Last reviewed : 25 October 2026
Short vertical video is a volume game: posting every day matters more than polishing one perfect clip. AI tools help in two ways: they cut long recordings into ready-to-post clips, and they speed up editing with animated captions, silence removal and reframing.
Choose based on your raw material. If you record long videos (podcasts, lives, webinars), a clipping tool will multiply your output. If you film short takes face-camera, an editing and captioning tool will save the most time.
| Tool | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| CapCut | Best free editor for vertical video | Free, Pro from $10/mo |
| Opus Clip | Best for clipping long videos | Free tier, Pro from $9/mo |
| Captions | Best for face-camera creators | Free plan, paid from $13/mo (annual) |
| Submagic | Best animated captions | Free plan (3 videos/mo), paid from $12/mo (annual) |
| Vizard | Best free clipping plan | Free plan, paid from $14.50/mo (annual) |
#1 · Best free editor for vertical video
CapCut is the reference editor for TikTok: trendy templates, automatic captions, effects and music, on phone and desktop, with a French interface and no watermark on the free plan. If you only take one tool, take this one.
Free, Pro from $10/mo
#2 · Best for clipping long videos
Opus Clip watches your long video, spots the strongest moments, reframes them vertically and adds captions, with a virality score to help you choose. One podcast episode can become a week of posts.
Free tier, Pro from $9/mo
#3 · Best for face-camera creators
Captions removes silences, fixes eye contact, adds subtitles and can even dub you into other languages with lip-sync. It works well on the phone, which makes it ideal for creators who film and post on the go.
Free plan, paid from $13/mo (annual)
#4 · Best animated captions
Submagic specializes in the caption styles you see on viral videos, with emojis, highlighted words, automatic B-roll and sound effects. Fast to learn and good value for a solo creator.
Free plan (3 videos/mo), paid from $12/mo (annual)
#5 · Best free clipping plan
Vizard does the same job as Opus Clip with a generous free plan and publishing to six social networks. A good way to test clipping before paying, if you can live with an English-only interface.
Free plan, paid from $14.50/mo (annual)
Picks are based on each tool's official features and pricing, public community ratings and how well the tool fits this specific use case. The order is editorial and never depends on affiliate commissions.
How we work & how we earnCapCut for editing (it's made by TikTok's parent company), Opus Clip if you start from long videos.
Yes, clipping tools do it well, but always review the selection: AI sometimes cuts a sentence in the middle or misses context.
No. Many short-video accounts use voice-over, screen recordings or AI avatars, but face-camera content often builds trust faster.