Getting started as a YouTube Shorts creator can be exciting but overwhelming. Over several months, I tested a wide range of YouTube Shorts maker apps to identify those that make video creation smooth, efficient, and professional. With years of experience in content creation and video production, I evaluated each tool based on ease of use, AI features, customization options, and output quality, testing performance across multiple devices and workflows. Apps like CapCut stood out for simplifying editing while delivering polished, professional results. Equipped with AI capabilities such as auto-subtitles, voice changers, and AI-generated video content, these tools are ideal for creating standout, viral-ready Shorts in 2025.
Dive deeper — related posts that expand your understanding even further.
Key Takeaways
Here’s a look at the top 12 YouTube Shorts maker apps in 2025 that I’ve personally tested on both desktop and mobile. Every app offers something new to the production of short videos – AI-generated editing, voice changers, or instant templates.
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Testing the Best YouTube Shorts Maker Apps in 2025
The first time I was making my YouTube Shorts, I knew nothing about which application would help me to make the process simpler and without reducing its quality. Over time, I’ve personally tested dozens of YouTube Shorts maker apps on both my MacBook and smartphone. To make these lists, AI-powered editors, mobile-friendly apps, and the rest of them have been selected after regular use and real-life testing.
I did not simply spend some hours experimenting with them: I have utilized them with various types of content: tutorials, travel vlogs, trending memes, and even clips with AI modifications. By doing this, I would be able to observe the performance of each tool in a variety of creative requirements.
Here’s what I focused on when testing the best YouTube Shorts maker apps for 2025:
- Ease of Use
The Shorts maker app should be easy to use – you do not have to learn for hours to know how to cut the picture or add text.
- AI Capabilities
Because short-form content is highly dependent on creativity and speed, I focused on applications that involve AI-powered generators of videos as a smart scene or captions, or effects.
- Voice and Sound Editing
As voiceovers are indispensable in storytelling, I tried out apps that have text-to-speech AI and voice changer features, which allow creators more freedom.
- Template Quality & Customization
I looked for apps offering ready-made templates optimized for Shorts (9:16 ratio, under 60 seconds) that are easy to customize with colors, music, and transitions.
- Export Speed & Resolution
To be considered a good YouTube Shorts creator, the commodity should be able to export videos within seconds and in a high-quality format of 1080p or more, suitable enough to be shared through social media.
Following weeks of testing, tweaking, and revising, these tools brought the best outcomes continuously, and one application stood out to be better than the rest, CapCut.
CapCut
If one YouTube Shorts maker app stands out for transforming content creation, it’s CapCut Video Editor. This tool has been a go-to for creating engaging YouTube Shorts, offering powerful features like text-to-video conversion, an AI voice changer, automatic subtitles, and a wide range of popular video templates. CapCut allows users to effortlessly blend AI-driven automation with creative control, making it an ideal choice for both newcomers and seasoned creators looking to produce high-quality, viral-ready Shorts with minimal effort.
Key Features
Now, before delving into details, the notable features that make CapCut the most preferred AI video generator and YouTube Shorts maker app in 2025 are as follows:
- AI Video Generator: All one needs to do is type in what they want to incorporate as an opening or closing remark, and CapCut produces a short video, in high-quality cases of quality, with visuals, captions, and background music. It suits perfectly those creators who wish to create fast shorts with no manual editing.
- Text-to-Speech AI: The text-to-speech AI will read written text aloud; it sounds natural and would be the best to use in a narration or storytelling process.
- Voice Changer: The voice changer integrated allows you to change your voice instantly, adjusting to robotic, deep, feminine, or character voices.
- AI Video Upscaler: Ampify the quality of your videos in 4K and ensure that the quality remains sharp. The AI video upscaler is best for enhancing previously recorded video or a low-light video.
- Template Library for Shorts: CapCut provides templates of ready-to-use YouTube Shorts, which are in 9:16 format. It comes with built-in transitions and filters, and effects so that you can concentrate on creativity, but not complexity.
- Auto Captions & Subtitles: The AI captioning tool identifies speech and provides proper captions on its own, a significant time-saving tool in terms of accessibility and engagement.
