In today’s digital landscape, videos reign supreme. Whether it’s creating videos for YouTube or Vimeo or crafting snappy clips for TikTok or Instagram Reels, everyone is dabbling in content creation.
Perhaps you’re eager to jump into video editing but feel overwhelmed by the vast array of editing software options available. The last thing you want to do is invest time in the wrong software.
Not to worry — we’ve done the legwork for you and have compiled a list of the best free video editing software currently on the market.
With this guide, you can start honing your editing skills without spending a dime. We’ll delve into each option’s key features, pros and cons, and recommended skill level, as well as provide guidance on selecting a video editor for your PC. Plus, we’ve answered some of the most asked questions about video editors.
- 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
- 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
1. PowerDirector Essential — Best Overall
Designed for beginners and professionals alike, PowerDirector is the best free video editing software on the market. It’s easy to learn and features tons of effects that will enable you to edit videos with AI-assist tools in no time. Detailed Review >
2. DaVinci Resolve — Best for Experts
DaVinci Resolve is a video editor for PC, Mac, and Linux for professionals and experts to edit videos with advanced features at no cost. Detailed Review >
3. Blender — Best for Animation
Blender is a free video editing software specializing in 3D animations and compositing tools. We recommend this video editor for PC for professionals and advanced users. Detailed Review >
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
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Pros
- User-Friendly Interface: The software has a simple interface, making it easy for beginners to edit videos immediately.
- Comprehensive Feature Set: It offers a comprehensive set of basic and advanced features, making it a versatile solution for all video editing needs.
- Regular Updates: The software receives regular updates with new features and creative packs, providing users with access to the latest tools.
Cons
- Need Paid Subscription for Stock Libraries: Access to stock libraries requires a paid subscription, which may result in additional costs for some users.
Key Features:
- Royalty-Free Stock Library: A collection of video and audio clips licensed for use without requiring the user to pay royalties or licensing fees.
- Compositing Tools: Enable users to combine multiple video or image layers to create complex visual effects.
- AI Motion Tracking: Uses artificial intelligence to track and follow an object or person in a video.
- Color Grading and Correction Tools: Used to adjust the color and tone of a video to improve its overall look and feel.
Compatibility: Windows, Mac
PCMag Rating: 5/5
Price: Free
*Premium features available for free for 30 days, then $4.33/month
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. At the same time, 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
Pros
- Professional Non-linear Editing: Allows users to edit video footage non-linearly, giving them more control over the editing process and the ability to make precise edits to their videos.
- Audio Engine With Support For 2,000 Tracks: Provides users with a powerful audio engine that can support up to 2,000 tracks, enabling them to create complex soundscapes and add multiple layers of audio to their videos.
Cons
- Requires Expert-level Knowledge and Experience: This software can be complex and requires expert-level knowledge and experience to use effectively, making it less suitable for beginners or casual users.
- Requires a Powerful Machine to Run Smoothly: This software requires a powerful computer with high-end specifications to run smoothly, which may be a barrier for some users who don’t have access to high-end hardware.
Key Features:
- High-Quality Visual Effects: Provides a range of visual effect tools allowing video creators to enhance their video content with professional-looking visual effects.
- AI-Based Magic Mask: This feature uses artificial intelligence to automatically identify and isolate objects in a video clip.
- Multicam Editing: Allows users to edit footage from multiple cameras simultaneously
- Dual Timelines: Allows users to work on two timelines simultaneously, making it easier to edit videos with complex timelines or multiple video tracks.
Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux
TechRadar Rating: 4.5/5
Price: Free
*Premium version available for $295 for DaVinci Resolve Studio
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
Pros
- Customizable Interface: This feature allows users to customize the user interface to suit their preferences, making it easier to navigate the software and access the tools they need.
- Supports all types of VFX: This software supports a wide range of visual effects, including 2D and 3D compositing, animation, and motion graphics, giving users greater flexibility and control over the creation of their video content.
Cons
- Steep Learning Curve: This software can be complex and may require a significant amount of time and effort to learn, making it less suitable for beginners or casual users.
- Slow Rendering: Rendering can be slow, particularly for complex visual effects or high-resolution video footage, which can be a time-consuming process and limit productivity for users who need to produce videos quickly.
Key Features:
- Masking tools: Masking tools allow users to create a mask around an object in their video, which can then be used to isolate the object for special effects or color correction.
- Advanced Motion Graphics: Provides users with the ability to add dynamic and complex visual effects to their videos, such as particle effects, 3D animation, and dynamic typography.
- Modeling and Sculpting: Create 3D models and sculptures within the video editing software.
- Audio adjustment tools: Enables users to adjust the audio of their videos, including volume, equalization, and noise reduction.
Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux
G2 Rating: 4.5/5
Price: Free
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
Pros
- Make Videos Quickly: This software is designed to help users create videos quickly, with a range of templates, presets, and stock content that can be used to speed up the editing process.
- Free Version Includes Stock Music: The free version of the software includes a selection of stock music that can be used to enhance the audio of your videos, without requiring users to pay additional fees or royalties.
Cons
- Templates Are Restrictive: While templates can be helpful in speeding up the video editing process, they can also be restrictive and limit the creative freedom of the user, resulting in videos that may look similar to other content created with the same templates.
- Very Difficult to Cancel Subscription: Some users have reported difficulty canceling their subscription to this software, with complicated cancellation processes or hidden fees that can make it challenging to discontinue their service. This may result in users paying for a subscription they no longer need or want.
Key Features:
- Screen Recording: Screen recording is a feature that allows users to capture their computer screen, enabling them to create video tutorials, software demos, or gameplay videos.
- Trim/Crop Videos: Trimming and cropping tools enable users to remove unwanted portions of their video footage or adjust the framing of their shots, giving them greater control over the final look and feel of their videos.
- 40+ Professional Fonts: A collection of professional fonts is included with the software, providing users with a wide range of typography options to use in their videos, such as title screens, lower thirds, and captions.
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
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
Pros
- Outstanding customer service: This software is known for its excellent customer service, with responsive support and helpful resources available to users who need assistance.
- Wide format support: The software supports a wide range of video formats, making it easy for users to import and edit video footage from a variety of sources.
Cons
- Free version is too limiting: The free version of the software is often considered too limiting, with a range of features and tools that are only available to users who pay for a subscription or purchase the full version of the software.Takes a long time to import videos.
- Takes a long time to import videos: Some users have reported that the software can be slow to import video footage, particularly for larger files or high-resolution content, which can be a frustrating and time-consuming process for users who need to edit videos quickly.
Key Features:
- Screen Recorder: This feature enables users to capture their computer screen, allowing them to create video tutorials, demonstrations, or gameplay videos directly within the software.
- 50 Transitions: The software includes a collection of 50 transitions that can be used to add dynamic effects to video footage, such as crossfades, wipes, and fades.
- Animated Effects: Animated effects provide users with the ability to add dynamic and engaging animations to their videos, such as text animations, motion graphics, and visual effects.
- Meme Maker: Create custom memes by adding text and images to video footage, making it easy to create engaging and shareable content for social media platforms.
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
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
Pros
- Open-source, customizable editor: The software is open-source, allowing users to customize and modify it according to their needs.
- Includes advanced effects: Offers a wide range of advanced effects and editing tools for creative video editing.
- Pitch compensation for video speed changes: Provides pitch compensation to maintain audio quality when adjusting video speed.
Cons
- No direct uploads to social media: The software may not have built-in features for directly uploading videos to social media platforms.
- Unusual interface: Users may find the interface to be different from traditional editing software, requiring some time to learn and adapt.
Key Features:
- Wide Format Support: Supports a wide range of video formats, allowing for compatibility with various types of video footage.
- Audio Mixing: Provides tools for adjusting and mixing audio tracks, enabling control over the volume, balance, and effects.
- Color Correction and Grading: Offers features for adjusting and enhancing the colors and overall look of videos, allowing for precise color correction and creative grading.
- 360-Degree Video Filters: Includes filters specifically designed for 360-degree videos, allowing for applying effects and adjustments to immersive video footage.
Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux
G2 Rating: 4.2/5
Price: Free
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 for Beginners Using Linux
Pros
- Clear interface: The software presents a user-friendly interface that is easy to understand and navigate.
Cons
- No timeline: The software may lack a timeline feature, which can limit precise editing and control over video sequences.
- No creative effects or transitions: Users may find a limited selection of creative effects and transitions, limiting the ability to add visual flair to videos.
Key Features:
- Excellent encoding options: Offers a range of encoding options, allowing users to customize video output according to their preferences and requirements.
- Sharpening and de-noising filters: Provides filters to enhance video quality by sharpening the image and reducing noise.
Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux
TechRadar Rating: 4/5
Price: Free
Who It’s For
Avidemux is suitable for those who need to encode or configure a video for a particular speaker setup, and for those who need a simple video editor.
Why We Picked It
Avidemux is a free, easy-to-use video editor that allows users to make quick edits and cuts. Its best feature is its array of export options that give users total control over audio and video encoding.
Bottom Line
Avidemux is a good option for those who need a simple video editor and encoding tool, but it lacks advanced features and a timeline.
