How to Cancel Descript 2026 — Video Editing Subscriptions You Don't Need

Updated March 2026 • 6 min read

Descript's text-based video editing was revolutionary when it launched — edit video by editing a transcript. But at $24-33/month, the novelty wears off when you realize that CapCut (free) now has AI-powered editing, DaVinci Resolve (free) is industry-standard, and even YouTube has a built-in editor for basic cuts.

How to Cancel Descript

Log into descript.com
Go to Settings → Billing
Click Cancel Subscription
Complete the cancellation flow
Export your projects before canceling (File → Export)

Your projects are accessible on the free tier after canceling, but with limitations on export quality and AI features. Export your final videos before downgrading.

Descript Pricing

Free: 1 hour transcription/month, watermarked exports, 720p
Hobbyist ($24/month): 10 hours transcription, 4K export, AI features
Professional ($33/month): 30 hours transcription, team features, priority support
Business ($40/month/user): Enterprise features, advanced permissions

Free Alternatives That Actually Work

CapCut (free): AI-powered editing, auto-captions, templates, exports to 4K — handles 90% of what most Descript users need
DaVinci Resolve (free): Professional-grade color grading, audio, and editing — used in Hollywood, completely free
YouTube Studio Editor (free): Basic trimming and cuts for YouTube content
Canva Video (free tier): Simple video editing with templates, good for social content
OpenShot (free, open source): Desktop video editor, unlimited tracks, no watermark
macOS: iMovie (free): Pre-installed on every Mac, handles basic editing well

For Descript's Key Features Specifically

Text-based editing → CapCut: Has AI-powered transcript editing now
Auto-transcription → Whisper (free, open source): OpenAI's Whisper is more accurate and completely free to run locally
Filler word removal → CapCut or manual edit: CapCut detects and removes filler words
Screen recording → OBS (free): Industry-standard, more powerful than Descript's recorder
AI voice cloning → ElevenLabs free tier: Better quality voice cloning with a free tier
Podcast editing → Audacity (free) or GarageBand (free on Mac): Both handle podcast audio editing perfectly

✅ The honest take: Descript's text-based editing is genuinely innovative and saves time for podcast/video editors who do heavy interview editing. If you edit 10+ hours of talking-head content per month, the $24/month may pay for itself in time savings. For everyone else — social media clips, YouTube videos, basic content — CapCut + DaVinci Resolve does it all for free.

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Quick Cancel Guide: Descript

Direct cancel link + step-by-step instructions

How to Cancel Descript 2026 — Video Editing Subscriptions You Don't Need