- Smart Background Remover: With one click, individually remove or change the background of a video with the help of an artificial intelligence segmentation; no green screen is needed.
Pros
- Professional AI automation of fast video creation.
- Voice changer and artificial voice creator are built, thus making narration easy.
- Both performance and grace on low-end PCs or laptops handle it with ease.
- Endless free templates optimized for YouTube Shorts.
Cons
- Adopts unstable internet connections with AI tools via the clouds.
- CapCut Pro has some advanced features (such as 4K export) not found in the free version.
Available on: Windows, macOS
Overall: 4.9/5
Beginner-Friendly Tools: 5/5
Price: Free, with optional CapCut Pro upgrade for advanced tools.
Personal Experience
I have spent hours and years editing near infinite Shorts using CapCut — tutorials, voiceovers, explainers generated by AI. My favorite thing about it is that it is intuitive even in detailed edits. The AI video-generating system saves me hours in situations where I am in a hurry, whereas the voice changer injects character into my work. I tried many tools, but CapCut is always the best, fast, free, and multi-purpose.
Pictory AI
Pictory AI may be worth considering if you need a powerful app to create YouTube Shorts and don’t want to handle all the heavy lifting associated with the video creation process. It comes in handy, particularly when you want to convert scripts, blog posts, or text content into fast and shareable shorts without recording anything yourself.
Key Features
- Text/Script-to-Video Conversion: You have the option to paste your script or text and have your text converted into a short video through Pictory by the AI that creates scenes, picks visuals, and assembles a video automatically.
- Article/URL-to-Video: Enter a blog post or URL, and the tool will use it to construct a video around the important points it finds in it – perfect to repurpose content.
- Auto-Captions & Subtitles: Automatically creates captions and subtitles to add more interest, particularly when it comes to Shorts, when many people watch without audio.
- Stock Media Library Integration: Stock Media Library will allow you to access a lot of royalty-free pictures, video clips, and music tracks to enrich your shorts without having to outsource them separately.
Pros
- Makes it very fast and easy to make content non-editorial.
- Easy to customize written information into short posts that are social media.
- Automation saves on human effort (captions, voiceovers, editing, etc.).
- Easy-to-use interface and workflow.
Cons
- The free plan can be restrictive of exports or premium stock media.
- The inability to have available the fine-tuning feature of transitions or detailed animation that full editors have.
Available on: Web (accessible via browser on Windows and macOS)
Overall: 4.7/5
Beginner-Friendly Tools: 4.8/5
Price: Free trial available; paid plans start at around $19/month
My Personal Experience
I went to Pictory AI to transform a blog post into a 30-second video on YouTube in the form of a Short, and I was quite surprised by how much of it the AI did on my behalf. The graphics and voiceover were synchronized in a very short time with minimum hand editing. It does not provide the creative freedom that some desktop editors do, but when I was in a hurry and had to create a quick and professional output, I found it to be a trustworthy YouTube Shorts maker app.
InVideo AI
InVideo provides a powerful solution in case you are looking to find an app on YouTube Shorts that will accept your idea or text and transform it into a video in a short time. I have found myself using this process when I have just needed to put simple prompts or scripts into vertical shorts in a fairly quick fashion-it is particularly handy when I need to work fast and not necessarily need in-depth control over the edits.
Key Features
- AI Script-to-Video Generator: Paste a script or a brief prompt, and the Ali of InVideo will create a scene composition, choice of visuals, and transitions, and create the video video – perfectly suited to short content.
- AI Video Generator: Translates text, notes, or ideas into verticals, social-friendly shorts through smart automation and stock media.
- Voice Changer & Text-to-Speech AI: The tool includes both the AI voiceover generator that reads out the text and voice style/voice changer functions to change the tone and pitch.
- Massive Template & Stock Library: Thousands of social media-ready templates, a big collection of video clips, music tracks, and images to accelerate the creation of a post.
Pros
- Very rapidly building the Shorts – it is possible to go from idea to publishable in a few minutes.
- Minimal or no editing ability needed – bang up for amateurs or none.
- Vertical format and social templates are built, hence it suits the needs of YouTube Shorts well.
- Free tier, good value in terms of basic use and quick turnaround.
