Ava: AI live captioning and transcription app for accessibility, providing real-time captions for conversations and video meetings. Descript: Video/podcast editor with transcription and meeting recording Here's where each one pulls ahead on pricing, features, and the meetings it suits best.
How Hosiqo compares and tests toolsFinal recommendation
Shortlist Ava when real-time captioning for deaf and hard-of-hearing participants matters most, and Descript when generating captions and subtitles for published content matters most. Trial each on a few real meetings before you commit — the better fit usually shows fast.
AI live captioning and transcription app for accessibility, providing real-time captions for conversations and video meetings.
Video/podcast editor with transcription and meeting recording
Ava is a live captioning and transcription service built primarily for deaf and hard-of-hearing users, as well as for organizations that need accessible meetings and conversations. The app captures audio from in-person conversations and from video conferencing tools, then generates real-time captions on a phone, computer, or in the meeting interface. Ava combines automatic speech recognition with an optional professional scribe service for higher-accuracy, ADA-compliant captioning, giving users a choice between fast AI captions and human-assisted transcription. Features include color-coded speaker identification so users can follow who said what, support for many languages, and stored transcripts and summaries after a conversation ends. Through its Ava Connect integration, the service connects with Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams, and it is available across mobile (iOS and Android), web, and desktop (Windows and Mac). Ava is aimed at individuals who need accessibility support in daily conversations and meetings, as well as at educational institutions, healthcare providers, corporations, and event venues that must provide compliant real-time captioning without committing to a traditional CART contract. Pricing varies by plan. Check the official website for current pricing.
Best suited for
Descript is an audio and video editing platform built around text-based editing, where the spoken content of a recording is automatically transcribed and the resulting transcript becomes the primary way to edit the media. When users import or record audio and video, Descript generates a transcript that they can read, search, and edit, with changes to the text reflected in the underlying recording. The platform also offers one-click caption and subtitle generation so the transcribed words can be displayed on screen and styled to match a project. In addition to transcription and captions, Descript provides features for podcast and video production, including multitrack editing, screen recording, and AI-assisted tools. Because editing the transcript edits the media, it is especially useful for podcasters, video creators, and teams who want to cut filler, rearrange segments, or repurpose content without working frame by frame. Descript is aimed at content creators, marketers, educators, and teams who want transcription, captions, and editing combined in a single workflow. Pricing varies by plan. Check the official website for current pricing.
Best suited for
Ava is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium); Descript is a free tier with paid upgrades (freemium). Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site before buying.
| Feature | Ava | Descript |
|---|---|---|
| Core capability | Integration with Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams | Automatic transcription of imported or recorded audio and video |
| Standout feature | Real-time live captions for in-person and online conversations | Text-based editing where editing the transcript edits the media |
| Team usage | Color-coded speaker identification | One-click caption and subtitle generation |
| Integrations | Optional professional scribe service for higher accuracy | Multitrack audio and video editing |
| Languages & capture | Mobile, web, and desktop apps | Screen and audio recording built in |
| Best-fit workflow | Saved transcripts and conversation summaries | Automatic transcription of imported or recorded audio and video |
Ava
Choose Ava if you need real-time captioning for deaf and hard-of-hearing participants — strengths include strong accessibility focus for deaf and hard-of-hearing users.
Descript
Choose Descript if you need editing podcasts and videos by editing the transcript — strengths include transcript-driven editing makes cutting and rearranging content fast.
Ava
Descript
It depends on your workflow. Ava is strong for real-time captioning for deaf and hard-of-hearing participants, while Descript is strong for editing podcasts and videos by editing the transcript. Both transcribe and summarize meetings.
Ava is a free tier with paid upgrades and Descript is a free tier with paid upgrades. Check each vendor's pricing page for the latest plans and free-tier limits.
Yes. Many teams run more than one meeting assistant when the workflows are complementary.
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