Of the 4 AI video editing tools we rank, Descript is our top pick at 8.5 out of 10. If you are new to this, start with CapCut. If you are experienced, try DaVinci Resolve. Descript: Free plan for text-based editing and trying the AI tools.
AI has made video editing much faster: automatic captions, editing by transcript and clips generated from text. Here's what to use, depending on how far you want to go.
Last checked : free plans and prices on each maker's own pricing page.
Every tool at a glance. Select a name to jump to our full review.
| Rank | Tool | Score | Best for | Learn it free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DescriptDescript | 8.5 / 10 | Good for everyone | Maker's own tutorials |
| 2 | CapCutByteDance | 8.3 / 10 | Best for beginners | Maker's own tutorials |
| 3 | RunwayRunway | 8.0 / 10 | Good for everyone | Generative AI for Everyone |
| 4 | DaVinci ResolveBlackmagic Design | 7.9 / 10 | Best for experts | Maker's own tutorials |
What each tool is good for, the catch, what it costs and the free course that teaches it.
Descript
You edit the video by editing its transcript, like a document. For talking-head videos and podcasts, nothing is quicker to learn.
No free course we'd recommend yet. You'll learn this one fastest by using it, and the maker's own tutorials are the best place to start.
ByteDance
The quickest way to make short vertical videos look polished, with automatic captions and templates doing most of the work.
No free course we'd recommend yet. You'll learn this one fastest by using it, and the maker's own tutorials are the best place to start.
Runway
The place to experiment with generating video from text or images. It's impressive, and still best for short clips and ideas.
Blackmagic Design
A professional editor with AI-assisted features built in. It has a steep learning curve and a lot of depth once you're over it.
No free course we'd recommend yet. You'll learn this one fastest by using it, and the maker's own tutorials are the best place to start.
The reviewed free courses that teach the skills behind these tools.
What large language models can actually do for you and your team, without writing a line of code. Andrew Ng teaches it in 6 hours on Coursera, certificate paid.
Our top pick is Descript (8.5/10), followed by CapCut and Runway. You edit the video by editing its transcript, like a document. For talking-head videos and podcasts, nothing is quicker to learn.
Start with CapCut, then try Descript. The quickest way to make short vertical videos look polished, with automatic captions and templates doing most of the work.
DaVinci Resolve is our pick for experienced users, with Descript close behind. A professional editor with AI-assisted features built in. It has a steep learning curve and a lot of depth once you're over it.
It's built for speech-led videos. Heavy visual effects work belongs in a traditional editor.
Yes. We recommend Generative AI for Everyone (DeepLearning.AI). Each one is free and reviewed on FreeAICourses.com.
Descript, CapCut, Runway and DaVinci Resolve have a free plan or free version.
Every course we link is free and reviewed. Browse the full catalogue to find one at your level.
