What is Descript?
Descript is a unique video and podcast editing platform that takes a text-first approach. Instead of scrubbing through timeline to make cuts, you edit a transcript—and the video follows.
The concept sounds simple but is genuinely revolutionary: Upload a video, Descript transcribes it, then you edit the text like a Google Doc. Delete a sentence? That section is cut from the video. Rearrange paragraphs? The video clips rearrange to match.
This makes Descript particularly powerful for podcasters, interviewers, and anyone working with talking-head content where the audio/transcript is the primary structure.
How Descript Works
- Upload your video/audio: Descript ingests your footage
- Automatic transcription: AI transcribes everything with high accuracy
- Edit the text: Delete, rearrange, or modify the transcript
- Video follows: Every text edit automatically adjusts the video
- Clean up: One-click removal of filler words, silence, etc.
- Export: Publish to various platforms or download
Standout Features
Text-Based Editing
The core feature that makes Descript unique. If you've ever struggled with video editing software, this is a revelation. Edit video like editing a document.
Filler Word Removal
One click removes all "ums," "uhs," "you knows," and other filler words. This single feature can save hours of tedious editing.
Overdub (Voice Cloning)
Record yourself for a few minutes, then type new words and Descript generates them in your cloned voice. Perfect for fixing mistakes or adding content without re-recording.
Studio Sound
AI-powered audio enhancement that makes home recordings sound like they were captured in a professional studio.
Screen Recording
Built-in screen recording makes Descript a complete solution for tutorial creators.
Pros & Cons
What We Liked
- Revolutionary text-based editing
- One-click filler word removal
- Excellent transcription accuracy
- Overdub voice cloning is impressive
- Great for repurposing long content
- Generous free plan
- Studio Sound improves audio quality
What Could Be Better
- Not for creating videos from scratch
- Steeper learning curve than expected
- Requires existing footage to edit
- Some features need training time
- Can feel slow with large files
Descript Pricing (January 2026)
Descript's free plan is generous—1 hour of transcription lets you meaningfully test the platform before committing. The $15/mo Creator plan is excellent value for podcasters.
Who Should Use Descript?
Perfect For:
- Podcasters editing long-form audio
- YouTubers editing talking-head content
- Interview editors working with conversations
- Course creators repurposing webinars
- Anyone who says "um" too much
Not Ideal For:
- Creating videos from scratch (use InVideo AI)
- Highly visual, non-speech content
- Quick social media clips from prompts
Final Verdict
Best for Podcast & Interview Editing
Descript isn't an AI video generator—it's an AI video editor. For podcasters and anyone working with speech-heavy content, the text-based editing approach is genuinely transformative.
Try Descript Free →Bottom line: Descript solves a different problem than tools like InVideo or Pictory. It's not about creating videos from scratch—it's about editing existing content with unprecedented ease. If you edit podcasts, interviews, or talking-head videos, Descript could cut your editing time in half.