The rise of AI video generators has been nothing short of a revolution, especially for YouTube creators. With the demand for content on YouTube growing, the pressure to churn out videos faster without sacrificing quality is huge. That’s where tools like Pictory AI and InVideo AI come in, both aiming to simplify the video creation process using artificial intelligence. But when we pit these two tools against each other, which one truly leads the pack? Specifically, which is better for creators producing faceless YouTube content or those diving into YouTube automation?
Let’s break it down and take a front-row seat to watch Pictory and InVideo battle it out.
Meet the Contenders
Pictory AI
Pictory AI is designed for creators who still want some control over the finished product. It excels at turning scripts into videos but allows for hands-on adjustments when needed. As a hybrid AI tool, it strikes a balance between full automation and manual fine-tuning.
Key Features of Pictory AI:
- Script to video conversion
- Integration with ElevenLabs for top-quality AI voiceovers
- Subtitles, logos, and text annotations
- Library stock footage from multiple sources
Big selling point: Creative control while still saving tons of time.
InVideo AI
InVideo has taken a more ambitious route in 2023, branding itself as the “ChatGPT for video,” allowing users to input a few prompts and generate complete videos automatically. With seamless chat-based prompts for script generation and video creation, it takes automation to new heights.
Key Features of InVideo AI:
- Full automation for script writing and video creation
- Pre-built templates for various types of content (YouTube Shorts, Explainers, Recent Events, etc.)
- AI-powered video clip selection and voiceovers
- Minimal editing once video is generated
Big selling point: Speed and automation, perfect for cranking out a large amount of content quickly.
Which One Rules for Faceless YouTube Content?
Faceless YouTube channels are all the rage, and both Pictory and InVideo are positioned as the go-to solutions for this kind of content. Often referred to as YouTube automation channels, these are channels where creators don’t have to appear on screen. Instead, they rely on tools that can efficiently combine voiceovers, text, and stock footage.
InVideo promises total automation: type a few commands, and you’ve got a ready-to-publish video. This approach appeals to those looking to be hands-off. However, its clip-matching AI still needs work, with many clips not quite fitting the script. This can be problematic when generating faceless content reliant on powerful visuals to compensate for a lack of on-screen personality.
Pictory, on the other hand, gives you more creative control. So, while its process isn’t as hands-off as InVideo’s, it allows for more customization, which is crucial for those looking to fine-tune every element of their faceless videos.
Verdict:
If you want to pump out a high volume of faceless content quickly, InVideo might save you more time. But if you care about fine-tuning your videos and creating something that stands out in a saturated YouTube market, Pictory takes the edge.
Key Updates in 2023 for Both Tools
Both tools have undergone significant changes this year.
InVideo’s Transformation
InVideo made massive strides, branding itself as a text-to-film generator. The integration of ChatGPT has truly been a game-changer for their platform. With this update, users can now generate both scripts and videos all within InVideo, eliminating the need for external tools like ChatGPT to create your scripts. Sounds pretty magical. However, the execution still leaves room for improvement — especially when it comes to generating long-form content.
Pictory’s Broader Improvements
Pictory took a different approach in 2023. Instead of integrating more AI for script generation, it focused on refining its base features. They partnered with ElevenLabs, which arguably produces the best-sounding AI voices on the market. This year, they also added more stock footage libraries to their toolset, making the variety between the two platforms more or less identical.
Pictory is choosing to master the core features that matter most to creators, rather than chasing the all-in-one AI dream. The result is a more polished product, although it still requires you to create scripts outside the tool.
Is InVideo Truly the “ChatGPT of Video”?
Sure, InVideo’s “ChatGPT for video” branding is cool, but does it live up to the hype?
What Works:
The ability to generate a complete video — script, video clips, and voiceover included — is fantastic. For YouTube Shorts or videos under five minutes, the automation works well, and the outputs are impressive given the minimal effort required. In a few clicks, you can have a decent video that’s practically ready to publish.
What Doesn’t:
For longer videos, it quickly becomes apparent that ChatGPT’s limitations on text length hurt the quality. You often have to make manual edits, especially to the script, video clip selections, and timing of voiceovers. The back-end editor also leaves much to be desired. It’s not as flexible as a full-fledged video editor, meaning making tweaks within InVideo can be more frustrating than just using another tool to finalize your changes.
