GoTo Webinar vs Riverside
Choose GoTo Webinar if your main job is running structured webinars for hundreds of participants; choose Riverside if you also need to record, edit, and repurpose the event as video or podcast content. Both offer registration, audience engagement, analytics, and pre-recorded webinar options, but their published plan limits and production tools make the choice meaningfully different.
Last updated October 26, 2026.
At a glance
| Dimension | GoTo Webinar | Riverside |
|---|---|---|
| Registered audience limit | 500 on Reach; 1,000 on Elevate; 3,000 on Complete | 100 on Webinar; up to 10,000 on Business |
| Recording and editing | Local recording; cloud recording and video editor on Elevate | Separate tracks, text-based editing, and AI clips |
| Webinar plan price | Not published | $99/month, or $79/month billed annually |
| Plans | Reach, Elevate, Complete | Pro, Grow, Webinar, Business |
| Audience engagement | Polls, Q&A, handouts; breakouts on Elevate | Q&A, polls, reactions, and live call-ins on Webinar |
| Registration and follow-up | Registration forms and automated emails | Branded registration and emails on Webinar |
| Pre-recorded events | Simulive events; on-demand recordings | Simulated-live and on-demand webinars |
| Live distribution | Unlimited live-stream viewers on Complete | Social-platform multistreaming from Grow |
| Integrations | HubSpot, Marketo, Salesforce Pardot | HubSpot on Webinar; Salesforce and Marketo on Business |
| Publishing | GoTo Stage webinar channels | Video and podcast publishing |
| Platforms | Browser, desktop, and mobile app | Browser, Mac app, iOS, and Android |
| Trial | Free trial offered | 14-day trial for Webinar |
Scroll the table sideways to compare each row.
Which should you choose?
Choose GoTo Webinar if
- Teams expecting more than 100 registered participants without a custom plan
- Organizers running training, town halls, or recurring marketing webinars
- Teams that need paid events or certificates on a custom plan
Choose Riverside if
- Creators turning webinars into edited videos, clips, or podcasts
- Teams that want separate audio and video tracks for post-production
- Hosts combining registered webinars with social-platform livestreaming
The verdict
GoTo Webinar is the better fit when participant capacity, event administration, and options such as paid events or certificates drive the decision. Riverside is the better fit when the recording is as important as the live event: it combines webinars with separate-track recording, text-based editing, clips, and publishing tools. Check Riverside's registrant limit before choosing its Webinar plan; larger registered audiences require a Business plan.
GoTo Webinar vs Riverside: common questions
- Are GoTo Webinar and Riverside close enough to compare?
- Yes. Both sell webinar plans with registration, audience interaction, analytics, and pre-recorded events. GoTo Webinar centers on event administration, while Riverside also includes an extensive recording-to-publishing workflow.
- Which handles a larger registered webinar on a standard plan?
- GoTo Webinar's Reach plan lists up to 500 participants. Riverside's Webinar plan allows up to 100 registrants; its Business plans can support larger audiences, up to 10,000 registrants depending on the plan.
- Which is better for making clips from a webinar?
- Riverside is the better fit for making clips: it publishes separate-track recording, text-based editing, and AI clip tools. GoTo Webinar lists a video editor on its Elevate plan.
- Can both run a pre-recorded webinar?
- Yes. GoTo Webinar lists Simulive events, while Riverside's Webinar plan can stream a pre-recorded session as live. Both also offer ways to share recorded content on demand.
- Do both connect webinar leads to a CRM?
- Yes. GoTo Webinar lists integrations including HubSpot and Salesforce Pardot. Riverside includes HubSpot lead syncing on its Webinar plan and lists Salesforce and Marketo integrations on Business.
- How do their webinar prices compare?
- Riverside publishes a Webinar price of $99 per month, or $79 per month with annual billing. GoTo Webinar lists Reach, Elevate, and Complete but does not display a numeric subscription price on its current pricing page.
- Can I charge attendees for an event?
- GoTo Webinar lists paid events on its Complete plan. Riverside does not state an equivalent built-in paid-event feature on its current pricing page.
- Is a free trial available for either product?
- GoTo Webinar offers a free trial without stating its length on its current product page. Riverside offers a 14-day trial of its Webinar plan.