Best AI Tools for Video Editing in 2026

AI has fundamentally changed video editing in 2026. Tasks that once took hours — captioning, cutting, color grading, removing backgrounds — now happen in seconds. Here are the best AI video editing tools for every skill level and budget.

Related: best AI video generators, how to use Runway ML.

Top AI Video Editors

Tool	Price	Best For	Key AI Feature
Descript	Free / $24/mo	Podcasts & talking heads	Edit video like a document
CapCut	Free / $7.99/mo	Social media clips	Auto-captions, effects
Runway	Free / $12/mo	Creative AI effects	Gen-3 video generation
Adobe Premiere Pro	$22.99/mo	Professional editing	AI audio cleanup, auto-reframe
Pictory	$19/mo	Blog-to-video	Text to video conversion
OpusClip	Free / $9/mo	Repurposing long videos	AI clip extraction
Filmora	$49.99/year	Beginners	AI copywriting, thumbnails
HeyGen	Free / $24/mo	AI avatar videos	AI presenter, translation

1. Descript

Descript lets you edit video by editing text. It transcribes your video automatically, and when you delete or rearrange words in the transcript, the video edits itself to match. Revolutionary for content creators.

Key AI Features

• Text-Based Editing — Delete words from the transcript to remove them from the video.
• Filler Word Removal — Automatically removes “um”, “uh”, “like”, and other filler words.
• Eye Contact Correction — AI adjusts the speaker’s eyes to look at the camera.
• Studio Sound — Removes background noise and enhances voice quality to studio level.
• Overdub — Clone your voice to fix mistakes without re-recording.

Best for: YouTubers, podcasters, and anyone editing talking-head content.

2. CapCut

ByteDance’s free video editor packs surprisingly powerful AI features. Auto-captions, background removal, AI effects, and smart editing tools make it the go-to for social media creators.

Key AI Features

• Auto-Captions — Generate accurate subtitles in 20+ languages instantly.
• Auto-Reframe — Automatically crop landscape videos for portrait/square formats.
• Background Removal — Remove or replace video backgrounds without a green screen.
• AI Character — Generate AI avatars to narrate your content.

Best for: TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts creators.

3. Runway

Runway goes beyond editing into AI content creation. Generate new video from text prompts, transform existing footage with style transfer, and create visual effects impossible with traditional tools.

Key AI Features

• Gen-3 Alpha — Generate video clips from text descriptions or images.
• Motion Brush — Animate specific parts of an image or video frame.
• Inpainting — Remove or replace objects in video frames.
• Green Screen — AI-powered background removal without physical green screen.

Best for: Filmmakers, VFX artists, and creative professionals.

4. Adobe Premiere Pro AI

Adobe’s professional editor now includes AI features through Adobe Sensei and Firefly. Auto-transcript, speech-to-text editing, AI audio enhancement, and generative extend make it more powerful than ever.

Key AI Features

• AI Audio Cleanup — Remove background noise, enhance speech, and fix audio issues automatically.
• Auto-Reframe — Intelligently crop videos for different aspect ratios.
• Speech-to-Text — Automatic transcription for captions and text-based editing.
• Generative Extend — AI extends clips by generating new frames to fill gaps.

Best for: Professional video editors and production studios.

5-8: More Options

Pictory — Converts blog posts and scripts into videos with stock footage and AI narration. OpusClip — Automatically extracts the best short clips from long-form videos for social media. Filmora — Beginner-friendly editor with AI thumbnails, copywriting, and effects. HeyGen — Creates AI avatar videos and translates existing videos into other languages with lip sync.

Which Tool Should You Use?

Podcast/talking head: Descript

Social media clips: CapCut

Creative/VFX: Runway

Professional production: Adobe Premiere Pro

Repurposing content: OpusClip

Blog to video: Pictory

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best AI video editing tool?

Descript for creators, CapCut for social media, Adobe Premiere with AI for professionals.

Can AI edit videos automatically?

Yes. Descript removes filler words automatically. CapCut auto-generates captions. Pictory turns text into videos.

Is CapCut AI free?

Yes, CapCut offers a generous free tier with most AI features. Pro is $7.99/month.

Final Verdict

AI video editing saves hours per project. Start with CapCut (free) for quick social clips or Descript for longer content. As your needs grow, Runway and Adobe Premiere offer the most powerful AI capabilities for professional work.