Descript vs. Figma: a data-backed comparison

Explore Descript and Figma features, pricing, adoption trends, and ideal use cases to help you determine which tool best fits your team.

In this article

Descript vs. Figma at a glance
Descript overview
Figma overview
Pros and cons
Use case scenarios

Descript vs. Figma at a glance

Descript is a collaborative audio and video editing platform that simplifies media production through text-based editing and AI-powered tools, ideal for content creators and marketing teams.

Figma is a cloud-based design and prototyping tool focused on UI/UX professionals, enabling real-time collaboration on digital product design. Descript excels in speeding up video/audio editing with AI automation, while Figma leads in precision design and interactive prototyping for software development teams.

Metrics	Descript	Figma
Relative cost	67% lower cost than category average	27% higher cost than category average
Adoption trend	16% QoQ adoption growth	8% QoQ adoption growth
Primary user segment	–	–
Best for	Small and medium-sized businesses that need professional audio and video editing capabilities without complex technical workflows.	Micro businesses that need collaborative design and prototyping capabilities without complex design tool learning curves.

Descript overview

Descript is an all-in-one audio and video editing platform that works like a document, allowing users to edit media by editing text. It features transcription, screen recording, multitrack editing, and AI tools such as voice cloning and automatic audio cleanup. Descript is best suited for content creators, marketers, and teams producing professional video and podcast content quickly without needing advanced editing skills.

Descript key features

Features	Description
Text-Based Editing & Transcription	Edit audio/video by modifying automatically generated transcripts
AI Filler-Word Removal	One-click removal of "uh," "like," and awkward pauses
Overdub Voice Cloning	Generate natural-sounding speech from voice samples
Studio Sound Enhancement	AI-powered noise reduction and audio enhancement
Real-Time Collaboration	Multi-user editing with comments and version control
Screen Recording	Built-in screen and remote recording capabilities
Publishing Integrations	Direct export to YouTube and podcast platforms
Automatic Captions	Generate accessible captions from transcripts

Figma overview

Figma is a collaborative design and prototyping application widely used by UI/UX designers and product teams. It offers vector editing, interactive prototyping, reusable components, and real-time collaboration in the cloud, making it ideal for designing web and mobile applications with seamless team workflows.

Figma key features

Features	Description
Vector Editing	Create and manipulate scalable shapes and paths for precise UI design and development.
Real-Time Collaboration	Multiple users can simultaneously design, comment on, and edit the same file.
Prototyping	Build interactive, clickable prototypes to simulate user flows and test user experiences.
Components and Variants	Design reusable UI elements with multiple states for consistency and efficiency.
Auto Layout	Automatically arranges and resizes elements based on content and defined rules for responsive design.
Design Systems	Manage shared libraries of styles, components, and assets to ensure brand consistency.
Dev Mode	Streamline developer handoff with specs, code snippets, and asset exports directly from design files.
Plugins and Integrations	Enhance functionality with a wide range of plugins and seamlessly connect to other tools, including Slack and Jira.
FigJam	Collaborate on brainstorming, whiteboarding, and planning with an integrated online whiteboard.
Version History	Track changes, view previous versions, and restore files as needed for improved project management.

Pros and cons

Tool	Pros	Cons
Descript	Revolutionary text-based editing interface accessible to non-technical users High-accuracy transcription (95%) with automatic speaker detection AI-powered features eliminate hours of manual editing work Real-time collaboration with version control and comment systems All-in-one platform reduces the need for multiple editing tools SOC 2 Type II compliance with enterprise-grade security	Performance degrades with projects over one hour or numerous video tracks Export compression can reduce 4K quality, requiring external rendering Limited advanced features compared to professional NLEs like Premiere Pro Per-seat pricing and transcription overages increase costs with team growth Occasional crashes during extended editing sessions Overdub voice cloning doesn't match lip movements for on-camera footage
Figma	Real-time collaboration allows multiple team members to work simultaneously on design files, streamlining feedback and accelerating timelines. Cloud-based, browser-accessible platform enables access from any device without installation, ideal for distributed teams. Intuitive interface allows both beginners and experienced designers to get started quickly and be productive. Robust version control and auto-save features track changes, enable reversions, and minimize the risk of lost work. Integrates well with popular tools like Slack and Jira, enhancing workflow efficiency and team communication.	Requires a stable internet connection with no proper offline mode, limiting use in low-connectivity environments. The learning curve can be steep for newcomers to design software or users transitioning from simpler tools. Limited customization options compared to competitors, especially for advanced design features and interface personalization. Version control can be challenging for large teams, as the free plan limits access to the full version history. Occasional usability issues, such as crashes or interface changes, can disrupt workflow and require restarts.

Use case scenarios

Descript excels for teams focused on fast, AI-enhanced audio and video content creation without deep technical editing knowledge. Figma delivers advanced design and prototyping capabilities for teams building digital products requiring precise UI/UX workflows and collaboration.

When Descript is the better choice

Your team needs to produce and edit podcasts, videos, or audio content quickly.
Your team needs text-based editing and AI tools to simplify complex media workflows.
Your team needs integrated transcription, voice cloning, and screen recording in one platform.

When Figma is the better choice

Your team needs professional-grade UI/UX design and prototyping tools.
Your team needs real-time collaboration and design system management for digital products.
Your team needs scalable, cloud-based tools to support complex, multi-stakeholder design workflows.