Descript Review: The AI Video & Podcast Editor That Lets You Edit Like a Doc

Descript has become one of the most talked-about tools in the content creation space, and for good reason. It's not just another video editor-it's a fundamentally different approach to editing that treats your media like a text document. Upload a video, get a transcript, and edit by deleting or rearranging words. It sounds almost too simple, but after digging into the platform extensively, I can tell you it actually works.

But is it right for you? That depends on what you're trying to do, how much you're willing to pay, and whether you can tolerate some of the platform's quirks. Let's break it down.

What Is Descript?

Descript is an AI-powered video and podcast editing platform that takes a text-first approach to media editing. Instead of scrubbing through timelines like you would in Premiere Pro or Final Cut, you work directly with a transcript. Delete a word from the transcript, and it cuts from your video. Rearrange sentences, and your footage follows.

The platform combines transcription, video editing, audio enhancement, screen recording, and AI voice cloning into one tool. It works on Mac, Windows, and has a web version for accessing projects from anywhere. There's no mobile app yet, which is worth noting if you need on-the-go editing.

Companies like Spotify, The New York Times, and HubSpot use Descript, and it holds a 4.6-star rating on G2 with over 800 reviews. So it's not just hype-real teams are getting real work done with it.

Descript Pricing: What You'll Actually Pay

Descript offers five tiers, from free to enterprise. Here's the breakdown:

If you're just testing the waters, the free plan gives you 1 hour of transcription and basic editing capabilities. But here's the catch: exports are watermarked (except for one per month), and video resolution caps at 720p. You'll burn through that hour fast if you're just playing around, so treat it as a trial rather than a working solution.

For serious use, most creators land on the Creator plan at $24/month (annual) or $35/month. It unlocks 4K exports, 30 hours of transcription, and unlimited access to both Basic and Advanced AI features including Eye Contact correction, caption translation, and the full editing suite.

The Business plan makes sense for teams producing content multiple times per week. You get 40 transcription hours, collaboration features, and priority support.

Education and non-profit organizations can access a special $5/month plan with Creator-level features and 4 hours of transcription-a solid deal if you qualify.

Need more transcription hours? You can purchase top-ups at $2 per hour on Creator and Business plans.

One important change to note: Descript recently shifted from a transcription-hours-based system to a Media Minutes and AI Credits system on newer plans. Media Minutes count every file you upload (so if you upload three camera angles of a one-hour podcast, that's three hours of media minutes). AI Credits power features like Studio Sound, Eye Contact, and Green Screen. If you're on an older Legacy or Sunset plan, you're still on the previous system until you upgrade.

For a deeper dive into the numbers, check out our Descript pricing breakdown.

Core Features: What Descript Actually Does Well

Text-Based Video Editing

This is Descript's killer feature. Upload your video, and it generates a transcript automatically in seconds. From there, you edit the video by editing the text-delete words, cut sentences, rearrange paragraphs. The video updates to match.

For podcasters, YouTubers, and course creators who deal with talking-head content, this is genuinely faster than traditional timeline editing. No more scrubbing through footage to find the part where you said "um" for the fifteenth time. Just search the transcript, highlight, delete.

The catch? Transcription accuracy hovers around 95%, which means you'll still need to correct errors manually. For clear audio in quiet environments, it's quite good. For interviews with multiple speakers or noisy backgrounds, expect more cleanup work.

Filler Word Removal

Descript automatically identifies filler words like "um," "uh," "like," and awkward pauses. One click removes them from your video. This feature alone saves hours of editing time for anyone who records unscripted content.

The AI is smart enough to remove the audio and video together, so you don't end up with weird jump cuts. It's not perfect-sometimes it removes words you actually wanted-but it's easy to undo specific cuts.

Studio Sound

Recording in less-than-ideal conditions? Studio Sound uses AI to remove background noise and enhance voice clarity. It won't turn a terrible recording into studio quality, but it can make a decent recording sound significantly better. Think of it as an intelligent noise gate plus EQ that works automatically.

This is particularly useful for remote interviews, home office recordings, or anyone who doesn't have access to professional recording equipment.

