Descript · Desktop and web app (AI video and podcast editor)

Descript

Edit video and audio by editing the transcript, with an AI co-editor called Underlord.

Provider: Descript
Latest confirmed model: Not applicable / not verified
Pricing: Free plan + paid
Free plan: Yes
API: Limited
Status: Generally available
Last verified: Oct 19, 2026

Visit official website Pricing page API docs

What is Descript?

Descript transcribes your recordings and lets you edit the video or podcast by editing the text, like a document. Its AI tools remove filler words, improve audio (Studio Sound), create clips, generate speech with voice clones and translate or dub. Underlord is its AI co-editor, and an API entered open beta in April 2026.

Traditional timeline editing is slow and technical; Descript makes editing as easy as editing text.

Why use Descript?

Practical benefits

Text-based editing is fast to learn
Studio Sound and filler-word removal
Clips for social media
Translation and dubbing on Business

Who it suits

Podcasters
YouTubers and course creators
Marketing teams

When another tool may fit better

High-end colour grading and VFX
Generating video from scratch (see Runway or Flow)
Watermark-free output on the free plan

Learning curve: Beginner-friendly
Skills needed: None for basics.

Example workflows

Record or upload -> auto transcript -> delete text to cut -> Studio Sound -> export
Ask Underlord to make clips -> review -> publish

What can it do?

Text-based editingEdit media by editing the transcript.
Underlord AI co-editor Depends on planHobbyist gets Underlord; Creator and above get full Underlord.
AI speech with voice clones Depends on planGenerate or fix narration.
Translation and dubbing Depends on plan30+ languages with proofreading on Business.
Descript APIOpen beta since 16 Apr 2026; included for paying users, draws plan credits.

Good for

Podcast editing
YouTube and course videos
Social clips
Screen recordings
Dubbing

Where it runs

WindowsmacOSWeb

Pricing and plans

Free plan + paid Free plan with 1 media hour and 100 one-time AI credits. Hobbyist $24/month ($16 annual), Creator $35 ($24 annual) and Business $65 ($50 annual) per person add media hours, monthly AI credits and higher export quality. Enterprise is custom.

Plan	Price	Billing	Free trial / tier	Usage limits	Main inclusions	Model access	API access	Restrictions
Free	Free	per month	Free tier	1 media hour/month; 100 one-time AI credits; 720p export	Text-based editing Limited AI tools	—	No	Watermarked exports; 1 seat
Hobbyist	$24/mo $16/mo billed annually	per month	—	10 media hours/month; 400 AI credits/month; 1080p	Underlord Studio Sound Remove Filler Words Create Clips AI speech with voice clones	—	Yes (beta), some endpoints restricted	1 seat
Creator	$35/mo $24/mo billed annually Per person, up to 3 seats	per month	—	30 media hours/month; 800 AI credits/month; 4K	Full Underlord 20+ AI tools AI video generation Unlimited stock media	Latest AI video models	Yes (beta)	—
Business	$65/mo $50/mo billed annually Per person, up to 5 seats	per month	—	40 media hours/month; 1,500 AI credits/month; 4K	Brand Studio Translation and dubbing in 30+ languages Custom avatars Priority support	—	Yes (beta)	—
Enterprise	Contact provider	per year	—	Custom	SSO/SCIM SOC 2 Type II AI and data controls	—	Yes	—

Prices in USD · Global list price · Taxes may apply · Verified Oct 19, 2026

Official pricing page (opens in a new tab)

API and developer access

Official API: Limited
Documentation: API docs (opens in a new tab)
Authentication: API token from account settings
Pricing model: Included with paid plans; uses plan AI credits and media minutes
Free API quota: None documented — the free plan above (if any) is for the app, not the API
Rate limits: Not documented
Context / input limits: Not documented
SDKs: Not documented
Streaming: Not documented
Batch processing: Not documented
Structured output: Not documented
Tool / function calling: Not documented
Commercial use: See the provider terms
Data retention & privacy: See the provider privacy terms

A free Descript account is not the same thing as free API access. Unless a free API quota is listed above, API calls are billed separately.

Verified Oct 19, 2026

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages

Very easy editing model
Strong audio clean-up
API included at no extra cost for paid users

Disadvantages

Free exports are 720p with a watermark
Media hours and AI credits cap usage
API still in beta; some endpoints need Creator or higher

Privacy: Enterprise adds AI and data controls; voice clones require consent.

Real-world examples

A student editing a class presentation recording

Install Descript free
Upload up to 1 hour of media
Delete mistakes in the transcript
Export in 720p (watermarked)

free plan works

A podcaster cleaning up an episode

Subscribe to Hobbyist
Import the recording
Apply Remove Filler Words and Studio Sound
Export watermark-free audio and clips

needs paid plan

A developer automating clip creation

Subscribe to Creator
Generate an API token in account settings
Import media and ask Underlord to edit via API
Export the timeline

needs paid plan

Descript alternatives

ElevenLabs

Text-to-speech, voice cloning, transcription, music and voice agents from one platform and API.

has a free plan · offers an API

Descript vs ElevenLabs

HeyGen

Create talking-avatar videos, digital twins and translated videos from a script.

has a free plan · offers an API

Descript vs HeyGen

Synthesia

Business-focused AI video platform for training, communication and dubbing with AI avatars.

has a free plan · offers an API

Descript vs Synthesia

Runway

AI video studio offering Runway's Gen-4.5 plus partner models, with a pay-per-credit developer API.

has a free plan · offers an API

Descript vs Runway

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Frequently asked questions

Is Descript free?

Yes. The free plan includes 1 media hour per month and 100 one-time AI credits, but exports are 720p and watermarked.

What is Underlord?

Descript's AI co-editor, which can perform edits such as making clips or cleaning up recordings from instructions.

How much is Descript?

Hobbyist is $24/month ($16 annual), Creator $35 ($24 annual) and Business $65 ($50 annual) per person.

Does Descript have an API?

Yes, in open beta since April 2026. It is included for paying users and draws from plan credits; some endpoints need Creator or higher.

Can Descript translate videos?

Translation and dubbing in 30+ languages with proofreading is listed on the Business plan.

What export quality do I get?

720p on Free, 1080p on Hobbyist and 4K on Creator and Business.