13 Best Free Video Editing Software For Beginners and Professionals

May 20, 2023
Contents

In today's fast-paced digital world, video content has become a vital part of our lives. 

Whether it's for personal or professional use, video content has the power to engage and captivate audiences like no other medium.

 However, creating high-quality videos requires more than just a camera and a good idea. 

The real magic happens with editing, where skilled video editors use the best software to transform raw footage into stunning, polished videos. 

But with so many video editing software options available on the market, choosing the right one can be overwhelming.  

Tag along with us and read on to explore the best video editing software options available so that you can find the perfect match for your video editing needs.

How to Choose a Free Video Editing Software

When choosing a free video editing software, you must consider several factors. Here are some steps to help you choose the right one:

Determine Your Editing Needs

Before you start searching for video editing software, identify your specific requirements. 

Consider the type of projects you'll be working on, the level of complexity you need, and any specific features you may require, such as special effects, audio editing, or color correction.

Check System Requirements

Ensure your computer meets the minimum system requirements for the video editing software you're considering. 

Consider factors like operating system compatibility, processor speed, RAM, and available storage space.

Research Available Options

Look for reputable free video editing software options. Visit their official websites and explore their features, user interface, and available resources. 

You can also read reviews or watch tutorial videos to understand their capabilities and ease of use.

Consider the Learning Curve

Assess the learning curve associated with the software. Some programs may be more beginner-friendly, while others may have a steeper learning curve but offer more advanced features. 

Consider your skill level and the time you're willing to invest in learning to work with the applications.

Evaluate Available Features

Look for software that offers the features you need. 

Consider the availability of basic editing tools like trimming, cutting, and merging clips, as well as more advanced features like transitions, filters, titles, and audio editing. 

If you have specific requirements, ensure that the software supports them.

Check for Watermarks and Limitations

Some free video editing software may have limitations or add watermarks to your exported videos. Be aware of these restrictions and evaluate if they align with your needs. 

Consider paid software options if you require more advanced features or want to remove limitations.

Community and Support

Look for software with an active user community, tutorials, documentation, and online support. 

This can be valuable when encountering difficulties or learning new techniques. 

Check if the software has an active forum or online community where you can ask questions and seek assistance.

Test and Compare

Once you've narrowed down your options, consider downloading and testing the software. Get hands-on experience by importing your own footage, editing clips, applying effects, and exporting the final video. 

This will give you a better understanding of the software's usability, performance, and workflow.

13 Best Free Video Editing Software

Title of the document
Name of the software Pricing Watermark Available for Pros Cons Who is it suitable for
HitFilm Express Free; $349 for the Pro version No Mac and Windows Customizable user interface
Direct uploading to YouTube
More than 420 fantastic effects
Complicated interface that takes time to learn
Advanced but not enough for professionals
Independent filmmakers
Lightworks Free;
Lightworks Create for $9.99/month;
Lightworks Pro for $24.99/month
No Mac, Linux and Windows 7/8/10 Established 30-year reputation
Basic and Advanced features
Good performance
Easy-to-Use
Not beginner-friendly
Lacks effect tools
Export options limited
Advanced editors
iMovie Free No Mac Professional looking themes and trailers
Supports 4K
Beautifully simple interface
Lacks multicam, motion tracking
Limited output controls
Works only on Mac
Apple devices users
VideoPad Home Edition for $59.95
Master Edition for $99
No Mac and Windows Intuitive
Easy to use and learn
Support for 360-degree video creation
Not free
Lacks advanced features
Audio professionals,
3D video editors
DaVinci Resolve Free; DaVinci Resolve studio for $295 No Mac, Windows, Linux Free with no limits or watermarks
Intuitive interface for most routine functions
Exquisitely deep app for color grading
Learning curve for advanced features
No direct export to social media
Professional editors
VSDC Free Video Editor Free; Premium version for $19.99 No Windows Variety of stylish built-in effects, transitions and audio filters
Consumer-oriented and easy enough for simple video tasks
Includes a screen-capture tool
Old-fashioned and unorthodox interface
Lacks features like 360-degree, motion tracking and multicam editing
Business presentations
Casual editors
OpenShot Free No Windows, Mac and Linux Unlimited layers
Nice-Looking interface
3D Titles
Few video tutorials
Some features don’t work
Beginners
Shotcut Free No FreeBSD, Windows, Mac, Linux Lots of filters and effects
Customizable, intuitive interface
Great file format support
No direct uploads to social media
Unusual interface that takes time to learn
Editing enthusiasts
Intermediate users
Windows Video Editor Free No Windows 10, 11 Simple and easy to use
Pre-existing collection of custom animations
Built-in feature in Windows
Limited features
Not recommended for professional quality
Windows users
Vimeo Create Free; Pro and Business subscriptions at $7 per month. No iOS, Android Professional auto-editing ability
Ability to share videos across marketing channels
Unlimited high-quality stock images
Lack of advanced tools
Very Basic
Amateur and professional editors
KineMaster Free; $3.99/month for paid plan Yes Android, iOS, Chromebook Surprisingly rich features
Good enough for professionals
Intuitive interface
Adds watermarks
Slow on lower-end devices
Beginners
Professional users
Windows Movie Maker Online Free No Browser Built- in support
Ideal for quickly trimming and adjusting videos
Ultimate in ease-of use for video editing.
Limited features
Good only for basic editing
Beginners
Adobe Premiere Rush 30-day free trial, then $99.99 No Windows and Mac Good media organization tools
Clean, simple interface
Good title options
Uses a lot of processing power
Slow rendering times
Professional video editor

