10 Best Free Video Making Software for Windows and MacBack to the days when I first came into this field of video editing, I asked people which video editing software can be the best one. There were a bunch of friendly people telling me going for applications like Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, Edius, etc. Guess most of you must have also seen yourselves in the same situation, right?Well, these video making software is truly powerful, professional, and full of astonishing editing features, but they are just costing 'a little' too much. Are there any that's free and good to use?
![]()
With iMovie for iOS and macOS, you can enjoy your videos like never before. It's easy to browse. You can even start editing on iPhone or iPad, then finish on your Mac. You have a great touch for making movies. IMovie is even.
In this guide, we have collected the list of best free video making software for you, each one with a detailed review, you can choose the one you prefer. Why We Don't Recommend the Apps for iOS and Android?Before you start with this list, you need to know that all the applications in this list are running Windows, or Mac, or both. There is no mobile app recommended in this article.
This is because there are big gaps between the video editing ability of and that of the desktop software. Most mobile apps only provide users with basic editing features.
They may be enough for SNS sharing. But for some professional editing, they are not good options. Here is the list of the best free video making software. NO 1. With all the necessary editing features for beginners.
NO 2. For the color correction projects. NO 3. For the newbies using Windows computers.
NO 4. For the newbies using macOS computers. NO 5. Professionals love. NO 6.
For users who do not like particularly complex operations. NO 7. A cross-platform beginner tool. NO 8. For the advanced YouTube projects. NO 9. 4K resolution supported beginner application.
NO 10. For the 3D modeling and animation. HitFilm Express is arguably the best free video editing software on the market. In addition to basic video editing functions, you can also use it to make animations, 2D or 3D modeling, or add special effects. The software includes complete video editing functions, built-in 100 special effects, dynamic tracking, and other functions.Visit Features:1.
400+ effects & presets;2. Up to 4K UHD/DCI at 8-bit pixel depth resolution supported;3. 360 video editing features and effects;4.
8 blur effects;5. Color correction and grading;6. 15 keying features and effects;7. 4 lights and flares;8. 2 particles and stimulation;9. 2 audio transition effects and 13 video transition effects.Pros:Free but filled with basic to advanced editing features, some of which may not even be seen in some paid video editors.Cons:There are some toolkit packs needed to pay and for some specific jobs.For the full knowledge of Hitfilm Express features, you can read.
DaVinci ResolveAvailable for: Windows, macOS, and LinuxBest for: Advanced video editors and the color correction projects. The biggest uniqueness of DaVinci Resolve Studio lies in its color correction. And now, DaVinci Resolve has evolved to a powerful combination of Final Cut Pro + color correction + audition + motion + compressor. DaVinci Resolve's color grading uses the most advanced technology and does not interfere with the editing features and special effects.Compared with HitFilm Express, DaVinci Resolve is not so good at video editing and animation production. If you are more inclined to color correction, DaVinci is your best choice.Download DaVinci Resolve at Features:1. 8K editing;2. Color correction;3.
Visual effects;4. Audio post-production;5. Image stabilization.Pros:World-class color correction.Cons:Video editing and animation production can do better. Windows Movie MakerAvailable for: WindowsBest for: Video editing newbiesWindows Movie Maker is a small Windows built-in movie editing software. The interface of Movie Maker is kind of out of date but comes with a flexible timeline. It has relatively simple functions.
It is a good option for small-scale home video processing.Features:speed up clip, change aspect ratio, add text, slow motion, snapshot, trim, cut, crop, split, edit audio, add transitions, etc.Pros:Easy to use.Cons:Only with limited and very basic video editing features.Tip: Movie Maker is no longer available now. And also told us that 'Windows Movie Maker, part of Windows Essentials 2012, is no longer available for download. Websites that offer free downloads of Movie Maker are not offering the real thing, and those downloads may contain malware, viruses, or hidden costs.' But if you are really into this kind of tool, there are still many Movie Maker alternatives you can choose on the market, for example,. IMovieAvailable for: macOSBest for: Video editing newbiesEven though Apple official claims that iMovie can help users to create Hollywood-style clips, the truth is that it only provides you with a few basic editing features. However, if you plan to simply process some family videos on your Mac, then iMovie should be your best option.Features:1. Trim and clip footage;2.
Add and edit transition;3. Add and edit the audio file;5. Playback speed adjustment;7. Filters.Pros:Easy to use.Cons:There seems no tutorials available for users. LightworksAvailable for: Windows, macOS, and LinuxBest for: Professionals.