Ultimately, the full automation promise is tantalizing but not without its quirks.
Script Matching and Video Clip Challenges
Here’s where the conversation gets interesting: Can these tools accurately match clips to your script? For both InVideo and Pictory, this is where AI still stumbles.
Both tools base video generation on finding matching footage for your script. However, neither has perfected clip selection.
- InVideo’s Strengths: InVideo does this slightly better because it chooses the start and endpoint of the video clips, giving it more context. But even this isn’t reliable, and a lot of manual tweaking is still necessary.
- Pictory’s Efficiency: Pictory’s clip selection isn’t hugely different from InVideo. You still often end up spending time swapping out poorly matched clips before the video feels right.
Bottom line: AI-generated video is getting better, but at this stage, don’t expect perfect visual matches for your scripts. You’ll still need to make adjustments.
Automation vs. Editing Control
One of the biggest divisions between InVideo and Pictory is how much control you have over your finished product.
Minimal Editing with InVideo
If InVideo is going to work for you, you have to be prepared to trust the AI. The tool is designed so that users shouldn’t be spending a lot of time editing. However, the limits on what you can tweak mean you often feel boxed in if the video doesn’t meet your standards right out of the gate. For example, you can’t easily adjust the voice or music once it’s set. Want to use the same voice across several videos? Good luck; currently, there’s no well-documented way to save them.
Pictory’s Hands-On Approach
Pictory, by contrast, seems to understand the need for creative control. You can adjust clips, voiceovers, add annotations, and refine the little details until it’s just how you like it. That’s because Pictory is willing to let you get under the hood and make changes. Yes, this takes more time, but your video is more likely to feel polished and unique by the end of it.
Improving Video Quality and Standing Out
Tools like InVideo and Pictory are a massive time-saver, no doubt. But here’s the truth no one wants to admit: as these tools make video creation easier for everyone, they also flatten the playing field. It means simply generating AI-based content is no longer enough to get noticed.
If you’re looking to grow on YouTube, standing out will take more than just stock footage and automated voiceovers. You’ll still need to top off what AI generates with your own custom elements — whether it’s unique video scripts, highly engaging thumbnails, or stand-out visuals like custom subtitles and overlays.
Tips for Standing Out:
- Incredible Scripts: Whether you write them or ChatGPT helps out, the engaging narrative still drives most great videos.
- Creative Subtitles: Tools like InVideo and Pictory can generate basic subtitles, but it’s what you do with those subtitles (timing, style, etc.) that can elevate your video above the rest.
- Thumbnails: AI won’t generate stunning thumbnails for you. Yet. But you can bet the importance of thumbnails in video success can’t be overstated.
Which AI Video Generator is Best for You?
So where does that leave you? Should you invest in Pictory AI or InVideo AI?
Choose InVideo If:
- You want a tool that leans heavily into full automation.
- You’re more interested in shorter content like YouTube Shorts or videos that don’t require detailed editing.
- You’re willing to sacrifice some control in exchange for speed.
Choose Pictory If:
- You want more control over the final product, especially when it comes to editing, voiceover, and video clip selections.
- You’re in the market for high-quality voiceovers and stock footage to elevate your content.
- You still want to save time but prefer to include your own creative flourishes.
Final Thoughts
Both InVideo AI and Pictory AI are powerful tools that can transform how you create videos. If you’re aiming for full automation and don’t mind rough patches, InVideo might excite you. But if you’re after a smoother blend of automation and control, Pictory is likely the better fit — particularly if you’re producing more than just short-form content.
While neither tool is perfect, they’re both huge time-savers. The key takeaway here? AI won’t make you viral. You’ll still need your unique touch to top the charts.
Whichever route you choose, there’s no harm in trying both. See which one fits your style best!
Want to give these tools a try? Check out the links below and grab any available discounts:
- Pictory Free Trial: Get 20% off with code “ChannelProfit”
- InVideo Free Trial: Start Creating AI Videos Here
Have questions? Drop them in the comments below!