Cons
- Free plan imports/export bandwidth and can include a watermark or limit downloads.
- Lose the ability to fine-tune like full editors – if you want close control, tracking of animation or other effects, you will have to work more by hand.
- The AI-generated individual scenes may require fine-tuning to give the desired movement or video quality.
Available on: Windows, macOS (Web-based)
Overall: 4.7/5
Beginner-Friendly Tools: 4.9/5
Price: Free plan available; premium tiers from around ~$15/month
My Personal Experience
I tried out InVideo AI by creating a 30-second YouTube Short on the subject of content creator tips with the help of a mere script. The AI not only easily equated visuals but also added music and narration, and was exported in vertical formats with little effort put into it. Though I subsequently had to tune a couple of the transitions and audio levels in another editor, I was amazed at the extent to which the app tuned itself.
Runway ML
Runway ML is a great choice for a creator seeking a powerful YouTube Shorts maker app that balances visuals created by AI and high-quality tools. It is particularly perfect with designers, writers, or those who wish to go a step further by going beyond simple editing.
Key Features
- Text-to-Video AI Generator: Make complete short-video footage by entering a script or a notion, and the computer will build scenes, movement, and transitions.
- Image-to-Video Tools: These are tools where still images can be uploaded and the AI animates them-camera motion, depth, and image appeal.
- Background & Object Removal via AI: One-click background Removal: Use AI to capture beautiful shots without the use of a green screen, including the creation of dynamic shorts.
- Motion Tracking and Inpainting: Track objects, swap them, or cover the gaps in the clip automatically- great to have visually rich motion effects of scenes-ideal as creative.
Pros
- Intensive AI features that are absent in basic applications.
- Gives YouTube Shorts access to unique creative opportunities, which are aesthetically distinct.
- Best to producers who like to learn and experiment.
- Powerful cloud-based applications that are cross-platform.
Cons
- There is a little more steep learning curve than ultra-beginner apps.
- Certain functionalities are exclusive to the paid packages; the free version can be restricted.
- It needs a good internet connection and a device to be used optimally.
Available on: Web (compatible with Windows, macOS)
Overall: 4.7/5
Beginner-Friendly Tools: 4.4/5
Price: Free plan available; premium starts at approximately $12/month
My Personal Experience
One of my 20-second Shorts that I tested with Runway ML entailed increasing the scale of a still image of a product launch by including the addition of motion and removing the background. The outcome appeared to be much more refined than a rough cut; camera motion, depth, and transitions were automatically added. Although I do not prefer it as a very fast, fashion-based Shorts, when you are ready to make your images more significant and create films within Shorts, Runway ML is a potent application in YouTube Shorts.
Synthesia
If you want to have a YouTube Shorts maker app that does not merely trim videos, and you wish to make presenter-style or actor-like Shorts without shooting your own videos, the best discovery is Synthesia. It is especially helpful with some educational, promotional, or branded content in which you desire the appearance of a polished, on-camera presence , but without it being a camera presentation.
Key Features
- AI Avatars: Select dozens of lifelike virtual presenters able to deliver your speech in any number of languages.
- Text-to-Speech / Narration: transform typed text into the natural-sounding speech of your Short, which works well even without using the microphone.
- Voice Changer / Voice Style Options: Modify the tone, pitch, accent, or style of the voice of the avatar to suit the mood or branding of your channel.
- Script-to-Video AI Generation: Upload a script or a small text, and the application will create an automatic presenter video avatar with background, text overlay, and images.
Pros
- There is no necessity to record videos or install cameras.
- Accommodates various languages, accents and is very location-specific to global Shorts.
- Increases the rate of presenter-led video development.
- Superior to creators who desire an onscreen presence without being photographed.
Cons
- Not as appropriate to purely visual-effects-intensive shorts (it is more about presenter style).
- The free version or the basic plan can be limited
Available on: Web (Windows and macOS via browser)
Overall: 4.6/5
Beginner-Friendly Tools: 4.8/5
Price: Free demo available; full plans start from around ~$22/month
My Personal Experience
To create a 30-second YouTube Short that provides an explanation of the introduction of a new channel, I used Synthesia. It only required a brief script to select an AI avatar, apply my brand colors, use the voice changer to make the narrator a little bit more energetic, and export the video within minutes. It was like a professional advertisement–, though I filmed none of it live.
