Descript - AI Video & Audio Editor for Creators
Edit videos and audio as easily as text. AI-powered transcription, voice cloning, noise removal, and collaboration. Free tier available. Join 100K+ creators.
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About Descript
Descript is a revolutionary audio and video editing platform that transforms how creators edit media. Instead of traditional timeline-based editing, Descript transcribes your audio and video automatically, allowing you to edit media by simply editing the text transcript—as easy as editing a document. With advanced AI features like voice cloning (Overdub), AI-powered background removal, studio-quality sound enhancement, and filler word removal, Descript makes professional-quality production accessible to everyone from podcasters to marketing teams. The platform supports 25+ languages, includes unlimited access to royalty-free stock media, and features Underlord, an agentic AI co-editor that can handle editing tasks autonomously. Beyond transcription and editing, Descript offers AI speech generation, video avatars, automated captioning, and generative video creation with customizable AI models. Teams can collaborate in real-time, share projects with custom branding, and publish directly to web or social platforms.
Pricing
Free tier with 1 hour media/month + 100 AI credits (one-time). Hobbyist at $16/mo (annual) or $24/mo (monthly) with 10 hours media + 400 AI credits. Creator at $24/mo (annual) or $35/mo (monthly) with 30 hours media + 800 AI credits + 4K export. Business at $40/mo (annual) or $50/mo (monthly) with 40 hours media + 800 AI credits + team collaboration. Enterprise pricing custom. Annual plans offer 10-35% savings.
Key Features
- Text-Based Video Editing: Edit media by editing text transcripts automatically generated from audio/video files, eliminating complex timeline interfaces
- AI Voice Cloning & Overdub: Create custom voice clones and use text-to-speech to synthetically generate audio, edit words by typing, with Regenerate feature to match mouth movements
- Studio Sound & Noise Removal: AI-powered audio enhancement that removes background noise, improves voice clarity, and removes filler words automatically
- Underlord AI Co-Editor: Agentic video co-editor that can autonomously perform editing tasks based on text instructions
- Green Screen & Eye Contact: AI tools to remove/replace backgrounds and correct gaze to appear as if looking directly at camera while reading script
- Generative Media & Avatars: Generate B-roll tailored to content, create video avatars to present without being on camera, with customizable styles
Pros
- Intuitive text-based editing interface dramatically reduces learning curve vs. traditional video editors
- Comprehensive AI toolkit (20+ features) built-in; no need for multiple specialized tools
- Powerful collaboration features with real-time editing and instant notifications
- Generous free tier with 1 hour transcription and limited AI feature access
- Professional output quality: 4K export, unlimited stock media, flexible media minute pools
Cons
- Media minutes and AI credits can deplete quickly for heavy users; cost opacity makes budgeting difficult
- Transcription accuracy issues with strong accents, technical jargon, and specialized terminology
- Feature parity issues: some advanced features locked behind higher tiers
- Requires stable internet connection; limited offline capability
- Steep learning curve for feature-rich Underlord and generative model selection
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Descript and how does it work?
Descript is an AI-powered video and audio editor that transcribes your media automatically, then lets you edit by simply editing the text transcript—just like editing a document. Changes to the text automatically sync to the video/audio.
Does Descript have a free plan?
Yes, Descript offers a free plan with 1 media hour per month, 100 one-time AI credits, 720p export with watermark, and limited access to AI features. Paid plans start at $16/month (annual billing).
Can I clone my own voice with Descript?
Yes, Descript's Overdub feature (now called Regenerate) lets you create a custom voice clone. Once created, you can edit your recordings by typing—it will synthetically generate the audio with your voice and match mouth movements to the audio.
What languages does Descript support for transcription?
Descript supports automatic transcription in 25+ languages including English, Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Japanese, and many others. Speaker detection works across supported languages.
Is Descript available on mobile or desktop apps?
Descript is a web-based platform accessible via browser. There are no native mobile apps for iOS or Android, and no standalone desktop applications. You need an internet connection to use it.
What is Underlord and what can it do?
Underlord is Descript's agentic AI co-editor that can autonomously perform video editing tasks based on text instructions. It has limited availability on lower tiers but full access on Creator and Business plans.
How does the media minutes system work?
Media minutes are deducted when you upload or record audio/video in Descript. Uploading a 1-hour video = 60 media minutes consumed. Multiple files for the same content count separately, so a 2-person interview uploaded as two separate audio files = 120 media minutes, not 60.