8. VideoPad — Best for Beginners
Pros
- Simple platform: The software offers a straightforward and user-friendly platform, making it easy for users to navigate and use.
- Exports directly to YouTube and social media: Allows for seamless sharing of videos directly to popular social media platforms, saving time and effort.
Cons
- Limited advanced features: Users may find that the software lacks certain advanced editing features and capabilities.
- UI looks a little outdated: The user interface of the software may appear dated or less modern compared to other video editing software.
Key Features:
- Over 60 Supported Video Formats: The software supports a wide range of video formats, ensuring compatibility with various video sources.
- 3D and 360-Degree Editing: Provides tools and features specifically designed for editing 3D and 360-degree videos, allowing for immersive and engaging video editing experiences.
- Audio Effects: Offers a variety of audio effects and filters to enhance the sound quality and add creative audio elements to videos.
- Chroma Key: Includes chroma key functionality, allowing for the removal or replacement of a specific color (usually green or blue) in a video, commonly used for creating green screen effects.
Compatibility: Windows, Mac
G2 Rating: 4.1/5
Price: Free
*Premium versions available for $70 for Home Edition and $129 for Master’s Edition
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
Pros
- Low system requirements: The software runs smoothly on computers with lower specifications, ensuring accessibility for users with older or less powerful devices.
- No watermarks or ads: The output videos do not contain any watermarks or advertisements, preserving the professional quality of the edited content.
Cons
- Slow rendering: The rendering process of the software may be relatively slow, resulting in longer waiting times for the final video output.
- Lacks some advanced features: Users may find that the software lacks certain advanced editing features and functionalities commonly found in more robust video editing software.
Key Features:
- Audio Extractor: Allows users to extract audio tracks from videos, providing the ability to separate and work with audio separately.
- Remove noise/grain: Provides tools to reduce or eliminate unwanted noise or grain from video footage, resulting in cleaner and clearer visuals.
- Advanced Color Correction: Offers advanced color correction tools, enabling precise adjustments and enhancements to the colors and tones of videos.
- Fisheye Removal: Includes functionality to correct the fisheye distortion often present in videos captured with fisheye lenses, resulting in a more natural and distortion-free visual output.
Compatibility: Windows, Mac
KommandoTech Rating: 4/5
Price: Free
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
Pros
- Customizable user interface: The software allows users to personalize the interface according to their preferences, enhancing workflow efficiency.
- Direct uploading to YouTube: Provides seamless integration with YouTube, enabling users to directly upload edited videos to their YouTube channels without the need for separate exporting and uploading steps.
Cons
- Complicated interface that takes time to learn: The software may have a complex interface that requires some time and effort to fully grasp and navigate.
- Advanced but not enough for professionals: While the software offers advanced features, it may not meet the extensive requirements of professional video editing workflows.
Key Features:
- 4K Export: Enables users to export videos in 4K resolution, delivering high-quality output suitable for high-resolution displays.
- Motion Tracking: Includes motion tracking capabilities, allowing users to track and apply effects or adjustments to moving objects within a video.
- 3D Simulations: Provides tools for creating and incorporating 3D simulations into videos, adding depth and visual interest to the footage.
- Displacement and Distortion: Offers features for applying displacement and distortion effects to video clips, allowing for creative and artistic manipulations of the visuals.
Compatibility: Windows, Mac
TechRadar Rating: 4/5
Price: Free
*Premium subscriptions available for $7.99/month for Creator and $12.99 /month for Pro
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
Pros
- Tools for beginners and pros: The software caters to both novice and experienced users, providing a range of tools suitable for various skill levels.
- Fast rendering: The software offers efficient rendering capabilities, allowing users to quickly generate final video outputs.
Cons
- Stock library and templates only in expensive Premium & Suite versions: Access to the stock library and templates may require upgrading to more costly versions of the software, limiting their availability in the standard or free versions.
- Frequent crashing: Users may experience frequent crashes or instability while using the software, leading to potential workflow disruptions.
Key Features:
- Direct Upload to Social Media: Facilitates seamless sharing of edited videos directly to popular social media platforms, streamlining the process of sharing content with online audiences.
- 900+ Effects and Transitions: Provides a vast library of effects and transitions, offering users a wide range of creative options to enhance their videos.
- Deep Color Correction: Offers advanced color correction tools, allowing for precise adjustments and enhancements to the color grading and tonal balance of video footage.
- Layer Masks: Includes the ability to work with layer masks, enabling users to apply selective edits or adjustments to specific areas of the video, providing greater control over the editing process.
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
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
Pros
- No learning curve: The software offers an intuitive and straightforward interface that requires minimal learning or technical knowledge to start editing videos.
- User-friendly interface: The software provides a user-friendly interface, making it easy for users to navigate and access the various features and tools.
Cons
- Lack of control over effects: Users may find limited customization options and control over the effects applied to videos, restricting the ability to achieve precise or specific visual enhancements.
- Slow rendering: The rendering process of the software may be relatively slow, resulting in longer wait times for the final video output.
Key Features:
- Background Rendering: Allows users to continue working on other tasks or editing activities while the software performs rendering tasks in the background, enhancing workflow efficiency.
- Video Stabilization: Provides tools to reduce or eliminate camera shake or instability from video footage, resulting in smoother and more professional-looking videos.
- Stylized Filters: Offers a selection of stylized filters or effects that users can apply to their videos, adding creative visual elements and enhancing the overall look and feel.
- Voice Over: Includes functionality to record and add voice-over narration to videos, enabling users to enhance their videos with spoken commentary or audio explanations.
Compatibility: Windows, Mac
PCMag Rating: 4/5
Price: 7-day free trial, then 54.95/year
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
Pros
- Built-In on Windows 10 and later devices: The software comes pre-installed on Windows 10 and later devices, eliminating the need for additional downloads or installations.
- User-Friendly interface: The software offers a user-friendly interface, making it accessible and easy to use for users of various skill levels.
Cons
- Very limited features: Users may find the software lacking in terms of advanced editing features and functionalities, limiting the creative possibilities.
- Linear editing, no layers: The software may only support linear editing, which means users cannot work with layers or overlay multiple elements on the timeline.
Key Features:
- 3D Effects: Provides a collection of 3D effects that users can apply to their videos, adding depth and visual interest to the footage.
- Auto Movie Options: Offers automated movie creation options, allowing users to quickly generate videos with pre-set themes, transitions, and effects.
- Fade Effects: Includes various fade effects that users can use to smoothly transition between video clips or apply artistic fade-in or fade-out effects.
- Customizable Titles: Enables users to create and customize titles for their videos, adding text overlays with various fonts, styles, and animations.
Compatibility: Windows
TechRadar Rating: 4/5
Price: Free
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
Pros
- Good format support: The software offers compatibility with a wide range of video formats, allowing users to work with their preferred file types without the need for additional conversions.
- Beginner-Friendly navigation: The software provides an intuitive and user-friendly interface, making it easy for beginners to navigate and perform basic video editing tasks.
Cons
- Very limited tools: Users may find the software lacking in terms of advanced editing tools and features, limiting their ability to perform complex edits or enhancements.
- Free version doesn’t offer effects and filters: Users utilizing the free version of the software may not have access to a wide range of effects and filters to enhance their videos.
Key Features:
- Cut and Merge Video: Allows users to trim or remove unwanted portions of video clips and merge multiple video files into a single composition.
- Video Overlay: Provides the capability to overlay additional video elements, such as logos, graphics, or other videos, on top of the main video footage.
- Text-Speech Exchange: Offers functionality to convert text into speech, allowing users to add voice-over narration or dialogue to their videos.
- Voice Over: Enables users to record and add their own voice-over narration or audio commentary to the video, enhancing the storytelling or explanatory elements.
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
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
Pros
- Easy export to social networks: The software provides a convenient and streamlined process for exporting videos directly to popular social networks, simplifying the sharing and distribution of content.
- Low system requirements: The software is designed to run smoothly on systems with low hardware specifications, allowing users with less powerful computers to edit videos without performance issues.
Cons
- Unintuitive interface: Users may find the software’s interface to be unintuitive or difficult to navigate, which can hinder the editing process and slow down workflow.
- Too many features are hidden: Some users may struggle to discover or access certain features as they are not prominently displayed or easily accessible within the software.
Key Features:
- Motion Tracking: Offers tools for tracking and following the movement of objects or elements within a video, allowing users to apply effects or annotations that stay connected to the tracked objects.
- Video Stabilization: Provides functionality to reduce or eliminate camera shake or instability from video footage, resulting in smoother and more professional-looking videos.
- Chroma Key: Enables users to remove a specific color or range of colors from a video, allowing them to replace the background or overlay the video onto a different scene or environment.
- Voice Over: Allows users to record and add their own voice-over narration or audio commentary to the video, enhancing the storytelling or explanatory elements.
