Have you ever tried making a podcast and felt lost?
Messy setups and bad sound can ruin your show.
You spend hours fixing problems instead of creating content.
Good news! We’re breaking down StreamYard vs Zencastr to see which is best for podcasting.
Overview
To provide a clear comparison.
We’ve tested both StreamYard and Zencastr in real life.
This involved recording multiple sessions with various setups, evaluating audio and video quality, and testing their ease of use.
Our goal was to give a practical, hands-on look at how these platforms perform.
Need a professional look without complicated software? Streamyard makes it easy. Give it a shot and elevate your livestream!
Pricing: It has a free plan. Paid plan starts at $8.28/month
Key Features:
- Separate audio tracks.
- Live soundboard.
- Built-in VoIP.
Zencastr: Elevate Your Podcast to Pro Level. Get 2 Hours Back, Every Time. Free Trial Awaits. Give it a try today.
Pricing: It has a free plan. Paid plan starts at $20/month
Key Features:
- Separate audio tracks
- live soundboard
- built-in VoIP.
What is StreamYard?
StreamYard? Think easy live streaming.
You can bring guests on. Right into your browser.
No downloads are needed.
It’s built for live shows and podcasts. Simple stuff.
Ready to streamline your live streams? Thousands of brands trust StreamYard. Give it a shot today – it’s free to start!
Key Benefits:
- Easy Guest Interviews: Invite up to 10 guests to join your stream, even if they don’t have a Streamyard account.
- Built-in Branding: Make your stream look polished with custom logos, overlays, and backgrounds.
- Direct Social Sharing: Share your stream to major platforms (Facebook, YouTube, etc.) right from Streamyard.
Pricing
- Free: $0/month
- Core: $8.28/month
- Pro: $15/month
Pros
Cons
What is Zencastr?
Zencastr? It’s all about audio.
Think podcast recording. Remote guests are easy.
Separate audio tracks are the key. It’s for clean, pro sound.
Ready to record studio-quality audio without the studio? Zencastr has millions of recordings to prove it works. Give it a try today.
Key Benefits
- Soundboard: Play sound effects or intro music during your recording.
- Automatic Post-Production: AI cleans up your audio, saving you editing time.
- Live Editing: Make cuts and edits while recording.
- Unlimited Guests: Host as many people as you like on a single call.
- Cloud Storage: Your recordings are safely backed up and accessible from anywhere.
Pricing
It has a free plan to test its features.
- Standard: $20/month
- Grow: $30/month
- Scale: $50/month
- Business: $100/month
Pros
Cons
Feature Comparison
Alright, let’s compare features.
Choosing the right platform is key for podcasters.
We’ll explore how StreamYard and Zencastr compare, beyond just pricing, to help you choose the best fit.
Audio and Video Recording
- StreamYard: Primarily focuses on video recording and live multistreaming. It offers decent audio but prioritizes visual output.
- Zencastr: Excels in high-quality audio recording, especially for podcast episodes. Video is a secondary feature.
Remote Recording & Remote Interviews
- StreamYard Simplifies remote interviews with easy invite guest links and an on-screen display, similar to Skype, but with added overlay and customization options.
- Zencastr specializes in remote recording and provides separate audio tracks for studio-quality podcast audio, which is crucial for podcasters.
Multistreaming & Live Streaming
- StreamYard: Strong multistreaming capabilities, allowing you to stream your podcast to Twitch, YouTube, and other platforms simultaneously.
- Zencastr does not offer direct multistreaming but instead focuses on high-quality audio recording. Restream or similar third-party tools would be required.
Editing & Post-Production
- StreamYard: Offers basic editing within the platform, but for advanced editing, you’ll need third-party software like Descript.
- Zencastr: Provides features like automatic post-production, but dedicated editing still leans on external tools for advanced work.
User Interface & Ease of Use
- StreamYard: Known for its seamless and intuitive user interface, making it easy for beginners to stream or record.
- Zencastr: While powerful, the user interface can be less intuitive compared to StreamYard, especially for new users.
Additional Features & Integrations
- StreamYard: Integrates well with Streamlabs and offers features like chat aggregation and on-screen graphics.
- Zencastr: Offers features like a live soundboard and VoIP integration, enhancing the audio recording experience. Some compare it to services like Riverside.fm and Podcastle.
Monetization & Growth
- StreamYard: Offers features that can aid in monetization through live engagement and sponsorships.
- Zencastr focuses on creating high-quality audio, which indirectly supports monetization by improving podcast quality. It offers high-quality audio that could be used for paid podcasts.
What to Look For When Choosing a Podcasting Tool?
- Audio Quality: Prioritize platforms offering high-quality audio recording, especially for professional podcasts.
- Video Capabilities: If video is essential, evaluate the platform’s video recording and streaming features.
- Remote Guest Management: Look for tools that simplify remote interviews and guest management.
- Editing & Post-Production: Consider the platform’s editing tools and integrations with external editing software.
- Ease of Use: Choose a platform with an intuitive user interface, especially if you’re a beginner.
- Multistreaming: If you plan to stream live, evaluate the platform’s multistreaming capabilities.
- Pricing & Scalability: Consider your budget and the platform’s pricing plans, ensuring they scale with your podcast’s growth.
- Integration: Consider integrations with other tools you use.
- Customer support: Evaluate the level of support offered.
Final Verdict
So, which one wins?
For most podcasters, it’s StreamYard.
It’s just easier. You can stream live. You can bring on guests.
It’s simple. If you need studio-quality audio, Zencastr is good.
But it’s more about audio.
StreamYard is also better for video. Both are available for a free trial. We tested them.
We know what works.
If you want to make the best podcast, StreamYard is the better recording platform and podcasting software for most people.
It just helps you record audio and video without too much trouble.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which podcast recording software offers the best studio-quality audio?
Zencastr is often praised for its studio quality audio. It records separate audio tracks for each guest, which makes editing easier and ensures clear sound. However, StreamYard offers good audio and easy video recording.
Can I use StreamYard for just audio podcasting?
Yes, you can. While StreamYard is known for video, you can use it to record audio-only podcasts. Turn off the camera. It’s still a functional podcast recording software.
Does Zencastr offer video recording capabilities?
Yes, Zencastr does offer video recording. However, its main strength is high-quality audio recording. If video is your primary focus, StreamYard may be a better fit.
Is either platform suitable for beginners in podcasting?
StreamYard is generally considered more beginner-friendly. Its interface is intuitive, and it’s easy to set up. Zencastr has a steeper learning curve, particularly for those new to audio editing.
Which platform is better for live podcasting with multiple guests?
StreamYard is better for live podcasting with multiple guests. It allows easy guest invites and an on-screen display. It also handles live chat and streaming to various platforms.
