The best video editor for windows

Videos dominate today’s digital world. From short films for YouTube or Vimeo to quick videos for TikTok or Instagram Reels, it seems like everyone these days has become a filmmaker. 

Maybe you are ready to edit videos but are confused about what video editing software to choose. You don’t want to spend tons of money on the wrong software, especially if you don’t know what to look for. 

We’ve done the research and found the top free video editing software available today, so you can get your feet wet and edit videos without spending a dime. We will go over the key features, pros and cons, and skill level of each option on our list, explain how to choose a video editor for PC, and answer all your video editing questions.  

• Snapshot of Our Top 3 Free Video Editing Software
• How to Choose a Free Video Editing Software
• How We Test the Free Video Editing Software on This List
• 23 Best Free Video Editing Software for Windows PC in 2023
1. PowerDirector Essential — Best Overall
2. DaVinci Resolve — Best for Experts
3. Blender — Best for Animation
4. Animoto — Best for a Quick Turnaround
5. WeVideo — Best for Templates
6. Shotcut — Best for Intermediate Users
7. Avidemux — Best Video Converter
8. VideoPad — Best for Beginners
9. VideoProc Vlogger — Best for Action Cam Footage
10. HitFilm — Best for VFX
11. Magix Movie Studio — Best for Video Collages
12. Movavi Video Editor — Best for Vlogging
13. Windows Video Editor — Best for Slideshows
14. EaseUS Video Editor — Best for First-Time Users
15. VSDC Free Video Editor — Best for Presentations
16. Kapwing — Best for Subtitles
17. Lightworks — Best for Advanced Users
18. Avid Media Composer First — Best for Budding Professionals
19. Movie Maker Online — Best for Speed
20. Adobe Premiere Elements — Best for Organizing Media
21. OpenShot — Best for Beginners With Advanced Features
22. VEGAS Pro — Best for Color Adjustments
23. MiniTool Movie Maker — Best for Instant Movies
• Best Free Video Editing Software Comparison Chart
• How to Edit a Video on Windows PC
• Download the Best Video Editing Software for Free
• Free Video Editing Software FAQ

Snapshot of Our Top 3 Free Video Editing Software

How to Choose a Free Video Editing Software

You don’t want to waste time learning to edit videos on software that isn’t the right fit for you or your projects. Below are several factors that you should consider before choosing which free video editing software is most suitable for you.

Your Experience Level

The free video editing software on our list covers everyone from first-time editors to experienced professionals. If you are a beginner, make sure you edit videos with software that is beginner-friendly with plenty of templates and guided edits. If you are a more advanced user, choose a video editor for PC with more professional tools and manual controls for more precise edits.

System Requirements

Obviously you need a video editor for PC that works with your OS, but you should check the system requirements to make sure your PC has enough RAM and CPU to not only download the software but also edit video without causing lag or freezing. If you have an old PC, don’t worry — there are some free video editing software on our list with very low system requirements.

Format Support and Video Resolution

Does your free video editing software support the format your camera shoots? Will it work with your webcam, external mic, or video capture card? Also, check the max resolution your video editor for PC will support. If you spent good money on a 4K camera, you won’t want to upload a video that’s been downgraded to 780p.

Tools and Features

Free video editing software come with vastly different feature sets. Maybe you film a lot of action footage and need a video stabilizer. Maybe you are a gamer who needs green screen effects, an animator who needs visual effects tools, or an influencer who likes to edit videos with fun filters and stickers. Whatever your specific need, make sure it’s available in the free version of the video editor for PC you choose.

How We Test the Free Video Editing Software on This List

You might be wondering why you should trust our opinion to find the best free video editing software. Below we explain how we test and rank our products.

Product Testing

First, we test the products ourselves. We edit videos with the same basic editing tools on all the free video editing software so we can compare apples with apples. Then we check the key features and tools unique to the software.

Compare Versions

If the free video editing software has paid versions, we compare them to see what is included at each price point.

Publisher Reviews

We read reviews written by the best critics in the business to make sure our findings reveal an accurate picture of the product. To remove bias, we take the most common rating out of 5 from the publisher reviews to rank our products. When there are multiple products with the same ranking, we use our testing to decide the order.

User Reviews

It can be hard for seasoned editors to get into the mind of a first-time user. We scan user reviews to find out what consumers are saying about the products and the most common pros and cons.

23 Best Free Video Editing Software for Windows PC in 2023

1. PowerDirector Essential — Best Overall

Compatibility: Windows, Mac

PCMag Rating: 5/5

Price: Free
*Premium features available for free for 30 days, then $4.33/month

Key Features:

• Royalty-Free Stock Library
• Compositing Tools
• AI Motion Tracking
• Color Grading and Correction Tools

Who It’s For

PowerDirector ranks as our best free video editing software overall because it is an excellent choice to edit videos for all skill levels. We found its interface to be intuitive and the design straightforward which makes it easy for beginners to edit videos, while its robust advanced features and hardware acceleration will satisfy even the most experienced video editors.

Why We Picked It

Dive right in and edit videos with its easy-to-use tools, effects, transitions, and titles without paying for advanced features or needing any prior video editing experience. The free version of this video editor for PC will suit all your everyday video editing needs.

Bottom Line

PowerDirector is a long-time winner of the prestigious PC Magazine Editors’ Choice award and is highly recommended by TechRadar Pro. This free video editing software includes professional and AI-powered tools to turn your videos into studio-quality masterpieces.

Download our pick for the best free video editing software by clicking the link below.

2. DaVinci Resolve — Best for Experts

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

TechRadar Rating: 4.5/5

Price: Free
*Premium version available for $295 for DaVinci Resolve Studio

Key Features:

• High-Quality Visual Effects
• AI-Based Magic Mask
• Multicam Editing
• Dual Timelines

Who It’s For

DaVinci Resolve is one of the most advanced free video editing software on this list. While it can be overwhelming and intimidating for those without previous editing experience, if you have a deep understanding of how to edit videos and need a powerful program, Resolve is your best option.

Why We Picked It

Overall, 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.

Bottom Line

If you’re creating a feature documentary, narrative film, TV commercial, or show, you should definitely try DaVinci Resolve over expensive professional software like Adobe Premiere Pro or Avid. However, if you’re only looking to cut together home movies or social media posts, this is not the free video editing software for you. For influencers and beginners, we recommend our top choice PowerDirector.

3. Blender — Best for Animation

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

G2 Rating: 4.5/5

Price: Free

Key Features:

• Masking tools
• Advanced Motion Graphics
• Modeling and Sculpting
• Audio adjustment tools

Who It’s For

Blender is an open-source free video editing software for animators, illustrators, and VFX artists. It comes with a plethora of compositing, 3D, and animation tools. Blender’s pro-level effects tools make Blender a popular video editor for PC for intermediate and advanced users to edit videos without paying for expensive software like After Effects.

Why We Picked It

This free video editing software includes wide-ranging effects capabilities like motion tracking, particle simulation, onion skinning, and 3D painting tools. The ability to add plug-ins means you can constantly enhance your experience and find exactly what you need for any project.

Bottom Line

Blender has everything you could need to make amazing motion graphics, animations, and custom VFX, as well as basic editing tools. However, it has a very steep learning curve and is not for beginners. We placed it below DaVinci Resolve, because while Blender is specifically for animation or effects, DaVinci covers all post-production and video editing needs.

4. Animoto — Best for a Quick Turnaround

Compatibility: Web Browser

Capterra Rating: 4.3/5

Price: Free
*Premium subscriptions available for $8/month for Basic, $15/month for Professional, and $39/month for Professional Plus

Key Features:

• Getty Images Stock
• Screen Recording
• Trim/Crop Videos
• 40+ Professional Fonts

Who It’s For

Animoto is a cloud-based free video editing software for content creators or small businesses that have a tight turnaround to release content. This video editor for PC and Mac has hundreds of time-saving templates you can quickly customize with your own media, or choose from Animoto’s stock libraries.

Why We Picked It

This free video editing software makes it easy for beginners and those with no design or video editing experience to edit videos. All of Animoto’s templates are ready for easy upload and adhere to social media best practices. The paid versions include helpful features such as brand kits and team collaboration tools.

Bottom Line

Animoto is a good choice for social media posts, ads, and events, but not for long-form or plot-driven YouTube videos. While we like it for those with little design know-how, most of the reviews we found complained of the lack of creative control, an issue we also came across in our test. We also found issues with poor customer service. We recommend PowerDirector Essential for anyone who likes to use templates as a jumping-off point for their own creativity.

5. WeVideo — Best for Templates

Compatibility: Web Browser

G2 Rating: 4.3/5

Price: Free
*Premium subscriptions available for $4.99/month for Power, $7.99/month for Unlimited, $19.99/month for Professional, and $36.99/month for Business

Key Features:

• Screen Recorder
• 50 Transitions
• Animated Effects
• Meme Maker

Who It’s For

WeVideo is a web-based free video editing software. WeVideo comes with tons of social-media-friendly video templates for anything from new home listings to back-to-school nights. We think these customizable templates are perfect for beginners or busy influencers.

Why We Picked It

Customize the templates with your own photos and videos or use the WeVideo stock library. The library of this video editor for PC even includes green screen footage you can use to change the background of a scene. There are 30 effects you can apply with one click, however, unlike PowerDirector, WeVideo allows little control over effects.

Bottom Line

While the paid version of WeVideo is a great option for content creators, the free version is unrealistic for anyone who regularly edits videos, as it is limited to 5 minutes of exported content a month at a max of 480p. For this reason, we placed it behind the very similar and equally rated Animoto, which has a more robust free version.

6. Shotcut — Best for Intermediate Users

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

G2 Rating: 4.2/5

Price: Free

Key Features:

• Wide Format Support
• Audio Mixing
• Color Correction and Grading
• 360-degree Video Filters

Who It’s For

If you’re not a professional but looking to move beyond basic free video editing software, then we recommend Shotcut as an excellent option. With a typical drag-and-drop audio and video file manager, plus the ability to export 4k video, anyone with some experience should find it easy to edit videos with this video editor for PC.

Why We Picked It

Shotcut offers advanced effects and filters that will help you produce a high-quality video for free. This program is open source, so once you download it, you will have access to all its features and can customize the interface to your liking. It may take a little bit of time to get started but it’s worth the effort once you’re up and running.

Bottom Line

Shotcut is an excellent next step if you have moved on from a basic-level free video editing software like Movie Maker Online, but are not ready to make the jump to a pro-level video editor for PC like Avid or DaVinci.

7. Avidemux — Best Video Converter

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Capterra Rating: 4.2/5

Price: Free

• Denoise Tool
• Rotate/Flip Video
• Audio Filters
• Subtitles

Who It’s For

Avidemux is an open-source, free video editing software. We like Avidemux for anyone who needs video encoding and conversion tools. This video editor for PC allows you to convert and save video or audio to a wide range of formats. There’s also wide format support for encoding or decoding video, including TrueHD audio and multi-threaded video.

Why We Picked It

With Avidemux, it is easy to locate the tools you need. It has all the basic features needed to edit videos, such as joining, cutting, copying, and deleting clips, and some simple audio tools.

Bottom Line

Although it is easy to find all the features in this free video editing software, many of the tools take some getting used to. Also, Avidemux comes with no creative or trending features like stickers, filters, or AI-Powered tools to edit videos with a unique flair, which is why it falls behind Shotcut on our list.

8. VideoPad — Best for Beginners

Compatibility: Windows, Mac

G2 Rating: 4.1/5

Price: Free
*Premium versions available for $70 for Home Edition and $129 for Master’s Edition

Key Features:

• Over 60 Supported Video Formats
• 3D and 360-Degree Editing
• Audio Effects
• Chroma Key

Who It’s For

If you are just starting your video editing journey and want a very basic free video editing software, VideoPad is a good option. Where PowerDirector is loaded with features, this video editor for PC is comparatively scaled back. It is a great place to start but eventually, you may outgrow it and want to upgrade.

Why We Picked It

Beginner video editors will be able to familiarize themselves with its editing tools without spending anything. This free video editing software features a variety of pre-made transitions and sound effects, along with a few advanced features such as camera shake reduction tools, within a familiar and easy-to-learn platform.