Overdub (AI Voice Cloning)

Overdub lets you create an AI clone of your voice. Record about 90 seconds of training audio, and Descript builds a voice model. Then you can type new words and have them spoken in your voice-useful for fixing mistakes, adding missing lines, or making corrections without re-recording.

The quality is surprisingly good, especially for short insertions that blend with real audio. It won't fool anyone for extended passages, but for fixing a flubbed word mid-sentence, it works. Descript uses Lyrebird AI for voice synthesis, and they've improved it significantly since launch.

Free and Creator accounts get a trial version with a 1,000-word vocabulary limit. Pro accounts get unlimited vocabulary. You can only clone your own voice (for obvious ethical reasons), and Descript requires consent verification during setup.

Underlord (AI Co-Editor)

Underlord is Descript's AI assistant that can help with various editing tasks. You can ask it to remove filler words, create clips from your content, suggest edits, write scripts, or even generate entire videos from prompts. It's like having an assistant who knows the software inside and out.

Released in a major update, Underlord represents a shift from basic AI features to an intelligent agent that can execute entire workflows. Tell it "polish this podcast episode for publishing" and it can apply Studio Sound, remove filler words, add captions, and suggest social media clips-all in sequence.

The feature is still maturing, and users report mixed results with complex requests. Some praise Underlord's ability to handle tedious multi-step tasks, while others find it limited by its inability to work with custom layouts or complex visual edits. For straightforward tasks like "remove all pauses longer than 2 seconds" or "create 5 clips for social media," it works well. But if you have custom branding or complex visual styles, Underlord may not recognize or preserve them.

Underlord offers multiple AI model options-you can choose faster models for quick tasks or premium models that use more AI credits but deliver better results. The feature continues to improve as Descript adds capabilities based on user feedback.

Automatic Captions

Descript generates captions directly from your transcript, which you can then customize with different styles, fonts, and animations. It supports 26 languages for transcription including English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Polish, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Finnish, Czech, Slovak, Croatian, Hungarian, Romanian, Turkish, Catalan, Latvian, Lithuanian, Slovenian, Malay, and Hindi (in beta).

For translation and dubbing, Descript supports even more languages-over 30 total including Bulgarian, Filipino, Indonesian, Russian, Tamil, Ukrainian, and many others. This makes it particularly valuable for creators looking to reach international audiences.

The captions sync perfectly with your content since they're generated from the same transcript you're editing. This is particularly valuable for social media content, where most viewers watch without sound.

Screen Recording

Built-in screen recording with webcam overlay. Nothing revolutionary here, but having it integrated means you can record directly into a project and start editing immediately without importing files from another tool.

Collaboration Features

Real-time collaboration that works like Google Docs. Multiple team members can edit simultaneously, leave comments on specific parts of the transcript, and see changes live. Even non-users can leave comments on shared projects, which is great for client feedback without requiring them to buy a subscription.

What's Not Great About Descript

No tool is perfect, and Descript has some real limitations you should know about:

Performance Issues

Users consistently report slowdowns with larger projects or those with multiple media tracks. The text-based interface is snappy for simple edits, but complex projects can lag. If you're used to the responsiveness of professional editors like Final Cut or Premiere, this will feel sluggish at times.

Descript recommends at least 8GB of RAM and 20GB of free disk space for optimal performance. Systems with outdated GPU drivers or lower-end processors may struggle, especially with 4K footage. Some Windows users report frame rate issues during recording and playback, particularly when power settings aren't optimized for performance.

Learning Curve

Despite the "edit like a document" pitch, there's still a learning curve. The interface does things differently than traditional editors, and that can be frustrating when you're trying to do something specific. Some users find basic features hard to locate, and the frequent updates sometimes change where things are.

Not for Advanced Video Editing

Descript lacks pro video features like keyframing, advanced effects, or precise multitrack control. It's designed for content creators who need to get videos done fast, not filmmakers crafting cinematic productions. If you need advanced color grading, motion graphics, or complex compositing, look elsewhere.

