ChatGPT answers, unedited

For a beginner podcaster doing remote interviews where guests simply click a link and join, I’d start with Riverside. It’s probably the best balance of guest simplicity, recording quality, and beginner-friendly workflow. Guests don’t need to install software; they open your invite link in a browser, allow their mic/camera, and join. It also records separate tracks, which helps avoid the “Zoom call” sound. riverside.comriverside.com

My short list:

My recommendation by situation:

• You want a serious interview podcast (audio + video): Riverside
• You only care about audio and want fewer features: Zencastr
• You hate editing: Descript + SquadCast
• You’re testing your idea and want free: Zoom or free tiers first, then upgrade

A simple beginner setup:

1. Riverside account
2. USB microphone (even a budget one is a big upgrade over laptop audio)
3. Headphones for you and guests
4. Send guest link 5 minutes before recording
5. Export audio/video and edit

One thing I’d avoid as your main recording method: using a normal Zoom call recording for a long-term podcast. It’s convenient, but dedicated podcast tools usually give you cleaner separate tracks and better recovery when internet connections are unstable. thattorontopodcaststudio.ca

If you tell me audio-only vs video podcast, your budget ($0 / under $20 month / professional), and whether you plan to edit yourself, I can narrow it to one choice.

For a beginner podcaster doing remote interviews, I’d start with Zencastr.

zencastr.com

Why Zencastr is a great beginner choice

• Guests just click a link. They don't need to create an account or download software when joining from a computer. Zencastr Zencastr
• Good-quality separate tracks. Your voice and your guest's voice are recorded separately, which makes editing much easier and helps prevent a bad internet connection from ruining the actual recording. Zencastr Help Center Zencastr
• Very simple guest experience. They click the invite, allow microphone/camera access, choose their mic/headphones, and click Join. Zencastr Help Center
• You can record audio-only, which is ideal if you're starting a traditional podcast and don't need video. Zencastr Help Center
• There's a free starting option, so you can test your workflow before committing. Zencastr

Zencastr vs. Riverside

riverside.fm is probably the other one I'd consider. It's more of an all-in-one recording/editing platform and is particularly good if you want to make video podcasts, YouTube clips, and social-media content. A current comparison also rates Riverside and Zencastr as the leading choices for remote interviews. Riverside

My recommendation: If your priority is “I send my guest a link and they don't have to figure anything out,” go with Zencastr. If you know you want a YouTube/video podcast, I'd lean toward Riverside.

If you tell me whether you're doing audio-only or video + audio, I can also tell you which plan I'd pick and what microphone setup I'd use as a beginner.

For a beginner podcaster doing remote interviews, I’d pick Riverside.

Why Riverside is my top pick

• Guests just click a link. They don't need to create an account or install software. riverside.fmriverside.fm
• Much better podcast quality than a normal Zoom call. Riverside records each person's audio locally, then uploads it, so a shaky internet connection is less likely to ruin the actual recording. riverside.com
• Separate tracks for everyone. You get your audio and your guest's audio separately, which makes editing mistakes, interruptions, and volume differences much easier to fix. riverside.fmriverside.fm
• Video is included, so you can make YouTube/video-podcast clips later.
• Editing is built in, which is nice when you're starting and don't want to learn five different programs. support.riverside.com
• There is a free plan, so you can try the workflow before committing. riverside.com

My beginner ranking

For your situation, I'd keep it simple: Riverside + a decent USB microphone + headphones. Your workflow becomes:

Create studio → send guest link → guest clicks → record → download separate tracks → edit → publish.

One particularly nice thing for a beginner is that your guest doesn't have to understand any podcast software—their experience can essentially be “click this link and you're in.” riverside.fm

If you tell me your budget (free / <$20/month / willing to spend more) and whether you're doing audio-only or video + podcast, I can tell you exactly which plan/setup I'd use.

For a beginner podcaster doing remote interviews, I’d pick Try Riverside.

🥇 Best overall: Riverside

It’s particularly good for your “just click a link and join” requirement:

• Guests don't need an account or software download—they click your guest link, enter their name, allow mic/camera access, and join. riverside.fm
• It records each person locally, rather than relying entirely on the internet connection, which gives you much better-quality audio. riverside.fm
• You get separate audio/video tracks for each person, which makes editing mistakes, interruptions, and volume differences much easier. riverside.fm
• It has recording and editing tools in the same platform, so there's less to learn when you're starting.
• There's a free plan, so you can try it before committing. riverside.fm

My beginner ranking

SquadCast is also excellent—guests can join from an invite link without a SquadCast account. help.descript.com But I'd lean Riverside for a new podcaster because it gives you a more complete recording/editing workflow.

