Descript: The best Camtasia alternative

While Camtasia and Descript share some recording and editing features, Descript’s AI-powered tools will save you a ton of editing time — and give you the power to make a professional-grade video, as easy as editing a doc.

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Comparing Descript vs. Camtasia's features

From automatic captions and filler-word removal to live collaboration, Descript saves you hours of drudgery and gives you everything you need to make screencasts that engage and educate.

Camtasia
Automatic captions
Collaboration
Easy publishing
Filler word removal
Keyboard capture
Mouse capture
Picture-in-picture
Social clip generator
Stock media library
Studio-quality background removal
Text-based editing
Video with interactive features 
Workflows

Why trained video pros and total newbies alike choose Descript over Camtasia 

Recording & video editing

Recording and adding b-roll 

Camtasia and Descript have comparable video recording tools: you can record your screen, webcam, microphone, and system audio in either. They both let you select which part of your screen to record, and both make it easy to add b-roll.

The moment you stop recording though, Descript’s AI-powered editing will instantly start making your life easier.

Editing a mistake from your voiceover

Camtasia works like any traditional, timeline-based editing software. That means constant zooming in and out of the timeline, fiddling with waveforms, and scrubbing through the recording to find what you need.

In Descript you get an auto-generated transcript — then edit your video just like you would edit a doc. To cut part of your video, just select that text in the transcript and tap delete, and it’s gone. And you can find any clip or moment you’re looking for in seconds — just search the transcript like you would a doc.

Removing filler words

In Camtasia, like all legacy timeline editors, you have to manually cut filler words (“um,” “uh”, “like”, etc.). It can take hours.

Descript’s automatic filler word detection, on the other hand, can find and highlight filler words, so you can remove them all, all at once, with a single click. Descript will delete the words from your audio track and automatically crossfade the audio on either side, creating a pretty seamless edit — and save you a ton of time.

Recording pickups

With Camtasia, every mistake or omission in your audio will mean re-recording and splicing in the corrected version. It’s not only a hassle, it can create jarring discrepancies in the audio and video, as things like room tone and lighting shift between recordings.

Descript solves all these problems using generative AI. With Overdub, you can create a text-to-speech clone of your voice, then fix audio mistakes or add new voiceover just by typing; Overdub will match the tonal characteristics to make the new word blend right in. It’s vastly easier than re-recording.

Switching between screen & camera layouts

Changing layouts — e.g., from only your screen to only your face — is doable in Camtasia, but tricky. Every time you want to switch, you’ll have to do it manually, using layers and the blade tool, from scratch — even if you’re using the same few layouts over and over.

Descript makes it way simpler. Just record your screen and your webcam in the Descript editor; Descript will capture them as separate tracks. To change layouts you just set up each layout as a scene by typing a slash, then right click to copy your layout, and just paste it each time you want to use it.

Organization

Exporting & video hosting 

Only Descript lets you publish a shareable web page, where collaborators and colleagues can watch the video, see the transcript, and leave comments.

Collaboration

In Descript, collaboration works like Google Docs. So you can share the video without downloading, and colleagues can see edits and updates just by refreshing the page.

File management & version control

Only Descript constantly saves your files to the cloud. That means you don’t have to worry about saving constantly to avoid losing changes. And you can see and revert to previous versions.

AI tools & editing features

Green screen

Remove your background with a click, then put yourself in any setting you can imagine.

Studio Sound

Descript’s AI-powered voice-regeneration tool will make even the lowest-quality audio sound like it was recorded in a studio.

Text-based editing

Descript makes trimming a screen recording (or any video) as easy as editing a doc.

Pricing

Comparing Descript vs. Camtasia's pricing

To get everything you get in Descript, you’d have to buy a subscription to Camtasia (for recording and editing), Audiate (for transcription services), and pay for access to Camtasia’s Asset Library. That doesn’t include Camtasia support beyond your first year.

