The best free video editing software makes it easy to edit videos for platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Vimeo, and YouTube.
1. HitFilm
If you don’t have much experience with other video editing software, HitFilm may seem a bit advanced at first. It is used to produce Hollywood-style films, but it is worth learning, as it is one of the best comprehensive free video editing programs available. HitFilm includes animation tools that allow you to create and edit audio and visual transitions without the need to overlay shots, saving a lot of time during editing. It also provides great 3D effects for films, music videos, and even YouTube videos, along with features you find in paid video editing software, such as 360-degree editing and a library of special effects.
2. Lightworks
Lightworks features a simple and user-friendly interface, making it suitable for beginners. It also offers a range of licensed videos and music clips for use in any video you edit with the software, giving your marketing video a polished look. Lightworks is known for its ability to edit high-quality video, import clips from multiple cameras, and easily share projects with team members. It supports quick video exports to platforms like YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, and Instagram and supports a wide range of video formats.
3. iMovie
Apple’s well-known iMovie is an excellent choice for Mac users. Like many other Apple applications, iMovie features a simple and user-friendly interface that relies on drag-and-drop files from your disk to your workstation. It’s an easy way to create compelling videos to boost your marketing efforts on YouTube. Files in iMovie are saved on Apple’s cloud, meaning you can easily work on your project from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. iMovie is continuously updated, ensuring you can always benefit from new features and improvements.
4. VideoPad
VideoPad is a great option for anyone looking to create high-quality videos without spending money. With VideoPad, you’ll find all sorts of simple and user-friendly features such as 3D video editing and a library of sound effects to experiment with various video compositions and styles. You can edit your videos with special effects, overlays, text, and transitions, as well as adjust colors and add sound effects. You can then quickly and easily export the final video to YouTube, Facebook, Google Drive, and other mobile devices.
5. DaVinci Resolve
DaVinci Resolve combines 8K video editing, color correction, visual effects, and audio post-production all in one production tool, which is why it is a favorite among many professional film and television editors. DaVinci allows for both online and offline editing, and it provides a premium playback engine that saves time during editing and trimming, even for intensive file formats like H.264 and RAW. The complex features of DaVinci Resolve may be overwhelming for some users, but the free version is suitable for advanced projects.
6. VSDC Free Video Editor
The VSDC desktop video editing software is available in both a free version and a paid version. Although the free version has limited features, it still comes with a full set of VSDC’s video editing tools, including a masking tool and chroma key function for green screen video effects. VSDC is a popular free video editing software used for GoPro clips. If you have the funds to purchase the full version, the toolkit expands to include video stabilization, powerful post-production effects, slideshow capabilities, 3D graphics templates, and direct social media publishing.
7.
OpenShot Software
The easy-to-use interface of OpenShot makes it a fantastic video editing software for intermediate editors. While complex tools may offer more editing components, the intuitive interface and simple design of OpenShot are perfect for basic editing. OpenShot is an efficient choice for small businesses and is best suited for resizing clips, scaling, trimming, stabilizing, and rotating. It also provides credit scrolling, framing, timing settings, audio editing, and instant previewing.
8. Shotcut Software
Shotcut is an open-source video editing software that supports audio editing. Shotcut is a cross-platform video editor that supports a wide range of formats, including FFmpeg, 4K, ProRes, and DNxHD. Warning, however: Shotcut was originally designed for Linux, so some users may find the program’s interface a bit unfamiliar. Nevertheless, it is still an excellent editor.
9. Clipchamp Software
Clipchamp comes pre-installed on Windows 11. It is one of the most intuitive video editing programs on this list, with some useful time-saving features such as batch editing, auto captions, and text-to-speech.
10. Vimeo Create Software
Vimeo Create is a free editing software that you can directly link to your Shopify store, where it automatically transforms existing images and texts in your products into polished eCommerce videos. No video editing experience is required. All you have to do is answer a few questions about your product, add video clips and your logo, and choose customizations. Vimeo Create automatically edits your video in minutes (although you can also choose your own styles or start from scratch). The program even suggests colors, themes, music, and fonts.
