Ermine.ai vs Riverside (2026): Pricing, Features & Which to Choose

Who comes out ahead

Based only on the facts in our directory. The right pick still depends on the job you need done.

Lower starting price
Not comparable
Not comparable: Ermine.ai does not list a price
Free plan
Tie
Both have one
Higher rating
Riverside
3.4 against 4.5
Same job?
Yes
Both are Audio tools

Side by side

Compared on	Ermine.ai	Riverside
Our rating	3.4	4.5Better
Starts at	Free	$19/mo
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Category	Audio	Audio
Plans	Free	FreeFree Standard$19/mo Pro$29/mo
Key features	100% local audio recording and transcription - no server upload Genuine on-device AI transcription model Model caching for faster repeat use Downloadable audio files and transcripts Open source, free to use	Local high-resolution recording on each participant's device Automatic transcription and filler-word removal One-click social media clip generation Multi-guest recording with a producer mode Free tier with limited recording time
Pros	Real privacy guarantee - recordings never leave the device Completely free and open source, no hidden tiers No account or sign-up required to use	Local recording avoids video-call compression and dropout artifacts AI editing tools turn raw interviews into publishable clips quickly Producer mode suits managing live multi-guest sessions
Cons	English transcription only Initial ~50MB model download can take several minutes on first use Local processing may be slower than cloud-based transcription on lower-powered devices	Local recording requires stable device storage and later upload time Higher resolution exports need a paid plan Built specifically for interview formats, less suited to solo narration
Company	Ermine.ai	RiversideFM, Inc., founded 2020

Prices come from each vendor's pricing page, last checked 20260826. Check the vendor before you buy.

FAQ

Questions people ask

Is Ermine.ai better than Riverside?

In our reviews Ermine.ai scores 3.4 and Riverside scores 4.5. The better pick depends on the job. Ermine.ai: Record and transcribe audio entirely on your own device - nothing is ever sent to a server. Open source, and completely free. Riverside: Records locally on each device, not over the call itself.

Which is cheaper, Ermine.ai or Riverside?

Ermine.ai: free. Riverside: from $19/mo.

Do Ermine.ai and Riverside have free plans?

Yes, both have a free plan.

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