Why this matters before you switch tools
Video tools hold three kinds of work: source media you uploaded, the edit itself, and finished exports or hosted links. Each vendor treats them differently when you cancel, downgrade, go inactive or delete your account. This guide compares what six vendors' own help pages and policies said on 30 October 2026. Where a page was silent, the table says not stated rather than guessing. This is not legal advice; privacy law where you live can give you more rights.
What you can download
| Vendor | Finished video | Sources and project | Text |
|---|---|---|---|
| Descript | Video and GIF export; audio export | Project backup file (.debackup) via Help and feedback, Debug, Export project backup | Transcript as .html, .md, .docx, .txt or .rtf |
| Riverside | Edited exports | Each participant's track: raw or aligned video, raw or compressed audio, within your plan's download hours | Not covered in the track download article |
| FlexClip | Exports as normal | Not stated in the pages we read | Not covered in the pages cited here |
| CapCut | Exports as normal | Terms tell you to keep your own copies of uploaded content | Not stated |
| Filmora | Exports as normal | Not stated in the pages we read | Not stated |
| Screen Studio | MP4 and GIF export | Projects saved on your Mac; Export, Extract raw recording files gives the original screen, camera and mic tracks | Not applicable |
After you cancel, downgrade or go inactive
- Sources: Descript [3], Riverside [7][8], FlexClip [12], CapCut [13], Filmora [16], Screen Studio [17][18].
- Riverside's inactivity rule applies only to free plans, and a cancelled paid plan becomes free. Logging in, recording, sharing or exporting resets the clock; reading Riverside emails does not. [7]
| Vendor | What happens to your work | Time limit stated |
|---|---|---|
| Descript | Plan runs to end of cycle, then the Drive moves to Free; existing projects remain accessible, missing features stop working | None stated for media |
| Riverside | Downgrades take effect at the end of the billing period; prior recordings are not deleted; Riverside recommends downloading separate tracks and exports before the cycle ends | Free accounts inactive for at least 120 days are deleted with their content |
| FlexClip | Free keeps 12 online projects; extra projects are locked, not deleted; uploaded Cloud Space files are removed if you do not renew | Cloud Space files: 3 months after expiry |
| CapCut | Downgraded to free services after the paid period; cloud storage capacity is suspended; content over your entitlement may be deleted, with advance notice on a commercially reasonable efforts basis | Not stated |
| Filmora | Paid plans list 1 GB or 10 GB cloud storage, and Wondershare says cloud storage requires an upgrade | Not stated |
| Screen Studio | Files stay on your Mac; terms say the right to use the product ends on termination | Not applicable to local files |
Deleting your account
- Sources: Descript [1], Riverside [6], FlexClip [11], CapCut [13][14], Wondershare [15], Screen Studio [18].
- Descript trash: deleted projects can be restored for up to 30 days and the trash cannot be emptied on demand. Only projects go to trash; folders and media library files do not. [2]
- Riverside: removed files generally cannot be recovered; support may help depending on time passed, with no guarantee. [9]
- If you might be owed a Descript refund, contact support before deleting, because deletion does not trigger one. [1]
| Vendor | How | Reversible? | What goes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Descript | Settings, Profile, Delete account; remove team members first | No, irreversible | All projects, compositions, media, Drives you own, transcripts, invoices and receipts; active plan cancelled immediately with no refund triggered |
| Riverside | Settings, Profile, Delete, then email verification | No; assets cannot be recovered | Account assets; hosted podcasts and their RSS feeds, usually within 24 hours |
| FlexClip | My Account, Account, Delete Account, then emailed code (desktop only) | Yes, by logging in within 14 days | Permanent after 14 days; the article does not list what is removed |
| CapCut | Manage account page in the app, or CapCut’s US privacy request webform | No reactivation or data retrieval | Account data and content you uploaded or shared |
| Filmora (Wondershare) | Email the privacy address in Wondershare's privacy policy with the request and identity details | Not stated | Personal data, except where the law gives grounds to keep it |
| Screen Studio | Not described in the terms; the terms give a support email address for subscription and cancellation questions | Not stated | Local files are yours to delete |
Privacy requests and retention policies
CapCut's US privacy policy says information is kept as long as needed to provide the services, that retention periods differ by type of information, and that Cloud Space uploads are deleted at your request or as the law permits. Requests to know, access, correct or delete go through CapCut’s US privacy request webform and are verified from your account email. [14]
Wondershare's policy says data is deleted or anonymized when you deactivate your account, request deletion or the retention period ends, with exceptions such as legal, audit and dispute needs. It offers access to a copy of your data, where applicable in a portable, machine-readable format. [15]
Worked example: leaving one tool for another
Say you have 40 Riverside interviews and a Descript Drive with 25 edited episodes, and you are moving to a new editor.
Riverside first: download each participant's track while you still have download hours, plus final exports, before the billing period ends, since that is when the downgrade lands. [8][10] Then log in at least every few months or the free account counts as inactive after 120 days. [7]
Descript second: export finished videos, transcripts and a project backup for anything you may reopen, then decide whether to keep the free Drive. Projects remain accessible on Free, so there is no rush to delete; deletion would remove everything at once and cannot be undone. [1][3][4]
Exit checklist
- List every project you may reopen and every finished file you need.
- Download originals and finals while the paid plan is active.
- Save transcripts and subtitle files as text, not only inside the editor.
- Back up to two places, one off your laptop.
- Note the dates: FlexClip Cloud Space removal 3 months after expiry, Riverside free inactivity 120 days, Descript trash 30 days, FlexClip deletion window 14 days. [12][7][2][11]
- Only then cancel, and delete the account last.
Questions before you decide
Can I undo deleting my Descript account?
No. Descript says account deletion is irreversible and removes all projects, compositions, media, transcripts, invoices and receipts. Deleted projects inside an active account can be restored from Trash for up to 30 days.
What happens to my FlexClip files when my subscription expires?
FlexClip says free accounts keep 12 online projects and extra projects are locked, not deleted. Uploaded Cloud Space files are removed 3 months after expiry if you do not renew, and you would need to relink them.
Does Riverside delete inactive accounts?
Yes, for free plans. Riverside says an account not used for at least 120 days is inactive and is deleted with its content. Paid Pro, Grow, Webinar and Business plans are excluded.
Can I restore a deleted FlexClip account?
Yes, briefly. FlexClip says you can restore the account by logging in within 14 days of the deletion request, after which it is permanently deleted.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- Descript Help: Delete your account Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Descript Help: Delete and restore projects Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Descript Help: Downgrade or cancel a subscription Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Descript Help: Project backups Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Descript Help: Export a transcript Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Riverside Support: Delete Riverside account Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Riverside Support: Inactive Account Policy Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Riverside Support: What happens when I change my subscription? Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Riverside Support: Can I recover files I remove from Riverside? Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Riverside Support: Download high-quality tracks Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- FlexClip Help: How to delete or deactivate my account Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- FlexClip Help: What happens when my video editor subscription expires Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- CapCut: Terms of Service Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- CapCut: Privacy Policy Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Wondershare: Privacy Policy Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Filmora: Plans and pricing Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Screen Studio: Homepage Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Screen Studio: Terms of Service Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Screen Studio Guide: Extracting raw recording files Accessed 30 Oct 2026
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