Descript vs Opus Clip: Which Tool for Repurposing Long-Form Video?

If you're creating long-form content (podcasts, YouTube videos, webinars) and want to repurpose it into short clips for social media, you've probably heard of both Descript and Opus Clip.

Both tools promise to make video repurposing easier, but they take completely different approaches. Here's which one you should choose based on your needs.

Quick Comparison

Descript: The Full Editing Suite

What It Does Best

Descript is a complete video editing platform that happens to be great at creating clips. You get:

• Text-based editing (edit video by editing transcript)
• Multi-track audio/video support
• AI voice cloning (Overdub)
• Screen recording
• Full timeline control

When to Choose Descript

Pick Descript if you:

• Need complete editing control
• Want to edit the full video AND create clips
• Record podcasts or long-form content regularly
• Need advanced features like multi-cam or screen recording

Pricing Reality

• Creator: $15/month (10 hours video)
• Pro: $30/month (30 hours video, full AI features)

Most serious creators need the Pro plan.

Opus Clip: The Clip Automation Specialist

What It Does Best

Opus Clip has one job: turn long videos into viral-ready short clips automatically. It:

• Analyzes your video for engaging moments
• Creates 10-20 clips with auto-captions
• Scores each clip for "virality potential"
• Adds auto-reframing and captions

When to Choose Opus Clip

Pick Opus Clip if you:

• Want automated clip creation
• Don't need full video editing
• Prioritize speed over customization
• Create content primarily for social media

Pricing Reality

• Starter: $9/month (50 minutes video)
• Pro: $29/month (300 minutes video)

Better value than Descript if you only need clips.

Real-World Use Cases

Scenario 1: Podcast Editor

Best Choice: Descript

You need to:

• Edit the full episode
• Remove filler words
• Create social clips
• Export in multiple formats

Descript handles the entire workflow. Opus Clip only solves the last step.

Scenario 2: YouTube Shorts Creator

Best Choice: Opus Clip

You already have finished long-form videos and just want to extract viral moments for Shorts/Reels/TikTok.

Opus Clip's automation creates 10+ clips in minutes. Descript would require manual clip creation.

Scenario 3: Course Creator

Best Choice: Descript

You need precise control over:

• Removing mistakes
• Adding screen recordings
• Editing for clarity
• Creating promotional clips

Descript's editing power is worth the complexity.

The Hybrid Approach

Many creators use both:

1. Edit full video in Descript
2. Export finished video
3. Import to Opus Clip for automated social clips

This gives you complete editing control AND fast clip generation. Combined cost: ~$38-60/month depending on plans.

My Recommendation

Choose Descript if:

• You need a complete editing solution
• You want maximum control
• You're editing from raw footage
• Budget allows for $30/month

Choose Opus Clip if:

• You only need clip generation
• You want automated workflow
• You have finished videos to repurpose
• Budget is under $15/month

Bottom Line

These tools solve different problems:

• Descript = Full video editing suite with clip creation
• Opus Clip = Automated clip generation specialist

Neither is universally "better"—it depends entirely on your workflow and what you're trying to accomplish.

For most full-time content creators, Descript is the better long-term investment because it handles the entire video workflow. But if you're purely focused on social media clips from existing videos, Opus Clip's automation is hard to beat.