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The Best AI Video Editors for 2026

These tools take over annoying editing tasks and give videos that extra sprinkle!
Author image blue planet
Lili Marocsik
January 28, 2026

TL;DR

AI Video Editors - What they do

AI Video Editors make the editing process super easy, also for non-professional editors, provide a large stock free video library, and are famous for filters, effects, and crazy elements. AI Video Editors/Video Creators are a subsection of video generators and focus on the editing instead of the generation part. The most common use cases for AI Video Editors are creating social media videos, ads, UGC videos, website content, or eCommerce videos. Social media creators will have a special place in their heart for these tools, because they save so much time during the creation process. Before, editing was complicated, especially for beginners and required expensive video editing software.

Mobile apps: With TikTok and videos' popularity on social media, another form developed: Mobile apps with video editing functions, focused on adding effects, copy and filters to your recorded material. Making it easy to post right away from the palm of your hand. Fun features such as “Make me age” or infinite zoom (Videoleap) can be found here, too.

AI Video Editors on Desktop: Tools like DaVinci Resolve or Movavi run on your local desktop and therefore have no loading times or glitches as the cloud-based video editors tend to do. You can still push videos straight onto social platforms, but TikTokers will probably prefer the "handy" Capcut ;) Davinci for example only offers AI features on the paid plan, which we punished with a lower ranking because we're looking at this category from the lense of a small business owner who wants to leverage free plans as much as possible.

The Best AI Video Editors in a Nutshell

The most famous AI Video Editors are Capcut, Canva and Veed, but not necessarily the best!
Let me take you through a quick overview of video editors / creators and what I find special about them:

Descript is currently my very favorite AI video editor, because its AI features are so advanced and save a crazy amount of time. It's tailored towards creators who are a lot in front of the camera, because the AI can remove filler words, retakes and correct eyes perfectly. I'm using it for all my videos on the website now and wouldn't want to miss it anymore. I'm guessing that I'm saving about 80% on editing time now with it.

VEED is an incredibly AI toolbox for video creators, it's the equivalent of Canva for video for me, due to it's extemely wide palette of features. I see them constantly adding new gimmicks, effects and other helpful products for creators of all types.

Canva): I love how it allows me to add so many different design elements to my videos; the sheer variety is unique. They also have so many app integrations within their tool, there is hardly something I wasn't able to find yet. The only reason it's not in the top 5 yet, is that the core video editor is still not up to par IMO. It's a bit annoying to edit videos with canva, assembling material of all types, is awesome though!

Capcut is a famous video editing tool too, especially because it is the default software for TikTok videos and most teens will have this app on their phone. But you have to be careful, in January 2025, the US government blocked CapCut for a short time as part of their efforts to ban TikTok and CapCut was removed from US app stores because its owner, ByteDance (the same company that owns TikTok), didn't sell its US operations by the government's deadline. During this time, video creators couldn't access their CapCut videos or download the app. So if you rely on your videos making your living, I would recommend to go with another company.

The Future of Video Editors

When I spoke to Vikram Chalana, the CEO of Pictory, he told me that they were testing different video GenAI tools, because by end of 2025 they are planning to add a video generations capability. This would mean that Pictory would almost become a one-stop-shop: a video generator with almost all capabilities. If they now also integrate AI avatars as well, they could rule the video world. 
It will be interesting to see which side will win in the end: Tools like Runway starting to improve their editing process, or video creation software like Canva to integrate prompt-to-video features.
In the meantime, we can all benefit from the battle among video editor companies, by cashing in free AI video credits from each of them. All AI video editing tools offer generous free trials.

Use Cases for The Best AI Tools of

AI Video Editor

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Best AI Video Editor for Social Media
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Descript
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Best AI Video Editor on mobile
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Capcut
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Most versatile AI Video Editor
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Veed.io
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Best AI Video Editor for script generation
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LTX Studio
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Best AI Video Editor for effects and filters
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Canva (Video)
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Best AI Video Editor for Removing Filler Words
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Descript