Before HitFilm 3 Express hit the market, Lightworks has always been the first choice for video editing enthusiasts. In 2011, it became an open-source software and provided free downloads. The only drawback is that the free version can only export 720p-resolution videos at most.Features:1. Simple and intuitive user interface;2.
Cover a wide range of video formats;3. World-class trimming for fast precision editing;4. Multicam Editing;5. Realtime effects with inbuilt presets;6. Enhanced visual effect with Boris FX;7.
Text effects with Boris Graffiti;8. Customizable interface.Pros:Open-source.Filled with advanced video editing features.Cons:The free version only with 720p resolution.Learn more about at its official site and our. ShotcutAvailable for: Windows, macOS, and LinuxBest for: Beginners or users who do not like particularly complex operationsShotcut is a free open-source video making software, running across Windows, macOS, and Linux platforms. Its features include support for a wide range of video and audio formats, the native timeline editing feature requiring no importing, up to 4K resolution support, and more.10 minutes reading: Features:1. Wide Format Support;2. Multiple audio scopes supported, audio volume control, a large number of audio filters, audio mixing across all tracks, fade in and out audio and fade video from and to black with easy-to-use fader controls on the timeline;3.
Video effects adding and editing;4. Basic to advanced video editing features.Pros:Open-source.4K resolution supported.Cons:Very different interface design from other video making software. AvidemuxAvailable for: Windows, macOS, and LinuxBest for: BeginnersThe most basic function of Avidemux is to help cut videos. With it, you can cut any part from a long video. Besides, it can also merge videos, add subtitle files to videos, add logos, change video sizes, crop video frames, flip frames, and add some simple special effects.Features:1. Support many file types, including AVI, DVD compatible MPEG files, MP4 and ASF;2. Cut, trim, and crop;3.
Merge videos;4. Add subtitles and effects.Pros:Very simple to use.Cons:Limited video editing features. VSDC Free Video EditorAvailable for: WindowsBest for: Advanced YouTube projectsVSDC Free Video Editor can be used to edit video files and create videos of any difficulty level. It can make and edit videos for you from greeting cards to the company profile, from family clips to commercial movies, etc. With it, you can cut and merge video files, apply sound and visual effects, add filters, create slide shows, add background music, and more.
Using its powerful chroma key feature and some other advanced settings can upgrade your videos to the professional level. The software supports all common video and audio formats.7 minutes reading: Features:1. Basic video processing features included, like trim, cut, merge, etc.;2. Add subtitles, audio, filters;3.
Raw material can be imported from various devices;4. Support HEVC codec;5. Video converting, screen recording, and more built-in functions.Pros:No watermark, fast exporting speed, supporting uploading edited file to YouTube (Which is the reason why we recommend VSDC as the ).Cons:Some pieces of news say VSDC is hacked to propagate Trojans. VideoPad Video EditorAvailable for: WindowsBest for: BeginnersVideoPad Video Editor is developed by NCH software for home and professional video editing.
It is quite convenient for the novices to perform video editing, previewing, adding special effects, adding subtitles, etc. There would be no problem for the beginners to get started with it.
It is perfectly compatible with mainstream video formats, image formats, and audio formats.Features:1. Multiple options for video transition and effects;2. 3D video editing and 2D to 3D stereoscopic conversion;3. Chroma key;5. Import and mix music tracks;6. Add sound effects;7.
Recording feature.Pros:Super user-friendly exporting settings. User can burn the edited file to DVD, share online or directly to YouTube, save to PSP, iPod, iPhone or 3GP mobile phone, and more;4K resolution supported.Cons:Only running on Windows. BlenderAvailable for: Windows, macOS, and LinuxBest for: 3D modeling and animation.
Blender is an open-source cross-platform all-round 3D animation production software, providing a series of animated short film production solutions from modeling, animation, materials, rendering, to audio processing, video editing and so on.Blender has a variety of user interfaces that are easy to use in different tasks, with built-in advanced video solutions such as green screen keying, camera backtracking, mask processing, and post node synthesis.Blender is designed for media workers and artists all over the world. It can be used for 3D visualization, and can also create broadcast and movie-quality videos. Besides, the built-in real-time 3D game engine allows independent 3D interactive playback to be produced may.