Each of these software options offers a range of features and capabilities for editing videos at no to minimal cost. 

It's recommended to explore their specific features and choose the one that best suits your needs. Here are 13 of the best free video editing software options:

1. HitFilm Express

HitFilm Express provides the best VFX experience. This free video editing software promises color adjustments, keying effects, lens flares, and light swords. 

It offers all the essential features that editing enthusiasts will need in free video editing software. 

Despite being free, the software includes one of the most awesome VFX toolkits on the market. 

Although this free video editing software can be complicated, editors might need time to get used to it. It is suitable for independent filmmakers and editing enthusiasts.

Pros

  • Customizable user interface
  • Direct uploading to YouTube
  • More than 420 fantastic effects
  • Straightforward interface
  • Impressive color grading options
  • Cutting-edge motion capture
  • Easy-to-apply masks and layers

Cons

  • Complicated interface
  • Not advanced enough

Suitable for: Independent filmmakers 

Price: Free; $349 for the Pro version

Available for: Mac and Windows

2. Lightworks

Lightworks is easily one of the most user-friendly video editing software out in the market. Lightworks is a system used for editing and mastering digital video. It is available in both free and paid versions. 

The free version comes with a seven-day license, but you can renew this as many times as you like. 

The paid version, Lightworks Pro, has a license that can be purchased outright or obtained through a monthly subscription. 

The software is available for Windows, Mac OS, and Linux. Lightworks has a suite of original stock videos and music clips licensed for use in any videos you edit on the program, letting you give a furnished look to any marketing video. 

It is best suited for pro editors and editing enthusiasts.

Pros:

  • Established 30-year reputation
  • Basic and Advanced features
  • Good performance

Cons:

  • Not beginner-friendly
  • Lacks effect tools
  • Export options limited

Suitable for: Advanced editors

Price: Free; Lightworks Create for $9.99/month; Lightworks Pro for $24.99/month.

Available for: Mac, Windows, and Linux.

3. iMovie

iMovie is probably the best video editing software for Mac users, and it comes bundled with Mac OS. 

Like many native Apple apps, iMovie is uncomplicated and uses a simple drag-and-drop interface for moving files from your drive to your workstation.

iMovie is that files are saved on Apple's cloud, meaning you can work on your project interchangeably on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. iMovie is constantly updated, so you can always look forward to new features and improvements.

Pros

  • Professional-looking themes and trailers
  • Abundant audio tools
  • Supports 4K

Cons

  • Lacks multicam, motion tracking
  • Limited output controls
  • Works only on Mac

Suitable for:  Apple devices users

Price: Free

Available for: Mac

4. DaVinci Resolve

DaVinci Resolve is a color grading, color correction, visual effects, and audio post-production video editing software developed by Blackmagic Design for Mac, Windows, and Linux. 

DaVinci Resolve is a clean, intuitive program that you would never guess is free. 

This video editor for PC, Mac, and Linux offers a wide range of advanced features, including intelligent color-correction tools that let you edit skin tones, eye color, and lip color at the touch of a button. 

DaVinci's resolve is the best of its kind. It is suitable for professional editors and people who really love editing. 

It may take time to master the software, but it gets easy to work with once you are acquainted.

