Descript
ActiveDescript · founded 2017
Edit audio and video by editing text.
Descript treats audio and video as editable text — delete a word and it’s cut from the recording. It is the leading tool for podcast editing, with transcription, filler-word removal, overdub (voice cloning), and studio sound. It is not a generative video tool.
At a glance
- Category
- AI Video Generation
- Primary use case
- Podcast and video editing via transcript
- Entry price
- $12/mo
- Free plan
- Free tier (limited)
- API
- No
- Open source
- No
- Evidence level
- Research / specifications only
- Last checked
- 20 Aug 2026
Pricing
Last checked 20 Aug 2026
| Free plan | Free tier (limited) |
|---|---|
| Trial | None |
| Entry price | $12/mo |
| Pro price | $24/mo |
| Usage limits | Free tier limits export/transcription hours |
Hobbyist ~$12/mo, Creator ~$24/mo. Verify tiers.
What it does
Secondary use cases
- Transcription
- Overdub voice correction
- Screen recording
Input types
Audio, Video
Output types
Audio, Video, Text
Models used
In-house + Whisper transcription
Agent capabilities Automation
Platforms
✓ Web ✓ Windows ✓ macOS — Linux — iOS — Android — Browser extension — API — CLI — VS Code — Self-hosted
Integrations
ZapierSlackPodcast platforms
Privacy & commercial rights
Data retention
Per policy
Trains on your data
No (per stated policy)
Enterprise privacy
Not disclosed
Self-hosting / local
Not available
SSO
Not disclosed
Compliance
Not disclosed
Commercial use
Permitted — Commercial use permitted
Pros & cons
Pros
- Text-based editing is fast
- Filler-word removal
- Overdub voice fix
- Free tier
Cons / trade-offs
- Not for generative video
- Watermark on free tier
Alternatives to Descript
Considering a switch, or comparing before you buy? See the full alternatives guide.