What Is Descript?
Descript is an AI video and audio editor that lets people edit by changing text. You record or upload a file, and Descript turns the speech into a transcript. When you delete a word in the transcript, that moment is cut from the video. Descript also has Underlord, an AI assistant that can make edits for you, plus tools for captions, clips and audio cleanup.
Who Should Use Descript?
Descript is useful for podcasters, YouTubers, marketers and teams that make videos with spoken words, such as interviews, webinars, tutorials and product demos. It fits people who would rather edit a transcript than a timeline. Teams should check the seat limits first. The Creator and Business plans include a small number of seats, and extra teammates are billed separately.
How Does Descript Work?
- Record in Descript, or upload video or audio you already have.
- Descript makes a transcript of the speech. It supports transcription in 25 languages.
- Edit the text to edit the video. Deleting words removes that part of the video, and moving a sentence moves the footage with it. You can also ask Underlord to make edits for you.
- Clean up the result with AI tools such as Studio Sound and Remove Filler Words, and add captions.
- Export the file, or publish a shareable link.
Descript Pricing and Plans
Descript has a Free plan and three paid plans. Hobbyist costs $16, Creator costs $24 and Business costs $50, each per person per month. These match the yearly-billing prices on Descript's pricing page, and monthly billing costs more. Enterprise pricing is custom. Media hours count the video and audio you upload or record.
AI credits pay for AI features such as Underlord and Studio Sound. Hobbyist exports 1080p video, while Creator exports 4K. Business adds Brand Studio and priority support. The screenshot shows Individual, Team and Enterprise plans only.
| Plan | Price | Billing | Main Features and Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hobbyist | $16 per person / month | Yearly | 1 person included; 10 media hours and 400 AI credits per month; 1080p export, no watermark |
| Creator | $24 per person / month | Yearly | Team of 3 (billed separately); 30 media hours and 800 AI credits per month; 4K export, no watermark |
| Business | $50 per person / month | Yearly | Team of 5 (billed separately); 40 media hours and 1,500 AI credits per month; Brand Studio, priority support |
| Enterprise | Custom | Not stated | Media hours and AI credits sized to your team; SOC 2 Type II, SSO, SCIM, audit logs; custom legal terms |
| Free | $0 | Not applicable | 1 media hour per month; 100 AI credits (one time); 720p export with watermark |
Is Descript Free?
Yes. Descript has a Free plan, and you do not need a credit card to start. It includes 1 media hour per month and 100 AI credits. The credits are a one-time amount, not a monthly one. Exports are 720p with a watermark, and Underlord and the other AI tools have limited use. Paid plans export without a watermark.
Descript Key Features
Text-Based Editing
Descript makes a transcript of your recording. You edit the video by editing the words. Deleting a word cuts that moment, and moving a sentence moves the matching footage. A timeline is also available for finer control.
Underlord AI Co-Editor
Underlord is Descript's AI assistant. You type what you want, such as cutting a recording down to two minutes or adding stock media to placeholders. It can also write scripts and make many edits at once. Free plan access is limited.
Studio Sound and Filler Word Removal
Studio Sound removes background noise and improves voices with one click. Remove Filler Words finds sounds like "um" and "ah" and cuts them. Studio Sound uses AI credits, and the Free plan has limited access.
Captions and Translation
Dynamic captions are animated captions with stock or custom styles. Descript can translate captions into 61 languages and dub audio in 30 languages. Translation proofread, which lets you review the translated script, is included on Business among the self-serve plans.
Rooms for Remote Recording
Rooms records podcasts and video with remote guests. Up to 10 participants can be recorded at once. Recording hours depend on the plan, from 2 hours on Free to 25 hours a month on Business.
AI Speech and Avatars
Users can make a voice clone of their own voice or pick a stock AI voice to turn text into speech. Descript also has an avatar gallery with over 35 avatars. Users can make avatars from a text prompt or an uploaded image. Access depends on the plan.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Lets you edit video by editing a transcript, with a timeline available when you need it.
- Covers recording, editing, captions and publishing in one tool.
- The Free plan does not require a credit card.
- Paid plans export video without a watermark.
Cons
- The Free plan includes only 1 media hour per month and exports 720p video with a watermark.
- AI features use credits, and monthly credits are limited to 400, 800 or 1,500 depending on the paid plan.
- Seat limits are small. Hobbyist includes 1 person, and Creator and Business add teammates for a separate charge.
- Among the self-serve plans, only Business includes translation proofread and priority support with a service level agreement.
Popular Descript use cases
Podcast Editing
Record guests in Rooms, edit the transcript and publish an episode with clips.
Marketing and Product Videos
Teams can edit product demos and marketing videos by changing text, then add captions and brand layouts.
Clips From Long Videos
Underlord can pick moments from a webinar or interview and make shorter clips for social platforms.
Tutorials and Training Videos
Users can record their screen, clean up the audio and add captions to make how-to or learning videos.
Frequently asked questions
Is Descript free?
Yes. Descript has a Free plan with no credit card needed. You can record, edit and publish for free. Exports are 720p with a watermark, and you can move to a paid plan when you need more media hours, AI credits or watermark-free export.
What are the limits of the Descript Free plan?
The Free plan includes 1 media hour per month and 100 AI credits, given one time. Video exports are 720p with a watermark. Uploads can be up to 1 GB, cloud storage is 5 GB, and Rooms recording is 2 hours. Underlord and the AI tools have limited use.
How large can Descript uploads be?
Maximum upload size depends on the plan. It is 1 GB on Free, 10 GB on Hobbyist, 20 GB on Creator and 50 GB on Business. Formats such as Apple ProRes are available on Creator and Business.
What languages does Descript support?
Descript can transcribe recordings in 25 languages. It can translate captions into 61 languages and dub audio in 30 languages. Access to translation tools is limited on the Free plan.
Is Descript secure enough for teams?
Descript says it is SOC 2 Type II certified and GDPR compliant. Enterprise plans add SSO, SCIM, audit logs and AI and data controls, including an opt-out of training. Check the plan terms and Descript's privacy policy before uploading sensitive recordings.
