Docs, and Google Calendar).
  • Background effect: Eliminate distracting or rough backgrounds by blurring them or replacing them with static virtual environments.
  • Collaboration and Engagement: Collaborate with podcast participants and engage viewers via screen sharing, live chat, and presentations.
Pricing

Google Meet is not available as a standalone product; it is included in a Google Workspace plan along with other tools in the suite.

  • Forever free plan: Basic access for Google account owners
  • Premium: Longer meetings, recordings, transcriptions, and more participants
  • Free trial: 14 days
  • Google Workspace individual plan: $9.99/month or $8.33 with annual payments
  • Business Starter: $6/user/month billed annually
  • Business Standard: $12/user/month billed annually
  • Business Plus: $18/user/month billed annually
  • Enterprise: Contact sales
Pros
  • Lets you save and share recordings to your preferred editing software
  • Allows you to host long group calls for lengthy podcast episodes
  • Provides scheduling features to help remind you and other participants of upcoming recording sessions
  • The free plan works great for hobbyists and beginner podcasters
Cons
  • Audio and video calls may drop off during large meetings.
  • Lacks editing features

Edit Your Podcast Recording in Minutes With Cleanvoice

Podcast recording is just the first step. The real challenge is finding the right software solution to help with professional edits and post-production that won’t take hours.

Cleanvoice solves this issue with advanced AI-powered editing features like a background noise remover, a show note generator, and instant transcriptions.

Ready to simplify and speed up your podcast editing? Get started with Cleanvoice.