With Blender, players who like 3D drawings can make their favorite 3D models without spending a lot of money.Features:1. A full set of 3D tools, like modeling, UV-Mapping, texturing, rigging, skinning, animation, particle, physics, scripting, rendering, motion tracking, compositing, post-production, and more;2. Cross-platform support;3. High-quality 3D architecture brings fast and efficient creative process;4. Basic video editing features.Pros:Open-source.Powerful 3D related features.Cons:There are not enough basic video editing tutorials.
As surprising as it sounds, the best free video editing software can get the job done. You don’t have to pay a small fortune or a monthly subscription to see through your video editing needs, however intensive your process might be.
There are free video editors out there that not only come with the most basic yet necessary tools, but also boast powerful features and even a few bells and whistles.The top video editing software out there all seem to be perfect with advanced tools and awesome special effects. But, then you look at the cost, and it’s not unusual to see big-name video editing packages advertised for literally hundreds of dollars. That’s fine if you’re a professional and have the funds to afford it. However, if you’re a novice, an enthusiastic amateur or simply pressed for cash, these aren’t the most cost-effective options.Finding the best free video editing software may seem like a daunting task, but we are here to help. We’ve collated the best of the best out there so you won’t have to test every single video editor yourself. Each of the software packages below will let you perform important post-production tasks like trimming clips, applying green screen filters, and adjusting the playback speed. And, if you’ve never edited a video before, you’ll find these programs to be accessible and easy to get to grips with.
The best free video editing software at a glance.The free video editors listed here are ideal for anybody wanting something quick and easy for the eager amateur to get started with, and can even offer professional-quality results. But if you really want feature-filled software, with excellent always-available tech support and without any pesky watermarks, we'd always suggest upgrading to - it probably costs less than you had imagined. Only exports in MPEG formatLightworksis the best free video editing software for anyone who wants to create professional-quality movies and videos without paying a penny. It supports multitrack video and is a non-linear editor, so the quality of your footage won’t be reduced while being processed.With Lightworks, you’ll find all sorts of high-end features that are normally only available with expensive packages such as Final Cut Pro. These include the ability to import and render footage in the background, and to preview video effects in real-time.The one downside is that learning how to use Lightworks can take some time as the interface is fairly complex.
You can drag various editing windows around to create an almost infinite number of layout variations and set custom keyboard shortcuts to speed up your editing jobs.You can download and install Lightworks for free on Windows, Mac, and Linux devices. If at a later date, you decide you want to invest in an improved experience, you can upgrade to Lightworks Pro. With this upgraded version, you’ll be able to export your projects in different formats, create 3D masterpieces and upload straight to YoutTube.Read our full(Image credit: FXhome) 2. Hitfilm Express. High system requirementsLike Lightworks, Hitfilm Express is free-to-use video editing sofware that aims to make a professional editing experience available to everyone. With this software package, it’s easy to adjust color balance, trim clips, and export your projects in different video formats.But the Hitfilm Express feature set goes way beyond that.
You can also use this free video editor to set green screen chroma keys, create custom video masks, and take your footage to the next level with a range of 3D compositional tools. Although first-time users may find it a little confusing, the HitFilm Express user-interface will be familiar to anyone who’s worked with an advanced video editor before.There are only two small downsides to this video editor. The first is that it’s technically demanding, so you’ll need a PC or Mac with a powerful processor to run it. And, secondly, the installation process is unnecessarily complex. To get access to the Hitfilm Express software, you’ll need to share a link to its developer, FXhome, on social media.Read our full(Image credit: Meltytech LLC) 3.
Can't preview filtersShotcut started life as a free video editor on Linux and was ported over to Windows and Mac machines after it had already been around for a few years. This development journey has resulted in a slightly odd-looking user interface, but Shotcut is still some of the best free video editing software you can download now.Some aspects of the Shotcut system are easy and intuitive, such as the process of dragging media files to import them into your project. However, there’s no doubt that there’s a steeper learning curve with this video editor than most. For example, you’ll have to configure your display by adding the modules you need.But once you get the hang of Shotcut, you’ll discover why this free video editor has amassed such a large following. The best Shotcut feature is a large selection of filters that can be applied to audio and video content.
