Quick Verdict
Kite delivers on its promise—your screen recordings really will look like Apple commercials. The automatic camera movements and 3D mockups transform amateur recordings into professional-looking marketing videos with minimal effort.
Best For
SaaS companies and developers who need polished product demos without a video production budget
Skip If
You need webcam integration or advanced video editing features
What is Kite?
Kite is a screen recording tool that automatically transforms your raw product recordings into polished marketing videos. Founded in 2023 by YC alums Derek Feehrer and Todd Ashley, Kite targets a specific problem: most software companies need professional demo videos but can't justify hiring video production agencies.
The magic is in the automation. Record your screen normally, and Kite's AI tracks your cursor and keyboard inputs to automatically add cinematic camera movements—zooming into relevant UI elements, panning to follow your actions, and highlighting the features you're demonstrating. Add your recording to a 3D device mockup, layer in some text animations and background music, and you have a video that looks like it came from Apple's marketing team.
The tool is particularly popular among YC startups (hundreds use it for launch videos) and has gained traction with developer tool companies who need to show off their products in documentation and marketing materials.
How It Works
Record Your Screen
AI Adds Motion
Add Text & Music
Export in 4K
Key Features
Here's what Kite offers and how each feature performs in real-world use:
3D Device Mockups
Place your screen recordings inside stunning 3D device models—MacBooks, iPhones, iPads, and more. The camera automatically follows the action and highlights user interactions with cinematic movements.
Automatic Camera Movement
Kite tracks your cursor and keyboard inputs, automatically zooming and panning to follow the action. No manual keyframing required—the AI creates smooth, professional camera movements that emphasize your product's features.
Kinetic Typography
Add animated text scenes with two clicks. The text animations sync perfectly with background music, creating that polished Apple commercial aesthetic without After Effects skills.
AI Voiceover
Generate professional narrations using text-to-speech. Multiple voice options available, with natural-sounding delivery that can explain your product features without recording your own voice.
Royalty-Free Music Library
Choose from curated background tracks that automatically match your video's energy. The music library is included in all plans—no separate licensing needed.
Brand Customization
Upload your logo, brand colors, and custom fonts. Create consistent marketing videos that match your brand identity across all your product demos and launch videos.
Pros & Cons
After extensive testing, here's our honest assessment:
Pros
- ✓Free tier is genuinely useful—no signup required
- ✓Makes amateur recordings look professional instantly
- ✓3D mockups are stunning and customizable
- ✓Auto camera movement saves hours of manual keyframing
- ✓Templates for common use cases (launch videos, changelogs, etc.)
- ✓Fast rendering even for complex animations
- ✓Y Combinator backed with active development
Cons
- ✗Watermark on free tier is visible
- ✗Limited to screen recordings—no webcam integration
- ✗Learning curve for advanced customizations
- ✗Some 3D device models look better than others
- ✗No native Windows app yet (web-only for Windows users)
- ✗Can feel templated if you don't customize
Pricing
Kite has one of the most generous free tiers we've seen—no signup required, 4K exports, and AI voiceovers included.
Free
$0
- Unlimited projects
- AI voiceovers included
- 4K export quality
- Music library access
- Kite watermark
Pro
$19/mo billed annually
- Everything in Free
- No watermark
- Priority rendering
- Custom branding
- Team collaboration
- Priority support
Enterprise
Contact sales
- Everything in Pro
- SSO integration
- Dedicated account manager
- Custom templates
- SLA guarantees
- Advanced analytics
Tip: Start with the free tier—it's genuinely full-featured. You can create unlimited videos with 4K quality. Only upgrade to Pro when you want to remove the watermark for customer-facing content.
What Users Say
We gathered reviews from Product Hunt, YC communities, and developer forums:
★★★★★"We used to outsource our product demo videos for $2K each. Now I make them myself in an hour with Kite. The 3D mockups look better than what our agency was producing."
★★★★★"Easy as Canva, but your videos look like they came out of OpenAI or Figma. We use Kite for every feature release now."
