Until some years ago, videomakers would have never foreseen the possibility to edit videos online in a semi-professional way and without having to buy expensive software. However, today’s Web is populated by sites that allow users to edit videos online within their browsers, without the need to install a specific software on their computers.

Photo credit: Joachim Angeltun

These video editing sites are generally characterized by a great ease of use, which makes it a breeze to do both basic and advanced editing even for the non experts. Most of them allow users to publish their edited videos on any web page, embedded in a video player; however, only few of them let users save their edited videos on their computer.

Large video communities often blossom around online video editing sites, letting their users remix each other’s productions and create new video mash-ups. Most of the online video editing tools also let users edit not only their own videos or the videos that belong to their community, but also videos produced by other users that are located in the main video sharing sites of the Web.

In this mini-guide I have collected for you the most popular sites that allow users to edit videos online. Characterizing traits that I have taken in consideration while reviewing them are:

• Input file formats: which are the supported file formats of the video that can be edited online.


• Output file formats: in which file formats can be saved the videos edited online.


• Embedding support: the possibility to post the edited video on any webpage.


• Upload from HD, Mobile or URL: whether the videos can be uploaded from the hard disk, mobile phone or URL.


• Max video size: the maximum size of the video that can be uploaded.


• Transition effects: the capability to add transition effects to separate different video clips.


• Audio dubbing: the option to edit audio, reduce noise and add special effects to it.


• Titling: the possibility to add titles and captions within the video.


• Special video effects: the availability of special video effects that can be applied to the video.


• Save video to desktop: the capability to save the edited video on the computer.


• Price: information about the cost of the service.

Please note that this mini-guide is only a collection of the online video editing tools available in the Web and in no ways intends to represent a complete resource. You are always welcome to suggest new inclusions or corrections anytime by using the Comments section to be found at the end of this mini-guide.

Eyespot

• Input file formats: .avi, .mpeg, .mov, DivX, .wmv, .mp3


• Output file formats: .flv


• Embedding support: YES


• Upload from HD, Mobile or URL: HD and mobile


• Max video size: You can upload up to seven items at a time, with a 100 Mb file size limit.


• Transition effects: YES


• Audio dubbing: YES


• Titling: YES


• Special video effects: YES


• Save video to desktop: YES (both Windows and Mac)


• Price: free

Eyespot is an online video mixer that makes it easy to upload, organize and share video, photos, and music. It allows you to apply special effect and add transitions to any videos; audio dubbing is supported too. You can also send your cell phone videos to your account via MMS. Eyespot organizes all your videos in albums and lets you embed them in any webpage. Eyespot works on any platform and within any browser.

Read our review of Eyespot

Link: http://eyespot.com/

Jumpcut

• Input file formats: .mpg, .mpeg, .mp4, .avi, .mov, .wmv, .flv, .rm, 3GP.


• Output file formats: .flv


• Embedding support: YES


• Upload from HD, Mobile or URL: HD and mobile


• Max video size: 100MB


• Transition effects: YES


• Audio dubbing: YES


• Titling: YES


• Special video effects: YES


• Save video to desktop: NO


• Price: free

Jumpcut is an online video editing and remixing tool that lets you edit your videos, create slideshows and post them on any webpage. You can easily add and arrange content in your movie by dragging and dropping thumbnails, select the best parts of your video clips, change duration for your images, add your music or sound effects, choose transitions, add titles and special effects.

Read our review of Jumpcut

Link: http://www.jumpcut.com/

Motionbox

• Input file formats: .avi, .mov, .dv, .mpg, .mp4, .wmv, .asf, and .qt.


• Output file formats: .flv


• Embedding support: YES


• Upload from HD or URL: HD


• Max video size: 100MB per file.


• Transition effects: YES


• Audio dubbing: NO


• Titling: YES


• Special video effects: NO


• Save video to desktop: NO


• Price: free

Motionbox is a web-based video editing service that features the ability to link to a very specific point or "segment" within the clip itself. The integrated video sharing support gives users the power to select any number of highlights in their online videos, assign them with tags, and share them with friends, giving Motionbox a temporary space under the spotlight. Motionbox works on the most popular browsers, both with Windows and Mac.

Read our review of Motionbox

Link: http://www.motionbox.com/

Photobucket

• Input file formats: .avi, .mov, .dv, .mpg, .mp4, .wmv, .asf.


• Output file formats: .flv


• Embedding support: YES


• Upload from HD or URL: HD


• Max video size: Max 10 minutes.


• Transition effects: YES


• Audio dubbing: NO


• Titling: YES


• Special video effects: YES


• Save video to desktop: NO


• Price: free

Photobucket enables video editing within a browser using Flash and lets users remix their photos and home videos with other elements, such as music, video captions, and transitions. Photobucket also provides a simple service that enables you to store, share and publish your visual digital content online. Images and videos can be directly linked from Photobucket to any site.

Link: http://photobucket.com/

StashSpace

• Input file formats: .avi .mov .wmv


• Output file formats: .flv


• Embedding support: YES


• Upload from HD, mobile or URL: HD


• Max video size: Not relevant


• Transition effects: YES


• Audio dubbing: NO


• Titling: YES


• Special video effects: YES


• Save video to desktop: NO


• Price: free with 5 Hours of Video / 500 photos. The Nickel Stash plans costs $5/month or $50/year with10 hours of video / 1,000 photos. The Dime Stash plan costs $10/month or $100/year with 25 Hours of Video / 2,500 photos.

StarterStash is a web-based service that allows you upload, store and edit your videos online. You can also record directly from your camcorder or digital camera with StashPad to create a library of video that you can organize on your local computer and sync with your online StashSpace. You can mash together scenes from any video in your stash to create new movies on the fly.

Link: http://stashspace.com/

Cuts

• Input file formats: .flv


• Output file formats: .flv


• Embedding support: YES


• Upload from HD or URL: URL


• Max video size: Not relevant


• Transition effects: NO


• Audio dubbing: NO


• Titling: YES


• Special video effects: YES


• Save video to desktop: NO


• Price: free

Cuts is a service that makes it easy to create and share your take of any online video. With Cut it's only a few clicks to insert sound effects, add captions, loop the best parts and in minutes you can share your creation by embedding it on any webpage and blog, or emailing it to your friends. All you need is the page URL of your favorite video. Cuts works on any platform and within any browser.

Link: http://www.cuts.com/

VideoEgg

• Input file formats: .mpg, .mpeg, .mp4, .avi, .mov, .wmv, .flv, .rm, 3GP.


• Output file formats: .flv


• Embedding support: YES


• Upload from HD, Mobile or URL: HD


• Max video size: N/A


• Transition effects: YES


• Audio dubbing: N/A


• Titling: YES


• Special video effects: YES


• Save video to desktop: N/A


• Price: To be discussed with VideoEgg

If you want to build a video community, VideoEgg is a video editing platform that you can add to create a social network and offers opportunities for monetization. Users can take any file format, from anywhere (their hard drive, web cam, camcorder, etc.) drag it into the editing platform and then create a movie. And thanks to the publishing platform, users are able to edit, add effects, make slide shows, create mash-ups, etc- all within the context of your site.

Link: http://www.videoegg.com/