Bottom Line

This video editor for PC offers everything you need to edit videos without much expertise. It performs most of the fundamental functions you can expect in free video editing software but doesn’t go too far beyond that. We placed it above the other 3-Star options, Vegas Pro and VSDC because VideoPad is easier to use.

Please note that VideoPad as a free video editing software is available for non-commercial use only.

9. VideoProc Vlogger — Best for Action Cam Footage

Compatibility: Windows, Mac

KommandoTech Rating: 4/5

Price: Free

Key Features:

• Audio Extractor
• Remove noise/grain
• Advanced Color Correction
• Fisheye Removal

Who It’s For

VideoProc Vlogger is free video editing software that is aimed at beginners, hobbyists, and content creators who need advanced motion and speed effect tools. We think it is a great choice for editing action camera or GoPro footage. It has advanced speed adjustment tools and over 20 speed presets. This video editor for PC also comes with a video stabilizer, time-lapse tools, and motion simulation for applying tilt, roll, and dolly effects.

Why We Picked It

Even though it has some pretty advanced effects, this free video editing software is beginner-friendly. It also has a learning center with helpful blogs and user guides, and a support center to answer any questions.

Bottom Line

VideoProc Vlogger is an easy-to-use video editor for PC for beginners with some advanced speed effects. However, professionals will find it lacking in overall video editing tools. If you have action camera footage you need to edit, we recommend our top choice PowerDirector, which has a dedicated Action Camera Center and a full range of basic editing tools. 

10. HitFilm Express — Best for VFX

Compatibility: Windows, Mac

TechRadar Rating: 4/5

Price: Free
*Premium subscriptions available for $7.99/month for Creator and $12.99 /month for Pro

Key Features:

• 4K Export
• Motion Tracking
• 3D Simulations
• Displacement and Distortion

Who It’s For

We found HitFilm to be the best video editor for PC for independent filmmakers to edit videos with Hollywood-style visual effects. The software includes one of the biggest free VFX toolkits on the market. This free video editing software includes color adjustments, keying effects, lens flares, and light swords.

Why We Picked It

It offers all the basic features that editing enthusiasts will need in free video editing software. And for being a non-professional video editor for PC, it offers a few surprising features like Unified 3D Space and a puppet tool.

Bottom Line

Unfortunately, this free video editing software can be difficult to use, so prepare to invest time learning the software. Many of HitFilm’s advanced visual effects are saved for paid subscribers, which is why we placed it behind the completely free VideoProc Vlogger.

11. Magix Movie Studio — Best for Video Collages

Compatibility: Windows

TechRadar Rating: 4/5

Price: 30-day free trial, then $69.99 for Movie Studio, $99.99 for Platinum, and $129 for Suite

Key Features:

• Direct Upload to Social Media
• 900+ Effects and Transitions
• Deep Color Correction
• Layer Masks

Who It’s For

Magix Movie Studio is a free video editing software for those interested in making video collages. We liked using the video collage templates with extra-large manipulation tools where we could make precise adjustments to a clip’s rotation and size.

Why We Picked It

Like our top choice, PowerDirector, Magix Movie Studio offers tools for both beginners and professionals to edit videos. Storyboard Mode offers one-click solutions such as Remove Beginning or Split Movie, while more experienced editors can use frame-by-frame editing and utilize manual tools.

Bottom Line

Magix Movie Studio does not have a dedicated free version, only a free trial, placing it below HitFilm and VideoProc Vlogger. Also, many users have complained of frequent crashing and of projects not carrying over to updated versions.

12. Movavi Video Editor — Best for Vlogging

Compatibility: Windows, Mac

PCMag Rating: 4/5

Price: 7-day free trial, then 54.95/year

Key Features:

• Background Rendering
• Video Stabilization
• Stylized Filters
• Voice Over

Who It’s For

Movavi Video Editor is a free video editing software and a great way to edit videos for social media. With this easy-to-use editor, you can have a finished product in 20 minutes. Easily make YouTube videos with ready-made intros, animated titles, transitions, sound effects, thematic stickers, and social-media-friendly aspect ratios.

Why We Picked It

There are also some advanced video editing tools like chroma key, motion tracking, and time effects. Even though there is no learning curve, this video editor for PC still offers a built-in training module for added support.

Bottom Line

Because Movavi Video Editor is so quick and easy to use, it sacrifices a lot of features found in other editing software, and there is a lack of control over effects. Also, it only offers a 7-day free trial, making it the least accessible free version on our list.

13. Windows Video Editor — Best for Slideshows

Compatibility: Windows

TechRadar Rating: 4/5

Price: Free

Key Features:

• 3D Effects
• Auto Movie Options
• Fade Effects
• Customizable Titles

Who It’s For

Windows Video Editor is free video editing software that comes built-in on PCs with Windows 10 or later. This free video editing software is a quick and easy way to edit videos, especially for Windows users who regularly use the native photo app. It has all the tools needed to bring your photos to life with a fun slideshow. You can add motion to photos and sync your show to the beat of your background music.

Why We Picked It

It comes with pre-designed animations, a good collection of filters and themes, and the ability to edit videos with music. This video editor for PC comes with all the basic track editing tools, such as splitting, trimming, adding text, and adjusting audio.

Bottom Line

Windows Video Editor is very simple to use, but has no advanced features and wouldn’t suffice for anything more than a short, simple video or photo slideshow. That is the reason we ranked it below Magix and Movavi, even though they lack free versions.

14. EaseUS Video Editor — Best for First-Time Users

Image from Indezine.

Compatibility: Windows

TechRadar Rating: 4/5

Price: Free
*Premium subscriptions available for $29.95/month, $49.95/year, or $79.95 for a lifetime license

Key Features:

• Cut and Merge Video
• Video Overlay
• Text-Speech Exchange
• Voice Over

Who It’s For

EaseUS Video Editor is an incredibly simple free video editing software for those with zero editing experience. It features a large preview window, with large icons that detail the pared-down editing tools and features.

Why We Picked It

With this video editor for PC, you can use basic tools such as trim, split, and rotate. We liked that it allowed us to easily mix audio and that the free version had no limit on video length.

Bottom Line

While we like the free version of EaseUS Video Editor for brand-new editors to get their feet wet, it is too basic for any serious video editing and does not include the effects and transitions found in the premium versions. We placed it last amongst the free video editing software that scored a publisher rating of 4 because the paid versions offer few tools.

15. VSDC Free Video Editor — Best for Presentations

Compatibility: Windows

Trustpilot Rating: 3.9/5

Price: Free
*Premium version is $19.99

Key Features:

• Motion Tracking
• Video Stabilization
• Chroma Key
• Voice Over

Who It’s For

If you are looking for a good solution to edit videos for business presentations, then VSDC Free Video Editor is a great option. It is a relatively easy-to-use software with all the basic tools you will need to create engaging video content. Plus it makes it easy to work with charts and create videos for specific multimedia devices.

Why We Picked It

This video editor for PC offers advanced editing features, such as color blending and masked effects, that you wouldn’t expect from a free video editing software of its kind. It also offers precise edits with subpixel accuracy.

Bottom Line

Though VSDC Free Video Editor is more suitable for creating presentations, the casual video editor will find its features sufficient to make fun videos. However, the unpolished interface is confusing to navigate, and many tools are hidden behind submenus.

16. Kapwing — Best for Subtitles

Compatibility: Web Browser

Product Hunt Rating: 3.6/5

Price: Free
*Premium subscription available for $16/month

Key Features:

• Color Adjustment
• Change Video Speed
• Cloud Storage
• Clean Audio Tool

Who It’s For

Kapwing is a browser-based free video editing software that is perfect for anyone who frequently adds captions to videos. Accurate, auto-generated subtitles save creators tons of time and help increase views. We also found you can also copy and paste any URL into Kapwing and it will add subtitles, making it a helpful tool for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community to understand videos that were made without subtitles. In addition, Kapwing offers an auto-translation tool and text-to-speech.

Why We Picked It

The free version allows you to record your screen and add transitions and effects such as chroma key. This video editor for PC also includes free stock templates, team collaboration tools, and a meme generator.

Bottom Line

Kapwing is an easy-to-use free video editing software with some excellent captioning and audio tools. However, long-time users have noticed that the free version is slowly getting harder and harder to use, as more tools move behind a paywall. It can also be tricky to figure out which tools are free, leaving many with the predicament of spending hours on a project, only to find out they have to pay an expensive monthly fee just to download it. PowerDirector Essential has a much more affordable premium version (4 times cheaper!), so if you decide to spring for advanced features, you don’t have to change your lifestyle to afford it.

17. Lightworks — Best for Advanced Users

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

G2 Rating: 3.5/5

Price: Free
*Premium subscriptions available for $9.99/month for Lightworks Create and $24.99/month for Lightworks Pro

Key Features:

• Instant Autosave
• Background Processing
• Motion Graphics
• Filters and LUTs

Who It’s For

We found Lightworks to be the best free video editing software for intermediate to advanced users. While DaVinci Resolve is too intimidating for intermediate users, Lightworks is more inviting. So if you’re looking to take your first step into professional editing, look no further.

Why We Picked It

Lightworks has been around for years, and the professional edition of this video editor for PC was used to edit box office hits like Pulp Fiction, 28 Days Later, and Congo. If you’re willing to put in the work to learn this free video editing software, it’s a great choice.

Bottom Line

One thing to note is that the free version of Lightworks only allows videos to be exported in up to 720p, while Pro can export in a broader range of formats and resolutions. Pro also includes some additional features and plug-ins.

18. Avid Media Composer First — Best for Budding Professionals

Image from TechRadar.

Compatibility: Windows, Mac

Tom’s Guide Rating: 3.5/5

Price: Free
*Premium subscriptions available for $23.99/month for Avid Media Composer and $49.99 for Avid Media Composer Ultimate

Key Features:

• Video Stabilization
• Time Code Tool
• Bulk Edit
• Multicam Editing

Who It’s For

Avid Media Composer First is surprisingly robust for free video editing software, containing many of the pro-level tools you find in paid versions. It is the free version of Avid Media Composer, which is a popular program Hollywood professionals use to edit videos. Budding pros would do well to learn the ropes on this free, slimmed-down version before upgrading to professional software.

Why We Picked It

With this free video editing software, you can edit video on up to 4 video tracks and 8 audio tracks with 5 bins per project. It has a large amount of color-correcting tools and direct uploads to YouTube and Vimeo.

Bottom Line

Although Avid Media Composer First offers very professional tools completely free, it is too limited for professionals and too challenging for beginners. We placed it below Lightworks because Avid has a steeper learning curve, but above Movie Maker Online, which lacks any advanced features. 

19. Movie Maker Online — Best for Speed

Compatibility: Web Browser

TechRadar Rating: 3.5/5

Price: Free

Key Features:

• Transitions
• Speed Adjustment and Reverse Effect
• Chroma Key
• Blur Tool

Who It’s For

Based on our review, Movie Maker Online is the most accessible online tool to edit videos for free. If you don’t currently have a video editor for PC and need to quickly edit videos in a pinch, Movie Maker Online is a great solution. Simply go to the site, drag and drop your video clips, and start editing. No downloading software, no registering, no sign-up.

Why We Picked It

Movie Maker Online is also completely free and includes a library of text options, backgrounds, royalty-free music, and images.

Bottom Line

Movie Maker is also the best option for low-performance laptops, as it doesn’t have a RAM requirement or needs a specific operating system to run. The downsides are that Movie Maker Online completely lacks advanced editing tools, and you can’t edit videos without an internet connection.

20. Adobe Premiere Elements — Best for Organizing Media

Compatibility: Windows, Mac

PCMag Rating: 3.5/5

Price: 30-day free trial, then $99.99

Key Features:

• Auto Reframe
• Video Stabilization
• Noise Reduction Tool
• Video-to-Photo Tool

Who It’s For

Adobe Premiere Elements is an easy-to-use, free video editing software. It comes with Organizer, a separate app that uses facial recognition to automatically tag your files. This video editor for PC also helps you select and organize the clips you want to edit.

Why We Picked It

It is a beginner-friendly yet scaled-down version of Premiere Pro, the popular professional video editor for PC. Premiere Elements allows you to edit videos in three modes: Quick, Guided, and Expert (though “Expert” is still not for professionals, but consumers who have graduated from the Guided module).