Once added, you can layer and customize filters to achieve the precise effect you’re looking for.Read our full(Image credit: Movie Maker Online) 4. Movie Maker Online. Confusing layoutMovie Maker Online is a video editor that runs in your browser. To edit a video, you simply need to upload it to an unusual vertical project timeline where you can crop clips and add filters or transition effects.Other free video editors listed here are software packages that can be installed and run locally. However, these aren’t the only types of free video editor available. There are also many great browser-based tools too, and Movie Maker Online is one of these.The big advantage of an online editor is that you can access it from any desktop device, and there’s no need to worry about content storage. Another big bonus is that your computer specs don’t matter as much, the age of your hardware doesn’t matter when using an online video editor as everything happens in the cloud.If you want to enhance your video or movie with music or still images, Movie Maker Online gives you access to a large archive of royalty-free images that can be inserted into your project timeline with a single click.Read our full(Image credit: www.videosoftdev.com, Multilab LLC) 5.
VSDC Video Editor. Resolution limitsVSDC Video Editor used to be known as one of the clunkier free video editing programs. Thankfully, the latest edition of the software has a dramatically improved interface with a fresh-looking dark theme and the ability to detach individual windows, ideal for editing with more than one monitor.Like Lightworks, VSDC is non-linear video editing software that’s able to compete with more expensive video editing packages. It comes in both free and premium editions, and there are pleasingly few prompts for free users to subscribe. The only serious annoyance is that the free variant lacks multiple color chroma key tools and can’t be used for resolutions above 1080p.VSDC supports plenty of useful video editing functions including animations, sprites, transitions, watermarking, blending, overlaying, and masking. Another awesome feature is a free video stabilization tool, which is excellent if you need to improve the quality of shaky clips captured on smartphones.Read our full Other free video editing software to tryIf you need to trim a video and don't mind the watermark, Adobe Spark can get the job done quickly and easily online.
The basic version is free to use, but you'll need a premium account to remove the watermark and perform more advanced editing tasks.When you need to crop a video to a specific aspect ratio, this simple online tool could be just what you need. It's not suitable for very large files, but you can set the dimensions, select from a list of presets, and position the crop area yourself. How do I choose video editing software?There are several key factors, and price isn’t necessarily the most important: if it were, every Hollywood movie would be made in Apple’s free iMovie!Let’s start at the end. What kind of video do you intend to make, and where is it for? There’s a world of difference between quick editing of home videos you’ll watch on TV and editing something for Netflix or cinema distribution.You’ll need to consider what formats the software needs to export in, what level of quality it needs to output (HD? 8K?) and whether it can deliver the kind of visual effects you want to use.
If you’ll be collaborating, your app will need to be compatible with the other people’s apps too.There’s also you to consider. Are you experienced, or would a simpler app that takes you step by step through the whole process be more helpful?
Do you want to have complete control over every pixel, or would you rather let the computer do most of the work? How future-proof do you need your app to be?And then there’s price. Most but not all cheap or free apps are very limited; most but not all high-end editors are frighteningly expensive.
![]()
It’s possible to pay too much and end up with an app that’s overkill, or to pay too little and end up inventing new and colourful swears when the app refuses to do what you need it to do.Remember too that the more you can do, the more you’ll want it to do. Can your chosen app grow with your imagination? Why should I care about video editing software?Video is the new rock’n’roll: where children used to dream of being rock stars, now they dream of being YouTube vloggers. Meanwhile video has become the lingua franca of the internet, from viral clips and video responses to indie films and glossy corporate presentations.The one thing they almost all have in common is editing. That could be simple trimming to cut a clip at the appropriate place, or it could involve mixing multiple clips together, changing the soundtrack and adding a whole bunch of special effects.
To do these things you’ll need a video editing app. What video editing software features should I look out for?That depends on the kind of editing you’d like to do. For example, you might not need much in the way of visual effects if you’re just splicing together clips from Uncle George’s 90th birthday party. But there are some key things to consider.First up, what formats and resolutions does the app support? Can it use the footage from your camera without converting? Can it export to the places you want to share your finished footage?Do you need features such as green screen or picture in picture (if you’re a YouTuber, the answers to those to are probably yes)? Can you share directly with social media, if that’s your thing?How many tracks can you use?
Can you pull in footage and audio from multiple files, swapping between them as needed, or will you need to do some pre-production first because the app can only handle a couple of tracks at once?Does the app have any smart features to make everyday editing easier, such as smart trimming of clips or simple editing modes? Is it easy to add titles, transitions between scenes or to adjust the colours?If it’s a mobile app, can you transfer your project to continue editing in a desktop equivalent of the app? What does 8K support mean for video editing?8K is a screen resolution: that is, it tells you how many pixels (dots) make up the picture.Here’s a list of the resolutions for TV and movies formats in recent years.VHS 335 x 480DVD 720 x 480HD 1,280 x 720Full HD 1,920 x 1,080Then there was 4K.
