What short-form editing costs.
Published prices for AI tools, editing subscriptions, freelancers and ReelNinja, in one place.
In 2026, short-form video editing costs anything from a $0 to $29 monthly software fee for AI clipping tools you finish yourself, to about $31 a video on editing subscriptions such as Vidchops, to $25 to $35 a video on ReelNinja's monthly packages. The right price depends on how many videos you need, how fast you need them, and how much of the work you want done for you.
Published prices, side by side
What each kind of option charges, as listed on its own site.
| Option | Published price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| OpusClip (AI clipping tool) | Free plan; $15 or $29 a month | AI-suggested clips you review, trim and export yourself |
| Plainly (template automation) | From $69 a month, or $48 a month billed yearly | Many versions of one After Effects template, driven by data |
| Vidchops (editing subscription) | $495 a month for 16 short videos; $995 for 32 | A dedicated editor; subtitles $95 a month extra |
| beCreatives (editing subscription) | $999 a month billed quarterly; $1,199 month to month | An editing team and account manager, unlimited requests |
| A production system (ReelNinja) | $1,050 for 30 videos up to $3,000 for 120 ($35 to $25 each) | Finished videos in your Style System, a person checks each one, weekly delivery |
Prices from each company's public pricing page on 21 October 2026; plans change, so check their sites. Names are trademarks of their owners, used only to compare published offers. Sources: OpusClip, Plainly, Vidchops, beCreatives.
How should you budget for short-form video?
Budget for short-form video by starting with volume, then deciding how much of the work you want to own. Count the videos you need each month, including every client if you are an agency. If you have an editor with spare hours, an AI clipping tool is the cheapest way to add volume, because you pay a small monthly fee and supply the finishing time yourself. If you need human editing on request, an editing subscription gives you a fixed number of videos or hours for a flat monthly price. If you want finished videos in a consistent style without managing editors, a production system such as ReelNinja usually costs less per video as volume grows, from $35 a video at 30 a month to $25 at 120. Add turnaround and setup to the comparison: faster delivery and new brand styles change the total more than the headline rate.
What changes the price
- Volume
- Per-video prices fall as monthly volume rises. On ReelNinja, from $35 at 30 videos to $25 at 120.
- Turnaround
- Weekly batches cost least. Faster delivery is priced per video: 72 hours +$15, 24 to 48 hours +$30, same day +$60.
- Style setup
- Your first brand's Style System is free; each additional brand is $120, one time.
- Project work
- Launch videos start at $500. Motion graphics and SaaS explainers are quoted per project.
Run your own numbers
Two inputs: how many videos you make and what one costs you now.
ReelNinja's packages
The more you send, the less each video costs.
| Package | Videos | Monthly | Per video |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | 30 | $1,050 | $35 |
| Growth | 60 | $1,800 | $30 |
| Scale | 120 | $3,000 | $25 |
- Setup
- Your Style System is free for your first brand; each additional brand is $120, one time.
- Guarantee
- Fewer than 6 of 10 videos you would post? We re-cut them free or refund the batch.
- Term
- Month to month, or 10% off for three months. Extra videos at your package rate.
- Need it sooner
- 72 hours +$15, 24 to 48 hours +$30, same day +$60, per video.
Questions
How much does it cost to edit one short-form video?
Published prices range from about $25 to $35 a video on ReelNinja's packages and about $31 a video on Vidchops' plans, while AI clipping tools charge a monthly fee and leave the finishing to you.
Is it cheaper to hire an editor?
For a few one-off videos, a freelancer can cost less. ReelNinja adds a Style System, a person checking every video and a team that grows with you, and per-video packages tend to cost less than adding editors as volume grows. Smaller plans are set up on request.
Do prices include captions?
On ReelNinja, yes: every video is captioned. Check other providers' plans, as some charge for subtitles separately.
Can we try before paying?
Yes. Send one raw video and get three finished clips back free, the first within three working days.
See it on your own footage.
Three free clips, before any fee. Or fifteen minutes on your numbers.