YouTube Create is a free phone app for editing both Shorts and long-form videos. To use it, sign in with a Google account on a supported Android phone or iPhone, import footage, edit it on the timeline, then export to your phone or upload to YouTube. Check device and country availability first; experimental AI features and music behave differently depending on where and how you publish.
What YouTube Create does
YouTube describes Create as an app for editing videos with production tools. Its documented workflow covers importing photos and video, arranging a project, adding styled and animated text, generating and styling captions, previewing, exporting to a phone, or uploading to YouTube. The app is free and has no ads, according to YouTube Help.
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Create is a phone app, not a desktop editor. The official workflow requires a supported phone and media to edit; YouTube does not list a hardware add-on requirement.
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Check requirements and availability
You need a Google sign-in and must be in a supported country or region. YouTube Help lists Android phones with at least 4 GB of RAM, or an iPhone XR or newer running iOS 17 or later. Its current availability list includes Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States. See the app requirements and supported locations before installing; country and feature availability can change.
#1 Best Overall
- Search, browse and play thousands of videos.
Start a project and import media
- Open YouTube Create and sign in to the Google account associated with the channel you intend to use.
- Tap the plus button to start a project.
- Choose photos or videos from your phone’s gallery, or import media from another app.
- Select one or more items and tap Import. You can add multiple photos and video clips to the project.
YouTube’s project guide explains starting and managing projects. Confirm the signed-in account before editing if you plan to upload directly: Create associates an upload with the channel signed in inside the app.
Edit with text and captions
Add and style text
Add a plain text layer or choose a text effect. You can edit the words, change size, font, color, background, formatting, outline, or shadow, animate the text, and drag it into position. A text layer can also be split, which lets you change the wording or timing across parts of the video. The available controls are described in YouTube’s text instructions.
Rank #2
- Browse by interest - Discover videos you’ll love in categories like music, entertainment, news, gaming, and more. All from the comfort of your couch.
- Supports multiple accounts - Everyone at home can sign into YouTube with a Google account to see recommendations, subscriptions, and playlists.
- Play YouTube videos from your phone on the TV - It’s easy to enjoy videos with friends and family. Simply find the videos you want to watch on your phone, then send them to your TV with a single tap.
- Search by voice - Quickly and easily find what you want to watch using voice search.
- Watch movies and shows - Stay entertained with thousands of movies and TV episodes available to own, rent, or watch for free.
Generate and proofread captions
Create can transcribe speech and in-app voiceover into captions. Choose the voiceover language when applicable, then review the generated words for names, punctuation, and transcription mistakes; edit and style the captions before finishing. YouTube Help says Create cannot generate captions for clips longer than 60 seconds. See the captions guide for its documented caption tools and limit.
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Templates provide ready-made structures for categories such as cooking, travel, and fashion. Browse the templates, choose one, add gallery or imported media, select the portions of each clip to use, then export or open the result in the full editor. YouTube’s template guidance specifies Android with at least 4 GB of RAM; it does not establish template support on iPhone. Check YouTube’s template instructions for the current flow.
Rank #3
- Better performance and stability
- Organize projects into stacks
- Switch between light and dark mode
- Use blending modes
- Try the new glow effect
Know what the experimental AI tools can do
YouTube labels the AI features below experimental and limits them to selected creators and locations. Their presence in Help does not guarantee access to a particular account. The eligibility lists below are those stated by YouTube Help; check its AI feature page for changes.
- Gemini Omni: generates vertical video clips up to 10 seconds from a prompt, with optional reference images. YouTube lists Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, and the United States.
- Nano Banana: image generation for users over 18 in those same five locations, using English or Hindi prompts.
- Edit with AI: has a separate list: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Türkiye, and the United States. YouTube says initial voiceover support is Bengali, English, Hindi, and Portuguese.
These are rollout details, not universal app requirements. If an option is absent, your account or location may not be included.
Rank #4
- Control what your kids can watch on YouTube — You’ll be thrilled to hand your tablet over with total peace of mind
- Easily pick and choose what your child views — Whitelist videos and entire channels instead of risking inappropriate “recommendations”
- No ads or sidebar videos — AKA zero chances for bad content to sneak in
- Set screen time limits — Let Safe Vision be the one to say “That’s enough TV for now”
- Lock and unlock individual videos or entire channels — Allow your kids to access only the channels and videos you trust
Preview, export, or upload—and check music limits
- Preview the whole project and make any final edits.
- Choose whether to save the video to your phone at a selected quality or upload it directly to YouTube.
- Before choosing a local export, check whether the project uses music from the Shorts Audio Library. YouTube Help says that music is automatically removed when a local export is longer than 15 seconds.
- For a direct upload, the same help page says licensed music clips can be used for up to 60 seconds. These limits differ by destination, so do not assume that a local export will retain the audio used in the editor.
For the current save and upload flow, see YouTube’s export instructions.
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Export fails or the project is too complex
On a device operating near its capacity, a project with many overlapping elements may fail to export. YouTube suggests removing overlapping video layers, stickers, effects, or transitions. If needed, reduce export quality from 1080p to 720p and try again.
Upload fails or goes to the wrong channel
Use a strong internet connection and confirm that the app is signed into the account and channel you intend to publish from. Create associates the video with the channel signed in within the app.
You are changing phones or deleting the app
YouTube warns that existing projects will be lost if you delete the app or get a new phone. Export finished videos to your device gallery first, before removing Create or moving to another phone. See YouTube’s troubleshooting guidance.
Or let it run in the cloud
YouTube Create is for editing a video on your phone; if your goal is to keep uploaded videos playing as a 24/7 YouTube live stream, StreamNeo is a separate cloud service. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home; it streams your upload as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot, and automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly is $9.99 per month. Start your free day with StreamNeo.
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