Pros 

  • Free with no limits or watermarks
  • Intuitive interface for most routine functions
  • Exquisitely deep app for color grading, compositing, and audio production

Cons

  • The steep learning curve for advanced features
  • No direct export to social media

Price: Free; DaVinci Resolve studio for $295

Available for: Mac, Windows, Linux

Suitable for: Professional editors

5. VSDC Free Video Editor

VSDC Free Video Editor is a non-linear editing application developed by Flash-Integro LLC. 

The program can process high-resolution footage, including 4K UHD, 3D, and VR 360-degree videos. 

VSDC allows for applying post-production effects, live color correction, and motion tracking. 

VSDC video editing software is available as both a free and a paid version. 

Although the free version has reduced features, it still comes with VSDC's full video editing suite, including a mask tool and chroma key functionality for green-screen video effects.  

Overall, it is excellent software for casual editors as well as for making business presentations.

Pros

  • Variety of stylish built-in effects, transitions, and audio filters
  • Consumer-oriented and easy enough for simple video tasks
  • Includes a screen-capture tool

Cons

  • Old-fashioned, unorthodox interface
  • Lacks features like 360-degree, motion tracking, and multicam editing

Price: Free; Premium version for $19.99.

Available for: Windows.

Suitable for: Casual editors, business presentations.

6. OpenShot

OpenShot Video Editor is undoubtedly an easy-to-use, quick-to-learn, and surprisingly powerful video editor. 

OpenShot is an efficient option for small businesses and is best for clip resizing, scaling, trimming, snapping, and rotation. 

It also offers credit scrolling, frame stepping, time mapping, audio editing, and real-time preview. 

OpenShot's intuitive interface and minimal design are perfect for simple editing. 

It is outstanding software for amateurs and beginners because of its easy-to-use interface.

Pros

  • Unlimited layers
  • Nice-Looking interface

Cons

  • Few video tutorials
  • Some features don't work 

Price: Free

Available for: Windows, Mac, and Linux

Suitable for: Beginners

7. Shotcut

Shotcut is a free, open-source, cross-platform video, audio, and image editing program for FreeBSD, Linux, Mac, and Windows. 

Shotcut also provides extensive audio editing options, making it ideal for audiophiles. 

Its fine-tuning audio tools allow users to make bass and treble adjustments, add dynamic compression, and much more. 

Pros

  • Lots of filters and effects
  • Customizable, intuitive interface
  • Great file format support

Cons

  • No direct uploads to social media
  • It has an unusual interface that takes time to learn

Price: Free

Available for:  Windows, Mac, Linux

Suitable for: Intermediate users, Editing enthusiasts

8. Windows Video Editor

Windows Video Editor is a Microsoft built-in editing software that makes it absolutely free and no hassle to install. 

It is a convenient software for people looking to go back to basics. It's great for making quick edits to short video clips you need ready immediately. 

Windows Video Editor is more of a photo editor but offers basic editing tools like cropping, trimming, and including text or audio. 

Included with Windows 10 and up, Video Editor is free and suitable for basic video enhancement. 

Pros

  • Simple and easy to use
  • Pre-existing collection of custom animations

Cons

  • Limited features
  • Not recommended for professional quality

Price: Free

Available for:  Windows 10, 11

Suitable for:  Windows users, Beginners

9. Vimeo Create

Vimeo Create is a free editing software you can connect directly to your Shopify store. 

It automatically turns your existing product images and text into polished e-commerce videos without prior experience making or editing them. 

With Vimeo Create, you'll make stunning videos that look like much work has been done on them.

Building, editing, customizing, and sharing is easy and intuitive. Because Vimeo is an all-in-one solution, you can manage, host, and distribute all your videos effortlessly from one place.

Pros

  • Professional auto-editing ability
  • Ability to share videos across marketing channels
  • Unlimited high-quality stock images

Cons

  • Lack of tools
  • Basic

Price:  Free; Pro and Business subscriptions start at $7 per month.

Available for: iOS and Android.

Suitable for: Amateur and professional editors.

10. KineMaster

 It is a fast and easy video editing app and one of the best free video editing apps in the market. 

KineMaster has free, professional, easy-to-use video editing and audio editing features. 

You can quickly shoot footage, edit it, and upload it from your phone or tablet. 

Mobile editors usually sacrifice advanced tools to simplify video creation, but KineMaster does the opposite. 

With KineMaster, you can easily cut, splice, crop, and combine videos with transitions and effects.

