Pick Descript if
podcasters and video editors who already think in a script and will spend media hours.
Read the Descript pageDescript vs Runway
Our take
Pick Descript if podcasters and video editors who already think in a script and will spend media hours. Pick Runway if creators who want text-to-video or timeline edits and will burn credits. Skip Descript if people who need a text-to-video model (Runway, Kling AI) or speech-only TTS (ElevenLabs). Skip Runway if people who need a presenter avatar (HeyGen, Synthesia) or speech-only TTS (ElevenLabs).
Descript
text-based video and podcast editor
Best for
Descript Edit footage by editing words
Runway Generate or edit moving pictures
Free plan
Descript $0 · 60 minutes (1 hr) of media / month; 720p export with a watermark on the comparison table
Runway $0 · /month. 125 one-time credits that don’t expire (not a monthly refill). 5GB storage. A selection of models to test
Lowest paid
Descript Hobbyist $16/mo yearly
Runway Standard $12/mo yearly
Next step up
Descript Creator $24/mo yearly
Runway Pro $28/mo yearly
Coding agent
Descript
Runway Agent
Runs where
Descript
Runway Hosted
Watch out
Descript Media hours and AI credits are the meter
Runway Free is 125 credits once
Last checked
Descript 2026-10-20 · descript.com/pricing
Runway 2026-10-19 · runwayml.com/pricing
Which one, then?
Pick Runway if
creators who want text-to-video or timeline edits and will burn credits.
Read the Runway page