Guide
How to turn a podcast into clips (free)
A long episode usually has a few moments that work on their own. Here's how to turn them into shorts, vertical clips with captions, step by step: with iaclips or by hand.
Updated October 2026
What you need
- The episode's video: a YouTube link or the file. Audio-only episodes don't work yet.
- A Google account to sign in.
- Nothing else to start: the free plan includes 30 minutes of video every 30 days, no credit card.
With iaclips, step by step
Paste the YouTube link or upload the video
On the home page, paste the episode's YouTube link (finished livestreams work too) or upload the file from your computer. Episodes over an hour are fine.
Pick the length and the styles
Complete stories (up to 3 minutes) or shorter clips (up to 90 seconds). Captions with the spoken word highlighted, or plain white. A small title, a big headline or none. Everything has a default, so you can skip this step.
Let it run
We transcribe the episode, look for stories that make sense on their own and cut them vertical, with captions. You can close the page: we email you when the clips are ready.
Edit by sentence
Open a clip to see its transcript. Tap a sentence to start or end the clip there, remove a sentence, or fix a misheard word in the captions. Only that clip is rendered again.
Choose the framing
By default the vertical frame follows whoever is speaking. You can also keep one person in the frame, or show the whole picture with bars above and below.
Download and post
Download one clip or all of them at once. Each comes with a title and post text with hashtags, in the episode's language, ready to copy.
Free plan: 30 minutes of video every 30 days, with no watermark and no credit card. If your episode is longer, choose just one part of it (for example, minutes 10 to 40). Need more? Creator is $12 a month for 5 hours, and Pro $29 a month for 12 hours.
Doing it by hand in CapCut
If you'd rather edit it yourself, any video editor will do. In CapCut, for example:
- Watch or skim the episode again and note the moments that stand on their own.
- Cut each moment, with a clear start and a clean ending.
- Switch the format to 9:16 and move the frame so the person speaking stays in it.
- Add auto captions and read them through to fix names and misheard words.
- Export each clip and write its title and post text.
Which one makes sense
By hand
- You want effects, music, B-roll or a look of your own.
- You only need one or two clips and already know which moments.
- You enjoy editing and have the time.
With iaclips
- You publish long episodes every week and want several clips from each.
- You don't want to watch the whole episode again to find the moments.
- You want the captions, framing and post text done, and to fine-tune only what needs it.
You can also combine them: make the clips with iaclips, then take the ones you want to dress up into CapCut.
Questions
Is it really free?
Yes. The free plan includes 30 minutes of video every 30 days, with no watermark and no credit card. The paid plans: Creator, $12 a month (5 hours), and Pro, $29 a month (12 hours).
Will my clips have a watermark?
No. No plan adds one, including the free plan (30 minutes of video every 30 days).
Does it work with an audio-only podcast?
Not yet: we need the video to make vertical clips. If you record on camera, upload that file.
What language are the captions in?
The episode's language. We detect it automatically, or you pick it: Spanish, English, Portuguese, French, German, Italian, Chinese, Japanese or Korean.
Where can I post the clips?
They're vertical (9:16), the format TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts use. Clips run up to 3 minutes, or up to 90 seconds if you choose shorter clips.
Can I make clips of someone else's podcast?
Only use videos you have the right to cut and publish: your own show, or one whose owner has given you permission.
Is the episode on YouTube? How to turn a YouTube video into Shorts
Comparing tools? Compare iaclips and OpusClip
Try it with your next episode
Free, no watermark, no credit card.