6 Best Short-Form Video Editors

• You want to edit short-form videos
• And you need a dedicated app for short-form editing

Together, we’ll take a close look at 6 of the best short-form video editing software.

We’ll check out their: Pros, Cons, features, and Pricing.

What is Short-Form Content?

Answer: Short-form content refers to videos, text, or images designed for quick consumption, usually lasting under 60 seconds for videos or a few sentences for written content.

It’s optimized for platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and Twitter, where attention spans are short, and engagement happens fast.

Key Features of Short-Form Content:

• Bite-Sized & Engaging – Quick to watch, read, or interact with.
• Optimized for Mobile – Designed for vertical scrolling and fast-paced viewing.
• Platform-Specific – Tailored for TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and social media feeds.
• High Retention Rates – Holds attention better than long-form content.

Short-form content is essential for growth on social media, making it easier to grab attention and go viral.

What is a Short-Form Video Editor?

Answer: A short-form video editor is a tool designed to edit and optimize videos under 60 seconds, making them ideal for TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts.

These editors streamline the process by offering quick cuts, auto-captioning, transitions, and platform-specific formatting, ensuring videos are engaging and ready for social media.

Want to create engaging short-form videos effortlessly? SendShort helps you edit and repurpose content in seconds:

6 Best Short-Form Video Editing Software

These are the top 6 short-form video editing tools: SendShort, CapCut, iMovie, VEED, Canva, and TikTok.

But let’s see why they’re at the top!

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1. SendShort

SendShort is the most powerful short-form video editor designed for turning long videos into engaging short content.

Pros	Cons
Converts long videos into shorts automatically	Limited to short-form content only
Faceless AI video generation	Some features are paid
Translated captioning with customizable fonts and colors
Various transitions and effects for short videos
Built-in templates for quick edits
Easy-to-use interface

Features:

• Converts long videos into short videos automatically
• Faceless AI video generation
• Automated captioning with customizable fonts and colors
• Adds transitions, music and effects

Compatibility:

• Available on web and desktop
• Online on mobile devices

Pricing:

• Free plan.
• Paid ones starting at $15/month

2. CapCut

CapCut is an all-in-one video editing app created by ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok.

It provides various editing features, effects, and transitions tailored specifically for social media content creators.

It’s beginner-friendly, with a simple interface and preset templates.

Pros	Cons
Free to use with no watermark	Limited editing features
Built-in effects and transitions	Lacks many export formats
Integrated with TikTok	Occasionally crashes on larger files
	Doesn’t translate subtitles

Features:

• Preset templates for quick edits
• Rich library of effects and transitions
• Seamless integration with TikTok

Compatibility:

• Available on iOS, Android

3. iMovie

iMovie is a straightforward and intuitive video editing app by Apple, ideal for beginners who need basic editing functionalities. It provides a clean interface, built-in templates, and advanced effects like green screen.

Pros	Cons
User-friendly interface	Limited to Apple devices
Built-in templates for easy video creation	Lacks advanced editing tools
Green screen and split-screen effects	Large file size for storage
	Few export options for short-form content

Features:

• Green screen and split-screen effects
• Built-in movie and trailer templates
• Seamless integration with other Apple apps

Compatibility:

• Available on macOS and iOS

4. VEED

VEED is a web-based video editor that provides advanced video editing capabilities.

It’s known for its subtitle generation, audio visualization, and collaborative tools, making it ideal for creating professional-looking content.

Pros	Cons
Subtitle generation and translation	Limited free tier options
Cloud-based for easy collaboration	Watermark on free version
Extensive library of transitions and effects	Lags on complex projects
Easy-to-use interface

Features:

• Subtitle generation and translation
• Extensive transitions and effects library
• Collaborative tools for team editing

Compatibility:

• Available on web
• App for mobile devices

5. Canva

Canva is a graphic design tool that also offers simple video editing features. It’s best known for its drag-and-drop interface and an extensive library of templates, fonts, and design elements that simplify content creation.

Pros	Cons
Extensive library of templates	Limited video editing features
Easy drag-and-drop interface	Watermark on free version
Beginner-friendly	No dedicated video effects library
	Limited export options for video formats

Features:

• Drag-and-drop interface
• Extensive library of templates and design elements
• Integrated text and animation options

Compatibility:

• Available on web, iOS, Android

6. TikTok

TikTok’s in-app editor allows creators to produce engaging short-form content with various filters, effects, and music. It’s designed for users who want to edit videos quickly within the app and directly share them.

Pros	Cons
Wide variety of built-in effects and filters	Limited editing tools compared to standalone apps
Direct sharing and publishing	Only suitable for short-form content
Large music library	No manual fine-tuning tools
Easy to use	Limited export formats

Features:

• Built-in effects and filters
• Large music library
• Direct sharing and publishing options

Compatibility: Available on iOS, Android

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Top 3 Benefits of Short-Form Video Editors

Editing short-form videos manually can be time-consuming, but AI-powered editors automate trimming, captions, and transitions, allowing you to create professional-quality content in seconds.

The Main Benefit: Instead of spending hours cutting clips and adjusting settings, a good short-form video editor streamlines the entire process, making video creation fast and effortless.

1. Saves Time with Automated Editing

Short-form video editors speed up the process by automatically trimming clips, adding captions, and applying effects in seconds. This eliminates the need for manual cutting and makes editing fast and effortless.

2. Increases Engagement and Watch Time

Well-edited short videos hold viewers’ attention better. Features like smooth transitions, auto-captions, and motion effects keep audiences engaged, increasing retention rates on TikTok, Reels, and YouTube Shorts.

3. Optimizes Videos for Social Media

A good short-form video editor ensures your content is formatted correctly for each platform, adjusting aspect ratios, resolution, and subtitles to fit TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube seamlessly.

Want an easy way to edit short videos? SendShort automates everything, helping you create high-quality content in seconds.

FAQ: Short-Form Editing Apps

1. What is the best editing software for short form content?

Editing Software	Best For
SendShort	Automated shorts creation + editing
CapCut	TikTok and Instagram Reels
Adobe Premiere Rush	Professional short form content
InShot	Mobile editing

2. What should I use to edit my short-form video?

You should use user-friendly editing software like SendShort to edit your short-form videos, as they offer intuitive features, effects, and templates tailored for quick content creation.

3. What’s the best short-form video editor for YouTube?

The best short-form video editor for YouTube is SendShort, known for its intuitive interface and features that streamline the editing process, including automatic subtitle generation and templates specifically designed for quick edits.

Other strong contenders include CapCut and InShot.

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Thanks a lot for reading this,
David Ch
Head of the Editing Team at SendShort