Descript Pro gives you all that functionality at less than half the cost

A Descript Pro subscription gives you full access to all Descript’s features, stock media library, and AI editing firepower.
Total annual cost
$288
Free
$0
1 hr transcription / month
One watermark-free video export / month
720p video export resolution
Filler word removal for "um"s and "uh"s
Basic
$12 per user / month
10 hrs transcription / month
Unlimited watermark-free video exports / month
4k video export resolution
Filler word removal for "um"s and "uh"s
Pro
$24 per user / month
30 hrs transcription / month
Unlimited watermark-free video exports / month
4k video export resolution
Filler word removal for 18 filler words and repeated words
Enterprise
Custom
Everything in Pro plus…
Dedicated account representative, Single sign on (SSO), Overdub Enterprise, Descript Service Agreement, Security Review, Invoicing, Onboarding & training
To get everything you get in Descript, you’d have to pay for a Camtasia subscription, Audiate, and Camtasia’s Asset Library.
Total annual cost
$800 (before discounts)
Individual
$299 per user / year
Business
$299 per user / year
Education
$212.99 per user / year
Government and non-profit
$269.99 per user / year
Audiate
$299.99 per user / year
TechSmith Assets for Camtasia
$199.99 per user / year
Summary

So, what is the best screencast tool?

Camtasia is a handy tool, but Descript does everything Camtasia does, and arms you with these incredibly useful AI-powered tools, for less than half the cost.

That’s why the overall winner is Descript. The screen recording options may be mostly the same, but that’s the easy part of making video. As soon as you stop recording, Descript makes it easier to make a better video, faster. Editing is just more intuitive, even more fun, than in Camtasia.

​​”Descript is an extremely simple, yet powerful video editing tool. It enabled me to create amazing developer interviews. Creating a new video by combining sections from these separate videos was as simple as copy/ pasting its transcript into a word processor. It worked like a charm!”

”For hypergrowth companies, customer education has to be fast and accurate before anything else. Descript is probably the tool with the highest impact on our speed of delivery: accurate transcription, instant voice-over generation and easy edits. As for the Overdub feature - I’ll let you discover it.”

Riverside lets you record. Descript lets you record, edit, and publish all-in-one.

Record in studio-quality with Descript’s remote recording studio, and then transcribe, edit, and publish in minutes with our AI-infused editor that's as powerful as it is easy to use.

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Record in studio-quality, from anywhere

Descript has all the remote recording capabilities you need to look and sound your best.

4K Quality
Descript records locally, so you get studio-quality audio and video every time.
Uncompressed Audio
Record locally uncompressed 48kHz WAV audio for you and every guest.
Progressive Uploads
We continuously upload everyone’s audio & video to the cloud as soon as you hit record.
Separate Tracks
Get separate audio and video tracks for you and your guests for more editing control.
Easy for Guests
Guests can join your session with a single click. No downloads or hardware required.
Works on Mobile
Join recording sessions right from your phone’s web browser.

Why are people switching from Riverside to Descript?

Ditch all the extra software and cost

Riverside's editing tools are so basic that most of the time you'll also need an expensive tool like Pro Tools, Hindenburg, or Reaper. With Descript you only need Descript. It puts all your recording and editing tools in one place, all for one price.

Edit your recordings like you edit a doc

Delete words to trim them your recordings. Or write over existing words to fix misspeaks. You can also enhance audio and remove filler words with 1-click.

AI: your otherworldly creative partner

Here’s some stuff you can’t do with Riverside: Instantly fix mis-matched tone in a speaker’s voice. Remove your ums and ahs with 1-click. Change your background with green screen. And lots of other insanely useful stuff; all with Descript’s AI tools.

Record + edit podcasts. For one price.

Remote recording is built into Descript’s world-class editing suite for no additional cost. Turns out you don’t need three different subscriptions to make your content look and sound great.
Riverside
Recording time
30 hours
15 hours
Maximum resolution
4K
4K
People recorded in a single session
10
8
Uncompressed 48kHz WAV audio
Progressive uploads for each guest
Separate video tracks for each guest
Separate audio tracks for each guest
Automatic transcriptions
Producer role
Mobile support
Multi-track timeline editor
Studio sound
Filler word removal
Eye contact correction
Overdub for generative audio
Green screen background
Stock media library
Comments & notifications
Total monthly cost (Pro plan)
$24 per user / month
$24 per user / month

Let’s tackle some common questions.

Can Descript actually replace Riverside and editors like Pro Tools or Hindenburg?

Descript was built for exactly that. It contains your entire podcast workflow, from recording to editing to publishing. Record remotely. Use the timeline or Descript’s easy transcript editor to polish your audio and video. Then share with collaborators to get real-time feedback and comments. Then export or publish directly to your platform of choice.

Can you really edit without touching the timeline?

