What are the advantages of using an online video maker?

Using an online video maker offers many advantages, including accessibility, user-friendliness, and a plethora of creative options. These platforms make it easy for businesses, marketers, and creators to to create professional-quality videos without requiring extensive technical skills or expensive traditional software and hardware.

With a variety of templates, stock media, and editing tools available, users can easily customize videos to suit their needs and branding. Some of today’s online video makers facilitate collaboration, which makes it possible for teams to work together in real time or communicate asynchronously, even when they’re in different time zones or on the other side of the world. Plus, video makers that offer cloud-based storage are incredibly convenient, allowing you to access and edit your video projects from any device — making it simple to create and share engaging videos in far less time compared to traditional video production methods.

Create a video with Vimeo →

Tips for choosing the right video creation platform

It’s difficult to choose the right video creation platform if you’re not sure what to look for. Here’s a breakdown of the most important features to look for and other things to consider when choosing an online video maker.

Your use cases. Are you dipping your toes into the world of video marketing? Maybe you’re implementing video as an education tool. Or you’re an enterprise-level company looking for tools to create internal team communications. Perhaps you just want a video creator to make entertaining videos for personal use. Knowing how you want to use video will help you find a video maker that has the features and capabilities you need. If you’re only planning to use video for personal use, for example, you might not need features like advanced analytics. But for marketers, analytics are a must.
User-friendly interface. One of the main selling points of online video creators is that you don’t need a lot of technical expertise to use them. So, look for a video solution that has an easy-to-understand interface with simple navigation and tools like a drag-and-drop editor so you can quickly and easily tweak your videos.
Ready-to-use templates. Look for a video platform that offers lots of pre-made, professionally designed video templates in different styles, such as templates for fireside chats, panel discussions, and social media videos. Some video makers also offer templates for things like email invitations and registration confirmations, which are especially useful for marketers and those using video for other business purposes.
Customization options. While templates are useful, they’re not one-size-fits-all, so along with pre-made video templates, look for a video creator that offers plenty of customization options and editing tools so you can create unique videos that align with your brand or personal vision.
Export and sharing capabilities. Choose a video maker that allows you to easily export your videos in different formats, as well as direct sharing options for posting to social media platforms, on websites, and in emails to make video distribution simple. Some video makers allow you to easily embed your videos directly on your website, which helps to ensure your videos reach your audience.
Cost and subscription plans. Pricing varies widely among online video makers, so your budget is a key consideration. Once you’ve narrowed down your options, compare pricing plans for the video platforms you’re considering. Look for a platform that offers a free trial or a free tier for basic use so you can give it a test drive before purchasing. Flexible pricing for more advanced features allows you to choose a plan that meets your needs, without spending a lot of money on features that you won’t use.
Video analytics. Analytics allow you to track your videos’ performance, with details like views, engagement rates, and audience insights. This is especially useful if you’re using video for marketing purposes or for internal team communication.
Cloud storage and backup. Cloud-based platforms that store your videos securely and offer easy access and editing across devices are a great option, especially for teams or long-term projects. And, it also gives you peace of mind knowing that you’ll be able to access your videos even if your computer meets an untimely end.
Integration capabilities. Look for a video creator that integrates with other tools you’re already using. Video makers that integrate with your CRM, for instance, can sync registration emails and even video analytics, so you can continue nurturing your leads after your events, as well as track performance alongside your other marketing metrics. With cloud storage integrations like Google Drive and Dropbox, you can easily upload videos and clips to your video creation platform.
Collaboration features. If you're working with a team, look for collaboration tools that allow multiple users to work on the same video, leave feedback, and share assets easily with link sharing or shared team folders.
Customer support. While online video makers are designed for everyday people who don’t have tons of technical expertise, you may still encounter issues from time to time. A video creation platform that offers reliable customer support can help you navigate these issues without a hassle. Look for a video maker that offers live chat, email support, and tutorials to help you resolve minor issues on your own and get the most value from your investment.

Top video creation sites: A side-by-side comparison

In our comparison chart below, we’ve created a side-by-side look at several leading online video creation platforms so you can easily compare the cost and features to determine what video maker best meets your needs.

