How to make a highlight reel from a long video

Option 1: by hand in a video editor

Any editor — from a free phone app to professional software — can cut a highlight reel. It’s the right choice when you want full creative control and the video is short.

• Watch the whole video and note the timestamps you want to keep
• Cut those parts out and place them on a timeline
• Trim each clip, add transitions and music
• Export in the format you need — landscape for TV, vertical for phones

Option 2: automatically, by the people in it

When the video is long and what matters is who is in it, searching by face is much faster. This is what KinCut does.

• Upload an MP4, MOV or WebM file up to 15 GB, or paste a YouTube link to a video you own or have permission to use.
• Confirm your email with a one-time code — there’s no password. Your upload keeps going while you do.
• KinCut scans the video on its own GPU and groups every face it finds. We email you when it’s done.
• Name the people you recognise and pick who belongs in the reel. KinCut gathers every moment they appear.
• Watch a free preview of the highlight reel and short clips. Unlock full quality when you’re happy.

Which should you choose?

Tips for a reel people actually watch

• Keep it short: two to four minutes is plenty for family viewing
• Make one reel per person — they become lovely gifts
• Use vertical shorts for phones and the full reel for the TV
• Keep the original file: you can always make another reel later

Questions