Descript Free Plan 2026: What's Included & What's Not
Honest breakdown of the free tier limits and features
Descript pricing varies by team size and features, ranging from $0 to $0 per user/month in 2026. Your actual cost depends on the tier you choose, contract length, and negotiated discounts.
Use the interactive pricing calculator to estimate your exact cost based on team size and requirements.
- Free tier: No free tier available
- Billing: Monthly and annual (save 15-20%)
- Hidden costs: Add ~35% for implementation, support, and training
Descript offers a freemium model with limited features; upgrade to unlock more.
What's Included in the Free Plan
- 60 media minutes/month
- 100 AI credits (one-time grant)
- 1080p export with watermark
- 1 watermark-free export per month
- 25-language transcription
- 8+ speaker detection
- Limited AI tools (Underlord, Studio Sound, Green Screen, Eye Contact, Filler Word Removal)
- Screen recording
- Remote recording (Rooms) - 2-5 hours/month
- 10 simultaneous participants
What's NOT Included (Paid Only)
- 600 media minutes/month (10 hours)
- 5 bonus hours annually
- 400 AI credits/month
- 1080p watermark-free export
- Basic AI suite access
- 30 minutes/month AI speech (stock or cloned voice)
- 5 minutes/month AI avatars
- All Free plan features without watermark
Free Plan Limits
| Limit | Free Plan | Paid Plans |
|---|---|---|
| Media minutes | 60/month | Unlimited/Higher |
| AI credits | 100 one-time | Unlimited/Higher |
| Export quality | 1080p with watermark (1 watermark-free/month) | Unlimited/Higher |
| Remote recording | 2-5 hours/month | Unlimited/Higher |
| Storage | 5 GB cloud storage | Unlimited/Higher |
You'll Need to Upgrade When...
- You exceed the user limit
- You need features like 600 media minutes/month (10 hours) or 5 bonus hours annually
- You require premium support or SLA guarantees
- You need to remove branding or watermarks
- You need advanced integrations or API access
Hidden Restrictions on Free Plan
- Descript branding may appear on your content or communications
- Support is limited to community forums or email with longer response times
- Export options may be restricted or include watermarks
- API access is typically limited or not available
- Advanced reporting and analytics require paid plans
Free vs Paid: Which Do You Need?
Free Plan is Enough If...
- You're an individual or very small team
- You need only basic features
- You don't mind usage limits
- Branding on output is acceptable
- Community support is sufficient
You Need Paid If...
- Your team is growing beyond limits
- You need advanced features
- Professional branding is required
- You need priority support
- Integrations/API access is critical
Free vs Hobbyist Plan Comparison
| Free $0 | Hobbyist $24/user/month | |
|---|---|---|
| Features | 10 included | 11+ included |
| Support | Community/Email | Priority Support |
| Branding | Descript branding | Your branding |
| Best For | Individual creators testing Descript or producing minimal monthly content under 1 hour | Solo creators and hobbyists producing weekly content with basic AI needs |
Frequently Asked Questions
01 Is Descript free?
Yes, Descript offers a freemium plan with 10 core features included. However, there are limits on media minutes, ai credits that may require upgrading.
02 What's included in Descript's free plan?
Descript's free plan includes: 60 media minutes/month, 100 AI credits (one-time grant), 1080p export with watermark, 1 watermark-free export per month, 25-language transcription, and 5 more features. Key limits include Media minutes: 60/month, AI credits: 100 one-time, Export quality: 1080p with watermark (1 watermark-free/month).
03 What's NOT included in Descript's free plan?
The free plan excludes: 600 media minutes/month (10 hours), 5 bonus hours annually, 400 AI credits/month, 1080p watermark-free export, Basic AI suite access. You'll also have Descript branding and limited support options.
04 When should I upgrade from Descript's free plan?
Consider upgrading when: you hit user or storage limits, need features like 600 media minutes/month (10 hours) or 5 bonus hours annually, require premium support, or want to remove branding. The cheapest paid plan starts at $24/user/month.
05 Is Descript's free plan really free forever?
Yes, Descript's free plan is available indefinitely with no time limit. However, feature and usage limits may restrict what you can do without upgrading to a paid plan.
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