"Um." "Uh." "Like." "You know." "So." "Basically." These words add nothing to your content — but they accumulate. A 10-minute video with 40 filler words feels unprofessional. A 10-minute video with zero filler words feels polished.
Manually finding and cutting every "um" takes hours. AI filler word removers detect and remove them automatically — some in real time, others during post-production. The best tools remove fillers without creating awkward gaps or cutting mid-word.
1. Descript — Best Overall Filler Word Remover
Descript's filler word removal is the gold standard. The AI transcribes your video, highlights every filler word, and lets you remove them with one click. The video edits itself — no jump cuts, no gaps. Studio Sound cleans the audio simultaneously.
Key features: One-click filler removal, text-based editing, Studio Sound enhancement, green screen, transcription, overdub (AI voice) Pricing: Free (limited). Hobbyist $24/month. Business $33/month
Pros: Best filler detection accuracy. One-click removal. Text-based editing. No jump cuts. Studio Sound enhancement. Cons: Full filler removal requires Hobbyist plan. $24/month starting price. Can over-remove intentional pauses. Large file uploads can be slow.
2. Opus Clip — Best Filler Removal in Repurposing
Opus Clip removes filler words automatically when generating short clips from long-form video. Upload a podcast or interview, and the AI clips the best moments while stripping "um," "uh," "like," and extended pauses. Integrated with virality scoring and auto-captioning.
Key features: Auto filler removal during clipping, virality scoring, caption generation, B-roll, multi-platform formatting Pricing: Free (limited). Starter $15/month. Pro $29/month. Business $55/month
Pros: Filler removal + repurposing in one step. Automatic during clip generation. Combined with captions and scoring. Cons: Only works during repurposing (not standalone). Removal accuracy varies. Can't selectively keep some fillers. Free tier limited.
3. Riverside — Best for Live Recording + Filler Removal
Riverside records podcasts and interviews in 4K with separate tracks, then offers AI-powered filler word removal in post-production. The separate tracks mean removing a filler from one speaker doesn't affect the other's audio.
Key features: 4K recording, separate audio tracks, AI filler removal, transcription, speaker detection, auto-chapters Pricing: Free (limited). Standard $15/month. Pro $24/month. Enterprise custom
Pros: Record + remove fillers in one platform. Separate tracks preserve quality. Speaker-specific removal. 4K quality. Cons: Filler removal only for content recorded in Riverside. Interview/podcast-focused. Limited editing beyond recordings.
4. VEED — Best Browser-Based Filler Removal
VEED detects and removes filler words entirely in the browser. Upload a video, and the AI highlights "um," "uh," and silence. Remove them with one click. Also includes auto-subtitles, silence removal, and a basic video editor.
Key features: Browser-based filler removal, silence removal, auto-subtitles, video editor, background removal, screen recording Pricing: Free (watermark, 1GB). Basic $12/month. Pro $24/month. Business $59/month
Pros: No download required. One-click filler removal. Silence removal. Auto-subtitles. Clean interface. Cons: Watermark on free tier. Upload size limits. Browser performance with large files. Less accurate than Descript.
5. Kapwing — Best Free Filler Word Removal
Kapwing's Smart Cut feature detects and removes silences and filler words automatically. The browser-based editor lets you review each detected filler before removing it. No software to download.
Key features: Smart Cut (filler + silence removal), browser-based, subtitle generator, resize, collaboration Pricing: Free (watermark). Pro $24/month. Business $50/month. Enterprise custom
Pros: Review before removing. Browser-based. Free tier available. Smart Cut handles fillers + silences. Collaboration. Cons: Free tier has watermarks. Less accurate than Descript. Manual review needed. Can be slow with large files.
6. Podcastle — Best for Podcast Filler Removal
Podcastle is built for podcasters — record, edit, and publish podcasts with AI-powered filler word removal. The "Magic Dust" feature enhances audio quality while removing fillers. Silence detection and auto-leveling maintain consistent audio.
Key features: Magic Dust audio enhancement, filler word removal, silence detection, auto-leveling, multitrack editing, podcast hosting Pricing: Free (limited). Creator $11.99/month. Pro $23.99/month
Pros: Podcast-specific features. Magic Dust enhancement. Affordable. Built-in hosting. Multitrack editing. Cons: Podcast-focused (limited video features). Magic Dust can over-process audio. Free tier restrictions. Smaller community.