Feature	Vimeo	Veed	Canva	Descript	CapCut	Lumen5
Cost	Freemium, $0–65/mo	Freemium, $0–29/user/mo Enterprise: custom pricing	Freemium, $0–$10/mo	Freemium, $0–$40/user/mo	Basic: free Pro: $25.99/mo (billed monthly) or $20.84/mo and up (billed annually)	Freemium, $0–199/mo
Video quality	4K HDR (up to 8K)	4K	4K	4K or 5K, depending on tier	Up to 4K	Up to 1080p
Screen recording	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Video file size or recording length	Unlimited	10 minutes (free) Unlimited (Lite plan and up)	Free plan: MP4: Up to 30 minutes GIFs: Up to 1 minute Paid plans: MP4: Up to 2 hours GIFs: Up to 2 minutes	1 hour (Free and Hobbyist plans) 3 hours (Creator and Business plans)	Unlimited	2 minutes (free plan) 10 minutes (paid plans)
Live streaming	Yes	Veed Live discontinued	Yes	No	No	No
Video templates	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Video AI	Text-based video editor Automatic transcription Video translation with automatic voice cloning AI video summary Auto caption Video highlights Ask a question Search by caption Auto-generated video titles, summaries, and chapters	AI image generator AI script generator Text-to-speech Text-to-video AI video summary Auto caption Multiple language translation Voice cloning AI voice avatars Video highlights Magic Cut	Text-based editor Video trimmer Graphic design tools like background remover and magic eraser AI avatars Beat Sync Search across folders Video highlights No auto caption No search by caption No chapter making	Text-based editor Eye contact correction Overdub and text-to-speech Auto-generated clips One-click retake removal Background removal Auto-generated podcast show notes, video descriptions, and social media posts And more	Transcript-based editing AI dubbing and language translation (some regions) AI video generator Speechto-text Subtitle translation Background generator AI video upscaler and stabilizer One-click clips and highlights And more	AI voiceover and AI voice library Talking head Create videos from photos Teleprompter Generate videos from text
Video storage	Up to 25 videos on free plan 60, 120, or 500 videos depending on the paid plan Unlimited videos with Enterprise	Unlimited videos, with 2 GB storage cap on free plans 50 GB+ for Pro, unlimited for Enterprise	1 TB for cloud storage	Unlimited	Up to 1 GB with CapCut Online free plan 100 GB on CapCut Pro plan 500 GB with CapCut Commerce Pro	Up to 5 videos per month on free plan Unlimited on paid plans
Video library and team folders	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Analytics dashboard	Yes	Yes (available with Pro and Enterprise plans)	No	No	Yes (available with CapCut Commerce Pro)	Yes

11 top online video creation platforms

We, of course, think Vimeo is one of the best online video creation platforms available, and we know a thing or two about creating video content. That said, there are numerous contenders that are also worth a look. We’ll review top online video makers and their advantages and disadvantages so you can choose the best video platform for your needs.

1. Vimeo video maker

Vimeo makes it easy for anyone to create high-quality videos with zero technical expertise required — and in a fraction of the time compared to traditional video production. Create videos on your desktop or mobile, start from scratch or choose one of our pre-designed templates, and add media like images and audio clips from our stock library. You can record your screen, webcam, or both with Vimeo, and tap into AI-powered tools like our automatic script generator and built-in teleprompter to get it all done without dozens of takes.

Vimeo also supports effective team collaboration — you can invite team members, assign them roles (admin, contributor, or viewer), and team members can leave time-stamped comments and @mention other users. And it doesn’t stop there — live streaming, comprehensive video editing tools, video distribution features, and video SEO make Vimeo the clear winner for creators, marketers, and businesses looking for an all-in-one video creation and editing platform.

