Hobbyist
$16
/month
- + 10 hrs media/month
- + 400 AI credits/month
- + 1080p watermark-free export
- + Custom voice clones
Descript
All-in-one video and podcast editing platform that lets you edit audio and video by editing text transcripts like a document
ai-toolssocial-media
Our Score
4.6
Starting at $16 /month
Free Plan Available
Try Descript Free →
Affiliate link
4.6
Excellent ChoiceDescript Score
Ease of Use
4.7
Features
4.5
Value
4.7
Support
4.3
Based on our editorial review across usability, features, value, support, and integrations.
Best For
Podcasters editing audio episodes quicklyYouTubers and content creators producing regular video contentMarketing teams creating social media videosEducators and trainers producing online coursesRemote teams collaborating on video projects
Best For
Podcasters editing audio episodes quickly
Free Trial
Yes
Standout Feature
Text-based audio and video editing via transcript
Track Record
Since 2017
What Problem It Solves
Descript democratizes video and podcast editing by eliminating the steep learning curve of traditional editing software. Instead of struggling with timelines, waveforms, and complex interfaces, creators simply edit text to edit their content—making professional-quality editing accessible to marketers, entrepreneurs, and educators without video production experience. The platform particularly excels at solving the time-consuming nature of content editing, reducing episode editing time from hours to minutes and enabling creators to maintain consistent content output without hiring editors.
Key Features
- Text-based audio and video editing via transcript
- AI-powered transcription with high accuracy
- Overdub AI voice cloning for correcting mistakes
- Studio Sound for audio enhancement and noise removal
- Screen recording with camera overlay
- Multi-track editing and collaboration
- Built-in stock media library and templates
Pros
- + Revolutionary editing paradigm that's far faster than timeline editing
- + Extremely intuitive for non-video editors
- + Studio Sound makes poor audio quality instantly professional
- + All-in-one platform eliminates need for multiple tools
- + Collaborative editing with commenting and version control
Cons
- - Heavy files can cause performance issues on older computers
- - Limited advanced color grading compared to professional tools
- - Overdub voice quality varies by training data amount
- - Subscription required for features beyond basic editing
Pricing
Creator
$24
/month
- + 30 hrs media/month
- + 800 AI credits/month
- + 4K export
- + Full Underlord AI access
Business
$50
/month
- + 40 hrs media/month
- + 1500 AI credits/month
- + Translation and dubbing in 30+ languages
- + Brand Studio and custom avatars
Starting at $16 /month
Free Plan Available
Try Descript Free →
Affiliate link
Our Verdict
Descript — Highly Recommended
Descript has fundamentally changed how content creators approach video and podcast editing, and after extensive testing, we consider it one of the most innovative tools in the space. The text-based editing paradigm is not a gimmick—it genuinely reduces editing time by 2-3x compared to traditional timeline editors like Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve. For podcasters, the ability to delete filler words, silence gaps, and rearrange segments by editing text feels almost magical. Studio Sound alone justifies the subscription for anyone recording in less-than-ideal environments, transforming echoey room audio into studio-quality output with a single click. The Creator plan at $24/month hits the sweet spot for most independent creators, offering 10 hours of transcription and full export capabilities. Power users producing daily content will want the Pro plan at $40/month for 30 hours of transcription and Overdub voice cloning. Where Descript falls short is in advanced post-production—color grading is basic, motion graphics are limited, and heavy projects can strain older machines. Professional video editors working on cinematic content will still need Premiere or Final Cut alongside Descript. The collaboration features are excellent for team workflows, though they shine most on the Business tier. Overall, Descript earns a strong recommendation for podcasters, YouTubers, marketing teams, and educators. If you produce regular spoken-word content and editing is your bottleneck, Descript will transform your workflow. It is not a replacement for full-featured NLEs, but for 80% of content creators, it covers 100% of their needs faster and easier than any alternative.
Related Tools
Is Descript good for small businesses?
Yes, Descript is excellent for small businesses that produce podcasts, YouTube videos, or marketing content without dedicated video editors on staff. The Creator plan at $24/month includes 10 hours of transcription, unlimited projects, screen recording, Studio Sound audio enhancement, and export without watermarks — covering most SMB content needs in a single subscription. The text-based editing approach means anyone on your team can edit video and audio content without specialized training, which is transformative for small teams where marketing staff wear multiple hats. The time savings are substantial: editing that takes 2-3 hours in traditional tools can be completed in under an hour with Descript, and the elimination of separate transcription service costs makes it highly cost-effective for content-driven small businesses.
Does Descript offer a free plan?
Yes, Descript offers a free plan that includes 1 hour of transcription per month, watermarked exports, and access to core editing features including the text-based editor, basic screen recording, and multi-track editing. This is sufficient for thoroughly testing the platform's unique editing approach and producing occasional short videos or podcast clips. The free plan lets you experience the revolutionary text-based editing workflow, try filler word removal, and test Studio Sound audio enhancement to evaluate whether Descript fits your content creation needs. For regular content production, the Creator plan at $24/month removes watermarks, provides 10 transcription hours, and unlocks full export capabilities.
What is the starting price of Descript?
Descript's paid plans start at $24/month (billed annually at $288/year) for the Creator plan, which includes 10 hours of transcription per month, unlimited projects and exports without watermarks, screen recording, Studio Sound audio enhancement, and 720p video export. This plan covers most individual creator and small business needs. The Pro plan at $40/month increases transcription to 30 hours per month and adds 1080p and 4K video export, Overdub AI voice cloning for correcting mistakes without re-recording, and higher-quality export options. The Business plan provides team collaboration features, admin controls, and centralized billing for organizations. All plans include the core text-based editing experience, filler word removal, and access to the stock media library.
Starting at $16 /month
Free Plan Available
Try Descript Free →
Affiliate link
Try Descript Free →
Affiliate link