Quick Answer
Last verified:

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
Last verified: February 2026 | Sources: 2 pricing pages and reviews
+40-60% above list price

Hidden Costs Breakdown

1

Media minutes count every uploaded file separately: uploading host audio, guest audio, cleaned audio, and video for a 1-hour podcast consumes 4 hours of media minutes, not 1 hour, making multi-file workflows up to 4x more expensive than expected

2

AI credits meter every AI operation individually: Studio Sound uses ~10 credits per application, so Hobbyist's 400 monthly credits only cover about 40 Studio Sound uses before hitting the limit mid-month

3

Top-ups for additional media minutes and AI credits are only available on Creator ($24+/month) and Business ($50+/month) plans - Free and Hobbyist users cannot purchase more when they run out and must upgrade instead

4

Per-user pricing multiplies quickly for teams: a 5-person team on Business pays $50/month x 5 = $250/month (annual) or $65/month x 5 = $325/month (monthly), as each editor seat is billed separately

5

Annual billing locks you in with up to 35% savings but requires full upfront commitment: canceling mid-year forfeits remaining months, and monthly billing costs 33-54% more ($24 vs $16, $35 vs $24, $65 vs $50 per month)

6

Foreign transaction fees for international users: Descript is US-based, potentially triggering 1-3% foreign currency conversion fees on every billing cycle for non-US customers

Example: True Cost for 25 Users

License (25 × $0 × 12) $0/yr
Implementation (one-time) +$15,000–$50,000
Premium Support (20%) +$0/yr
Training (25 × $500) +$12,500
Admin (part-time) +$15,000–$25,000/yr
Year 1 Total $25,000–$60,000
That's 1.8–2.5× the advertised license price.

Frequently Asked Questions

01 What hidden costs should I budget for with Descript?

Beyond the license fee, budget for implementation ($5K-$100K+), training ($500-$2K per user), premium support (15-20% of license), and admin costs. Most companies see 40-60% higher total cost than the listed price.

02 Does Descript charge for implementation?

Descript doesn't include implementation in the license cost. Implementation is typically done by partners and costs range from $5,000 for basic setup to $100,000+ for enterprise deployments with customization.

03 How much does Descript support cost?

Basic support is included, but premium support (faster response times, 24/7 availability) typically adds 15-20% to your annual contract. This can be thousands of dollars per year for larger deployments.

04 Are there storage costs with Descript?

Most Descript plans include limited storage. Once you exceed the included amount, you'll pay overage fees which can range from $50-$500+ per month depending on data volume.

05 What add-ons cost extra with Descript?

Many features marketed as part of Descript are actually add-ons: advanced reporting, API access, integrations, and specialized modules. Each can add $10-$100+ per user per month.

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