FlexClip
FlexClip is one of the most user-friendly YouTube Shorts maker apps I’ve used. It is ideal for a novice who desires to make quick and trendy shorts yet does not need hours of editing. The app is loaded with a vast assortment of customizable templates, preset transitions, and integrated music options of music making the process of creating shorts look simple. You can sell a product, share your vacation, or create inspirational content, and FlexClip contains it all.
Key Features
- Ready-Made Templates: Select between hundreds of ready-made templates adapted to YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and Reels – just upload your text and videos.
- AI Video Generator: Turn your ideas or short scripts into video drafts with the help of AI, ready-to-use content, and ideal in terms of fast creation.
- Voice changer: Change your voice style to make it sound deeper, lighter, or more animated — great for comedic or storytelling Shorts.
- Text-to-Speech/Subtitles: Add captions automatically and turn the text to sound natural-voiced voiceovers with a single click.
Pros
- Very beginner-friendly and intuitive.
- Massive music, clips, and effects library.
- AI tools can make repetitive processes, such as subtitles and transitions, go faster.
- Browsers work well with no need to install.
Cons
- Watermarks are provided in the free version.
- Weakly developed higher motion editing compared to CapCut.
- Certain AI functions are paid.
Available on: Web and Mobile (iOS, Android)
Overall: 4.7/5
Ease of Use: 4.9/5
Price: Free plan available; premium plans start around ~$10/month
My Personal Experience
I have FlexClip in my case, when I needed to create a short video about my travels to include in my channel. I selected a template of YouTube Shorts, posted my clips, and added background music from their stock library. The AI video generator automatically generated transitions between scenes, and I even used the voice changer to make a funny voiceover that was suitable. It took less than 20 minutes.
Descript
Descript is a YouTube Shorts maker app crafted into one that creators will enjoy the simplicity of editing video, like writing a text document. It is an audio and video editing device that includes transcription, screen recording, voice generation, and overdubbing. To short creators, Descript has turned into making filler words, compressing dialogue, and creating voiceovers to be remarkably simple and, all done with the help of AI.
Key Features
- Text-Based Editing: You can edit your video with the tap of a keyboard, literally editing the transcript — delete words and then the video clip gets automatically cut.
- AI Voice Generator: Speak your voice or rely on Descript’s voice-generated ones and create a life-like sound.
- Overdub Feature: You can now fix the mistakes made on your recordings without re-recording them because, as you type in the words you want fixed, Descript will automatically create your own voice.
- Auto captions: include correct subtitles to your shorts with a single tap to make your content remain accessible and interesting.
Pros
- Extremely fast editing workflow for spoken content.
- Best soundsome podcast clips, tutorials, and talking-head Shorts.
- Overdub and transcription are examples of AI tools that conserve the time spent on manual work.
- Slick interface, beginner-friendly, and pro.
Cons
- Needs a good internet connection in order to run AI.
- Basic creative templates in comparison with CapCut or FlexClip.
- Watermark in the free version.
Available on: Windows, macOS
Overall: 4.6/5
Ease of Use: 4.8/5
Price: Free plan available; paid plan starts at ~$12/month
My Personal Experience
I chose Descript to edit a short interview video on my YouTube Shorts feed. The transcription was immediately there, and the unwanted pauses and word fillers were removed by just deleting them, using it was like editing a Word document. I also tested its voice changer and overdub features to correct a couple of lines without having to record them again. It was an easy process, but I needed transition and color grading effects, as well as creative effects, so I exported the clip to CapCut. Descript is marvelous in any text-based content with dialogue, and CapCut is my choice to use in textless stories and artificial intelligence creativity.
Lumen5
Lumen5 is an influential YouTube Shorts creation application that converts written material – such as blog posts, scripts, social captions, etc., into engaging short content. It can summarize text automatically with the aid of AI, select an appropriate image, and match it with suitable music.
Key Features
- AI-Powered Text-to-Video: Transforms articles or scripts into Shorts automatically by choosing images and timing scenes using AI.
- Smart Scene Selection: Tells each sentence or word the right stock video or animation.
