Content creation tools: video, image and audio software

A hand-picked directory of software for making and editing video, images and audio. Compare pricing, platforms and features across free, freemium and pro tools.

• Ideogram — The one that gets the lettering right
• AI image generators
• Descript — Edit the video by removing the word from the embedded text. Flips the page for face-to-camera content.
• Video editor
• Recraft — Vectors, brand styles and a real design canvas
• HeyGen — Presenter video and translation, not scenery
• AI video generators
• Hailuo AI — Cinematic camera moves out of the box
• Stable Diffusion — The model that made local image generation ordinary
• Synthesia — Corporate video at scale, with the compliance to match
• Luma Dream Machine — Fast drafts and keyframe control
• CapCut — Where a generated clip becomes a finished post
• Leonardo AI — Game and product art with fine-grained control
• ElevenLabs — The most believable synthetic speech available, with dubbing to match.
• Artificial intelligence voice
• Reaper — A complete audio workstation for sixty bucks, and a trusty trial version that never nags.
• Sound editor
• VidIQ — Keyword research and competitor monitoring, directly on YouTube itself.
• Analysis and SEO
• Canva Magic Studio — Generation where the layout already lives
• Pika — Effects-led video for social
• Adobe Photoshop — The standard by which every other image editor is measured.
• Photo editor
• Riverside — Remote interview recording that records locally, so bad internet won’t ruin the recording.
• Audio and podcasts
• Canva — Ready-made template-based design that delivers acceptable output in minutes.
• Index image and template
• OBS Studio — Free live recording and streaming tool that runs professional broadcasts silently.
• Screen recording
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• Motion and special effects — Combination of image, motion graphics and effects
• Short video editor — Vertical video, subtitle and template ready
• Graphic design — Layout, branding and operation
• Music and sound library — Licensed tracks and sound effects
• Artificial intelligence video — Production, quality improvement and reuse
• Manage files — Storage, review and delivery