Async (formerly Podcastle) Review 2026: Chat-Based AI Podcast Editor
VerifiedAsync is a chat-based AI creative suite for video and podcasts, formerly Podcastle, with a free plan and Essentials at $11.99/mo.
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Async AI Podcast Editor: Chat-Based Creative Suite for Podcasts
Async is an AI video editor for creating, editing, and repurposing videos, with clips, subtitles, voiceovers, and dubbing generated from prompts. Podcastle has rebranded as Async (async.com). Before buying, check the credit allowance on each plan, since plans differ mainly by monthly AI credits.
Table of Contents: Async Review Guide
Jump to the pricing, features, pros and cons, comparisons, FAQs, and alternatives.
Async Quick Summary
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Best For: People who edit video regularly with Async
Visit Async
What Role Does Async Play in a Modern Content Workflow?
Async, now branded as Async, is an AI-powered video and podcast creation platform that enables users to create, edit, and repurpose videos through chat-based commands and AI tools. Its strategic role is to democratize video production by eliminating the need for complex editing software, allowing both individual creators and teams to produce polished content quickly. The platform offers a comprehensive suite of features including AI video generation, audio cleanup, transcription, dubbing, subtitles, and AI voice cloning, all accessible through a unified workflow. With pricing tiers from a free Basic plan to Pro and Business options, Async supports scalable content production. It also provides AI credits for advanced features like video generation with models such as Google Omni Flash and Grok Imagine, making it a versatile tool for ads, podcasts, social clips, and more. Loved by creators for its ease of use and time-saving capabilities, Async positions itself as an all-in-one solution for modern content creation.
Who Is Async Best For in 2026?
- Podcasters Record episodes and clean up audio with Magic Dust noise removal, then turn long recordings into short-form clips for TikTok, Reels, Shorts, or ads.
- Social media creators Generate B-roll, visuals, scenes, or music directly in chat and add clean subtitles synced to the final edit, all without leaving the workflow.
- Small businesses & marketers Create and repurpose videos for ads, explainers, and brand intros using templates customized through chat, with no editing skills required.
- Teams Scale content production with collaborative workflows and brand consistency, using shared AI credits and unlimited media minutes on Teams and Business plans.
Professional reality: AI capabilities and credits are usage-based, and actual credits only activate after trial payment is completed — until then you have 50 credits.
Specialist Async Features That Matter for Business Growth
Chat-based editing with Async
Async is an AI video editor that lets you create and edit videos by chatting with AI instead of using complicated video editing software. It is built to take the edit work off your hands, trained on pro-editor skills so results look like you tried much harder.
Go from an idea, prompt, or uploaded media to polished video content in minutes without learning complex editing tools.
Fix the rough cut and cut to the beat
Remove filler, pauses, repeats, bad takes, and awkward moments without scrubbing through the whole timeline. Sync the edit to the music and mood by choosing a track and letting Async adjust pacing, cuts, transitions, and scene order around the beat.
A tighter, better-paced edit without manual timeline work.
Clean audio with Magic Dust
Remove background noise and make voices sound clearer with Magic Dust, so rough recordings feel ready to publish.
Publish-ready audio from rough recordings.
Generate B-roll, voice, or music in chat
Generate B-roll, visuals, scenes, or music directly in chat with top models without leaving the edit. AI video generation, AI image generation, and AI music and sound effects generation are available for selected models and usage is based on credits.
Add missing visuals and audio without switching tools.
Add captions and make short-form clips
Add clean subtitles, fix line breaks, adjust style, and keep captions synced with the final edit. Find the strongest moments and turn them into short-form clips for TikTok, Reels, Shorts, or ads.
Repurpose long videos, podcasts, webinars, interviews, and recordings into shareable social clips.
Save your editing style as a skill
Make Async edit your way by saving your editing style as a skill, then reuse it whenever you need. Templates for aesthetic reels, quote videos, fashion lookbooks, and brand intros can be customized through chat with no editing skills needed.
Consistent edits and brand consistency across projects, for creators and teams.
How Much Does Async Cost in 2026?
Async, formerly Podcastle, costs: Free is $0 with 10 lifetime AI credits, Essentials is $11.99 with 450 credits a month, Pro is $23.99 with 1,200 credits a month, Teams is $49.99 per creator with 3,000 credits a month, and Business is custom. Async says annual billing saves up to 40%. Plans differ mainly by monthly AI credits.
| Plan | Price | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 10 lifetime AI credits |
| Essentials | $11.99 | 450 credits a month |
| Pro | $23.99 | 1,200 credits a month |
| Teams | $49.99 per creator | 3,000 credits a month |
| Business | Custom | Custom pricing |
Prices checked on async.com/pricing (US) in November 2026; plans can change, so confirm before you buy.
Async Pros and Cons
- All-in-One AI Video EditingAsync is a comprehensive AI video editor that lets you create, edit, and repurpose videos for ads, podcasts, interviews, social clips, and more. You can generate videos, cut clips, add subtitles, dub content, create voiceovers, and repurpose videos for social media—all in one online workflow.
