Step 1
Upload your raw clips
Add your footage to Editly — no template selection required. It works with long recordings, multi-clip projects, and both horizontal and vertical formats.
Editly AI
Best Filmora Alternative
Is Editly easier to use than Filmora?
Yes, in the sense that there's no interface to learn — you just write what you want. Filmora is friendlier than professional NLEs, but it still requires hands-on timeline editing. Editly requires only the ability to write a prompt.
Filmora vs Editly: Side-by-Side for Content Creators
Filmora and Editly both target creators who don't want full NLE complexity. The difference is how far each tool takes you from raw footage to finished video.
| Decision | Filmora | Editly |
|---|---|---|
| Editing approach | Filmora: drag-and-drop timeline with templates — you still make every clip, transition, and title decision | Editly: describe the output in a prompt — AI makes clip selection, timing, and structure decisions |
| Watermark on free tier | Filmora: free version adds a visible watermark — subscription starts at $49.99/year to remove it | Editly: free tier gives 3 full watermark-free exports — Pro is $28/month |
| Silence removal | Filmora: no built-in silence removal — requires manual scrubbing or third-party tools | Editly: include 'remove silences' in any prompt — applied automatically across the footage |
| Captions | Filmora: auto-captions available but require review, styling, and placement adjustment | Editly: specify caption style in the prompt — generated and positioned automatically |
From Filmora to Editly: 4-Step Process
Step 2
Write what you want
Replace the timeline drag-and-drop with a single instruction: 'Make a 5-minute YouTube video from this footage. Remove silences. Add captions. Start with the best quote.'
Step 3
Review the AI-built edit
Editly's Acute engine returns a complete cut. Assess the structure, pacing, and captions — it should be close to final from the first pass.
Step 4
Refine with targeted prompts
If something needs adjusting, type the specific change. 'The intro is too slow — cut the first 20 seconds.' One prompt per revision cycle.
3 Free Exports — No Watermark, No Annual Subscription
Test Editly on the same footage you'd take into Filmora. Write one prompt. Compare the result. If the output saves you an hour, you've found a better workflow.
- Free tier: 3 full AI-edited exports, no watermark
- No annual subscription required — pay monthly if you upgrade
- Pro is $28/month for 100 exports