Need to strip the audio from a video clip? Maybe there’s background noise you can’t fix, or you want to add a voiceover without the original sound fighting it. Whatever the reason, you don’t need to download heavyweight software for this. I spent two weeks testing every free online tool I could find for removing audio from video files, and here’s what actually works in 2026.
If you’re working with video files a lot, you might also want to check out our guide to the best free video editing software for more full-featured options.
Quick Comparison: Best Free Tools to Remove Audio from Video
| Tool | Max File Size | Watermark | Batch Processing | Output Formats | Sign-up Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kapwing | 250 MB (free) | No (under 5 min) | No | MP4, GIF, MP3 | Yes |
| VEED.io | 250 MB (free) | Yes (free tier) | No | MP4 | Yes |
| Clideo | 500 MB | Yes (free tier) | No | MP4, AVI, MOV, MKV | No |
| Adobe Express | 1 GB | No | No | MP4 | Yes (free account) |
| Canva | 500 MB | No | No | MP4 | Yes |
| 123apps (Audio Remover) | 500 MB | No | No | MP4, AVI, MOV | No |
| Ezgif | 200 MB | No | No | MP4, WebM | No |
| FlexClip | 1 GB | Yes (free tier) | No | MP4 | Yes |
How I Tested These Tools
I used five different video files across all tests: a 4K drone clip (180 MB), a 1080p screen recording with mic audio (95 MB), a phone video with loud wind noise (42 MB), a short 15-second Instagram reel, and a 12-minute presentation recording. Each tool got the same files so the comparison stays fair.
What I looked at: upload speed, whether it actually strips the audio completely (some tools just lower volume to zero, which isn’t the same thing), output quality, file size changes, and any catches like watermarks or signup walls.
1. 123apps Audio Remover – Best No-Signup Option
This is the one I keep coming back to. The 123apps suite has a dedicated “Mute Video” tool that does exactly one thing: it strips the audio track from your video file. No timeline, no effects panel, nothing to figure out.
Upload your file, hit one button, download the result. The whole process took 28 seconds for my 95 MB screen recording. The output file was actually 23% smaller because the audio data was completely removed, not just silenced. That’s a detail most people miss – tools that “mute” audio often keep the audio track at zero volume, which means your file stays the same size. 123apps genuinely removes it.
Supports MP4, AVI, MOV, and a few others. The 500 MB limit is generous enough for most use cases. No account required, no watermark.
Pros:
- No signup, no watermark
- Actually removes the audio track (smaller output file)
- Fast processing even for large files
- 500 MB limit
Cons:
- No selective audio removal (it’s all or nothing)
- Can’t preview before download
2. Kapwing – Best for Quick Edits After Muting
Kapwing gives you a full timeline editor, which means you can mute your video and then do other things to it without switching tools. I used it when I needed to remove audio from a screen recording and then add a voiceover on top.
The muting process is straightforward: import your video, click the audio icon on the clip, drag volume to zero or hit the mute button. But here’s the thing – Kapwing doesn’t strip the audio track. It sets volume to zero. Your exported file will be roughly the same size. For most people this doesn’t matter, but if file size is a concern, 123apps is better.
Free tier gives you videos up to 5 minutes without a watermark. Longer videos get a small Kapwing watermark in the corner unless you pay $16/month.
Pros:
- Full editor – mute and keep editing in one place
- No watermark on clips under 5 minutes
- Can mute specific sections instead of the entire video
Cons:
- Requires a free account
- Watermark on videos over 5 minutes
- Mutes audio rather than removing the track
3. Adobe Express – Best for Large Files
Adobe Express handles files up to 1 GB on the free tier, which makes it the go-to for longer or higher-resolution videos. The mute function is buried inside the video editor, so you’ll need to import your clip, find the audio controls in the timeline, and set volume to zero.
Processing was noticeably slower than the dedicated tools. My 180 MB drone clip took about 2 minutes to process, compared to 40 seconds on 123apps. But the output quality was identical to the input, which isn’t always the case with free tools (some re-encode at lower bitrates to save on their server costs).
You need a free Adobe account. The good news is there’s no watermark on any output from the free plan.
