All Descript plans include two types of usage “currency:” Media minutes and AI Credits.
The total amount allocated to your drive depends on how many Editor seats are on the subscription. Each seat adds to the shared pool of Media minutes and AI Credits. Any Editor can use these resources. Viewers, and project-level Editors cannot use features that require Media minutes or AI Credits. Learn more about Drive membership roles.
This article covers:
- What media minutes are
- What AI credits are
- How credits and minutes are used for tools and effects
- How to view your usage
On a Legacy or Sunset plan?
This article explains how usage is tracked on Descript’s current plans. If you’re on a Legacy or Sunset plan, usage works differently. See our Understanding your Legacy and Sunset plan guide for details.
What are media minutes?
Media minutes are the time you use when uploading or recording media in Descript — including video, audio, Room sessions, and screen, webcam, or microphone recordings. Still images count as 1 second each. In Descript, we refer to this usage as Media minutes, while in marketing materials, you may also see it referred to as Media hours — both terms describe the same concept.
Media minutes are used when you:
- Upload audio or video files
- Record directly in Descript (Rooms or in a project)
- Add still images (1 image = 1 second)
Unused Media minutes don’t roll over month to month.
Rooms recordings use your media minutes, but only for the total length of the session — not per participant.
For example, a 1-hour session with 5 participants will use 60 media minutes, not 300.
What are AI credits?
AI Credits are the units Descript uses to measure your use of AI-powered features. You use AI Credits whenever you apply or generate content using Descript’s AI tools, such as:
- Underlord, our agentic co-editor
- Studio Sound
- Green Screen
- Eye Contact
- AI speech
- Avatars
- Generated video
- …and more
Unused AI Credits don’t roll over month to month.
Even if you’re just chatting with Underlord and not using a specific AI tool, each message still uses a few AI credits. Underlord is powered by AI, so every interaction draws from your credit balance.
How many credits does each feature cost?
Costs may vary. Some tools have fixed costs, while generative media depends on how much content is created and the model selected. Running tools through Underlord uses additional credits for the agent’s reasoning on top of tool costs. In addition, simple back-and-forth messages with Underlord also consume a small amount of credits.
To save AI credits when using Underlord, choose the Haiku 4.5 model. As of October 2025, it's the most cost-efficient option. Learn how to choose your Underlord model here.
Editing and workflow tools
| Feature | Tool cost | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Create clips | 30 | per use |
| Translate captions | 10 | per use |
| Edit for clarity | 15 | per use |
| Remove filler words | 10 | per use |
| Remove retakes | 10 | per use |
| Shorten word gaps | 10 | per use |
| Brainstorm | 10 | per use |
| Write a script | 10 | per use |
| Write an outline | 10 | per use |
| Rewrite | 10 | per use |
| Draft a title | 10 | per use |
| Summarize | 10 | per use |
| Draft show notes | 10 | per use |
| Draft a YouTube description | 10 | per use |
| Draft a social post | 10 | per use |
| Draft a blog post | 10 | per use |
| Automatic Multicam | 10 | per use |
| AI Video Maker | 25 | per use |
| Quick Design | 25 | per use |
| Find highlights | 5 | per use |
| Create highlight reel | 20 | per use |
Effects
| Feature | Tool cost | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Studio Sound | 10 | per use |
| Eye Contact | 10 | per use |
| Green Screen | 10 | per use |
| Center active speaker (beta) | 5 | per use |
Use the Import files from other projects tool to save on AI credits. If you import a file that already has an effect applied, you won’t be charged again — credits are only deducted the first time the effect is applied.
Generative media
The below costs reflect the default generative media models in Descript. If you select a different model, it will impact your credit cost when using generative features. Learn more about generative image and video models in Descript.
| Generation type | Tool cost | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Image | 3 AI credits | per image |
| Audio regenerate | ~ 10 AI credits | per use |
| Video regenerate | ~ 15 AI credits | per use |
| Text-to-speech audio | ~ 5 AI credits | per minute |
| Dubbing | ~ 15 AI credits | per minute |
| Avatar | ~ 20 AI credits | per minute |
| Video | 8 AI credits | per video |
| Lip sync | ~ 50 AI credits | per minute |
View your usage
Check your usage of media minutes and AI credits anytime from the Usage tab in your App settings.
- Open your Settings panel
- Choose a drive from the drop-down selector menu
- In the left sidebar, select the Usage tab
Need additional media minutes or AI Credits?
If you reach your monthly limit, you can add more Media minutes or AI Credits by purchasing a Top up from the Plan tab in your App Settings. Top ups are shared across your Drive and are available for one-time use without changing your subscription plan. Learn more about Top ups.