Best AI Video Editing Apps (2026)
AI has fundamentally changed video editing — what once required hours of timeline work can now be done in minutes. From transcript-based editing that cuts video by deleting words, to one-click filler removal and AI-generated clips from long-form content, these tools are making professional video production accessible to any business.
| Tool | Best For | Free Plan | Paid From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Descript | Text-based editing + podcast production | Yes (1hr/mo) | $24/mo | 88 |
| Runway | AI video generation + advanced editing | Yes (125 credits) | $15/mo | 87 |
| Opus Clip | Auto-clipping long videos to short-form | Yes (limited) | $19/mo | 87 |
| Riverside.fm | Remote recording + AI editing | Yes (2hrs/mo) | $15/mo | 87 |
| HeyGen | AI avatar video creation | Yes (1 credit/mo) | $29/mo | 90 |
| Loom | Async screen recording + AI chapters | Yes (25 videos) | $15/mo | 87 |
#1 Descript 88/100 Best Text-Based Editor
Descript lets you edit video and podcast audio by editing the transcript — delete a word, the media is cut. Add AI voice cloning and one-click filler word removal and it’s the fastest editor for content teams.
Free plan: Yes — 1hr transcription/mo | Paid from: $24/mo
#2 HeyGen 90/100 Best AI Avatar Video
HeyGen lets you create professional talking-head videos with AI avatars — no camera, no studio. Used by marketing teams to produce localised, personalised video at scale.
Free plan: Yes — 1 free video/mo | Paid from: $29/mo
#3 Runway 87/100 Best AI Video Generation
Runway’s Gen-3 model generates high-quality video from text prompts and images — the most powerful AI video generation tool available for creative and marketing teams.
Free plan: Yes — 125 credits | Paid from: $15/mo
#4 Opus Clip 87/100 Best Short-Form Clip Generator
Opus Clip uses AI to find the most engaging moments in long-form video content and automatically clips, captions, and formats them for TikTok, Reels, and YouTube Shorts.
Free plan: Yes (limited clips) | Paid from: $19/mo
#5 Riverside.fm 87/100 Best Remote Recording + Editing
Riverside.fm records high-quality remote podcast and video interviews (4K, separate tracks) and includes AI tools for transcript-based editing, clip generation, and publishing.
Free plan: Yes — 2hrs/mo | Paid from: $15/mo
#6 Loom 87/100 Best Async Screen Recording
Loom is the easiest way to record and share screen recordings with your team — AI chapter detection, automatic transcription, and a viewer engagement tracker are all included.
Free plan: Yes — 25 videos | Paid from: $15/mo
What AI Video Tool Is Right for Your Business?
The right tool depends entirely on what kind of video you’re making. For editing existing footage (podcasts, interviews, webinars), Descript is the fastest and most innovative. For generating video content from scratch without cameras, HeyGen for spokesperson videos and Runway for creative campaigns. For repurposing long-form content into short-form social clips, Opus Clip.
FAQ
What is the best AI tool to edit videos automatically?
Descript is the best tool for automatic video editing — its transcript-based editing, filler word removal, and silence cutting are the most practical AI editing features available. Opus Clip is the best for automatically cutting long videos into short social clips.
Can AI generate video from text?
Yes — Runway Gen-3 and HeyGen both generate video from text prompts. Runway focuses on cinematic and creative video generation. HeyGen specialises in AI avatar spokesperson videos where an AI presenter reads your script on screen.
What is the best free AI video editing tool?
Descript’s free plan includes 1 hour of transcription-based editing per month. Runway’s free plan includes 125 credits (roughly 25 short video generations). Loom is free for up to 25 videos with no time limit per video.
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AI Video Generation Tools (2026)
Beyond editing, a new Wave of AI tools can generate video from scratch — from a text prompt or a still
image. These are now indispensable for marketers and content creators who need video without a camera or a crew.
| Tool | Best For | Free Plan | Paid From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sora | Cinematic text-to-video generation | No (ChatGPT Plus $20/mo) | $20/mo | 89 |
| Luma AI | AI video generation + 3D product capture | Yes (30 generations/mo) | $29.99/mo | 86 |
| Veed.io | Captions, avatars + social video editing | Yes (720p, watermarked) | $18/mo | 85 |
| Kling AI | Long-form video generation up to 3 minutes | Yes (daily credits) | $9.99/mo | 85 |
| Pika Labs | Image-to-video animation + creative effects | Yes (250 credits/mo) | $8/mo | 84 |
Which AI video generation tool should you choose?
- Best quality: Sora — if you’re already on ChatGPT Plus, it’s the most cinematic output available today
- Best free tier: Kling AI — daily free credits and a generous $9.99/mo paid plan
- Best for social content: Veed.io — auto-captions, templates, and avatar generation in one tool
- Best for e-commerce: Luma AI — 3D product capture turns product photos into immersive video
- Best for creative effects: Pika Labs — Pikaffects library lets you explode, melt, and transform any clip