The four ways to get a YouTube video edited
| Freelancer (Upwork, Fiverr) | Subscription agency | Done-for-you per video | DIY AI tools | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typical cost | Upwork: typically $6–$25/hr (Upwork, “How much does hiring a video editor cost?”); Fiverr adds a 5.5% fee | $495–$1,699+/month (VidChops, beCreatives, Black Bulb) | $27–$327 per video (DoneEdit, Tasty Edits) | Software subscription plus your time |
| Your effort | High: find, test, brief, review | Medium: onboarding, then a queue | Low: upload and add notes | Highest: you do the edit |
| Turnaround | Depends on the person | Usually 1–3 days | 24–48 hours at most services | Whenever you find time |
| Consistency | Varies; risk if they disappear | Good once trained | Good for repeatable formats | Depends on you |
| Best for | Unique styles, complex edits | 4+ videos a month on a schedule | 1–4 talking-head videos a month | Hobbyists who like editing |
When hiring a freelance editor makes sense
A good freelancer is the right choice when your channel depends on a distinctive look: storytelling, custom motion graphics, heavy sound design. You'll typically post a job on Upwork or browse Fiverr gigs, run a paid test edit with two or three candidates and then keep the best one. Budget time for that: the first few videos usually take several rounds of feedback before the editor learns your style.
When a subscription agency makes sense
Agencies like VidChops ($495/month for 4 long-form credits) or beCreatives ($999/month billed quarterly) give you a managed team and a queue. They pay off if you publish four or more videos a month on a stable format. If you post less often, you pay for credits you don't use.
When a done-for-you per-video service makes sense
If you film simple talking-head content and just want it cut, captioned and tidied, paying per video avoids both freelancer management and a monthly commitment. You upload, leave notes, and get a finished file back. The trade-off: these services work best on standard formats and usually limit footage length and style.
DoneEdit, our own service, is one example: AI tools do the first pass, a person checks every video, and you get it back within 48 hours for $27 (founding price) or $67, with 2 revisions. It handles one English speaker, up to 10 minutes of raw footage and up to 5 minutes finished.
When DIY AI editing tools make sense
Tools like Descript (text-based editing), CapCut, Opus Clip (clips from long videos) and Submagic (captions) make editing faster, but you still do the work: learning the tool, making decisions, fixing what the AI gets wrong. They are a good fit if you enjoy editing; they don't remove editing from your week.
A simple way to decide
- Count your videos. Fewer than four a month: per-video service or freelancer. Four or more on a schedule: consider a subscription.
- Check your format. Talking head, tutorial or lesson: a done-for-you service is usually enough. Story-driven or heavy graphics: hire a skilled editor.
- Price your time. If briefing and reviewing a freelancer costs you an hour per video, add that to their rate.
- Run one test. Send the same raw video to your top option and judge the result, not the pitch.
Decision checklist
- How many videos do you publish each month?
- Are they short talking-head videos or long, complex edits?
- Do you want to manage a person or just get a result?
- Can you commit to a monthly fee?
If you publish a lot and want a long-term creative partner, hire. If you publish short videos occasionally and want no management, a per-video service fits.
You can combine both
Some creators keep a freelancer for long videos and use a per-video service for quick short ones. There's no rule that says you must pick only one approach.
Key takeaways
- Hire when you have steady volume and want a long-term partner.
- Use a per-video service for irregular, short talking-head videos.
- Combining both is common.