DISKO

DISKO is a video-footage manager for Mac that pairs AI-assisted search with optional review and delivery tools. It suits filmmakers and production teams who need to find material across large projects and move selections into an edit. Its best argument is the combination of local analysis and production handoffs, though the Mac hardware requirement and separate Local and Cloud plans limit its reach.

Overview

DISKO organizes footage on an Apple Silicon Mac, running tagging, transcription, face recognition, and shot descriptions on the device. Projects upload only when you choose to sync them to DISKO Cloud, making local organization the default rather than a requirement to start with cloud storage. That distinction suits teams cautious about uploading footage, but it does not make every feature local: Make-a-Story sends project transcripts to the AI provider selected by the user with their own API key, location names are geocoded online, and bug reports send logs.

Visual, audio, and multimodal search give editors ways to find material by content rather than filenames alone. The desktop app plays ProRes, DNxHD, MXF, 10-bit HEVC, and formats FFmpeg can decode, with real-time LUT preview. It can also index and preview Google Drive clips without downloading originals until they are needed for editing, a useful middle ground for teams with cloud-stored footage.

Key features

Search through to the edit

DISKO exports selects, rough cuts, and multicamera sequences as XML for Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve. That makes search results more actionable for editors using either application, rather than leaving them as a separate reference library.

Review and client delivery

DISKO Cloud includes timestamped comments, frame drawing, synced side-by-side comparison, version stacking, branded client portals, and viewing analytics. These tools cover feedback and presentation as well as file sharing, so they are most useful when clients or collaborators need to review cuts remotely. Portfolio video pages can also be embedded in WordPress, Notion, and Squarespace.

Planning tools

Free account features include screenplay writing and shot lists, with screenplay imports for Final Draft, Fountain, and PDF. That gives a production team a way to connect planning material with its footage workflow without requiring a paid Cloud plan for those tools.

Pricing

DISKO has a free tier, a paid Cloud subscription, and a separate one-time Local license. The 30-day trial offers a chance to evaluate the paid service, while the plan choice determines whether the spend goes toward cloud collaboration or local storage.

• DISKO CLOUD Free: free. It includes 2 GB, screenwriting and shot-list tools, and review links. It is a sensible starting point for small projects or occasional sharing, but the 2 GB cap constrains footage-heavy use.
• DISKO CLOUD Pro: $12 a month, billed Founders rate locked for life; $15/mo after launch. It includes 100 GB, desktop sync, review links, client delivery, and free external reviewers. This is the stronger fit for teams that need cloud syncing and client-facing review; the 100 GB limit still matters for larger libraries.
• DISKO LOCAL: $99, paid once, billed Founders pricing; $149 after launch. It provides unlimited local storage and free updates for the current major version. It suits users who want a one-time local-storage purchase, but future major versions are paid upgrades and it does not include the Cloud Pro bundle.

External reviewers are free on Cloud Pro, which avoids adding a charge for each client who needs to comment. The trade-off is that storage remains capped at 100 GB, while Local avoids a storage cap but does not include cloud delivery tools.

Platforms

The desktop app requires an Apple Silicon Mac with an M1 chip or later. DISKO also has a web platform for its cloud-facing tools, but the footage manager is not a fit for Windows users or owners of older Macs. Email and live chat support are available, with DISKO saying it typically responds within a few hours.

Who it's for

DISKO is aimed at wedding and event filmmakers, documentary editors, YouTube teams, and commercial production. It makes the most sense for Mac-based video teams that need searchable footage, XML handoffs to Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve, and a way to collect client feedback. It is less suitable for people who need a Windows desktop manager, or who want a single plan combining unlimited storage with cloud review and delivery.

Pros and cons

• Pro: AI tagging, transcription, face recognition, and shot descriptions run on the Mac, so footage need not be uploaded for core analysis.
• Pro: XML exports for selects, rough cuts, and multicamera sequences connect search to Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve workflows.
• Pro: Google Drive clips can be indexed and previewed without downloading originals until editing requires them.
• Pro: Cloud Pro allows external reviewers at no charge, alongside client portals and viewing analytics.
• Con: The desktop app requires an M1-or-later Apple Silicon Mac, excluding Windows and older Mac hardware.
• Con: Cloud Pro has a 100 GB cap, while the unlimited-storage Local plan is a separate purchase without the stated Cloud Pro features.
• Con: Some privacy-sensitive operations still send data online: Make-a-Story transcripts go to the chosen AI provider, location names are geocoded, and bug reports send logs.

Alternatives

AI Video Search Tools is the broader category to compare if DISKO's Mac-and-production workflow is not the right fit.

• FrameQuery is worth considering if you need Windows, NAS sharing, or backup alongside Mac and web access; its free plan has no monthly indexing hours, while face, voice, and AI-tag search require indexed video.
• Cinestar is a free option for Linux or Mac users who prefer an open-source core; its local AI services require Ollama.
• Twelve Labs may suit API or web users who need a defined free video allowance: its free plan includes 600 minutes, 90-day index access, and limits of 10 hours and 100 videos per index, with five concurrent indexing tasks.
• ViSearch is an API, self-hosted, or web alternative with a free allowance of up to 20 minutes of video processing and a paid Basic option billed at $0.09/min.
• Vivu is a web and API alternative with a free plan offering 20 indexing minutes and 50 search credits per month.
• MomentSearch is another option for users comparing video search tools.
• Deepgrip is a paid alternative with a Starter plan at $399 a month, billed $4,788/year, for 200 indexed hours per month, 450 searches per month, and five seats.
• Coactive Content Discovery is another paid alternative for API or web access.

Verdict

Choose DISKO if you work on an M1-or-later Mac and want local footage analysis tied to editing handoffs and optional client review. Its strongest draw is a connected production workflow, from finding clips to sharing cuts. Look elsewhere if you need Windows support, or if your priority is combining unlimited storage and cloud collaboration in one plan.