Bottom Line

Premiere Elements is great for home movies but lacks the advanced tools needed for any serious projects. Similar to Avid Media Composer First, Premiere Elements is ideal for beginners who want to get comfortable with an Adobe product before moving up to Premiere Pro.

21. OpenShot — Best for Beginners With Advanced Features

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

TechRadar Rating: 3/5

Price: Free

Key Features:

• Time Effects
• 3D Animations
• Title Editor
• Background Removal

Who It’s For

OpenShot is a free video editing software that gives beginners access to more advanced video editing tools and a little more room to grow. Beginners will find the built-in templates, real-time previews, and advanced timeline features helpful to learn the ropes of video editing, while intermediate users will appreciate the unlimited layering options on this video editor for PC.

Why We Picked It

This free video editing software is open source, so anyone can use and adapt the program to meet their needs. A recent update has added some much-needed tools, such as video stabilization and motion tracking.

Bottom Line

Both OpenShot and VideoPad received a 3 out of 5 rating and both are beginner-friendly. OpenShot edges out VideoPad by providing more advanced features. However, we would not recommend OpenShot for professionals as we found some features don’t work as expected and may frustrate those who edit videos on a tight deadline.

22. VEGAS Pro – Best for Color Adjustments

Compatibility: Windows

TechRadar Rating: 3/5

Price: 30-day free trial, then $12.99/month for VEGAS Edit, $19.99/month for VEGAS Pro, and $29.99/month for VEGAS Post

Key Features:

• 3D Editing
• Motion Tracking
• AI-Powered Video Upscaling
• Audio Editing Tools

Who It’s For

VEGAS Pro is a free video editing software with excellent color correction and color grading tools. You can apply color effects using LUTs, and adjust dark areas, mid-tones, and brightness with color wheels. There’s also a curve graph where hue, saturation, and lighting can be adjusted with a slider.

Why We Picked It

We also like this video editor for PC for its Notes feature, where teammates can leave virtual color-coded notes on specific areas of an edit and link them with a timecode. It also has speed adjustment tools, although they can be challenging to use.

Bottom Line

VEGAS Pro is a robust video editor for PC, however, it features an unintuitive interface, and doesn’t offer tutorials for beginners. It also doesn’t have a free-forever version, only a free trial.

23. MiniTool Movie Maker — Best for Instant Movies

Image from wikigain.

Compatibility: Windows

Source Forge Rating: 2.5/5

Price: Free
*Premium subscription available for $12.99/month or $59.99/year

Key Features:

• Batch Processing
• Resize Video
• Flip/Rotate Video
• Stickers

Who It’s For

MiniTool Movie Maker is a video editor for PC with tons of one-click options for beginners to use to create instant movies. It also comes with a large library of templates you can quickly customize by slotting in your videos and photos.

Why We Picked It

This free video editing software goes beyond the basics and offers motion effects, speed adjustments, color correction, and an audio extractor.

Bottom Line

MiniTool Movie Maker is quick and very easy to use. However, it lacks customization options. If you are a beginner who likes to flex a little more creativity, try PowerDirector, which allows you to edit videos with both manual and automatic options.

Best Free Video Editing Software Comparison Chart

How to Edit a Video on Windows PC

Up next we’ll show you how to make some basic edits using our recommended choice for best free video editing software, PowerDirector. Download it for free by clicking the button below and follow along.

1. Import your media files by selecting Import Media Folder and choosing the correct folder on your desktop. Then, click Select Folder.



2. Once your files are in the media library, start putting your video together by adding images, videos, or music to the appropriate timeline. To add a video file to the video timeline, select it in the Media Library and then drag and drop it to the video timeline.
3. You can split and trim clips using the Video Timeline Slider. Move the slider where you want to split the clip, then click the cutter icon. For a more in-depth look at splitting and trimming clips, click here.



4. To add transitions to your video, go to the Transition Room then click and drag a transition in between two clips.



For more information on adding transitions, click here.

5. To add title text to your video, click on the Title Room, then click and drag a template to the title track on the video timeline. Click the Designer button then enter the text you want to use.



Click here for a more in-depth look at adding text and titles to your video.

6. To add music, go to the Media Library Window and select Media Content, then Background Music. Choose the appropriate music track and drag it to the audio track section on the editing timeline.



Check out a tutorial on adding and editing music here.

7. Once you’re done making all edits, you’re ready to produce and save the video. Click Produce to export your video. Select the format you want and an output folder where the video file will be saved. Then hit Start.

Download the Best Video Editing Software for Free

Dozens of free video editing software options exist on the market today, but not all of them offer the same features and high-quality results. With the help of this guide, hopefully, you’ve been able to narrow down your search for a video editor for PC. And since these programs are free, you can try all the ones that suit your needs and level of expertise.

If you are still unsure which software to try, download our top pick for the best overall editor, PowerDirector. It is the only free video editing software on this list that works well for novice, intermediate, and advanced editors. It’s the perfect program to develop your skills.

Download PowerDirector by clicking the link below and become an expert-level video editor in no time.

Программы для Windows, MacOS и Linux

Для простых задач вроде склейки коротких видео или создания слайд-шоу подойдет бесплатная версия Icecream Video Editor. Если нужна более серьезная функциональность, например, для полноценного ведения канала на YouTube (накладывать более сложные эффекты, экспортировать в разнообразные форматы, добавлять текст и т. п.) стоит присмотреться к Movavi Video Editor Plus или Wondershare Filmora. Эти программы для редактирования видео позволят делать качественные ролики, но при этом не придется тратить довольно много времени на их изучение.

Бесплатные редакторы в большинстве случаев обладают схожими возможностями, но не так удобны, как платный софт. Выбор в этой категории широкий, но в первую очередь обратите внимание на Kdenlive и VSDC Video Editor. На их освоение уйдет какое-то время и без обучающих материалов, скорее всего, обойтись не получится.

Для тех, кто готов осваивать монтаж на продвинутом уровне, идеально подойдет признанный профессиональным сообществом софт: Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, Vegas Pro, DaVinci Resolve или Lightworks. При этом желательно иметь мощный компьютер, потому как почти все видеоредакторы требовательны к ресурсам.

В конце вы найдете сравнительную таблицу всех программ: для каких платформ предназначена, сколько стоит лицензия и есть ли русский интерфейс.

Adobe Premiere Pro

Adobe Premiere Pro — одна из самых популярных программ. Новичкам ее интерфейс может показаться перегруженным, но это политика компании — она создала продукт с акцентом на функциональность, благодаря чему здесь можно создавать проекты любой сложности.

Впрочем, в этом есть и плюс. Освоившись с профессиональным софтом от Adobe, можно без усилий перейти на любую альтернативную программу. Premiere Pro поддерживает большое количество форматов и предлагает широчайший набор настроек.

Final Cut Pro

По функциональности Final Cut Pro не уступает конкурентам. При этом интерфейс приложения проще и понятнее, чем у решения от Adobe, поэтому новичкам будет просто понять основы монтажа.

У Final Cut Pro самый незагруженный внешний вид: большую часть экрана занимает окно предпросмотра и таймлайн. Кроме того, программа отлично оптимизирована под устройства Apple — даже относительно старые компьютеры справляются с работой в разрешении выше 1080p, что уж говорить о последних моделях с чипами серий Apple М1 и M2.

Vegas Pro

Еще лет 10 назад Vegas Pro считался главным конкурентом Adobe Premiere Pro, сейчас же он без шансов уступает ему, Final Cut Pro и DaVinci Resolve. Программа обновляется медленнее и не успевает за трендами. Ее основное преимущество перед конкурентами — цена: базовую версию можно купить один раз за 19 900 рублей.

Программа представлена в трех комплектациях: базовая Vegas Edit содержит только редактор, в то время как более дорогие Vegas Pro и Vegas Post могут дополнительно предложить платформу для прямых трансляций и другие профессиональные инструменты вроде набора плагинов Primatte Studio от Boris FX. Они позволяют работать с кеингом — выделением одного объекта на изображении и дальнейшей его обработкой.

DaVinci Resolve

Альтернатива Premiere Pro с двумя ключевыми отличиями.

Во-первых, DaVinci можно купить один раз и навсегда. К тому же здесь есть бесплатная версия — в ней ограничено количество эффектов, нет рендера в HDR, отсутствуют популярные эффекты вроде Lens Flare и Film Grain.

Во-вторых, цветокоррекция в DaVinci Resolve — самая продвинутая в индустрии. Это логично, ведь программа изначально и создавалась исключительно для цветокора и лишь затем стала софтом для полноценной обработки видео.

Movavi Video Editor Plus

Основное преимущество Video Editor Plus — простота. Все базовые действия вроде кадрирования или наложения фильтров не спрятаны в бесконечных меню, а буквально лежат на поверхности. Интерфейс программы удобный и не перегруженный, почти все элементы имеют всплывающие описания, поэтому можно быстро освоиться и приступить к созданию видеоролика.

Редактор от Movavi не может соревноваться в гибкости и функциональности с профессиональными программами. Тем не менее, имеющихся инструментов хватит для ведения блога или создания домашнего архива (есть даже хромакей, стабилизация видео и коррекция цвета). К недостаткам можно отнести необходимость платить за премиальные наборы эффектов, анимации, переходов и стикеров.

При желании также можно приобрести сразу весь пакет программ для работы с мультимедиа. Помимо видеоредактора, набор включает в себя конвертер, программы для записи экрана и создания слайд-шоу (есть готовые шаблоны для любого события). Приложение от российских разработчиков, поэтому проблем с оплатой не возникнет.

Shotcut

Полностью бесплатная программа для монтажа видео с поддержкой русского языка. В отличие от более дружелюбных к новичкам аналогов, где многие базовые действия, вроде кадрирования, вынесены на отдельные кнопки, Shotcut может показаться переусложненным.

Если нужно сделать что-то простое, например, обрезать видео или наложить текст, лучше выбрать другой редактор. Shotcut же подойдет тем, кто готов потратить время на ее изучение. На официальном сайте разработчиков есть раздел с уроками по редактированию видео, но они на английском языке.

В преимущества программы можно записать широкую функциональность: работа с 4К, наложение эффектов и переходов, добавление титров, изменение скорости, захват видео с рабочего стола или другого источника, запись звука, аппаратное ускорение, работа с несколькими мониторами. Программа регулярно обновляется и, кроме того, доступна в портативной версии для Windows и Linux.

OpenShot

OpenShot — бесплатный софт для обработки видео с открытым исходным кодом. У программы простой интерфейс. Кроме того, при первом запуске открывается ненавязчивое обучение в виде всплывающих подсказок. Это позволяет сразу познакомиться с основами. В этом плане программа более дружелюбна к новичкам, чем Shotcut.

Доступны все основные возможности: обрезка и склейка роликов, наложение эффектов и переходов, добавление звуковых дорожек. Этот набор функций отлично подойдет для домашнего использования.

Из минусов отметим, что на нашей конфигурации (Windows, Ryzen 7 3700 Pro, Nvidia 3070 Ti) не используется аппаратное ускорение. Судя по комментариям на Reddit эта функция все еще остается экспериментальной. На Linux дела должны обстоять получше (программа изначально разрабатывалась именно для этой ОС).

VSDC Video Editor

VSDC Video Editor представлен в бесплатной и профессиональной версии (подписка на год стоит 1600 рублей). Платная версия имеет преимущества: в ней доступны технологии моушен трекинга, хромакей, аппаратное ускорение, работа с масками и некоторые другие продвинутые функции. Полный список можно посмотреть на официальном сайте (есть перевод на русский).

Набор функций бесплатного редактора тоже весьма достойный. Video Editor Free поддерживает многие современные форматы и кодеки, включая H265/HEVC, 4К и 3D. Доступен экспорт видео для определенных устройств, социальных сетей или хостингов вроде Vimeo, а также запись DVD. Пользователи также могут использовать библиотеку, содержащую аудио и видео эффекты. Минимальные системные требования заявлены довольно низкие, к тому же программа поддерживает даже старые операционные системы, начиная с Windows XP SP3.

На первый взгляд, VSDC Video Editor может показаться сложным. Однако, несмотря на громоздкий интерфейс, некоторые функции реализованы гораздо удобнее и интуитивнее, чем в других бесплатных аналогах. Например, некоторые действия доступны через правый клик мыши. Поэтому разобраться в основных приемах вроде обрезки видео или наложения эффектов можно даже без обучения. Тем не менее, на сайте разработчиков есть подробный раздел с инструкциями и руководствами на русском языке.

