The Best Online Video Editors for 2024 (2024)

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The top online video editing apps we've tested allow you to work in a web browser rather than in local software, freeing you from massive downloads and steep system requirements.

ByMichael Muchmore

Michael Muchmore

Lead Software Analyst

My Experience

PC hardware is nice, but it’s not much use without innovative software. I’ve been reviewing software for PCMag since 2008, and I still get a kick out of seeing what's new in video and photo editing software, and how operating systems change over time.I was privileged to byline the cover story of the last print issue of PC Magazine, the Windows 7 review, and I’ve witnessed every Microsoft win and misstep up to the latest Windows 11.

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UpdatedDecember 19, 2023

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The Best Online Video Editors for 2024 (2)(Credit: René Ramos; Getty Images/sanjeev kumar misra)

Table of Contents

Editing video is a notoriously system-resource-hungry endeavor, but thanks to browser support for graphics hardware acceleration, editing videos online in a web browser is no longer a painful proposition. More services keep cropping up that can do it, and the best offer a viable alternative to enormous installed programs.

The best online video editors get you the basics of video editing—trimming, joining, and applying titles and transitions. Many of the tools are template-based, and some even offer stock footage, so you don't have to start from scratch. Most can also add background music and have other audio controls. Don't expect advanced features like chroma keying, motion tracking, 3D effects, or advanced color grading. You still need full-scale video editing software for that.

When you use an online video editing service, you have to upload your clips, so you need a fast internet connection if you plan on creating large, high-res projects. Nevertheless, these online video editing sites admirably fill the bill for anyone who isn't producing Hollywood blockbusters but just wants to easily produce a compelling watch.

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Best for Creative Cloud Users: Adobe Express

The Best Online Video Editors for 2024 (6)

Adobe Express

4.0

$0.00 at AdobeSee It

If you want to put out a polished social post with minimal effort, Adobe Express could be just the editor for you. This online video editing tool is a template-based design app that helps you create still images and offers a modicum of video editing capabilities. Adobe Express is a good choice for the graphic designer who uses Creative Cloud apps but also needs some video editing tools. Not every task requires the power of Adobe Premiere Pro.

With Express, you can add narration and background music with restrictions based on your chosen template. For example, it didn't let me extend a video clip longer than the template entry. It doesn't include multitrack timeline editing either, only storyboard thumbnails. You can, however, speed up, slow down, reverse, and crop videos. A background remover and Firefly AI image generator are recent additions. The online Adobe Express also offers helpful design tips, like how to use negative space effectively. Free accounts get 2GB of cloud storage, basic editing, and thousands of design assets and templates. Premium subscribers ($9.99 per month) get 100GB of cloud storage and a full selection of premium templates and assets.

Adobe Express Review

Best for Social Promo Videos: Canva

The Best Online Video Editors for 2024 (7)

Canva

4.5

$0.00 at CanvaSee It

Canva is well-suited to people who need to create videos for promotional use and social media posting. Though it's mostly about template-driven graphics creation, Canva also has some video editing capabilities. A video project type helps get you started. You get basic abilities to crop,trim, split, speed up, andresizeclips, but no multitrack timeline editing—just storyboard thumbnails. As you might expect, the software has good support for social media aspect ratios, especially for vertical mobile formats. Free users get 5GB of online storage and more than a quarter million templates, while Pro subscribers get 1TB of storage, more than 610,000 templates, and social media post scheduling. Canva for Teams adds workflow, branding, and reporting options.

Canva Review

Best for AI Content Generation: FlexClip

The Best Online Video Editors for 2024 (8)

FlexClip

Starts Free at FlexClipSee It

FlexClip is for small businesses that want to create marketing videos for social media. You start either from a template or from scratch, and you can upload multiple clips at once or drag them from File Explorer to the source panel in the upper left. The interface lets you use timeline or storyboard modes and vertical or horizontal aspect ratios. As with most video editors, you can drag clips from the source panel onto the timeline (or storyboard) and stretch the timeline to fit the program window. You get all the trimming, transition, text, and overlay options you could want, along with a decent selection of background audio sorted by mood. We're not impressed with the AI text-to-full-video generation, but the image, text-to-speech, and script AI generators are better.

FlexClip comes in three levels: Free, Plus, and Business. The Free account limits you to 720p resolution, a maximum of 12 projects, and a video length of 10 minutes, and all your videos have a FlexClip watermark. The Plus level ($9.99 per month with an annual commitment, $19.99 without) removes the watermark and gets you up to 1,080p, unlimited projects, and unlimited video length. The Business plan ($19.99 per month billed annually, $29.99 monthly) also doesn't go above 1,080p, but it does get you 100GB cloud storage and 1TB video hosting. The plans also vary in the amount of stock footage (one for Free, five for Plus, and unlimited for Business) and AI prompts (from 5 times per month for free to 6,000 for Business) you're allowed. Though the company is based in China, its privacy page states that it complies with GDPR.

Best Cheap Full-Powered Online Video Editor: Kapwing

The Best Online Video Editors for 2024 (9)

Kapwing

$0.00 at KapwingSee It

Kapwing is surprisingly slick and powerful. Along with Veed, it's among the best options for those who want full-power video editing without the hassle of downloading and installing a local application. It lets you combine video clips, trim, split, and add transitions, overlay text and images, generate subtitles, and upload music. You can drag clips around and up and down in the timeline. Kapwing lets you crop and move the image, even using keyframes for things like pan and zoom.