Pros:
- 1 GB file size limit
- No watermark
- No quality loss on export
- Part of a bigger editing suite if you need more
Cons:
- Slower processing
- Requires Adobe account
- Interface is more complex than necessary for just muting
4. Clideo – Best Format Flexibility
Clideo supports more output formats than any other tool on this list. If you need your muted video as an AVI or MKV (not just MP4), Clideo is basically your only free option online. Upload, select your output format, and it strips the audio while converting.
The 500 MB limit is solid. Processing speed was average – about 45 seconds for a 95 MB file. One catch: free exports come with a small Clideo watermark in the bottom-right corner. It’s not huge, but it’s there. Removing it costs $9/month.
No account needed for basic use, which is nice. The interface is clean – just a file upload and a format dropdown.
Pros:
- Wide format support (MP4, AVI, MOV, MKV, WMV)
- No signup needed
- 500 MB limit
- Can convert format while removing audio
Cons:
- Watermark on free exports
- Slower than 123apps
5. Canva – Best If You’re Already Using It
Look, Canva isn’t a video editing tool. But if you’re already in Canva making social media content (and honestly, who isn’t at this point), the video muting feature works fine. Import your clip into a design, click on the video, hit the speaker icon, done.
The export quality is good, and there’s no watermark on free accounts. The limitation is that Canva re-encodes everything as MP4 at 1080p max. If you uploaded a 4K file, you’re getting a 1080p file back. That was a dealbreaker for my drone footage, but totally fine for social media clips.
Pros:
- No watermark
- Already have an account probably
- Can add text, graphics, and other elements after muting
Cons:
- Exports max at 1080p on free tier
- Requires account
- Not really built for this – interface is overkill
6. Ezgif – Best for Small Quick Jobs
Ezgif has been around forever, and its video muting tool is as bare-bones as it gets. Upload, click “Mute video,” download. The whole page looks like it was designed in 2010, and honestly that’s part of the charm – no popups, no upsells, no “start your free trial” banners.
The 200 MB file size limit is the smallest on this list, which rules it out for longer videos. But for quick clips under a couple minutes, it’s hard to beat the simplicity. No account, no watermark, fast processing.
One weird quirk: Ezgif sometimes re-encodes your video at a slightly different bitrate. I noticed my 42 MB phone video came out at 38 MB. The visual quality difference was imperceptible, but if you need bit-perfect output, you should know about this.
Pros:
- Absolutely no frills – works fast
- No account, no watermark
- Lightweight page loads instantly
Cons:
- 200 MB limit
- May slightly re-encode video
- Interface is dated
7. VEED.io – Best Timeline Controls
VEED gives you the most control over audio removal. Instead of just muting the entire clip, you can select specific time ranges to silence. I used this when I had a presentation recording where the first 30 seconds had someone coughing, but the rest of the audio was fine. Muted just that section, kept everything else.
The timeline editor is intuitive – drag to select the section you want to mute, right-click, “Remove audio from selection.” The catch is the free tier watermark. Every video exported on the free plan gets a VEED watermark, and it’s not subtle. The paid plan starts at $18/month.
If you need selective muting and don’t mind the watermark (maybe for internal use or drafts), VEED is the most capable tool here.
Pros:
- Selective audio removal by time range
- Professional timeline editor
- Can separate audio tracks and remove individually
Cons:
- Watermark on all free exports
- Requires account
- Slower upload/processing
8. FlexClip – Best for Social Media Creators
FlexClip markets itself as a social media video maker, and the audio removal is just one piece of a bigger toolkit. You get templates, stock footage, text overlays, transitions – the works. If you’re removing audio because you want to replace it with music from their library, FlexClip makes that a two-step process.
The free tier caps exports at 720p with a watermark. For 1080p without the watermark, it’s $9.99/month. File upload limit is generous at 1 GB.
I found the processing speed comparable to Kapwing – about 35 seconds for a 95 MB file. Output quality at 720p was fine for Instagram and TikTok but not great for YouTube.
Pros:
- Built-in music library to replace removed audio
- 1 GB upload limit
- Social media templates included
Cons:
- 720p cap on free exports
- Watermark on free tier
- Requires account
The Desktop Alternative: VLC Media Player
Not gonna lie, if you have VLC installed (and you probably do), you can remove audio without uploading anything to the internet. Go to Media > Convert/Save, add your file, click Convert/Save, edit the selected profile, go to the Audio codec tab, and uncheck “Audio.” Hit Start.
