How much does Descript cost in 2026?
Descript prices editing by two separate meters at once: media hours processed and AI credits consumed. A plan that looks generous on hours can still run out of AI credits first.
See where Descript sits in our full tool catalog →Descript plans
| Plan | Price range | Media / month | AI credits / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 60 minutes | 100 (one-time) |
| Hobbyist | $16–$24/mo depending on billing | 10 hours | 400 |
| Creator | $24–$35/mo depending on billing | 30 hours | 800 |
| Business | $50–$65/mo depending on billing | 40 hours | 1,500 |
Descript's own pricing page toggles between monthly and annual billing, and the two prices per plan are close enough that it is worth checking the toggle yourself rather than assuming which figure applies to a monthly, no-commitment subscription.
Media hours versus AI credits
Media hours cover how much recorded audio or video you can import and edit in a month. AI credits are spent separately on generative and assistive features such as Studio Sound cleanup, filler-word removal, eye contact correction and voice cloning. A short podcast that barely touches its media-hour limit can still burn through AI credits quickly if every episode gets full AI cleanup and a custom voice pass.
Who Descript fits
Descript suits podcast and video editing built around a transcript-first workflow: cut by editing text, remove filler words automatically, and clean up audio without touching a traditional timeline. It is an editing and post-production tool, not a generation engine for new video or images.
Where it fits your AI content budget
Descript is listed in our tool catalog for comparison and is not one of the three providers (Runway API, ElevenLabs, Black Forest Labs) this calculator ranks by project cost today. Treat its subscription as a fixed monthly production-tooling cost alongside whatever you spend generating video, images or voiceover with a supported provider.
Estimate the generated part of your podcast or video →Common questions
Does Descript's free plan include AI features?
It includes a one-time allowance of 100 AI credits rather than a recurring monthly amount, so heavier AI use requires a paid plan.
What happens if I run out of AI credits mid-month?
Editing and transcription continue to work; AI-specific features tied to credits become unavailable or require an upgrade until the next billing cycle.
Is Descript a substitute for a dedicated voice generator?
Partially. Descript's Overdub-style voice cloning covers narration touch-ups; large-scale voiceover generation is usually cheaper on a dedicated provider like the ones this calculator prices.
Sources and corrections
Plan figures come from Descript's official pricing page. Its monthly/annual toggle can be easy to misread, so confirm the exact current number for your billing choice before subscribing. Report a correction and we will update this page.