- Chat-Based Editing with BumblebeeAsync's chat-based video editing (Bumblebee) lets you edit videos by simply chatting with AI. You can upload media, give prompts, and the AI handles tasks like cutting, adding subtitles, dubbing, and more. This feature is available across all paid plans, with generous monthly AI credits.
- Powerful AI Video Generation ModelsAsync offers access to multiple advanced AI video generation models, including Google Omni Flash, Grok Imagine, Happy Horse, and Kling o3 Pro/Standard. These models support various resolutions (480p, 720p, 1080p) and features like video-to-video editing and extension, giving you flexibility for different creative needs.
- Built for Creators and TeamsAsync is designed for both individual creators and teams. Creators can make videos faster without complex editing tools, while teams can scale content production with collaborative workflows, brand consistency, and AI-powered editing tools. The platform is loved by users, with a 4.7 rating and positive reviews on G2.
- Pricing Details Not Fully Disclosed Check the official website. You'll need to visit the site or contact sales for exact pricing.
- AI Credits and Usage LimitsAI features like video generation, image generation, and dubbing consume credits. The default credits per user are 10 (lifetime) for Basic, 450/month for Storyteller, 1200/month for Pro, and 3000/month for Teams.
- Video Generation Model AvailabilityThe pricing table lists specific credit costs for models like Google Omni Flash, Grok Imagine, Happy Horse, and Kling o3. However, it's not clear which models are available on which plans (the table shows 'Yes, for selected models' for Basic, Storyteller, and Pro). Check the site for model availability per plan.
- Free Plan LimitationsThe Basic free plan includes 1 creator, 3 hours of video recording, up to 720p video download with a watermark, 1 hour of transcription, 10K characters for text-to-speech, and 2GB cloud storage. However, AI video generation is only available for selected models, and AI credits are limited to 10 lifetime.
When Does Async Deliver the Most Business Value?
Podcast Recording & Editing
Async's Recording Studio and Audio Editor let you record and edit podcast episodes with AI-powered tools like Magic Dust, noise reduction, and silence removal. The platform supports up to 50 hours of audio/video recording on Teams plans, making it a solid choice for podcasters who want a complete production workflow.
AI Video Creation & Repurposing
Turn raw footage into finished videos for ads, vlogs, explainers, and social clips. Async's chat-based video editing (Bumblebee) lets you describe edits, generate scenes, and repurpose long-form content into ready-to-post clips. AI features include reframing, subtitles, thumbnails, and translation/dubbing.
AI Voiceover & Text-to-Speech
Generate natural voiceovers using AI Text-to-Speech, with up to 40 hours of TTS on Teams plans. Async also offers AI voice cloning and a library of AI models for video, image, music, and sound effects, letting you create full audio tracks without a studio.
Content Localization & Dubbing
Translate and dub videos into multiple languages with AI Dubbing & Lipsync (available on Pro and Teams plans). AI Subtitles support English on Essentials and 5+ languages on higher tiers, helping you reach global audiences and make your podcast or video content accessible.
How Do You Get Started With Async?
Sign up for Async on the free plan with 10 lifetime AI credits.
Upload audio or video and use Magic Dust to remove background noise.
Generate clips and subtitles from prompts in the chat-based editor.
Upgrade to Essentials at $11.99 per month for 450 credits a month.
Is Async Worth It?
Async is worth it for podcasters who record episodes and need Magic Dust noise removal plus short-form clips for TikTok, Reels, Shorts, or ads. Social media creators benefit from generating B-roll, visuals, scenes, or music in chat and adding subtitles synced to the final edit. Small businesses and marketers can create ads, explainers, and brand intros from templates customized through chat without editing skills. The free plan includes 10 lifetime AI credits, so teams needing steady output should budget for Essentials at $11.99 with 450 credits a month or Pro at $23.99 with 1,200 credits a month.
Async vs Competitors: Which Tool Fits Best?
| Decision Area | Async | When Another Option Wins |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan; paid tiers Essentials, Pro, Teams, Business; yearly saves 40% | If you need a free forever plan with more than 10 lifetime credits, other tools like Podbean or Buzzsprout may offer more generous free tiers. |
| AI video editing | Chat-based video editing (Bumblebee) included on all paid plans; can edit, generate, and repurpose videos for ads, vlogs, explainers, podcasts, and more. | If you only need simple audio trimming or podcast hosting, dedicated podcast tools like Alitu or Auphonic may be simpler and cheaper. |
| AI generation models | Access to multiple models: Kling, Happy Horse, GPT Image 2, Nano Banana, Google Veo, Seedance 2.0, Sora 2, and more — for video, image, music, and SFX generation. | If you prefer a tool specialized in one type of generation (e.g., only music or only images), a niche tool might offer more depth in that area. |
| Recording & transcription | Includes audio/video recording (up to 50 hours on Teams), text-to-speech (up to 40 hours), AI transcription, subtitles, dubbing, and lipsync. | If you need unlimited recording or advanced multi-track editing, dedicated recording platforms like Riverside.fm or Zencastr may be better suited. |
| Collaboration & brand | Teams plan includes Producer Mode, Brand Kit, basic user management; Business adds advanced user management, priority support, and security/compliance. | If you need enterprise-grade SSO or advanced permission controls beyond what's listed, a dedicated enterprise platform might be required. |
Async vs Riverside.fm
Riverside.fm is a dedicated podcast and video recording platform known for high-quality local recording and reliable cloud backup. Async (Async) offers a broader AI creative suite with chat-based video editing, AI generation, and repurposing tools.