- Custom Branding Tools: Allows you to incorporate logos, fonts, and color selections so that you can uphold brand uniformity.
- Music and Voice Effects: Select background music or bring your own voice alteration effects to give it a special feel.
Pros
- Good at converting lengthy content to shorts.
- Most of the editing is done by AI – this is perfect when creators are short of time.
- A wide variety of stock footage and background music.
- Simple to understand, even by non-editors.
Cons
- Poor timing of the video and low cuts.
- Certain images of stock are repetitive.
- The free plan is slow in exports.
Available on: Web, macOS, Windows (browser-based)
Overall: 4.5/5
Ease of Use: 4.7/5
Price: Free plan available; premium plans start at ~$19/month
My Personal Experience
Lumen5 impressed me when I attempted to use it to convert my article into a complete Short, and it did it very quickly. It summarized the text and matched scenes as well as provided background music, all automatically, within minutes. I made some tweaks, which included putting branding and rearranging some visuals. I like using it where I am in a hurry and need to make a few informative shorts or briefings on longer videos.
Moovly
Moovly is a superb YouTube Shorts maker app that targets marketers, teachers, and companies. It provides a flexible studio to produce branded video content – social media bites, all the way to professional product Shorts. Its drag-and-drop interface and AI-based automation enable the user to create visually appealing, brand-consistent shorts in a matter of moments, even when the user is not a designer.
Key Features
- Customizable Templates: A massive collection of templates based on the type of content you have to make.
- AI Script Assistant: Assists in creating or refining a video script with in-built AI tools.
- Brand Management Tools: Add your company logo, fonts, and colour palette, and you will have some consistent branded videos.
- Text to Speech and Voice Changer: You can add narration to your video or utilize a voice changer to add different tones/characters to your videos.
Pros
- Ideal when used by marketing teams and teachers who make branded Shorts.
- Embarks on AI-based writing and voice functionalities.
- Superior customization at the drag-and-drop level.
- Inbuilt media library of stocks.
Cons
- Minimal difficulty in learning among total beginners.
- The free plans might have a higher quality of exports.
- Fewer offline editing facilities.
Available on: Windows, macOS, Web
Overall: 4.6/5
Ease of Use: 4.5/5
Price: Free plan available; paid plans start at $25/month
My Personal Experience
I created a few branded Shorts in Moovly, a little campaign in a small business, and it performed relatively well. The templates ensured that the same style was easily adopted in several videos. The voice and text-to-speech integration of AI was also easy, even though it does not sound as personal as the voice functionality of CapCut.
Steve.AI
Steve.AI is a type of innovative YouTube Shorts maker app, which is powered by superior AI that can independently transform straightforward text or scripts into a progression of animations. It is particularly used in explainer-style content, educational shorts, and social media storytelling.
Key Features
- AI Script-to-Video Generator: Turn any script you write into an animated video with scenes, transitions, and characters in just a second.
- Extensive Animation Library: This includes ready-to-use animated templates that can be used in business, education, and social media shorts.
- Voiceover & Voice Changer Tools: Add natural AI voices or a voice changer that can be used to fit other characters or tones.
- Automatic Scene Matching: The machine will match your script to visuals and timing to get the smoothing effect and professional results.
Pros
- Very good when animated YouTube shorts and explainers.
- Minimal experience in animation or design.
- Sufficient character and theme customization.
- Massive AI matching of visuals and narration.
Cons
- Being overused, the animation styles can be considered repetitive.
- Restricted superior video editing features.
- The longer videos might require a longer time to export.
My Personal Experience
I tested Steve.AI with a few educational shorts, which is why I was really impressed with the speed with which this robot created animations. It took a few minutes to turn a simple piece of writing into a full video – and the artificial image was perfect. Though at present, I enjoy CapCut more with live-action content and AI-assisted video generation, Steve.AI is better when you have animated explainer Shorts that capture the audience in seconds.
Kapwing
Kapwing is a collaborative YouTube Shorts maker app that allows creators to get an editing experience with a fast, browser-based tool. It is perfect for creating trendy, meme-style, or social media shorts, and it does not require any software to be downloaded. Kapwing allows you to edit videos on the web, include captions, resize to fit various platforms, and even create short-form videos with the help of AI.
