Descript Review: Features, Pricing & a Flexible Alternative

Quick Summary

Descript is a powerful AI-driven editing tool, but its pricing, workflow restrictions, and learning curve may not fit every creator’s needs.

In this review, we break down Descript’s key features, pros, and cons while introducing Cleanvoice, a more affordable, flexible option for both audio and video creators.

And even if you are a podcaster or editor, this guide will help you decide which tool best suits your workflow.

For more insights and tips, be sure to visit the Cleanvoice blog.

How Descript Fits into Your Editing Workflow

Descript is a powerful, AI-driven tool that simplifies audio and video editing. And while it is packed with advanced features, it may not be the best fit for everyone.

In that case, is there any additional option out there for you to try?

In this Cleanvoice review, we’ll answer that question for you, while also breaking down Descript’s features, pricing, and the pros and cons of using it.

Let’s dive in!

What Is Descript?

Descript is an AI-powered editing tool that makes editing audio and video as easy as editing text.

Instead of manually cutting waveforms, it helps you easily edit videos as a Word document by transcribing your recordings and allowing you to cut, rearrange, or delete sections simply by editing the text. This makes it intuitive for beginners while offering deep features for professionals.

Apart from simple editing, Descript includes AI enhancements like automatic filler word removal, voice cloning, and screen recording. These features streamline workflows but also come with some limitations.

For instance, the automated edits aren’t always perfect. Additionally, the AI-generated voice cloning has ethical considerations, such as unauthorized voice replication, deepfake risks, and data privacy issues.

On top of that, Descript's design prioritizes its own ecosystem, meaning if you want to use your projects in other software, you'll need to export them first. This can be a hassle for people who prefer working with traditional DAWs.

Key Features of Descript

  • Text-Based Editing: Edits audio and video by modifying a transcript. Descript automatically transcribes recordings, allowing you to cut, rearrange, or delete sections as if editing a text document.
  • Overdub (AI Voice Cloning): Generates synthetic voice recordings by training an AI model on a speaker’s voice. This allows you to correct mistakes or add new dialogue without re-recording, though accuracy depends on training data quality.
  • Studio Sound: Enhances audio quality by reducing background noise and improving vocal clarity. While useful, this AI-driven tool can sometimes create an artificial-sounding effect, especially in complex audio environments.
  • Multitrack Editing: Edits multiple tracks within a single project. Descript aligns audio and video tracks automatically, though complex projects may need external DAW (digital audio workstation) adjustments.
  • Screen Recording: Captures on-screen activity with integrated webcam and microphone recording. This makes creating tutorial and presentation simple, but offers fewer advanced editing options compared to dedicated recording software.
  • Collaboration Tools: Allows multiple users to edit and comment on projects in real-time. Cloud-based storage ensures access from different devices, but can introduce syncing issues with large files.
  • Automatic Captions & Transcriptions: Generates subtitles and transcriptions with AI. While generally accurate, you may still need to manually correct the results, particularly for technical or accented speech.
  • Ease of Adding Visuals: Descript provides a built-in stock media library, from where you can easily drag and drop visuals into your videos. This makes it particularly useful for creators who want to enhance engagement without using separate editing software.

Pricing

Descript has four pricing plans, each catering to different levels of use:

  • Free Plan ($0/month): Includes 1 transcription hour per month, 720p video exports with watermarks, and limited trial access to basic AI features.​
  • Hobbyist Plan ($19/month per person): Provides 10 transcription hours per month, 1080p watermark-free exports, 20 uses per month of the Basic AI suite (including features like Filler Word Removal and Studio Sound), and 30 minutes per month of AI speech.​
  • Creator Plan ($35/month per person): Offers 30 transcription hours per month, 4K watermark-free exports, unlimited use of both Basic and Advanced AI suites (including features like Eye Contact and Translate Captions), 120 minutes per month of AI speech, and unlimited access to a royalty-free stock library.​
  • Business Plan ($50/month per person): Includes 40 transcription hours per month, unlimited access to the full Professional AI suite (including Translate Captions with correction), 300 minutes per month of AI speech, and the ability to add free Basic seats for collaboration.​

The above plans are billed monthly. With annual billing, you can save up to 35%.