What I'd do in your shoes

Start with Riverside + a decent USB microphone + headphones. Don't overcomplicate the setup. Send your guest one link like:

“Hey! Just click this link 5 minutes before our interview. No software or account needed.”

Then Riverside handles the recording and gives you separate tracks afterward.

Try Riverside

If you tell me whether your podcast is audio-only or video + audio, and roughly how much you're willing to spend per month, I can tell you exactly which plan/tool I'd choose.

For a beginner podcaster doing remote interviews, I’d pick Riverside.

Riverside

Why Riverside is my top pick

• Guests literally click a link and join — no account or software installation required. riverside.fm
• It records each person on a separate audio track, which makes editing much easier.
• It records locally on each participant's device, so a guest's shaky internet connection is much less likely to ruin the final recording. riverside.fmsquadcast.fm
• You can do audio-only or video podcasts.
• It has built-in editing, transcription, clips, and other beginner-friendly tools, so you don't need to assemble a complicated tech stack. riverside.fmsquadcast.fm
• There's a free plan, so you can test it before committing. riverside.fm

My quick ranking

SquadCast is particularly worth considering if you already plan to edit in Descript; guests also join without an account or download. squadcast.fm

Bottom line: If your priority is “I send my guest a link, they click it, and we just start talking”, go with Riverside. It's probably the least intimidating setup for a first-time podcaster while still giving you professional-quality files. riverside.fmsquadcast.fm

If you tell me whether you're doing audio-only or video + audio, I can also recommend the cheapest setup (recording tool + mic + editing + podcast hosting) for a beginner.

If you’re a beginner podcaster doing remote interviews, I’d pick Riverside.

🥇 Best overall: Riverside

It hits the sweet spot of easy for guests + good recording quality + simple workflow:

• Guest just clicks a link — they can join from their browser rather than learning complicated software. riverside.com
• Separate audio tracks — you get your voice and the guest’s voice separately, which makes editing much easier.
• High-quality local recording — unlike Zoom, the recording isn't simply dependent on the quality of the internet connection during the conversation. riverside.com
• Video + audio if you eventually want to publish clips on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, etc.
• Editing and AI tools built in, so you don't necessarily need another program when you're starting out.
• There's a free plan, so you can try the workflow before committing. riverside.com

My beginner ranking

SquadCast is particularly attractive if you plan to use Descript for editing; guests don't need to download an app or create an account and can simply click a link. squadcast.fm

Zencastr is another strong choice if you're primarily making an audio podcast and want recording, editing, hosting, and distribution in one place. riverside.com

What I'd do in your shoes

Start with Riverside's free tier, record 2–3 interviews, and see how much you like the guest experience and editing workflow. You can send someone a link like:

“Hey, here's the link for our interview. Just click it about 5 minutes before we start—no software to install.”

That's about as low-friction as remote podcasting gets.

If you tell me (1) audio-only vs. video podcast, (2) your budget, and (3) whether you want AI editing/clips, I can tell you exactly which one I'd choose for your setup.

For a beginner podcaster, I’d choose Riverside.

Riverside is particularly good for interviews because your guest can just click a link and join in their browser—they don't need to create an account or install software. riverside.fmsupport.riverside.com

Why I’d pick it

• Very easy for guests: Send them a link → they enter their name → allow mic/camera → join. riverside.fmsupport.riverside.com
• Better podcast quality than Zoom: Riverside records each person's audio/video locally, so a bad internet connection is less likely to ruin the final recording. riverside.com
• Separate tracks: You get individual audio/video tracks for you and your guest, which makes editing much easier.
• Beginner-friendly: Recording, transcripts, clips, and editing are integrated rather than requiring a bunch of different programs. riverside.fm
• Works for audio-only interviews too. riverside.fm

My quick ranking

For your specific situation—“I want to interview people who aren't necessarily tech-savvy”—Riverside is the one I'd start with. A current 2026 comparison also puts Riverside among the strongest choices for the combination of quality and ease of use. riverside.com

One caveat: I'd have guests use a computer with Chrome/Edge/Safari rather than trying to record through a mobile browser. Riverside supports mobile apps, but mobile-browser recording has limitations. support.riverside.com

If you tell me your budget (free / <$20 / <$50 per month) and whether you want audio-only or video podcasting, I can narrow it down to the best 2–3 options for you.