Kdenlive

Kdenlive можно назвать промежуточным звеном между простыми видеоредакторами и профессиональным софтом уровня DaVinci Resolve. У программы классический интерфейс, который напоминает профессиональные продукты. С ее помощью можно полноценно редактировать видео для канала на YouTube, даже в высоком разрешении вплоть до 4К. Kdenlive поддерживает разнообразные аудио и видео форматы как в непосредственно в работе, так и для экспорта. Также есть возможность создавать титры и применять эффекты.

В отзывах к программе жалуются на «вылеты». В нашем случае это случилось при попытке удалить клип из корзины проекта. Правда, при последующем запуске данные были восстановлены.

Кроме установщика, можно скачать и портативную версию программы (обозначена как standalone). При распаковке архива сработал SmartScreen, но по базе VirusTotal — лишь один сигнал об опасности. Запустить программу можно через файл kdenlive.exe, который находится в папке bin.

Icecream Video Editor

Icecream Video Editor — современный условно-бесплатный видеоредактор с базовыми функциями. В бесплатном режиме есть ограничения: можно разместить всего 10 сцен на таймлайне, на видео продолжительностью более 5 минут накладывается водяной знак.

По сравнению с остальными участниками нашего списка, это самая простая для освоения программа. У нее интуитивно-понятный интерфейс, поэтому даже неподготовленный пользователь может сразу смонтировать несложный ролик. С помощью программы можно легко создать слайд-шоу или склеить несколько роликов в один. На видео также можно добавить переходы, надписи и стикеры. Для домашнего видеомонтажа без сложных эффектов программы будет вполне достаточно, но профессионалам она однозначно не подойдет.

По уровню удобства для пользователя программа похожа на Movavi, но существенно уступает в функциональности. По сути, это простейший линейный видеоредактор, так как поддерживается всего одна дорожка видео и аудио (но можно работать со слоями, например, для наложения стикеров). Выбрать параметры экспорта тоже невозможно, например, видео сохраняется только с 30 кадрами в секунду, из выходных видеоформатов доступны лишь MP4 и WebM. А ведь сейчас в 60 FPS умеют снимать даже недорогие смартфоны и камеры, не говоря уже про то, что игры тоже лучше записывать с высокой частотой кадров для более плавного изображения.

Wondershare Filmora

Позиционируется как решение для создателей контента. Блогерам и другим криэйторам действительно может пригодиться библиотека из более чем 100 000 (по заявлениям разработчиков) различных ассетов: переходов, фильтров, стикеров, шрифтов, заставок и прочих спецэффектов. Например, можно с легкостью добавить эффект старой пленки или «приклеить» стикер на движущиеся объекты или людей. Из особенностей можно отметить также возможность «автоматической синхронизации ритма». По сути это нарезка видео под музыкальный ритм, что довольно популярно в TikTok. Есть также дополнение «Экранный рекордер» (съемка экрана).

У программы неперегруженный и интуитивный интерфейс, поэтому освоиться будет несложно. Простые действия вроде кадрирования и обрезки можно сделать буквально в два клика. Из минусов можно отметить не самый качественный перевод. Например, crop перевели не как «кадрирование», а «урожай» (действительно, есть и такое значение у этого английского слова).

Программу можно рекомендовать всем, кому профессиональные видеоредакторы кажутся переусложненными, а другие программы, наоборот, слишком примитивны или недостаточно просты в освоении. Программа платная, но ознакомиться с функциями можно в пробной версии (ставит логотип на видео). Для работы с программой понадобится зарегистрировать аккаунт (можно войти через Apple, Google или соцсети). Также на официальном сайте компании можно загрузить и другие решения, например, конвертация видео, редакторы для обработки фото, создания презентаций и другой графики.

Прочие видеоредакторы

Lightworks — профессиональная программа для обработки видео. С ее помощью были созданы такие фильмы, как «28 дней спустя», «Авиатор», «Король говорит!» и другие. Бесплатная версия имеет существенное ограничение — экспорт видео в 720p (но на платном тарифе доступны 4К и даже 8К). На официальном сайте купить премиум-версию не получится, так как российские банковские карты не подойдут. Также у Lightworks не самое лучшее качество перевода на русский.

VideoPad — не самое популярное решение, но в сети немало хвалебных отзывов. К интерфейсу программы придется привыкать, однако работа на таймлайне реализована проще, чем у многих аналогов. Например, разнообразные переходы можно добавить буквально в два клика прямо на таймлайне. Из плюсов можно также отметить низкие системные требования (хватит процессора Core 2 Duo и 2 гигабайт оперативной памяти).

На официальном сайте можно скачать демо-версию. Если решитесь на покупку, то придется делать это через Steam за 1659 рублей (правда, в этой версии нет русского языка). На официальном сайте доступна оплата только через VISA и Mastercard, что не подходит для РФ. Как закинуть деньги на кошелек Steam, читайте в нашем руководстве.

«ВидеоШОУ» — простой в использовании условно-бесплатный видеоредактор на русском языке. В нем можно смониторовать слайд-шоу, отредактировать видео из отпуска, добавить переходы, анимированные титры и различные эффекты, включая 3D. Также можно создавать диски формата DVD с интерактивным меню. В программе всего одна дорожка видео, но с помощью инструментов можно легко сделать, например, эффект «картинка в картинке», не прибегая к раскладыванию роликов по разным дорожкам. Бесплатная версия выдается на 5 дней, стоимость лицензии от 1150 до 2800 рублей (без учета скидок).

VirtualDub (и его более продвинутый вариант VirtualDubMod) — бесплатный линейный видеоредактор, который был популярен во времена Windows XP. Из-за низких системных требований его можно использовать на старых и слабых компьютерах, в том числе для захвата видео. Доступных функций для редактирования видео немного, к тому же поддерживается скудный набор форматов — в первую очередь avi (но некоторые ограничения можно обойти с помощью плагинов). Тем не менее VirtualDub будет полезен, если нужно что-то простое: заменить звуковую дорожку без рекомпрессии видео, наложить фильтры, вырезать или склеить фрагменты видеоряда.

Avidemux — бесплатный линейный видеоредактор, функционально схожий с VirtualDub. В отличие от последнего Avidemux доступна не только на Windows, но и на Linux и MacOS, кроме того, программа изначально умеет работать со множеством форматов. Скачать программу можно по ссылке (обновления выходят регулярно).

Windows Movie Maker (позднее «Киностудия») — бесплатный видеоредактор от Microsoft. Сейчас программу уже нельзя скачать на официальном сайте, а Microsoft рекомендует использовать «Фотографии» (это встроенный в операционную систему софт, в котором, несмотря на название, есть опции для редактирования видео) или Clipchamp. Впрочем, оригинальные установщики сохранились на сайте Internet Archive: Windows Movie Maker 2.6 и «Киностудия».

Онлайн-видеоредакторы

Онлайн-редакторы могут пригодиться, если нет возможности установить программу. А если ваши потребности невысокие, то даже такой сервис способен практически полноценно редактировать видео, причем в реальном времени. Процесс работы не сильно отличается: есть полноценный таймлайн, несколько дорожек, видеоэффекты. Однако, желательно иметь быстрый и стабильный интернет, особенно это влияет на импорт файлов. Некоторые сервисы также предлагают вспомогательные расширения для браузеров.

Online Video Cutter

Стоимость: бесплатно, премиум-версия стоит 370 рублей в месяц (платеж из РФ не проходит).

Набор веб-инструментов для редактирования видео от 123apps с поддержкой русского языка. На главном экране можно выбрать конкретное действие: объединить, кадрировать, повернуть, изменить скорость воспроизведения, добавить текст или звук. Также можно перейти непосредственно в полноценный редактор. Несмотря на то что это веб-приложение, сервис работает быстро и позволяет делать нелинейный монтаж.

Основное преимущество сервиса в том, что в бесплатной версии можно сохранять видео без водяного знака. Правда, разрешение рендеринга ограничено 720p (этого хватает, если нужно просто поделиться видео, но для серьезных задач не пойдет). Также бесплатный тариф ограничен по размеру и количеству обрабатываемых файлов. Стоит отметить, что российские карточки система оплаты не принимает.

Media.io

Стоимость: бесплатно, премиум-версия от $9,99 в месяц или $47,40 в год.

Онлайн-сервис компании Wondershare. Ничего примечательного, в отличие от того же Video Cutter, в нем нет, но зато можно оплатить лицензию через Qiwi и пользоваться редактором полноценно. Есть также более дорогая версия с расширенными лимитами на автоматическое создание субтитров, перевод текста в речь и другой функционал.

Clipchamp

Стоимость: бесплатно, есть премиум-версия.

Неплохой видеоредактор от Microsoft, который доступен как онлайн, так и в виде приложения. Примечателен тем, что позволяет на бесплатном тарифе экспортировать видео в 1080p (Full HD) без водяного знака. В остальном это стандартный нелинейный редактор с базовым функционалом. В платной версии доступно множество фильтров, стоковых видео и изображений, эффектов, а также синхронизация между разными устройствами через облако (однако оплатить ее с личной учетной записи Microsoft у нас не получилось).

Видеоредакторы для мобильных устройств

Мобильные приложения для монтажа видео в первую очередь ориентированы на соцсети. У них есть необходимый набор инструментов, чтобы можно было отредактировать видео для TikTok, YouTube или любой другой площадки. У таких приложений максимально упрощенный и интуитивно-понятный интерфейс, который не требует специфических знаний, поэтому освоиться можно с первых минут использования.

InShot

InShot пользуется популярностью у блогеров и СММщиков, так как позволяет полноценно монтировать видео прямо с телефона. Ролики можно обрезать, кадрировать, на них можно накладывать фильтры, текст, работать с цветокоррекцией. И все эти возможности помещаются в телефон, а значит, для загрузки видео в соцсети, где публикации возможны только с мобильного устройства, файл не нужно перебрасывать между смартфоном и компьютером.

К недостаткам бесплатной версии можно отнести наложение водяного знака поверх видео, а также наличие рекламы.

CapCut

Альтернатива InShot. С одной стороны, интерфейс приложения более простой на фоне конкурента — инструментов меньше. С другой, здесь больше настроек звука — можно не только накладывать музыку, но и обрабатывать записанный звук, для этого на экране появляется звуковая дорожка. Также в CapCut есть функция автоматического монтажа, которая делает готовый ролик с музыкой по одному из доступных шаблонов.

VN Video Editor

Мобильная версия одноименного десктопного видеоредактора. Ограничения бесплатной версии некритичные: при запуске открывается полноэкранная реклама, можно создать до 100 черновиков, недоступны некоторые шаблоны и фильтры. В остальном приложение позволяет выполнить все стандартные действия для редактирования видео вроде образки, наложения текста и т. п. Полная версия стоит 799 рублей в месяц или 4690 рублей в год.

Splice

Видеоредактор для мобильных устройств с минималистичным интерфейсом. Удобно, что при запуске сразу предлагается выбрать формат и площадку, для которой создается видео. Одно из существенных ограничений бесплатной версии — нельзя наложить музыку поверх видео. Зато в полной версии есть коллекция музыкальных треков без ограничений по авторским правам. Стоимость программы составляет 799 рублей в месяц или 5590 рублей в год.

YouCut

Одно из самых популярных приложений для монтажа видео. По возможностям и интерфейсу оно очень напоминает InShot, так как у этих программ один разработчик. Из плюсов можно также отметить невысокую стоимость: 369 рублей в год или 990 рублей бессрочно.

You don’t have to be an expert video editor to bring your ideas to life in 2023. But surprisingly 90% of marketers and business owners still feel like video editing is a super complex arena. They either outsource this and spend 4X the cost or drop the idea of creating videos altogether and lose out on a valuable marketing tool in the bargain.

But what if there’s a way out wherein you can actually create videos online in minutes even if you’ve never edited a video before? That’s exactly what we’ll cover in this article, where we put together the 11 best video editing software for PC that are free and completely online to help you create stunning videos quickly and easily. 