Compatibility: Windows
Trustpilot Rating: 3.9/5
Price: Free
*Premium version is $19.99
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
Pros
- Auto-Generated subtitles and text-to-speech
- Themed templates for all popular platforms
Cons
- Expensive Pro version
- Poor customer service
Key Features:
- Color Adjustment
- Change Video Speed
- Cloud Storage
- Clean Audio Tool
Compatibility: Web Browser
Product Hunt Rating: 3.6/5
Price: Free
*Premium subscription available for $16/month
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
Pros
- Established 30-year reputation
- Automatic QC
Cons
- Not beginner-friendly
- Lacks effect tools
Key Features:
- Instant Autosave
- Background Processing
- Motion Graphics
- Filters and LUTs
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
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
Pros
- Offers a lot of advanced features
- Wide video format support
Cons
- Limited to 1080p export
- Extremely steep learning curve
Key Features:
- Video Stabilization
- Time Code Tool
- Bulk Edit
- Multicam Editing
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
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
Pros
- Free music and stock photos
- Slideshow maker
Cons
- Lacks advanced editing
- Cannot edit offline
Key Features:
- Transitions
- Speed Adjustment and Reverse Effect
- Chroma Key
- Blur Tool
Compatibility: Web Browser
TechRadar Rating: 3.5/5
Price: Free
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
Pros
- Good media organization tools
- A simplistic and intuitive interface
Cons
- Uses a lot of CPU
- Slow rendering times
Key Features:
- Auto Reframe
- Video Stabilization
- Noise Reduction Tool
- Video-to-Photo Tool
Compatibility: Windows, Mac
PCMag Rating: 3.5/5
Price: 30-day free trial, then $99.99
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
Pros
- Unlimited layers
- Nice-Looking interface
Cons
- Few video tutorials
- Some features don’t work making editing frustrating
Key Features:
- Time Effects
- 3D Animations
- Title Editor
- Background Removal
Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux
TechRadar Rating: 3/5
Price: Free
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
Pros
- Collaboration tools
- Decent rendering performance
Cons
- Relatively complicated
- Issues with clip speed adjustments
Key Features:
- 3D Editing
- Motion Tracking
- AI-Powered Video Upscaling
- Audio Editing Tools
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
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
Pros
- Wide format support
- Free version exports in 1080p with no watermark
Cons
- Not many customization options
- Timeline marker is hard to use
Key Features:
- Batch Processing
- Resize Video
- Flip/Rotate Video
- Stickers
Compatibility: Windows
Source Forge Rating: 2.5/5
Price: Free
*Premium subscription available for $12.99/month or $59.99/year
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
Software | OS | Beginner-Friendly | Editing Interfaces | Titles & Transitions | Wide Variety of Visual Effect Capabilities | Audio & Color Correction Tools | Free Download |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PowerDirector | Windows, Mac | Yes | Storyboard, Timeline & Slideshow Interfaces | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Free Download
|
DaVinci Resolve | Windows, Mac, Linux | No | Timeline | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Download |
Blender | Windows, Mac | No | Timeline | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Download |
Animoto | Web Browser | Yes | Templates | Titles, but no Transitions | No | No |
Download |
WeVideo | Web Browser | Yes | Timeline | Yes | No | Audio, but no Color Tools |
Download |
Shotcut | Windows, Mac, Linux | No | Timeline | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Download |
Avidemux | Windows, Mac, Linux | Yes | Single Clip Interface | No | No | Yes |
Download |
VideoPad | Windows, Mac | Yes | Timeline | Yes | Minimal | Yes |
Download |
VideoProc Vlogger | Windows, Mac | Yes | Timeline | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Download |
HitFilm | Windows, Mac | No | Timeline | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Download |
Magix Movie Studio | Windows | Yes | Timeline | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Download |
Movavi Video Editor | Windows, Mac | Yes | Timeline | Yes | Minimal | Yes |
Download |
Windows Video Editor | Windows | Yes | Storyboard | Titles, but no Transitions | No | Audio, but no Color Tools | Found on Windows 10 and later |
EaseUS Video Editor | Windows | Yes | Timeline | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Download |
VSDC Free Video Editor | Windows | Yes | Timeline | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Download |
Kapwing | Web Browser | Yes | Timeline | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Download |
Lightworks | Windows, Mac | No | Timeline | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Download |
Avid Media Composer First | Windows, Mac | No | Timeline | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Download |
Movie Maker Online | Web Browser | Yes | Timeline | Yes | No | No |
Download |
Adobe Premiere Elements | Windows, Mac | Yes | Timeline | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Download |
OpenShot | Windows, Mac, Linux | Yes | Timeline | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Download |
VEGAS Pro | Windows | No | Timeline | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Download |
MiniTool Movie Maker | Windows | Yes | Templates | Yes | No | Yes |
Download |
Show More
PowerDirector
vs
DaVinci Resolve
Blender
Animoto
WeVideo
Shotcut
Avidemux
VideoPad
VideoProc Vlogger
HitFilm
Magix Movie Studio
Movavi Video Editor
Windows Video Editor
EaseUS Video Editor
VSDC Free Video Editor
Kapwing
Lightworks
Avid Media Composer First
Movie Maker Online
Adobe Premiere Elements
OpenShot
VEGAS Pro
MiniTool Movie Maker
OS
Windows, Mac
—
Beginner-Friendly
Yes
—
Editing Interfaces
Storyboard, Timeline & Slideshow Interfaces
—
Titles & Transitions
Yes
—
Wide Variety of Visual Effect Capabilities
Yes
—
Audio & Color Correction Tools
Yes
—
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.
- Import your media files by selecting Import Media Folder and choosing the correct folder on your desktop. Then, click Select Folder.
- 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.
- 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.
- To add transitions to your video, go to the Transition Room then click and drag a transition in between two clips.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
For more information on adding transitions, click here.
Click here for a more in-depth look at adding text and titles to your video.
Check out a tutorial on adding and editing music here.
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.
Free Video Editing Software FAQ
1. What are the Best Free Video Editing Software for Mac?
2. What are the Best Free Video Editing Apps?
3. What Features Should I Look for in Free Video Editing Software?
The top ten features you should look for in free video editing software are
- Trimming/Cutting Tools
- Rotate/Flip Feature
- Transitions
- Effects and Filters
- Audio Editing
- Voice Over
- Color Correction Tools
- Text and Titles
- Green screen effects
- Wide format support
If you’re looking for free video editing software that checks all of these boxes, we recommend PowerDirector.
4. Which Video Editing Software is Best for Beginners?
The best free video editing software options for beginners are built on easy-to-use platforms that allow users to learn quickly. PowerDirector has the most intuitive platform and offers dozens of tutorials to help beginners learn the ropes.
Check out our list of best video editing software for beginners here.
5. Does Windows Have a Built-In Video Editor?
Yes, Windows Video Editor, which is on our list. It’s a basic video editor for PC that allows you to trim video clips, add text and music, overlay effects, and incorporate 3D objects. Type “video editor” into your Windows search bar to open the program.
6. Does Mac Have a Free Video Editor?
Yes, Macs come with iMovie, a basic video editor. However, many of the video editors on this list such as PowerDirector have more features and tools.
7. Should I Pay For a Video Editor to Get Better Results?
Free editing software has cut home movies to independent films for years. They may not have all the bells and whistles as paid software but if you are looking for the basics you can’t go wrong with free.
However, if you are going to be editing YouTube videos on the regular it is advisable to invest in a premium video editor for PC. This will help you get the most out of your hardware, speed up the editing process, and create higher-quality cuts and video effects. We recommend PowerDirector as the best option.
8. What is Basic Video Editing?
Basic video editing refers to the tools an editor has to have to cut together any type of film. Basic editing includes:
- Trimming/Splitting/Rearranging clips
- Adding transitions
- Increasing/Decreasing audio
- Adding background music
The most basic free video editing software should allow you to do all of the above.
9. What Do Most YouTubers Use to Edit Their Videos?
Most YouTubers use PowerDirector to edit videos. It is an affordable and beginner-friendly video editor for PC, but also comes with tons of tools and pro-level features.
PowerDirector has all the tools a YouTuber needs, such as a large library of royalty-free music, templates for YouTube intros/outros, and direct upload to YouTube.
10. How Do I Learn to Edit YouTube Videos for Free?
11. How Can I Edit a Video Like a Pro for Free?
While all of the options on our list offer basic video editing for free, they don’t all have pro-level tools. We recommend PowerDirector as the best free video editor for PC with professional tools and features.
12. What Do I Need to Edit Videos?
All you need to edit videos is a computer or laptop with plenty of available RAM, video editing software, and some video clips to edit!
13. What is the 321 Rule in Video Editing?
The 321 rule is a way of protecting your footage and edited content by storing all of your video files in 3 different places, such as cloud storage, your PC’s hard drive, and an external device like a hard drive or flash drive.
14. Is it Hard to Edit Videos?
Your video editing software will determine how hard or easy it is to edit videos. If you have a video editor for PC such as PowerDirector, with a clean, intuitive interface and easy-to-use tools, then video editing can be easy. Some video editing software have a steep learning curve and are hard to use without lots of editing knowledge and practice.
15. How Can I Learn Editing?
Using free video editing software is a great way to learn video editing without any monetary commitment. Explore and practice using different features, and read the accompanying blogs and tutorials that are typically provided by most brands.
If you want to become a professional editor, you can pay for an online course.