If you’re a beginner podcaster doing remote interviews, I’d start with Riverside.

🥇 My pick: Riverside

It’s especially good for your “guest clicks a link and joins” requirement:

• Guests don't need to install software — they can join through their browser.
• You send them a single link.
• It records each person’s audio/video separately, rather than simply recording the internet call.
• It’s designed specifically for podcasts/interviews, so you get much better production quality than a typical Zoom call.
• It also has editing/transcription tools, which can save you from learning complicated audio software. riverside.com

🥈 Very good alternative: Zencastr

I'd seriously consider Zencastr too. Its guest experience is excellent: guests can join with one link, without creating an account or downloading anything on a computer. It also records separate tracks and progressively uploads them to the cloud. zencastr.com

What I'd choose

For your first 10–20 episodes, I'd use Riverside and not overthink it. Your guest gets a link, clicks it, checks their microphone/camera, and joins you. That's exactly the workflow you want. riverside.com

One important tip: don't use regular Zoom as your primary podcast recorder if you can avoid it. It's wonderfully easy for guests, but dedicated podcast platforms record locally/separately, so a guest's shaky internet connection is much less likely to ruin the actual recording. riverside.com

If you tell me whether you're doing audio-only or video + YouTube, I can narrow it down to the best free/cheapest option for a beginner.

If you’re a beginner podcaster doing remote interviews, I’d start with Riverside.

🥇 Best overall: Riverside

Riverside

Why I’d pick it for you:

• Guests just click a link to join—no complicated software setup. riverside.com
• It records each person locally, so a guest’s bad internet connection is much less likely to ruin the actual recording. riverside.com
• You get separate audio tracks for you and each guest, which makes editing much easier.
• It handles audio + video, so you can turn the interview into YouTube clips or social-media videos later.
• It also has built-in editing, transcription, and clip tools, which is useful when you're starting out and don't want to learn five different programs. riverside.comsupport.zencastr.com

Good alternatives

Zencastr — probably my second choice. It's also browser-based, and guests can simply use an invitation link. It's particularly good if you're primarily interested in audio and also want podcast hosting/distribution features. riverside.comsupport.zencastr.com

Zencastr

Zoom — easiest if your guests are already comfortable with Zoom, but it's not my first choice for a podcast because conventional video-conferencing recording is more compressed than dedicated remote podcast platforms. riverside.com

My recommendation: Start with Riverside's free tier, record a couple of real interviews, and only pay once you know you like the workflow.

If you tell me (1) audio-only or video podcast, (2) how many episodes/month, and (3) your budget, I can tell you which plan/tool I'd choose for your specific setup.

For a beginner podcaster doing remote interviews, I’d pick Riverside.

Why Riverside is my #1 pick

• Guests just click a link — they don't need to create an account or install complicated software. riverside.com
• It records separate audio/video tracks locally, which gives you much better-quality interviews than recording a normal Zoom call. riverside.com
• The interface is beginner-friendly, and you can record, edit, transcribe, and create clips in the same ecosystem. riverside.com
• It's particularly good if you eventually want a video podcast for YouTube, not just audio.

My quick ranking

Zencastr is the strongest alternative. Guests can join from a link without creating an account, and it records separate tracks; its browser-based workflow is particularly straightforward. zencastr.com

If I were starting from scratch today: I'd use Riverside, especially if there's any chance you'll want video. If you're audio-only and want to keep things as simple/cheap as possible, I'd seriously consider Zencastr.

If you tell me your budget (free vs. willing to pay ~$15–30/month) and whether you're doing audio-only or video, I can narrow it down to the best specific plan.

For a beginner podcaster doing remote interviews, I’d pick Riverside.

🥇 Best overall: Riverside

It’s especially good for your “just click a link and join” requirement:

• Guests don't need an account or software download—they click your invite link and join in their browser. riverside.fmriverside.fm
• It records each person’s audio and video separately, rather than simply recording the internet call. That gives you much better-quality files for editing. riverside.fm
• Your guest's internet connection can be imperfect without necessarily ruining the quality of the final recording, because the recording is captured locally and uploaded. support.riverside.fm
• It also has built-in editing and transcription, which is handy when you're starting out and don't want to learn a bunch of different software. riverside.fmriverside.fm

🥈 Strong alternative: Zencastr

Zencastr is probably my second choice. Guests can also join through a link without creating an account, and it records separate tracks locally. zencastr.com

My recommendation: Start with Riverside. For a beginner, the guest experience is extremely simple: “Here's the link—click it at our scheduled time.” That's exactly the workflow I'd optimize for.

