DIY vs outsourcing at a glance
| Do it yourself | Outsource | |
|---|---|---|
| Money | Software (or free tools) | Per video, hourly or monthly |
| Time | Several hours per video for most people | Briefing and review |
| Control | Total | Through briefs and revisions |
| Consistency | Depends on your week | Depends on the provider |
| Skill growth | You learn editing | You learn to brief and manage |
Reasons to keep editing yourself
- You're still finding your style. Editing your first videos teaches you what you like.
- Editing is part of your voice. Some creators' humour or storytelling lives in the edit.
- You enjoy it. If it's fun, it's not a cost.
- Cash is tight. Free tools like DaVinci Resolve and CapCut cover a lot.
Reasons to outsource
- You avoid filming because of editing. This is the clearest signal.
- You have a backlog of recorded videos you haven't edited.
- Your time earns more elsewhere, for example client work or sales.
- You want a consistent schedule you can't hit alone.
- Your format is repeatable: talking head, tutorials, lessons, updates.
The part-outsource approach
You don't need to hand over everything:
- Outsource the mechanical edit: cutting mistakes, pauses, captions.
- Keep the creative parts: title, thumbnail concept, hook and final approval.
- Use templates: a fixed intro, outro and caption style so any editor can match it.
This keeps your voice while removing most of the hours.
How to start outsourcing without wasting money
- Write a short brief with a reference video. See how to brief a video editor.
- Try one video first, then a small batch.
- Judge results by watch time in YouTube Studio, not just how the edit looks.
- Keep a running list of feedback so each edit improves.
Options if you outsource
- Freelancer: most flexible; you manage them. Upwork reports typical rates of $6–$25 an hour.
- Agency subscription: reliable for weekly uploaders, from $495 a month at VidChops.
- Per-video done-for-you service: fixed price, low effort for simple formats. DoneEdit, our own service, is $27 per video during its founding offer, then $67.
A 30-day test
If you can't decide, run a test. For one month, outsource half your videos and edit the other half yourself. Track the time you spend on each, how many videos you publish, and audience retention for each set. The numbers usually make the decision for you.
Worked example: the time audit
Before deciding, measure your own editing for two weeks. It takes five minutes of setup.
- Start a timer when you import footage and stop it when you export.
- Split the time into rough cut, polish (zooms, b-roll, music), captions and thumbnail.
- Note your energy: did you dread it, tolerate it or enjoy it?
- Count missed uploads: how many videos did you plan but not post?
Then look at the numbers. If one part, often captions or the rough cut, eats most of the time, outsource just that part first. If you never miss uploads and enjoy editing, keep doing it.
What to keep in-house even if you outsource
- Your ideas and scripts. Editors make videos better; they can't make a weak idea strong.
- Your thumbnail and title decisions. Others can design, but you should approve.
- Final review. Watch every video before it goes live.
What's usually easiest to hand off first
- Cutting mistakes and pauses from talking-head footage.
- Captions.
- Repurposing long videos into Shorts.
DIY tools that make doing it yourself easier
If you decide to keep editing, a few habits help more than switching software:
- Use one template project with your fonts, colours and intro already set up.
- Learn the keyboard shortcuts for cut, ripple delete and zoom.
- Edit in two passes: first remove everything you don't need, then add polish.
- Use auto-captions and then correct them rather than typing from scratch.
See our guide on how to edit YouTube videos faster for more.
Key takeaways
- Time your editing before deciding.
- Outsource the most painful step first.
- Keep ideas, filming and final review yourself.