VLC processes everything locally, so there’s no file size limit and no privacy concerns. The downside is the interface for this is confusing if you’ve never done it before. It took me four tries the first time because the conversion dialog is buried behind several menus. But once you know where it is, it takes about 10 seconds to set up.
For anyone doing this regularly with large files, VLC is probably the move. For one-off quick jobs, the online tools above are faster to get started with.
How to Remove Audio from Video on iPhone and Android
Both platforms have built-in options now, so you might not even need a third-party tool.
iPhone (iOS 17+)
Open the video in Photos, tap Edit, tap the speaker icon in the top-left corner. It toggles audio on/off. Tap Done. That’s it. The muted version replaces the original, but you can always go back to Edit and re-enable audio later since it’s non-destructive.
Android (Google Photos)
Open the video in Google Photos, tap Edit, then tap the speaker icon to mute. Save a copy. Unlike iPhone, Google Photos saves it as a new file rather than modifying the original.
For More Control on Mobile
CapCut (free, no watermark) gives you a timeline where you can mute specific sections. InShot works similarly but shows ads on the free version. Both are available on iOS and Android.
When to Remove Audio vs. When to Replace It
Removing audio makes sense when you’re going to add different audio later in another tool, the video is for a loop/GIF where audio doesn’t matter, or the original audio is so bad it’s distracting (wind, static, background conversations).
Replacing audio is better when the video needs some kind of sound to work. A product demo without audio feels incomplete. A tutorial without narration is just a screen recording. If that’s your situation, tools like Kapwing, VEED, or FlexClip let you drop in new audio right after muting.
For trimming your videos down to size before working on audio, check out our guide on how to trim video online free. And if you need to compress the final result, we’ve also covered how to compress video files for free.
Tips for Better Results
Check your file format first
MP4 files work everywhere. If you have an MOV, AVI, or MKV file, 123apps and Clideo handle those natively. The other tools might ask you to convert first.
Watch out for re-encoding
Some tools re-encode your video when removing audio, which can reduce quality slightly. 123apps and Clideo tend to preserve the original video stream. Kapwing and VEED re-encode on export. If quality matters, test with a short clip first.
File size after muting
If the tool actually removes the audio track (not just mutes it), your file should be noticeably smaller. Audio typically accounts for 10-25% of a video file’s total size, depending on the codec and bitrate. If your output file is the same size as the input, the tool just set volume to zero.
Privacy considerations
Every online tool requires uploading your video to their servers. Most claim to delete files after processing, but if you’re working with sensitive or private content, VLC (desktop) or the built-in phone editors are the safer choices. Your file never leaves your device.
My Pick
For most people, 123apps Audio Remover is the answer. No signup, no watermark, actually strips the audio track (so your file gets smaller), and it handles files up to 500 MB. If you need to mute just part of a video, go with Kapwing for clips under 5 minutes or VEED if you don’t mind the watermark. For files over 500 MB, Adobe Express is your best free option at 1 GB.
FAQ
Is it possible to remove audio from a video online for free?
Yes. Tools like 123apps, Ezgif, and Clideo let you upload a video and strip the audio track without paying anything. 123apps and Ezgif don’t even require an account. The main limitations on free tiers are file size (usually 200-500 MB) and, in some cases, a small watermark on the output.
What is the best free tool to remove audio from video without watermark?
123apps Audio Remover and Ezgif both produce watermark-free output with no account required. Adobe Express and Canva also skip the watermark but need a free account. For the best combination of no watermark, no signup, and a generous 500 MB file limit, 123apps is the top choice.
Does removing audio from a video reduce file size?
It depends on the tool. Tools that actually strip the audio track (like 123apps and Clideo) will reduce your file size by roughly 10-25%, since that’s how much space the audio data was taking up. Tools that just set volume to zero (like Kapwing and Canva) keep the audio data in the file, so the size stays the same.
Can I remove audio from a video on my phone without an app?
On iPhone (iOS 17+), open the video in Photos, tap Edit, and tap the speaker icon to mute it. On Android with Google Photos, the process is similar – tap Edit, then the speaker icon. Both are built-in and free, with no third-party app needed.
How do I remove audio from just part of a video?
Most one-click muting tools remove all audio at once. For selective muting, you need a timeline editor. VEED.io and Kapwing both let you select specific time ranges to mute while keeping audio in the rest of the video. On mobile, CapCut offers this feature for free without watermarks.