16. What Computer Parts Do I Need for Video Editing?
If you are making super quick videos such as Instagram Reels, you can use your smartphone to edit. However, for longer videos and editing in 4K and above, you need a powerful computer.
For serious video editing, you will need a computer with good internal power, plenty of available RAM, and an adequately-sized screen so you won’t hurt your eyes by squinting all day.
We recommend also having an external hard drive to store your video projects and free up room on your computer. If you are a professional editor or gamer, we also recommend getting a second screen for a dual-screen setup.
17. Is It Better to Edit Video on Desktop or Laptop?
A laptop will suffice for a few short videos, but if you edit long videos, or edit many short videos every month, you will need more room on your hard drive and more power than a laptop can provide.
Screen size is another thing to consider. Desktops typically come with much larger screens, which is important for making precise edits and color corrections.
18. How Much RAM Do I Need for Video Editing?
The smallest amount acceptable for downloading video editing software and basic editing is 8GB. However, we recommend 32GB to cover everything from 8K editing and 3D, long videos, and working with multiple programs open.
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Если вам нужно быстро смонтировать видеоролик для рекламной кампании или других целей, совсем не обязательно изучать сложные программы. Собрали 15 простых инструментов, с которыми справится даже новичок в видеомонтаже. Все они бесплатные, имеют бесплатную версию или их можно оплатить из России. Читайте новую подборку от редакции click.ru.
Десктопные приложения
Movavi Video Editor
Официальный сайт
Movavi Video Editor – видеоредактор для начинающих, но практически с таким же набором возможностей, как профессиональные редакторы. Все элементы управления – кнопки, меню, монтажный стол, дорожки – расположены логично, что позволяет разобраться в них всего за несколько минут без инструкции.
Стоимость: 2508 рублей за бессрочную лицензию. Есть тестовый период с неограниченным функционалом, но с другими ограничениями. Например, с водяным знаком на видео и пр.
Платформы: Windows, macOS. Есть мобильные версии для iOS, Android.
Язык: русский.
Кому подойдет: и новичкам, и продвинутым монтажерам.
Особенности и преимущества:
-
отдельная панель с базовыми функциями монтажа – поворотом видео, разделением на клипы, кадрированием, цветокоррекцией;
-
поддержка обработки звука, добавление фото и аудио. Можно легко изменить скорость видео или проиграть его в обратном направлении;
-
панель расширенных настроек для продвинутых пользователей. Можно добавить переходы, стикеры, титры, эффекты, фильтры, музыку;
-
внутренний магазин Movavi, где можно купить понравившиеся шаблоны эффектов;
-
дружелюбный интерфейс с нераздражающими подсказками, которые быстро позволяют понять, что к чему. Никаких дополнительных окон с метаданными, маркерами и прочими элементами, которые путают новичков;
-
минимальные системные требования – подойдет ПК или ноутбук с оперативной памятью от 2 Гб и не устаревшей моделью видеокарты;
-
канал на Ютуб с полезными видео о монтаже.
DaVinci Resolve
Официальный сайт
DaVinci Resolve – не просто видеоредактор, а полноценная среда для постобработки видео и звука. В описании указано, что программа используется при создании голливудских шедевров, хотя конкретных примеров нет. Возможностей DaVinci Resolve хватает, чтобы эффектно смонтировать видео с нуля. Но для этого потребуется разобраться в сложностях процесса и освоить интерфейс многофункциональной программы.
Стоимость: полностью бесплатно, водяных знаков нет. Есть платная версия с расширенным функционалом, десятком плагинов и фильтров. Цена – 295 долларов за лицензию.
Платформы: Windows, macOS, Linux.
Язык: более 30 языков.
Кому подойдет: всем, кто планирует в будущем более профессионально заниматься видеомонтажом. DaVinci используют многие специалисты кино- и телеиндустрии.
Особенности и преимущества:
-
все инструменты для монтажа – постобработка звука, цветокоррекция, наложение визуальных эффектов;
-
рабочая область, разделенная на вкладки: импорт в одной, монтаж в другой, цветокоррекция в третьей;
-
контекстно-зависимость – редактор может определять, как именно вы хотите обрезать ролик, в зависимости от положения вашей мыши.
ShotCut
Официальный сайт
ShotCut – отличный видеоредактор, который, хотя и не является профессиональным, имеет множество эффектов и функций для работы с видеороликами. Пользователи высоко ценят программу за функционал для работы с кадрами, который освоит даже новичок.
Стоимость: бесплатно.
Платформы: Windows, macOS, Linux.
Язык: русский.
Кому подойдет: всем, кому нужны инструменты мощнее, чем встроенные в операционные системы.
Особенности и преимущества:
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поддержка видеоэффектов, цветокоррекция, работа с дорожками и аудио;
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захват потока с разных источников, включая внешние устройства;
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простой интерфейс;
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возможность использовать мультимедиа напрямую из встроенного в рабочую область проводника. Это сильно ускоряет процесс, но влияет на потребление аппаратных ресурсов;
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поддержка 4K-видео.
OpenShot Video Editor
Официальный сайт
Видеоредактор с открытым исходным кодом. ПО умеет обрезать видео, добавлять эффекты и переходы, настраивать дорожки.
Стоимость: бесплатно без ограничений.
Платформы: Windows, macOS, Linux.
Язык: поддерживает более 70 языков.
Кому подойдет: тем, кому важна кроссплатформенность и простой интерфейс.
Особенности и преимущества:
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широкий функционал, который включает нарезку, склейку, добавление субтитров, текста, эффектов, переходов между сценами, аудиодорожек;
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возможность склеить вместе несколько слоев поверх друг друга. Например, можно наложить на ролик текст, логотип, водяной знак, временной штамп и прочее, что потребуется. Чем больше слоев находится на временной шкале, тем больше ресурсов компьютеру потребуется для обработки и конвертации проекта в готовый видеоролик;
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возможность выбрать в настройках экспорта оптимальный формат для загрузки ролика на YouTube, во ВКонтакте и другие соцсети.
VSDC Video Editor
Официальный сайт
Это редактор, программа для записи экрана и конструктор для создания презентаций одновременно. При запуске VSDC появляется плашка с названиями главных функций, чтобы сразу было понятно, куда переходить. Бесплатная версия почти ничем не отличается от платной. Это большая редкость для таких редакторов. Главное ограничение – скорость экспортирования файлов.
Стоимость: бесплатно без ограничений. Есть платная премиум-версия с расширенным функционалом, 19,99 долларов в год.
Платформы: Windows.
Язык: более 10 языков, включая русский.
Кому подойдет: тем, кто часто редактирует видеофайлы и создает видеоклипы различной сложности с использованием видео- и аудиоэффектов.
Особенности и преимущества:
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множество инструментов для обработки видео, включая обрезку, склейку, добавление эффектов, настройку цветовой гаммы, работу с аудио;
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поддержка большого количества форматов – для редактирования подойдут любые ролики, от AVI-файлов и MP4 до flash-видео в SWF;
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удобный интерфейс, который, правда, многим кажется устаревшим;
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поддержка слоев и ключевых кадров для создания анимаций и специальных эффектов;
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широкий выбор эффектов и фильтров, профессиональные возможности цветокоррекции;
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функционал маскирования, который позволяет создавать различные эффекты и скрывать ненужные элементы на видео.
Avidemux
Официальный сайт
Максимально простой кроссплатформенный инструмент с базовыми функциями для несложного и быстрого редактирования видеофайлов: удаления ненужных частей, наложения стандартных фильтров и кодирования. Хотя у него ограниченные функции монтажа, можно легко склеить простой ролик и добавить интересные эффекты.
Стоимость: бесплатно.
Платформы: Windows, macOS, Linux, PC-BSD.
Язык: более 17 языков, включая русский.
Кому подойдет: тем, кому нужен максимально простой кроссплатформенный инструмент.
Особенности и преимущества:
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простой и понятный интерфейс, напоминающий интерфейс старых проигрывателей для Windows;
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небольшой вес и нетребовательность к «железу»;
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удобное выполнение разных простых операций, например вырезание, копирование, вставка, корректировка размера изображения, добавление эффектов;
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калькулятор для расчета оптимальных параметров кодирования;
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командная строка;
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возможность указать очередность выполнения задач.
Lightworks
Официальный сайт
Lightworks – мощная программа для профессионального монтажа видео и работы с музыкой. По функциональности не уступает популярным Adobe Premiere Pro или Sony Vegas, но при этом доступна бесплатно. С помощью Lightworks можно создать практически голливудский фильм. Среди проектов, которые монтировались в этом видеоредакторе, – «Бэтмен навсегда», «Остров проклятых», «Король говорит», «Авиатор», «Криминальное чтиво» и много других. При этом она подойдет и новичкам. В программе доступны обучающие видеоролики.
Стоимость: бесплатно с ограничениями. Есть платная pro-версия – 23,99 долларов в месяц.
Платформы: Windows, Linux, macOS.
Язык: английский.
Кому подойдет: тем, кому нужен мощный многофункциональный инструмент для сложного монтажа.
