Looking to level up your video marketing but lack advanced editing skills or budget? Powerful AI video editors now bring professional polish within reach. Just feed these intuitive tools raw footage and they‘ll work behind the scenes to craft beautifully sequenced content ready for publication.
In this comprehensive guide, you‘ll discover beginner-friendly AI editing options to start creating eye-catching videos immediately alongside pro-grade solutions to carry established workflows to the next level. Follow as we break down the benefits of AI assistance, peek behind the curtain at how it works, help select the best software based on needs and experience, and peek at what the future may hold.
Video Marketing Adoption Soars – Is Your Business Keeping Pace?
Before exploring how AI lends editing assistance, let‘s briefly touch on why producing videos should be high on your marketing checklist for 2023.
The statistics speak volumes according to Wyzowl‘s 2022 State of Video Marketing research. An overwhelming 90% of businesses now rely on video content as part of promotional strategies. And its proven power retaining audience attention while boosting conversions shows why:
- 64% of customers are more likely to make a purchase after viewing branded video content
- Pages containing video generate 108% more site traffic than those without
- Explainer videos boost conversions by up to 80%, outperforming other formats
- Viewers retain 95% of messaging when delivered by video vs 10% reading text
Clearly video works when crafted effectively. Yet 59% of companies surveyed still point to lack of time and video production skills as top barriers to adoption. This is where AI video editors bridge the gap – automating tedious editing tasks to save time and minimize the learning curve.
"AI video tools now let anyone produce polished, professional videos in minutes without needing to master complex editing software," explains Miles Brookson, Founder of Social Arts – an AI-powered video creation platform for businesses. "This democratization of quality through automation unlocks huge competitive advantage for historically under-resourced teams. They amplify creativity rather than replace it."
But all solutions differ considerably in their capabilities. The key lies identifying the best match for your experience level, content needs and budget. Let‘s uncover top contenders at a glance then compare in-depth.
At A Glance: 7 Best AI Video Editors Compared
| Product | Best For | Platform | Pricing |
| Adobe Premiere Pro | Professional Editors | Windows/Mac | $239.88/year |
| Movavi | Beginners | Windows/Mac | $79.95/year |
| Filmora | YouTube Creators | Windows/Mac | $39.99/year |
| Gling | Social Media Marketing | Cloud-based | Free/$ TBD |
| Topaz Labs Video AI | Hobbyists | Windows | $199 (one-time) |
| VEGAS Pro | Indie Filmmakers | Windows | $199/year |
| DaVinci Resolve | Advanced Editors | Windows/Mac/Linux | Free Version |
Now let‘s compare our top 3 recommendations in greater depth.
1. Adobe Premiere Pro – Most Full-featured AI Assistance
As the industry leader used widely by filmmakers, media teams and agencies, Premiere Pro needs no introduction. While renowned for pro-caliber workflow it does carry a steep learning curve even for experienced editors jumping from other platforms.
This is where its AI companion Sensei saves the day by auto-analyzing footage then applying intelligent corrections and streamlined edits. For example, it can customize grade color temperature/skin tones in a click or automatically reframe for needed social media aspect ratios. Sensei currently assists with over a dozen features like subtitles or noise reduction with more on the way.
Consider this rave review from post-production veteran Lars Anderson after incorporating Sensei time-savings into his client workflow:
"By letting Sensei handle tedious tweaks like leveling audio or compiling test clips, I free up more time to focus on big picture creative sequencing and storytelling with the human touch clients hire me for in the first place."
For advanced editors wanting to level up output without compromising quality over speed, Premiere Pro hits the AI sweet spot albeit at premium pricing. It may feel overly complex for newcomers. But for seasoned post-production teams, the efficiency gains merit strong consideration especially with enterprise pricing assistance available.
Highlights:
✓ Automated reframing/subtitles
✓ One click corrections
✓ Advanced stabilization
Price: $239.88 billed yearly
2. Movavi Video Suite – Best for Beginners
Creators in early stages exploring editing often feel overwhelmed determining where to start. This leads many to delay jumping in or abandon efforts out of frustration. Movavi offers a welcoming on-ramp keeping the interface intuitive while automating tricks like background removal that usually challenge newcomers.
Simply import clips to start organizing sequences with helpful guides recommending best practices. Make missteps? No problem thanks to unlimited undos. Once arranged, utilize one of over 200 sleek title templates driven partly by AI then add automated transitions in sync to audio beats. Click to instantly cut out and replace backgrounds saving the tedious step of frame-by-frame masking.
Before long you have a polished explainer or testimonial video rendered and ready for upload. Movavi handles the heavy lifting for quality and optimization freelancing so creators instead focus on communicating ideas through visuals.
