PreSonus Studio One vs Riverside Comparison: Reviews, Features, Pricing & Alternatives in 2026

Detailed side-by-side comparison to help you choose the right solution for your team

Updated May 2026 8 min read

PreSonus Studio One

0.0 (0 reviews)

Studio One is a professional digital audio workstation providing a complete solution for music production, recording, mixing, editing, and mastering within a single intuitive drag-and-drop interface.

Starting at Free
Free Trial 30 days
VS

Riverside

0.0 (0 reviews)

Riverside is a high-quality remote recording software that captures studio-grade video and audio locally from each participant to ensure professional results regardless of your internet connection strength.

Starting at Free
Free Trial NO FREE TRIAL

Quick Comparison

Feature PreSonus Studio One Riverside
Website presonus.com riverside.fm
Pricing Model Freemium Freemium
Starting Price Free Free
FREE Trial ✓ 30 days free trial ✘ No free trial
Free Plan ✓ Has free plan ✓ Has free plan
Product Demo ✓ Request demo here ✓ Request demo here
Deployment desktop saas mobile
Integrations Melodyne Splice SoundCloud PreSonus Sphere Notion Revelator AudioBatch Converter YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Twitch Dropbox Google Drive Descript
Target Users freelancer small-business mid-market solopreneur small-business mid-market enterprise
Target Industries
Customer Count 0 0
Founded Year 1995 2019
Headquarters Baton Rouge, USA Tel Aviv, Israel

Overview

P

PreSonus Studio One

Studio One is a comprehensive digital audio workstation that streamlines your entire creative process from initial sketch to final master. You can record multi-track audio, compose with advanced virtual instruments, and mix using a console designed by industry veterans. The software eliminates technical hurdles with its signature drag-and-drop workflow, allowing you to move loops, effects, and even entire song sections across your timeline instantly.

You can manage every stage of production without switching applications, thanks to the integrated Project Page for professional mastering and the Show Page for live performances. Whether you are a solo songwriter, a podcast producer, or a film composer, the platform scales to your needs with specialized tools like the Chord Track and Harmonic Editing. It provides a stable environment for high-resolution audio processing and supports all major industry-standard plug-in formats.

strtoupper($product2['name'][0])

Riverside

Riverside provides you with a virtual studio to record high-quality podcasts and video interviews from anywhere in the world. Instead of relying on your internet stability, the platform records each participant locally on their own device. This means you get crystal-clear 4K video and uncompressed 48kHz WAV audio for every guest, even if their connection drops or lags during the live session.

You can manage the entire production process within one browser-based dashboard, from inviting guests to downloading separate tracks for easy editing. The platform also includes AI-powered tools to help you generate transcripts and create short-form social media clips instantly. Whether you are a solo creator or part of a large media production team, you can produce professional-grade content without expensive studio hardware.

Overview

P

PreSonus Studio One Features

  • Drag-and-Drop Workflow Drag audio loops, virtual instruments, and effect presets directly into your arrangement to build tracks in seconds.
  • Chord Track & Harmonic Editing Rearrange song structures and change chord progressions across all tracks simultaneously without manual MIDI or audio editing.
  • Integrated Mastering Move your mixed songs into the dedicated Project Page to master your album and publish directly to digital platforms.
  • Smart Templates Launch your sessions faster with pre-configured environments for recording, mixing, beat-making, or rehearsing for a live show.
  • Impact XT & Sample One Create custom beats and unique synth sounds using built-in professional samplers and drum machines designed for modern production.
  • Console Shaper Emulate the sound of classic analog hardware on your digital mixer to add warmth and character to your tracks.
strtoupper($product2['name'][0])

Riverside Features

  • Local Recording. Record high-quality audio and video locally on each participant's device to bypass internet connection issues and lag.
  • Separate Tracks. Download individual audio and video tracks for every guest so you have total control during the post-production process.
  • AI Transcriptions. Generate highly accurate transcripts in seconds to speed up your editing workflow and improve content accessibility.
  • Magic Clips. Use AI to identify the most engaging moments of your recording and turn them into vertical social media videos.
  • Text-Based Editor. Edit your video by simply deleting text in the transcript, making complex video cuts as easy as editing a document.
  • Producer Mode. Join the call to monitor and control the recording behind the scenes without appearing on the final video track.
  • Live Streaming. Broadcast your recording sessions live to platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn to engage with your audience in real-time.
  • Mobile App. Record studio-quality interviews on the go using native iOS and Android apps that sync directly with your online studio.

Pricing Comparison

P

PreSonus Studio One Pricing

Studio One Prime
$0
  • Unlimited audio and MIDI tracks
  • Essential virtual instruments
  • Suite of native effects
  • Advanced drag-and-drop tools
  • Unlimited undo/redo
R

Riverside Pricing

Free
$0
  • Unlimited recording
  • Individual audio/video tracks
  • Up to 720p video quality
  • 44.1 kHz audio quality
  • 2 hours of separate tracks
  • Watermark on exported files

Pros & Cons

M

PreSonus Studio One

Pros

  • Fastest drag-and-drop workflow in the industry
  • Integrated mastering suite saves time and money
  • Clean interface reduces visual clutter during mixing
  • Excellent stability even with large plugin counts
  • Frequent updates with user-requested features

Cons

  • Steep learning curve for advanced video features
  • Stock plugin interface looks dated to some
  • Subscription model is required for cloud features
A

Riverside

Pros

  • Superior audio and video quality compared to standard calling apps
  • Separate tracks make professional post-production much easier
  • AI clip generator saves hours of manual social media editing
  • Simple browser-based interface requires no guest software installation

Cons

  • Requires significant upload bandwidth for high-resolution files
  • Occasional browser compatibility issues with older versions
  • Mobile app features are more limited than the desktop version
x

Please claim profile in order to edit product details and view analytics. Provide your work email address to receive a verification link.

x

Please login in order to edit product details and view analytics.