Here are the best free video editing programs we will cover: 

1. InVideo
2. Windows 10 Video Editor
3. Kapwing
4. Apple iMovie
5. OpenShot
6. Shotcut 
7. VSDC Free Video Editor
8. Lightworks
9. Kdenlive 
10. Hitfilm Express
11. DaVinci Resolve 17

1. InVideo 

Are you looking to create a business presentation or maybe a music video? InVideo is a super-intuitive video creation platform that will enable you to create professional-quality videos in minutes, even if you’ve never edited a video before.

InVideo is one of the best free video editors for windows or any other system out there as it comes pre-built with everything you need to create amazing, professional videos, from templates to stock footage to a super user-friendly editor. 

There are many other video editors that claim to have fully-customizable templates, but what makes InVideo the best video editing software for PC is the sheer number of assets it has.

A user can go ahead and change the structure of the entire template if that’s what they want to. You have the freedom to pick up an ice cream template in InVideo and transform it into a shoe ad. 

Here’s a quick GIF to give you a look at the transformation:

Watch the video below if you want to see a step-by-step breakdown of how it was done:

With InVideo, you can also mix and match scenes from different templates all within the same project. 

No need to restrict yourself to a single style! Check this out in action below, where we mixed a corporate testimonial scene with another for a food-related service. 

Ideal for? InVideo works equally well for professional and personal use, making it the best free video editor for Windows as well as Mac users since it’s cloud-based. Whether you’re a social media marketer, a business owner, or a YouTube creator —InVideo caters to your needs with over 5,000 templates and over 8 million stock videos and photos that cover almost every use-case and industry.

You can sign up for your free account here.

InVideo features

— 5,000+ fully-customizable ready-to-edit templates
— An unmatched library of stock assets consisting of images, videos, and music clips
— Share videos directly to your social media channels after production
— Allows one-click repurposing of collateral like articles into videos
— Streamlined video creation with branding presets that ensure branding consistency across videos
— 24*7 instant chat support ensures frictionless workflow
— Cloud storage of up to 100GB on the paid version
— Paid membership gives you full access to the Filmr – Video Editor and Video Maker mobile app

Pros

— Ease of use.
— 5000+ completely customisable video templates. 
— Free in-built stock media library with 8M+ royalty-free images and video clips. 
— Good for beginner and seasoned users alike.
— Includes many features like automated voice-overs, HD resolution, speed adjustment, video stabilization and more.
— Automated text-to-speech.
— Unlimited team members and team sharing.
— Brand presets such as color palettes, logos, and fonts are available.
— 24×7 priority support.
— Up to 100GB cloud storage.

You can check out the complete list of features here.

Cons

— Video duration capped at 15 minutes. 

Pricing

Free Plan: Set yourself up on InVideo with a free account to explore the features and edit videos with the InVideo watermark until you’ve determined if it’s a good fit for your gameplay editing toolkit.

Business: $15/month: The business plan includes everything offered for free plus the option to remove the InVideo watermark, 60 video exports per month, 10GB cloud storage, 10 iStock media per month, 1M+ premium media, and access to Filmr Pro.

Unlimited: $30/month: The unlimited plan includes all features of the free plan plus unlimited video exports, 100GB cloud storage, 120 iStock media per month, 1M+ premium media, and access to Filmr Pro.

To get an overview of all plans and their features, head over to the InVideo pricing page.

Bonus: Try InVideo’s Online Video Editor

2. Windows 10 Video Editor

If you’re on a Windows 10 system, you don’t need to look outside for the best free video editor for Windows because your system already comes equipped with one. It has a set of editing tools native to the OS and its sheer ease of use and clutter-free, minimalistic interface is what make it rank this high in our list. 

The features on offer are exactly what a beginner would need in their arsenal — a title card option, animated text styles, a decent-sized audio library, and basic video effects. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the interfaces of more heavy-duty editing platforms and are simply looking to stitch together a few photos or clips, the Windows 10 Video Editor may be the best video editing software for PC you will find.

Best for: Newbies, home video enthusiasts, and small businesses.

Windows Video Editor Features

— Beginner-friendly
— Animated text styles
— Decent-sized audio library 
— Basic video effects
— Minimalistic interface 
— Ideal beginner-friendly video editor for Windows users

Pros

— Ease of use.
— Intuitive and beginner-friendly interface.
— Lightweight.
— Allows you to export your video in upto 1080p.
— Contains pre-set themes with unified filters, music and text styles.
— Has a variety of 3D elements that can be animated and overlaid onto the video.

Cons

— Only available on Windows systems.
— No free stock library. 
— Doesn’t allow you to add free cloud storage.

Pricing

Free for use on laptops running on Windows 10 or higher. 

3. Kapwing

Kapwing is one of the best free video editor for Windows as well as Mac users as it is completely online and provides all the basic functions of professional video editing software. With Kapwing, you can crop and trim video clips, add transitions, overlay images, and audio, and generate subtitles to create a shareable video. It also supports teams, which means creators can collaborate and edit or make a video together in real-time. 

Best for: Educators, vloggers, and businesses.

Kapwing features

— Easy-to-use collaborative workspace
— Drag and drop editor
— Hundreds of templates to choose from
— Supports HD resolution 
— Ability to merge and split videos and control video speed
— Screen and audio recorder to record tutorials, gameplay, or voiceovers.

Pros

— Offers almost all the basic editing functions you’d need to make your next Vlog stand out. 
— No watermark.
— Screen and audio recorder to record tutorials, gameplay, or voiceovers.
— This online video editor allows unlimited cloud storage.
— Supports audio and video imports from YouTube and other URLs.
— AI-powered features such as auto subtitle generator, remove background tool, and automatic translation.

Cons

— Very few ready-to-use templates.
— Limited stock photos from free stock image banks such as Unsplash, Pexels.
— Video duration capped at 7 minutes for free version.

Pricing

While Kapwing is is one of the best free video editing software for Windows as well as Mac users, you can get additional features on their paid plan that can make your editing even smoother. The paid plans start at $16 per month.

4. Apple iMovie

If you’re a Mac user, your device comes with a version of Apple’s native video editing software, iMovie. Since its release in 1999, iMovie has dramatically improved its efficiency and become a dynamic video editing software for Mac users. 

All you have to do is choose your clips, then add titles, music, and effects. iMovie even supports 4K UHD videos for stunning high-quality films.

Best for: Amateur/student filmmakers, freelancers, Youtube creators, small to mid sized businesses.

Pros

— Comes free with all Apple devices.
— Easy to use, and great for beginners.
— Packed with professional features, including impressive transitions and titles, color correction tools, audio — equalizer.
— Supports 4K UHD resolution.
— Drag-and-drop interface makes editing easy.
— Runs well on phone, iPad, (app version) as well as laptop.

Cons

— Not complex enough to manipulate each and every pixel out there, which wouldn’t make it a good option for videos with lots of animated elements.
— Only available on Apple devices.
— No option to do multi-track editing, which means you can’t mix together multiple audio tracks to create layered soundtracks or elaborate musical compositions.
— Templates cannot be customised. 
— No free stock library. 
— Doesn’t allow you to add team members to a project, or to add free cloud storage.

Pricing

Free to use for macOS users

5. OpenShot

A value-packed free video editing software, OpenShot remains one of the best video editing software for PC and is high on features but is still intuitive enough for newbies to get a hang of. OpenShot is also open-source, so it is a super accessible video editing software. 

The interface is extremely clean and simplified with lots of icons. It offers a range of options and tools that come in handy as you progress further on your video editing journey. If you’re working on a project that doesn’t require super-detailed edits or a lot of visual effects, this can be a great option. 

Best for: Students, vloggers, small and mid-sized businesses working with their own footage.

OpenShot features

— Cross-platform support
— Unlimited tracks/layers
— Easy trimming, slicing, and resizing of videos
— Drag-and-drop interface
— 20+ 3D animations
— Powerful keyframe animation framework
— 40+ vector titles

Pros

— A completely open-source video editor with cross-platform templates that are compatible with Mac, PC, as well as Linux.
— User-friendly interface with easy drag-and-drop design make it great for simple editing.
— Extensive library of animated title templates along with audio and video transitions.
— Unlimited layers for background videos, audio tracks, and watermarks.
— Has key-frame animation capabilities for creating animated videos plus it supports 3-D animations.
— Digital video effects, including brightness, gamma, hue, greyscale, chroma key (blue screen/green screen).

Cons

— Editing vertical videos can get difficult.
— There are issues with the app’s stability. It is notorious for crashing even when the user isn’t doing heavy edits.
— Templates cannot be customised. 
— No free stock library available. 
— You cannot add team members on a project. 
— Pay-as-you-go model for cloud storage.
— While it offers email and phone support, a 1-hour call with the team will set you back by $30 USD.

Pricing

Open Shot is an open-source software and hence is completely free to use, making it one of the best free video editing software for windows.

6. Shotcut 

Shotcut is one of the best free video editing software for Windows as well as Mac users. It is open-source, cross-platform video editor which allows for native editing. Think 4K resolution support, an intuitive interface with drag-and-drop assets, and multi-format timelines which allow you to mix and match resolutions and frame rates within a project. It has many video wipe transitions and a spectacular colour wheel that allows for professional-grade colour correction. 

Best for: Content creators, social media managers, entrepreneurs as well as solopreneurs, and marketing professionals across varying levels of experience.

Shotcut features

— Wide format support including 4k ProRes
— Webcam and audio capture 
— Colour, text, noise, and counter generators
— Comes with audio scopes and mixers as well as tone generators
— Hundreds of filters and transitions
— 360º video filters and effects
— Cross platform support and codec independent

Pros

— Available on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
— Fully open-source program, so you can avail the features without any payment.
— It supports 4K HD resolution, unlike most free softwares and also 1080 video projects.
— It has a great selection of filters and effects.

Cons

— Because it was designed originally for Linux, it has many features that are not intuitive for non-Linux users. So the software takes a while to get used to.
— Minor workflow issues with clip and track management — it can only be done manually by moving all the elements within that track. 
— Although it has a large selection of filters, you can’t preview them.
— No ready-to-use templates. 
— Limited free stock library, with 280+ sound effects.
— Customer support only through their website.

Pricing

Shotcut is open-source software and hence is completely free to use

7. VSDC Free Video Editor

VSDC Free Video Editor is one of the best free video editing software for windows that even the professionals continue to swear by. The software comes with a full editing suite, including chroma key functionality for green-screen video effects and a mask tool.

Its user interface is a bit more complex, owing to the host of advanced features it offers. This makes it a great option for professional video editors who are looking for more minute control over their video content. But for the free precise tag, you’re really getting your money’s worth; this is chock-full with features you’d normally only find in advanced video editing software. 

Best for: Content creators, early-career video editing professionals, video production studios, entrepreneurs, and small to mid-sized businesses.

VSDC Features

— Color blending, voice-over, and non-linear effects
— Pro features: AI art filters, masking, and video stabilization
— Advanced features like chroma keying and subpixel accuracy
— Support for HD and 4K resolutions
— Split-screen videos or create videos with picture-in-picture
— Visual and audio effects to create compelling gameplay videos
— Export videos directly to your social media handles
— Dedicated YouTube uploader
— Capture videos from webcams, video tuners, and IP cameras
— Support for all popular video formats and a built-in DVD burning utility

Pros

— Large library of effects, transitions, and sound effects. 
— Advanced features like green screen, optical flow for smooth slow motion footage, and video stabilisation. 
— Compatible with the most commonly-used video formats
— Certain features have been incorporated with beginners in mind, like the color-correction presets.
— Allows the user to export in 4K and full HD.
— Can directly export to social media platforms.

Cons

— Interface is a bit more complex and requires a bit of a learning curve if you’re new to video editing.
— Available only for Windows.
— Lacks features like 360-degree, multicam editing and motion-tracking.
— It has been reported that the free version lags sometimes.
— Lacks ready-to-use templates. 
— Doesn’t have a free stock library. 
— Doesn’t allow one to add team members to a project, nor does it allow you to add free cloud storage.
— Free technical support is not available.

Pricing

While the VSDC Video Editor offers a robust free plan, they also have a Pro 1-year subscription for $19.99 that gives you a host of additional features.

8. Lightworks

Lightworks is a relatively lesser-known cross-platform video editor that works across Mac, PC, and Linux. 