Take it from entrepreneur Sabrina Lau who leveraged Movavi‘s ease plus automation to quickly ramp up video content for her bootstrapped business:
"Rather than obsessing over technical details, I could focus efforts on scripting effective messaging and connecting with the audience. My product demos now bring traffic that converts from organic search so the ROI ranks extremely high even working solo!"
For beginners seeking quality results without getting weighed down by complexity, Movavi Video Suite warrants a look. Its automated assistance paired with gentle guidance lowers the barrier between idea and execution.
Highlights:
✓ Simplified interfaces
✓ 200+ templates
✓ Background removal
Price: $79.95 billed yearly
3. Filmora – Favorite for Content Creators
Trusted by over 100 million YouTube creators, influencers, educators and working professionals globally, Filmora packs a ton of capability into intuitive software. It eases the learning curve through guided exports while offering powerful tools should you choose to dive deeper.
The built-in effects store pulls from an extensive AI-assisted library with over 6000 animated filters, overlays, titles and transitions to amplify videos. Filmora‘s "Instant Editor" mode also auto-trims clips, layers music, and renders the final cut in just one click for hyper-efficient batch production. Preview its AI magic for yourself using sample footage during their free trial.
But does all this automation sacrifice creative control? Power user Alicia Simone who produces commercial brand stories plus her own YouTube documentary channel doesn‘t believe so:
"While Filmora helps me perform edits faster, I still decide the messaging, sequencing, and where advanced touches get applied. By assisting with repetitive tasks, it gives me capacity to focus on the passion projects closest to my heart. I‘d recommend Filmora to any creative wanting to level up productivity without losing style."
For YouTubers, social media creators or marketing teams needing to aggregate eye-catching content efficiently, Filmora balances automation with customization – and its affordable pricing warrants a close look.
Highlights:
✓ 10,000+ AI-powered video effects
✓ One click instant editing
✓ GPT-3 copywriting plugin
Price: $39.99 billed yearly
Brief overviews of remaining 4 contenders…
4. Gling AI – Specialized for Vertical Social Videos
Optimized specifically for short-form vertical content, Gling AI taps into viral trends on TikTok and Instagram guiding video assembly through data-backed edits most likely to perform well. Feed it raw b-roll and audio, and its algorithms analyze to identify engaging sequences. Review its initial cut then finalize right within the browser before posting. Teams can also use Gling‘s built-in collaboration tools to solicit feedback on drafts.
While limited for longer form narratives, its speed and trend-aware suggestions offer a productive starting point to brainstorm fresh social content angles worth testing.
Highlights:
✓ Browser-based editing
✓ Trend focused cuts
✓ Team collaboration
Pricing: Free Starter / Custom Pro Plans
5. Topaz Video AI – Underrated After Effects Successor
This lesser-known option from Topaz Labs leaves behind legacy bias from industry gatekeepers. It confidently shoulders production-grade upscaling, stabilization, frame interpolation and artifact removal through its own deep learning algorithms perfecting images.
Topaz Video AI specializes in breathing new life into aging footage other software choked on. Let it automatically enhance shaky VHS tapes, SD video or grainy film scans for reuse in modern projects. Results impress considering Topaz‘s small team and focused approach.
Highlights:
✓ One click SD to 4K upscaling
✓ Video repair and restoration
✓ Optical flow interpolation
Pricing: $199 Perpetual License
6. VEGAS Pro 19 – Bold Music Video Effects
Offering a timeline workflow closer to legacy nonlinear editors, VEGAS Pro 19 skips attempting to mimic Premiere Pro or Final Cut. Instead it proudly embraces GPU-accelerated, AI-generated effects tailored for music video production among other fields.
Apply stunning muzzle flash, 3D particle systems, transitions and overlays in minutes without complex compositing thanks to its bundled Continuum Unit filter library. Just add presets for instant stylistic flair ideal for indie filmmakers or YouTube creators wanting cinematic polish on a budget.
Highlights:
✓ 2500+ AI-powered video effects
✓ Easy multi-clip editing
✓ Affordable pricing
Pricing: $199 Subscription Yearly
7. DaVinci Resolve 18 – Free Hollywood Caliber Editing
Boasting a massive following among aspiring and established filmmakers alike, DaVinci Resolve packs incredible power into its base version available entirely free of charge with no subscription traps. This nod to open access innovation by Blackmagic Design has justifiably earned the suite widespread adoption.
The recent November 2022 update introduces several AI advancements for correcting and enhancing footage. For example Resolve can now realistically relight faces, gently retouch blemishes, and reduce unwanted noise during 4K upscaling. Results stand out given more limited training data compared to offerings by legacy software giants.
