Descript offers a variety of AI-powered tools. Some tools are grouped into usage-based tiers—Basic, Advanced, and Professional—which appear in the AI Actions panel. These tools are typically tracked per submission, and each Editor has their own usage allowance.
Other tools, like text-to-speech (TTS), Avatars, and Translation, aren’t part of those tiers but still have separate usage limits and are also tracked per Editor.
This article explains which features are included in each group, how usage is tracked, how to check your usage and what happens when you reach your limit. AI Feature limits depend on your Drive subscription level. See our pricing page to compare plans and limits.
Only Drive members with Editor access can apply AI features. Basic members and project-only collaborators do not have access to these tools.
Understanding AI Feature Limits
Each subscription includes a monthly allowance for AI tools and effects. If your plan includes multiple AI suites, each suite's usage is tracked separately.
Usage limits reset at the start of each billing cycle. Drive members can view their reset date on the Usage page in Drive settings. Access to each suite depends on your Drive's subscription plan. See our pricing page to compare plans and limits.
| Basic AI Suite | Advanced AI Suite | Professional AI Suite |
|---|---|---|
| Studio Sound Green Screen Filler Word Removal Shorten Word Gaps Create Clips/Create Highlight Reel Edit for Clarity Remove Retakes Automatic Multicam Center Active Speaker Image Generation Publish (Blog Posts, Notes) Script Brainstorm / Outline AI Video Maker (via ChatGPT) |
Eye Contact Translate |
Translation with Proofreading |
If you reach your usage limit, you can upgrade your plan to continue using AI tools without interruption. See our pricing page for full plan details. If you're on a legacy plan, learn more about AI usage on legacy subscriptions.
Underlord, Descript’s AI co-editor, is currently in open beta and available for unlimited use. Underlord can apply layouts, suggest editing tools, automate repetitive tasks—and more. This is a limited-time beta, so now’s the perfect time to try it out and see how much faster editing can be. Learn more about Underlord.
How AI Usage Is Tracked
Descript tracks usage differently depending on the feature. Some tools are counted per submission (clicking the Submit button in the AI Actions panel), while others are measured by time. Usage is tracked per Editor and resets at the start of the Drive's monthly billing cycle.
If the effect fails to apply after being triggered, it may still be counted toward your usage. Contact support if this happens and we’ll review and issue a credit if needed.
| Feature | How It’s Tracked | Usage Type |
|---|---|---|
| Studio Sound | Per file | Basic AI Suite use |
| Green Screen | Per file | Basic AI Suite use |
| Eye Contact | Per file | Advanced AI Suite use |
| Automatic Multicam | Per submit | Basic AI Suite use |
| Center Active Speaker | Per submit | Basic AI Suite use |
| Image Generation | Per submit | Basic AI Suite use |
| Edit for Clarity | Per submit | Basic AI Suite use |
| Remove Retakes | Per submit | Basic AI Suite use |
| Shorten Word Gaps | Per submit | Basic AI Suite use |
| Filler Word Removal | Per submit | Basic AI Suite use |
| Generate / Regenerate | Per submit | Regenerate use |
| AI Video Maker | Per submit + time generated |
1 Basic AI use |
| Text-to-Speech (TTS) | Time (minutes) | TTS minutes |
| Translate Audio | Time (minutes) | Dubbing minutes |
| Avatars | Time (minutes) | Avatar minutes |
| Translate Captions | Per submit | Advanced AI Suite use |
Where to View Your Usage
You can check your current AI and speech usage at any time from the Usage section in your Drive settings.
- Click your profile icon in the top-right corner of the app.
- Select Settings.
- Choose the Usage tab in the left sidebar.
You'll see a breakdown of your usage for:
- Basic AI, Advanced AI, and Professional AI suite usage
- Text-to-speech (TTS) and Avatar minutes
- Regenerate actions
If you’re a Drive owner or admin, you can also view usage for other editors on your Drive. From the Usage page, use the search bar to find and review individual usage data for each Drive member.
In-App Alerts
If you're approaching your usage limit, Descript will show a warning message in the app. These alerts may appear when you use an AI tool, view your usage settings, or attempt to generate content after hitting your limit.
Additional Usage Alerts
- Hourglass: Indicates that you are close to reaching your limit. You'll see this notification when you have 3 uses left before hitting a limit.
- Padlock: Indicates that you have hit your limit and the feature is locked. Once you reach 0 uses left, the feature will lock, and you must upgrade your plan for additional uses.
- Lightning Bolt: Indicates that the feature is not available with your current plan type. If you see this icon, it means the feature requires a plan upgrade.
FAQs
When does my usage reset?
Why can't I access certain AI tools?
What happens if I hit my limit?
Does usage reset if I upgrade?
No — usage is tied to your current billing period. If you upgrade, your limit increases, but any usage already tracked still counts toward the new limit. This applies to TTS, regenerate, and AI suite usage.