AI Video Tools Compared: Editors vs Creators (2026 Guide)

February 05, 20265 min read

We tested the major AI video tools in 2026. Here's what actually works — and what's just marketing hype.

The Two Categories

First, understand there are two different types of "AI video tools":

Category 1: AI Video Editors — Help you edit existing footage
Category 2: AI Video Creators — Generate new videos from text

These solve different problems. Comparing them directly is like comparing a hammer to a paintbrush.

AI Video Editors (Edit Existing Footage)

Descript

What it does: Edit video by editing a text transcript. Delete words, and the video follows.

Best for: Podcasters, interview content, cleaning up recorded footage

Pricing: $12-24/month

Verdict: Excellent for what it does. Not for creating from scratch.

Runway ML

What it does: Professional AI tools — video generation (Gen-3), green screen, motion tracking, inpainting.

Best for: VFX artists, creative professionals, experimental work

Pricing: $12-76/month

Verdict: Powerful but steep learning curve. Best-in-class generation quality.

CapCut

What it does: Traditional video editor with AI features (auto-captions, effects, templates)

Best for: TikTok creators, casual editing, anyone wanting "free"

Pricing: Free (with pro features $8/month)

Verdict: Great value. Limited for professional work.

AI Video Creators (Generate New Videos)

Ekly

What it does: Describe your video idea in text → AI generates complete video with visuals, voiceover, music

Best for: Marketers, small businesses, anyone who can describe what they want but doesn't edit

Pricing: Free beta (paid plans coming)

Verdict: Easiest way to go from idea to video. Still in beta, improving fast.

Synthesia

What it does: AI avatars read your script on camera

Best for: Corporate training, sales videos, internal comms

Pricing: $22+/month

Verdict: Good for talking-head content. Can feel "uncanny valley."

Higgsfield

What it does: Suite of AI tools — Kling (video generation), Vibe Motion (motion graphics), effects

Best for: Creators wanting cutting-edge AI generation, social media effects

Pricing: Varies by tool

Verdict: Impressive tech. More experimental than production-ready for most users.

Pika

What it does: AI video generation from prompts and images

Best for: Creative/artistic video generation

Pricing: Free tier available

Verdict: Fun for experiments. Quality varies.

Quick Comparison

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Our Recommendation

Have footage to edit? → Descript (podcasts) or CapCut (social)
Need VFX/professional work? → Runway
Want to create without editing? → Ekly
Need AI presenter? → Synthesia