Descript vs ScreenFlow

Descript

• Podcasters and video creators who prefer editing a transcript to a timeline
• Cleaning up interview and talking-head recordings with AI tools
• Turning long recordings into short captioned clips

ScreenFlow

• Mac users making software tutorials and product demos
• Trainers and teachers who record and edit in one app
• Buyers who want a one-time license instead of a subscription

Descript

• The Free plan is limited to 60 media minutes a month, a one-time 100 AI credits and watermarked 720p exports.
• Paid plans cap monthly usage too: 10 media hours and 400 AI credits on Hobbyist, 30 and 800 on Creator, 40 and 1,500 on Business.
• Hobbyist covers 1 person; Creator scales to a team of 3 and Business to 5, each person billed separately.
• There are no mobile apps: phones, iPads and Chromebooks are not officially supported, and the desktop app needs macOS 14 or Windows 11.

ScreenFlow

• ScreenFlow runs only on macOS; there is no Windows version.
• ScreenFlow 10 is a paid upgrade for owners of earlier versions, and the $199 license allows one activation.
• The Stock Media Library is a separate $99-a-year subscription, and its purchases and renewals are non-refundable.
• The Mac App Store version gets no upgrade discounts and has sandbox limits on some virtual cameras.

Descript

Text-based editing

Recordings are transcribed automatically, and deleting or rearranging words in the transcript makes the same cut in the audio or video.

Underlord AI co-editor

An AI assistant that carries out editing tasks on a project. Its use draws on the plan's AI credits.

Studio Sound and filler-word removal

Studio Sound uses AI to remove background noise, and filler words can be detected and cut from a recording.

Screen recording and Rooms

Record your screen inside Descript, or use Rooms to record remote guests.

Clips, captions and translation

Turn long recordings into short clips, add captions and subtitles, and translate content into dozens of languages.

AI voices and Eye Contact

Create a clone of your voice or use stock AI voices, and correct gaze with Eye Contact. These AI features consume AI credits.

ScreenFlow

Simultaneous recording

Record the screen, a camera and a microphone together and in sync, across several apps in one session. Supported UVC capture cards can be used as sources.

Timeline editing

Multi-track editing with nested clips, markers and color labels, plus transitions, text and video animations, freehand annotations and multi-channel audio.

iPhone and iPad recording

Record the screen of an iPhone or iPad from the Mac to make app demos.

Styles, templates and titles

Styles and templates speed up editing a series of similar tutorials, and a customizable title library adds branded titles.

Captions and export

A caption editor adds, edits and burns in subtitles. Export presets cover MP4 and ProRes, along with animated GIF and animated PNG.

Stock Media Library

An optional $99-a-year subscription that puts stock images, audio and video clips in a tab inside ScreenFlow projects.

Descript

• Free$0

  60 media minutes per month, 100 one-time AI credits and 720p export with a watermark.

• Hobbyist$16

  per person / month, billed annually ($24 monthly)

  1 person, 10 media hours and 400 AI credits per month, and 1080p export without a watermark.

• Creator$24

  per person / month, billed annually ($35 monthly)

  Up to 3 people, 30 media hours and 800 AI credits per month, and 4K export without a watermark.

• Business$50

  per person / month, billed annually ($65 monthly)

  Up to 5 people, 40 media hours and 1,500 AI credits per month, and 4K export.

• EnterpriseCustom

  Custom pricing with single sign-on, SCIM provisioning and dedicated support.

ScreenFlow

• ScreenFlow$199

  one-time purchase

  A license for ScreenFlow 10 with one activation and free self-help support. New major versions are paid upgrades.

• ScreenFlow Super Pak$275

  one-time, with the first year of Stock Media Library

  ScreenFlow plus the Stock Media Library at $76 for its first year instead of $99 a year. Shown against a crossed-out $298.

• ScreenFlow Super Pak +$325

  one-time, with a first year of stock media and support

  ScreenFlow, the Stock Media Library and Premium Support ($59 a year) with priority email replies. Shown against a crossed-out $357.

Descript

• Annual discount

  Save up to 35% with annual billing

  Descript's pricing page says annual plans save up to 35% over monthly. Hobbyist is $16 per person per month billed annually versus $24 billed monthly.

• Education

  Education plan from $8 per editor / month

  Students, educators and administrators at accredited institutions can apply for Hobbyist features at $8 per editor per month paid annually, or $12 paid monthly.

• Nonprofit

  Nonprofit plan from $8 per editor / month

  Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) or equivalent charitable status can apply for the same rate: Hobbyist features at $8 per editor per month paid annually, or $12 paid monthly.

ScreenFlow

• Other savings

  Upgrade pricing for owners of earlier versions

  Owners of ScreenFlow 8 or 9 can move to version 10 for $79, and owners of versions 4 to 7 for $119, instead of buying a new $199 license.

• Other savings

  Volume discounts from 10 copies

  Telestream publishes a volume price table for ScreenFlow 10 that lowers the unit price for orders of 10 to 20 copies and again for 21 or more.