ClipRiverHow much does a podcast clipping service cost?
Three ways to get clips from a podcast
You can clip episodes yourself with an AI tool, hire a freelance editor, or pay a service that handles the whole month. The price difference is large, and so is the amount of your own time each option takes.
AI clip tools: cheap, but you are the editor
Tools like Opus Clip, Descript and Vizard scan an episode and suggest clips. In a 2026 comparison by Ssemble, starting prices ranged from $5.99 to $21 a month, with Opus Clip at $15 and Descript at $24 billed monthly.
The catch is selection. A tool picks moments by keywords, volume and pace. It can't tell that the guest's sharpest line only makes sense after the question before it. Expect to watch every suggestion, trim starts and ends, and fix captions on names and jargon.
Done-for-you services
Here someone else watches the episode. Castos lists a short-clips service at $990 a month, with four clips per episode, a three-day turnaround and clips of 15 to 45 seconds. Freelancers on marketplaces charge per clip or per episode and vary a lot in quality.
| Option | Typical price | Your time per episode | Who picks the moments |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI clip tool | $6–25 a month | 1–3 hours | You, from AI suggestions |
| Freelance editor | Per clip or per episode, varies | 30–60 minutes of briefing and review | The editor, after your brief |
| Monthly service | $500–1,000 a month | 10 minutes to approve a list | An editor who knows the show |
What actually changes the price
- Number of clips per month. Twenty clips from four episodes is the usual starting point.
- Speakers on camera. Two or three people mean more reframing work.
- Caption style. Simple lower captions are fast. Word-by-word highlights take longer.
- Turnaround. Next-day delivery costs more than a weekly batch.
How to choose
If you publish one episode a month and enjoy editing, a tool is enough. If you publish weekly and your time is worth more than the editor's, pay for the service and spend ten minutes approving the moment list instead of an afternoon in an editor.
Try it on one episode
Send a link and we'll cut three clips for free, so you can compare them with what your tool produces.
Get 3 free clipsFrequently asked questions
Is a clipping tool enough for a weekly show?
It can be if someone on your team spends a few hours a week reviewing and fixing suggestions. That time is the real cost of the cheap option.
How many clips can one episode give?
It depends on the guest and the topic. A focused 45 to 60 minute conversation often has five to eight moments that make sense without context.