This free Descript cost calculator shows what Descript will cost you per month and per year. Answer a few plain questions, and it picks the plan that fits and shows your total right away. It uses the prices on the official Descript pricing page, checked on November 3, 2026, so you can plan your budget before you sign up.
What is Descript?
Descript lets you edit video and podcasts by editing the transcript, with AI tools for cleanup and clips.
Best for: Podcasters and video creators who edit a lot of talking content.
How to use this Descript cost calculator
The calculator at the top of this page asks only what it needs to price Descript for you:
- How many hours of audio or video will each person edit a month? A rough guess is fine. If you go over what a plan includes, we add the extra where Descript lists a price for it, or point you to a bigger plan.
- How many people will edit in Descript? Count everyone who needs their own login. If a plan has a minimum or a limit, the calculator tells you.
- Choose how you pay. Tick the yearly box to see the annual price. If a plan is only sold one way, the calculator uses that price and says so.
- Read your answer. You see your best-fit plan and what it costs per month and per year. Open the plan list to compare every Descript plan at your numbers.
How much does Descript cost?
Descript starts at $16 a month at its lowest paid price, and it also has a free plan. Your bill depends on how many people need a login and how many media hours you use. Prices can change, so check the official page before you buy. The calculator above shows your total in about a minute.
Paid plans are priced per person and include media hours and AI credits. The calculator tracks media hours across your team.
| Plan | Monthly billing | Annual billing, per month | Included media hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 | 1 per seat | 100 one-time AI credits, 720p with watermark. |
| Hobbyist | $24 per seat | $16 per seat | 10 per seat | 400 AI credits a month, 1080p. |
| Creator | $35 per seat | $24 per seat | 30 per seat | 800 AI credits a month, 4K. |
| Business | $65 per seat | $50 per seat | 40 per seat | 1,500 AI credits a month, 4K. |
| Enterprise | Custom | Not listed | Custom quote. | |
What does each Descript plan include?
Descript Free
Free is free, with limits. It is for one person. It includes 1 media hours per seat a month. 100 one-time AI credits, 720p with watermark.
Descript Hobbyist
Hobbyist costs $24 a month per seat on monthly billing, or $288 a year. On annual billing it is $16 a month per seat, or $192 a year. It includes 10 media hours per seat a month. 400 AI credits a month, 1080p.
Descript Creator
Creator costs $35 a month per seat on monthly billing, or $420 a year. On annual billing it is $24 a month per seat, or $288 a year. It includes 30 media hours per seat a month. 800 AI credits a month, 4K.
Descript Business
Business costs $65 a month per seat on monthly billing, or $780 a year. On annual billing it is $50 a month per seat, or $600 a year. It includes 40 media hours per seat a month. 1,500 AI credits a month, 4K.
Descript Enterprise
Descript Enterprise has no public price, so you need a quote from the vendor.
Is Descript cheaper on monthly or annual billing?
Annual billing is cheaper on Hobbyist, Creator and Business. The largest saving is on Business, at $180 a year per seat, or about 23% off the monthly rate. The trade-off is that you commit for a full year, so try a month first if you are not sure the tool will stick.
What will Descript cost for your team?
These budgets use the lowest-priced paid plan that fits, on monthly billing and before tax. Descript plans differ in features, so check that the plan has what you need.
- One person, with 10 media hours a month in total, would pay about $24 a month on Hobbyist, or $288 a year.
- A team of 5, with 50 media hours a month in total, would pay about $120 a month on Hobbyist, or $1,440 a year.
- A team of 20, with 200 media hours a month in total, would pay about $480 a month on Hobbyist, or $5,760 a year.
When should you upgrade your Descript plan?
Upgrading makes sense when a higher limit or a feature you need is worth more than the price step. Here is what each step costs, using regular prices.
- Moving from Hobbyist to Creator adds $11 a month per seat, or $132 a year, and takes you from 10 to 30 media hours.
- Moving from Creator to Business adds $30 a month per seat, or $360 a year, and takes you from 30 to 40 media hours.
What hidden Descript costs should you watch for?
- The page shows two prices per plan without labels. We treat the higher one as monthly billing and the lower as annual.
- Free exports are 720p with a watermark.
- Top-ups are only included on Creator and Business, and their price is not listed.
How should you budget for Descript?
AI image and video tools almost always bill in credits, and credits go much faster than the plan page suggests. A short high-quality video can use as many credits as dozens of images, and failed or rejected attempts usually still count.
To budget for Descript, work out how many finished assets you need each month, then multiply by the number of attempts it takes to get one you would publish. Three to five attempts per keeper is a sensible starting guess until you have your own numbers. Enter that total in the calculator instead of the number of final videos.
How can you lower your Descript bill?
- Draft with cheaper settings or shorter clips, then render the final version at full quality.
- Write and test your prompt on stills or short clips before spending credits on long renders.
- Check whether unused credits roll over before choosing a bigger plan for one busy month.
- Batch your production into one or two sessions so you can drop to a smaller plan in quiet months.
- Compare the price of a top-up with moving up a plan, because one is often much cheaper.
What are the main Descript alternatives?
If Descript does not fit your budget, compare it with these tools. Prices are the lowest paid rates on each official page and may need annual billing.
| Tool | Lowest paid price | Free plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Descript | $16/mo | Yes | Podcasters and video creators who edit a lot of talking content. |
| Synthesia cost calculator | $14/mo | Yes | Training, onboarding and internal communication videos. |
| HeyGen cost calculator | $24/mo | Yes | Marketing, sales and localized video at volume. |
| Otter cost calculator | $8.33/mo | Yes | Individuals and teams who want searchable meeting notes. |
Descript cost FAQ
How much does Descript cost per month?
Free is $0 a month, Hobbyist is $24 per seat a month, Creator is $35 per seat a month, Business is $65 per seat a month. Enterprise is priced by quote. Prices were checked on November 3, 2026.
How does Descript pricing work?
Paid plans are priced per person and include media hours and AI credits. The calculator tracks media hours across your team.
Does Descript have a free plan?
Yes. Descript lists a $0 plan with limited usage. Check the plan table above for what it includes.
What is the cheapest paid Descript plan?
Hobbyist has the lowest regular price at $24 a month per seat. Check that its limits suit you, since the cheapest plan is not always the best value.
How much does Descript cost for a team of 5?
About $120 a month on Hobbyist, or $1,440 a year, if each person uses 10 media hours a month. Enter your own team size in the calculator for an exact figure.
Is Descript cheaper on annual billing?
Yes. For example, Hobbyist is $24 a month on monthly billing and $16 a month on annual billing, which saves $96 a year per seat.
What should I watch out for with Descript pricing?
The page shows two prices per plan without labels. We treat the higher one as monthly billing and the lower as annual. Free exports are 720p with a watermark. Top-ups are only included on Creator and Business, and their price is not listed.
How accurate is this Descript cost calculator?
It uses the prices on the official Descript pricing page, checked on November 3, 2026, and adds them up for your plan, team size and usage. Treat the result as an estimate. It leaves out tax, optional add-ons and any discount you negotiate, and prices can change.
Get your Descript cost estimate
Now put in your own numbers. The Descript cost calculator at the top of this page gives you a figure in about a minute. Use it before you pick a plan, then check the official page, since prices change. Still deciding? Compare other AI tools.
Source and last checked date
These prices come from the official Descript pricing page, last checked on November 3, 2026. Prices can change, so confirm on that page before you buy.
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