The best AI tools for editing video and podcasts
AI has made editing far less intimidating. Instead of scrubbing through a timeline, you can delete words from a transcript, remove filler words in one click or generate a voiceover from a script. Here are the best beginner options and what each is actually good at.
This guide includes affiliate links (Synthesia). If you sign up through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It doesn’t change our recommendations. Read our affiliate disclosure.
Our top picks
Descript
Who it’s for: Podcasters, educators and anyone editing interviews, tutorials or talking-head videos. You edit by changing text, and it adds captions and removes filler words.
Worth knowing: Media minutes, exports and AI credits depend on your plan.
Canva
Who it’s for: People who want short, branded clips for Instagram, TikTok or Facebook using templates, without learning a full editor.
Worth knowing: Some assets and AI features require a paid plan; check usage rights.
ElevenLabs
Who it’s for: Creators who need natural-sounding narration from a script, or want to fix a line without re-recording. Check commercial licensing before publishing.
Worth knowing: The free plan is limited; check commercial licensing before publishing.
Synthesia
Who it’s for: People making training, how-to or explainer videos who want an AI avatar to present a script or slide deck instead of filming themselves.
Worth knowing: Free videos carry a watermark and paid plans use credits; check avatar and content rules.
Visit Synthesia ↗ (affiliate link)
Runway
Who it’s for: Curious creators who want to experiment with AI-generated video clips and effects rather than edit a recording.
Worth knowing: The free credit allocation is one-time; video iterations can use it quickly.
Side-by-side comparison
| Descript | Canva | ElevenLabs | Synthesia | Runway | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main job | Edit spoken video and audio | Design and simple video | AI voice and audio | AI avatar presenter videos | Generate and transform video |
| Edit by transcript | Yes | No | No | No (you write a script) | No |
| Free plan | Yes: 60 media minutes a month | Yes, ongoing | Yes: 10,000 credits a month | Yes: 10 min of video a month, watermarked | 125 one-off credits |
| Learning curve | Moderate | Easy | Easy | Easy | Moderate |
Pricing
| Plan | Descript | Canva | ElevenLabs | Synthesia | Runway |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | US$0 (60 media min/month) | US$0 | US$0 (10k credits/month) | US$0 (10 min video/month) | US$0 (125 one-off credits) |
| Entry paid | Hobbyist: US$24/month, or US$16/month billed annually | Pro: US$180/year for one person (as listed) | Starter: US$6/month | Starter: US$29/month, or US$18/month billed yearly | Standard: US$15/month, or US$12/month billed annually |
| Step up | Creator: US$35/month, or US$24/month billed annually | Business: per person, billed annually | Creator: US$22/month (first month US$11) | Pro: US$89/month, or US$64/month billed yearly | Pro: US$35/month, or US$28/month billed annually |
Prices checked on 14 October 2026 from official pricing pages (descript.com/pricing, canva.com/pricing (via the official page’s search listing), elevenlabs.io/pricing, synthesia.io/pricing and runwayml.com/pricing.). Prices are in US dollars (USD) as listed. Australian prices, GST and app-store pricing can differ, and plans change often, so confirm on the provider’s site before you pay.
How to get started
Decide what you’re making: a podcast or talking video (Descript), a short social clip (Canva), narration (ElevenLabs) or AI-generated footage (Runway).
Start with the free plan and a short, real recording of a few minutes.
In Descript, remove filler words and long pauses from the transcript, then add captions. Watch the result back in full.
Export a test file and check sound levels, captions and timing on a phone before publishing anything.
How we chose
We picked tools a beginner can get a result from in their first session, with a free plan or trial that’s good enough to judge. We used each provider’s official feature and pricing pages; we haven’t run a formal benchmark, so test with your own footage.
Why Descript is our top pick for beginners
Traditional video editors can feel overwhelming. Descript turns your recording into a transcript, and when you delete a sentence from the text, it disappears from the audio and video too. For podcasts, interviews, online courses and YouTube explainers, that one idea removes most of the learning curve. It also handles filler-word removal, captions, multi-speaker transcription in 25 languages and screen recording. Media minutes are the main limit to watch: the free plan includes 60 minutes a month, and paid plans include more.
When to use something else
If you only need short clips for social media, Canva is easier: pick a template, drop in your footage, add text and music, and export. If you need a voiceover and don’t want to record your own voice, ElevenLabs produces natural narration from a script, and its Starter plan includes a commercial licence (check the current terms). Runway is a different kind of tool. It generates new video or transforms existing footage with AI, which is exciting but less useful for a straightforward edit.
What to watch out for
- Usage limits: media minutes, credits and export quality vary by plan, and credits can run out quickly with video.
- Voice cloning: only clone your own voice, or a voice you have clear written permission to use.
- Licensing: check music, stock and AI-voice rights before publishing commercially.
- Review everything: automatic edits can cut a word too early or leave awkward jumps. Watch the final export in full.
A typical beginner workflow
Here’s how these tools fit together for a small podcast or YouTube channel. Record your episode or video as normal. Import it into Descript, let it transcribe, then delete mistakes, long pauses and filler words straight from the text. If you need an intro or a correction you can’t re-record, generate a short voiceover in ElevenLabs (using your own cloned voice or a stock voice). Export the full episode, then use Canva to cut a 30-second highlight with captions for social media. Runway is optional: it’s for when you want to create something that wasn’t filmed, like an abstract background or a stylised transition.
Our verdict
If you make anything with people talking in it, start with Descript. It’s the clearest example of AI making editing genuinely easier for beginners. Add Canva for social clips and ElevenLabs for narration as you need them, try Synthesia if you want a presenter without filming (see our best AI avatar video generators), and treat Runway as a creative playground rather than an everyday editor.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest AI video editor for beginners?
For spoken content like podcasts, interviews and tutorials, Descript is the easiest because you edit the transcript like a document. For short social clips, Canva’s templates are the quickest way to start.
Is there a free AI podcast editor?
Yes. Descript has a free plan with 60 media minutes a month, which is enough to try editing a short episode. ElevenLabs also has a free plan for AI voice.
How much does Descript cost?
Descript has a free plan with 60 media minutes a month. Its paid plans (Hobbyist, Creator and Business) include 600, 1,800 and 2,400 media minutes a month, but we couldn’t verify their current prices on 14 October 2026, so please check Descript’s pricing page.
Can AI create a voiceover for my video?
Yes. Tools like ElevenLabs turn a script into natural-sounding speech. Check the plan’s commercial licence before publishing, and only clone voices you have permission to use.
Do I need a powerful computer for AI video editing?
Not usually. Much of the AI processing happens online, though a reliable internet connection and enough storage for your footage still help.