Head-to-head comparison
Craig vs Welder
Two of the recording tools podcasters reach for. Here's how they differ on pricing, features, audience, and the trade-offs that actually matter day-to-day.
Discord voice-channel recording bot with multi-track output for podcasts run on Discord.
Best for: Discord-based shows
Lightweight remote session studio aimed at startup founders and marketers.
Best for: Quick marketing recordings
At a glance
The honest trade-offs
Craig
Pros
- Free with multi-track output for post-production
- Up to 6 hours continuous recording
- Recordings downloadable for 7 days
Watch-outs
- Audio quality limited by Discord's codec
- Requires server admin to add the bot
- No editing — just raw files
Welder
Pros
- Simple browser-based interface
- Includes SRT and TXT transcripts
- Backups remain accessible after downgrade
Watch-outs
- Dropped local recording in February 2022
- Smaller feature set than category leaders
- Quiet update cadence vs competitors
Which one should you pick?
Pick Craig if
You’re building around discord-based shows. Craig is the Discord bot that records voice channels with each speaker on a separate track. Free, runs on any server you can add it to, exports FLAC and AAC.
Pick Welder if
You’re building around quick marketing recordings. Welder has been quiet for years and dropped local recording back in February 2022, which makes it noticeably less competitive against Riverside, SquadCast, and Boomcaster in 2026. Sessions live or die by the connection during recording — the exact opposite of where the category has moved.
Also worth comparing
Or see all Craig alternatives.
Frequently asked
What does Craig do better than Welder?
Craig's standout is "Free with multi-track output for post-production". Welder doesn't make that promise — it leans into "Simple browser-based interface" instead. If the first sentence describes your workflow, pick Craig; if the second does, pick Welder.
What are the trade-offs?
Craig: audio quality limited by discord's codec. Welder: dropped local recording in february 2022. Whether either matters depends entirely on what you actually need — neither is a deal-breaker by itself.
Can I use Craig and Welder together?
Both are recording tools so most teams pick one. Some workflows do combine them — for example, using Craig for one show or episode type and Welder for another. Worth trying both free tiers before committing.