Descript vs Synthesia

by Gralio Apr 08, 2025

Descript and Synthesia cater to different video production needs. Descript excels in detailed editing and repurposing of existing audio and video content, while Synthesia specializes in generating new videos from text using AI avatars and voiceovers. Descript is better for refining and editing existing content, while Synthesia is preferred for creating videos quickly from scratch.

At Gralio.ai we help to simplify your decision-making process by offering detailed, side-by-side software comparisons like this one, to help you confidently choose the tool that aligns with your business goals.

This comparison was created by analysing 2196 reviews and 60 websites, saving 12 hours, 42 minutes of reading.

About

Descript is a software tool that makes editing video and audio as simple as editing a text document. It allows you to make changes to recordings by deleting, inserting, or changing the transcribed text. Descript offers features such as transcription, audio and video editing, screen recording, and collaboration tools. It is suitable for various business uses like creating marketing materials, podcasts, and internal communications. Descript offers a user-friendly interface that is accessible to both beginners and experienced video editors.
Synthesia is a web-based platform that lets you create videos using AI. It allows you to generate videos from text, choose from a library of AI avatars, and add voiceovers in over 140 languages. This can be useful for creating corporate training material, marketing content, and internal communications, without the cost of traditional video production.

Summary

Main difference
Descript is a video and audio editing software that simplifies editing through text-based manipulation, making it ideal for detailed content refinement and repurposing. Synthesia focuses on AI-powered video generation from text, offering a vast library of avatars and voiceovers in multiple languages, making it suitable for quick creation of professional-looking videos.

Relative strengths of Descript (compared to Synthesia)

  • Offers superior editing capabilities for audio and video, allowing for precise control over content.

  • Provides more granular control over the final product through text-based editing.

  • More affordable for detailed editing needs, especially with longer videos.

Relative weaknesses of Descript (compared to Synthesia)

  • Limited AI avatar and voiceover options compared to Synthesia.

  • Less suitable for quick video creation from scratch.

  • Transcription accuracy can be inconsistent.

What companies are using Descript and Synthesia?

Who is using Descript and Synthesia?

Who should use Descript VS. Synthesia

Descript is ideal for content creators, especially podcasters and video editors, seeking an AI-powered editing solution. Users praise its innovative text-based editing and Studio Sound feature, while some note occasional bugs and transcription inconsistencies. Descript offers flexible pricing plans to accommodate various needs.

Synthesia is an AI video generation platform ideal for marketing and communication teams at medium to large businesses. Users praise its user-friendly interface, diverse avatars, and realistic video quality. However, some have noted occasional lip-sync issues and longer video generation times. Consider Synthesia if you need scalable, professional video content without traditional production costs.

  • Ideal for small to large businesses seeking efficient content creation.

  • Best for media, marketing, and software companies needing streamlined video and audio editing.

  • Best for medium to large businesses (100+ employees).

  • Ideal for software, IT, media, entertainment, education, and professional services.

Descript and Synthesia features

Supported
Partially supported
Not supported
Type in the name of the feature or in your own words tell us what you need

  • Filler word removal
    Supported

    Descript removes filler words like "um" and "uh" without affecting timing.

    Not supported

    Synthesia does not support automatic removal of filler words.

  • Studio sound
    Partially supported

    Studio Sound cleans up audio and removes background noise. Adding music and sound effects is done separately.

    Not supported

    Synthesia allows adding music and sound effects, but advanced noise removal is not explicitly supported.

  • Easy-to-use video editor
    Partially supported

    Descript offers transitions and animations, but keyframes are not explicitly supported.

    Not supported

    Synthesia offers an easy-to-use video editor but lacks advanced features like keyframes and transitions. Podcasts are not supported.

  • AI Transcription
    Supported

    Descript can automatically transcribe audio from videos using AI.

    Partially supported

    Synthesia does not explicitly support automatic transcription of audio from videos as a standalone feature, but it does offer related capabilities such as translating audio and generating transcripts as part of its translation features.

  • Adding effects
    Supported

    Descript allows adding sound and visual effects.

    Supported

    Synthesia supports adding effects to videos through its various customization and editing options.

  • Text placement
    Supported

    Text can be dragged, dropped and precisely positioned on the video.

    Supported

    Synthesia supports the ability to drag, drop, and precisely position text elements within the video frame.

