Async

Async is a chat-driven AI video editor for creators and teams working with footage, spoken-word recordings, or short-form video. Its mix of editing, audio cleanup, asset generation, and browser-based remote recording suits people who want those jobs in one workflow. The free plan is useful for a small trial, but its lifetime credits and upload cap make it a poor fit for ongoing production.

Overview

Async lets users edit video by chatting with AI, from removing filler, pauses, repeats, bad takes, and awkward moments to adding subtitles and extracting short clips from longer footage. That combination is particularly relevant to podcasts, vlogs, explainers, and ads: a creator can clean up a recording and prepare material for reuse without switching between separate editing and clipping tools. It is less compelling for someone seeking only a narrow recording or audio utility.

Key features

Editing and generation in chat

Users can ask for edits and generate B-roll, visuals, scenes, or music from within the conversation. Keeping asset generation beside the edit can simplify work on videos that need supporting material, while the AI-credit system sets a clear ceiling on how much of that workflow a plan supports. Subscription credits reset each billing cycle; on yearly plans, credits are added monthly rather than arriving as one annual balance.

Audio cleanup and repurposing

Magic Dust reduces background noise and clarifies voices. Captions and short-form clip creation add practical value for spoken-word creators who need more than a cleaned-up full-length video. These tools make Async broader than a basic cutter, though users should consider the credit allowance alongside their expected editing volume.

Remote recording

Browser-based remote interviews support up to 10 participants, with separate tracks for each participant. Local recording, separate audio tracks, video recording, and automatic transcription are also supported. Pro includes 20 hours of remote recording and Teams includes 50 hours, so the higher recording allowances are tied to paid tiers rather than the free plan’s limited media-upload allowance.

Voice API

Async Voice API supports text-to-speech and speech-to-text, including streaming over WebSockets. Its documentation names Pipecat, LiveKit, Twilio, n8n, and Picsart Flow as integrations, making the API relevant to teams building voice workflows as well as creators editing video.

Pricing

Async is freemium, with paid plans starting at $11.99/mo (annual). The plan allowances below help distinguish a brief evaluation from recurring production, but only the Free plan and starting price have a published numeric price.

Free is suited to trying the workflow or making a small project, but 10 lifetime credits and one lifetime upload hour are not recurring allowances. Essentials removes the upload-minute ceiling and raises storage and export quality, making it a more practical step for regular individual use. Pro adds 4K exports and a defined remote-recording allowance; Teams is the clearer fit for collaborative work, with team workspaces, more storage, and more recording hours. Business is aimed at organizations needing tailored limits and security provisions. Monthly or yearly billing is offered for paid plans. New subscriptions have a 7-day refund policy, excluding AI credits already used, and users can cancel through Profile Settings.

Platforms

Async is available on the web and iOS, and its recording platform runs in a browser. There is no Android version, which rules it out as a mobile-first choice for Android users. The API is also a platform option for teams integrating voice capabilities into other workflows.

Who it's for

Async is best suited to creators and teams who routinely edit spoken-word video, generate supporting assets, and repurpose longer recordings into clips. Its separate participant tracks and browser recording also suit remote interviews. It is a weaker fit for someone who needs a generous free production tier, Android mobile editing, or a standalone recorder without chat-based editing and generation.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Editing, audio cleanup, generation, captions, and clipping share one chat-based workflow, useful for creators handling several stages of a video project.
• Pros: Browser recording supports up to 10 participants with separate tracks, and paid tiers define remote-recording hours for individuals and teams.
• Pros: A voice API with streaming text-to-speech and speech-to-text supports integration beyond the editor.
• Cons: Free users get only 10 lifetime AI credits and one lifetime hour of media upload, limiting the plan to light use.
• Cons: The mobile app is iOS-only, leaving Android users without a native mobile option.
• Cons: The numeric prices for Essentials, Pro, Teams, and Business are custom pricing, making direct budget comparisons difficult.

Alternatives

Descript is worth considering for users who want text-based editing and AI tools on a free plan with 60 minutes per month and 100 one-time AI credits. Choose Riverside Magic Audio when multi-track recording is the priority: its free tier includes a one-off two hours of multi-track recording, up to 720p video, and a watermark. Iris.fm offers a free plan with browser-based guest participation and a Starter plan at $9 a month with two recording hours, making it an option for readers comparing recording-focused tiers. Restream has a free plan for streaming to two channels at once, with branding and six hours recorded per stream, so it is the alternative to consider when simultaneous streaming matters more than chat-based editing.

For more focused comparisons, browse Video Podcast Software, AI Sound Effect Generators, Podcast Recording Software, AI Podcast Editing Software, Text-to-Speech Software, and AI Music Generators. Other listed options are OBS Studio, Podbean, VDO.Ninja, and Vimeo.

Verdict

Choose Async if you want chat-based video cleanup, audio enhancement, generation, and clipping alongside browser-based remote recording. The main reason to look elsewhere is the free plan’s small lifetime allowances; Android users and teams that need transparent pricing for higher tiers should also compare alternatives before committing.