Quick Overview of the Best AI Tools

#
Tool name
Best Pro
Biggest Con
Free Trial
1
AI features work incredibly well
It would be great if we could switch off eye correction for certain sections
With basic editing features
2
Price is very competitve
Have recently deleted some of my favorite features (e.g. eye correction)
Code '1monthfree'
3
Easy to use
Uncertainty about the scope of the free plan
7 days
4
Many great features
Free trial turns into paid signup if not cancelled
7 Days
5
Changes format automatically for you
Install time is longer than average
7 days
6
Despite low audio quality, the VO sounds rather real than other tools
Long loading times
10 mins/wk
7
Offers lots of apps within the tool for special features
Can be overwhelming to beginners
Free Tier
8
Free version available
Powerful tool, but overkill for non-professionals who just want to make some simple edits
Free version available
9
Ease of use, very uncomplicated
Sign in gets stuck at times
14 days

AI Video Editor

Comparison

1
Best Tool for:
AI Video Editor
Descript
Score 
4.75
/
5
Tool Performance
5/5
Setup/Onboarding
5/5
User Experience
4/5
Prompt Coherence
0/5
AI Capabilities
5/5
Voice Quality
0/5
Lip Sync & Motion
0/5
Music Quality
0/5
Image Quality
0/5
Design Capabilities
0/5
Descript Blog Post
Descript - Blog Post
Descript - Blog Post
Descript - Blog Post
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Pros:
AI features work incredibly well
Descript saves content creators so much time
Remove Retakes feature is unique, I didn't see this anywhere else
Intiutive dashboard
Cons:
It would be great if we could switch off eye correction for certain sections
Monthly price starting from:
$16
For Who?
Creators who are a lot in front of the camera or creators who want to use dubbing
Free Trial
With basic editing features

I really like Descript, it's just so easy to use and its AI works so well! In my test, I used a 4-minute content video comparing Gamma and Canva, and I focused on core video editing features. The AI tools like Edit for Clarity, Studio Sound, Remove Filler Words, and Remove Retakes worked very well and leave very little work for the video editor. Eye Contact was a unique bonus, though a bit quirky at times, because when I think about what to say, I tend to look up, and seeing my eyes corrected in these instances is hilarious. Overall, I think Descript is perfect for content creators, podcasters, and anyone who wants to save time with easy, AI-powered video editing that improves existing footage without heavy manual work. In the end this is what will put creators ahead (next to their personality) : If you can create more content because you're not slowed down through the editing process, you have found a real lever.

Tested Model:
Last test:
November 19, 2025
2
Best Tool for:
Veed.io
Score 
4.75
/
5
Tool Performance
5/5
Setup/Onboarding
5/5
User Experience
4/5
Prompt Coherence
0/5
AI Capabilities
5/5
Voice Quality
0/5
Lip Sync & Motion
0/5
Music Quality
0/5
Image Quality
0/5
Design Capabilities
0/5
Veed.io Dashboard
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Pros:
Price is very competitve
Voice clone feature is quite good
No Hiccups (like other tools)
Huge variety of features
Cons:
Have recently deleted some of my favorite features (e.g. eye correction)
Text-to-video feature rather weak
Dashboard could be more intuitive
Monthly price starting from:
$19
For Who?
Anyone looking for a tool with a huge variety of features, mostly for editing for social media
Free Trial
Code '1monthfree'

I really like this tool! It feels like a canva for video on steroids. I'm bedazzled by their voice cloning feature and for this list of key features I included the best because it's just so long. Veed.io is so versatile and easy to handle, it's great for video editing beginners and social media creators! Also if you are a creator who lost access to capcut due to the TikTok issues with the US, this is a great alternative for you.

Tested Model:
Last test:
November 10, 2025
3
Best Tool for:
Capcut
Score 
4.5
/
5
Tool Performance
4/5
Setup/Onboarding
5/5
User Experience
4/5
Prompt Coherence
0/5
AI Capabilities
5/5
Voice Quality
0/5
Lip Sync & Motion
0/5
Music Quality
0/5
Image Quality
0/5
Design Capabilities
0/5
CapCut Dashboard
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Pros:
Easy to use
Free AI video generator plan
Mobile app available
Cons:
Uncertainty about the scope of the free plan
Script to video created something unusable
Monthly price starting from:
$9.99
For Who?
TikTokers and people who want to edit on their phone
Free Trial
7 days

I had read that Capcut is under the 5 most used AI apps, so naturally I had to add it in. This tool is absolutely tailored to creators and TikTok, I guess that's where the top 5 comes from. For our purposes, it's good but nothing I recommend getting the premium package for. And: this is what the kids use to create their TikTok videos, so I assume the free trial is very extensive, they just don't communicate when it ends.