Descript also offers an Enterprise Plan with custom pricing and features tailored for larger teams, including Single Sign-On (SSO), dedicated account representatives, and live onboarding and training.

For non-profit organizations and educational institutions, Descript provides a discounted plan at $5 per user per month, offering features similar to the Hobbyist plan with a 4-hour monthly transcription limit.

What We Like

  • User-Friendly Interface: Descript's intuitive design allows you to edit audio and video as easily as editing text, streamlining the content creation process.​
  • Efficient Filler Word Removal: The platform automatically detects and removes filler words, enhancing the clarity and professionalism of recordings.​
  • Versatile Overdub Feature: Descript's Overdub allows you to correct or add dialogue without re-recording, saving time and maintaining consistency.​
  • Positive User Experiences: Companies like HubSpot have successfully integrated Descript into their workflows, highlighting its effectiveness in professional settings.

What We Don't Like

  • Performance Issues: Some users have reported that Descript can be resource-intensive, leading to occasional slowdowns or crashes, especially on less powerful systems.​
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features: While basic functions are straightforward, mastering Descript's advanced tools may require additional time and effort for first-time users.​
  • Transcription Accuracy Variability: Although generally reliable, Descript's transcription feature may occasionally misinterpret names or accents, necessitating manual corrections.​
  • Limited Mobile Support: The absence of a mobile app restricts on-the-go editing capabilities, which could be a drawback for content creators seeking flexibility.​

A More Flexible and Cost-Effective Option: Cleanvoice

Now, to answer your question, in addition to Descript, you can try out Cleanvoice as a more affordable and flexible option that works with any DAW you want to use for editing.

Cleanvoice is an AI-powered audio editing tool designed to enhance podcast production by automatically removing filler words, mouth sounds, background noise, and silences. Unlike platforms that need significant system resources, Cleanvoice operates efficiently, minimizing performance issues and ensuring a smoother editing experience.

With also considering the steep learning curve associated with advanced editing features, our platform offers a clear interface that simplifies complex tasks. Its user-friendly design enables both beginner and pro podcasters to navigate the platform with ease, saving tons of time and effort required to produce high-quality content.

While transcription accuracy can vary across tools, Cleanvoice focuses on automating the removal of filler words, background noise, and other unwanted sounds, thereby improving audio clarity without extensive manual intervention. But wait, there’s more.

Cleanvoice seamlessly integrates with various DAWs, providing flexibility for users to incorporate it into their existing workflows.

Trusted by over 15,000 podcasters, Cleanvoice has become a valuable asset in the podcasting community. Its efficient performance, user-friendly interface, and seamless DAW integration make it a practical choice for content creators seeking to enhance their audio quality without overhauling their current processes.

Key Features

  • Filler Words Remover: Detects and removes filler words like “um,” “uh,” and “you know” in multiple languages. This improves speech clarity without requiring manual cuts, though occasional context-dependent errors may need you to review them.
  • Mouth Sound Remover: Identifies and removes unwanted mouth noises, such as lip smacks and clicks. This ensures cleaner audio without affecting speech quality, though extreme filtering can sometimes make audio sound slightly unnatural.
  • Stutter Remover: Analyzes speech patterns to remove stuttering while preserving natural pacing. This helps speakers sound more fluent without requiring manual intervention.
  • Deadair Remover: Trims excessive silence between words or sentences while keeping natural pauses intact. This speeds up dialogue flow, making conversations sound more engaging without abrupt cuts.
  • Background Noise Remover: Reduces ambient noise such as keyboard clicks, traffic sounds, and room echoes. This improves audio clarity, though it may struggle with complex noise environments.
  • Podcast Transcription: Generates AI-powered transcriptions for podcasts and other spoken content. While generally accurate, manual corrections may be necessary for accents or technical terms.
  • Podcast Mixing: Balances audio levels and normalises loudness across multiple speakers. This ensures consistent volume, reducing the need for manual mixing adjustments.
  • Breath Remover: Detects and removes excessive breathing sounds from recordings. This enhances audio polish without distorting speech.
  • Integrations: Works seamlessly with external DAWs, allowing users to apply Cleanvoice’s AI-powered tools without disrupting their existing editing workflows.

