# Descript vs Fish Audio

> Descript: Edit video and podcasts by editing their transcript, with AI audio cleanup and clips
> Fish Audio: Expressive text-to-speech, voice cloning and speech-to-text with fine-grained emotion control

- Descript profile: https://finderatlas.com/tools/descript
- Fish Audio profile: https://finderatlas.com/tools/fish-audio
- Comparison page: https://finderatlas.com/compare/descript-vs-fish-audio
- Last reviewed: October 2026

## Verdict

Descript is listed under Video AI and Fish Audio under Audio & Speech AI. Descript scores higher in FinderAtlas's editorial review (8.5 vs 8.2 out of 10), led by ease of use. Both have a free plan or trial. Only Descript is available on Windows and macOS.

### Choose Descript if

- You want a tool built for podcast editing.
- Editing by transcript makes cutting speech content faster than a timeline alone.
- Studio Sound, filler word removal and retake removal are built in.

### Choose Fish Audio if

- You want a tool built for expressive narration and character voices, cloning a voice from a short sample, and building voice agents through an API.
- Inline emotion and non-verbal tags give direct control over delivery.
- Voice cloning from about 10 to 15 seconds of audio.

## Pricing

| | Descript | Fish Audio |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Free plan or trial | Yes | Yes |
| Starting price | $0 | $0 |

## Features

| Feature | Descript | Fish Audio |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Text-based editing | Yes | Not listed |
| Underlord | Yes | Not listed |
| Studio Sound | Yes | Not listed |
| Filler word and retake removal | Yes | Not listed |
| AI speech and voice clones | Yes | Not listed |
| Create clips | Yes | Not listed |
| Recording | Yes | Not listed |
| Translation and dubbing | Yes | Not listed |
| Generation tools | Yes | Not listed |
| API and MCP | Yes | Not listed |
| Expressive Text-to-Speech | Not listed | Yes |
| Voice Cloning | Not listed | Yes |
| Speech-to-Text | Not listed | Yes |
| Voice Library | Not listed | Yes |
| Voice Design | Not listed | Yes |
| Audio Tools | Not listed | Yes |
| Voice Agents | Not listed | Yes |
| Developer API and MCP | Not listed | Yes |
| Avatar Lipsync and Media Generation | Not listed | Yes |

## Platforms

| Platform | Descript | Fish Audio |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | No |
| macOS | Yes | No |
| iOS | No | No |
| Android | No | No |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Browser Extension | No | No |

## Descript strengths

- Editing by transcript makes cutting speech content faster than a timeline alone
- Studio Sound, filler word removal and retake removal are built in
- Includes recording, transcription, captions and clip creation in one app
- Free plan available with no credit card required
- API and MCP server allow automated editing
- SOC 2 Type II and SSO or SCIM on Enterprise

## Descript limitations

- Free plan exports 720p with a watermark and allows only 1 media hour per month
- Paid prices are $24 to $65 per month on monthly billing, with annual billing needed for the lowest rates
- Media hours and AI credits are capped, with top-ups only on Creator and above
- Desktop app needs macOS 14 or Windows 11 and there is no listed mobile app

## Fish Audio strengths

- Inline emotion and non-verbal tags give direct control over delivery.
- Voice cloning from about 10 to 15 seconds of audio.
- Permanent free tier with 8,000 credits per month.
- Separate pay-as-you-go API with published per-unit prices and an MCP integration.
- Large public voice library, reported at more than 2 million voices.
- Open-source roots in Fish Speech and OpenAudio.

## Fish Audio limitations

- No official mobile app confirmed; web and API only.
- Free plan is limited to 500 characters per generation, and its commercial-use terms are inconsistent on the plan page.
- Big price jumps between tiers: $15 Plus, $100 Pro and $999 Max per month.
- Plan page credit-per-minute estimates do not match plan figures, which makes usage hard to forecast.

## FAQ

**Is Descript better than Fish Audio?**

It depends on your workflow. Descript is built for podcast editing. Fish Audio is built for expressive narration and character voices, cloning a voice from a short sample, and building voice agents through an API.

**What are the key feature differences between Descript and Fish Audio?**

Descript: Edit video and podcasts by editing their transcript, with AI audio cleanup and clips. Fish Audio: Expressive text-to-speech, voice cloning and speech-to-text with fine-grained emotion control. Descript is rated 4.0/5 from 1 user review.

**Does Descript or Fish Audio have a free plan?**

Yes, both do. Descript is freemium and Fish Audio is freemium, and each has a free plan or trial.

**Which is cheaper, Descript or Fish Audio?**

Both can be used for free. Paid plans differ in limits and features, so compare the tiers in the pricing table above.