Pros

Screen recording (screen only, webcam only, or both)
Customizable, high-quality HTML5 video player
iOS and Android apps for making videos on the go
Video templates built into the editor
AI-powered script generator, teleprompter, and video summarizer
AI voice dubbing and translation tools
Other AI tools like automatic captions, subtitles, chapters, and descriptions
Integrated brand kit to keep your videos on-brand
Stock media library (video clips, soundtracks, still images, etc.)
Basic to advanced video editing tools (trim, cut, crop, resize)
Live streaming and virtual event capabilities
Advanced video analytics
Integrates with third-party platforms for easy uploading
Add calls-to-action and contact forms
Private link sharing (paid plans only)
Collaborate with time-stamped notes and email/Slack notifications
Video repurposing tools for social media, websites, and email
Optimize videos for SEO

Cons

Video upload limits (based on plan)
Storage limits (based on plan)
Some features only available on higher-tier plans

Get started with a Vimeo template →

2. YouTube video maker

YouTube Create and YouTube Studio are YouTube’s free tools for video production and editing. These tools are easy to use and allow you to create and publish videos directly to your YouTube channel, so YouTube may be a good choice for a brand or creator that uses YouTube exclusively as a distribution channel. However, it lacks more advanced capabilities like screen recording and collaboration features, and it’s only available on Android devices in select markets.

Pros

Totally free to use
Create and publish directly to your YouTube channel
Add filters, effects, and transitions
Royalty-free music
Automatically add captions (select languages only)
Remove unwanted background noise

Cons

No screen recording
No stock video clips
Android only
Not available in all markets

3. Adobe video maker

Adobe Express is Adobe’s video creation solution. It’s available as a stand-alone app or as part of the Adobe Creative Cloud suite, and having the other tools in the Creative Cloud is necessary to really get the most value from its online video creator. It offers video templates and add-on extensions (although they must be purchased separately), as well as limited AI capabilities through Firefly, its generative AI tool — although AI credits are required to use it.

Pros

AI-powered image generation with Firefly (requires Generative AI credits)
Large selection of video templates
Community-developed add-on extensions available (purchased separately)
Collaboration tools (e.g., real-time comments, tagging team members)
Link sharing (for collaboration only)

Cons

AI usage is based on credits
Full Creative Cloud subscription needed to get the most value
No video hosting
Recording length limited to 30 minutes (free plan) or 2 hours (paid plans)

4. Canva video maker

Canva is a design-first platform that focuses mostly on other types of media, such as photos, images, and social media posts. However, it does offer some useful video creation and editing tools. Like Vimeo, Canva has a timeline-based editor, a library of pre-made video templates, and a large collection of stock media. It also supports collaboration and can generate videos from text, although it lacks advanced analytics and video hosting.

Pros

Intuitive timeline-based editor
Easy-to-use screen recorder
Team folders for collaboration
Add graphics and text
Video templates
Stock media library
Add multiple brand kits (Canva Pro, Canva for Teams, and Canva for Education users only)
AI-generated videos from text
Video background removal

Cons

No video hosting
Limited analytics
Text-to-video limited to 5 (free plan) and 50 (Canva Pro)

5. Veed video maker

Veed focuses mostly on video editing, although it does offer some video hosting and creation tools, such as video templates and screen recording with multiple layouts. Veed also has some unique capabilities like eye contact correction, and it automatically selects your best takes and stitches them together seamlessly. On the downside, Veed no longer offers live streaming capabilities, and video storage is limited for users on the free and lower-tier paid plans.

Pros

Automatically selects and splices your best takes
Eye contact correction
Background noise removal
Multiple screen recording layouts
Text-to-speech and text-to-video
AI-generated video summaries
AI-generated captions
Avatars and voice cloning

Cons

Veed Live Stream has been discontinued
Analytics limited to Pro and Enterprise users
Limited storage on free and low-tier plans
Collaboration tools limited to Enterprise plan users

6. Descript video maker

Like Veed, Descript is primarily a video editor, although it does provide some tools for video creation like screen recording and video templates. Plus, it offers AI-powered features like auto-generated video clips, eye contact correction, and retake and background removal tools. However, it doesn’t have a customizable video player or video analytics, and on free and lower-tier paid plans, video storage and access to more advanced features are limited.

