Descript
Audio and video editor where you edit recordings by editing the transcript, with AI cleanup tools.
Overview
Descript is a desktop and web editor for podcasts, screencasts and talking-head video that treats the transcript as the timeline. Import or record media and Descript transcribes it; delete a sentence in the text and the matching audio and video are cut. Layered on top are AI tools grouped under the Underlord name: filler-word removal, Studio Sound noise cleanup, eye-contact correction, automatic layouts and an AI voice clone (Overdub) that can patch mistakes by typing the corrected words.
It is popular with podcasters, YouTubers, course creators and marketing teams that produce lots of spoken-word content and would rather not learn a conventional non-linear editor. Screen and webcam recording, cloud projects, comments and direct publishing to YouTube and podcast hosts are built in.
Descript is priced per seat, and the free plan caps transcription at about an hour per month and limits export resolution. Paid tiers raise transcription hours and export quality, but AI usage is still metered monthly. Precision multi-track work, color grading and motion graphics are not its strengths, so editors working on cinematic or effects-heavy projects usually keep a traditional editor alongside it.
Key features
AI
- AI content generation
Collaboration
- Real-time collaboration
- Comments & mentions
Getting started
- Templates
Platforms
- Desktop app
Video
- AI voiceover
- Stock media library
- Auto subtitles & captions
- Screen recording
- Transcript-based editing
Writing
- Transcription
- Multi-language support
- Integrations
- YouTube, Zoom
- Platforms
- Web, Windows, macOS
Pros & cons
Strengths
- Transcript-based editing makes cutting spoken-word content very fast
- Studio Sound, filler-word removal and eye-contact tools fix common recording problems
- Combines recording, editing, transcription and publishing in one app
- Web version and cloud projects support collaboration and review
Limitations
- Per-seat pricing gets expensive for larger teams
- Transcription and AI usage are capped per month on every tier
- Limited precision for multi-track, color or effects-heavy editing
- Performance can drop on long, media-heavy projects
Pricing
Pricing last reviewed Sep 13, 2026
Freemium. Free plan with about 1 hour of transcription per month; paid plans are per seat and start at $24/month billed monthly ($16/month annually) for Hobbyist, with Creator at $35 ($24 annually) and Business at $65 ($50 annually). Figures have changed several times, so confirm on the pricing page.
Free
Free
Try transcript editing with a small monthly transcription allowance.
- About 1 hour of transcription per month
- Export limited to 720p
- Basic screen recording and editing
Hobbyist
$24/user/mo
For occasional creators who need higher-quality exports.
- About 10 hours of transcription per month
- 1080p export
- Limited monthly AI usage
- $16/month when billed annually
Creator
Popular$35/user/mo
For regular publishers who use the AI tools every week.
- About 30 hours of transcription per month
- 4K export and more AI usage
- AI voice clone with more speech minutes
- About $24/month when billed annually
Business
$65/user/mo
Higher limits and team features for organizations.
- Higher transcription and AI allowances
- Team management and priority support
- $50/month when billed annually
Prices are listed in USD and can change. Confirm current pricing on the vendor’s pricing page.
Best for
A good fit if you are
- Podcasters editing interviews and repurposing clips
- YouTubers and course creators producing talking-head and screencast content
- Marketing teams cleaning up webinar and meeting recordings
Not ideal if you
- Cinematic or effects-heavy video production
- Editors who need frame-accurate multicam workflows
Compared in these shortlists
Descript alternatives
See all alternativesUser reviews
No user reviews yet
The rating above is VERILO's editorial assessment. User reviews for Descript will appear here once they are collected and moderated.
Descript
From $24/mo · Free plan