How to Use YouTube Video Editor: Ultimate Guide & Best Alternative

Making compelling video content for YouTube is no longer just about filming — editing plays a key role in raising the production value, engaging viewers, and boosting your channel's success. Whether you're a beginner who just hit "record" or a seasoned creator looking for a lightweight editing solution, having the right tools and knowing how to use them makes all the difference.

In this article, we'll walk you through how to use the YouTube video editor — namely, the YouTube Create app— explore its main features, guide you through the editing process step-by-step, then widen the lens to another highly versatile editor, CapCut. We'll compare both, highlight their features, and help you choose which is best for your YouTube workflow. Let’s dive in.

What is YouTube Video Editor

The tool we're talking about is the YouTube Create app from YouTube/Google. Let's have a brief overview:

• It is a mobile-based solution offered by YouTube itself, designed to allow creators to edit, enhance, and publish videos from a mobile device.
• It's described as "editing & production tools" built to help creators raise the level of their videos — with filters, effects, transitions, royalty‐free music, etc.
• It offers an intuitive, easy-to-use interface to edit videos or shorts, and directly publish videos to your channel.
• It's free of charge; YouTube Create is a YouTube video editor without a watermark and is free to use. There are also no ads in the editing flow.
• It supports both longer‐form videos and Shorts (vertical mobile format).

YouTube says the intention is to simplify the creation process so creators can focus more on the content and less on the tech.

Main Features of YouTube Video Editor

Now that we know what it is, let’s break down the main features of YouTube Create, and explain how each one works and why it matters.

Captions

YouTube Create allows you to automatically add captions to your videos with just the tap of a button.

Why this matters: Captions improve accessibility for users who watch without sound, help comprehension, especially for non-native speakers, and may help engagement and retention.

Tip: Always review auto-generated captions for accuracy. Auto tools are good, but may mishear names or technical terms.

Filters & Effects

You'll find a wide selection of filters, effects, and transitions within the app's timeline. According to the feature list: "Elevate your edits with a wide selection of filters, effects, and transitions."

Why this matters: These allow you to give your video a stylised look, maintain consistent brand aesthetics, smooth transitions between scenes, and keep viewers' interest.

Tip: Don't go overboard. Using too many flashy filters or transitions can distract. Choose a look that matches your channel's tone.

Audio Cleanup

One of the standout features: the ability to easily remove unwanted or distracting background noises via the "Audio cleanup" tool.

Why this matters: Even videos shot on mobile often pick up background hums, wind noise, echoes, etc. Cleaning up audio improves perceived production quality dramatically.

Tip: After cleanup, listen to your audio on headphones — you may notice some artifacts or need to adjust levels (voice vs. background). Use the "volume" and "fade" controls if available.

Music & Sound Effects

YouTube Create gives you access to a large library of royalty-free music tracks and sound effects, so you can add background music, ambient sounds, and proper audio cues.

Why this matters: Sound design is often undervalued. Good music and SFX help engage viewers, set the tone, support pacing, and avoid copyright issues.

Tip: Ensure the music volume doesn't drown your voiceover/dialogue. Use fades and subtle SFX rather than loud, abrupt ones. Also select tracks that match the mood (uplifting, calm, dramatic) of your content.

Additional feature pointers

While the four above are core, YouTube Create also brings in tools for trimming & splitting clips, rearranging, inserting text/stickers, and publishing directly to YouTube (per tutorials).

All of these combined mean that it covers many of the essential editing tasks directly on a mobile device.

How to Use YouTube Video Editor

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use the YouTube video editor to edit a video from start to publish.

Step 1: Download and open the app

On your Android device, install YouTube Create from the Play Store. Sign in with your YouTube (Google) account.

Step 2: Start a new project

Tap the "+" button. Choose the video clips or photos you want to include. You can pick multiple clips from your phone. Decide whether you're editing a vertical Short or a longer horizontal format video.

Step 3: Trim, split, and arrange your clips

Select each clip, then drag handles to trim the start/end. To remove unwanted parts inside a clip: move the playhead, use the Split tool, then delete the unwanted section. Rearrange clips by dragging them into the desired order.