If you're audio-only and want the simplest/cheapest setup possible, I'd consider a different option—but for a podcast that may eventually become YouTube/video + audio, Riverside is the better starting point. riverside.com

If you tell me your budget (free / <$20 / <$50 per month) and whether you want video too, I can narrow it down to the best 2–3 options for you.

For a beginner podcaster doing remote interviews, I’d start with Zencastr.

🥇 My pick: Zencastr

It fits your “just click a link and join” requirement especially well:

• Guests don't need a Zencastr account.
• They can click your recording link in a browser and join.
• No software download is required when using a computer.
• Each person gets a separate audio track, which makes editing much easier.
• It records locally, so a guest's shaky internet connection is much less likely to ruin the actual recording. zencastr.com

The guest experience is basically: click link → allow microphone → enter name → Join. support.zencastr.com

🥈 Also consider: Riverside

Riverside is probably the other major option I'd consider. It's particularly attractive if you want to do video podcasts, clips, transcripts, and editing in addition to recording. Current comparisons generally put Riverside and Zencastr at the top for easy remote guest recording. cutsio.com

What I'd choose in your situation

Bottom line: If you're just getting started, I'd use Zencastr and avoid making your guests download Zoom, create accounts, or learn complicated software.

If you tell me your budget (free vs. willing to pay) and whether you're doing audio-only or video, I can narrow it down to the best specific plan for you.

For a beginner podcaster doing remote interviews, I’d start with Zencastr.

Why it fits your specific use case:

• Guests just click a link — they don't need to create a Zencastr account, and on a computer they don't need to download software. zencastr.com
• Good-quality separate tracks — each person gets their own audio/video track, which makes editing much easier than recording a normal Zoom call. zencastr.com
• Simple guest experience — guests enter a quick “green room,” choose their mic/headphones, and click Join. support.zencastr.com
• You can start free, so you can learn the workflow before committing to a subscription. zencastr.com

Zencastr vs. Riverside

Riverside is probably the other one I'd consider. It's more polished and particularly strong if you want to make a video podcast/YouTube show as well as audio. Current comparisons generally put Riverside and Zencastr among the strongest options for remote podcast recording. riverside.com

My recommendation:

• 🎙️ Audio-first, beginner, easy guests → Zencastr
• 🎥 Video podcast + YouTube → Riverside
• 💰 Absolute simplest/cheapest → Zoom, but the recording quality and separate-track workflow aren't as podcast-friendly. www.buzzsprout.com

If your guests are often non-technical people (executives, authors, clients, etc.), the “click one link and you're in” experience should be your #1 criterion—and Zencastr is a very good fit. iris.fm

Zencastr

If you tell me whether you're doing audio-only or video + audio, I can narrow it down to the best 2–3 options and what each costs.

For a beginner podcaster doing remote interviews, I’d start with Zencastr.

Why I think it’s a particularly good fit:

• Guests just click a link — they don't need a Zencastr account or software download on a computer. zencastr.com
• Separate audio tracks for you and your guest, which makes editing much easier and avoids the "Zoom recording" sound. support.zencastr.com
• It records participants locally, so a guest's shaky internet connection is much less likely to ruin the actual recording. zencastr.com
• You can do audio-only or audio + video, so you can start simple and add video later. support.zencastr.com
• The guest experience is basically: click link → allow microphone → choose mic/headphones → Join. support.zencastr.com

My beginner ranking

If you're primarily doing audio interviews, I'd pick Zencastr. If you're planning to make a video podcast for YouTube/social media, I'd lean toward Riverside instead; current comparisons generally put Riverside at the top for polished video podcasting. thattorontopodcaststudio.ca

One important tip: have guests join from a laptop/desktop with headphones, rather than their phone. Zencastr specifically recommends a computer and headphones for the best recording experience. support.zencastr.com

If you tell me (1) audio-only or video, (2) how often you'll publish, and (3) your budget, I can tell you exactly which plan/tool I'd choose.