> Compare the cost of an approved video: processing, retries, revisions and human review. A subscription price alone does not tell you what one usable result costs. Use the same brief and source material for a fair evaluation. Source: https://shortyedit.com/guides/video-editing-cost-checklist --- # How much does an AI video edit really cost? Compare the cost of an approved video: processing, retries, revisions and human review. A subscription price alone does not tell you what one usable result costs. Use the same brief and source material for a fair evaluation. [The Shorty team](https://shortyedit.com/about#editorial-team) · Updated 15 September 2026 ## Key takeaways - Cash cost per accepted video = total processing and other project charges divided by the number of accepted videos. - Check the live pricing page and the estimate shown in the product for your selected material. - A rough first cut and an approved client delivery are different outcomes. - If you share a comparison, include the test date, source duration, brief, output requirements and what you counted as review time. ## Fill this in for one real project | Measure | What to record | Why it matters | | --- | --- | --- | | Source input | Number of files, minutes and storage size | More material may increase processing and selection work. | | Initial output | Credits or charges actually used | Separate an estimate from completed processing. | | Revision rounds | Each request and its actual charge | A usable result may require follow-up work. | | Hands-on time | Preparation, review and finishing minutes | Automation still needs direction and judgement. | | Accepted outputs | Only versions you would actually publish | Failed or unsuitable outputs do not count as deliverables. | ## Calculate two useful numbers Cash cost per accepted video = total processing and other project charges divided by the number of accepted videos. If you account for labour, add hands-on hours multiplied by your own hourly rate before dividing. Keep that rate explicit; it is your assumption, not a product benchmark. ## Use Shorty’s current estimate Check the live pricing page and the estimate shown in the product for your selected material. Editing uses credits. Confirm the estimate again for the work you submit. ## Compare the same finish line A rough first cut and an approved client delivery are different outcomes. Include a realistic revision and the finishing you need. Note any frame-level work you move into another editor and any separate software cost. ## Publish measurements with context If you share a comparison, include the test date, source duration, brief, output requirements and what you counted as review time. Shorty has not published a measured speed or cost benchmark on this page. ## Keep the ideas coming ### Check current plans Explore this editing workflow in Shorty. ### Prepare source footage Start with a small set of source clips that can tell the whole story. Remove irrelevant takes before you ask for an edit. ### Choose an editing workflow Start with what you have and what you need to deliver. These guides compare editing workflows, alternatives and costs, with a clear explanation of where Shorty fits. ### Compare cloud editing within a $100 monthly budget Shorty Creator/Pro, Kapwing Pro/Business and FlexClip Plus/Business list monthly plans below US$100. Compare their footage, collaboration and template workflows, then budget seats and usage alongside the subscription. ### How much does an AI video editor cost per edited video? On Shorty, one finished edit costs about $2.56 on the $19 Creator plan with Auto, the default director, and 43¢ with GPT 6 Luna, the lightest one. Larger plans and annual billing bring an Auto edit down to about $1.38 and a Luna edit to 23¢. These figures divide each plan’s price by the edits its credits cover: about 594 credits per Auto edit since Shorty Nitro became Auto’s model on 28 October 2026, and about 100 per Luna edit. Edits with lots of footage or a reference video use more credits. For any editor, divide the price by the finished videos a plan really produces. ## Your next video starts here. Bring the footage. Tell us the idea. Shape the edit. --- Published by Tools Products FZ-LLC. Canonical HTML: https://shortyedit.com/guides/video-editing-cost-checklist