Best for: Editing by transcript
Descript edits audio and video by editing the transcript: delete a sentence in the text and it is gone from the recording. It records too, including remote guests, and includes clean-up tools such as Studio Sound and filler-word removal. Plans are priced per person: Hobbyist is $24 a month ($16 billed yearly) for 10 media hours, Creator $35 ($24) for 30 hours and 4K export.
Pricingofficial pricing page ↗
- Free: Free
- Hobbyist: $24/mo ($16/mo billed yearly)
- Creator: $35/mo ($24/mo billed yearly)
- Business: $65/mo ($50/mo billed yearly)
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Prices as of October 13, 2026
Pros
- ✓Edit audio and video by editing a document
- ✓Studio Sound, filler-word removal and clip creation built in
- ✓A free plan to try it on a real episode
Cons
- ✗Priced per person, so a team pays for each editor
- ✗Media hours and AI credits are capped each month
Key Differentiator
The tool that made text-based editing mainstream; SquadCast, the remote recorder, is now part of it.
Best for: Remote video interviews
Riverside records remote interviews in up to 4K video and 48kHz audio, with each guest on a separate track, then lets you edit by transcript and cut clips. Pro is $35 a month ($24 billed yearly) with 15 hours of separate-track downloads; Grow, $45 ($34), adds live streaming and hosting for two shows. There is a 14-day free trial rather than a free plan.
Pricingofficial pricing page ↗
- Pro: $35/mo ($24/mo billed yearly)
- Grow: $45/mo ($34/mo billed yearly)
- Webinar: $99/mo ($79/mo billed yearly)
- Business: Custom pricing
Prices as of October 13, 2026
Pros
- ✓Up to 4K video and 48kHz audio, each guest on their own track
- ✓Text-based editing and clips in the same tool
- ✓Live streaming and podcast hosting on Grow
Cons
- ✗No free plan, only a 14-day trial
- ✗Separate-track downloads are capped each month (15 hours on Pro)
Key Differentiator
Built around the remote video interview, from recording to clips.
Best for: Free remote recording
Zencastr now sells one self-serve plan, and it is free: up to 6 participants in 4K video, separate audio and video tracks, unlimited transcription, 4 seats and up to 5 shows, with hosting included. Larger teams talk to sales for a custom Enterprise plan.
Pros
- ✓Free, with separate tracks and 4K video
- ✓Hosting and editing tools included
- ✓Up to 5 shows and 4 seats
Cons
- ✗No published paid plan between free and Enterprise
- ✗Six participants at most on the free plan
Key Differentiator
The most generous free plan for recording remote guests.
Best for: Audio-only remote interviews
CleanFeed is a browser-based studio for live, broadcast-quality remote audio, used by radio and audio producers. The free Lite plan allows commercial use with 2 guests and unlimited recording time in mono. Pro, $36 a month for businesses or $23 at its subsidised rate, adds up to 32 guests, multitrack recording, stereo and audio repair.
Pricingofficial pricing page ↗
- Lite (Free): Free
- Pro: $36/mo
- Cinema: $2500/yr billed annually
Prices as of October 13, 2026
Pros
- ✓Free plan allows commercial use
- ✓Up to 32 guests and multitrack on Pro
- ✓Runs in the browser, nothing to install
Cons
- ✗No editing tools: you edit elsewhere
- ✗Free plan records in mono
Key Differentiator
Built for live audio quality rather than video.
Best for: Beginners who want it done simply
Alitu is an all-in-one podcast maker for people who do not want to learn audio editing: it records, cleans up the sound automatically, helps you assemble the episode and publishes it, with hosting included up to 1,000 downloads a month. One show is $38 a month ($32 billed yearly) after a 7-day trial; Alitu's team will also edit for you from $295 a month.
Pricingofficial pricing page ↗
- Standard (1 show): $38/mo ($32/mo billed yearly)
- Two shows: $63/mo
- Hands-off editing service: $295/mo
Prices as of October 13, 2026
Pros
- ✓Automatic clean-up and levelling
- ✓Recording, editing and hosting in one place
- ✓A done-for-you editing service if you need it
Cons
- ✗No free plan
- ✗Hosting is included only up to 1,000 downloads a month
Key Differentiator
Made for non-editors: the fewest decisions between recording and publishing.
Best for: Spoken-word audio editing
Hindenburg PRO is an audio editor designed for spoken word, made for radio and podcast journalists, and now edits by transcript as well as by waveform. Standard is $12 a month ($8.25 billed yearly); Plus ($15) and Premium ($30) add monthly transcription hours. There is a 30-day free trial.
Pricingofficial pricing page ↗
- Standard: $12/mo ($8.25/mo billed yearly)
- Plus: $15/mo ($12.50/mo billed yearly)
- Premium: $30/mo ($25/mo billed yearly)
Prices as of October 13, 2026
Pros
- ✓Designed for spoken word rather than music
- ✓Edits by transcript and by waveform
- ✓A 30-day free trial
Cons
- ✗Audio only
- ✗Transcription hours only on Plus and Premium
Key Differentiator
A professional audio editor made for speech rather than music.
Best for: Free audio editing
Audacity is the free, open-source audio editor for Windows, Mac and Linux. It records and edits multitrack audio with no subscription, at the cost of a steeper learning curve and no transcript editing.
Pros
- ✓Free and open source, on every desktop system
- ✓Multitrack recording and editing
- ✓Large community and plug-in library
Cons
- ✗No transcript-based editing
- ✗No remote recording: guests need another tool
Key Differentiator
The standard free editor.
Best for: People already using Adobe
Adobe Audition is Adobe's professional audio editor, sold as part of Creative Cloud. On its own it is US$22.99 a month on an annual commitment billed monthly, with 100 GB of cloud storage.
Pros
- ✓Part of Adobe Creative Cloud
- ✓Free trial available
- ✓100 GB of cloud storage included
Cons
- ✗Annual commitment for the advertised price
- ✗More than most podcasters need
Key Differentiator
The professional editor for people already in Adobe's tools.
Best for: Studio-grade production
Pro Tools is Avid's recording, editing and mixing software, long used in music and audio studios. Pro Tools Intro is free; the paid subscriptions are Artist at $99 a year, Studio at $299 a year and Ultimate at $599 a year, with monthly billing also offered.
Pricingofficial pricing page ↗
- Intro: Free
- Artist: $99/yr billed annually
- Studio: $299/yr billed annually
- Ultimate: $599/yr billed annually
Prices as of October 13, 2026
Pros
- ✓A free Intro version
- ✓Annual plans include Avid's Inner Circle plugins and sounds
- ✓The tool many music and audio studios use
Cons
- ✗Steep learning curve for speech-only shows
- ✗No transcript editing
Key Differentiator
What professional studios use, if you want to work the way they do.