You sure can. One of the things that makes Descript special is its ridiculously easy transcript editor. You can add, delete, and rearrange words or entire sections just like in a doc. Then, like magic, the edits are reflected in your audio or video. But hey — if you want to work in the timeline, you can use that too. We’re flexible.

Does Descript have a mobile app?

Descript lets you record your podcast, or video, through your phone’s web browser. And it doesn’t take up space on your phone. Plus, it’s easier for your guests—they don’t have to install anything just to be on your show.

What if I like my traditional timeline editor?

As simple as Descript may be, it’s just as powerful. You can save serious time with our smart script editor. But we know flexibility is important and sometimes you wanna get into the nitty gritty. So Descript has a fully-featured, multi-track timeline editor too. Best of both worlds. Learn more about our timeline editor.

Descript compared
to OpusClip
Both give you AI-powered clip creation. But only Descript gives you intuitive creative tools to make clips that stand out.
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OpusClip: AI makes clips for you.
Descript: you make clips with AI.
AI clips are nice because they’re quick and easy. But when you let AI create for you, you get generic clips — because it’s trained on what others have done.

In Descript, you’re in control. AI finds your good clips, then you use Descript’s intuitive editing — and your creativity — to make them great.
In a sea of sameness, make clips that stand out
Preset templates let you make clips fast. But you sacrifice quality and originality — the qualities that make clips stand out on social feeds.

With Descript there’s no sacrifice. You can choose from hundreds of templates or create your own, then add your creative flourish and customize to your heart’s content. So when they see your clips, they’ll know it’s you.
Start making clips that pop
Your AI-powered clip maker's toolbox
Lightning-fast clip creation
No waiting 30+ minutes to get your clips. Descript’s AI makes them in less than a minute.
Stay in the flow, keep creating
You don’t have to walk away from your content to wait for an email reminder, then pick up where you left off. Your clips appear right there in Descript, when and where you’re in flow.
Underlord: Your AI editing assistant
Underlord is the heart of Descript's AI-powered clipping (and so much more). It transforms raw ideas into polished content at record speed, tackling every content creation challenge.
Learn more ->
Ready-made viral (maybe) clips
Descript's AI identifies your video's most compelling moments based on your keywords. Then it creates engaging, share-ready clips with auto-generated captions, customizable templates, and speaker focus. Just export and go.
Beyond clips: highlight reels
A Descript exclusive – AI automatically identifies and assemble the key moments in your long-form content, from intro to conclusion, setting up a tight supercut that tells the story and saves you hours of editing.
How they stack up
Basics
Cost
$30/mo
$29/mo
Processing
30 hrs/mo
5 hrs/mo
AI video clips
AI video highlight reel
Video quality
4k
4k
Unlimited edit & download
30-day limit for unsaved projects
Editing
Specify clip length
Add focus keywords
Animated captions
Active speaker focus
Filler word & silence removal
Fully-powered multi-track editor
Access to stock media library
Add music & sound effects
Add shapes and waveforms
Edit for Clarity
Studio Sound
Eye contact correction
Green screen background removal
Templates & layout
Pre-designed stock templates
Support for common aspect ratios
Unlimited custom templates
Customizable aspect ratios
Publishing & export
Social media title & description generator
Export to Adobe Premiere + DaVinci Resolve
Collaboration
Add unlimited team members
Comments for feedback
Real-time collaborative editing
Frequently asked questions
What platforms can Descript create short-form video for?
Yes, but it’s 30 hours per month. Are you really recording people talking for more than 30 hours a month? What’re you, the FBI? Anyway, if you need more than 30 hours, see below.
Can I purchase additional transcription hours?
By default, the Descript Creator plan has a monthly transcription limit of 10 hours per user. The Descript Pro plan has a monthly transcription limit of 30 hours per user. This helps us moderate demand and ensure a fast turnaround for everyone.

If you’re looking for a permanent change to your monthly hours, you can increase your transcription limit at $2 per hour here.

If you need a set amount of hours added to a given month, e.g., for a backlog of work coming through the pipeline, submit a request here and we can add hours as a one-time boost to your account at a rate of $2.50 per hour.
What is the difference between free and Pro plans for using AI voices?
On free plans, AI voices have 1,000-word vocabularies. For words outside of those, you get jibber-jabber instead. On Pro plans, the AI voices have unlimited vocabulary. So you can make them say any word you want. Grab a dictionary and go nuts.
Does Descript accept traveler’s checks?
No.
How are subscription payments processed?
Descript Pro and Creator plan subscriptions are processed automatically to the credit card you provide, according to your selected billing cycle. If you need custom invoicing options (such as ACH transfer) can reach out to our Enterprise team.
How do I cancel my subscription?
You can easily cancel your subscription from your Descript subscription page. You can also delete your account and permanently wipe your data from our servers.
Get started for free
Our free plan shows you what Descript can do no credit card required. When you need more horsepower, paid plans start at $12 per month.

