# CleanCut vs Descript

> Two approaches to removing silence from videos, compared.

## The short version

**Descript** is a full-featured editing suite with text-based editing, AI features, and collaboration tools, powered by cloud processing with a monthly subscription.

**CleanCut** is a focused tool that does one thing exceptionally well: remove silence from videos locally on your machine. Focused Pro subscription, no uploads, just results.

## Comparison

| Feature | CleanCut | Descript |
|---|---|---|
| Silence removal | Automatic, one-click | Automatic, one-click |
| Processing location | Local on your computer | Cloud-based |
| Pricing model | Free tier, monthly or yearly Pro | Subscription only ($12-24/mo) |
| Internet required | No (works offline) | Yes (cloud processing) |
| Video privacy | Files never leave your machine | Videos uploaded to servers |
| Account required | No | Yes |
| Learning curve | Minimal (focused tool) | Steep (many features) |
| Additional features | Silence removal focus | Full editing suite (text-based, overdub, etc.) |

Over 3 years, CleanCut Pro costs $176-252 total; Descript Pro costs $432-864.

## Processing: local vs cloud

Descript uploads your videos to their servers for processing, so you need a reliable internet connection and your files exist on someone else's infrastructure. CleanCut processes everything locally — your videos never leave your machine, and you can edit offline.

## When to choose each

**Choose CleanCut if**: you mainly need to remove silence, privacy matters, you want to avoid ongoing subscriptions, you work offline or with large files, or simplicity matters.

**Choose Descript if**: you need text-based editing, AI voice cloning, team collaboration, or an all-in-one production suite.

## Related

- [Download CleanCut](https://cleancut.video/download.md)