Step 4: Add overlay elements (optional)

If you want to overlay text, stickers, GIFs, or secondary footage: use the Overlay, Text, Sticker options. Resize and position overlay media as needed.

Step 5: Add music or sound effects

Tap the Sound tool to choose a royalty-free track or sound effect. Preview it. Adjust volume, apply fade in/out if needed. Ensure audio balance: music, voice, ambient. Or you can record your voice-over.

Step 6: Apply filters, effects, transitions

Apply Filters for a consistent look and adjust colour settings (brightness, contrast) if needed. Use Transitions between clips: eg, fade, swipe, wipe. Keep them consistent for a professional look.

Step 7: Remove background noise

Use the Audio Cleanup tool to remove background noise from the video.

Step 8: Generate and edit captions

Use the Captions tool. Select the source and language. The app transcribes audio to text. Review and correct any errors in the captions. Customize style if desired.

Step 9: Preview your video and Export

Play the video within the app to ensure the pacing, transitions, audio balance, and visual look are as you want. Once satisfied, tap Export. Choose resolution (typically up to 1080p, depending on version). Since YouTube Create connects directly to your YouTube channel, you can publish straight from the app: fill in title, description, tags, and visibility (Public/Private/Unlisted).

Now we know how to use the YouTube video editor. Follow the steps above, and your edited video is live on YouTube.

Explore a More Versatile YouTube Video Editor Software - CapCut

While YouTube Create is great for quick mobile edits and direct publishing, you may find that as your content demands increase (multi-clip projects, more advanced effects, cross-platform output), a more versatile editor makes sense. That's where CapCut comes in.

CapCut is a powerful YouTube video maker for multiple platforms (mobile, desktop, browser) with advanced features including AI-powered generation, templates, customisation, and more.

Main Features of CapCut Video Editor for YouTube

Here are several stunning video editing features in CapCut to create YouTube videos:

Ready-made YouTube templates

CapCut offers Youtube video templates (intros, outros, vertical vs horizontal formats, etc). These templates allow you to quickly plug in your footage/text and produce polished output.

YouTube copyright-free music

CapCut provides a built-in music library of tracks and sound effects, which are cleared for use (depending on licensing) and suited for YouTube content.

Generate YouTube videos with an AI script-to-video

One of CapCut's standout features is script to video maker: you can enter a script (or prompt) and, using its AI engine, the tool can generate a full video — with scenes, voiceover, stock visuals, and captions.

Edit YouTube videos with powerful editing tools

Beyond templates and AI generation, CapCut supports full manual/advanced editing: trimming, layering, filters, effects, motion tracking, text animation, free video overlay effects, and multi-layer editing.

Benefits of Using CapCut to Edit YouTube Videos:

• Easily share videos on YouTube (export in appropriate format/aspect ratio).
• A YouTube video editor without a watermark.
• Fast generation. AI YouTube video maker saves editing time, especially for short-form or scripted content.
• AI-powered script-to-video, auto caption generator, auto voiceover, etc.
• More flexibility. Good for creators wanting more control, multi-clip sequences, and complex edits.
• Better compatibility. A YouTube video editor online, on desktop, and on mobile phones.

How to Make YouTube Videos with CapCut

Here's how to use the YouTube video editor from CapCut for video creation.

Step 1: Create a new project

Open CapCut, tap "New project". Choose your aspect ratio (for YouTube: 16:9 for standard horizontal, or 9:16 if uploading as Shorts). Import your footage, images, and audio as needed.

Step 2: If using AI script-to-video (optional)

Go to "Media" > "AI Media". Select "Text to video", paste or write your script or prompt. Choose an AI model, duration, and ratio, and let the AI generate a video clip.

Step 3: Manual editing and trimming

Trim clips, split sections, and rearrange. Add additional footage, overlay B-roll, and refine pacing. Add text overlays (titles, subtitles), stickers, and animations.

Step 4: Add music/sound effects

Click “Audio” on the top menu. Choose royalty-free music from the CapCut library. Adjust volume, fade in/out.