You can use color filters and adjustments to correct and enhance videos so they stand out. And when you're done, it also allows you to quickly share them to YouTube, TikTok, Reels, Stories, and more. 

Pros

  • Surprisingly rich features
  • Good enough for professionals
  • Widely used and popular

Cons

  • Adds watermarks
  • Slow on lower-end devices

Price: Free; $3.99/month for the paid plan

Available for: Android, iOS, Chromebook

Suitable for:  Beginners, lightweight professional users

11. Windows Movie Maker Online

Windows movie maker online is the best browser-based free online video editor.

It's a cost-effective tool for people that want to create videos, but there are some drawbacks. 

Ads support the tool, so you'll have to navigate around them to edit your videos. 

It also has a 10-minute maximum duration, sufficient for the standard free user. It's easily accessible on multiple devices because it's completely browser based. 

Movie Maker Online gives you all the basics to make a video for free. You also get access to free music, videos, and photos.

Pros

  • Built-in support
  • Ideal for quickly trimming, combining, and adjusting videos 

Cons

  • Limited features
  • Suitable only for basic editing

Price: Free

Available for: Browser

Suitable for: Beginners

12. Adobe Premiere Rush

Premiere Rush is an all-in-one video creation tool that quickly captures, edits, and shares professional-looking videos. 

When using Premiere Rush, you can overlay images and videos with text and audio to create projects for presentations, demonstrations, and more. 

Adobe Rush is the mobile version of Premiere Pro. Rush is terrific for those creating content for social media platforms. 

Price: 30-day free trial, then $99.99

Available for: Windows and Mac

Pros

  • Good media organization tools
  • A simplistic and intuitive interface

Cons

  • It uses a lot of CPU
  • Slow rendering times

Suitable for:  Professional video editors who want to try out a free video editing program

FAQs: Best Free Video Editing Software

What is the best free app to edit a video?

Lightworks is one of the best free video editing apps to edit a video.

What should you avoid in video editing?

Given below are things you should avoid while you edit videos:

  • Not organizing your files.
  • Not making backups.
  • Not making the most of your tools.
  • Not having a workflow.
  • Not enabling and disabling clips.
  • Not motivating your cuts.
  • Not creating visual variation.

Which is the most useful video editing app?

In 2022, the overwhelming majority of professionals working in video editing use either Adobe's Premiere Pro or Apple's Final Cut Pro.

Which video editing software is best for beginners?

The best free video editing software for beginners is built on easy-to-use platforms that allow users to learn quickly. We recommend Windows video editor and Windows moviemaker online.

Is free video editing software good enough?

It can be. You are good to go if you know how to make the best of the available tools.

Why should I care about free software?

The flexibility of free software helps reduce costs in many ways and accelerates the development of projects by having fewer restrictions than projects that use closed models.

Should I pay for a premium video editor?

Yes, you have to pay for a premium video editor to gain access to professional tools and perks. 

If you are editing YouTube videos regularly, we advise investing in a premium video editor for PC.

This will help you get the most out of your hardware, speed up the editing process, and create higher-quality cuts and video effects.

Which programs do professionals use?

Most advanced video editors that professionals use are Adobe Premiere Pro or Apple Final Cut Pro and associated apps such as Adobe's After Effects, a motion graphics, and visual effects app. 

Which programs do most YouTubers use?

YouTubers often rely on PowerDirector for video editing. It's a great beginner-friendly option with many tools and pro-level features. 

With an extensive library of royalty-free music, YouTube templates, and direct uploads to the platform, PowerDirector has everything a Youtuber could need. 

Some also opt for Adobe Premiere Pro and related apps.

Conclusion: Best Free Video Editing Software

With the right video editing software, you can enhance your footage, add special effects, and create an engaging and professional product. 

While many paid video editing options are available, there are also excellent free video editing programs offering a range of features and tools. 

Free video editors provide a cost-effective solution for users to enhance their videos without breaking the bank. 

They help improve videos' overall quality, storytelling, and visual appeal, making them more impactful and memorable. 

With free video editing software, anyone can unlock their creative potential and produce impressive videos without expensive software or professional expertise.

From beginners to professionals, there will always be video editing software that will meet your needs. 

Whether creating a personal video or a professional project, video editing software can help you take your content to the next level. 

So, why not try out some of the best free video editing software options available and see how they can take your videos to the next level?

Written By
Ankita

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