Riverside is the better app overall, scoring 8.3 to 8.0. Riverside wins on 3 of the 5 scores, Snapchat on 1, with 1 tied.
Podcasters who interview guests online and want clean video and sound
Teens and friends who like to chat with photos
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Riverside | Snapchat |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Social Media & Creator Tools | Social Media & Creator Tools |
| Category rank | #8 of 17 | #16 of 17 |
| Developer | Riverside | Snap Inc. |
| Pricing | Free + paid plans | Free + paid plans |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mac | ✓ | — |
| Web | ✓ | ✓ |
Common questions
Is Riverside better than Snapchat?
Riverside is the better app overall, scoring 8.3 to 8.0. Riverside wins on 3 of the 5 scores, Snapchat on 1, with 1 tied.
Which is cheaper, Riverside or Snapchat?
Riverside: Free with a watermark; Pro is $29 a month, or $24 a month billed yearly. Snapchat: Free with ads; Snapchat+ is listed at $4.99 a month on the US App Store. On value for money, Snapchat scores higher.
Do Riverside and Snapchat work on the same devices?
Only Riverside runs on Mac.
Which is more private, Riverside or Snapchat?
Riverside scores higher on privacy (7.0/10). The App Store label says identifiers may be used to track you. Usage data, device ID, diagnostics and audio are collected but not linked to your identity.
Strengths and weaknesses
Riverside
- Each guest gets their own audio and video track
- Record, edit and make clips in one place
- Free plan has unlimited single-track recording
- Free plan puts a watermark on everything
- Only 2 hours of separate tracks on Free, one time
- Live streaming needs the $39 Grow plan
Riverside records each person on their own device, so a shaky internet connection doesn't spoil the sound or picture. You get a separate audio and video track for every guest, in up to 4K on paid plans. After that you can edit by text and make short clips with Magic Clips. The free plan is more of a trial: two hours of separate tracks, 720p video and a watermark.
Full Riverside review
Snapchat
- Great for quick, private chats with friends
- Fun face and camera effects
- Free, with all the main features
- Creator pay is invite-only and needs 50,000 followers
- Free Memories storage is capped at 5GB
- Layout can confuse new users
Snapchat is built for close friends, not crowds. You send photos and videos that vanish, keep streaks going, and play with Lenses that change your face or the world around you. Spotlight and Stories let you post to everyone, but the bar to get paid is high at 50,000 followers. It is free with ads. Free Memories storage is now capped at 5GB, and the layout can confuse new users.
Full Snapchat review
