Vertical Video Editor
Edit, trim, and crop vertical videos in an online studio.
Free to start. Download in up to 4K.
Create vertical videos for any platform
Create in 9:16, 4:5, or 3:4 aspect ratios. Download as MP4 for free.
Efficient short-form video editing
Create professional vertical videos with an online editor built for creators, marketers, and social media teams. Start with presets for 9:16, 4:5, and 3:4 aspect ratios to make content for TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and other mobile-first platforms.
Keep important content visible with built-in safe zones for faces, subtitles, logos, and calls-to-action. Trim, cut, and rearrange clips on a simple timeline, then add transitions, filters, effects, and color adjustments to polish your video.
Edit from any device with Kapwing's cloud-based studio — no downloads required. Work seamlessly on your phone, tablet, or desktop, then export in up to 4K resolution and publish wherever your audience watches.
Vertical videos reach more viewers
Improve engagement and build your audience. Start for free in your browser.
Publish more short-form content faster
Use 100+ online video editing tools. No watermark with Pro.
Build your audience with a vertical-forward editor
Grow your channel with a vertical video editor built for social media. Edit and optimize videos for TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts with one-click subtitles, customizable text animations, and safe zones that help keep captions, graphics, and calls-to-action visible on every platform. Make videos more engaging with royalty-free music and sound effects.
Create standout short-form content from your phone, tablet, or desktop with a cloud-based studio. When your video is ready, publish directly to your social channels in just a few clicks.
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Optimize any video for mobile platforms
Convert horizontal videos to vertical formats with blurred canvas or custom background options that preserve your original footage. Use smart cropping to keep the focus on your subject while removing unnecessary edges.
For podcasts, interviews, and talking-head videos, Speaker Focus automatically keeps the active speaker centered and in frame as your video is resized. Choose from built-in aspect ratio presets like 9:16, 4:5, and 3:4 to quickly optimize videos for vertical platforms.
Speed up your workflow with AI tools
Create vertical videos faster with AI tools built for short-form content. Automatically add relevant B-roll, correct eye contact, remove background noise and awkward pauses, stabilize shaky clips, and upscale low-resolution footage.
Remove or blur backgrounds instantly for polished talking-head and informative videos. All without leaving your editing workflow.
Edit short-form videos collaboratively
Keep vertical video projects moving with collaborative editing built for teams, clients, and creative workflows. Share projects, collect feedback, and work together in real time with a shared workspace for editing and commenting.
Keep every short-form video on brand with a shared Brand Kit for logos, fonts, subtitle styles, and colors. Upload assets once, organize them in your in-studio media library, and make it easier for your team to create consistent social content.
Create vertical videos for every platform
Trusted by 35M+ creators worldwide. Download in up to 4K.
Interview and Podcast Clips
Podcasters convert long-form conversations into short vertical video clips with captions and speaker tracking, making it easier to grow audiences across TikTok, Reels, and YouTube Shorts
YouTube Shorts
YouTubers use the vertical video editor to transform existing content into 9:16 YouTube Shorts format, extending the reach of every upload without creating new content from scratch
Social Posts
Social media managers create consistent vertical video content for multiple channels, resizing footage and adapting creative for each platform's preferred vertical video dimensions
Product Demos
Product marketers turn walkthroughs and feature announcements into engaging vertical videos that help explain products quickly across social and mobile-first channels
UGC Ads
UGC creators and advertising teams edit customer testimonials, product reviews, and promotional videos into short-form content designed for paid social campaigns
Sales Outreach
Sales reps create personalized vertical video messages that stand out in mobile inboxes and help build stronger relationships with prospects
Vlogs
Vloggers use the vertical video editor to create mobile-first content from daily recordings, maintaining consistent formatting across platforms
Event Highlights
PR executives and marketers transform event footage, keynote sessions, and media appearances into shareable vertical videos for social distribution
Real Estate Tours
Realtors produce vertical property walkthroughs optimized for social media feeds, helping listings reach more potential buyers
Translation Projects
Translation teams adapt vertical videos for international audiences by combining subtitles, captions, and localized edits into a single workflow
Brand Updates
Customer success teams share product updates, onboarding tips, and feature highlights through vertical video content that is easy for customers to watch and understand
Already transforming video creation across industries
Hear directly from the teams who publish faster, collaborate better, and stay ahead.
