Descript

Editor reviewed

Edit video and podcasts by editing their transcript, with AI audio cleanup and clips

4.0(1 review)Freemiumdescript.comUpdated 20 Oct 2026

About Descript

Descript is a video and audio editor in which you edit media by editing its transcript. When you record or import a file, Descript transcribes it automatically. Deleting words from the text removes the matching audio and video, and a timeline is available for finer control. It is used for podcasts, YouTube videos, screen recordings, interviews and marketing clips.

Best for

Podcast editing
Talking-head and interview video
Turning long recordings into short clips
Transcription-driven editing
Podcast editing: Edit episodes from the transcript, clean up audio and remove filler words.
YouTube video trimming: Cut talking-head videos by editing the script text.
Social clips from long recordings: Turn webinars and interviews into short clips with captions.
Screen recordings and tutorials: Record the screen, trim mistakes and add captions.
Localized video: Translate and dub videos into other languages on the Business plan.

Not ideal for

Motion graphics and visual effects
Complex multi-layer compositing
Mobile-only editing

Popular with

Podcasters
YouTube creators
Marketing teams
Course creators
Video editors
Enterprise teams

Screenshots

Key features

Text-based editing
Underlord
Studio Sound
Filler word and retake removal
AI speech and voice clones
Create clips
Recording
Translation and dubbing
Generation tools
API and MCP

Pros and cons

Pros

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

Cons

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

Pricing

Plans as listed by the vendor on 20 Oct 2026. Check their site for current prices.

See descript.com

Free

1 media hour per month and 100 one-time AI credits

Text-based editing
Limited AI tools
720p export with watermark
5GB storage

Hobbyist

$24/user/mo

10 media hours and 400 AI credits per month, 1 person

Underlord access
Studio Sound
Remove filler words
Create clips
AI speech with voice clones
1080p export without watermark
100GB storage

Creator

Business

$65/user/mo

40 media hours and 1,500 AI credits per month, up to 5 seats

Brand Studio
Translation and dubbing in 30+ languages
Custom avatars
Top-ups
Priority support with SLA
4K export
2TB storage

Enterprise

Custom/custom

Contact sales; media minutes and AI credits sized to the team

SSO and SCIM
SOC 2 Type II
Audit logs
Custom data retention
Custom legal terms
Dedicated customer success manager

Our ratings

Scored out of 10 by the Finder Atlas editorial team.

8.5overall

Text-Based Media Editing: 9.4
Studio Sound Enhancement: 8.6
Ease of Use: 8.8
Feature Breadth: 8.4
Value for Money: 7.3

Platforms

Web
macOS
Windows
API

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Release history

Underlord AIAug 8, 2026
Underlord AI Assistant Launch
Automated video editing assistant.
- Underlord AI
- Eye contact fix

Reviews

4.0

Based on 1 review

Alex
2026-11-06
4 out of 5
Editing audio by changing the transcript text feels natural, and filler-word removal saves a lot of time on podcast edits. Exports can be slow on longer projects.

Frequently asked questions

How does text-based editing work in Descript?

Descript transcribes your recording automatically. When you delete or move words in the transcript, the matching audio and video is cut or moved, and you can switch to a timeline for finer edits.

Is Descript free?

Yes, there is a Free plan with 1 media hour per month, 100 one-time AI credits, 720p export with a watermark and 5GB of storage. Paid plans start at $24 per month, or $16 per month billed annually.

Which plan removes the watermark?

Hobbyist, at $24 per month, exports without a watermark at up to 1080p. Creator and Business export at up to 4K.

What are media hours and AI credits?

Media hours limit how much audio and video you can transcribe each month. AI credits are spent on AI features such as Underlord edits and generation. Creator and Business plans can buy top-ups.

Does Descript run on my computer or in the browser?

Both. There is a web app and a desktop app that requires macOS 14 (Sonoma) or Windows 11 or newer. Descript does not list a mobile app.

Does Descript have an API?

Yes. Descript has an HTTPS API for importing media, running Underlord edits and publishing projects, plus an MCP server for AI assistants. Usage consumes your media minutes and AI credits, and requests return a 402 error when you run out.