Best AI for video editing
Descript leads on workflow speed for traditional editing, Runway on AI-generated effects, and Opus Clip on automated repurposing.
Descript's core idea is editing by editing text: cut a word from the transcript and the matching audio or video disappears with it, which turns rough interview or tutorial footage into a clean cut without touching a traditional timeline. Filler-word removal, speaker detection, and Studio Sound cleanup all run on top of that same transcript-first workflow, and plans start at $16 a month billed annually. Runway takes the opposite approach: instead of editing existing footage, it generates new material. Its Gen-4.5 model produces watermark-free video from a text prompt, Aleph handles video-to-video edits like background swaps, and the $12-a-month Standard plan is enough for someone testing whether AI-generated B-roll can replace a stock footage subscription. Opus Clip solves a third problem entirely: turning one long video into several short ones. Its ClipAnything model scans a full recording for the moments most likely to work as a standalone clip, adds captions in more than 25 languages, and reformats everything for TikTok, Reels, and Shorts automatically.
Match the tool to the footage you're starting with. Editing what you already recorded points to Descript, generating what you don't have points to Runway, and repurposing a long recording into clips points to Opus Clip.
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Edit video by editing text — the fastest AI-powered video editor for interviews, tutorials, and talking-head content
Descript is a versatile tool designed for video and audio editing, allowing users to edit content by manipulating text. It is ideal for content creators, podcasters, and marketers looking to streamline their production process.
Generative AI effects for background removal, B-roll generation, and motion graphics that would otherwise require specialist skills
Runway is an AI video creation suite built for professional video editors, offering generative video, inpainting, motion tools, and style transfer integrated into production workflows.
AI that finds, trims, and reformats your best moments for short-form platforms automatically
Opus Clip is an AI tool designed for creating and editing videos and text content. It is suitable for content creators, marketers, and educators looking to enhance their multimedia projects efficiently.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest way to try AI video editing tools?
All three have a free tier worth testing before paying. Descript's free plan works for short projects but limits media hours, Runway gives a one-time allocation of 125 credits with watermarked output, and Opus Clip's free tier includes 60 credits a month with a watermark on exported clips.
Can AI generate video from scratch, or does it only edit existing footage?
Runway can do both. Its Gen-4.5 model generates original video from a text prompt, while its Aleph tool edits and modifies footage you already have. Descript and Opus Clip only work with footage you provide; neither generates new video content.
What's the best AI tool for turning a podcast into short clips?
Opus Clip. It's built specifically for repurposing long recordings, using its ClipAnything model to find moments likely to perform well as standalone clips, then auto-captioning and reformatting them for vertical platforms. Descript can do a similar job manually through its transcript editor, but Opus Clip automates the moment-finding step.
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