TikTok is the better app overall, scoring 8.5 to 8.3. TikTok wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Riverside on 1.
Creators who want fast reach with short, fun videos
Podcasters who interview guests online and want clean video and sound
Score by score
The details
| Feature | TikTok | Riverside |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Social Media & Creator Tools | Social Media & Creator Tools |
| Category rank | #4 of 17 | #8 of 17 |
| Developer | TikTok | Riverside |
| Pricing | Free | Free + paid plans |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mac | — | ✓ |
| Web | ✓ | ✓ |
Common questions
Is TikTok better than Riverside?
TikTok is the better app overall, scoring 8.5 to 8.3. TikTok wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Riverside on 1.
Which is cheaper, TikTok or Riverside?
TikTok: Free with ads; Coins for LIVE gifts are sold in the app, from $0.29. Riverside: Free with a watermark; Pro is $29 a month, or $24 a month billed yearly. On value for money, TikTok scores higher.
Do TikTok and Riverside work on the same devices?
Only Riverside runs on Mac.
Which is more private, TikTok or Riverside?
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
TikTok
- New accounts can reach lots of people fast
- Easy editing tools right in the app
- Free to watch and post
- Easy to lose hours scrolling
- Collects a lot of data and tracks you
- Pay needs 10,000 followers and longer videos
TikTok is the fastest way for a new account to get seen. Its For You feed shows your video to strangers even if you have no followers, and the built-in editor, sounds and effects make posting easy. Creators with 10,000 followers can earn from videos of one minute or longer. It is free, but it is easy to lose hours scrolling, and the app collects a lot of data.
Full TikTok review
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
