Head-to-head comparison
Iris 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.
Local-first multitrack browser studio focused on lossless audio and 4K video.
Best for: interview podcasters
Lightweight remote session studio aimed at startup founders and marketers.
Best for: Quick marketing recordings
At a glance
The honest trade-offs
Iris
Pros
- Per-session billing rewards group shows
- WAV and MP4 exports straight away
- Free hour with no credit card
Watch-outs
- Smaller integration ecosystem than Riverside
- Newer brand, thinner support docs
- No native editing — exports only
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 Iris if
You’re building around interview podcasters. Iris pitches itself as a quieter Riverside — same browser, same per-participant local recording, but billed by session hours instead of per-track hours. That math favors interview shows with multiple guests.
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 Iris alternatives.
Frequently asked
What does Iris do better than Welder?
Iris's standout is "Per-session billing rewards group shows". Welder doesn't make that promise — it leans into "Simple browser-based interface" instead. If the first sentence describes your workflow, pick Iris; if the second does, pick Welder.
What are the trade-offs?
Iris: smaller integration ecosystem than riverside. 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 Iris and Welder together?
Both are recording tools so most teams pick one. Some workflows do combine them — for example, using Iris for one show or episode type and Welder for another. Worth trying both free tiers before committing.