Riverside vs Around

Head-to-head comparison of two popular video conferencing tools. See which one is right for your needs.

Last updated: March 2026

Quick Verdict

Riverside has a higher rating (4.7/5) compared to Around (4.3/5).

Riverside

4.7

Riverside is a professional recording studio in your browser, built for podcasters, content creators, and media companies. It records locally in studio quality (up to 4K video), then uploads in the background. Riverside is used by major media companies including ESPN and Marvel.

Pricing

Free / $15/month

Key Features

  • 4K Video Recording
  • Lossless Audio
  • Local Recording
  • Separate Tracks
  • Transcription
  • AI Editing
  • Virtual Green Room
  • Live Streaming

Pros

  • + Studio-quality recording
  • + Local recording prevents loss
  • + Separate audio tracks
  • + Built for content

Cons

  • Not for regular meetings
  • Higher learning curve
  • Pricing adds up
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Around

4.3

Around is a video calling platform designed for remote teams, featuring unique floating video bubbles and AI-powered audio. It offers spatial audio, auto-framing, and noise cancellation. Around focuses on reducing meeting fatigue with ambient co-presence features.

Pricing

Free / $10/month

Key Features

  • Floating Video Bubbles
  • Spatial Audio
  • Auto-framing
  • Noise Cancellation
  • Screen Sharing
  • Meeting Rooms
  • Calendar Integration
  • Ambient Mode

Pros

  • + Unique design
  • + Great audio quality
  • + Reduces fatigue
  • + Always-on rooms

Cons

  • Less mature platform
  • Limited integrations
  • Small user base
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