Comparison
Both record locally. Both work in the browser. Both also come from funded software companies. The real difference is product focus, guest friction, and how much clutter you want in the workflow.
| Feature | Iris | Zencastr |
|---|---|---|
| Local recording per speaker | ✓ | ✓ |
| Guest joins via browser link | ✓ | ✓ |
| No guest account required | ✓ | Sometimes required |
| 4K local video recording | ✓ Up to 4K | HD on paid plans |
| Progressive backup during session | ✓ | Yes |
| Separate audio & video tracks | ✓ Both included | Separate audio; video on paid |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Focused on podcast workflows | ✓ Purpose-built | Yes, with more extras |
| Learning curve | Very low | Low–medium |
| Pricing starts at | $9/mo | $18/mo |
Guests never need an account. They click a link, allow mic/camera, and they're in. No friction means fewer no-shows and tech issues.
Iris Pro starts at $19/mo for 5 hours with HD video included. You get more recording time for less, without paying extra for video.
Zencastr is VC-backed too, but it still feels closer to a focused recording product than a broad all-in-one platform. Iris goes even further in that direction: less clutter, faster sessions, cleaner guest onboarding.
Trusted by 10,000+ podcast teams
"Iris developed into our favorite solution to produce remote interviews with podcast guests around the world. It's easy to use, provides high quality recordings, and just works."
"Iris is amazing. The audio quality is super sharp and the dashboard is so intuitive. This has absolutely saved me hours in the day."
No credit card. No app for guests. Just clean remote recordings.
★★★★★ 4.9/5 · Helping podcasters since 2019
