Best-of list
Best AI Tools for Podcast Clips
Four tools for turning podcast episodes into short clips — OpusClip, Vizard, Descript, and Captions — with pricing notes
How this list works
OpusClip
OpusClip is built specifically for the long-form-to-Shorts pipeline: upload an episode and it proposes AI-selected, reframed clips with animated captions and scheduling across platforms. The free plan includes 60 credits per month but watermarks exports and expires clips after three days; Starter at $15 per month gives 150 credits and Pro at $29 per month billed yearly (3,600 credits per year) unlocks B-roll, the scheduler, and API access. For a solo podcaster, it is the fastest path from episode to a weekly Shorts cadence.
Starting point: Free plan (60 credits/mo, watermarked), Starter $15/mo (150 credits), Pro $29/mo (3600 credits/yr annual). · Free tier: Yes — Free forever plan ($0): 60 credits per month, clips rendered up to 1080p, auto reframe, AI...
Some links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you buy through them. Payment never changes our rankings or editorial verdicts.
Vizard
Vizard is the fuller workspace for podcast clips: AI clipping plus transcript-based editing, captions, reframing, and social publishing in one place. The free plan includes 60 credits per month with 720p exports and three-day storage, and one uploaded video minute consumes one credit, so a 60-minute episode is 60 credits before any edits. Paid Creator and Business plans remove the watermark and raise limits — verify live pricing before purchase.
Starting point: Free plan includes 60 credits per month, 720p exports, and 3-day storage. · Free tier: Yes — Free plan: 60 credits per month, 720p exports, 3-day storage, full video editor access, private...
Descript
Descript takes the transcript-first route: edit your podcast by deleting words from the text, and the audio and video follow — plus transcription, screen recording, and publishing in one tool. A free plan is available and paid plans start from $16 per month, with transcription hours, export quality, and AI feature access varying by tier. It suits podcasters who want to polish full episodes and pull clips from the same transcript instead of relying purely on AI clip selection.
Starting point: Free plan available. · Free tier: Yes — Free plan at $0 (per descript.com/pricing, ): 60 media minutes (1 hour) per month, unlimited...
Captions
Captions is the mobile-first option for podcast clips: captioning and text-based editing plus B-roll, music generation, and AI actors, all from your phone. Pricing starts at Max for $24.99 per month (500 credits monthly) with Scale tiers from $69.99 (1,400 credits) up to $279.99 (5,600), and the official page notes these reflect iOS plans. It is the pick when your Shorts workflow is phone-first, though heavy credit use adds up across generation, B-roll, and music.
Starting point: Free plan with limited credits (60-200 one-time credits per help docs). · Free tier: Yes — Free version exists (per official pricing FAQ, ): basic tools like trimming, transitions, and...
Sources
Every claim on this page traces to the official product page of each listed tool. Free-tier details and pricing change often — open the official source before relying on a number.
Frequently asked questions
Which tool is best for automatically clipping podcast episodes?
OpusClip and Vizard are both built for automatic clipping: OpusClip's free plan gives 60 monthly credits with watermarked exports that expire after three days, and Vizard's free plan also gives 60 credits with 720p exports and three-day storage (one video minute equals one credit). Descript clips from the transcript you already edit, and Captions works mobile-first. For hands-off volume, OpusClip or Vizard; for editorial control, Descript.
What do the free plans include?
OpusClip and Vizard both offer 60 credits per month on their free plans — OpusClip watermarks exports and expires clips after three days, while Vizard exports at 720p with three-day storage. Descript's free plan caps transcription hours and export quality, and Captions' free availability should be checked on its current pricing page since its published prices reflect iOS plans. Free tiers change often, so verify each official page.
How many clips can I make per episode?
It depends on credits: OpusClip's Starter at $15 per month provides 150 credits and Pro at $29 per month billed yearly gives 3,600 credits per year, while Vizard consumes one credit per uploaded video minute before editing. Descript has no per-clip credit for transcript editing but tiered transcription hours, and Captions meters everything — generation, B-roll, music — through its credit system (Max at $24.99 per month includes 500 credits). Estimate credits per clip, then multiply by your posting cadence.
Can I schedule podcast clips to social platforms?
OpusClip's Pro plan (from $29 per month billed yearly) includes a scheduler and API access, and Vizard supports social publishing from its workspace on paid plans. Descript covers publishing workflows in its editor, while Captions focuses on creation — check its sharing options for each platform. If auto-scheduling across platforms is a requirement, OpusClip Pro or Vizard's paid tiers are the strongest fits.