Особенности и преимущества:
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нелинейный монтаж видео, который позволяет обрезать, разделять, склеивать и перемещать видеоклипы на временной шкале. Можно настраивать скорость воспроизведения и добавлять переходы между видео;
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широкие возможности цветокоррекции. Можно изменять яркость, контрастность, насыщенность и оттенки видео;
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возможность добавлять фоновую музыку и звуковые эффекты, настраивать уровни громкости, записывать голосовые комментарии прямо в программе;
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настраиваемая панель инструментов;
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возможность добавлять текстовые надписи, титры и субтитры, выбирать различные шрифты, размеры и стили;
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более 100 встроенных эффектов и фильтров, таких как размытие, эффекты перехода, цветовые фильтры и другие. Также можно самостоятельно создавать свои эффекты;
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поддержка профессионального оборудования. Lightworks интегрируется с пультами управления, видеоинтерфейсами и другими устройствами для более удобного управления процессом монтажа;
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возможности для совместной работы над проектами – обмена файлами, комментариями с коллегами.
VirtualDub
Официальный сайт
VirtualDub похож на Avidemux, который был в нашем списке. Пользователи часто используют редактор для быстрой нарезки и склейки клипов. У ПО нет широких функций, но, тем не менее, оно популярно у пользователей.
Стоимость: бесплатная GNU General Public License (GPL).
Платформы: Windows.
Язык: английский.
Кому подойдет: тем, кому нужен максимально простой редактор.
Особенности и преимущества:
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малый вес (1-2 Мб), не требуется установка;
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простой и понятный интерфейс, в программе легко работать – вырезать нужный/ненужный фрагмент, обрезать/склеивать части видео, конвертировать и перекодировать видео, добавлять эффекты и т. д.;
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возможность обрезать, добавлять,заменять звуковые дорожки, работать с несколькими дорожками;
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высокая скорость работы;
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копирование видео напрямую, без перекодирования. С помощью редактора можно обрезать и склеивать видео- и аудиодорожки, а затем сохранять готовый файл, не теряя в качестве.
ВидеоМОНТАЖ
Официальный сайт
Решение от российских разработчиков для создания роликов и фильмов высокого качества. Основной функционал разбит в меню на блоки: картинки, текст, переходы, эффекты. Разделы помогают улучшить и стилизовать кадр, добавить заголовки, графические акценты, субтитры.
Стоимость: от 690 рублей за бессрочную лицензию.
Платформы: Windows.
Язык: русский.
Кому подойдет: для новичков и профессионалов.
Особенности и преимущества:
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все необходимые функции для качественной обработки видеоряда – обрезка, коррекция цвета, кадрирование, стабилизация;
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замена звука;
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поддержка более 50 мультимедиа форматов;
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поддержка работы с текстом;
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минимальные системные требования;
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встроенный конструктор, который проводит по основным этапам создания ролика и помогает быстрее освоиться;
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можно накладывать надписи, создавать титры и заставки. В каталоге футажей есть коллекция роликов, которые можно использовать для перебивок;
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настройки конвертации, позволяющие загружать готовый проект на любое современное портативное устройство. Также видеоредактор помогает адаптировать запись для загрузки на сайт или популярный видеохостинг вроде YouTube;
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более 150 эффектов для видео – тонирование, стилизации под винтаж, виньетки, имитации кинопленок и пр.
VideoPad
Официальный сайт
Функциональный, но несложный софт. В VideoPad используется высокоскоростной процессор. Благодаря ему файлы обрабатываются и выгружаются быстрее обычного.
Стоимость: основной инструментарий бесплатный, но если хочется использовать профессиональные опции, можно купить бессрочную лицензию за 35 долларов.
Платформы: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.
Язык: более 20 языков, включая русский.
Кому подойдет: тем, кому нужна простая программа с широким функционалом.
Особенности и преимущества:
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простой интерфейс;
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возможность микшировать несколько звуковых дорожек, музыки и повествования. Имеется библиотека звуковых эффектов и атмосферной фоновой музыки;
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редактирование 360-градусного видео;
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захват видео с цифровой видеокамеры, устройства видеозахвата или веб-камеры;
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более 50 эффектов тонирования, которые можно использовать в первозданном виде или создавать уникальные шаблоны фильтров для будущих проектов;
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ряд функций для оптимизации видео, включая добавление субтитров, цифровых изображений, цветокоррекцию, регулировку скорости воспроизведения;
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возможность работать с «объемным» видео. Можно редактировать 3D-исходники или переводить 2D в 3D;
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библиотека звуковых эффектов для работы с аудио. Для озвучки доступна запись с микрофона;
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возможность сконвертировать клип в HD или FullHD, выгрузить на YouTube или сохранить на компьютере.
Онлайн-сервисы
Clipchamp
Официальный сайт
Clipchamp – онлайн-платформа для нелинейного редактирования и сжатия видео от австралийской компании Clipchamp Pty Ltd. 7 сентября 2021 года Microsoft официально объявила о приобретении Clipchamp. В результате сделки программа стала частью операционной системы Windows 11. Теперь пользователи могут использовать как онлайн-, так и десктопную версию программы для редактирования видеоматериалов.
Стоимость: бесплатно. Есть платный тариф 11,99 евро в месяц с расширенным функционалом.
Платформы: онлайн в браузере.
Язык: русский.
Кому подойдет: владельцам слабых компьютеров, которым нужен простой инструмент без лишнего функционала. Можно выполнять небольшие проекты.
Особенности и преимущества:
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все основные функции видеоредакторов – кадрирование, обрезка, поворот, работа со слоями, обработка звука, разделение дорожек, добавление музыки и фото;
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сжатие видео без потери качества. Это полезно, когда необходимо уменьшить размер видеофайла для загрузки или передачи через интернет и сохранить высокое качество изображения;
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возможность создавать автоматически точные субтитры на более чем 140 языках;
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широкий функционал для преобразования текста в речь. Можно выбрать язык, тембр, темп голоса и пр.;
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тренажер для тренировки речи при записи на веб-камеру. Можно отслеживать свой темп, тон и слова-вставки;
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поддержка цветокоррекции, фильтров и текста. Эффектов немного, но они очень качественные;
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современный, стильный и удобный интерфейс.
Online video cutter от 123apps
Официальный сайт
У сервиса 123apps есть несколько веб-приложений: инструменты для работы с .pdf, конвертеры аудио и видеоредактор. Online video cutter – браузерный аналог видеоредакторов в смартфонах. Это наиболее быстрый вариант, если нужно немного отредактировать короткое видео, поменять разрешение или переписать его формат.
Стоимость: бесплатно – десять сохраненных файлов в день. На платной версии количество не ограничено. Цена – 6 евро в месяц. Максимальный размер файла – до 4 Гб.
Платформы: онлайн в браузере.
Язык: русский.
Кому подойдет: всем, кому нужно решать несложные повседневные задачи.
Особенности и преимущества:
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возможность обрезать, кадрировать, зациклить и стабилизировать видео;
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возможность изменить скорость, громкость и разрешение файла. Например, с .avi на .mp4;
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минималистичный интерфейс. Все настройки находятся на панели и нигде не спрятаны.
При этом тут нет поддержки работы с дорожками. Нельзя добавить фото, текст и другие эффекты. Также не получится наложить аудио поверх видео.
Clideo
Официальный сайт
Легкая кроссплатформенная программа для монтажа видео. Ролики добавляются с Google Диска, из внутренней памяти устройства или облака Dropbox. Сервис используют сотрудники крупных и малых компаний по всему миру – Amazon, Google, Loreal, Microsoft и пр.
Стоимость: бесплатно с ограничениями. Платная версия – от 6 долларов в месяц.
Платформы: онлайн-сервис, не требует загрузки и установки. Работает на macOS, Windows, Android и iOS.
Язык: английский.
Кому подойдет: всем, у кого нет опыта, но нужен широкий функционал.
Особенности и преимущества:
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несколько дорожек (видеофайл, аудио, текстовое поле), которые можно редактировать отдельно друг от друга;
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возможность сделать видео квадратным, горизонтальным или вертикальным, чтобы поделиться им в YouTube, Instagram* и пр.;
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изменение скорости воспроизведения, громкости, регулировка яркости и контрастности каждого файла;
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возможность добавить текст и персонализировать его. Например, изменить шрифт, размер, цвет, толщину, добавить фон и пр.;
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функция разделенного экрана, позволяющая отображать в одном кадре несколько клипов сразу. Так создается эффект картинка-в-картинке, который пригодится для оформления динамичного видео о путешествии или вечеринке.
Мобильные приложения
InShot
Официальный сайт
InShot выпустила компания InShot Inc. У нее есть и другие программы для монтажа с подобным интерфейсом. Но у них нет своих страниц на сайте. InShot – одно из самых популярных приложений для видеомонтажа на мобильных устройствах.
Стоимость: условно бесплатно с рекламой, ограничениями функционала и водяным знаком. На тарифе Pro есть доступ ко всем платным эффектам, переходам, стикерам. Водяной знак отсутствует. От 350 рублей в месяц.
Платформы: iOS, Android.
Язык: русский.
Кому подойдет: всем, кто хочет монтировать видеоролики на телефоне.
