Describe a video

Say what happens in a clip, including on-screen text and scene changes.

This describes a video you already have. It does not make a new clip. The 1B file fits a small computer. The 35B-A3B file needs about 21 GB while it runs.

The tools below run on your computer. Most of them are free, and the local work stays on your machine.

Photos Video

Works offline · Free options

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Type

Showing 2

Local or cloud?

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Most tools here are free.

MiniCPM-V 4.7 35B-A3B
OpenBMB's larger vision model for pictures, documents, and video. The 35B-A3B size is a mixture of experts.
OpenBMB's video guide is for this model
Photos
Runs in:
Fits on:
· needs ~20.8 GB · Free to download · License: Apache 2.0
MiniCPM-V 4.7 1B
OpenBMB's small vision model for pictures, documents, and video. It is not a mixture of experts.
The small file, for a shorter clip
Photos
Runs in:
Fits on:
· needs ~1.7 GB · Free to download · License: Apache 2.0

HONEST COMPARISON

Local or cloud: Describe a video?

Reviewed Oct 2026

Privacy: Local winsThe clip stays on your computer
Cost: TieFree options exist on both sides
Quality: Cloud winsFewer missed moments on long clips
Ease: Cloud winsDrop the file in a chat

Local AI

A local vision model can describe a clip you already have, without uploading it.

The clip stays on disk
Works offline
Can mention on-screen text and scene changes

Where it falls short

A long clip is sampled, so it can miss a short moment
It can invent a detail that is not in the frames

See local tools for this task ↓

Cloud & apps

Cloud video tools are easier to open and usually stronger on long or cluttered clips.

CChatGPTCloud AIFreemium
A short clip can come back as a description in the same chat.
Best for: Short clipsFollow-up questions
The video is uploaded
Visit ChatGPT (opens in new tab)
CClaudeCloud AIFreemium
Careful wording when the description should stay literal.
Best for: Literal descriptions
The video is uploaded
Visit Claude (opens in new tab)
GGeminiCloud AIFreemiumPopular choice
Describes a video you upload, including longer clips.
Best for: Longer clipsQuick looks
The video is sent to Google
Visit Gemini (opens in new tab)

Our take

Describe a private clip locally. Use a cloud video model when the clip is long and it can be shared.

Choose local if…

The video is private
You are offline

Choose cloud if…

The clip is long
You want the least setup

How to do it in 3 steps

Open the model page and pick any app under Runs in, for example llama.cpp, MiniCPM-V Apps or Ollama. Each app page links to that maker's own guide.
Open the MiniCPM-V 4.7 1B page and check the traffic light for a few kinds of computer.
Follow that official guide. This site does not add its own install steps.

Questions

Does this upload my files?: The local tools on this page don't upload your files. The cloud options in the comparison do.
What does it cost?: Most options are free. A few apps are a one-time purchase, and a few models need a computer with more memory.
What if it will not fit?: Use Check my computer, or turn on the lighter memory filters. A red light on the model page means the file is too big.

Not into local AI? Try these instead

Ordinary apps for photos & images. These are normal links to the maker's site.

Affinity Photo
A photo editor for layers, retouching, and export.
Affinity Photo
Capture One
A raw-photo studio for color, crop, and tethering.
Capture One
DxO PhotoLab
A photo lab for noise, lens corrections, and local edits.
DxO PhotoLab

Other ways to do this

This task has only a few local tools. These nearby tasks cover the same kind of job.

MiniCPM-V 4.7 35B-A3B

MiniCPM-V 4.7 1B