11. KineMaster Software
If you’re a video editor on the go, KineMaster is the perfect editing software for you. This free app (with an optional subscription model) is powerful and ideal for mobile devices. With KineMaster, you can easily capture, edit, and upload video footage all from your phone or tablet. Mobile editors typically sacrifice advanced tools to simplify video creation, but KineMaster does the opposite. With KineMaster, you can easily trim, splice, crop, and combine videos, with over 2500 transitions and downloadable effects. Use color filters and adjustments to correct and enhance videos to stand out. When finished, quickly share them on YouTube, TikTok, Reels, Stories, and more.
12. Movie Maker Online Software
Movie Maker Online is the best web-based video editor to date. It’s a cost-effective tool for people who want to create videos, but there are some drawbacks. The tool is ad-supported, so you’ll need to navigate around them to edit your videos. It also has a maximum duration of 10 minutes, which should be sufficient for the standard free user. The program’s interface also has some drawbacks. The timelines for video and audio are oriented vertically, rather than horizontally like traditional video editors. It’s a layout that takes some getting used to initially. However, it is easily accessible on multiple devices since it is entirely browser-based.
13. Movavi Video Editor Software
With Movavi Video Editor, you can create polished, professional videos with a range of dynamic features. With its user-friendly interface and intuitive features, this software is ideal for beginners, but it also has advanced features that will appeal to experienced editors. With this software, you can create videos that can work with any file format. This is another reason why Movavi Video Editor is a great choice for those looking to create high-quality videos without spending a lot of time learning how to do so.
14.
ActivePresenter Software
ActivePresenter is a comprehensive screen recording and video editing software that offers both a free version and a paid version. ActivePresenter provides a powerful set of video editing features and tools, making it a preferred choice for those looking to create engaging and educational video content. From screen recording to complex video editing, ActivePresenter offers a wide array of video editing features and tools. The user-friendly design of the software makes it suitable for both beginners and professionals alike.
15. Video Grabber Software
Video Grabber is a powerful free online video editing tool and downloader that meets the needs of a wide range of users, from video enthusiasts to professionals. You can easily browse the platform’s features due to its simplicity and intuitive design. Video Grabber is not just a video downloading tool; it also serves as a converter, screen recorder, and basic video editor, making it one of the versatile video creation and editing tools. Using the same platform, you can download videos, convert them to different formats, record screen activities, and even perform some basic video editing tasks such as trimming, cropping, and adding effects. You can also add subtitles to the video, eliminating the need to install bulky software, and it can be accessed from any device connected to the internet.
How to Choose Video Editing Software
Here are some factors to consider when choosing video editing software:
- User experience: Look for software that has a quick editing mode to edit videos in your preferred way quickly. Templates are also an added bonus. A good editing program should also offer tutorials so you can learn the features and master them.
- Editing features: Check if your editing software has powerful video editing tools that will impress viewers. For example, if you’re using footage from a drone, you’ll need editing software that can enhance and add effects to the video. You may also need to edit chroma key or correct colors, or other advanced features such as 360-degree editing.
- Hidden costs: Some video editors may be “free,” but they only work well if you pay more money to access better features. Free editing programs might have limited file formats, poor performance, or other restrictions. The software you want to choose should meet all your basic editing needs without extra charges.
- Support: Technical support is always helpful when you’re new to video editing. If you have a question about a feature, it’s good to have a place where you can get answers. Check if your program has technical support such as email/phone support, FAQs, or community forums where you can get help from real people.
- Export options: Where will you publish your videos? Ensure that your video editing software can output high-quality videos in common formats so you can easily upload videos to your social media channels.
- Requirements: Some software may only be available for certain types of computers. For example, not every program on this list may work with a Chromebook computer. Before investing time in a program, make sure it’s compatible with the computer you’re using.
In conclusion, now that you know your options for finding the best free video editing software, you can start testing them. While each option comes with its own advantages and disadvantages, we hope you now have a better idea of which option suits your video production level.
Source: https://www.shopify.com/blog/best-free-video-editing-software
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