Особенности и преимущества:
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приложение объединяет сразу три программы – фоторедактор, редактор коллажей и программу для монтажа. Подпрограммы разделяют три кнопки на главном экране;
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наличие всех базовых функции – обрезки, кадрирования, изменения скорости, монтажа из нескольких фото и видео, звуков, наложения музыки, голоса и текста;
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возможность добавлять стикеры, переходы и фильтры. Широкоугольное видео возможно поместить в квадрат и разбавить фоном пустые участки;
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возможность записывать озвучку, а потом изменять голос – делать его женским, мужским, детским или похожим на робота;
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функция отмены и возврата действий;
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понятный интерфейс. Имеется справка по неочевидным и базовым функциям. Наглядные подсказки можно прочитать за несколько минут и изучить полезные фичи, способные пригодиться в работе.
Splice
Официальный сайт
Еще одно мультиплатформенное приложение для видеомонтажа на смартфонах. Уступает по функциональности InShot.
Стоимость: есть бесплатная версия, но в приложении больше рекламы, чем в InShot, и меньше бесплатного контента. Например, визуальные динамические эффекты доступны только за деньги. Также в Pro-версии есть маски, которые позволяют делать боковую виньетку в кадре или круглые видео. Также в платной версии можно заменить фон – нужно отметить пипеткой цвет на удаление, и объект вырежется.Стоимость платной версии – 899 рублей в неделю.
Платформы: iOS, Android.
Язык: доступно на английском, французском, немецком, испанском, итальянском, португальском, русском, японском и китайском языках.
Кому подойдет: всем, кто хочет монтировать видеоролики на телефоне.
Особенности и преимущества:
-
все возможности для редактирования видео. Можно настраивать скорость воспроизведения, регулировать цвета, добавлять переходы, текст;
-
широкая библиотека лицензированной музыки и звуковых эффектов. Можно искать треки по настроению, жанру или вокалу;
-
более 70 бесплатных фильтров, которые можно настроить по интенсивности;
-
интересная подборка шрифтов. Например, есть как трендовые шрифты с засечками в стиле New York Times, так и в виде надписей TikTok;
-
экспорт видео в различных форматах, включая HD и 4K.
Надеемся, наша подборка упростит вам процесс подготовки креативов. А если вы знаете какой-то отличный сервис для работы с видео, который мы не указали в статье, расскажите в комментариях.
*Социальные сети Instagram и Facebook запрещены в РФ. Решением суда от 21.03.2022 компания Meta признана экстремистской организацией на территории Российской Федерации.
Video editing can be an expensive game. Not only do you need to get your hands on the best laptop or desktop out there, but the software also plays an equally important role. It’s often thought that to have the best tools you need to pay some extortionate fee, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
The cost can soon spiral though, especially for those just getting started, if you don’t know where to look for better value alternatives. Fortunately, there are some fantastic video editors you can use on Windows absolutely free, like the incredible DaVinci Resolve, among other zero-cost solutions.
Best overall: DaVinci Resolve
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DaVinci Resolve 18
Insane that this is free
Reasons to buy
+
Completely free to use
+
Professional-grade video editing
+
Also available on Mac and Linux
+
Color grading and audio editing tools built-in
+
Relatively easy to pick up
+
GPU acceleration
Reasons to avoid
—
Not available on ARM
—
Will gobble up resources
—
Picky over GPU support
Did you know that DaVinci Resolve 18 is actually free? As hard as it might be to believe, this is a free, full-featured version of Blackmagic Design’s professional video editing software.
There is still the paid Studio ‘full’ version, but for anyone hunting a free video editor, it’s hard to find anything else like this. For most, the free version will deliver everything you ever need.
For one, it’s platform-agnostic, so you can use it on Mac and Linux as well as on Windows, though it can be picky over its hardware support. That mostly extends to the GPU, which is important since Resolve makes full use of GPU acceleration. Resolve 18 also now supports AV1 encoding assuming you have a compatible hardware encoder.
Besides all the editing tools you can shake a stick at, Resolve 17 also boasts comprehensive color grading and built-in audio tools. The color grading is one of its strong points and is welcomed, especially for free users.
To completely learn DaVinci Resolve 17 will take time and commitment, but it’s also fairly easy to pick up and get started with simple edits. Just make sure you have a fairly good hardware resource pool on hand, as Resolve can certainly gobble it up. But if you want to get serious about video editing without a financial commitment, this is the software to get.
Open source power: Kdenlive
Kdenlive
Open source coming good
Reasons to buy
+
Free and open source
+
Runs well on a wide range of hardware
+
Advanced feature support
+
Also available on Mac and Linux
+
Scripting support
Reasons to avoid
—
Learning curve
—
Can be resource-heavy
—
GPU acceleration is fairly basic
Kdenlive is living proof that open-source software can compete with the very best. Built by the team behind the KDE community more commonly associated with Linux, Kdenlive is also available on Mac and Windows, completely free, and absolutely packed with features. And as it’s FOSS, free really does mean free (though you should absolutely make a donation if you use it to support development).
Kdenlive runs well on a wider range of hardware than Davinci Resolve, while still being able to offer a feature set geared toward more advanced video editors. Naturally, the better your hardware, the better your experience, but beginners on a budget are certainly not locked out from making full use of the software.
It has its shortcomings, demanding resources, coupled with a sharper learning curve than some comparable applications. But the layout is easy to get along with, and it doesn’t take too much effort to figure out the main functions, and how to get making your first edits. And if you want to get a bit more advanced, there’s built-in scripting support to really tailor Kdenlive to your needs.
Best for basic editing: Microsoft Video Editor
Microsoft Video Editor
Available as soon as you install Windows
Reasons to buy
+
Free
+
Comes with Windows
+
Quick and simple
+
Video effects
+
Easy to use
Reasons to avoid
—
Lacks many features
—
Slow processing
«Hang on a second, Microsoft doesn’t make a video editor!» Actually, it does, and it’s built right into Windows 10 and 11. It’s not going to edit the next blockbuster, but if you just need some quick, basic edits, it’s perfect.
The main benefit is that it doesn’t cost you anything and is pretty lightweight. There are some features included that allow you to crop and adjust footage, add special effects, and some text, as well as save everything, so it’s ready to share with the world. It’s all about getting the task done quickly.
That flipside to this is the functionality is… well, basic. You do have effects, text, and other cool additions to video, but that’s about it. If you want to make your videos pop and stand out, you’re going to need a dedicated video editing suite. But for social video and absolute beginners in need of the basics, give it a try.
Best for beginners: Adobe Rush
Adobe Rush
Reasons to buy
+
Free to use the basic tier
+
Welcoming to beginners
+
Nice, simple to navigate UI
+
Solid performance
+
Your work autosaves
Reasons to avoid
—
Free tier lacks cross-platform sync
—
Needs an Adobe account
Adobe is best known for its all-powerful Premiere Pro video editor but Adobe Rush is something a little more toned down and a perfect place for beginners to cut their teeth. It does require an Adobe account, which may be offputting to some, but the software itself is most excellent.
While advanced editors will find a better home elsewhere, you might be surprised how much you can get done. It’s capable of adding titles and transitions, for example, and it’s particularly attractive to those who post a lot of social video content. Adobe Rush also works like most modern cloud-enabled apps, in that it autosaves your work as you progress. We love that.
The UI is intuitive and follows the same basic template most popular video editors do. It’s a shame that sync across to the mobile version is locked behind a paywall, but if you find yourself loving the free version enough, it might well be money well spent.
Taking the next step: OpenShot
OpenShot
Free video editing for all
Reasons to buy
+
Fairly easy to use
+
Cross-platform
+
Simple UI
+
Good range of features
Reasons to avoid
—
Slower compared to commercial software
—
Can chug on slower hardware
—
Dated UI
OpenShot is another advanced video editor that’s completely free to download and use. You can grab a copy on Windows, Mac, and Linux, allowing you to use the same software across different devices. It’s also a pleasure to use thanks to the UI and ability to switch between simple and advanced modes.
It’s a little slower compared to commercial software, as you could perhaps argue is to be expected. Still, if you’re not going all out with countless files being rendered daily, OpenShot should be good enough and is a perfect step up from true beginner software into making more advanced edits.
Bottom line
The fact you can get a full-fat, professional-grade video editor like DaVinci Resolve, completely free of charge, is mindblowing. Resolve is used by actual professionals doing big-budget video work, and you can get most of the same experience on your Windows PC without spending a dime.
If you’re looking to maybe go further with your video editing in the future, learning Resolve is also potentially a useful career tool, and Blackmagic makes a ton of learning resources available through its website, also for free.
The fact it isn’t the only high-quality video editor available for free on Windows is just the icing on the cake. We’re actually pretty spoiled for good, free video editors on Windows, and that’s no bad thing.
All the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards.
Richard Devine is a Managing Editor at Windows Central with over a decade of experience. A former Project Manager and long-term tech addict, he joined Mobile Nations in 2011 and has been found on Android Central and iMore as well as Windows Central. Currently, you’ll find him steering the site’s coverage of all manner of PC hardware and reviews. Find him on Mastodon at mstdn.social/@richdevine
If you are looking to purchase professional video editing software for your Windows computer but are confused about choosing the perfect one and value for money, you are in the right place to research. In this article, we’ll discuss in-depth the best 10 video editing software for windows.
