I Built a Free Podcast Script Generator (Because Descript Charges $9/month)

Last month I was helping a friend prepare for their podcast debut. We needed episode scripts, show notes, and outlines — basically the holy trinity of podcast production.

Descript offered to do it all. For $9/month.

I closed the tab. Opened a text editor. Built something better in an afternoon.

The Problem

Descript is great for video editing. But for podcast scripting and show notes? It's overkill — and the pricing is brutal.

• $9/month just for scripting features
• Per-seat pricing means your team size drives cost
• Cloud-only — no offline access, no privacy
• Watermarked exports unless you pay for the higher tier

For a podcaster who just needs scripts and show notes, that's $108/year. For a tool that basically formats text.

What I Built

Podcast Episode Script Generator — a completely free, zero-signup, browser-based podcast tool.

• Script Generation — Full episode scripts with intro, segments, and outro. Choose your tone and length.
• Show Notes — Structured show notes with timestamps, key takeaways, and quotes.
• Episode Outlines — Quick outlines with timing breakdown. Plan before you record.
• Live Preview — See your content update as you generate.
• Instant PDF Download — Clean, print-ready PDFs. No watermark, no paywall.
• Works Offline — Once loaded, no internet required.
• No Data Collection — Everything stays in your browser.

The whole thing is vanilla HTML/CSS/JS. Under 300 lines. That's it.

Why It Matters

Podcast tools shouldn't be a subscription trap. Every podcaster needs scripts and show notes. That shouldn't cost $108/year.

The fact that this exists at all is kind of wild. You can generate professional scripts, show notes, and outlines — all in your browser, for zero dollars. No upsell. No "upgrade to premium." Just... done.

The Tech

• Frontend: Vanilla HTML/CSS/JS — no framework needed
• Generation: Template-based client-side logic — no API keys, no external services
• PDF: window.print() — zero dependencies, clean output
• Hosting: Static files on nginx
• Deploy: One rsync, done

Open Source

It's all on GitHub — fork it, improve it, run it yourself. If you're a podcaster who's ever been frustrated by per-seat pricing for basic scripting tools, go build something better. It's faster than you think.

Try it: tools.jackgreen.top/podcast-episode-script-show-notes-outline-generator-as-a/