specification: FinOps Framework
specificationVersion: '1.0'
schema: https://www.finops.org/framework/
provider: Descript
providerId: descript
created: '2026-05-06'
modified: '2026-05-06'
reconciled: false
tags:
  - FinOps
  - FOCUS
  - Video Editing
  - Audio Editing
  - AI
description: FOCUS-aligned FinOps view of Descript — a tiered SaaS subscription where consumption is metered in
  AI credits and media (transcription) minutes drawn from a shared monthly bucket per Drive. API usage during
  early access does not bill separately; it depletes the same media-minute and AI-credit pools as the in-app
  editor. reconciled false because Descript does not yet publish a granular usage / billing API to back per-meter
  reconciliation against FOCUS columns.
sources:
  - https://www.descript.com/pricing
  - https://www.descript.com/api
  - https://docs.descriptapi.com/
  - https://help.descript.com/hc/en-us/articles/43370311322509-Descript-API-beta
alignedWith:
  framework: FinOps Foundation Framework
  frameworkUrl: https://www.finops.org/framework/
  dataSpec: FOCUS
  dataSpecVersion: '1.3'
  dataSpecUrl: https://focus.finops.org/focus-specification/v1-3/
publisherName: Descript, Inc.
serviceCategory: Media Editing
billingModel:
  pricingCategory: Tiered Subscription + Included AI Credits and Media Minutes
  billingFrequency: Monthly or Annual
  billingCurrency: USD
  chargeCategories:
    - Purchase
    - Usage
    - Tax
focusColumns:
  ServiceName: Descript
  ServiceCategory: Media Editing
  ServiceSubcategory: AI Video and Audio Editing
  ProviderName: Descript
  PublisherName: Descript, Inc.
  InvoiceIssuerName: Descript, Inc.
  BillingCurrency: USD
  ChargeCategory: Purchase
meters:
  - name: subscription_seats
    unit: seat-month
    aggregation: max
    dimensions:
      - plan
      - billing_cycle
  - name: media_minutes_consumed
    unit: minute
    aggregation: sum
    dimensions:
      - drive
      - source
  - name: ai_credits_consumed
    unit: credit
    aggregation: sum
    dimensions:
      - feature
      - drive
      - underlord_action
  - name: api_jobs_executed
    unit: job
    aggregation: sum
    dimensions:
      - job_type
      - drive
  - name: published_project_storage
    unit: project
    aggregation: max
    dimensions:
      - drive
      - access_level
  - name: translated_minutes
    unit: minute
    aggregation: sum
    dimensions:
      - target_language
principles:
  - name: Visibility
    description: Track Drive-level media-minute and AI-credit burn from the Descript Settings > Usage view; correlate API consumption by listing jobs via GET /v1/jobs and inspecting media_seconds_used and ai_credits_used in job results.
  - name: Allocation
    description: Use one Drive per cost center or product line so plan seats, media minutes, and AI credits roll up to a single owner. Tag automation by giving each integration its own API token scoped to the Drive that should bear the cost.
  - name: Optimization
    description: Right-size plan tier to actual monthly transcription minutes; avoid wasted AI credits by batching Underlord prompts into one-shot agent calls rather than chained edits, and pre-trim source media before import. Switch to annual billing for up to 35% savings.
  - name: Accountability
    description: Designate a Drive admin to monitor usage, set alerts before media-minute or AI-credit thresholds are reached, and request top-ups during early access. Quarterly reviews should reconcile API job counts against perceived business value.