Tested Model:
Last test:
November 10, 2025
4
Best Tool for:
Videoleap (Lightricks)
Score 
4.25
/
5
Tool Performance
4/5
Setup/Onboarding
3/5
User Experience
5/5
Prompt Coherence
0/5
AI Capabilities
5/5
Voice Quality
0/5
Lip Sync & Motion
0/5
Music Quality
0/5
Image Quality
0/5
Design Capabilities
0/5
VideoLeap Mobile App Dashboard
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Pros:
Many great features
No bugs
Easy interface
Fast rendering
Cons:
Free trial turns into paid signup if not cancelled
Monthly price starting from:
$7.99
For Who?
Fans of gimmicky AI features who want to edit on their phone
Free Trial
7 Days

I tested the Videoleap app from Lightricks, which allows you to play with existing clips, cut and combine them easily straight on your phone. The features I loved: Skipping silence saves tons of time, and my AI voice avatar is impressive. Infinite zoom out is fun, but use cases might be limited, and it didn't 100% fit my original picture. To create my voice avatar, I just had to speak for 1 min 40, and after 30min it sent me my perfect voice clone. Damn, I guess now Videoleap can deepfake me, because it turned out pretty good!

Tested Model:
Last test:
November 10, 2025
5
Best Tool for:
Movavi
Score 
4
/
5
Tool Performance
4/5
Setup/Onboarding
4/5
User Experience
5/5
Prompt Coherence
0/5
AI Capabilities
3/5
Voice Quality
0/5
Lip Sync & Motion
0/5
Music Quality
0/5
Image Quality
0/5
Design Capabilities
0/5
Movavi Dashboard
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Pros:
Changes format automatically for you
Great background remover with fast and accurate modes
Clean, intuitive interface
Strong music and sound library
Fun and usable effects packs
Cons:
Install time is longer than average
No built-in stock video footage
Guide is overly basic
Monthly price starting from:
$19.95
For Who?
For editors looking for a mix between new AI driven tools and a solid desktop application
Free Trial
7 days

Movavi is a very solid video editor that runs locally via app on your computer. The special features like the special effects, filters and effect packs are a lot of fun to play with and find a lot of real life applications for social media videos. You can upload your videos straight to TikTok, YouTube, or your Google Drive.

Tested Model:
Last test:
November 10, 2025
6
Best Tool for:
Invideo
Score 
4
/
5
Tool Performance
3/5
Setup/Onboarding
5/5
User Experience
4/5
Prompt Coherence
0/5
AI Capabilities
4/5
Voice Quality
0/5
Lip Sync & Motion
0/5
Music Quality
0/5
Image Quality
0/5
Design Capabilities
0/5
Invideo Dashboard
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Pros:
Despite low audio quality, the VO sounds rather real than other tools
Images fit the content well
Download in 1080p
Cons:
Long loading times
Not using videos, but only stock images
Prompts not completely followed
A black box that can only be influenced by prompts (which it doesn't really follow)
Monthly price starting from:
$35
For Who?
Free Trial
10 mins/wk

Damn InVideo, this was supposed to be a collage with the complete copy… You just shortened the heck out of my script! A classic example of how the technology is just not ready to create both at once: script and video. I prefer to control one factor and let the tool do the other well.

Tested Model:
Last test:
November 7, 2025
7
Best Tool for:
Canva (Video)
Score 
4
/
5
Tool Performance
4/5
Setup/Onboarding
4/5
User Experience
3/5
Prompt Coherence
0/5
AI Capabilities
5/5
Voice Quality
0/5
Lip Sync & Motion
0/5
Music Quality
0/5
Image Quality
0/5
Design Capabilities
0/5
Canva Video Dashboard
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Pros:
Offers lots of apps within the tool for special features
Huge library of elements for animations
Generous Free Plan
Video editing simple enough for beginners
Features like magic expand and magic grab make editing have less limitations
Cons:
Can be overwhelming to beginners
Not all apps work properly
Video editing limited
When adding a video within the video time line, it often gets stuck
Monthly price starting from:
$15
For Who?
Anyone already using Canva, for everybody else there are better alternatives for AI video editing
Free Trial
Free Tier

I love canva in general. It's just such a versatile tool that made us all feel like we could all the sudden design things with their templates. For video editing I like that it has so many elements to choose from: graphics, videos, frames, AI voices, AI generated images. Their background remover is great and features like magic expand or magic grab truly make the magic happen. The rating here is more due to very limited editing features.

