Iris.fm

Overview

Iris.fm is a browser-based service for recording remote podcast interviews as separate participant audio and video files. It is best suited to podcasters who want locally recorded tracks and a simple way for guests to join from a browser. The trade-off is that paid plans meter recording time, and progressive uploads are not a guarantee against data loss.

Recording each participant locally helps protect the editing files from hiccups in the live call, while individual tracks give editors more control in post-production. Live captions are saved with the recording for show notes or repurposing. Iris is operated in the United States; information from users elsewhere is transferred to, stored, and processed there.

Key features

• Local, separate recordings: Each participant receives individual audio and video files. This is useful when an editor needs to adjust voices separately or work around problems in the call itself.
• Browser guest access: Guests can join from a link without an app, install, or Iris account. That makes Iris a practical fit for interviews with occasional guests who may not want to set up recording software.
• Live captions: Captions appear during the session and are saved with the recording, giving a show team text to use for notes and repurposing.
• Room roles and controls: Hosts, producers, and guests have separate roles with device controls. A room supports up to nine people recording at once, which is ample for many interviews but a firm ceiling for larger panels.
• Progressive uploads: Uploads back up the session as it is recorded, but Iris's terms say regular content backups do not guarantee against loss or corruption. Keep another copy of important work rather than relying on Iris as the sole archive.
• Studio branding and integrations: Users can create a branded studio with a custom URL. Paid plans include Google Drive and Dropbox uploads, useful for teams that already store production files in either service.
• Usage billing: Recording hours count by overall session time, not by participant. A multi-person interview therefore does not multiply the hours used, though long sessions can still consume a plan's allowance quickly.

Pricing

Iris uses a freemium model. The Free plan costs nothing, includes browser guest access, and requires no credit card. It is a low-commitment way to try guest access, but no recording-hour allowance or paid features are stated for it.

Paid plans are billed monthly and include local HD recording files, host, producer, and guest roles, unlimited audio mastering, unlimited transcriptions, and Google Drive and Dropbox uploads. Their main difference is the recording-hour allowance:

• Starter — $9 a month: 2 hours of recording. A fit for occasional interviews, but the tightest allowance for anyone recording regularly.
• Pro — $19 a month: 5 hours of recording. A middle option for a more active show that still has a defined monthly ceiling.
• Studio — $29 a month: 10 hours of recording. Best suited to teams with higher session volume; even this plan meters recording time rather than offering unlimited hours.

Choose according to total session time, not the number of people in each room. Iris supports up to nine participants, but the stated plan allowances remain the practical constraint for frequent or long recordings.

Platforms

Iris is a browser recording service with Android, iOS, and web platforms. It supports desktop and laptop browsers, as well as iPhone and Android devices, and works with Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge. Browser access makes it easier to bring guests in across devices without requiring them to install Iris.

Who it's for

Iris makes the most sense for podcasters who edit interviews from separate tracks, need video as well as audio, and value browser-based guest access. Its per-session usage calculation is helpful for multi-person recordings, and the branded studio and paid cloud uploads may suit teams with an established workflow.

It is a weaker fit for shows that routinely exceed their recording-hour allowance, panels larger than nine people, or anyone who needs a guaranteed archive from the recording service alone. Teams outside the United States should also weigh that user information is processed in the United States.

Pros and cons

• Pro — Separate local audio and video: Editors receive individual participant files rather than having to rely on a single mixed track.
• Pro — Guests need no account or install: A browser link keeps the joining process simple for interviewees.
• Pro — Hours are based on session time: Adding participants does not multiply the recording-hour usage.
• Con — Paid plans cap recording hours: The allowances range from 2 hours on Starter to 10 on Studio, so frequent production may require a higher tier.
• Con — No guaranteed protection against data loss: Progressive uploads help, but Iris's terms do not promise that recordings will never be lost or corrupted.
• Con — US data processing: Information from users elsewhere is transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States.

Alternatives

Riverside is worth comparing if its free plan's 2 hours of multi-track recordings, up to 720p video, and 44.1 kHz audio suit your needs; that plan includes a Riverside watermark.

Spreaker is an alternative for creators looking for podcast hosting and episode publishing, with a free plan for one podcast and unlimited episodes.

Async may suit people looking for AI chat and media upload rather than a live interview recording workflow; its free plan includes 10 lifetime AI credits and one hour of media upload to AI chat.

Zencastr is another option to compare for its free Vibecastr plan, which supports six participants and unlimited recording and downloads.

Adobe Podcast is a browser-based alternative with a free plan that includes audio-only Enhance Speech, capped at 30 minutes and 500 MB per file, and one hour per day.

Boomcaster is another freemium option; its Starter plan includes five hours of studio-quality recording and livestreaming for $20 a month.

Airtape Studio offers a free plan with two recording hours per month and two participants total, a lower participant cap than Iris.

Waveroom is worth a look if you want its free plan's unlimited audio and video recordings, up to 2K video, and support for up to five participants.

Browse more options in Podcast Recording Software and Video Podcast Software.

Verdict

Choose Iris.fm if you record remote interviews and want separate local audio and video tracks without asking guests to install software or create accounts. Its session-based hour counting is a practical advantage for multi-person rooms. Look elsewhere if your show routinely needs more hours than the plans allow, needs rooms larger than nine people, or cannot accept the risk of relying on a backup that is not guaranteed against loss or corruption.