YouTube clipper alternatives, compared
Zclipper saves a start-to-end segment of any public YouTube video as an MP4 or WebM file, free, with no watermark or account. Here is how it compares with ten tools people use for the same job, each fact linked to its source.
| Tool | Free plan | Watermark | Max quality | Output | Phone | AI clips |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zclipper | Unlimited manual clips | None | 1080p | MP4 or WebM file | Preview only | Magic Clips, $5/month |
| YouTube Clips | Retired for viewers in April 2026 | n/a | n/a | Link on YouTube, 5 to 60 s | Retired | No |
| cobalt | Free, open source; YouTube off on the main site | None | Source quality | Whole file, no trimming | Yes | No |
| OpusClip | 60 minutes a month | Yes | 1080p | File, export within 3 days | Yes, apps | Yes, from $15/month |
| Vizard | 60 minutes a month | Yes | 720p | File, stored 3 days | Yes, apps | Yes, from $29/month (3P) |
| YT Cutter | Free | Not stated | Not stated | MP4, M4A, GIF | Not stated | No |
| Kapwing | 4-minute exports, 30 minutes a month | Yes | 720p | File | Yes, browser | Yes, AI Clip Maker |
| VEED | 10-minute videos | Yes | 720p | File, upload first | Not stated | Yes, Magic Cut |
| ClipsCutter | 10 minutes, daily cap | None | 360p | File, 6 formats | Yes | No |
| SliceTube | Free, with quality limits | None | Limited on free, 4K paid | MP4, WebM, MP3 | Yes, browser | No |
| 2short.ai | 30 minutes of AI a month | None, per vendor | 1080p | File | Not stated | Yes, from $9.90/month |
(3P) means a third-party source. "Not stated" means the vendor's own pages don't say. Each comparison page links the sources checked.
YouTube clipper questions
What is the best free YouTube clipper?
It depends on the job. For a clean file of part of a YouTube video with no watermark and no account, Zclipper is free up to 1080p and 10 minutes. For speed or 4K, ClipsCutter and SliceTube cut on their servers, with lower free quality or paid passes. For AI Shorts, OpusClip and Vizard add vertical reframing and captions, with a watermark on free exports.
Which YouTube clippers have no watermark on the free plan?
Zclipper, ClipsCutter, SliceTube and cobalt add none, and 2short.ai says it adds none. OpusClip, Vizard, Kapwing and VEED watermark free exports.
What replaced YouTube Clips?
YouTube removed Clips for viewers in April 2026 and replaced it with Share at Timestamp, which links to a start point only. To keep a segment as a file, use a clipper such as Zclipper.
Which tools download the video and which record it?
ClipsCutter, SliceTube, YT Cutter and cobalt fetch the video on their servers. Kapwing imports the link into its editor, and VEED needs you to upload the file. Zclipper records the official YouTube player in your browser, so nothing is downloaded or uploaded.
Which ones work on a phone?
cobalt, ClipsCutter, SliceTube and Kapwing work in a phone browser, and OpusClip and Vizard have apps. On a phone, Zclipper lets you preview and pick times, then you finish the recording in Chrome or Edge on a desktop.
What is the cheapest AI clipper for YouTube?
Of the AI clippers compared here that publish prices, Zclipper's Magic Clips costs the least at $5 a month for 250 videos. 2short.ai starts at $9.90, OpusClip at $15 and Vizard at $29 a month, with lower prices on some yearly plans.