Tested Model:
Last test:
November 10, 2025
8
Best Tool for:
DaVinci Resolve
Score 
3
/
5
Tool Performance
5/5
Setup/Onboarding
2/5
User Experience
2/5
Prompt Coherence
0/5
AI Capabilities
3/5
Voice Quality
0/5
Lip Sync & Motion
0/5
Music Quality
0/5
Image Quality
0/5
Design Capabilities
0/5
Davinci Resolve Dashboard
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Pros:
Free version available
Big variety of professional features like colour grading, special effects, motion graphics etc.
Can export straight to Youtube
Cons:
Powerful tool, but overkill for non-professionals who just want to make some simple edits
Doesn't accept all file formats (codecs)
No mobile app
Free version doesn't include any AI
Monthly price starting from:
$295
For Who?
Best for editing professionals or people who need more than simple editing features.
Free Trial
Free version available

Don't get me wrong: I acknowledge that DaVinci Resolve is a super powerful tool and that many professionals use it. But in this comparison, I'm looking for the easy to handle and AI focued video editors small business owners and creators can use without much fluff. Therefore I'm placing DaVinci on a lower position, its learning curve is just much steeper than with Descript, Veed or Capcut. And the free plan doesn't include any AI features (therefore I gave it only 3 points for AI capabilities).
The first big difference is that it's not a cloud-based service but a downloadable program, so say goodbye to editing on your phone. My next hurdle is that DaVinci Resolve requires videos in certain formats and my mp4 clips for some reason don't cut it (perplexity tells me this is a common issue because not all mp4 codecs are compatible). So I resave my video with VLC player but there are still complications. Once I can upload my video I am reminded of my early days editing videos with Filmora, another free old school editing tool. But I'm also reminded why our cloud based modern tool were created for non-professionals: because Davinci and co. are an overkill for us.

Tested Model:
DaVinci Resolve 20
Last test:
January 29, 2026
9
Best Tool for:
Pictory
Score 
3.25
/
5
Tool Performance
2/5
Setup/Onboarding
5/5
User Experience
2/5
Prompt Coherence
0/5
AI Capabilities
4/5
Voice Quality
0/5
Lip Sync & Motion
0/5
Music Quality
0/5
Image Quality
0/5
Design Capabilities
0/5
Pictory Dashboard
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Pros:
Ease of use, very uncomplicated
Free AI video generator credit 10min video per month
AI voice over quality is great
Huge royalty free library
Most solid AI video generator with no bugs
Cons:
Sign in gets stuck at times
Sometimes videos or pictures doesn't match with the scripts
No AI-generated "talking head" videos
No pre-set aspect ratio before video creation
Monthly price starting from:
$25
For Who?
Free Trial
14 days

I've been following Pictory almost from day 1, and have used it a lot for editing social media videos. I still like it a lot, but I feel like Veed.io has worked harder on their product in the meantime. There are still small technical glitches with Pictory which don't directly affect your video but might be annoying for the user. But overall, it's a really good tool with a huge free stock library and my favorite for automatic subtitles. But recently I've been editing more with Veed.io.

Tested Model:
Last test:
November 10, 2025

Did you know?

Author image blue planet
Lili Marocsik
Author image blue planet
Author:
Lili Marocsik
Lili remembers the excitement of discovering the internet at 14 — a true window to the world. The AI boom now feels just as thrilling. Since 2023, she's tested many AI tools, seeing the good, the bad and the ugly (especially at the beginning). Before AI, she worked as a video marketer, crafting YouTube Ads for HelloFresh and Revolut. She believes AI should empower people, leading her to build this site for SMEs. When not exploring AI, she enjoys her 30 plants and modern art.

FAQ

AI Video Editor

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