Screen and camera recording
Record a full screen, window, region, or camera on Mac, or the camera, screen, or whole device on iPhone. Captures can include system and microphone audio.
Zella
Zella is a screen recorder and on-device AI video editor for Mac and iPhone. It helps creators record screens or cameras, automatically clean up footage, add captions, reframe clips, and export videos without uploading the core project to the cloud.
Zella overview
Zella is a screen recorder and AI video editor for Mac and iPhone. It captures screen or camera footage, then combines automatic editing with a conventional timeline for users who want either a quick pass or more control over the result.
Its central workflow is record, run Auto-Polish, review, and export. The automatic pass can tighten pauses, generate captions, clean up voice audio, add framing changes, and adjust pacing while leaving the original color treatment unchanged. Processing is performed on the device, so the core recording and editing workflow does not require uploading video to a cloud service.
Core features
Auto-Polish editing
A single action can remove silences and filler words, add cuts at pauses, create keyword captions, clean voice audio, add a hook title and punch-in, apply emphasis zooms, and add ducked music and pacing changes.
Captions and background removal
Generate on-device captions with active-word emphasis and callouts, and remove or replace a background without a green screen. Zella includes built-in background scenes.
Manual and prompt-based editing
Use a timeline with cut, trim, ripple delete, drag-to-reorder, J and L cuts, and at least 50 levels of undo. The AI Assistant can also apply edits from typed instructions using the user's own API key.
Multi-format export
Reframe projects to 9:16, 1:1, or 16:9 with face-aware tracking and platform presets. Free exports support MP4, MOV, GIF, and M4A at up to 1080p and two minutes; Pro adds longer exports, 4K, and 8K on Mac.
On-device processing
Work locally on the device, including recording, captions, background removal, voice cleanup, and export. The app is intended to function offline, while the AI Assistant and stock-footage retrieval can use network services when requested.
Use cases
Short-form social videos
Capture a screen, window, region, or camera feed, remove dead air, add captions, and export a short vertical or square clip for social publishing.
Tutorials and product demos
Record a product walkthrough or lesson, then use the timeline and Auto-Polish to tighten delivery, clarify speech, and add captions before exporting a longer cut with Pro.
Mobile talking-head content
Film on an iPhone with live background removal or record a talking-head segment, then reframe the result with face-aware tracking for 9:16, 1:1, or 16:9 output.
Prompt-assisted editing
Use the AI Assistant to request edits such as removing dead air or changing aspect ratio, while retaining the timeline for precise cuts, transitions, audio, and color adjustments.
Offline or local-first production
Keep footage on a Mac or iPhone when working with recordings that should not be uploaded to a cloud editor, and continue the core workflow without an internet connection.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Combines screen and camera recording with automatic editing in one Mac and iPhone workflow.
- Auto-Polish handles several common cleanup tasks, including silence and filler removal, captions, voice cleanup, zooms, and pacing changes.
- Free exports have no watermark, and recording is unlimited on the free tier.
- Core recording, editing, captioning, background removal, and export run on the device and can be used in airplane mode.
Cons
- Free exports are limited to two minutes and 1080p; longer or higher-resolution output requires Pro.
- The product is limited to Apple platforms, with the site specifying macOS 14 Sonoma or later and iOS 18 or later.
- The documented product information does not describe team workspaces, shared projects, or broad third-party integrations.
FAQ
Which devices and operating systems does Zella support?
Zella is available for Mac and iPhone. On Mac, it can capture a full screen, window, region, or camera; on iPhone, it can capture the camera, screen, or the whole device. The product pages specify macOS 14 Sonoma or later and iOS 18 or later.
How does the recording and editing workflow work?
The basic workflow is to record, tap Auto-Polish, review the result, and export. Auto-Polish can remove silences and filler words, add captions, clean up voice audio, apply zooms and a hook title, and add pacing changes. Editing remains available through the timeline when manual adjustments are needed.
What are the free export limits?
Recording is unlimited on the free tier, but each free export is limited to two minutes and 1080p. Free exports have no watermark. Pro removes the length cap and adds 4K export, with 8K export available on Mac.
Does Zella upload video to the cloud?
Processing is designed to run on the Mac or iPhone, including recording, captions, background removal, voice cleanup, and export. Zella says it can work in airplane mode; the AI Assistant can use a typed prompt through the user's own API key, and stock-footage retrieval can access external services when requested.
Does Zella include team collaboration features?
The documented workflow is centered on individual Mac and iPhone use. The site does not describe team workspaces, shared projects, or collaboration controls, so those requirements should be verified before choosing Zella for team-based production.
Quick Facts
- Category
- Screen recording and AI video editing
- Platforms
- Mac and iPhone
- Processing
- Primarily on-device; core workflow can run in airplane mode
- Free tier
- Unlimited recording; exports up to 2 minutes at 1080p with no watermark
- Primary workflow
- Record, Auto-Polish, review, and export
- Source domain
- zellahq.com
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