Step 1
Upload footage you'd normally send to an editor
Add the raw recording — interview, tutorial, or demo. Use footage that represents your actual editing needs.
Editly AI
Hire a Video Editor
How much does it cost to hire a video editor?
Freelance rates: $25-50/hour (entry-level), $75-150/hour (mid-level), $150-300+/hour (senior). A 5-minute YouTube video: $75-1800 depending on editor level. Editly Pro: $0.28 per video ($28/month for 100).
Hiring a Video Editor vs Using Editly AI
The practical comparison for standard content creator needs.
| Decision | Other Apps | Editly |
|---|---|---|
| Per-video cost | Hired video editor: $75-1500 per video depending on length and editor level | Editly: $0.28 per video on Pro plan ($28/month for 100 exports) |
| Turnaround | Hired editor: 1-5 business days — queue and communication dependent | Editly: 15-20 minutes from upload to finished video |
| Revision cycle | Hired editor: email revisions, back-and-forth, additional time per revision | Editly: follow-up prompts in the same session — no communication overhead |
| Creative input | Hired editor: professional creative judgment and brand understanding | Editly: executes your prompt — clear briefs produce better results than vague ones |
Test AI Editing Before Hiring
Step 2
Write a clear editorial brief as a prompt
The brief you'd give a human editor works for Editly: 'Create a 5-minute YouTube video. Remove silences. Add captions. Focus on the main argument. Export 1080p.'
Step 3
Compare the output to your editing standard
Review the Editly output. Would this meet your standard for regular content? If yes, you've found an alternative to hiring.
Step 4
Decide based on what you found
If Editly meets your standard, scale to Pro ($28/month). If your content needs human creative judgment, proceed with hiring. Test honestly before deciding.
3 Free Exports Before You Hire — Honest Comparison
Test Editly on footage you'd normally hire an editor for. Compare the output. 3 free exports with no card required — an honest evaluation before hiring.
- 3 free exports — no card, test on real footage
- 15-20 minutes vs days of hiring coordination
- Pro $28/month if AI covers your editing needs
Related editing pages