You can colour correct, adjust audio, add titles, and edit, amongst a long list of features with easy-to-use tools. And it’s also got all the advanced features that the professionals seek. If you’re big on aesthetics, the interface is also one of the cleanest of the bunch of free downloadable video editing softwares out there. 

Best for: Narrative/feature film editors, early to mid-career video professionals.

Lightworks Features

— Drag-and-drop interface
— Color correction and blend modes, Transitions, chroma keying, and color LUTs
— Access files on your Dropbox, Google Drive/Photos, pCloud, OneDrive accounts right from the interface
— Useful audio controls like hum removal and boost treble
— Video routing
— 4K exports (only on the Pro version)
— Uploads to YouTube and Vimeo directly from within Lightworks (with several frame rate options)
— Saves work automatically and unobtrusively in the background
— Templates and integrations for social media video export formats
— 800+ customizable and motion graphics

Pros

— Clean interface with advanced features.
— Customisable interface that enhances your workflow.
— Allows high-precision video trimming. 
— Multicam support. 
— Great video tutorials. 
— A wide range of video formats supported.
— Ability to export to 720p for social media platforms like YouTube, so this is a good fit for YouTube video creators.

Cons

— Interface is relatively complex.
— It tends to lag with extended use.
— 4k video support is available only in the paid version.
— Involves a relatively steep learning curve to get the hang of.
— Can only export in MPEG format.
— Doesn’t allow you to add free cloud storage. 
— No free technical support available.

Pricing

Lightworks has a free forever version that lets you create advanced edits but its biggest drawback is that it doesn’t let you export videos in a resolution higher than 720p. For that you can upgrade to Lightworks’ paid plans starting at $9.99 per month.

9. Kdenlive 

Kdenlive is another great choice if you’re looking to stick with an open-source video editing software. 

It comes with a host of nifty features in addition to the basics, including multiple audio and video live track editing. So you save time and really focus on the important thing: storytelling. The excellent integrated workflows help you jazz up your final output without breaking a sweat, because you can polish up your work without once leaving your timeline.

This software was initially designed for Linux users and later expanded to Windows and Mac. Because of this, there are some issues to be expected if you’re using it on a non-Linux OS.

Best for: Professional filmmakers, video editors and video production agencies.

Kdenlive Features

— Multi-track video editing
— Supports almost all audio and video formats
— Configurable interface and shortcuts
— Ability to create 2D titles for videos
— Huge library of effects and transitions
— Audio and video scopes to monitor levels
— Automatic backup

Pros 

— A great option if you’re looking to transition into or purchase a professional paid video editing software due to the similar interface.
— Packed with professional video editing features.
— Works across platforms since it is an open-source software.
— Robust support community and tutorials.

Cons

— Known to be glitchy and slow for Mac users. 
— Windows build lacks certain features present in the Linux version.
— Slow render times.
— Doesn’t support multi frame-rate video editing.
— Doesn’t allow you to add team members to a project. 
— Doesn’t allow you to add free cloud storage. 
— Website support only — no support team.

Pricing

Kdenlive is an open source software and hence completely free to use.

10. Hitfilm Express

This is another great choice if you’re looking for a high-end video editing software. It’s no surprise that it’s used to produce Hollywood-style films.

The USP of Hitfilm Express is that it is superb for working with technical and visual effects. At the same time, it is extremely user-friendly, with the standard drag-and-drop model.

It’s a good option especially if you need to incorporate VFX. If you’re looking to learn video editing too, this is one software that can carry you through as you become more of an advanced user.

HitFilm Express Features

— It has 400+ visual effects and presets available for free.
— Supports 360 degree video and keying green screen.
— Customisable panels enable easy use.
— Provides color grading features.

Pros

— Combines editing, VFX, and 3D tools in one powerful package.
— Includes animation tools that let you create and edit transitions without the need to create composite shots, which saves a lot of time while editing.
— Allows you to import 3D models.
— Powerful presets and visual effects including colour grading, 3D muzzle flashes, motion blur, lights, flares, etc.

Cons

— Lagging is more apparent when it comes to editing higher resolution clips.
— Lacks certain key video editing features like video stabilisation.
— Limited audio editing features.
— Lacks basic audio tools like equalisation.
— Available for Windows and Mac OS X. 64-bit operating systems only.
— No free stock library. 
— Doesn’t allow you to add team members to a project. 
— Doesn’t allow you to add free cloud storage.

Pricing

It has a great free version but if you want more advanced features you can upgrade to one of the paid plans starting at $9.

11. DaVinci Resolve 17

DaVinci Resolve is a software that combines many tools one might need to create outstanding high-quality videos; everything from motion graphics and visual effects to colour correction. 

This here is an absolutely industry-defining product, one that is the highest level of editing software known to the editor-kind. And now you can also collaborate and work remotely on the software, at no extra charge.

If you’re on the lookout for the most feature-rich one-stop shop editing software, then this could be where your search ends. With DaVinci Resolve 17, you can work with original-quality images and videos throughout the entire process.

Best for: Content creators, filmmakers, and professional video editors.

Davinci Resolve Features

— All-in-one solution for editing, color correction, visual effects, and motion graphics
— Allows creating title animations, object removal, and adding characters into 3D scenes
— Multicam editing, chroma key, picture-in-picture, and stabilization
— Scene cut detection that automatically finds edit points
— Multi-user collaboration
— Audio editor with support for 2000+ audio tracks
— Download royalty-free stock audio from the Blackmagic website
— Control edits with keyframes and fusion nodes
— AI-powered temporal and spatial noise reduction and color matching

Pros 

— Contains video editing modules from beginner to professional.
— Works on Mac, Linux, and Windows.
— Allows node-based editing, instead of a layer-based workflow, which helps simplify complex compositing, and also reduces file size.
— It has advanced video-trimming features. 

Cons 

— The software may be overwhelming initially for editors who are just starting out. 
— No ready-to-use templates.
— No free stock library.
— Customer support only through email. 
— Requires heavy-duty hardware, processing capacity and disk space which may lead to frequent crashes 

Here’s a quick comparison snapshot of all the video editors we’ve looked at:

Conclusion

And there you have it — that’s our round-up of the top 11 best free video editing softwares. These options give you a lot of wiggle room in terms of features and build, whether you’re completely new to editing or have been doing it for years. 

And if you’ve got questions or want to continue the conversation, hop over to the InVideo community and learn from 25K other marketers and video creators just like you. 

And if you did find value in this article and were able to shortlist a free video editing software for your projects, we strongly recommend you check out the following guides for some much-needed inspiration on new video ideas!

40+ Instagram Reels ideas every business can use 
212 YouTube video ideas that work in 2023
51 Instagram story ideas with ready-to-use templates
33 Instagram post ideas with templates
26 Viral TikTok trends that every brand should create in 2023

FAQs

1. Where can I edit my videos online for free?

There are plenty of options to edit videos online for free. Sign up with InVideo for free, and get access to a super intuitive video maker, with 5000+ customisable video templates and 8M+ standard media library.

2. How can I edit videos for free?

Some online video editors, such as InVideo, allow you to create and edit a video for free. Others, like some of the ones we’ve listed above, come free with a platform or need to be downloaded.

Some offer basic functions such as cropping, trimming, and adjusting the aspect ratio, while others, like InVideo, provide you with templates, stock footage, photos and audio to boot. Scroll through our curated list to select one that best suits your needs.

It’s no secret that great video editing software can help you produce professional grade videos for platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Vimeo, or YouTube.

If you’re a content marketer you’ll know that well-produced product videos are a more engaging form of media than photographs alone and can reduce a customer’s hesitation in making a purchase. 

Below, we’ve compiled a list of the best free video editing software from around the web, as well as a few with affordable paid versions. Each videographer has their own specific needs, so we’ve run down some of the most useful features as well as pros and cons of each tool.

12 best free video editing software

1. HitFilm Express
2. Lightworks
3. iMovie
4. VideoPad
5. DaVinci Resolve
6. VSDC Free Video Editor
7. OpenShot
8. Shotcut
9. Windows Video Editor
10. Vimeo Create
11. KineMaster
12. Movie Maker Online

1. HitFilm Express

Best overall free video editing software program

G2 ⭐ rating: 4.5/5

Available for: Mac and Windows

Price: Free; $349 for the Pro version

Watermark: No 

If you don’t have a lot of experience with video editing, HitFilm may feel a little advanced at first—it’s used to produce Hollywood-style films—but it’s worth the learning curve, as it’s one of the best all-in-one free video editors available. (HitFilm does ask you to share a social media status update when you download the software, but that’s a small price to pay.)

HitFilm includes animation tools that let you create and edit audio and video transitions without the need to create composite shots, which is a huge time saver when editing. It also offers cool 3D effects for films, music videos, and even YouTube videos, plus features you’d find in a paid video editing software, like 4K video, 360-degree editing, and a library of special effects. 

Features include:

• Professional video editing with motion tracking, color pickers, and cropping tools
• Composite shot enhancements that allow you to animate two separate shots together for surreal video effects
• An auto-stabilizer to make shaky footage look smooth
• Unlimited video and audio timeline track creation
• An adaptive trimmer that lets you re-trim your clips after adding them to the timeline
• Ability to copy a group of attributes from one clip and apply them directly to another or to a whole project
• Audio mixer for fine-tuning sound for professional quality output
• Various transition options, such as push, zoom, and dissolve

2. Lightworks

Best for powerful features, with limited free version

G2 ⭐ rating: 3.5/5 

Available for: Windows, Mac, and Linux

Price: Free; $24.99 per month for Pro version

Watermark: No

Lightworks includes a simple and intuitive interface, so it’s easy to pick up. It also offers a collection of detailed video tutorials, making it one of the more accessible and easy to learn Linux video editing software options on this list.

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 polished look to any marketing video.

Features include:

• High-quality simple trim functions for fast and precise video editing
• Speed optimization, letting you continue to edit while importing new content
• Multicam editing for syncing clips from multiple cameras
• Real-time team project sharing with full control over which user has editing access
• Easy sharing of videos, with fast export to YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, and Instagram
• Support for a wide range of video formats

3. iMovie

Best free video editing software for Mac users

G2 ⭐ rating: 4.3/5 

Available for: Mac

Price: Free

Watermark: No 

Popular standby iMovie 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. It’s an easy way to build powerful videos to boost your YouTube marketing efforts. 

A big advantage to 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 being updated as well, so you can always look forward to new features and improvements.

Features include:

• Support for 4K resolution, allowing users to create cinema-quality films
• Cloud-storage functionality that allows you to work on the same project from your iPad, iPhone, and Mac
• Dozens of studio-quality title animations for professional-looking credits
• Stylish, contemporary video filters built for specific film genres, such as Western and sci-fi
• Built-in music, sound effects, and voiceover recording so your sound and picture editing are always consolidated
• Speed controls that let you make high-octane action scenes faster and sports highlights slower

4. VideoPad

Best free video editing software for beginners

G2 ⭐ rating: 4.1/5 

Available for: Mac, Windows

Price: Free

Watermark: No

VideoPad is a great option for anyone who wants to create high-quality videos without spending a dime. With VideoPad, you’ll find all kinds of simple and easy-to-use features—such as 3D video editing and a sound effects library—to try different video compositions and styles. 

You can edit your videos with special effects, overlays, texts, and transition, as well as use color adjustment and sound effects. Then export your finished video to YouTube, Facebook, Google Drive, and other mobile devices, quickly and easily. 

The only drawback is that it may be too simple for advanced video editors. It doesn’t come with as many advanced features as some of the other free video editing software on this list, but with options to add light effects, fine tune colors, and overlay text and images, there’s enough here to make it worth the free download.

Features include:

• Double built-in screen (one to preview selected clips, one to preview complete sequence) for easy and intuitive editing
• Pre-made customizable transitions for polished professionalism
• Exporting presets to easily create video files optimized for specific platforms—such as Facebook and YouTube—and post them directly from within the software
• Social media sharing and publishing tools to share videos online instantly
• A large library of video transitions and visual effects to customize videos
• Video optimization tools, such as stabilization 

5. DaVinci Resolve

Top free video editor for advanced editors

G2 ⭐ rating: 4.6/5 

Available for: Windows, Mac, and Linux

Price: Free; $269 for the full Studio version

Watermark: No

DaVinci Resolve combines professional 8K editing, color correction, visual effects, and audio post-production in a single production tool, which is why it’s the software of choice for many professional editors of films, television shows, and commercials.