7. Cleanvoice — Best Dedicated Filler Word AI
Cleanvoice is a dedicated filler word removal tool — that's all it does, and it does it exceptionally well. Upload audio or video, and the AI removes fillers, stuttering, mouth sounds, and long pauses. Supports 20+ languages including non-English fillers.
Key features: Filler word removal, stutter removal, mouth sound removal, long pause removal, 20+ languages, API Pricing: Free trial (30 minutes). Plans from $10/month based on hours
Pros: Most accurate filler detection. Multi-language support. Removes stutters and mouth sounds. API available. Cons: Audio-only (no video editing). Usage-based pricing. No visual editor. Single-purpose tool.
8. Adobe Podcast (Enhance Speech) — Best Audio Quality + Filler Removal
Adobe Podcast's Enhance Speech feature improves audio quality dramatically — removes background noise, echoes, and enhances voice clarity. The filler word removal feature identifies and removes verbal tics while maintaining natural speech flow.
Key features: Enhance Speech, filler word removal, background noise removal, echo removal, studio-quality output Pricing: Free (limited). Part of Creative Cloud ($22.99/month for Premiere Pro)
Pros: Best audio quality enhancement. Filler removal + noise removal. Studio-quality output. Free limited tier. Cons: Full features require Creative Cloud. Web-based (limited). Can over-process natural speech. Audio-focused.
9. Gling — Best for YouTuber-Specific Editing
Gling is built for YouTubers — it detects and removes filler words, silences, and bad takes from raw footage. The AI learns your speaking patterns over time and improves detection accuracy. Preview every edit before applying.
Key features: Filler word removal, bad take detection, silence removal, YouTuber-focused, learning AI, preview edits Pricing: $15/month or $96/year
Pros: YouTuber-focused. Bad take detection. Learning AI improves over time. Preview before removing. Affordable. Cons: Limited platform support. No free tier. Newer tool. Video features beyond filler removal are basic.
10. Wisecut — Best Auto-Edit with Filler Removal
Wisecut automatically edits your video — removing fillers, adding jump cuts where appropriate, syncing B-roll, and matching background music to pacing. The AI handles the complete rough cut, not just filler removal.
Key features: Auto-editing, filler word removal, background music matching, B-roll sync, auto-subtitles, facial recognition Pricing: Free (limited). Starter $15/month. Professional $30/month
Pros: Complete auto-editing (not just fillers). Background music matching. B-roll sync. Auto-subtitles. Cons: Less control over individual edits. Auto-editing can be aggressive. Free tier very limited. Accuracy varies with fast speech.
Quick Comparison
| Tool | Accuracy | Video Support | Free Tier | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Descript | Best | Full editing | Limited | $24/mo |
| Opus Clip | Good | Repurposing | Limited | $15/mo |
| Riverside | Good | Recording | Limited | $15/mo |
| VEED | Good | Browser editor | Watermark | $12/mo |
| Kapwing | Good | Browser editor | Watermark | $24/mo |
| Podcastle | Good | Audio-focused | Limited | $11.99/mo |
| Cleanvoice | Best | Audio only | 30 min trial | $10/mo |
| Adobe Podcast | Good | Audio-focused | Limited | Free/$22.99 |
| Gling | Good | YouTube-focused | No | $15/mo |
| Wisecut | Good | Auto-editing | Limited | $15/mo |
Tips for Filler Word Removal
- Don't remove everything — Some fillers are natural. Removing every "you know" can make speech sound robotic
- Review before applying — Automated removal sometimes catches words that aren't fillers ("like" in "I like this")
- Keep intentional pauses — Dramatic pauses add emphasis. AI can't always distinguish between awkward silences and intentional ones
- Fix the source — Filler removers are post-production fixes. Practicing speaking reduces fillers at the source
- Check the timing — After removing fillers, listen to the full audio. Sometimes removal creates unnatural pacing
The Bottom Line
Descript is the best all-around solution — one-click filler removal with text-based editing means you see exactly what's being removed and can override any decision. The editing workflow is the most intuitive.
For podcasters, Cleanvoice has the most accurate filler detection, especially for non-English content. Podcastle combines filler removal with podcast-specific features like hosting and Magic Dust enhancement.
For YouTubers, Gling's learning AI and bad take detection save hours in post-production. For creators who want complete auto-editing (not just filler removal), Wisecut handles the full rough cut automatically.
Skip Filler Words Entirely With AI Voiceover
The cleanest audio has zero filler words from the start. Eliro generates polished AI voiceover directly from your script — no "ums," no retakes, no post-production cleanup needed. Combined with AI visuals, captions, and music, you get publish-ready videos without ever touching an audio editor.