Before you decide to purchase an editing tool for pro use, please read this article very carefully.
Related: Best Video Editor for Chromebook
A good video editor can help you create professional promos for platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Twitch, and anywhere else you share product videos. A variety of free video editing apps are available to help you stand out from the crowd and edit videos like a pro in no time.
Best 5 Video Editing Software for Windows In 2023
In this article, we have listed such five best video editing software recommended by the most professional video editor. We have researched those tools very carefully and collected essential data so that anyone can justify and choose according to their needs. There is a short description for every tool, including their features, creative tools, pro designing tools, special effects, audio editing creativities, motion graphics, HD/4k/ 3D video quality capacity, etc.
Related: Best Video Editor for MAC
All the new features are described with their Pros and cons. A spec comparison table is provided with user ratings. However, here is the list of the best 5 video editing software for windows in 2023:
- CyberLink PowerDirector 365
- Adobe Premiere Pro
- Corel VideoStudio Ultimate
- Movavi Video Editor Plus
- DaVinci Resolve
Let’s find out why those editors are top of the list?
CyberLink PowerDirector 365
CyberLink’s PowerDirector is a professional video editor, a buyer-friendly software for windows. The developer of this tool always updates their technologies and formats to support their customers better than other software companies. It is loaded with multi-functional features like digital movie creating ability, lots of effects, transitions, captions, and titles. The best part of this editing tool is that it is simpler and faster than others.
Related: Best Video Editor for Voiceover
PowerDirector 365 includes almost all standard video editing features, from the most basic to advanced, such as frame-by-frame motion tracking. It also contains tools for 360° VR photo and video editing, green screen background replacement, 1:1 square video editing for Instagram and Facebook, vertical video editing for smartphone footage, picture-in-picture design, theme design, distortion correction tools, and more.
Key Features/Pros or Cons:
Pros |
Cons |
|
|
Creative Editing Tools |
Precision Design Tools |
New features |
|
|
|
What is the pricing of Cyberlink Power Director 365?
PowerDirector runs on Microsoft Windows 7,8.1,10, and11, with a 64-bit version is required. Two editions of subscription are available, the $99.99 Ultra and the $139.99 Ultimate. You can try the 30-day downloadable trial version.
Adobe Premiere Pro
Its standard video editing software, unique editing tools, and powerful functionality have earned it an excellent reputation. With a large import-export capacity, it has improved. Adobe Premiere Pro comes with an auto-caption generator, frame integration, and other creative tools. Premiere Pro is a worthy video editor for professionals because of these features.
Related: Best Video Editor for Android
Adobe Premiere Pro is the industry’s most popular video editing program for social media, television, and film. Adobe assists you in turning raw footage into polished films and videos. You can also create and edit new projects from any device using the Premiere Rush app. The revolutionary native 64-bit, GPU-accelerated Adobe Mercury Playback Engine in Adobe Premiere Pro CC for Windows PC provides breakthrough performance for video production, allowing you to work dramatically faster.
Pros |
Cons |
|
|
Creative Editing Tools |
New features |
|
|
What is the pricing of Adobe Premiere Pro
Monthly subscription is $20.99, and the annual subscription of Premiere pro is $239.
Corel VideoStudio Ultimate
Use Corel VideoStudio Ultimate 2023 to put together your video footage and start creating spectacular videos with top-quality effects. The app has standard tools you would expect, including timelines, storyboards, picture-in-picture (PiP), sound editing, and many attractive new features in the latest release. Pinnacle Studio, which is geared toward video professionals, is also produced by Corel.
This software is designed for advanced consumers and social media creators. It includes face effects, AR stickers, face indexing, video masking, multicamera, split-screen effects, GIF creation, and camera movement transitions. Speech-to-text captioning and improved audio waveform editing with easier tool access are audio features.
Key Features/Pros or Cons:
Creative Editing Tools |
New features |
|
|
What is the pricing of Corel VideoStudio Ultimate?
Corel Video Studio comes in two packages: Pro ($79.99, or $59.99 if you upgrade from an older version) and Ultimate ($99.99, or $79.99 if you upgrade from an older version).
Movavi Video Editor Plus
Use Video Editor Plus 2023 from Movavi to take a hands-on, creative approach to your personal video editing workflow. This intuitive software encourages users to experiment with different techniques thanks to its variety of special effects, ready-made intros, and transitions, among other features. A refined user interface builds on the expansions of the 2021 version—LUTs, audio sync, timeline blanks, and overlay track transitions to add more audio editing capabilities.
Picture-in-picture, built-in effects, video, and vertical filters make editing videos for Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, or Instagram a breeze. Fast file processing and rendering enable you to produce more content in less time. The software can be installed both on Windows and macOS without internet access.
Key Features/Pros or Cons:
Pros |
Cons |
|
|
Creative Editing Tools |
New features |
|
|
What is the pricing of Movavi Video Editor Plus
Movavi Video Editor Plus costs $54.95 per year or $74.95 for a lifetime pass. Plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
DaVinci Resolve
DaVinci Resolve is included with many innovative features and is very beneficial for professional video editing. It is innovative editing software that provides cutting-edge elements for the editors.
It has multi-functional audio editing options like fairlightFX, ResolveFX, and DaVinci Neural Engine. The audio workstation is valuable, with features like EQ and dynamics processing, a full mixer, ADR tools, and many plugins.
DaVinci could be an excellent choice for an interactive project with large team members. It has many extra features, including face recognition, warp stabilization, speed warp re-timing, color grading or balancing, etc.
Its features and capabilities make it suitable software for digital creators, especially when you want to make a good impression.
Key Features/Pros or Cons:
Pros |
Cons |
|
|
Creative Editing Tools |
New features |
|
|
Comparing all the best editors for Windows
We have explained the 5 best editors for windows PC including their key features, pros, and cons so that you can get depth information about those video editing software. But still, that information can make you confused about selecting the best ones. Take a look at this table below; here, we have made a comparison of those editors according to some specs:
Softwares |
CyberLink PowerDirectorr 365 |
Adobe Premiere Pro |
Corel VideoStudio Ultimate |
Movavi Video Editor Plus |
DaVinci Resolve |
Rating |
4.5 |
4.5 |
4.0 |
4.0 |
4.0 |
Number of Video Tracks |
100 |
Unlimited |
50 |
Unlimited |
Unlimited |
Motion Tracking |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Multicam Editing |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
3D Editing |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Exports to H.265 (HEVC) |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Supports 360° VR Content |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Supports 4K XAVC-S Format |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Keyword Tag Media |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
How to choose the best Windows video editor?
People who want a more powerful editor with a variety of built-in resources, responsive technical support and more should invest in one of the best video editing software products.
Related: Best Video Editor for Trimming
All the software was evaluated based on its functionality, ease of use, performance, sharing options, and new features in the most recent versions. We also judged the packages based on real-world usage for several categories and best for the Windows platform.
Quality is essential, but they are not a critical component of software evaluations because your capability will vary depending on your hardware configuration. Export clock speed is given less weight than ease of use, interface, and features. Nonetheless, speed testing provides valuable comparative information as a single measure among many.
What’s the best video editing software for Windows in 2023? Keep reading to find out in our complete review of the leading video editors for PC!
We’ll share our top recommendations for all types of video creators, from beginner friendly to more advanced and professional editing alternatives.
Important: When available, we use affiliate links and may earn a commission!
If you’ve been following us for a while, you probably know that these ‘Best Video Editing Software’ roundups have become an annual thing. But this year, we’ve done things a little bit differently…
Instead of sharing a wide range of 7+ contenders, we’ve narrowed it down to just TWO awesome Windows video editors that we recommend.
We’ll cover exactly why these two video editing software are so powerful AND why we’re not recommending the other options over these ones anymore.
This roundup might be shorter, but it still packs a punch! Whether you’re looking for the best free video editing software for Windows PC or something more advanced, our roundup will provide you with some great options.
Make sure you stick around to find out our top 3 video editing tips for ANY software.
Video Editing Software For Windows Shortlist
Our recommendations for best video editing software in 2023 are:
- CapCut
- DaVinci Resolve
The best part? They both have a completely free version available. This is great news if you’re looking for the best free video editing software.
But even if you’re not looking for a free video editor, we think these options have overtaken the paid video editing software.
Let’s dive in to find out why we recommend these two video editing software and who they’re for.
Windows Video Editor #1: CapCut
CapCut is an amazing, super intuitive and really easy to use video editing software. It works on Windows, Mac, Android and iPhone.
The fact that you can use it on multiple devices and have access to all the same features is really powerful.
CapCut actually started out as an app first. They’ve taken the same interface, workflow and usability from mobile and brought it over to the desktop version.
This makes it so much more intuitive than more traditional video editing software. We think this is part of the reason it’s so powerful on desktop.
So even if you’ve never edited a video before, you’d be able to figure it out really quickly.
CapCut Features
It’s incredibly easy to use. You could jump in, play around and figure out how to create something pretty amazing without much time and effort – even as a complete beginner.
