MoviePy
A Python library for editing, combining and processing video, audio and GIFs in code.
- Stars
- 15.1k
- Forks
- 2.1k
- Licence
- MIT
- Language
- Python
- Last update
- 2 months ago
- Type
- Library
What it is
MoviePy is a Python library for editing video. You write code to cut clips, join them, add titles, layer videos on top of each other, and apply effects, then export to common formats such as mp4, webm and GIF. It works by loading media into numpy arrays so each pixel can be changed, which makes it flexible but slower than using ffmpeg directly.
- Cut a segment out of a video file, for example seconds 10 to 20
- Add a text title over a video clip
- Lower the audio volume of a clip
- Combine multiple clips or overlay one clip on another with transparency
- Export the result as mp4, webm or GIF
Great for
- Python developers who want to automate video edits, such as batch trimming or adding titles
- People making GIFs or short clips from existing footage with a script
- Students or hobbyists learning programmatic video editing in Python
- Projects that need custom per-frame effects written in Python
Not ideal for
- People who want a graphical editor; MoviePy is code-only, with no interface described in the README
- Large or time-critical video pipelines, since the README notes it is slower than using ffmpeg directly
- Anyone on v1 code without time to migrate, because v2 has major breaking changes and v1 is no longer maintained
How to get it
- 1
Install with a package manager
You'll need: Python 3.9+
Install from PyPI
pip install moviepy - 2
Run it
- Install MoviePy with pip install moviepy
- Load a video file with VideoFileClip
- Make edits such as subclipped(10, 20) or adding a TextClip
- Combine clips with CompositeVideoClip if needed
- Export with write_videofile("result.mp4")
- 3
Get the most out of it
- Read the built-in effects reference to see what per-clip effects are available
- Use the v2 update guide if you are moving code from v1
- Install the doc extras with pip install "moviepy[doc]" to build the docs locally
- Check the install guide for options such as a custom FFMPEG or preview support
Downloads
Strengths
- Simple Python API for common cuts, overlays and text
- Reads and writes most common audio and video formats, including GIF, per the README
- Open source under the MIT license with online documentation
Trade-offs
- Version 2 introduced breaking changes, so older tutorials and code may not work
- Slower than calling ffmpeg directly, according to the README
- The README says the project depends heavily on a few maintainers and is looking for more help
How it compares
| Project | Stars | Type | Level | Updated | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| moviepy (this) | 15.1k | Library | beginner | 2 months ago | Python developers who want to automate video edits, such as batch trimming or adding titles |
| vhs | 21.2k | CLI | beginner | 4 days ago | Developers who want a repeatable terminal demo for a README or docs |
| Anime4K | 21.6k | Other | intermediate | 2.2 years ago | People watching native 1080p anime on a 4K screen |
| manim | 96k | Library | intermediate | 2 months ago | Programmers who want to make math or science explainer videos with precise, code-controlled animation |
| supervision | 51.5k | Library | intermediate | 4 days ago | Python developers building apps on top of object detection or segmentation models |
| lux | 31.8k | CLI | beginner | 7 months ago | People who want to save videos from supported sites to a local file from the command line |
Stats synced from GitHub. The assessment above was drafted with AI from the project's README on 2026-10-29 and may miss recent changes — check the README before relying on a command. MIT licence: free to use, modify and distribute, including commercially, as long as you keep the copyright notice.