Step 5: Add Captions

Click "Captions" in the top left toolbar. Use auto-captioning or manually add subtitles.

Step 6: Apply filters, transitions, and effects

Tap on "Filters" and pick a look. Insert transitions between scenes. Select "Effects" and use one (motion graphics, animations, text reveal).

Step 7: Apply AI changes

Click on the video clip. On the top right toolbar, make several AI changes to the video, such as video quality enhancement, background removal, AI expansion, etc.

Step 8: Review and share

Preview the whole video. Ensure pacing is good, audio balanced, and visuals clean. Export in appropriate resolution (e.g., 1080p or 4K). Then share the created video on YouTube directly.

After learning how to use the YouTube video editor and how to use a more comprehensive video editor, CapCut, it is time to compare these two tools and make a decision on which one to use.

Comparison Between the YouTube Create App and the CapCut Video Editor

Here's a comparison table that outlines key differences, pros & cons to help you decide which tool to use.

In essence, if you want to edit quickly, publish fast, and keep things simple, YouTube Create is excellent. If you want to elevate your editing game, add more polish and cross-platform flexibility — CapCut may be the better choice.

Conclusion

Here, we talked about how to use the YouTube video editor. With tools like YouTube Create, you can go from filming to publishing right from your mobile device without jumping into complex desktop software. Its intuitive interface, captions, filters, remove background noise from audio, and royalty-free music make it a strong choice for many creators.

On the other hand, if your editing needs grow — perhaps you want templates, AI-powered generation, advanced effects, or multi-platform flexibility — then CapCut offers a compelling alternative. As you scale your content creation, having a choice of tools allows you to match the tool to the task.

Whichever you choose, the key is consistency: shoot good footage, plan your edit, refine your pacing, use sound thoughtfully, and always preview before publishing. The editing tool is just one piece of the puzzle — your content and storytelling still matter most. With the right workflow, you can elevate your videos and give your channel professional polish.

FAQs

How do I edit part of a YouTube video?

Yes — using YouTube Create or CapCut, you can trim and split clips, remove unwanted sections, rearrange segments, and refine portions of your video. On YouTube Create, for example, you tap a clip, use handles to trim, or use the split tool to cut and delete. If you mean editing an already–uploaded video on YouTube, YouTube Studio offers basic trimming/cuts, but for more control, it’s better to download/edit and re-upload.

Are you allowed to use CapCut templates on YouTube?

Yes — CapCut provides templates and a royalty-free music library, and the edited videos can be uploaded to YouTube. However, you should check the version of CapCut you're using and ensure the export settings and licence terms allow "no watermark" and proper commercial use (if your channel is monetised). Always verify any template's licensing if it includes third-party assets.

Which tool is best for YouTube video editing?

There's no one "best" tool universally — it depends on your needs. If you're editing simply and directly on mobile, YouTube Create is excellent. If you need more advanced editing, templates, and AI features, CapCut is more capable. The best is the tool you will use consistently, that fits your workflow and helps you deliver good-quality videos regularly.

Can I cut a clip from a YouTube video?

If you are the owner of the video (your channel), then yes — you can download the original file, edit using either YouTube Create, CapCut, or another editor, cut the clip you don't want, then export and re-upload (or use YouTube Studio's built-in editor for minor cuts). If the video is from someone else, you cannot legally edit and re-upload without permission or fair use justification.

Can I use CapCut to create YouTube videos?

Absolutely. CapCut is fully capable of creating videos intended for YouTube: you can set the correct aspect ratio, add audio/music, trim, edit, export to YouTube-supported formats, and then upload. Its advanced features make it especially good for creators producing high-quality content.

Which editor is best for YouTube?

For quick edits and publishing, YouTube Create wins in simplicity and seamless YouTube integration. For more rigorous editing, detailed features, and cross-platform flexibility, CapCut wins. Ultimately, evaluate how complex your edits are, how often you publish, and your comfort with editing tools — and select accordingly.

For more helpful guides, you can explore these related articles below:

How to Add Voice in a Video - CapCut Tutorial >>

Text Effects | Add Fun Text Effects to Video Free >>

How to Blur Videos in CapCut >>