Our verdict
What it costs: $0. YouTube Create and Edits by Meta are free editors, and the YouTube Audio Library is free music that Content ID does not claim.
What matters most: One clear idea, a strong first two seconds, captions people can read with the sound off, and music you are allowed to use.
When to pay: Only when a limit gets in your way, such as premium templates or AI credits. Neither is needed to post.
At a glance
- Monthly cost
- $0
- Format
- 9:16, 1080x1920
- Max Short length
- 3 minutes
- Free editors
- YouTube Create, Edits, CapCut
- Free music
- YouTube Audio Library
- Time per video
- 30 to 120 minutes
Plan one idea before you open the camera
A clear single point and a strong start matter more than gear. Spend five minutes in your notes app before you film.
A one-minute plan
- Hook
- One line that makes a promise
- Beat 1
- The first point or step
- Beat 2
- The second point or step
- Beat 3
- The payoff
- Ending
- A last line or next step
- Length
- Under 3 minutes
- Write the hook as something the viewer gets, not a greeting.
- Keep the planned edit under 3 minutes. YouTube counts square or vertical videos up to 3 minutes as Shorts.
Film vertically with the light in front of you
Your phone's own camera app is enough. The two things that make the biggest difference are filming upright and facing the light.
- Hold the phone upright and film at 1080p, or 4K if you have the storage.
- Stand facing a window or lamp, not with it behind you.
- Record two or three takes of the hook so you can pick the best one later.
- Film close to your mouth if you are talking; distance is what makes phone audio sound hollow.
Film the hook last, once you know how the video ends. It is easier to promise a payoff you have already recorded.
Edit in a free phone editor
Trimming dead air and tightening the opening is where most beginner videos improve. These editors are free for core editing.
- Set the project to 9:16, cut every pause and put your strongest line in the first two seconds.
- Export at 1080p. That is enough for Shorts, TikTok and Reels.
- If a CapCut template shows a Pro badge, swap it before you build the edit around it.
| Editor | Price | Works on | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube Create | Free, no ads | Android, iPhone XR and newer on iOS 17+ | Made by Google for Shorts |
| Edits by Meta | Free | iPhone (per its App Store listing) | App Store listing says 4K export, no watermark |
| CapCut | Free; Pro $19.99/mo | iPhone, Android, desktop | Pro adds premium templates and AI credits |
Prices from each app's official listing or pricing page.
Add captions and music you are allowed to use
Many people watch with the sound off, so captions carry the message. Music from an unlicensed source can get a Short claimed.
- Run your editor's auto captions, then read every line and fix names and numbers by hand.
- For YouTube, use tracks from the YouTube Audio Library in YouTube Studio. YouTube says these are not claimed through Content ID.
- For a TikTok Business account, use the Commercial Music Library. TikTok says businesses cannot use the general music library for commercial use.
- Keep captions away from the bottom and right edges, where the app buttons sit. Our caption checklist covers the details.
A song you got from another app is not cleared for YouTube. Giving credit does not change that. See copyrighted music in Shorts.
Make a cover people can read
The cover shows on your profile grid and in some feeds, so a readable title helps people pick your video.
- In Canva's free plan, make a 1080x1920 design from a free template.
- Use 3 to 5 large words in the middle, away from the top and bottom edges.
- Add it as the cover when posting where the app allows, or pick a clear frame from the video.
Filter Canva templates to free items. Premium elements need Canva Pro and block the download on the free plan.
Post, then read the retention data
Analytics show where people stop watching, which tells you what to change next time.
- Upload through the YouTube app, then post the same video in the TikTok and Instagram apps.
- Wait 1 to 2 days, then open the video's analytics in YouTube Studio. YouTube says retention data takes 1 to 2 days to process.
- Find the biggest drop in the retention graph and note the second it happens.
- On TikTok, review each video's analytics in TikTok Studio.
Write the timestamp of the biggest drop next to the script line it matches, and rework that kind of line in the next video.
Common mistakes
You lose resolution and framing. Film upright from the start.
It is not cleared for YouTube and can get the Short claimed. Use the YouTube Audio Library.
Wrong names and numbers make the video look careless. Fix them by hand.
YouTube needs 1 to 2 days to process retention data. Wait before drawing conclusions.
Free editors cover core editing. Upgrade only for a limit that blocks you every week.
Questions creators ask
Can I make YouTube Shorts with just my phone?
Yes. Film in your phone's camera app, edit in a free app such as YouTube Create, Edits or CapCut, and upload through the YouTube app.
What is the best free app to make Shorts on a phone?
YouTube Create is free and ad-free and made by Google for Shorts. Edits by Meta is free and its App Store listing says it exports in 4K without a watermark. CapCut is free for core editing.
How long can a YouTube Short be?
Up to 3 minutes, in a square or vertical format.
What resolution should I export Shorts in?
1080x1920 (1080p, 9:16) is enough for YouTube Shorts, TikTok and Reels.
Where can I get free music for Shorts?
The YouTube Audio Library in YouTube Studio. YouTube says its tracks are not claimed through Content ID. Some Creative Commons tracks need a credit in the description.
Do I need a microphone?
Not to start. Film close to your mouth in a quiet room. A microphone helps once you post regularly, but it is not required.
Your checklist
0 / 8 donePut it into practice
Tools: $0 phone starter stack · Free video editors for YouTube Shorts · Free editors without a watermark · Copyright-free music for monetized videos
Workflow: Make and post your first shorts with just a phone and $0.
Sources
- YouTube Help: Learn more about YouTube Create
- YouTube Help: Understand three-minute YouTube Shorts
- YouTube Help: Use music and sound effects from the Audio Library
- YouTube Help: Upload YouTube Shorts
- YouTube Help: Key moments for audience retention
- App Store: Edits, a video editor by Instagram
- CapCut pricing
- Canva pricing
- TikTok Business Help Center: Commercial Music Library
Policies checked on October 30, 2026. YouTube updates these pages, so check the official page before you rely on a figure.