Choose Async if: You want an all-in-one AI workflow that goes beyond recording — editing, generating, dubbing, and repurposing content in one place. Choose Riverside.fm if: You prioritize studio-grade recording reliability and need a simpler, focused recording tool without the extra AI generation features.
Async vs Zencastr
Zencastr is another popular remote recording tool that offers high-fidelity audio and video recording, plus some AI features like transcription and clip creation. Async (Async) differentiates with its chat-based editing and extensive AI model access.
Choose Async if: You want to edit videos by chatting with AI and access a wide range of generation models (Kling, Veo, Seedance, etc.) in one subscription. Choose Zencastr if: You need a straightforward, reliable recording solution with strong audio quality and don't need the full AI creative suite.
Async FAQ
What is Async?
Async is an AI creative suite that offers a recording studio, video editor, audio editor, AI text-to-speech, video generator, image generator, avatars, music generator, and SFX generator. It is designed for creating and editing videos, podcasts, and other content.
Does Async offer AI video editing?
Yes, Async offers chat-based video editing through a feature called Async. You can upload raw footage and use AI to edit videos, generate scenes, add subtitles, and repurpose content for ads, vlogs, explainers, podcasts, and more.
What AI models does Async support for video generation?
Async supports multiple AI video generation models including Kling, Happy Horse, GPT Image 2, Nano Banana, Google Veo, Seedance 2.0, Sora 2, and Google Omni Flash. The availability depends on your subscription plan.
What are the pricing plans for Async?
Async, formerly Podcastle, is $0 on the Free plan with 10 lifetime AI credits, $11.99 a month for Essentials with 450 credits, $23.99 a month for Pro with 1,200 credits, and $49.99 per creator for Teams with 3,000 credits; Business is custom. Async says annual billing saves up to 40%.
Can I use Async for podcast recording and editing?
Yes, Async includes a recording studio and audio editor specifically for podcasts. It offers features like AI audio enhancement (Magic Dust, noise reduction, silence removal), AI transcription, and AI voice cloning. Users can record episodes and edit audio with AI assistance.
Key Takeaways
- Async is an AI video editor for creating, editing, and repurposing videos.
- It should be compared with related AI tools in the same category before buying.
- It delivers more value when connected to business systems and governed with human review.
Best Async Alternatives
- Castmagic Transcribes and repurposes recordings into blogs, newsletters, and social posts from one upload, rather than editing video directly in a browser.
- Wavve Turns audio into social video clips with AI highlights, captions and auto-resizing on a free plan with no credit card, differing from Async's browser-based prompt-based audio/video editor.
- Headliner Creates podcast videos and audiograms, transcribes in 100+ languages, and auto-posts to social media on free and paid plans.
- Riverside.fm Records high-quality remote podcasts with AI noise reduction and transcription on a free plan at $0/month, unlike Async's browser-based editor with prompt-based editing.
- Alitu Edits podcasts by transcript, cleans audio, and hosts free up to 1,000 downloads a month, with a 7-day free trial.
Bottom Line: Async suits teams that edit video and audio often. Compare plans by monthly AI credits, and keep a person reviewing output before publishing.
Reviewed by theaitoolsbox.com editorial team
Use Cases
AI video editing
Clip generation
Subtitle creation
Voiceover and dubbing
Video repurposing
Quick Answers
How much does Async's Essentials plan cost?
Async, formerly Podcastle, is $0 on the Free plan with 10 lifetime AI credits, $11.99 a month for Essentials with 450 credits, $23.99 a month for Pro with 1,200 credits, and $49.99 per creator for Teams with 3,000 credits; Business is custom. Async says annual billing saves up to 40%.
What is included in Async's free plan?
Async's free plan costs £0.00 and includes 10 lifetime AI credits, 1 hour of lifetime media uploads to AI chat, and chat-based video editing.
What is Async's Async feature?
Async's Async is a chat-based AI video editor that removes filler, pauses, and bad takes, cuts to the beat, and generates B-roll, voice, or music directly in chat.
Async (formerly Podcastle)
AI Podcasting Tools
Pricing Plans
Free
Basic features included
Free
$010 lifetime AI credits
Essentials
$11.99450 credits a month
Pro
$23.991,200 credits a month
Teams
$49.99 per creator3,000 credits a month
Business
CustomCustom pricing