Some of our favorite CapCut features include:
- Awesome transitions and effects: There’s more than just your average transitions and effects in here, there are some really cool ones that can help you really level up your story telling (& they’re definitely a level up from iMovie’s wipe transitions!)
- Supports multiple layers of video and audio: This means you can create reasonably complicated projects
- Switch between different video formats: You can switch your project from a wide screen video for YouTube to a vertical video for TikTok with the click of a button
- Background remover tool: This allows you to remove the background of your video clips without needing to use a green screen
- Great basic presets & filters for color correction: Just keep in mind that these aren’t pro-grade tools (if you’re after something more advanced, the next option will be much better suited for you)
- Adjustment layers for quickly applying effects to clips: These are like blank layers you can add to the top of your video clips – once you apply any adjustments to that layer, they will flow through to any clips that are underneath it
- Voice to text tool: You can type out text, select a voice and the text will be spoken aloud (or even SUNG aloud!)
- Even more amazing features: Built-in video stabilization, motion tracking, noise reduction and more
CapCut Downsides
There are a couple of things you should be aware of with CapCut.
Copyright Music
There’s a ton of music inside CapCut. But a lot of this music is copyright music, meaning if you use it in your YouTube videos you’re likely going to get a copyright claim on that content.
As a general rule, it’s always safer to use music that you actually own the license to rather than the built-in music provided by video editing programs.
That’s why we use services like Epidemic Sound and Artlist for our music, because it means we know all the licensing is completely handled and we won’t have any copyright issues in the future.
The reason CapCut has a lot of copyright music available, is for use in TikTok videos.
CapCut and TikTok are created by the same company, ByteDance. CapCut has tons of awesome tools for creating great TikToks.
So you can use that copyright music in TikTok videos and you won’t have any trouble with licensing. Just make sure you’re not using that music in your YouTube videos.
Privacy Concerns
You might have heard about some concerns around TikTok’s Terms of Service.
Given that TikTok and CapCut are owned by the same company, people have also been concerned about there being some questionable stuff in CapCut’s Terms of Service.
Apparently, because of these concerns both TikTok and CapCut have been banned in India.
But we’re not overly concerned and still have CapCut installed on all our devices. Again, this is just something you should be aware of.
Overall, CapCut is an amazing video editor.
With all the incredible tools in there, it outperforms so many of the paid video editing tools. Previously we recommended options like Kdenlive, Shotcut and Filmora in this category.
That’s not to say you can’t still use those options and get great results. But CapCut has really nailed a great balance of having an amazing feature set with a really easy to use interface.
So it’s a great option for someone who’s an absolute beginner right through to an intermediate level video editor.
Windows Video Editor #2: DaVinci Resolve
DaVinci Resolve is another mind blowing video editing software. It works on Windows, Mac, Linux and recently an iPad version was released as well.
It’s professional-level video editing software that’s completely free.
When we say ‘professional-level’, we mean that literal Hollywood movies are being edited and produced on this by professional editors!
While there is a paid version, the free version will definitely get the job done for the majority of people – it’s a fully featured video editor with very few limitations.
DaVinci Resolve Features
This video editing software is intuitive and easy enough to learn. It’s definitely not as easy to use as CapCut but it’s also not as complicated as some of the other pro-level tools out there.
Some of the top DaVinci Resolve features include:
- Individual tabs for each stage of the editing process: There are different tabs for each of the stages in the editing process, allowing you to access tools relevant to that stage e.g. there’s a Cut area where you compile and cut down your video files, there’s the Edit tab where do further edits to your video clips
- Awesome motion graphics and animations: There’s a ton of pro-level tools in the Fusion tab (think DR’s version of Adobe After Effects)
- Incredible color grading tools and audio tools: The tools are even used by professionals in these fields – we’ve heard of audio professionals jumping into DR just to use the tools for audio editing!
- Easily work with a team: You can really easily work collaboratively with teams using DR’s cloud service or even just by transferring projects
- Voice isolation tools: This is incredibly powerful for removing background noise and cleaning up audio
- Really powerful tracking and masking features: These will blow your mind, especially if you’ve been doing this stuff manually before
DaVinci Resolve Downsides
The only potential downside here is that you will need to have a fairly new computer.
If you’re using an older, low powered computer, DaVinci Resolve likely won’t work very well and you probably won’t have a great experience.
You can always take a look at the DaVinci Resolve System Requirements to see if your device is compatible.
DaVinci Resolve Pricing
You can upgrade to the Studio Version for a one-time fee of $295.
This unlocks some more advanced features and more integration with your computer hardware which helps you process/render/edit in a more fluid way.
It’s awesome that you don’t need to commit to a monthly subscription like with other options such as Adobe Premiere Pro.
But as we mentioned earlier, the free version is incredibly powerful and will likely suit most people’s needs.
Overall, if you want pro-grade tools that are literally industry standard software then DaVinci Resolve is right up your alley.
With an entire suite of video editing tools, you can take your pick of which ones you want to use.
Justin mostly works in the Edit tab but you might find yourself spending more time in the Color tab for example. There’s just so much in this video editing app – it’s crazy that you get access to this for free!
What’s The Best Video Editing Software For Mac
For years, the winner of our ‘best video editing software for Windows’ roundup has been Adobe Premiere Pro.
While we’re still big fans of Premiere, it’s getting a lot harder to recommend it now. Especially because of the level of tools you get access to in DaVinci Resolve for completely free.
We just love the innovation, growth and direction we’re seeing from DaVinci Resolve.
And that’s not to say that Adobe Premiere Pro is a bad option. It’s still super powerful video editing software.
Especially if you use tools like Photoshop or After Effects and already have an Adobe subscription – it definitely makes sense to continue using Adobe Premiere Pro as your video editing software.
But right now, DaVinci Resolve has such a compelling offer. You get access to an entire suite of editing software that works together super smoothly – and it’s a completely free video editor.
Even if you do want to jump on the Studio Version, it’s a one-time fee rather than an ongoing subscription.
It might seem crazy that our top picks are both free editing software but we think it’s awesome that the FREE video editing software has overtaken the PAID video editing software in this roundup.
As you can tell, CapCut and DaVinci Resolve will cater to the needs of most people that are making videos.
So, which of these free Windows video editors is right for you?
If you want to create amazing videos really quickly without needing to learn how to use professional grade software, CapCut is an amazing option. You still have access to a ton of awesome effects and controls to help you create incredible videos.
If you’re looking for more advanced features or you want to learn pro-grade software and have access to an entire suite of tools, it’s gonna be really hard to go past Da Vinci Resolve.
The best video editing software for you will come down to your skillset, the types of videos you’re creating, and what features work best for you.
Video editing software are just tools to edit videos. So your goal should be to find the one that’s easiest for YOU to get the job done. Choose the one that allows you to be as creative as you can, without being limited by the software.
As promised, it’s time to share our top three video editing tips that will help you edit faster in any video editing application.
Our Top 3 Video Editing Tips
1. Cut Down Your Content First
It can be tempting to jump straight into the editing software and begin adding a ton of effects and color grades to your footage to make it look good. But this really slows down your workflow. If you add these effects before editing down your footage, your computer has a lot more to process!
Focus on building out your story and cutting down your footage first. Then go through and make it look awesome by adding effects and color grades afterwards.
2. Use Stock Footage
You don’t need to go out and film everything from scratch! There are amazing resources and libraries full of stock footage that you can easily download and add to your projects.
Plus, stock footage makes your videos more engaging meaning that viewers are more likely to watch them for longer. Storyblocks and Artgrid are great resources for finding quality stock footage.
3. Learn Keyboard Shortcuts
This is probably the fastest way you can speed up your editing. Knowing the shortcuts mean you can press one key on the keyboard rather than moving your mouse around to find a tiny little icon on the screen.
In some cases, pressing the one keyboard shortcut button will save you from performing three or four actions using a mouse.
To find the keyboard shortcuts for your particular program, go to the help section inside your software or do a quick Google search. You’ll be able to find a full list of all the editing shortcuts that will cut down your editing time!
There you have it, our complete guide to the best video editing software for Windows PC in 2023. If you found this guide useful, feel free to share it on social media or with someone you know who might like to learn more about the best video editor for Windows.
No matter which video editing software you go with, the fastest and most effective method for editing videos is by following a clear process. Check our complete video editing process in this guide – The ULTIMATE Process for Editing Videos Faster.
FAQ
Which video editing software is best for beginners?
CapCut is the best video editing software for beginners and up to intermediate users. Check out this CapCut Tutorial for the full rundown.
Is DaVinci Resolve better than Premiere Pro?
DaVinci Resolve offers an entire suite of professional video editing tools and it’s completely free! Premiere Pro is still a solid option, especially if you already have access to the Adobe Suite. But if we had to pick one, it’d be DaVinci Resolve.
What do most YouTubers use to edit their videos?
This ranges hugely! A lot of it comes down to personal preference and what workflows, processes and specific tools each person requires. You can find out what video editing software we use in this complete guide.
Recommended Tutorials:
- CapCut Video Editing Tutorial
- DaVinci Resolve Video Editing Tutorial
Recommended Gear & Resources
Check out an up-to-date list of all the gear, software & tools we use and recommend right now at Primal Video on our resources page here!
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