Transcription Accuracy Varies

While the 95% accuracy claim holds for clear audio, real-world results depend heavily on audio quality, accents, and background noise. Plan to spend time correcting transcripts, especially for interviews or recordings with multiple speakers.

Some AI features like filler word detection and Overdub work better with English transcripts. Multi-language support is improving, but English remains the most fully-featured option.

AI Credit Consumption

Some users find their AI credits deplete faster than expected. Features like Studio Sound (10 credits), Eye Contact (10 credits), and Green Screen (15 credits) all draw from your monthly allowance. If you're editing multiple videos per week, you might burn through credits quickly on lower-tier plans.

No Mobile App

Descript is desktop and web only. No iOS or Android app exists for mobile editing or on-the-go review.

Underlord Limitations

While Underlord shows promise, it has notable limitations. It can't recognize or work with custom layouts and transitions-if you've created custom branding or specific visual styles, Underlord may overwrite them with default options. Some users report that Underlord sometimes claims "success" but doesn't actually complete the requested task, or simply tells you to do it manually. For editors who rely on precise custom styles, Underlord isn't yet reliable enough to trust with finished projects.

Who Should Use Descript?

Podcasters: The text-based editing approach was practically designed for podcast production. Edit long conversations quickly, remove filler words automatically, and clean up audio without touching a waveform.

YouTube Creators: Especially those making talking-head content, tutorials, or commentary. The ability to edit by transcript speeds up production significantly.

Course Creators and Educators: If you're producing training videos or educational content, Descript's workflow makes it easy to create polished videos without extensive editing skills.

Marketing Teams: Creating quick social clips, demo videos, and promotional content. The collaboration features make team production smoother.

Anyone who hates traditional video editing: If timeline-based editing has always felt tedious or confusing, Descript's document-style approach might finally make video editing accessible.

Who Should Skip Descript?

Professional Video Editors: If you're already proficient in Premiere, Final Cut, or DaVinci Resolve and need advanced features, Descript will feel limiting.

Filmmakers and Cinematographers: The lack of keyframing, effects, and precise control makes it unsuitable for cinematic work.

Those needing perfect transcription: If your workflow requires 100% accurate transcripts without manual correction, Descript's AI transcription won't cut it.

Budget-conscious occasional users: The free plan is too limited for real work, and paid plans add up if you're only editing occasionally.

Descript vs. Competitors: How Does It Stack Up?

Descript isn't trying to replace Premiere Pro or Final Cut-it's a different tool for a different job. But understanding how it compares to alternatives helps you make the right choice.

Descript vs. Adobe Premiere Pro

Premiere Pro is the industry standard for professional video editing, starting at $22.99/month with a Creative Cloud subscription. It offers advanced timeline editing, motion graphics integration with After Effects, and professional color grading tools.

Descript wins on speed for talking-head content, ease of use for beginners, and AI-powered features like filler word removal and voice cloning. Premiere wins on advanced features, effects capabilities, and integration with the Adobe ecosystem.

Use Premiere when you need precise visual control and professional effects. Use Descript when spoken word is the primary element and you want to edit fast.

Descript vs. DaVinci Resolve

DaVinci Resolve offers a shockingly capable free version and a Studio version for $295 (one-time purchase). It's known for industry-leading color grading, Fairlight audio tools, and professional finishing capabilities.

DaVinci excels at color correction, visual storytelling, and complex multi-camera shoots. Descript excels at transcript-based editing, AI audio enhancement, and rapid content production.

The learning curve for DaVinci is steep-it's built for professionals who need deep control. Descript is accessible to beginners. If you're creating cinematic content, DaVinci is the better choice. For podcasts and social media, Descript is faster.

The Hybrid Approach

Many creators use both: Descript for initial rough cuts and cleanup, then export to a traditional editor for finishing touches. This workflow combines the speed of text-based editing with the polish of professional tools.

If you're exploring other video editing options, check out our guides on best video editing software and free video editing software.

System Requirements and Technical Considerations

Before committing to Descript, make sure your system can handle it. Performance issues often stem from not meeting recommended specs.