Pros

Screen recording with custom webcam or screen size
Captures audio and video tracks separately for precise editing
Captures separate tracks for each camera feed
Studio sound enhancement
Green screen background
Automatic multicam ensures the speaker is featured prominently
Video templates and stock media library
Eye contact correction
AI-generated clips

Cons

No customizable video player
No analytics
Limited access controls (e.g., unlisted links, private workspaces)
Limited storage on free and lower-tier paid plans
Collaboration tools only available to Enterprise users

7. Loom video maker

Loom is primarily a screen recording tool designed for team collaboration. As such, it has the features you’d expect, such as video hosting, commenting and reactions, and a video library with the ability to organize, share, and control access with granular permission settings. It also has some AI-powered capabilities like automatic silence and filler word removal and auto-generated titles, chapters, and summaries. That said, its video editing features are basic, it doesn’t support live streaming, and videos are capped at just 5 minutes on the free plan.

Pros

Simple screen recording
Video library and team folders for collaboration
Analytics dashboard
AI-powered video editing tools (e.g., filler word removal, auto-generated chapters)
Commenting and emoji reactions

Cons

Limited video editing features only available on paid plans
5-minute recording limit on free plan
No live streaming
No video templates
AI tools limited to higher-tier paid plans

8. Camtasia/Techsmith video maker

Camtasia is a TechSmith product that’s available as a stand-alone product or as part of a bundle with other TechSmith products in higher-tier plans. Many of Camtasia’s features are actually available through other bundled products, so opting for a bundled package is ideal if you really want to get the most out of your investment. That said, Camtasia does offer some powerful video creation tools, including screen recording, webcam recording, a video library with shared collections, and AI-powered tools. You can also import different types of media for video creation like video clips, camera footage, PowerPoint slides, and images. However, it lacks an analytics dashboard and does not support live streaming. Its privacy controls are also limited to access phrase protection (basically the same thing as a password), which is only available with Screencast in the Camtasia Pro plan.

Pros

Screen and webcam recording
Stock media library, video templates, and themes
Video library with shared collections
AI script generation, voice dubbing, and translation
Automatic background, filler word, and pause removal
Records keystrokes, clicks, and mouse movements for precise editing
Audio balancing and editing

Cons

Many features are only available with higher-tier plans bundled with other apps
No live streaming
No analytics dashboard
Limited collaboration (25 videos) on lower-tier plans
Limited AI tools on lowest-tier plan
Limited privacy controls

9. CapCut video maker

CapCut is a video creation and editing platform that offers a good variety of capabilities, such as simple screen sharing, video templates, and browser-based, mobile, and desktop tools, although it does not support live streaming. It does provide some innovative AI tools, including video stabilization, the ability to create videos from text, and video upscaling, which elevates the quality of your video to 4K. It also allows you to customize parameters when exporting a video, including the resolution (720p, 1080p, 2K, 4K), format (MP4, MOV), quality, and frame rate (24, 25, 30, 50, 60fps). On the downside, CapCut once offered 15GB of free cloud storage, but this is being reduced.

Pros

Browser-based, mobile, and desktop tools
Create video from text
Video templates
Easy screen recording with custom recording options (entire screen, specific application windows, or selected regions)
Video library with CapCut Workspaces team folders
Video stabilization
Generate clips and highlights with one click
AI video upscaler to 4K
Custom exporting (resolution, format, quality, and frame rate)

Cons

No customizable video player
Analytics dashboard only available to CapCut Commerce Pro users
Free cloud storage is being reduced

10. Lumen5 video maker

Like CapCut, Lumen5 enables you to create videos from text. You can even add AI voiceovers and create a video using an AI-generated talking head and voice if you don’t want to use your own. It also has team collaboration features with access controls and permissions and an analytics dashboard to keep tabs on your videos’ performance. On the downside, it doesn’t offer mobile apps and doesn’t support mobile browsers, so you’re limited to your desktop when using this software. It also lacks live streaming, virtual events, and screen recording capabilities, and free plan users are limited to just 5 videos of 2 minutes or less.

