Side by side

Descript vs Opencast

Both stand on video podcast software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.

Descript

Free plan MacWebWindows

Descript combines transcript-based editing with recording, AI assistance, and team collaboration. Its free plan has monthly usage and export limits, while paid plans start at $16/user/mo (annual).

Visit Descript

Opencast brings recording, processing, access controls, and LMS delivery into an academic video workflow. Institutions should account for deployment and support arrangements, which depend on their own setup and community partners.

Visit Opencast

The facts

	Descript	Opencast
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Open source	Not published	Yes
Runs on	Mac, Web, Windows	API, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web
Lowest paid plan	Hobbyist: $24 per person a month	Free or on request
Plans published	5	2
Maker	Descript	Not published
Website	descript.com	opencast.org
On video podcast software	#3 of 39	#1 of 39

Descript: what it does well

Edit video by changing transcript text.
Transcribes in 25 languages.
Studio Sound reduces background noise and enhances voice.
Rooms records up to 10 participants.
Exports timelines to Adobe Premiere and Final Cut Pro.

What to know first

Free plan is limited to 60 minutes monthly.
Free export is limited to 720p local export.
Desktop app requires macOS 14 Sonoma or Windows 11 or newer.

Opencast: what it does well

Free and open-source software.
Supports scheduled recordings and live streams.
Browser-based recording is available through Opencast Studio.
Workflows can generate captions and apply branding.
Can run on one or multiple Linux servers.

What to know first

Classroom recording triggers depend on hardware.
Deployment and support depend on adopters and community partners.
Tobira runs separately from Opencast.

Alternatives to Descript Alternatives to Opencast The whole list