DaVinci allows for both offline and online editing, and its high-performance playback engine saves time when editing and trimming—even for processor-intensive file formats like H.264 and RAW. DaVinci Resolve’s complex features may be too extensive for some users, but its free version is perfect for more advanced projects.

Features include:

• Dual timeline for quick navigation, cutting, and trimming
• A dedicated trim interface that gives you the ability to edit in minute detail
• Intelligent auto-editing that syncs audio and video clips for you
• Built-in tools for picture-in-picture effects, retiming, stabilization, dynamic zoom, text, and audio
• Facial recognition that detects faces in your clips and automatically creates bins based on the people in each shot
• High-quality motion estimation speed changes and frame rate conversions to easily and realistically speed up or slow down clips

6. VSDC Free Video Editor

Best no watermark editor for Windows

G2 ⭐ rating: 4/5 

Available for: Windows

Price: Free; $19.99 for Pro version

Watermark: No

VSDC’s desktop 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. VSDC is a popular editing software for GoPro footage.

If you have the funds to spring for the full version, the suite of tools expands to include video stabilization, robust post-production effects, slideshow/presentation capabilities, 3D diagram templates, and direct social media publishing.

Features include: 

• Color-correction tools for a more professional look
• A full suite of transitional effects
• Easy-to-use image filters, similar to what you’d find on Instagram
• Mask tools for hiding, blurring, or highlighting specific elements
• Social media link for sharing videos on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, and Vimeo
• HEVC/H.265 (an advanced video-compression standard), for maintaining the highest quality at the minimum file size—essential for processing 4K and HD files

7. OpenShot

The easiest free video editing software for intermediate editors

G2 ⭐ rating: 4.5/5 

Available for: Windows, Mac, and Linux

Price: Free

Watermark: No

OpenShot’s easy-to-use user interface makes it a great video editing program for intermediate editors. While more complex tools may offer more editing components, OpenShot’s intuitive interface and minimal design are perfect for simple editing.

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.

Features include:

• Unlimited layers for watermarks, background videos, and audio tracks
• Customizable title-card templates
• Drag-and-drop functionality for easily adding video, audio, or image files
• Digital video effects, including brightness, gamma, hue, greyscale, and chroma key compositing for green-screen effects
• Powerful key-frame animation capabilities for creating animated videos

8. Shotcut

Best open-source movie maker for audiophiles

G2 ⭐ rating: 4.2/5 

Available for: Windows, Mac, and Linux

Price: Free

Watermark: No

Shotcut is an open-source, cross-platform video editor with a vast collection of tutorial videos. It also supports a wide range of formats, including FFmpeg, 4K, ProRes, and DNxHD. A warning, however: Shotcut was originally designed for Linux, so some may find the interface a little quirky. Despite this, it’s still a top-notch editor.

Shotcut also provides extensive audio editing options, making it ideal for audiophiles. Its host of fine-tuning audio tools allows users to make bass and treble adjustments, create bandpass filters, adjust gain, add dynamic compression, and much more. 

Features include:

• Support for the latest audio and video formats via FFmpeg, the leading multimedia framework
• Native timeline editing, which allows users to import video files directly into their project file rather than a media library
• Multiformat timeline for mixing and matching resolutions and frame rates within a project
• Advanced audio filters like balance, bass and treble, bandpass filters, compressor, and more
• Support for AV1 decoding and encoding

9. Windows Video Editor

Best video editing software for Windows 10

G2 ⭐ rating: n/a

Available for: Windows

Price: Free

Watermark: No

Microsoft’s built-in editor, Windows Video Editor, 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 right away. Windows Video Editor is more a photo editor, but offers the basic editing tools like cropping, trimming, and including text or audio. Included with Windows 10 and up, Video Editor is completely free and is good for basic video enhancement. 

Features include:

• Auto-preview tool for edits and effects
• Auto-movie options for creating customizable cuts of your video clips
• Animation tab to easily add music, titles, and credits
• 3D effects section with minimal customization 
• Easy to use for novice users working in Windows 

10. Vimeo Create

Best AI video editing software app

G2 ⭐ rating: n/a

Available for: iOS and Android

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

Watermark: No

Vimeo Create, a free editing software you can connect directly to your Shopify store, automatically turns your existing product images and text into polished ecommerce videos. No video experience needed.

All you have to do is answer a few questions about your product, add your footage and logo, and choose style customizations. Vimeo Create then automatically edits your video in minutes (though you can also choose your own styles or start from scratch). The AI software even suggests colors, themes, music, and fonts. 

It’s especially useful for creating videos at scale (if you, say, start a channel for your business in an effort to make money on YouTube and want to streamline the creation process). Vimeo is a popular video software solution with over 200 million users. Because Vimeo is an all-in-one solution, you can also manage, host, and distribute all your videos from one place, streamlining your workflow.

Features include:

• More than 1,000 templates to choose from
• Facial recognition, filters, effects, and auto-cropping
• Professional auto-editing ability
• Ability to share videos across marketing channels
• Unlimited high-quality stock images with iStock integration
• Library of commercially licensed music to choose from

11. KineMaster

The best free video editing app for mobile

G2 ⭐ rating: n/a

Available for: iOS, Android, Chromebook

Price: Free; $3.99/month for paid plan

Watermark: Yes

If you’re a video editor on the go, consider KineMaster for your go-to software. This free (subscription model optional) yet powerful video editing app is perfect for mobile devices. With KineMaster, you can easily shoot footage, edit it, and upload it all from your phone or tablet. Mobile editors usually sacrifice advanced tools to simplify video creation, but KineMaster does the opposite. 

With KineMaster, you can cut, splice, crop, and combine videos easily, with more than 2,500 downloadable transitions and effects. Use color filters and adjustments to correct and enhance videos so they stand out. And when you’re finished, quickly share them to YouTube, TikTok, Reels, Stories, and more. 

Features:

• Asset store to download effects, soundtracks, stickers, fonts, and more
• Backup and sharing abilities to keep video projects safe
• Eight blending options to create artistic video effects 
• Reverse tool to make focal shifts, in-camera transitions, and other edits easy
• Edit and export 4K videos at 60 fps

12. Movie Maker Online

Best online video editor 

G2 ⭐ rating: n/a

Available for: Browser

Price: Free

Watermark: No

Movie Maker Online is the best browser-based video editor to date. It’s a cost-effective tool for people that want to create videos, but there are some drawbacks. The tool is supported by ads, so you’ll have to navigate around them to edit your videos. It also has a 10-minute maximum duration, which should be sufficient for the standard free user.

The interface also has some quirks. The video and audio timelines are positioned vertically, instead of horizontally like traditional video editors. It’s a bit challenging to get used to at first. However, it’s easily accessible on multiple devices because it’s completely browser based. 

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

Features: 

• Free, browser-based video editor
• Royalty free music, photos, and sound effects
• Ideal for quickly trimming, combining, and adjusting videos 
• Built-in support 

How to choose a video editor

There’s a lot of desktop-based editing software available for businesses looking to create promotional videos. The biggest advantage of free video editing software for desktops is that they tend to have more features than most mobile video editing apps.

Whether you’re editing videos for YouTube or TikTok, here are some considerations to keep in mind:

• User experience. Another thing to consider is how easy it is to learn the software. Look for software that has express editing modes so you can edit videos in your preferred style quickly. Templates are also a bonus. A good editing software will also have tutorials so you can learn the features and excel.

• Editing features. Check to see if your software of choice has powerful video editing tools that will impress viewers. For example, if you’re using drone footage, you’ll want an editing software that can enhance and add effects to video. Maybe you need chroma key editing or color grading, or more advanced features like 360-degree editing. 

• Hidden costs. Some video editors are “free”, but only work well if you pay more money to access better features. Completely free editing software may have limited file format support, poor performance, or other limitations. The software you want to consider should meet all your basic editing needs without added fees. 

• Support. Customer support is always helpful when you’re new to video editing. If you have a question about a feature, it’s nice to have somewhere to get answers. Check if your software has support services like email/phone support, FAQs, or community forums where you can get help from real humans. 

• Export options. Where will you publish videos? Be sure your video editing software is capable of outputting high-quality video in popular formats, so you can upload videos to your social channels with ease. 

• Requirements. Some programs are only available for certain computer types. For example, not every software on this list may work with Google Chromebook. Before investing time into a software, make sure it’s compatible with whatever desktop you use. 

Conclusion

Now that you know your options in finding the best free video editing software, you can start testing them out. While each option comes with its own advantages and disadvantages, hopefully, you now have a better idea of which option is best for your level of video production.

Videos consistently are proven to receive more engagement on average across all social media platforms than pictures or text posts. A professional, well-made video will help capture the attention of your audience and develop your brand’s personality.

With so many options to choose from, there’s no limit to the creative potential of your video content.

Learn more: YouTube algorithm

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1. iMovie

• Платформы: macOS, iOS.

Практически идеальный инструмент от Apple для простого редактирования видео. И настольная, и мобильная версии имеют классический интерфейс с монтажным столом, удобный браузер медиафайлов, а также встроенную галерею переходов, эффектов и фильтров. Есть готовые шаблоны самых разных проектов и богатые настройки экспорта вплоть до 4К.

2. DaVinci Resolve

• Платформы: Windows, macOS, Linux.

Профессиональный видеоредактор продвинутого уровня. DaVinci Resolve ориентирован на постпродакшен и имеет огромное количество инструментов для коррекции картинки и звука. У бесплатной версии есть несколько ограничений, которые обычному пользователю, скорее всего, будут незаметны. Среди них более низкое 4К‑разрешение, отсутствие возможности совместной работы и водяные знаки для некоторых фильтров.

Скачать →

3. Shotcut

• Платформы: Windows, macOS, Linux.

Неплохой редактор с открытым исходным кодом, который будет одинаково хорош как для начинающих, так и для более опытных пользователей. Shotcut отличается гибким интуитивным интерфейсом и поддержкой большого количества форматов видео, включая 4К. Помимо базовых возможностей обработки, доступны переходы, комбинируемые фильтры и экспорт не только в заданный формат, но и под конкретное устройство.

Скачать →

4. Lightworks

• Платформы: Windows, macOS, Linux.

Мощный профессиональный видеоредактор, предыдущие версии которого использовались для монтажа «Криминального чтива», «Волка с Уолл‑стрит» и других известных фильмов. Lightworks поддерживает мультикамерный монтаж, цветокоррекцию с аппаратным ускорением и другие функции, доступные только в дорогих программах.

В базовой версии можно работать с видео вплоть до 5К, но опции экспорта ограничены 720р или 1 080р при загрузке на Vimeo.

Скачать →

5. OpenShot

• Платформы: Windows, macOS, Linux.

Кросс‑платформенный редактор с удобным интерфейсом и довольно неплохим списком возможностей, который хорошо подойдёт начинающим. OpenShot умеет работать с различными форматами видео, поддерживает неограниченное количество дорожек, а также имеет неплохую галерею переходов, фильтров и титров.

Скачать →

6. Avidemux

• Платформы: Windows, macOS, Linux.

Очень простой видеоредактор, который при этом прекрасно справляется с базовым монтажом. Avidemux не сравнится по функциям с современными аналогами. Тем не менее его удобно использовать для обрезки и склейки видео, поскольку он позволяет выполнять эти операции без перекодирования файлов, благодаря чему экономит время.

Скачать →

7. HitFilm Express

• Платформы: Windows, macOS.

Создатели позиционируют HitFilm Express как простую программу для начинающих, которые хотят получить доступ к профессиональным инструментам редактирования. Помимо базовых правок, здесь доступны цветокоррекция и маски, поддержка панорамных видео и хромакея, а также наложение спецэффектов к отдельным частям кадра и работа с 3D‑объектами. Готовые материалы можно экспортировать в различные форматы с гибкими настройками.

При скачивании разработчики предлагают заплатить любую цену и дают дополнительные пакеты эффектов, переходов и другого контента в зависимости от суммы. Если передвинуть ползунок в крайнее положение, то программу можно получить бесплатно. В этом случае бонусов не будет, но и без них опций HitFilm Express хватает с лихвой.

