What is the best video editor for YouTube Shorts?
For Shorts specifically, the editor needs four things: native 9:16 projects (not cropped 16:9), automatic captions sized for a phone screen, fast pattern-based editing (presets over hand-keyframing), and clean exports without another platform's watermark. EseCut checks all four free in the browser; CapCut checks most but adds app-install and watermarked-template caveats.
A practical Shorts detail people miss: safe zones. Platform UI covers the top and bottom of the frame, so captions must sit in the middle band — an editor that positions captions for vertical automatically (rather than making you eyeball it) saves reworking every video.
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EseCut runs in your browser: timeline, auto captions, effects, and clean 1080p export.