 Record and edit in a single tool

Riverside gives you high-quality recording. Descript gives you the highest-quality recording, plus automatic transcription and editing powered by AI, plus total precision and complete control over the way your video looks and sounds.

Most of the best podcasts use Descript

More than one way to record
Capture video at the highest quality. Or stick with the familiarity of Zoom. Either way, you’ll be ready to start editing as soon as you hit stop.
Rooms: the highest-quality recording for precision editing
In Descript Rooms you can record up to 10 people in crystal-clear audio and 4K video. Plus you capture locally and in the cloud for total reliability.
Learn more
Zoom: record where you know
Descript is the only editor integrated with Zoom—so if you’re already recording in Zoom, no problem. Just open your recording in Descript and start editing.
Learn more
Edit your recordings like you edit a doc
Use your backspace key to make cuts. Fix audio mistakes just by typing. Descript makes editing video and audio as easy as editing text.
An AI assistant that knows how to make a podcast
Underlord can make an instant rough cut or clean up your audio. It can help you brainstorm or refine your ideas. It can write your show notes or find your most promising social clips. All so you spend less time on tedious stuff and have more for creative stuff.
Play video
Built for all creators, from aspiring to professional
You don’t have to be a pro to edit a podcast in Descript. But if you are, hoo boy—use text editing and AI for a quick rough cut, then get dirty in the timeline with a full set of professional-grade tools.
Why are people switching from Riverside to Descript?
LustCast - Tommie
@GetLustCast
”Thanks to @DescriptApp for buying @SquadCastFM - saved me $30 a month on Riverside. Could you buy @auphonic next? 🙈🙈🙈”
Joe Casabona 🎙️⚙️
@jcasabona
“While Riverside does have its own editing tool, it's nowhere near as good as @DescriptApp
norma
@NormanChella
“I’ve always had a pro @DescriptApp account and thought about getting my own @SquadCastFM to restart my own shows. And hallelujah, it’s now included in my subscription at no extra cost. I love SquadCast!
Record + edit podcasts. For one price.
High-quality, reliable recording. Easy, quick rough cuts. Timeline precision for those details only you will notice. Turns out you don’t need three different tools to make your podcast look and sound great.
Riverside
Recording time
30 hours
15 hours
Maximum resolution
4K
4K
People recorded in a single session
10
8
Uncompressed 48kHz WAV audio
Progressive uploads for each guest
Separate video tracks for each guest
Separate audio tracks for each guest
Automatic transcriptions
Multi-track timeline editor
Studio sound
Filler word removal
Eye contact correction
Overdub for generative audio
Green screen background
Stock media library
Comments & notifications
Total monthly cost (Pro plan)
$24 per user / month
$24 per user / month
Frequently asked questions
Can Descript actually replace Riverside and editors like Pro Tools or Hindenburg?
Descript was built for exactly that. It contains your entire podcast workflow, from recording to editing to publishing. Record remotely. Use the timeline or Descript’s easy transcript editor to polish your audio and video. Then share with collaborators to get real-time feedback and comments. Then export or publish directly to your platform of choice.
Can you really edit without touching the timeline?
You sure can. One of the things that makes Descript special is its ridiculously easy transcript editor. You can add, delete, and rearrange words or entire sections just like in a doc. Then, like magic, the edits are reflected in your audio or video. But hey — if you want to work in the timeline, you can use that too. We’re flexible.
Does Descript have a mobile app?
Descript lets you record your podcast, or video, through your phone’s web browser. And it doesn’t take up space on your phone. Plus, it’s easier for your guests—they don’t have to install anything just to be on your show.
What if I like my traditional timeline editor?
As simple as Descript may be, it’s just as powerful. You can save serious time with our smart script editor. But we know flexibility is important and sometimes you wanna get into the nitty gritty. So Descript has a fully-featured, multi-track timeline editor too. Best of both worlds. Learn more about our timeline editor.