5 Best AI Video Editors in 2026
Stop wasting hours on manual editing. These AI tools do 2 hours of work in 2 minutes — and they’re getting better than humans.
Traditional Video Editing is Nearly Dead
In 2026, spending hours moving keyframes manually isn’t dedication — it’s a waste of your most valuable resource: time. The content creators who are winning right now aren’t the best editors. They’re the ones who know how to leverage AI to produce more content, faster, without sacrificing quality.
Whether you’re a YouTuber struggling to keep up with the upload schedule, a marketer who needs to repurpose content across platforms, or a business owner creating video ads — these AI video editors will transform your workflow.
We’ve tested dozens of AI video editing tools and narrowed it down to 5 that actually deliver. Each tool serves a different purpose — from creating viral shorts to removing objects from footage. Let’s dive in.
5 Best AI Video Editors
Opus Clip
Turn Long Videos into Viral Shorts
What It Does
Stop manual clipping forever. Opus Clip takes one long YouTube video and automatically chops it into 10+ high-retention shorts. It uses AI to find the most engaging hooks, adds trendy captions, and even scores each clip’s virality potential so you know which ones to post first.
Best For
- YouTubers repurposing long-form content
- Podcast hosts creating clips
- Course creators making teasers
Key Features:
Descript
Edit Video Like a Word Document
What It Does
Stop scrubbing timelines. Descript transcribes your video and lets you edit by deleting text — the video frames follow automatically. It’s revolutionary: if you can use Google Docs, you can edit video. It also removes all your “ums” and “uhs” with a single click.
Best For
- Podcast and interview editing
- Beginners who hate traditional editing
- Anyone who says “um” too much
Key Features:
Submagic
Get the “Hormozi” Style in Seconds
What It Does
This is how you get the high-retention “Alex Hormozi” style in seconds. Submagic automatically adds trending captions, relevant b-roll, strategic zooms, and sound effects to keep viewers watching. It does 2 hours of After Effects work in literally 2 minutes.
Best For
- Short-form content creators
- Instagram Reels & TikTok creators
- Business owners making talking-head videos
Key Features:
Gling
Auto-Cut Silences & Bad Takes
What It Does
The most boring part of editing is cutting out silences and bad takes. Gling listens to your raw footage and automatically removes the junk, leaving you with a perfect conversational flow. It literally saves hours of tedious “cleaning” time on every single video.
Best For
- YouTubers with long raw footage
- Solo content creators
- Anyone filming without a teleprompter
Key Features:
Runway
Hollywood VFX in Your Browser
What It Does
This is for the heavy lifting. Need to remove a person from a shot? Change the background? Color grade using text prompts? Runway brings Hollywood-level VFX directly to your browser — no expensive hardware or software required. It’s AI magic for serious creators.
Best For
- Filmmakers and cinematographers
- Advanced content creators
- Music video and commercial producers
Key Features:
Quick Comparison Table
| Tool | Best Use Case | Skill Level | Starting Price | Time Saved |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opus Clip | Creating Shorts | Beginner | $15/mo | ~90% |
| Descript | Podcast/Interview | Beginner | Free/$12/mo | ~80% |
| Submagic | Viral Short-Form | Beginner | $29/mo | ~95% |
| Gling | Raw Footage Cleanup | Beginner | $8/mo or $49 | ~85% |
| Runway | VFX/Advanced | Intermediate | Free/$12/mo | ~75% |
AI Video Editor Calculator
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Pro Tips for AI Video Editing
Stack Multiple Tools
Use Gling to clean your raw footage first, then Submagic to add the finishing touches. Combining tools creates workflows that save even more time.
Start with Free Tiers
Most tools offer generous free plans. Test each one with real projects before committing to paid subscriptions. Your workflow will thank you.
Batch Your Processing
Upload multiple videos at once and let AI work while you focus on other tasks. This is the real productivity hack that pros use.
Export for Fine-Tuning
Most AI tools export to Premiere, Final Cut, or DaVinci. Use AI for 80% of the work, then add your personal touch manually.
Learning Resources
Video Tutorials
Each tool mentioned has excellent YouTube tutorials. Search “[Tool Name] tutorial 2026” for the latest guides.
Watch Our GuideWorkflow Templates
Most tools offer templates and presets. Start with these before creating custom workflows from scratch.
Available in each toolCommunity Support
Join Discord/Facebook communities for each tool. Real creators share tips that aren’t in official docs.
Free to joinQuick Learning Path
Pick ONE tool to master first
Complete 5 projects with it
Add a second tool to your stack
Build your custom workflow
Frequently Asked Questions
Explore More on Asthetic Life
Share This Guide
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Video Editing is nearly a dead skill 💀
In 2026, moving keyframes manually is a waste of life.
Here are 5 AI editors that are faster and better than you 👇
1️⃣ OPUS CLIP – Auto-clips viral shorts
2️⃣ DESCRIPT – Edit like a Word doc
3️⃣ SUBMAGIC – Hormozi style in seconds
4️⃣ GLING – Cuts silences automatically
5️⃣ RUNWAY – Hollywood VFX in browser
Full guide: astheticlife.com/5-best-ai-video-editors
Ready to Transform Your Video Editing?
Stop spending hours on manual editing. Start creating more content with less effort today.
