Descript is a powerful cloud-based video editor that lets you edit video by editing its transcript. FrameQuery is a local-first search tool that indexes your footage with AI — visual search, face recognition, object detection, and transcription — so you can find any moment across your entire library in seconds. Choose Descript to edit video; choose FrameQuery to search video.
| Feature | FrameQuery | Descript |
|---|---|---|
| Search type | Visual + transcript + face + object | Transcript only |
| Deployment | Local-first | Cloud |
| Format support | 50+ formats | Limited |
| Pricing | From $9/mo | From $24/user/mo |
| Primary use | Video search & analysis | Video editing |
| NLE export | FCPXML, EDL, LosslessCut | Descript timeline |
| Offline capable | ||
| Face recognition | ||
| Object detection | ||
| Voice cloning | ||
| Built-in editing | ||
| Team collaboration |
Descript's search is transcript-based: you type a word and it finds where that word was spoken. This is excellent for podcast and talking-head content where dialogue is the primary content.
FrameQuery searches across four dimensions simultaneously: transcripts, visual content, detected faces, and detected objects. Search for “red car on a highway” and FrameQuery will find that scene even if nobody mentions it in dialogue. Searches span your entire indexed library, not just a single project.
Descript offers a free plan with limited transcription hours. Their Pro plan starts at $24/user/month, and Business at $33/user/month. Costs scale per seat, which adds up quickly for teams.
FrameQuery has a free tier for getting started, with paid plans from $9/month based on usage rather than seats. Because search runs locally on your hardware, ongoing costs stay low.
FrameQuery supports 50+ video formats natively, including professional formats like RED R3D, ProRes, BRAW, and CinemaDNG. Descript supports common web formats (MP4, MOV, WebM) but lacks native support for many professional camera formats. If you work with raw camera footage, FrameQuery handles it without transcoding.
FrameQuery uploads only lightweight proxy files for AI processing — your original footage is never uploaded. Proxies are deleted immediately after processing, and your search index lives locally on your machine. Once indexed, search works entirely offline. This matters for sensitive content and NDA-protected projects. Descript processes everything in the cloud, which means your footage and audio are uploaded to their servers for transcription and editing.
FrameQuery exports to FCPXML, EDL, and LosslessCut markers, so you can take search results directly into your NLE of choice (Premiere, Resolve, Final Cut). Descript is its own editing environment — powerful, but a separate workflow from traditional NLEs. If your pipeline already centres on Premiere or Resolve, FrameQuery slots in without disruption.
FrameQuery and Descript serve different purposes. FrameQuery excels at searching inside video content using visual AI, transcript search, face recognition, and object detection across your entire library. Descript is a full video editing suite with transcript-based editing. If you primarily need to find moments in footage, FrameQuery is more powerful. If you need to edit videos, Descript is the better choice.
FrameQuery uploads lightweight proxy files for cloud AI processing, then deletes them immediately after. Your original footage is never uploaded, and the resulting search index lives locally on your machine. Once indexed, search is entirely offline — no internet needed. Descript requires a cloud connection for most features including transcription and editing.
Descript searches through transcripts only, meaning you can find spoken words. FrameQuery searches through visual content, transcripts, detected faces, and detected objects simultaneously. This means you can find scenes based on what appears on screen, not just what was said.
FrameQuery starts at $9/month with a free tier available. Descript starts at $24/user/month for its Pro plan. For solo users focused on searching video content, FrameQuery offers significantly more value.