Daily.co vs Riverside.fm: Complete Comparison (2026)

By Elena Kowalski, Security & Enterprise Editorยท12 years of experienceยทUpdated 2026-04-24ยท8 min read

In comparing Daily.co and Riverside.fm in 2026, Riverside.fm is the stronger choice for podcasters and video creators recording high-quality remote interviews due to studio-quality local recording. Daily.co excels for developers embedding video calling and conferencing into their own applications with best-in-class video api for developers. Daily.co offers Video API, Audio API, Recording starting at $0.004/participant/min with a free plan. Riverside.fm provides Local recording, Separate tracks, Video and audio from $15/mo with a free tier. For teams prioritizing value, Riverside.fm delivers a hiltonsoftware Score of 78/100. Daily.co and Riverside.fm compete in the video conferencing segment of the SaaS market, where cloud-native solutions, API integrations, and workflow automation drive enterprise and SMB adoption. Other leading video conferencing tools include Zoom, Google Meet, Webex. Daily.co serves 300K+ developers users globally (founded 2016) while Riverside.fm reports 2M+ active users (founded 2019).

Daily.co vs Riverside.fm at a Glance

Daily.co
Riverside.fm
Starting Price
$0.004/participant/min
$15/mo
Free Plan
Yes
Yes
User Rating
4.6/5
4.6/5
Best For
Developers embedding video calling and conferencin...
Podcasters and video creators recording high-quali...
Users
300K+ developers
2M+
Founded
2016
2019
hiltonsoftware Score
75/100
78/100
Pricing verified: March 2026 ยท Based on official vendor data
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Daily.co
Video Conferencing
75
hiltonsoftware.co Score
VS
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Riverside.fm
Video Conferencing
78
hiltonsoftware.co Score
RECOMMENDED

What are the main differences between Daily.co and Riverside.fm?

Daily.co and Riverside.fm differ across ease of use, features, value, support, integrations, scalability, and learning curve. Riverside.fm leads in 3 of 7 categories.

Daily.coRiverside.fm
88Ease of Use86
79Features78
73Value for Money75
68Customer Support71
68Integrations65
66Scalability65
76Learning Curve76

What are the pros and cons of Daily.co vs Riverside.fm?

Daily.co
+Best-in-class video API for developers
+Generous free tier
-Developer-focused, not end-user product
-Requires coding to use
Riverside.fm
+Studio-quality local recording
+Separate audio tracks per guest
-Not for live streaming or meetings
-File upload after recording

Which is better, Daily.co or Riverside.fm?

After evaluating Daily.co and Riverside.fm across features, pricing, integrations, and user satisfaction, Riverside.fm earns a higher hiltonsoftware Score of 78/100 versus Daily.co at 75/100. Riverside.fm stands out for "studio-quality local recording" and "separate audio tracks per guest". Daily.co delivers competitive advantages in "best-in-class video api for developers", making Daily.co a viable alternative.

Both Daily.co and Riverside.fm offer free plans. Daily.co paid plans start at $0.004/participant/min while Riverside.fm begins at $15/mo. ROI depends on which features justify upgrading.

Bottom line: Choose Daily.co for developers embedding video calling and conferencing into their own applications. Choose Riverside.fm for podcasters and video creators recording high-quality remote interviews. Both Daily.co and Riverside.fm are established video conferencing platforms.

CHOOSE DAILY.CO IF:

Developers embedding video calling and conferencing into their own applications.

CHOOSE RIVERSIDE.FM IF:

Podcasters and video creators recording high-quality remote interviews.

Daily.co vs Riverside.fm: Frequently Asked Questions

Is Daily.co better than Riverside.fm in 2026?
Riverside.fm outperforms Daily.co in the 2026 hiltonsoftware.co analysis with a score of 78/100 compared to 75/100. Daily.co excels in Video API, Audio API, Recording, making Daily.co the better choice for Developers embedding video calling and conferencing into their own applications. Riverside.fm is the stronger option for Podcasters and video creators recording high-quality remote interviews due to studio-quality local recording. For teams needing local recording, hiltonsoftware.co recommends Riverside.fm.
How does Daily.co pricing compare to Riverside.fm in 2026?
Daily.co starts at $0.004/participant/min and includes a free plan. Riverside.fm starts at $15/mo and offers a free plan. Daily.co includes features like Video API, Audio API, Recording. Riverside.fm provides Local recording, Separate tracks, Video and audio. Daily.co serves 300K+ developers users while Riverside.fm serves 2M+ users. Evaluate total cost of ownership based on team size and required integrations.
What are the main differences between Daily.co and Riverside.fm?
Daily.co specializes in Video API, Audio API, Recording, earning a 75/100 hiltonsoftware Score. Riverside.fm focuses on Local recording, Separate tracks, Video and audio, scoring 78/100. Daily.co is best for Developers embedding video calling and conferencing into their own applications. Riverside.fm is best for Podcasters and video creators recording high-quality remote interviews. Both Daily.co and Riverside.fm serve the Video Conferencing market but target different user profiles.
Can I migrate from Daily.co to Riverside.fm?
Migrating from Daily.co to Riverside.fm is possible since both operate in the Video Conferencing space. Export data from Daily.co and verify Riverside.fm import capabilities. Key features to evaluate: Video API, Audio API, Recording (Daily.co) versus Local recording, Separate tracks, Video and audio (Riverside.fm). Running both Daily.co and Riverside.fm in parallel during a trial period ensures a smooth transition.
Is Daily.co or Riverside.fm better for small business?
Both Daily.co and Riverside.fm offer free plans. Daily.co (75/100) is ideal for Developers embedding video calling and conferencing into their own applications. Riverside.fm (78/100) fits Podcasters and video creators recording high-quality remote interviews. Evaluate both during trial periods.

Reviewed by Elena Kowalski, Security & Enterprise Editor. Last updated: 2026-04-24. Pricing verified: March 2026.

Read our scoring methodology to understand how the hiltonsoftware Score is calculated.

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