Pricing

We offer flexible pricing with both pay-as-you-go and subscription options:

  • Free Trial: You can try the service for free with no credit card required.
  • Pay as You Go (One-Time Purchase, Credits Valid for 2 Years):
    • 5 hours – $11 ($2.20/hour)
    • 10 hours – $20 ($2.00/hour)
    • 30 hours – $45 ($1.50/hour)
  • Subscription (Monthly, Credits Roll Over Up to 3x Limit):
    • 10 hours – $11 ($1.10/hour)
    • 30 hours – $30 ($1.00/hour)
    • 100 hours – $90 ($0.90/hour)

The subscription plans offer a lower per-hour cost, with unused credits rolling over for up to three times the monthly limit. The pay-as-you-go option is ideal for occasional users who prefer flexibility, as credits remain valid for two years.

Additionally, our Custom Plan is designed for businesses needing 200+ hours of audio processing per month, offering custom API integrations, priority support, and flexible pricing.

All plans provide access to Cleanvoice’s full suite of features, with VAT not included.

Why Choose Cleanvoice?

1. Cost-Effective Pricing Structure

Cleanvoice offers a flexible pricing model that caters to various needs, making it a more affordable option compared to Descript.

You can choose between pay-as-you-go plans, starting at $11 for 5 hours ($2.20 per hour), or subscription plans, such as $11 per month for 10 hours ($1.10 per hour). This allows you to pay only for the services you need, and nothing extra.

2. Seamless Integration with Existing Workflows

Unlike Descript, which may require you to adapt to a new platform, Cleanvoice integrates smoothly with various DAWs. This compatibility lets you incorporate Cleanvoice's AI-driven features into your current editing processes without overhauling your established workflows.

3. Efficient Filler Word and Stutter Removal

Cleanvoice specializes in detecting and removing filler words, stutters, and mouth sounds from audio recordings.

This targeted functionality streamlines the editing process, allowing content creators to produce polished audio without manually sifting through recordings. Our clients have noted significant time savings and improved audio quality as a result.

4. User-Friendly Interface with Minimal Learning Curve

We’ve designed Cleanvoice keeping simplicity in mind, offering an intuitive interface that reduces the learning curve typically associated with advanced audio editing tools. This accessibility enables both beginner and experienced users to efficiently navigate our platform and use its features without extensive training.

Earl Flormata, known as the Evil Marketing Genius, highlights how Cleanvoice's straightforward design has streamlined his podcast editing tasks, making the process more manageable.

5. Focused Feature Set for Audio Enhancement

While Descript offers a broad range of features, including video editing and transcription, Cleanvoice concentrates more on audio enhancement (although it does have other features).

This focused approach ensures that resources are dedicated to refining tools that improve audio quality, such as background noise removal and dead air elimination. Users seeking specialized audio editing solutions may find this focus more aligned with their needs.

Take a More Streamlined Approach with Cleanvoice

While Descript excels in certain areas, such as AI-driven video editing, Cleanvoice focuses on high-quality audio cleanup, offering a more flexible solution for podcasters and audio professionals.

Cleanvoice focuses on AI-powered audio cleanup, removing filler words, mouth sounds, and background noise while integrating seamlessly into existing workflows. With flexible pricing and an intuitive interface, it’s a practical choice for those who need high-quality results without switching platforms.

Join 15,000+ podcasters who trust Cleanvoice for effortless audio editing—try it today!