vidIQ vs Descript
Plans, free access, limits and intended use side by side, taken from each vendor’s own pages. No score and no winner: the facts show where the two differ.
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- Free access
- vidIQ: Free access
- Descript: Free access
- Paid from
- vidIQ: €19 per month
- Descript: USD 16 per person per month
- Plans listed
- vidIQ: 5
- Descript: 5
- Public API
- vidIQ: Not confirmed
- Descript: Yes
Where vidIQ and Descript differ
On the listed facts these two look alike. The plans, limits and screenshots below show where the details part ways.
Head to head
Each value from the tool’s profile and the vendor’s own pages
| vidIQ | Fact | Descript |
|---|---|---|
| Access and price | ||
| Free access availableFree · €0 | Free accessSame | Free access availableFree · USD 0 |
| €19 per monthBoost · billed monthly · or €16.58 per month billed yearly; the page says yearly saves €29 | Lowest listed paid plan | USD 16 per person per monthHobbyist · billed yearly · USD 24 billed monthly |
| Free plan; Boost €19/month (EU view) | Pricing model | Free plan available |
| 5 | Plans listedSame | 5 |
| Not confirmed | Public API | Yes |
| Not confirmed | Card to start | Not required |
| Not confirmed | Open source | No |
| What it is for | ||
| YouTube keyword research and AI-assisted video planning | Built for | Podcasts and talking-head video |
| Video & editing | CategorySame | Video & editing |
| Platforms |
|
| Works with |
|
| How current | ||
| Profile sources checked | ||
| Prices confirmed · Sep 29, 2026 | Pricing checkSame | Prices confirmed · Sep 27, 2026 |
Official source check for both tools. No hands-on testing and no score: “Differs” marks a documented difference, not a better tool.
Plans and prices
vidIQ
Prices confirmed · Sep 29, 2026- Free€0
- Boost€19 per monthbilled monthly · or €16.58 per month billed yearly; the page says yearly saves €29
- Max€39 per monthbilled monthly · or €31 per month billed yearly; the page says yearly saves €96
- EnterpriseCustom pricing
- VIP CoachingUSD 319 per month equivalentUSD 3,830 billed once per year · coaching page
Descript
Prices confirmed · Sep 27, 2026- FreeUSD 0
- HobbyistUSD 16 per person per monthbilled yearly · USD 24 billed monthly
- CreatorUSD 24 per person per monthbilled yearly · USD 35 billed monthly
- BusinessUSD 50 per person per monthbilled yearly · USD 65 billed monthly
- EnterpriseCustom
Strengths and limits
vidIQ
Strengths
- Usable free research tier: Free includes 150 AI credits, the extension scorecards and limited keyword research.
- Published per-action credit costs: The help center lists the credit price of each AI action.
- Works inside AI assistants: The MCP connection is included on every plan during its launch period.
Limits to plan around
- No refunds for unused days: Cancelling keeps access until the period ends, with no partial refund.
- Regional price display: The plans page showed euros from our EU check; the US dollar price was not visible to us.
- Top-ups limited to higher plans: Extra credits can be bought only on eligible Max and Coaching plans.
Descript
Strengths
- Edit by deleting words: Cutting the transcript cuts the recording, which speeds navigation through long speech-led files.
- Permanent free tier: Free is not a trial, so the workflow can be learned before any payment.
- Predictable cost for audio cleanup: Studio Sound and filler-word removal are capped at 30 credits per file.
Limits to plan around
- Free video is watermarked: Free exports video at 720p with a watermark.
- Two separate budgets: Media minutes and AI credits run out independently and neither rolls over.
- Seats are billed separately: A team pays the per-person price once for every editor.
See both products
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Run both tools on the same real task, then compare the result, how much editing it needs and how fast it uses your plan’s allowance.
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Comparing tools from different categories is fine, and often useful — a writing assistant and a research tool solve different halves of the same job. The table will show you exactly where they diverge.
Questions about comparing tools
How does the comparison work?
Add two tools to the comparison tray from any tool card, then open this page. The table pulls each tool's verified plan details, platforms, strengths and limits from its profile, so both columns carry the same kind of evidence, with a separate source-check date for each tool.
Do you declare a winner?
No. The table sets two tools against each other on documented facts, not on a score. Which one wins depends on your task, your budget and your usage volume — three things we cannot see from here.
Why are some cells empty or marked unverified?
Because we could not confirm that detail on the vendor's own pages. Rather than filling the gap with a figure from elsewhere, we mark it and say why on the tool's profile.
Can I compare more than two tools?
Not at once. Two columns keep the differences readable and force a real decision. Remove either selected tool to replace it, or clear both to start a new pair.
Every figure in the table above comes from the linked profile, where the source and the verification date are listed. Browse all tools or read the editorial policy.