YouTube Shorts now generates over 70 billion views per day, and the easiest source of Shorts for most creators is their existing long-form content. The problem is that identifying the right moments, cutting them precisely, and reformatting to 9:16 used to take real editing time. AI clipping tools solve that. You give the tool your video, it finds the moments, and you get vertical clips ready to post.
We looked at seven tools that creators are actually using for Shorts in 2025, covering different budgets, content types, and workflows.
The 7 Best AI Tools for YouTube Shorts
ShortTrim
Best for ShortsFree: 2 hours on signup, no card | Starter: $19/month or $23 one-time | Growth: $39/month or $45 one-time | Pro: $66/month or $76 one-time
ShortTrim is built specifically for turning long videos into short vertical clips. You paste a YouTube URL (or upload a file), choose a style (blur background, smart crop, or custom background), and get 2 to 3 clips in minutes. Each clip comes with an AI-generated title and description so you are not starting from scratch when you go to upload.
It works in any language, which matters if you create content for international audiences or in non-English languages. No watermarks on any plan, and the one-time payment option means you are not forced into a monthly subscription.
Pros
- Built specifically for vertical clips
- Three formatting styles
- AI titles and descriptions per clip
- Any language support
- No watermarks
Cons
- No in-app scheduler
- Smaller community than OpusClip
OpusClip
Most popularFree: 60 min/month, watermarks | Starter: $15/month | Pro: $29/month
OpusClip is the best-known tool in this category and has the largest user base. Its animated captions are well-made and it includes a social scheduler so you can queue Shorts directly from the tool. For English-language interview and podcast content, it produces reliable results.
The free plan has watermarks and the editor is locked until you upgrade. Billing complaints are a recurring theme in reviews, so make sure you understand the cancellation process before subscribing.
Pros
- Largest community
- Built-in scheduler
- Good caption quality
Cons
- Watermarks on free plan
- Billing complaints
- AI accuracy inconsistent
Klap
Great for interviewsFree trial: 1 video | Basic: $14/month yearly | Pro: $39/month yearly
Klap performs particularly well with interview and podcast content where there is a consistent speaker on screen. The face detection is accurate and clips tend to be well-framed for vertical format. You can paste a YouTube URL directly, which saves a download step. Captions in 50 or more languages are available on paid plans.
Where Klap loses points is its credit model. Credits are used on upload regardless of output quality, so if your video type is not a strong match for its detection system, you will still spend your allowance.
Pros
- Accurate face reframing
- YouTube URL paste
- Strong on spoken content
Cons
- Credits used on upload
- Poor on non-speaker content
Vizard
Easy to startFree: 60 credits/month | Creator: $14.50/month yearly
Vizard is the fastest tool to get started with on this list. If you are new to AI clipping and want something with a minimal learning curve, Vizard is a reasonable starting point. The free plan gives you 60 credits per month at 720p, which is enough to try it properly. Multi-account social management is built in.
As noted above, repetitive clip selection is a real issue and processing is slow. For Shorts specifically, duplicate clips are annoying because they would appear in your upload queue multiple times if you are not careful.
Pros
- Very easy to start
- Generous free plan
- Cheap annual pricing
Cons
- Duplicate clips
- Slow processing
Captions.ai
Best for solo creatorsFree trial available | Max: $24.99/month
Captions.ai is made for creators who film themselves talking directly to camera. It corrects eye contact so you appear to be looking at the lens even when looking away, cleans up audio noise, adds styled captions in 29 languages, and extracts short clips from longer recordings. For the solo YouTube creator format, it covers a lot of ground in a single tool.
It is not well-suited for content with multiple speakers, screencasts, or anything that is not primarily a talking head video. If that is your format, it is worth the $24.99 per month.
