What it does
Descript is an audio and video editor built around transcription. It transcribes your recording, and you edit the media by editing the text: delete a sentence from the transcript and it is cut from the audio or video.
It also covers recording, including screen recording and remote recording, and adds AI features such as Studio Sound for cleaning up audio, filler word removal, captions and an AI co-editor called Underlord.
Who it's for
Podcasters, video creators, educators and teams who record and edit spoken content.
Key features
- Automatic transcription and text-based audio and video editing
- Screen recording and remote recording
- Captions and subtitles
- Studio Sound to reduce background noise, plus filler word and retake removal
- Underlord, an AI assistant for editing tasks
- Clips, translation and AI speech features, depending on the plan
Based on Descript's website and pricing page, checked September 30, 2026. Features and plan inclusions change, so check the official site.
Pros and cons
- Editing by transcript is approachable if you are new to video editing
- Recording, editing, captions and audio cleanup in one tool
- A free plan to try it
- Paid plans for individuals and small teams
- The free plan exports at 720p with a watermark and has limited media time
- Plans cap monthly media hours and AI credits
- Transcripts and AI edits still need checking, especially names and technical terms
- Complex visual effects may still need a traditional video editor
Practical use cases
- Editing podcasts by cutting the transcript rather than the waveform
- Recording and editing screen-share tutorials and product demos
- Adding captions to videos for social media
- Creating short clips from longer episodes or interviews
Pricing
Pricing checked September 30, 2026. Annual billing offers lower monthly-equivalent rates; monthly billing costs more. Prices and plan details can change.
- Free: $0, with 60 media minutes a month and 720p export with a watermark
Billed annually (per person, monthly-equivalent rate):
- Hobbyist: $16/month
- Creator: $24/month
- Business: $50/month
- Enterprise: custom pricing
Billed monthly (per person):
- Hobbyist: $24/month
- Creator: $35/month
- Business: $65/month
- Enterprise: custom pricing
Descript says annual billing saves up to 35% compared with monthly billing. Plans differ in media hours, AI credits, export resolution and storage. Check Descript's official pricing page for current prices and limits before you sign up.
How it compares to alternatives
Descript edits recordings you already have, while Pictory generates videos from text. For AI voiceovers without recording, see ElevenLabs and our guide to using ElevenLabs for AI voice content.
Editorial view: Descript is worth evaluating if most of your content starts as recorded speech, such as podcasts, interviews, tutorials or talking-head videos. It is less suited to projects that rely on complex visual effects or detailed motion graphics.
This overview is based on Descript's published product information and pricing, checked September 30, 2026. It does not describe hands-on testing.
Want to try it yourself?
The best way to judge fit is to test it on a real piece of your own work.