Key Features
- AI Video Generator: Shorts can be created using smart templates by logging in with an image, photo, clip, or text prompt to create these prompts into a ready-to-share Short.
- Subtitle & Caption Automation: Automatic generation of proper subtitles – engage well with YouTube Shorts.
- Voice Changer / AI Voiceover: Used to record or add audio files and edit voices using natural AI effects.
- Collaboration Tools: Team-based editing allows two users to work on a video project simultaneously.
Pros
- 100% browser-based — no installation required
- Superior subtitle and auto-captioning.
- best in meme making and hasties.
- Favors team and group work.
Cons
- Requires a stable internet for smooth operation.
- Limited offline editing capabilities.
- Some AI features are behind the paid plan.
Available on: Web (Windows, macOS)
Overall: 4.5/5
Beginner-Friendly Tools: 4.8/5
Price: Free plan available; premium from $12/month
My Personal Experience
I have taken shortcuts quickly via Kapwing when I need one cut now, such as adding captions or a clip of a meme. The real-time collaboration feature was useful during the process of working with teammates on social campaigns. It lacks the depth of AI used in CapCut as far as AI video generating or other text-to-speech features are concerned, but it can act as a helpful supplement during quick, in-brow editing sessions.
Biteable
Biteable is a light-hearted and user-friendly YouTube Shorts maker app that can be used by creators who wish to create marketing, presentation, or storytelling Shorts within a single, few-click tool. It is known to have smooth animation effects, colorful templates, and an editing workflow that allows working with businesses. The intelligent AI video maker and voice changer features of the application allow creating professional shorts, which seem both clean and entertaining.
Key Features
- AI Video Templates: Selecting hundreds of customizable, pre-animated templates that are ideal for YouTube Shorts, ads, or promos.
- Voiceover & Voice Changer: Add voice over or have fun with unique voice effects to make your Shorts sound unique and professional.
- Text-to-video Feature: Using AI, transform textual ideas/scripts into animated video content.
- Team Collaboration Tools: Find it easy to work together with your team, as well as keep all your branding together.
Pros
- Creative design templates that are beautiful.
- Quick process – ideal with hectic marketers and producers.
- Inbuilt text and animation software saves time for editing.
- Can be used in telling stories, explainer-type shorts.
Cons
- The free plan does not have many possibilities for export.
- Highly developed editing devices are minimal.
- A little bit expensive for individual creators.
Available on: Web (Windows, macOS)
Overall: 4.4/5
Beginner-Friendly Tools: 4.7/5
Price: Free plan available; premium plans from $15/month
My Personal Experience
When I was making a small business campaign for creating marketing-style shorts, I tried Biteable. The templates were vivid, appealing, and needed slight manipulation – I just had to insert my text, logo, and punch in a voice changer to fit in the branded voice. It is a fantastic option on the side of animated, presentation-style Scottie, but in the case of live-action or influencer content, I would still opt to use CapCut due to its more developed AI-driven editing and control over creative technology.
Final Thoughts
Among the top 12 YouTube Shorts maker apps in 2025, tools like Pictory AI, InVideo AI, Runway ML, and CapCut stood out during testing. Each was evaluated for ease of use, AI features, customization options, and output quality across multiple devices and workflows.
While several apps excel in specific areas—such as quick script-to-video conversion or creative effects—CapCut offers a well-rounded experience with an intuitive interface and core AI features, making it a solid choice for creators seeking efficiency and polished results.
FAQs
Which is the best app to make YouTube Shorts?
The most appropriate application to create YouTube shorts is CapCut. It has AI-based editing, text-to-speech, and auto-captions to ensure that video creation is simple yet professional.
Can I use AI tools to create YouTube Shorts?
Yes. CapCut YouTube Shorts maker app also has advanced AI capabilities, such as AI Voice Generator and intelligent video filters, which enable you to produce shorts with higher-quality videos and at a faster rate.
Which free app is best for editing YouTube Shorts?
The free entry-level version of the CapCut YouTube Shorts maker app offers advanced editing, templates, and artificial intelligence, which should also be used by those who have no idea how to use YouTube Shorts.
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