You get access to stock video, photos, and background music, but there's no fancy stuff like chroma keying, motion tracking, or video effects. Free users' output shows a watermark and is limited to 7 minutes and 720p resolution. A $6-per-month Basic subscription removes the watermark on videos under 30 seconds, and the $16-per-month (with a one-year commitment) Pro account lets you make high-res projects up to 2 hours long and gives you branding tools, too.

Best for Small Businesses: Clipchamp

The Best Online Video Editors for 2024 (10)

Microsoft Clipchamp

3.5

$0.00 at ClipchampSee It

Microsoft Clipchamp is now the default video maker that comes with Windows, and it's available free via the web on any platform. It's best for those who need to create template-based social videos, though it also has fairly powerful timeline editing. You can start with a template or from scratch, either uploading clips or connecting your OneDrive account. The app lets you record your screen with or without your webcam image and can perform speech-to-text translation.

Stock video and photos are available for b-roll, and there's a good selection of title styles, background music, and sound effects. Many options, however, are paywalled for subscribers. Free users get unlimited watermark-free (unless they use premium content) exports up to 1080p, while Essentials subscribers ($11.99 per month) get premium filters and effects, a brand kit for managing logos and colors, and content backup.

Microsoft Clipchamp Review

Best for Marketing and Stock Footage: Promo.com

The Best Online Video Editors for 2024 (11)

Promo.com

Starts at $29 Per Month at PromoSee It

As its name suggests, Promo.com targets marketers and small businesses. You first enter your business name and sector, then pick a template from thumbnails to start, with more than 5,000 options. You can search or browse template categories, and you get a choice of landscape, square, or vertical aspect ratios. It's a very simple interface, with just three buttons along the left for Editor, Media, and Music.

Promo.com features a single-track timeline and just one choice of transition—fade. You get around 50 good-looking fonts, and you can apply a basic color filter but no special effects. The service lets you schedule social posts or download your creations. There's no free account level. A Basic account costs $29 per month (with a one-year commitment) and includes 2GB of storage. At the high end is the $199-per-month plan that includes "unlimited everything." All accounts have a 5-minute maximum video length, a choice of 1,500 fully licensed music tracks, and editorial stock content (meaning celebrities and newsworthy footage).

Best Free Online Video Editor: Oslo

The Best Online Video Editors for 2024 (12)

Streamlabs Video Editor

$0.00 at OsloSee It

The online Streamlabs Video Editor (formerly called Oslo) is a good choice for those who want a free service, as the free account level is quite generous compared with others. It provides multitrack timeline editing with the standard join, trim, and split tools. You get a few filters à la Instagram and a good set of transitions and text fonts, but no shape or sticker overlays. A nice touch is its comment feature, which can help teams work together on a video project. You can record your screen with or without included the webcam view. You can crop, zoom, change speed, and apply a few animations and basic image corrections.

Free users can export 1,080p videos up to 30 minutes long without watermarks. You also get 15GB of online storage, a maximum file upload size of 5GB, and collaboration features. The paid plan is $10 per month, which increases storage to 250GB, upload size to 20GB, and maximum export length to one hour.

Best Replacement for Installed Software: Veed

The Best Online Video Editors for 2024 (13)

Veed

$0.00 at VEEDSee It

Veed is an impressive multitrack timeline video editor that features a clear and simple design. It's best for those who want a full replacement to installed video editing software. You start with sizes suited for all output types, social and otherwise. Use either one of the predesigned templates or go ahead on your own. Then you can upload or record your media or use some of Veed's stock video, music, or sound effect content. The site provides speech-to-text for automatic subtitles, or you can upload a subtitle file.

Veed distinguishes itself by having effect filters, something you won't find in many online video editors. You get a choice of stickers or shape overlays, but the app is somewhat short on transition styles, with just 10. That's all in addition to the standard joining, trimming, and splitting of clips. Free users get watermarked 720p output up to 10 minutes long but with no limit on the number of projects. The $18-per-month Basic plan removes the watermark and increases the quality to 1080p and the length to 25 minutes. The $30 Pro account adds unlimited use of stock media, branding tools, and subtitle translation.

The Best Online Video Editors for 2024 (14)

(Credit: Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock)

For More Advanced Projects: Installed Video Editing Software

The tools included above certainly have their place, but if you need real power for your video projects, invest in one of the best video editing programs. If you take that route, you need a computer built for video editing. Find the one for you in our list of the best laptops for video editing.

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About Michael Muchmore

Lead Software Analyst

PC hardware is nice, but it’s not much use without innovative software. I’ve been reviewing software for PCMag since 2008, and I still get a kick out of seeing what's new in video and photo editing software, and how operating systems change over time.I was privileged to byline the cover story of the last print issue of PC Magazine, the Windows 7 review, and I’ve witnessed every Microsoft win and misstep up to the latest Windows 11.

Prior to my current role, I covered software and apps for ExtremeTech, and before that I headed up PCMag’s enterprise software team, but I’m happy to be back in the more accessible realm of consumer software. I’ve attended trade shows of Microsoft, Google, and Apple and written about all of them and their products.

I’m an avid bird photographer and traveler—I’ve been to 40 countries, many with great birds! Because I’m also a classical fan and former performer, I’ve reviewed streaming services that emphasize classical music.

Read Michael's full bio

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