How to Create a Vertical Video
- Step 1Create project
Open the Kapwing Studio and create a new project. Choose the 4:5 or 9:16 canvas aspect ratio for a vertical video.
- Step 2Edit video
Upload videos and click to add them to your project. If needed, crop to a vertical format. Use 100+ professional video editing tools to finish your video.
- Step 3Export & share
When you're ready, click "Export project" in the upper right to download your video as MP4, MOV, or WebM. You can also share directly to TikTok or YouTube Shorts.
What's different about Kapwing?
Frequently Asked Questions
We have answers to the most common questions that our users ask.
Is the Vertical Video Editor free?
Yes, Kapwing's Vertical Video Editor is free for all users. For access to the full range of professional tools, including AI-powered tools like Upscale, Remove Background, and Speaker Focus, upgrade to a Pro account.
How to create vertical videos with Kapwing
To make vertical videos, create a new project in the Kapwing Studio. Select a 9:16 or 4:5 canvas size and click or drag to upload your footage. You can resize any individual clip by selecting it in the timeline or canvas and clicking "Crop" in the righthand sidebar. Add text overlays, use automatic subtitling, and apply social media safe zones for TikTok or YouTube.
When you finish editing, click "Export project" at the upper right to download or share your video straight to social media.
What vertical video dimensions should I use?
The standard recommended vertical video dimensions are 1080 x 1920 pixels. The vertical video aspect ratio needed for social platforms like TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram is 9:16, but Kapwing also has easy presets for 4:5 (Instagram posts) and 3:4 (Threads posts).
Can I also use Kapwing for horizontal videos?
Absolutely, Kapwing can edit vertical, horizontal, or square videos, including with custom dimensions. You can crop videos or resize your canvas using presets or a custom dimension box.
How to make a horizontal video vertical
To make a horizontal video vertical using Kapwing, create a new project and upload your video. Then click "Resize project" in the top right sidebar to crop video to vertical. Select "Vertical" from the size dropdown or choose your preferred vertical aspect ratio, including 4:5 for Instagram posts or 3:4 for Threads posts. You can also choose "Custom size" and type in the exact width and height you need in pixels.
Next, choose your crop settings. "Fill and Crop" will crop the edges of your video, keeping the speaker or subject centered while removing the space around them. "Fit to Center" keeps your entire video intact and adds either a canvas blur or a color of your choice as padding. Click "Resize Project" to crop video to vertical.
You can also make a vertical video horizontal using the same process.
What is vertical video?
Vertical video is a video format that is taller than it is wide, typically using a 9:16 aspect ratio. Unlike traditional horizontal video, vertical videos are designed to fill a smartphone screen when viewed upright, creating a more immersive viewing experience without requiring users to rotate their device.
As mobile viewing has become the dominant way people consume content, vertical video has become the standard format for short-form platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, Snapchat, and Spotify video clips. A vertical video editor makes it easy to create, resize, and optimize content for these platforms, whether you're recording on a phone or converting existing footage into a vertical video format.
What platforms are best for vertical videos?
The vertical video format performs best on mobile-first platforms where users naturally scroll through content in portrait mode. TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, Snapchat Spotlight, Facebook Reels, LinkedIn video posts, Pinterest Idea Pins, and Spotify video clips all prioritize vertical video because it occupies more screen space and often leads to higher engagement.
Creators, brands, and businesses frequently use a vertical video editor to adapt content for multiple channels at once. Whether you need to convert horizontal video to vertical, adjust vertical video dimensions, or create platform-specific versions, vertical content helps maximize reach across today's most popular social media and video-sharing platforms.
Can I edit vertical videos on my phone?
Yes, Kapwing's Vertical Video Editor works directly in your mobile browser, so you can create, trim, resize, and publish vertical videos without downloading an app. Whether you're editing footage you've just recorded or updating an existing project, you can access the same editing tools from your phone, tablet, or desktop device.
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