Pros
- Eye contact correction
- AI audio cleanup
- 29 language captions
Cons
- Talking-head only
- $24.99/month for full access
VEED.io
Full editing suiteFree: 10-min videos, VEED watermark | Lite: $12/month yearly | Pro: $24/month yearly
VEED.io is worth including for creators who want to combine AI clipping with manual editing in a single browser-based workflow. After the AI selects moments, you can add text, music, transitions, and custom subtitles without switching tools. The subtitle system supports 125 or more languages.
VEED is not a dedicated Shorts tool and requires more manual work than the others on this list. But if you want full editing control alongside automation, the Lite plan at $12 per month is reasonable value.
Pros
- Full browser editor
- 125+ language subtitles
- Team collaboration
Cons
- More manual work required
- Not built specifically for Shorts
Vidyo.ai
Budget pickFree: 75 credits/month | Lite: $15/month annually | Essential: $20/month annually
Vidyo.ai rounds out this list as the most affordable option with a meaningful free tier. 75 credits per month on the free plan is enough for regular light use, and the social scheduling on higher tiers means you can post directly to YouTube and other platforms from within the tool. It covers the basics competently.
Clip selection quality is not on par with the top tools here, but for creators who are getting started with Shorts and want to spend as little as possible while they build a workflow, Vidyo.ai is a reasonable starting point.
Pros
- Generous free plan
- Very affordable paid tiers
- Built-in social scheduling
Cons
- Clip selection less precise
- Limited feature depth
Quick Comparison
| Tool | Free tier | Starting price | Watermark-free | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ShortTrim | 2 hours free | $19/mo or $23 one-time | ✓ Always | Any video, any language |
| OpusClip | 60 min/month | $15/month | Paid only | English spoken content |
| Klap | 1 video trial | $14/mo yearly | Paid only | On-camera interviews |
| Vizard | 60 credits/mo | $14.50/mo yearly | Paid only | Beginners |
| Captions.ai | Free trial | $24.99/month | ✓ | Solo talking-head creators |
| VEED.io | 10-min videos | $12/mo yearly | Paid only | Manual editing + clipping |
| Vidyo.ai | 75 credits/mo | $15/mo annually | Paid only | Budget-first creators |
Start creating Shorts from your long videos today
ShortTrim gives you 2 free hours on signup with no card required. Paste a YouTube link, pick a style, and get vertical clips in minutes.
Try ShortTrim freeNo credit card · No watermarks · Any language
Frequently Asked Questions
Can AI tools actually find good moments for YouTube Shorts?
Yes, for most common content types. AI clipping tools analyze speech patterns, engagement signals, and visual cues to identify moments that tend to perform well in short form. The results are not perfect every time, but for interviews, podcasts, and talking-head content, the accuracy is good enough to save significant editing time. More specialized content like tutorials or presentations can require more manual review.
Do I need to edit the clips after the AI generates them?
Sometimes. ShortTrim and most tools on this list deliver clips that are ready to post, but you may want to trim a second or two off the start or end. The amount of editing needed varies by tool and content type. Tools like Descript (not on this list) and VEED.io allow in-depth manual editing if you need full control.
Which tool is best for non-English YouTube content?
ShortTrim supports any language and is a strong option for Arabic, Tamil, French, Spanish, Urdu, and others. Klap supports 50 or more languages for captions. VEED.io offers subtitles in 125 or more languages. For overall clip generation quality in non-English languages, ShortTrim is the most reliable option.
How many Shorts can I get from one long video?
Most tools generate 3 to 10 clips from a long video. ShortTrim focuses on 2 to 3 high-quality clips rather than a large batch. Klap and OpusClip can generate more clips per video but you may need to filter out weaker ones. The right number depends on your posting frequency and content type.
Is there a free AI tool for YouTube Shorts?
ShortTrim gives you 2 hours free on signup with no card required and no watermarks. Vidyo.ai has a free plan with 75 credits per month. Vizard gives 60 credits per month on its free tier. OpusClip's free plan provides 60 minutes per month but adds watermarks to clips.