For creators seeking access to tools used widely in Hollywood without upfront financial barriers, DaVinci Resolve 18 remains hard to beat. Just know unlocking its immense capability requires patience learning before AI acceleration fully kicks in.
Highlights:
✓ Retouch and add effects to faces
✓ Add fluid slow motion
✓ One click SD to 4K upscaling
Pricing: Free Version / Paid Studio at $295
Comparative overview of all options…
How To Choose The Best AI Video Editor For You
Now that we‘ve covered top contenders in depth, let‘s discuss key factors to evaluate when deciding the best solution for your needs from experience level to specific use case.
Match Interface Complexity to Skills
If just starting out, prioritize an intuitive interface over expansive toolkits which may overwhelm those lacking context to apply them effectively. Movavi and Filmora both cater well to newcomers.
On the advanced end, DaVinci‘s free Resolve 18 packs immense capability but assumes familiarity with editing concepts and workflow.
Consider Primary Output Needs
Certain AI editing solutions focus specifically on short-form content while others excel at cinematic narratives or documentary editing. Know your core video type upfront.
For example, if producing course lessons explaining coding concepts is the goal, tools automatizing effects matter less over simplicity enabling fast lesson output.
Artistic Control vs Automated Convenience
More automation through AI does often tradeoff creative control in certain areas like sequencing or transitions. Will relinquishing some stylistic decisions frustrate or offer welcome speed gains?
Again consider overall goals – a tight budget startup focusd on conversions may happily welcome extra automation. But a meticulous artists wanting to dictate each filter choice may prefer learning faster software instead.
Subscription vs One-time Purchase
Adobe and others primarily offer subscription licensing maximizing recurring revenue. But creators publishing videos more sporadically may prefer buying software outright.
Do the math based on your expected usage to determine best value as deals do happen around Black Friday.
Trusted Team Behind the AI
Rapid innovation characterizes editing‘s current frontier with aggressive updates by both titans like Adobe and hungry disruptors like Topaz Labs.
While risky betting on untested newcomers showing initial promise, the interests of creators and audience should remain priorities as AI progresses responsibly.
What Does Future Hold for AI Video Editing?
Exponential progress in machine learning points toward more breakthroughs in AI-assisted video editing capabilities. I asked industry thought leaders to share perspective on what creative pros can expect next as artificial intelligence continues democratizing production power.
Miles Brookson – Founder, Social Arts
"Over the next 2-3 years, expect AI to automate multi-step workflows allowing creators to focus purely on storytelling through verbal prompts and simple direction. For example, audio narratives will trigger vivid related imagery sequenced dynamically while customizable voices narrate prompts informed by tone preference. Output goes from abstract ideas to production-ready in minutes without touching an interface."
Alicia Simone – Award-winning content creator
"Where AI struggles is balancing cold technical recommendations with the empathy, nuance and style humans connect with. The next wave of video intelligence will better fuse data-driven efficiency with heart by actually collaborating with editors during production. Rather than handing off footage it blindly altered, imagine AI as your intuitive assistant editor sensitive to creative direction."
Lars Anderson – Post-production veteran
"I expect AI will close capability gaps limiting adoption today like lackluster speech-to-text transcription which still requires heavy human review fixing homophones it constantly jumbles. Virtual assistant interfaces communicating contextually through multi-step conversations will also minimize the friction swapping tools mid-project common currently."
Consensus agrees creators maintain central role guiding storytelling while AI shoulders more repetitive tasks. But renewed biases risk creeping in if transparency around training data and recommendations falters. Maintaining human accountability checking biases while directing technical focus counters this ahead.
AI Video Editing Assistants Offer a Competitive Advantage
Access to skills which seemed exclusive domains of technical wizardry even recently now open for all to harness through AI‘s democratization. Emerging solutions make producing polished video content achievable for businesses large and small along with indie creators historically denied influential reach due to production barriers.
But with this great power comes responsibility ensuring equitable access and fighting for inclusivity as underrepresented voices gain seats at more tables. We must guide development centering diverse perspectives in roles overseeing how automation takes hold.
If leveraged responsibly, AI video editing assistants promise to unlock creative potential at scale. Unburdened by tedious technical distraction, ideas turn into shareable media which educate, inspire and heal. More people crafting messages driven by passion and purpose ultimately strengthen bonds across perceived divides.
So which creator will you be? With AI as your multiplier, the only limits are imagination and will to carve positive change touching lives. Selection of the right video editing solution marks an important first step on an endless frontier.
