Edit by changing the text
Descript writes out everything that is said. You delete, move, or copy sentences as in a document, and the video follows. Nothing is lost: a deleted passage can be restored at any time.
AI tools · Image, video, audio
Descript pricing, use cases, and first steps
Descript is video and audio editing software. It first writes out everything said in your recording. You then edit as you would in a word processor: delete a sentence in the text, and it disappears from the video. A built-in assistant, “Underlord,” adds captions, cleans up the sound, and cuts clips when you ask it to.
Descript has a free plan. The recommended plan to start with: Free, $0. Prices checked on October 3, 2026 on the vendor’s official page.
DescriptEdit a video or podcast by editing text- Vendor
- Descript (United States)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Recommended plan
- Free, $0
- Page checked on
- October 3, 2026
What Descript does
Who it’s for: people who record webinars, interviews, how-to videos, or podcasts without having learned video editing.
Underlord, the editing assistant
You write what you want. It adds captions, switches the video to vertical format, adds zooms, adjusts the sound, or turns slides into a narrated video. You can undo what it did.
Studio sound in one click
“Studio Sound” removes background noise and echo from a recorded voice. A slider sets the strength of the correction. Useful when the take was recorded in an open-plan office or an echoey room.
Also
- Cut clips for social media
- Translate the captions and dub the voice
- Record alone or with others
- A voice created from text
- Publish with a link or to YouTube
Descript pricing
Prices in dollars, checked on October 4, 2026 on Descript’s pricing page: $16, $24, and $50 per month billed yearly, or $24, $35, and $65 billed monthly. Translation and dubbing: the pricing page mentions them only in the Business plan (“with review”); Descript’s help, reread the same day, opens them from Hobbyist (limited trial on Free), with lip sync from Creator and translation review on Business. One reading of the pricing page seemed to reserve them for Business: check in your account before paying for this. Dubbing uses a stock voice, not the original voice. Only people who edit pay. Unused minutes and credits do not roll over.
| Plan | Price | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Free Recommended to start | $0 | Trying it on one or two videos |
| Hobbyist | $16 per user per month, billed yearly ($24 billed monthly) | A few videos per month |
| Creator | $24 per user per month, billed yearly ($35 billed monthly) | Regular use, polished videos |
| Business | $50 per user per month, billed yearly ($65 billed monthly) | Teams |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing | Large organizations |
What the free plan includes
60 minutes of media per month (import or recording) and 100 credits for AI features, given one time only. Text-based editing is included; AI features are limited, and export is in 720p with a watermark.
Nova’s advice
Start for free: 60 minutes is enough to edit one or two videos and see whether the method suits you. Note that the 100 free AI credits do not renew. If you edit every month, Hobbyist is enough to begin. Choose Creator for 4K or dubbing with lip sync.
Free or paid: how usage is counted
Two monthly meters: hours of video you can import, and credits for the AI features.
A first try, in 10 minutes
Your data. Your recordings are stored in the United States. Descript states that its production systems are not trained on its users’ data.
What it does less well
- Automatic removal of “um” and filler words works only on English recordings. In other languages, you remove them by hand in the text.
- No app for phones or tablets. On a mobile device, you can only watch a preview.
Cut a sentence from a video without touching the pictureDescript- Open web.descript.com in Chrome or Edge and click “New project” at the top right.
- Import a short video: a meeting excerpt or a message filmed with your phone, two minutes at most.
- Wait for the text to appear. Read it: each word matches a moment in the video.
- Select an unneeded sentence with the mouse and press the Delete key. Restart playback with the space bar: the passage is gone.
- Click the “Underlord” icon in the right-hand bar, paste the prompt below, and watch what it does.
- Click “Export” at the top right, “Local Export” tab, to get the file.
The prompt to copy
Add readable captions at the bottom of the frame and improve the sound of my voice. Then tell me which passages you recommend cutting.
Jobs that use Descript
In the starter kit for 2 jobs.
Alternatives to Descript
CapCut
For short social media videos with automatic captions, especially from your phone.
Synthesia
If you don’t want to film yourself: a virtual presenter speaks your text.
ElevenLabs
If you are mainly looking for quality voices and dubbing, without video editing.
Canva
For simple editing based on templates, images, and animated text.
Frequently asked questions about Descript
How much does Descript cost?
Free: $0; Hobbyist: $16 per user per month, billed yearly ($24 billed monthly); Creator: $24 per user per month, billed yearly ($35 billed monthly); Business: $50 per user per month, billed yearly ($65 billed monthly); Enterprise: custom pricing. Prices checked on October 3, 2026 on the vendor’s official page.
Can you use Descript for free?
Yes. 60 minutes of media per month (import or recording) and 100 credits for AI features, given one time only. Text-based editing is included; AI features are limited, and export is in 720p with a watermark.
What happens to my data with Descript?
Your recordings are stored in the United States. Descript states that its production systems are not trained on its users’ data.
What are the alternatives to Descript?
CapCut: For short social media videos with automatic captions, especially from your phone. Synthesia: If you don’t want to film yourself: a virtual presenter speaks your text. ElevenLabs: If you are mainly looking for quality voices and dubbing, without video editing. Canva: For simple editing based on templates, images, and animated text.
Official pages consulted
Page checked on October 3, 2026. Brands are named to identify the tools. No affiliation.