Step 1
Identify content where AI editing covers the need
Regular YouTube videos, social clips, interview highlights, webinar edits — these patterns are well-suited to AI. Assign this content to Editly instead of your freelancer.
Editly AI
Freelance Video Editor
How much do freelance video editors charge?
Freelance video editor rates: $25-50/hour (entry-level), $75-150/hour (mid-level), $150-300+/hour (senior). A 5-minute YouTube video typically costs $75-1500 to edit depending on editor level. Editly Pro: $28/month for 100 AI-edited videos.
Freelance Editor vs Editly AI: What Each Provides
Comparing freelance editing and AI editing on the dimensions that drive the choice.
| Decision | Other Apps | Editly |
|---|---|---|
| Turnaround | Freelance editor: 1-5 business days — queue dependent, communication required | Editly AI: 15-20 minutes — upload, prompt, receive |
| Cost | Freelance editor: $75-1800 per video depending on length and editor level | Editly AI: $0.28 per video on Pro ($28/month for 100 exports) |
| Communication overhead | Freelance editor: briefs, revisions, feedback cycles — additional time per project | Editly AI: single prompt, follow-up prompt if needed — no back-and-forth |
| Creative judgment | Freelance editor: professional creative decisions, brand understanding, artistic judgment | Editly AI: executes clear briefs well — less suited for ambiguous creative direction |
Replace Your Freelance Editor With Editly for Regular Content
Step 2
Build a prompt template for each content type
Create briefs: 'YouTube Tutorial: Create [X]-minute video from recording. Remove silences. Add captions. Start with hook. Export 1080p 16:9.' Adapt per video.
Step 3
Process in Editly instead of sending to a freelancer
Upload footage, apply the prompt template, receive a finished video in 15-20 minutes. No scheduling, no invoices, no revision emails.
Step 4
Keep your freelancer for hero content
Reserve your freelance budget for major productions. Use the savings (potentially thousands per month) for other channel investments.
Test AI Editing Before Your Next Freelancer Invoice — 3 Free Exports
Upload footage you'd normally send to a freelancer. Compare the Editly output to what a freelancer would deliver. 3 free exports, no card required.
- 3 free AI exports — compare to your current freelancer quality
- 15-20 minute turnaround vs days
- Pro $28/month vs $300-1500+ per freelancer video
Related editing pages