Klap vs Shortzly: Which AI Clip Generator Is Better?
Klap and Shortzly are both AI-powered clip generators that turn long videos into short-form content. But they take different approaches to the same problem. Klap prioritizes simplicity with a streamlined YouTube-to-Shorts workflow. Shortzly offers a deeper feature set with multiple caption styles, face tracking modes, and a full clip editor.
We tested both tools on the same videos. Here's what we found.
Highlight Detection
Klap: Analyzes YouTube videos and identifies clips based on transcript analysis. Detection quality is solid for YouTube content, though it sometimes misses emotional peaks in favor of topic-based cuts.
Shortzly: Uses multi-factor analysis including sentiment scoring, pacing analysis, hook detection, and optional prosody data (pitch/energy patterns). Also supports custom prompts — you can tell the AI "find funny moments" or "focus on actionable tips." Supports YouTube, Vimeo, Twitch, and file uploads.
Verdict: Shortzly's multi-source support and custom prompts give it the edge. The ability to guide what the AI looks for is a significant advantage.
Face Tracking
Klap: Basic face tracking for 9:16 cropping. Works for single-speaker content but can struggle with multi-speaker scenarios.
Shortzly: Three modes: OpenCV (fast, single-speaker), MediaPipe (accurate, multi-speaker with lip-activity scoring), and center crop (fastest, no face detection). MediaPipe's active speaker detection is particularly useful for podcasts and interviews.
Verdict: Shortzly offers significantly more flexibility. MediaPipe's lip-activity scoring for identifying the active speaker is a standout feature.
Caption Styles
Klap: Limited caption customization. Basic subtitle overlay with some font and color options.
Shortzly: 6 animated caption styles: CapCut word-by-word, typewriter, karaoke, bounce, highlight word, and pop. Full customization of font, colors, size, position, and words per chunk. Save settings as brand templates.
Verdict: Shortzly is the clear winner here. Caption quality is one of the biggest differences between the two tools. Check out the auto caption generator for details on each style.
Editing Features
Klap: Minimal editing — select clips and download. Limited trim adjustment.
Shortzly: Full waveform editor for precise trim point adjustment, real-time video preview, transcript panel for click-to-seek, and a settings sidebar for changing caption styles, face tracking mode, and brand templates.
Verdict: Shortzly's editor gives you much more control over the final output.
Additional Features
Shortzly-only features:
- AI B-roll insertion (stock footage from Pexels and Pixabay)
- TTS hook generation (attention-grabbing intro hooks)
- Brand templates (watermarks, intros, outros)
- Multi-ratio export (9:16, 1:1, 4:5, 16:9)
- Preview/HD two-pass rendering
- Smart thumbnails (AI frame scoring)
Pricing Comparison
- Klap Free: Limited clips per month
- Klap Pro: From $29/mo
- Shortzly Free: Videos up to 10 minutes, no credit card required
- Shortzly Starter: $19/mo — videos up to 33 minutes, HD rendering
- Shortzly Pro: $49/mo — videos up to 3 hours, priority processing, AI B-roll
Shortzly offers more features at a lower starting price. The free plans are comparable, but Shortzly's paid plans include features that Klap doesn't offer at any price.
Our Recommendation
If you want the simplest possible workflow and only clip YouTube videos, Klap gets the job done. But if you care about caption quality, face tracking accuracy, editing control, or any of the advanced features like B-roll and brand templates, Shortzly is the better choice.
Try Shortzly free and run it on the same video you've tested with Klap. The difference in caption quality and editing flexibility speaks for itself.