★★★★★"Great for launch videos but I wish there was more flexibility in the camera movements. Sometimes the auto-tracking doesn't focus on what I want it to."
★★★★★"The free tier with 4K export and no signup? That's insane. I've made 5 videos without paying a cent. Will probably upgrade just to support them."
Who Should Use Kite?
SaaS Companies & Startups
Perfect for product launches, feature announcements, and landing page demos. The Apple-quality aesthetic makes your product look polished and professional without a video production budget.
Developer Tool Creators
Technical products benefit from the 3D mockups and automatic zoom-on-action. Changelog videos, GitHub readme demos, and documentation tutorials look fantastic.
Solo Founders & Indie Hackers
The free tier means you can create professional marketing videos before you have revenue. The low learning curve means you're not spending days learning After Effects.
Product & Growth Teams
Standardized templates help teams create consistent marketing content. The Pro plan's collaboration features work well for teams creating multiple videos per month.
Not Ideal For:
- •YouTubers needing webcam integration
- •Videos requiring advanced editing or effects
- •Tutorial creators who need on-screen annotation tools
- •Windows users who prefer native apps over web tools
3 Alternatives to Kite
Kite isn't the only option for polished screen recordings. Here are three alternatives worth considering:
Screen Studio
Desktop app, more control
Desktop-native screen recorder with similar zoom effects but more control over camera movements. Better for users who want granular editing control.
Loom
Webcam + screen recording
Combines screen recording with webcam. Better for internal communications and async video messages where you want your face visible.
Yarn
E-commerce & sales focus
AI-powered product video tool focused on e-commerce and sales demos. Better for product showcases and customer-facing sales content.
Different Problem? Try OutlierKit
Kite helps you create polished product videos. But what if you're struggling with what content to create in the first place?
OutlierKit solves a different problem: finding video ideas that are proven to perform. Discover "outlier" videos that perform 3-10x above channel averages and understand why they work.
Use OutlierKit when you need:
- • Video ideas backed by performance data
- • Competitor analysis and outlier detection
- • Trending topic discovery
- • Audience psychographic insights
Use Kite when you need:
- • Polished product demo videos
- • Apple-style launch videos
- • 3D device mockups
- • Auto camera movements
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kite really free?
Yes, Kite's free tier is genuinely usable—you get unlimited projects, AI voiceovers, 4K exports, and music library access without creating an account. The only catch is a small Kite watermark. Upgrade to Pro ($29/mo or $19/mo annual) to remove it.
How does Kite compare to Screen Studio?
Both create similar polished screen recordings, but Kite is web-based and includes 3D device mockups, while Screen Studio is a desktop app with more manual control. Kite is easier for beginners; Screen Studio offers more flexibility for power users.
Can I use Kite on Windows?
Yes, Kite works in any modern browser on Windows. However, there's no native Windows app yet—you'll use the web version. macOS users have both web and native app options.
What types of videos can I create with Kite?
Kite excels at product demos, launch videos, feature announcements, changelog videos, social media posts, and landing page hero videos. It's designed specifically for software and app marketing—less suitable for general video editing.
Does Kite include AI features?
Yes, Kite includes AI voiceovers (text-to-speech narration) in all plans, including free. They're also building LLM-powered features for copy editing, storytelling suggestions, and generative music/graphics.
How long does it take to create a video?
A simple demo video can be created in 10-15 minutes. More polished launch videos with custom text animations and music typically take 30-60 minutes. Rendering is fast—usually under 5 minutes even for complex videos.
Final Verdict
Kite delivers on its bold promise: your screen recordings really can look like Apple commercials. The automatic camera movements and 3D mockups transform amateur recordings into professional marketing materials.
The generous free tier (4K, unlimited projects, AI voiceovers) makes it easy to try before committing. The main limitation is focus—it's specifically for product demos, not general video editing or webcam content.
Bottom line: If you're a software company or developer who needs polished demo videos, Kite is a no-brainer. If you're struggling with what content to create, check out OutlierKit for research and ideation.
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