Free YouTube Shorts Maker
Create viral YouTube Shorts in your browser. Add auto-captions, resize 16:9 to 9:16, and export MP4. No upload, no watermark, no login required.
- 9:16 Format
- Auto Captions
- No Watermark
- 100% Private
100% secure. Your video never leaves your device.
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How do I make a YouTube Short for free?
Upload your video, select the 9:16 aspect ratio, click "Generate Captions," and let Whisper AI transcribe the audio. Choose a style from 45+ options, fix any typos, and hit Render to download your captioned MP4. No watermark, no login.
- Price
- 100% Free
- Watermark
- None
- Account required
- No
- Video uploaded
- No, processed locally
- Auto-captions
- Yes (Whisper AI)
- Export limit
- Unlimited
- Output format
- 1080x1920 MP4 (H.264)
- Best for
- YouTube Shorts, TikTok, Reels
- Works on
- Chrome, Edge, Firefox (Desktop)
- Privacy
- 100% local, no server
How to make Shorts in 3 steps
- 1
Upload your video
Choose an MP4, WebM, or MOV. It opens locally in your browser. No upload, no data collection.
- 2
Add captions & pan
Click "Generate Captions" to transcribe audio. Drag the preview to pan your subject.
- 3
Render & download
Click Render to download your 1080p MP4. Upload it to YouTube Shorts instantly.
YouTube Shorts FAQ
Quick answers about formatting, privacy, and styling.
How do I make a YouTube Short for free?
Upload your video to ToolDeck, select the 9:16 aspect ratio, generate auto-captions, and click Render. It is completely free and adds no watermark.
Do I need to log in with my Google account?
No. You do not need a YouTube account or a ToolDeck account. The tool is entirely open.
Will this tool add a watermark to my Short?
No. Unlike some free editors, ToolDeck never stamps your video. You get a clean MP4 ready for YouTube.
Is my video uploaded to a server?
No. The video processing (including AI captioning) runs 100% locally in your browser using WebCodecs.
Can I convert a long horizontal video into a Short?
Yes. Select the 9:16 aspect ratio, trim the best 60 seconds, and drag the video to pan the subject.
How do the auto-captions work?
We use OpenAI Whisper running locally in your browser. It listens to the audio and generates perfectly timed subtitles.
Are the auto-captions accurate?
Whisper is highly accurate for clear English. If there is background noise, use the "Edit text" tab to fix mistakes.
Can I edit the captions?
Yes. Click the "Edit text" tab in the left sidebar. You can rewrite any line of text.
Can I change the caption style?
Yes. We offer 45+ styles including Neon, Gradient, Vaporwave, Comic, and Classic. You can also change the text color and size.
What export resolution do you support?
We export 1080x1920 (Full HD). This is the exact resolution used by YouTube Shorts.
What video formats are supported?
MP4, WebM, MOV, and MKV. We recommend MP4 (H.264) for the fastest rendering.
Can I use this on my phone?
It runs in mobile browsers, but we highly recommend desktop. Rendering a video and running the AI model uses a lot of memory.
Can I trim the video to 60 seconds?
Yes. Use the timeline at the bottom to drag the teal handles and cut the start/end.
Does it keep the original audio?
Yes. The original audio is trimmed to match your clip and exported in the final MP4.
Why does rendering take a while?
Because everything happens on your device. It has to run the AI model, draw the captions on a canvas, and re-encode the video using your local CPU/GPU.
Is it really free?
Yes, 100% free. There are no hidden fees, no "Pro" version, and no watermarks.
Does it support 60fps?
The output is 30fps. This is the standard frame rate for Shorts and keeps file sizes small.
What if I have a large file?
We recommend files under 1GB. If your file is larger, trim it first with our Video Trimmer.
Can I use this commercially?
Yes. You can use the output for client work, monetized channels, or brand deals.
What if the browser crashes?
If you upload a very large video, the browser might run out of memory. Try trimming the video first.
Can I remove the captions?
Yes. If you do not generate captions, the video will render without them.
Does it work on Mac/Windows?
Yes. It works in any modern browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox) on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
What are the best caption styles for Shorts?
Neon Cyan and Comic are very popular because they pop on mobile screens and are easy to read.
Can I add emojis to the captions?
You can type emojis into the "Edit text" tab, and they will appear in the final video.
Do I need to install an app?
No. This is a browser-based alternative to apps like CapCut or Premiere. Nothing to download.
What works best for Shorts
Here is how different types of footage perform when turned into a 9:16 Short.
| Footage Type | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Talking head (vertical) | Perfect | Add auto-captions and a bold style. This is the standard format for YouTube Shorts. |
| Landscape 16:9 video | Perfect | Use the pan tool to track the subject. The empty space is filled with a blurred background. |
| Action / Gaming clips | Works, with caveats | Manual panning is required. You may need to render a few times to get the perfect tracking. |
| Multiple speakers | Works, with caveats | Whisper AI transcribes everyone, but does not label who is speaking. |
| Videos longer than 60s | Works, with caveats | YouTube Shorts has a 60-second limit. Use the trim tool to cut the highlight. |
| Complex multi-track editing | Poor | If you need green screens and 10 layers, use Premiere or DaVinci Resolve. |
Tips for viral Shorts
Keep it under 60 seconds
YouTube Shorts are now up to 60 seconds. Use the trim handles to cut the best moment from a longer video.
Use bold captions
Shorts move fast. Use the "Neon" or "Comic" styles for maximum readability on mobile screens.
Avoid the bottom UI
YouTube places the title and channel name at the bottom. Drag your captions to the middle or top.
Add a hook
You can use the text tool to add a big title at the start of the video (e.g., "Wait for it...").
ToolDeck vs Other Shorts Makers
Most online Shorts makers require a login and upload your video to the cloud. ToolDeck is entirely local and free.
| Feature | TToolDeck | Other Editors (e.g. CapCut) |
|---|---|---|
| Uploads video to a server | No | Yes |
| Adds a watermark to export | No | Yes |
| Requires a Google/YouTube login | No | Yes |
| Free auto-captions included | Yes | No |
| Manual pan & zoom tracking | Yes | Yes |
| 45+ caption styles | Yes | Yes |
| Subscription for Pro features | No | Yes |
| Works offline | Yes | No |
| Browser-based (no install) | Yes | No |
What you get for free
Perfect 9:16 Format
YouTube Shorts require a 9:16 aspect ratio. Our tool automatically crops and formats your video for the Shorts feed.
Auto-Captions
Over 70% of Shorts are watched on mute. Add Whisper AI captions to keep viewers watching until the end.
Viral Caption Styles
Neon, Glitch, Vaporwave, Gradient Box, Comic. Match the style of top YouTubers instantly.
Pan & Zoom Tracking
Drag the video inside the frame to track your subject as they move. Perfect for converting long videos to Shorts.
No Watermark
YouTube demotes Shorts with watermarks from other apps. ToolDeck exports a clean 1080p MP4.
100% Private
Nothing is uploaded. The entire editing process happens locally in your browser using WebCodecs.
Your video never leaves your device
There is no upload step and no account. The video processing and rendering happen entirely inside your browser using WebCodecs. Your video is never sent to a server. Read how we keep it private.
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