Qualities

  • Value and Pricing Transparency
    +0.06
    Neutral sentiment
    -0.13
    Neutral sentiment
  • Customer Service
    +0.3
    Rather positive sentiment
    +0.78
    Strongly positive sentiment
  • Ease of Use
    +0.88
    Strongly positive sentiment
    +0.97
    Strongly positive sentiment
  • Reliability and Performance
    +0.16
    Neutral sentiment
    +0.53
    Rather positive sentiment
  • Ease of Implementation
    +0.81
    Strongly positive sentiment
    +0.83
    Strongly positive sentiment
  • Scalability
    +0.25
    Neutral sentiment
    +0.56
    Rather positive sentiment

Descript and Synthesia Pricing

All Descript plans offer unlimited projects and dynamic captions. The Free plan allows up to 1 hour of transcription per month, while paid plans offer more transcription hours, higher video export resolution, and access to AI features. The Business plan includes free Basic seats for collaboration.
Plans

User sentiment

Neutral
+0.06

See full Pricing page

Synthesia is an AI video creation platform offering various pricing plans. The Starter and Creator plans cater to individual users, while the Enterprise plan is tailored for businesses seeking custom solutions. All plans provide access to AI avatars, templates, and various features, with usage limits based on video minutes. Enterprise users enjoy unlimited video minutes and priority support.
Plans

User sentiment

Neutral
-0.13

See full Pricing page

Descript and Synthesia review insights

2136 reviews analysed from and

Users love

  • Innovative text-based editing, making audio and video editing as easy as editing text.
  • Studio Sound feature effectively enhances and cleans up audio quality.
  • Seamless integration with other platforms like Squadcast and Zoom.
  • Powerful AI features for filler word removal, transcription, and content repurposing.
  • User-friendly interface and easy to use
  • Vast selection of avatars and voices
  • Realistic and high-quality videos
  • Regular updates and improvements

Users dislike

  • Frequent updates can be disruptive and require re-learning the software.
  • Transcription accuracy can be inconsistent, especially with accents and technical terms.
  • Occasional bugs and glitches, particularly with larger files and video editing.
  • Limited advanced audio editing features compared to dedicated DAWs.
  • Lip syncing can be off, especially with certain accents
  • Limited control over avatar expressions and gestures
  • Video generation times can be long
  • Pricing plans can be expensive, especially for smaller businesses

Descript and Synthesia Ratings

  • G2
    4.6/5
    (532)
  • Capterra
    4.8/5
    (168)
  • Glassdoor
    4.5/5
    (17)
  • G2
    4.7/5
    (1436)
  • Glassdoor
    4.8/5
    (81)

Company health

Employee growth

9% increase in the last year
33% increase in the last year

Web traffic

18% increase in the last quarter
17% increase in the last quarter

Financing

June 2022 - $100M
September 2024 - $337M

How effectively can each platform edit pre-recorded video content?

Descript excels at editing pre-recorded video content by allowing users to edit the transcribed text, automatically reflecting changes in the video and audio. This includes removing filler words, inserting or deleting sections, and even creating clips based on selected text. Synthesia, on the other hand, is primarily designed for creating videos from text using AI avatars and voiceovers. While it offers some text and effect editing capabilities, its strength lies in generating new video content rather than extensively editing pre-existing footage. Therefore, Descript is significantly more effective for editing pre-recorded videos.

Which product offers better control over the final video's visual aesthetic?

Descript offers better control over the final video's visual aesthetic. While Synthesia focuses on AI avatar-driven videos, limiting visual customization, Descript's text-based video editing allows for precise control over elements like text placement, clip creation based on text, and filler word removal, offering more flexibility in crafting the video's appearance and flow. Descript users can manipulate the video content directly, whereas Synthesia users are more constrained by pre-built templates and AI avatar limitations.

What are the advantages of Descript?

Descript's primary advantage lies in its innovative text-based video and audio editing approach, simplifying complex editing processes. Its AI-powered features like filler word removal and transcription streamline workflows, while direct integration with platforms like Squadcast and Zoom enhances collaborative editing. Descript caters specifically to content creators, offering a more focused toolset for podcasting and video editing compared to Synthesia's broader AI video generation approach. Additionally, Descript's pricing model offers more flexibility for individual users and smaller businesses, unlike Synthesia's focus on annual subscriptions.

What are the disadvantages of Descript?

Descript's frequent updates can disrupt workflows, requiring users to relearn the software. Transcription accuracy is inconsistent, particularly with accents and technical jargon. Occasional bugs and glitches arise, especially with larger files, and advanced audio editing capabilities are limited compared to dedicated software.

Is Descript cheaper than Synthesia?

Descript's pricing starts at $12/user/month, while Synthesia's annual plans equate to $22/month for the Starter plan and $67/month for the Creator plan. Therefore, Descript's entry-level plan is cheaper than Synthesia's. However, direct comparison is difficult as the features and target users are somewhat different.

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Page co-authored by
MK
Michal Kaczor
CEO at Gralio

Michal has worked at startups for many years and writes about topics relating to software selection and IT management. As a former consultant for Bain, a business advisory company, he also knows how to understand needs of any business and find solutions to its problems.

TT
Tymon Terlikiewicz
CTO at Gralio

Tymon is a seasoned CTO who loves finding the perfect tools for any task. He recently headed up the tech department at Batmaid, a well-known Swiss company, where he managed about 60 software purchases, including CX, HR, Payroll, Marketing automation and various developer tools.

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