Minimum Requirements

• Mac: macOS 10.13 or later (macOS 10.14+ required for computer audio recording)
• Windows: Windows 10 64-bit or later (Windows 10 Version 1903+ required for screen recorder)
• RAM: 8GB minimum
• Storage: 20GB free space recommended
• Browser: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, or Opera (Chrome-based browsers work best for web version)

Performance Tips

Descript works best when you keep at least 20GB of free disk space, close memory-intensive apps while editing, and keep your GPU drivers updated. Windows users should set their power mode to "Best performance" rather than "Balanced" for optimal recording and playback.

Some users report that browser extensions like Grammarly can interfere with Descript's transcript editor, causing slowdowns. Disabling text-interaction extensions can improve performance.

If you experience blank scenes, playback issues, or visual glitches, enabling "Force software video decoding" in settings can help, especially for systems with Intel Arc GPUs or other compatibility issues.

Real User Experiences: What People Are Actually Saying

To get beyond marketing materials, I've looked at what actual users report across review sites and forums.

The Good

Users consistently praise the time savings from text-based editing. Podcasters report cutting editing time by 50-75% compared to traditional audio editors. The filler word removal feature is frequently cited as worth the subscription alone.

Studio Sound impresses users recording in less-than-ideal conditions. Multiple reviewers mention being able to produce professional-sounding content from home offices without acoustic treatment.

The collaboration features get high marks from teams. The ability to share projects with clients who can comment without needing accounts streamlines the feedback process.

The Frustrations

Performance complaints are common, especially from users working with longer videos or complex multi-track projects. Some report the software becoming "unusably slow" with files over 30 minutes.

Transcription accuracy varies more than the 95% claim suggests. Users with accents, technical jargon, or multiple speakers report spending significant time correcting transcripts.

The AI features draw mixed reactions. While many love the automation, others find Underlord unreliable for complex tasks and frustrated that it sometimes claims success without actually completing work.

Some long-time users express concern about frequent pricing changes and feature limitations that push them toward higher-tier plans. The shift from transcription hours to Media Minutes meant some users found their usage patterns suddenly more expensive.

Getting Started with Descript

Ready to try it? Here's the quick start path:

1. Sign up for a free account at Descript (no credit card required)
2. Download the desktop app for Mac or Windows
3. Create a new project and import a video or start recording
4. Wait a few seconds for automatic transcription
5. Start editing by working with the transcript
6. Use the Underlord AI assistant to speed up common tasks
7. Export when done

The free plan gives you enough to evaluate whether the text-based workflow clicks for you. Just keep in mind you'll hit limits quickly if you're doing anything beyond basic testing.

Tips for New Users

Start with short videos (under 10 minutes) to get comfortable with the interface. The transcript editing feels intuitive for simple cuts but takes practice for more complex rearrangements.

Take time to correct the transcript before doing heavy editing. A clean transcript makes the editing process much faster and helps you avoid confusion later.

Experiment with keyboard shortcuts-they dramatically speed up workflow once you learn them. The "C" key for corrections and quick delete actions become second nature.

If you're using Underlord, start with simple requests and check the results. Give it clear, detailed instructions about what you want, and treat it like a junior editor who needs supervision.

The Bottom Line

Descript represents a genuinely different approach to video editing, and for the right use case, it's transformative. Podcasters and content creators who spend hours cleaning up talking-head footage will find it dramatically faster. The AI features-from filler word removal to voice cloning-are practical tools that save real time.

But it's not for everyone. Professional editors will miss advanced features. The performance can lag on complex projects. And the pricing adds up if you're producing content at scale.

If you create content where the spoken word is the star, Descript is worth trying. Start with the free plan to see if the workflow fits, then upgrade when you hit the limits. For most content creators, the Creator plan at $24/month (annual) hits the sweet spot of features and value.

The text-based editing paradigm isn't just a gimmick-it's a fundamentally faster way to work with dialogue-heavy content. Whether that speed advantage justifies the cost and limitations depends entirely on your content type and production volume.

Try Descript free and see if text-based editing works for you.

Looking for screen recording specifically? Check out our roundups of best screen recording software and free screen recording software.