Real-time collaboration is essential for most professional video projects. Whether your team members work in the same office or are widely distributed, they need tools to communicate quickly and produce high-quality content.
This means finding a video editor that supports seamless cloud-based workflows and centralized asset management. You’ll want features like built-in review tools, timestamped comments, and version control, which can all improve communication and speed up video production.
In this article, we’ll briefly cover what collaborative video editing is and why it’s so impactful. We’ll also explore seven key tools for editing teams, touching on their features and pricing (along with any free plans), and offer some guidance on choosing the right platform for your team.
What’s collaborative video editing?
Collaborative video editing covers any video project multiple people contribute to.
In film and media production, solo projects are rare. Typically, many team members work together to plan, create, edit, and finalize professional videos. Each part of this process requires efficient, real-time communication and teamwork.
Collaborative video editing software makes that not only possible, but simple. It provides a centralized environment where team members can share media files, make real-time changes, and leave comments and feedback.
This streamlines communication and improves efficiency. Plus, it avoids duplicated work and version confusion, which slows down video production workflows. Fortunately, there are plenty of platforms that offer low-cost or free plans to get your team started — we’ll cover some of the best ones below.
How does online video editing collaboration work?
Online collaborative video editing takes everything we discussed above to the next level. It allows large and/or remote teams to work in sync.
The right collaborative video editing platform will offer:
- Real-time editing: Multiple creators can work on the same project, with changes reflected instantly for the entire team.
- Asset sharing: Every video editor has access to the same cloud-based library, ensuring consistent footage, graphics, and music.
- Streamlined communication: Team members can leave timestamped comments on exact moments in the video timeline. Teammates can then review and revise based on this feedback.
- Organized version control: Teams can track project history, revert changes, and avoid overwriting each others’ work.
- Centralized workflows: All editing, feedback, and file storage live in one place. This keeps the project organized from start to finish.
- Clear and secure team management: You can assign roles and permissions to team members, keeping responsibilities clear and information secure.
Explore Vimeo's collaboration tools →
What are the best video editing collaboration tools? 7 popular options
When choosing the right platform for video collaboration, you’ll need to decide what features are essential for your team. At a minimum, you’ll want a tool that supports real-time workflows, easy asset sharing, and instant feedback.
Let’s look at some of the top options, so you can find the perfect fit.
1. Vimeo
First up, Vimeo’s video collaboration platform simplifies real-time video editing. It helps your team work faster by providing a centralized place to manage feedback, both within and across projects.
Plus, it offers tools that support every stage of the editing process. That includes timestamped annotations, version tracking, and seamless integration with platforms like Google Drive and Dropbox.
Key features:
- Real-time feedback with precise, timestamped comments
- High-grade password protection and privacy settings
- Support for 4K video uploads and playback
- Shared links that make downloading videos convenient and easy
- Access to Vimeo’s vast suite of other useful tools (depending on the plan you choose), such as one-take video creation, Vimeo AI, Vimeo Central, and OTT monetization
Drawbacks: You’ll need the Standard plan or higher for full access to Vimeo’s collaboration tools.
Pricing: There are many options, including a limited free plan and a Standard plan for $25/month (when billed annually) that supports five users. Enterprise pricing is also available.
Best for: In-house video teams, creative agencies, and content marketers looking to build streamlined video collaboration workflows.
Discover Vimeo’s video collaboration platform →
2. Evercast
Evercast is a high-performance collaborative editing tool for post-production teams. It supports live, low-latency video streaming for remote editing. In addition, Evercast doesn’t require proprietary hardware for users to join or watch sessions.
Key features:
- Low-latency streaming
- Secure HD video feeds
- True color streaming, allowing streams on workflows with up to 4K resolution
- Real-time review with audio and video chat
Drawbacks: Evercast pricing is higher than most competitors, and you may need to invest in dedicated hardware to take full advantage of its capabilities.
Pricing: Plans start at $549/month (when you commit to a long-term contract), and custom enterprise pricing is available. There’s no free plan.
Best for: Film studios and professional post-production houses.
3. Wipster
Wipster is a video collaboration platform that lets creators directly comment on video timelines and share feedback. It integrates with other popular editing software and acts as a shared workspace to collaborate with editors, clients, and stakeholders.
Key features:
- Integrations with Vimeo, Adobe Premiere, Slack, Dropbox, and more
- Frame-accurate commenting
- Open access API that allows for smooth task assignment and workflows
- Project management tools for organization, comparisons, and progress tracking
Drawbacks: This platform can be expensive for large teams, and it’s not ideal for live collaboration or synchronous editing.