Скачать →

8. KDEnlive

• Платформы: Windows, Linux.

Мощный видеоредактор с открытым исходным кодом, поддержкой практически любых форматов и возможностью экспорта в 4K. KDEnlive умеет задействовать аппаратное ускорение, позволяет применять варьируемые эффекты и переходы, а также может добавлять в ролики цветокоррекцию и способен работать с прокси‑файлами. Кроме того, в приложении есть настраиваемые шорткаты, темы оформления и опция установки плагинов.

Скачать →

9. Videopad

• Платформы: Windows, macOS.

Довольно функциональная программа для нелинейного монтажа с интуитивным интерфейсом и возможностью импорта контента более чем в 60 форматах, включая панорамные и 3D‑видео. Videopad позволяет выполнять все популярные операции — от обрезки и наложения переходов до изменения скорости и добавления субтитров. А в дополнение к этому содержит профессиональные шаблоны для создания тематических роликов.

Скачать →

10. VSDC Free Video Editor

• Платформа: Windows.

Бесплатная версия популярного редактора, которая, несмотря на урезанную функциональность, может похвастаться массой профессиональных опций. VSDC умеет работать с хромакеем и масками, поддерживает цветокоррекцию и стабилизацию, а также имеет модуль для отслеживания объекта в кадре и содержит множество эффектов. Программа позволяет захватывать видео с экрана и внешних источников. Готовые материалы можно экспортировать в разрешении 4K и сразу же выгружать на YouTube.

Скачать →

11. Splice

• Платформы: iOS, Android.

Простой, но мощный редактор для монтажа контента в ситуациях, когда под рукой нет компьютера. Шаблоны стилей, фильтры, синхронизация с аудиодорожкой — в Splice есть всё, что нужно для подготовки профессиональных видео для YouTube, Instagram* и других соцсетей.

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12. Clips

• Платформа: iOS.

Простое приложение Apple, которое идеально подходит для создания коротких и забавных роликов для публикации в соцсетях. В Clips есть уйма фильтров и эффектов, крутейшие стикеры, а также продвинутые титры и анимированные постеры на все случаи жизни.

13. Magisto

• Платформы: iOS, Android.

Современный видеоредактор с умными функциями, с помощью которого всего в несколько шагов можно создавать для соцсетей впечатляющие ролики профессионального качества. Выберите стиль, добавьте видео и фото, подберите музыку из встроенной медиатеки, а всё остальное возьмут на себя алгоритмы искусственного интеллекта.

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14. FilmoraGo



• Платформа: Android.

Популярный видеоредактор, позволяющий монтировать и обрабатывать видео на ходу. Помимо базовых обрезки и склейки, в FilmoraGo можно применять тематические фильтры и другие эффекты, добавлять музыку и переходы, а также изменять скорость воспроизведения. В бесплатной версии доступно множество вариантов экспорта, но с логотипом на видео.

15. Movie Maker

• Платформа: Android.

Простое, но довольно функциональное приложение для монтажа, с которым можно легко объединить несколько видео, отредактировать их и добавить различные эффекты. Movie Maker предлагает целый набор фильтров, переходов и образцов музыки, а также позволяет изменять скорость воспроизведения и применять к роликам эффект размытия.

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Текст статьи обновлён 20 июля 2021 года.

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So, you just bought a new PC or probably upgraded your current one to Windows 10 (it was about time!). And now you’re probably looking for a video editor because Microsoft stopped supporting Movie Maker at the beginning of 2017. Rest assured you’re not alone in your search — and welcome to the club of thousands of Windows 10 users worldwide.

Since the moment Windows Essentials suite reached its end of support, we’ve been relentlessly testing various programs to find the ones we could recommend as Movie Maker alternatives. Today we’ve got you covered with 7 excellent pieces of software for video editing. Whether you have some experience in clip making or this will be your first masterpiece, you’ll certainly find the right solution here.

Oh, did we mention that all the programs on the list are free? Well, consider it a nice bonus.

VSDC — Free Windows 10 video editor of our choice (Download)

If you’re searching for a multifunctional solution including a video editor, a slideshow creator, and a screen recorder, look no further. VSDC has it all. Named among the best free video editing software for PC by the GoPro technical support team, TechRadar online magazine, and numerous Youtuber channels, VSDC deserves to hold the top spot of this list.

Let’s take a closer look at what the program offers.

VSDC has a wide array of tools for multiple purposes. It will come in handy if you’re just planning to give your video a quick touch-up — say, cutting it, adding a soundtrack, fixing the angle, changing the light & color balance — you name it! Yet, it will also cope with a serious project requiring more advanced features.

There are over 30 color filters including Instagram-style presets. You’re capable of cropping the original picture borders or zooming the required part gradually. Here are some other popular effects you might be interested in checking out:

What else is good: VSDC works surprisingly well even on computers with limited resources. In other words, you’ll be able to utilize VSDC even if your PC has as little as 2Gb memory left. This capability makes it a good Windows 10 video editor choice even for low-end machine owners.

Format-wise, VSDC will open any file, no matter which device was used to record the footage. It works with 4K resolution too. At the export level, you’ll be able to choose pre-configured profiles for further upload to social networks (YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) or manually set the format, resolution, and quality including HD.

Download the latest version of VSDC

OpenShot — Windows 10 video editor which is open-source

Openshot interface looks much more minimalistic, so does its set of tools. This software, however, gets the job done pretty fast due to the most actions being implemented through a drag’n’drop mouse movement. If you were a fan of that feature in Movie Maker, you’d probably be happy to see the similarity. Unlike Movie Maker though, OpenShot is a non-linear video editor, which instantly makes it twice as powerful.

By the way, first-time users might be also pleasantly surprised by the popping up tutorial windows walking you through the main steps and helping get familiar with the interface.

Openshot has an impressive list of over 300 transitions. Each one can be applied to the required part or the intersection of two media files by the drag’n’drop movement as well. You also get to play with some essential effects, such as blurring, brightness&contrast, Chroma Key, deinterlacing, wipe transitions, negative, and color saturation. The picture-in-picture effect is a bit indirect, but there is a way to perform it by right-mouse clicking on the file and choosing a 1/4 size layout. Right-mouse click will also open the menu for time-related effects: freezing, fast-forwarding, slow-motion, etc.

What else is good: being able to apply actions «in bulk» — for example, copying the effects from a chosen area, or separating audio from a single clip or multiple clips simultaneously.

Where to get it: you can download the 64-bit Windows installer here.

Shotcut — a decent Windows 10 video editor for Chroma keying

There are not so many semi-professional open source video editors out there — Shotcut is one of them. It is available for Windows, MacOS, and Linux users. With its minimalistic interface, Shotcut is capable of all the essential video editing operations, including such challenging ones as film restoration, footage stabilization, and white balancing.

Applying effects is even more convenient because of the real-time preview you get from the left-side filters menu. Simply choose the filters you’d like to try on the footage and go through the checkboxes to see how they look on the picture in the right-side preview window.

What makes Shotcut stand out as a video editor for Windows 10 though, is the Chroma Keying tool. Movie Maker didn’t have the feature-set for removing a green background from videos and images — you could only perform the operation through a 3rd-party plugin (quite a painful sequence of actions). Shotcut in its turn allows for applying this advanced effect quickly and easily. Perhaps, that’s the reason TechRadar has named it among the software to replace Windows Essentials suite components.

What else is good: the ability to quickly reverse your actions in a non-linear order. As mentioned before, each filter or effect you apply to the footage is eventually listed in the left-side window with a marked checkbox. That means you can uncheck any box at any time without having to start the editing process all over again.

Where to get it: Shotcut official website.

Avidemux — ultra-simplistic Windows 10 video editor and encoder

If the previously mentioned software overwhelmed you a bit with the fancy non-linear video editing technology or the endless lists of features, you’ll love Avidemux. There seem to be no creative element involved. You won’t find multiple video tracks or file library. In a nutshell, you can only cut, copy, paste and encode. May it not turn you away from Avidemux though.

If you have little to no interest in all those post-production bells and whistles, and only need to quickly cut out a piece of footage, go for it. Download Avidemux and you’ll never regret. Not only does it take less than 3 seconds to install this software, it also provides the fastest and probably the clearest way to cut a video file into fragments. Once you’ve set the markers for the required time frame, simply go to the «Edit» tab in the upper menu and choose what you want to do — cut, copy, or delete the piece.

Once you’re done, you can go ahead and choose video and audio output parameters. For such a basic and free tool, Avidemux has a noteworthy set of codecs to choose from. This is why calling it not just a video editor, but also an encoder is more correct. It supports most popular formats including MP4, MPG, WMV, AVI, DVD, and MOV — as well as the latest H.265/HEVC codec for high-quality videos.

Truth be told, there are few filters available at the configuration level — such as interlacing, noise or sharpness — but they seem to be more technically-inclined rather than serve creative purposes.

What else is good: options to add subtitles and a logo on top of video with alpha blending. These features are also available in the video output menu.

Where to get it: Avidemux version of video editor for Windows 10 can be found on Fosshub, but you can also go through the official product page.

Davinci Resolve — professional software for the experienced ones

Most professional video editors (think Adobe Premiere or Sony Vegas) tend to be pricey for an average user who might only utilize them few times a year. However, if when saying «professional» you think of advanced color correction tools, Resolve is a spectacular video editor for your Windows 10 PC available at zero cost.

You may want to check online courses devoted to Davinci Resolve available on Lynda or Udemy because mastering this beast will require a bit of a steep learning curve if you haven’t worked with anything like this before. However, Hollywood-level color grading capabilities should be worth it. On top of that, of course, you get to perform basic operations, such as cutting, splitting and sound adjusting.

There are only two downsides worth mentioning and taking into consideration. First, Davinci Resolve will use your PC GPU to the fullest, so make sure to have a powerful graphic card and a good amount of memory available. Second, there are occasional issues with recognizing certain formats of video and audio. The officially recommended format to work with is ProRes, but it also seems to work smoothly with the majority of files in H.264 codec.

Where to get it: on the official product page. Scroll all the way down to find the free version of the software download link.

Videopad — a Windows 10 video editor for personal use

Videopad is another multifunctional piece of software for video editing, screen recording, audio and video recording. Its free version is called demo and restricted to personal use only. The interface will sure remind you of Movie Maker — especially the file library and the upper menu where video effects and transitions can be found.

Videopad is more a robust tool though. There are multiple video and audio tracks available, so you can work with the non-linear sequence. If you’re working with text objects, this editor provides a good number of effects. First, there is a way to add subtitles in real-time. In other words, you can manually input the subtitle text with the precision of a second being able to preview their appearance immediately and correct if required. Second, there is over a dozen of text effects and animations to choose from.

However, the most prominent advanced feature available in Videopad is masking. Right-mouse click on the chosen video fragment and proceed to Effects. A separate window will open, where you’ll be able to set the masking parameters.

What else is good: a quick access button to create snapshots in multiple resolutions including 4K Ultra HD.

Where to get it: on the official website of the developer company, NHC Software. Scroll down past the red download button to the «Get it free» section.

Hitfilm Express — a video editor for Windows 10 focused on effects

We’re finishing this roundup of Windows 10 video editors with yet another powerful solution popular among YouTube bloggers fond of adding special effects to their videos. Hitfilm Express is a cross-platform software and works on Windows as well as on Mac. Its unique feature set is well hidden behind an unconventional interface though. On the basic level, you’ll be able to cut and split media files, add text and work with audio.

Once you get the feeling of how the editing process is organized in Hitfilm Express, you’ll able to play with the effects. From chroma keying to 3D compositing and many more special effects you’ve probably seen on TV. Once finished, video projects can be exported in 1080p resolution only, but there are several pre-configured output profiles for further upload to social media.

What else is good: Hollywood movies inspired tutorials on how to apply effects in Hitfilm Express like a pro.

Where to get it: Go to the «Express» page of Hitfilm website to download the free version. You’ll be asked to share the page on social networks and leave your email address to get the link.

Wrapping up

Despite the rumors, the long-anticipated Movie Maker successor released by Microsoft hasn’t met users’ expectations. Moreover, the alternative suggested by the company developer allows you to create a beautiful slideshow from photos at best and doesn’t look like a full-featured video editor. So, we hope this list of programs will be of help to those looking for a decent Windows 10 video editor.