Pros

Analytics dashboard
Video library with team folders
Access controls and permissions
Generate video from text
AI voiceovers
Create videos using an AI-generated voice and talking head
Some limited AI features available to users on free plans

Cons

No customizable video player
No support for mobile browsers
No mobile apps
Does not support live streaming or virtual events
2-minute recording limit on free plan, 10 minutes on paid plans
Limited to 5 videos on free plan
No screen recording

11. Wistia video maker

Wistia’s video creation platform is tailored for those who want to create marketing video content and monitor its performance. It offers screen recording, live streaming, virtual events, and basic editing capabilities, as well as a video library with folder-based organization, tags, filters, and time-stamped comments for team collaboration. You can record your screen and webcam to create talking head videos, tutorials, webinars, podcasts, and more. On the downside, Wistia doesn’t provide video templates, and users on free and lower-tier paid plans have rather low upload limits — 25 media files on the free plan, and 100 media files on the Plus plan.

Pros

Browser-based video platform
Basic editing capabilities
Embed lead capture and CTAs in videos
Live streaming with simulcasting
Dual-stream recording
Customizable video player
Video library with folders, tags, and filters
AI video highlights, descriptions, transcripts, and captions
Private link sharing, password protection, and admin permissions

Cons

No video templates
Limited video storage on lower-tier paid plans
No domain-level privacy

Video creation FAQ:

Can you create videos online for free?

Yes, there are several online tools and platforms — like Vimeo, Canva, and Descript — that allow you to create videos for free. Many of these tools offer video templates, screen recording capabilities, editing tools, and stock footage and graphics that can be used without a subscription. However, the features available on a free plan are typically limited compared to paid plans, and there are often lower limits for video storage and the use of AI tools like text-to-video and translation.

How can you add music and sound effects to videos?

You can add music and sound effects to videos using video editing software or online video creation and editing platforms like Vimeo. Many of these platforms have built-in libraries of royalty-free music and sound effects. You can also upload your own audio files and add them to your videos.

How do I turn pictures into a video?

Whether you want to create a GIF or a longer compilation of multiple photos, turning pictures into a video is easy with online video creation tools like Vimeo. Simply upload your photos, arrange them in the order you prefer, and add transitions, filters, background music, sound effects, text, and other elements to create a customized video. When you’re done, you can download your video and share it on social media or email.

How to make easy videos for social media?

Use simple video editing apps like Vimeo, CapCut, and Veed to easily create videos for various social media platforms. Select a template or upload pre-recorded clips, then add text, music, filters, watermarks, and other elements to complement your brand style or message. You should keep videos for social media short and engaging. Keep in mind that social media platforms have various video specifications, so look for an online video creator like Vimeo that lets you compress and resize videos to optimize them for various social sites.

How do I make a video with my phone?

Making a video with your phone is easier than ever. Just open your camera app, switch to video mode, and start recording. With an online video creation tool like Vimeo, you can create screen recordings and even go live right from your mobile device. For the best results, stabilize your phone, use good lighting, and keep your subject in frame. You can then use Vimeo’s video editor or another online tool to trim, crop, combine clips, and add other effects to your video.

What are the best AI video editing tools?

For high-end production, tools like Adobe Premiere (with its Firefly AI) and DaVinci Resolve are still the heavyweights for things like smart reframing and object removal.If you're more focused on social clips or podcasts, Descript and OpusClip have basically changed the game by letting you edit video just by tweaking a text transcript.At Vimeo, we’ve integrated that same text-based logic into our own workflow, so you can instantly kill filler words or "ums" and generate a polished final cut without ever touching a traditional timeline.

Conclusion: which video maker is best for you?

Choosing the right online video maker depends on your needs, goals, and budget. While each video creation platform offers unique features, Vimeo stands out as the best option for businesses, marketers, and content creators looking for an all-in-one, professional-grade solution.

With its combination of powerful video editing tools, advanced AI features, live streaming capabilities, seamless team collaboration, robust video distribution tools, and video SEO, Vimeo gives you the flexibility you need to create and manage high-quality video content at scale. Our easy-to-use interface ensures that even those without professional video production experience or technical expertise can create perfectly polished videos, while our integration options allow you to connect Vimeo with other tools to streamline your workflows.

Create a video with Vimeo →

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