YouTube Clip Maker – AI & Free Online Tool

How to clip a YouTube video

01
Upload your YouTube video
Drag and drop your YouTube video into a new Descript project to automatically generate a transcript in sync with your video. Use CTRL/CMD+K or the search bar to locate any section you want to highlight.
02
Find moments to turn into clips
When you spot a moment worth clipping, highlight it and right-click to choose Duplicate to > New composition so the original remains untouched. Or use the Find good clips AI Action to instantly detect promising content, then confirm what you’d like turned into standalone clips.
03
Polish and export your clips
Open each newly created clip from the compositions dropdown to edit. In the canvas, select your aspect ratio, add music, animated captions, and more from the insert menu. Select Save scene as template to reuse layouts for future clips. Finally, click Publish to export your clips or share them straight to your YouTube channel.

Create scroll-stopping YouTube clips faster

Highlight the transcript or use AI to find good clips
No more scrubbing through your timeline. Search the transcript for standout soundbites or let the Find good clips AI action gather multiple clips in just one click.
Save time with templates & automatic captions
Apply short-form video templates from our library, or craft your own templates from previously made clips. This helps you keep consistent captions and animations across TikTok, Instagram/Facebook Reels, YouTube Shorts, and other platforms.
Your entire YouTube workflow in one place
Write your script, record, edit, clip, then publish directly to YouTube, all inside Descript. Collaborate with teammates for feedback or co-creation, and rely on built-in AI assistance whenever you need it.

More than a YouTube clip maker

Descript is an AI-driven audio and video editor that treats your content like text for quick, easy edits.

Social clips
Convert YouTube videos into clips sized correctly for Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
Ask AI anything
Let AI generate your YouTube clips, or instantly create titles, descriptions, and posts for social media.
Stock media library
Access royalty-free music, sound effects, videos, GIFs, and more to spice up your YouTube clips.
Publishing
Upload your clips right to your YouTube channel, or download them all at once.

Don’t just take our word for it

With a 4.6-out-of-5-star rating and a bunch of distinctions on G2, Descript’s users have declared it an industry standard in the video and podcasting world.

2025

Best Software

Video Editing

Text to Speech

Screen and Video Capture

“With Descript I'll be able to at least double my content output since editing is taking one-quarter the time it used to.”

Donna B. |

“With Descript we can create videos for our YouTube channel and our LinkedIn page much faster and with high quality.”

Balázs N.

“Descript has made cleaning up and creating my educational videos into professional presentations [possible] without needing extensive technical computer skills.”

Barbara C.

“Descript makes recording and editing audio and video a breeze. It's advanced features have streamlined my workflows, saving me a lot of time usually spent editing.”

Roderick F.

“The collaborative tools streamline teamwork, allowing my team and me to work efficiently together on projects. Overall, Descript enhances productivity and simplifies the editing process.”

Aldrich M.

“Transcription-based editing makes the process much faster…All in all, a must have editor for most audiences, especially in SaaS marketing.”

Nidhin M.

Surely there’s one for you

Free

no credit card required

Start your journey with text-based editing

Get started

1 transcription hour / month

Export 720p, with watermarks

Limited trial of Basic AI Actions

Limited trial of AI Speech

Hobbyist

$16

per person / month, billed annually

Elevate your projects, watermark-free

Get started

10 transcription hours / month

Export 1080p, watermark-free

20 uses / month of Basic AI Actions suite including Filler Word Removal, Studio Sound, Draft Show Notes, Create Clips, and more

30 minutes / month of AI speech with stock AI speakers and custom voice clones

5 minutes / month of avatars

Questions? We have answers

How do I create clips for YouTube Shorts from a YouTube video?
You can make YouTube Shorts by trimming your YouTube video into clips under 60 seconds. Then adjust the aspect ratio to portrait or square, and add animated captions so viewers stay engaged.
How do I turn my YouTube clips into GIFs?
To create a GIF from a YouTube video, follow the same steps for making a clip but aim for clips that are under 15 seconds to convert into a GIF. After editing your GIF, click Publish > Export and choose GIF.
Can I create YouTube clips for free with Descript?
Yes, the free plan includes core video editing features, 1 hour of transcription, and 1 no-watermark export each month. For unlimited no-watermark exports and higher transcription limits of 10+ hours monthly, subscribe to a paid plan starting at $12/month.
Can I customize the AI clip finder to find specific moments in a video?
Certainly. You can refine the AI clip finder by editing the default AI prompt. For instance, specify your desired topics, clip length, or the number of clips you want.