Pricing: There’s no free plan, and paid plans for teams start at $19.95/user/month (when billed annually).
Best for: Video teams that want to build flexible, client-facing feedback workflows.
4. Filestage
Next up, Filestage is designed for structured video review and approval. It supports various content formats, and it’s designed to meet the needs of agencies and marketing teams.
Key features:
- Timestamped comments and version history
- Workflow automation and deadline tracking
- File-based permissions and audit trails
- Support for PDFs, images, and presentations
Drawbacks: Filestage doesn’t offer closed captioning or video looping/streaming, and it functions more like a review platform than an editing tool.
Pricing: The free plan supports two projects, and paid plans start at $109/month (when billed annually).
Best for: Marketing teams and enterprise reviewers with strict compliance needs.
5. Frame.io
If you’re an Adobe fan, check out Frame.io — it’s a cloud-based platform that’s fully integrated with Adobe’s Creative Cloud ecosystem. Its video editing collaboration software offers real-time previews, version management, and direct panel integration with editing tools.
Key features:
- Automatic version tracking
- Live reviews and remote presentation tools
- Dedicated mobile app
- Various feedback forms including timestamped notes, comments, and drawings
Drawbacks: This platform’s performance depends on Creative Cloud, and there are fewer third-party integrations available.
Pricing: The free plan supports two users, while paid plans start at $156/user/year (when billed annually).
Best for: Teams already heavily invested in the Adobe ecosystem.
6. QuickReviewer
QuickReviewer is built for marketing agencies and brands that want a more efficient design approval process. It enables online collaborative video editing with drag-and-drop uploads, markup tools, and notifications.
Key features:
- Unlimited reviewers on each project
- Annotations on videos, HTML documents, PDFs, and images
- Mobile-friendly UI
- Version control and side-by-side previews
Drawbacks: Despite its name, the ‘Forever Free Plan’ only offers 100MB of storage. QuickReviewer also has limited real-time interaction, making true collaboration more difficult.
Pricing: There’s a limited free plan, while paid plans start at $350/year for up to 10 team members (when billed annually).
Best for: Small teams and agencies that produce mixed-format content.
7. Hightail
Formerly known as YouSendIt, Hightail combines file sharing with feedback and approval tools. While not a video editor, it’s useful for sending high-resolution media and tracking versions.
Key features:
- Drag-and-drop file sharing up to 100GB
- Project tracking dashboards
- Visual feedback on videos, PDFs, and more
- Integrations with Microsoft 365, Adobe CC, and Slack
Drawbacks: The UI could be more user-friendly, and this tool is better suited for asset delivery than editing.
Pricing: There’s a limited free plan, and paid plans start at $12/month (when billed annually).
Best for: Teams that need a solution for large file transfers and project tracking during video production.
FAQ
What are the benefits of collaborative video editing?
Collaborative video editing streamlines communication, improves efficiency, avoids duplicated work, and prevents version confusion, all of which can speed up video production workflows.
Are there free tools for collaborative video editing?
Several video editing platforms offer free plans, like Vimeo, although these typically have limited features. Advanced review and editing features usually require a paid subscription. In addition, most free plans only support one user, making collaboration challenging.
Which collaborative video editing tool is best for teams?
For teams looking for collaborative video editing solutions, the best choice varies based on their unique requirements. Vimeo is perfect for in-house video teams, creative agencies, and content marketers, whereas Evercast is tailored for film studios. Wipster and Filestage may meet the needs of reviewers who have stringent compliance requirements. Teams that are deeply integrated into the Adobe ecosystem can benefit from including Frame.io, which also integrates with Vimeo.
How do I collaborate on videos using an app?
Look for apps that support real-time team video editing, cloud file storage, and comment-based feedback. Most platforms allow teams to leave timestamped notes, assign tasks, and track changes without needing to download or re-upload large files.
Create a smoother, more efficient editing workflow with Vimeo
With the right tools, collaborative video editing becomes a smooth, efficient process. Vimeo’s video collaboration platform offers a centralized way to review, revise, and approve content — all without unnecessary meetings or email chains.
What’s more, Vimeo supports remote team members by enabling async reviews, screen recording, video editing, content sharing between projects, and in-platform feedback. Timestamped annotations make it easier to share actionable feedback, while version control keeps editors aligned.
Vimeo offers a lot more than collaboration tools. You’ll find plans that enhance many aspects of video creation and use, including easy uploads, video embeds, robust video marketing and video management features, and even live streaming.
