Descript popularised editing video by transcript, but it is a desktop app you install. REQO does the same text-based editing in a browser tab, with nothing to download, and the transcript editing itself is free.
Delete words in the auto-generated transcript and the footage is cut to match. Descript pioneered this workflow. In REQO, the transcript editing itself is free.
Descript is a desktop app you download for macOS or Windows. REQO runs entirely in the browser: open a tab and start editing, on any machine.
Record your screen or camera, then trim, cut, merge, reorder clips, add music, and burn in captions on a real timeline. All in the same tab.
Generate accurate captions automatically and burn them into the export. Free on every plan, no per-minute transcription meter to watch.
| Feature | REQO FreeBest | REQO Pro | Descript Free | Descript Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edit by Transcript | Included | Included | Limited use | Included |
| Captions | Auto + burn-in | Auto + burn-in | Limited minutes | Included |
| Install Required | No, runs in browser | No, runs in browser | Yes, desktop app | Yes, desktop app |
| Transcription Limit | No per-minute meter | No per-minute meter | Capped hours | Higher cap |
| AI Cleanup (silence/filler) | - | Included | Limited | Included |
| Brand Watermark | Small badge | None | On export | None |
| Price | $0 | $19/mo | $0 | ~$16-24+/mo |
| Start free |
Descript is a deeper, all-in-one desktop studio and it earned its reputation. If your work leans heavily on advanced AI audio, it is likely the stronger tool. REQO is the better pick when you want the core text-based editing without a download and without paying to start.
| Feature | Descript | BestREQO |
|---|---|---|
| Runs as | Desktop app (macOS / Windows) | Browser app, nothing to install |
| Edit by transcript | Yes, the original text-based editor | Yes, and the editing is free |
| Learning curve | Deep toolset, takes time to learn | Focused on the core text-edit workflow |
| AI audio (voice clone, studio sound) | Advanced (Overdub, studio sound) | Not the focus; AI cleanup on Pro |
| AI cleanup (silences, filler words) | Yes (filler-word removal) | Yes, on Pro |
| Watermark-free export | On paid plans | On Pro (free adds a small badge) |
| Paid plan | From ~$16-24+/user/mo (annual) | $19/mo |
| Start free |
The verdict: choose Descript for a powerful desktop studio with advanced AI voice and audio tools, and choose REQO if you want to edit by transcript in your browser with nothing to install, free to start, with a small export badge you can remove on Pro. Both editors cut your footage by editing the words. The difference is where they run and what it costs to begin.
Open a tab, cut your video by the words, free in your browser.