We get it. You can’t hire a video creation company every time you want a video for social media. That’s just not feasible for most brands. Yet, DIY video creation can be time consuming. Strike a balance with this list of some of our favorite AI video tools. They speed up and simplify the video creation and editing process, freeing your marketing team to focus on other things.
Some of these ai-powered tools are purpose built for just one function, others have a whole editing suite built in. We’ll give you a quick peek at what we think each of these AI tools does best.
1. ElevenLabs for Voiceover
When we compared AI voiceover generators, ElevenLabs delivered the highest quality voices and customization features at the lowest cost. It’s also simple and intuitive to use. Just upload your script, pick a voice from the thousands of options, and make any tweaks you want. Speed, style exaggeration, and other settings give you pretty good control over the end result.
ElevenLabs has a few other features we haven’t fully tested yet, including custom voices, sound effects generation and script translation. Whether using this or any other AI translator, try to find a fluent speaker who can verify that nothing was lost in translation.
As for cost, there’s a free option of ElevenLabs that allows you to generate about 10 minutes of audio to get a sense of the tool. Beyond that, plans start at $5 per month and go up to $1300+ depending on how much voiceover you need.
2. CapCut for video editing
CapCut is a video editing app for mobile that is owned by Bytedance, the company that owns TikTok. It includes basic editing tools and templates, as well as the AI assisted editor AutoCut. With AutoCut, you can drop in a video, then choose from a menu of templates organized by category. Templates apply effects, sounds, graphics and b-roll clips to give your video that TikTok style. It’s ideal for quick video editing and retouching.
Although the basic features are available for free, several AI features require at least the standard subscription. A few are limited to pro users. These include text-to-image generation, teleprompter, and the AI posting tool. The standard plan is $11.99 per month and comes with 550 monthly credits and 100GB of storage. The pro plan is $23.99 per month and is available for desktop and web as well as mobile. It comes with 1200 monthly credits and 1 TB of space.
3. Descript for Sound Clean Up
Descript offers a whole range of AI-powered video editing features, but we particularly like their sound cleanup tools known as Studio Sound. It’s ideal if you have a lot of background noise or don’t have access to a quality microphone. Studio Sound automatically applies the cleanup tools to the entire audio file, and you have access to a few basic settings that offer some control over the level of filtering.
To get access to studio sound you’ll need a subscription to Descript. Plans start at $24 per month but you can save 50% with an annual subscription. There is also a free plan that lets you test out the tools before committing.
4. Pictory for Making Videos from Other Content
Pictory uses AI to turn text, PowerPoint slides, images, or web pages into a video. It also includes a Video Highlights feature that turns long-form videos into shorter snippets. AI voices, music, and matched visuals deliver a video that fits right in on social media.
Subscriptions to Pictory start at $25 per month, but you get a discount for paying annually, bringing the price down to $19. This includes 200 video minutes, access to a stock-video library and all the basic AI tools. Unfortunately, the automatic video highlights function does not come with the Starter plan. You’ll have to upgrade to the Professional plan at $39 per month billed annually.
5. Wisecut for Making Shorts
Wisecut is a purpose-built tool for turning long-form videos into short clips. Just copy and paste a link to a long-form video (generally 10 minutes long or more). The tool will scan through the video and find sections that it deems “viral-worthy.” The process takes time, but you can close the page and come back when you get an email saying it’s done. Clips are organized by length, so you can pick your 0-1 minute clips for use as teasers and the 3-5 minute clips for a more invested audience.
The free trial allows you to process up to an hour per month of video content and export videos up to 15 minutes long. It will auto-cut silences, add smart background music and subtitles and even auto-duck your video. (Ducking is reducing the volume of one audio track to avoid competition with another—usually reducing background music volume to accommodate voiceover). The paid starter plan is just $15 per month, discounted for annual plans, and gives you 8 hours of video processing time.
6. Jupitrr for Transforming Talking Head Videos
Turn your talking-head video into a snappy Reel or TikTok with Jupitrr’s Magic Edit. Just record a video of you talking to the camera. Then, click the Magic Edit button, upload your video, and select a preset format. The system will add pretty captions and effects. It all happens automatically, but you can also make manual adjustments.
The free version gives you just 4 minutes of AI video transcription for videos up to 1 minute long. Resolution with the free plan is limited to 720p, but this tier is ideal for giving you a taste of the platform. Paid plans start at $10.80 per month and increase based on the number of creation minutes needed. The starter plan gives you 10 minutes and 1080p export resolution. Paid plans also offer wider access to high-quality stock images and videos.
7. HeyGen for Video templates and Avatars
If you want to create talking-head style videos but don’t actually want to be on camera, HeyGen has you covered. The platform transforms text to video with a range of avatars to choose from. You can also turn a still image into a talking avatar (please use this feature responsibly). Backgrounds, camera panning, and even avatar movements can help give your video a more lifelike feel.
The free plan lets you make up to 3 videos per month at up to 3 minutes each. You’ll be able to create one custom avatar or choose from 500+ stock characters. Stepping up to a $29 per month paid plan unlocks unlimited videos at up to 30 minutes each, expands the number of stock avatars available, and gives you access to voice cloning (make sure you have permission from the person you’re cloning).
8. Filmora for Pretty Much Any AI Video Editing
Filmora by Wondershare is a full editing suite that has won awards and accolades from professionals and influencers alike. It incorporates AI tools for video, audio, and text editing. Use it to write scripts, complete a rough cut, fine-tune final audio and more. Their AI Copilot Editing feature offers real-time guidance as you work on your video.
To access Filmora’s AI editing tools, you’ll need both a Filmora subscription and an AI credits pack. The subscription, starting at $5 per month, gives you access to the platform. The credit packs are used to pay for each use of the AI tools. They start at $9.99 for 1,500 credits and expire one year from purchase. Different tools require different numbers of AI credits. If you step up to advanced or premium accounts, you’ll get a certain number of AI credits each month as part of your subscription.
Thinking Beyond AI Video Tools
Subscription costs for all of these tools can add up quickly. You may be better off picking a general tool that has the features you want, like Filmora, Descript, or CapCut rather than piecing together an AI video editing suite from multiple tools.
And, of course, there are times when AI editing tools may not be enough. If you’re making an explainer video, television commercial, or trade show feature, it’s time to call in the experts. At IdeaRocket, our video creation experts specialize in turning brand stories into compelling video. Contact us to get started.