4K can mean a few different things, but the version you’ll get on a 4K TV is called 4K Ultra HD and delivers 3,840 x 2,160 pixels. Take those numbers, double them and boom! 8K!Do you need it?
Almost certainly not. Chances are you don’t know a soul with an 8K TV or monitor, and that you don’t have and can’t afford a camera capable of recording in that quality. What is 360 support for video editing?Traditional cameras can only point in one direction, but 360 video uses clever cameras and/or clever processing combining the input from multiple lenses to get a full 360-degree video recording. You’ve probably seen it on Facebook or in a VR app: if you move up or down or left or right the video moves accordingly just as it would if you were actually there.In fact, editing 360 video isn’t significantly more difficult than editing 2D video, but exporting is more complicated and many apps just can’t cope with 360-degree video in the first place.
The video sharing site Vimeo strongly recommends using (yep, our number one recommended video editing software) our if you’re serious about 360-degree video editing.remains massively popular among YouTubers because it’s really easy and it comes free on their MacBooks, iPhones or iPads. For straightforward face-to-camera videos you don’t really need anything more complicated: iMovie has all the cutting, titling and transition effects you’re likely to need, and it supports green/blue screens for when you want to put yourself over something such as footage of gameplay. On PC, Microsoft Photos is an underrated gem., the entry-level version of Premiere Pro, is very popular too. What video editing software do most YouTubers use?Generally speaking YouTubers tend to go for simple, effective and affordable apps.
One of the best free apps is, which you can get for Windows, Mac and Linux devices. It has integrated YouTube exporting and a bunch of really impressive real-time effects. It looks absolutely terrifying compared to something like Microsoft Photos but it doesn’t take long to learn and it’s a really good editing app.There are lots of other good options too. Has a free version but also offers a powerful professional version.
The free app is very good, especially on colour correction, and while the lacks the hardware acceleration of paid-for editing apps that’s not really an issue if you’re not in a busy working environment. What video editing software do professionals use?That depends on your definition of 'professionals' and the industry or sector you’re thinking of. Go to Hollywood or a major TV studio and the editing’s almost certainly being done in Avid Media Composer Ultimate.In ad agencies, indie film studios and businesses making YouTube films you’re more likely to see or and associated apps such as Adobe’s After Effects, a motion graphics and visual effects app - see above for how well we rate those. These are very, very good tools designed to run on very, very good computers. Free video editing software vs premium video editorsTo state the blindingly obvious, premium video editors tend to have advantages that free ones don’t. Those advantages tend to come in the form of resources: resources to develop apps that squeeze the most performance out of high-end hardware, resources to develop better effects, resources to fix show-stopping bugs, resources to make sure the app works on the latest hardware, resources to polish the interface and create help files and how-tos and all the other things you’d expect from professional software. But of course, that comes at a price – $300ish for Final Cut Pro X, for example.If you’re a pro, time is money so you spend money to save time, whether that’s the time it takes to render your footage or the time you can’t afford to spend shouting 'WHY GOD, WHY?'
When the app doesn’t do exactly what you want or crashes mid-edit.Free apps are aimed at a more forgiving and less demanding kind of user. That’s not to say they can’t do great things. But they often take a hand-holding approach that focuses on the basics and doesn’t give you access to the fine detail. They might take a good-enough approach to performance rather than a “Steven Spielberg needs this NOW!” no-compromise approach, and their effects may be simpler than the pro ones.
So is free video editing software worth getting?It can be. Movies made in Apple’s iMovie have wowed crowds at film festivals over the years, and some people have made perfectly good movies using just it and an iPhone.There are many decent free video apps out there, but there are a few things to consider. Performance, especially encoding and exporting, isn’t always up there with the big hitters, and you’ll often find that features are only available if you buy in-app purchases or just aren’t there at all. Some stick an enormous watermark over everything you output; few offer any kind of technical support. Pro-level features are rarely offered because these apps aren’t designed for video pros.It’s worth being a bit pedantic here and differentiating between free commercial software and free open source software. The former is often a cut-down version of a full product offered for free in the hope you’ll buy its big brother. The latter is usually a full product made available by individuals or teams of volunteers with no expectation of any financial reward.
While open source acts can sometimes lack the polish and/or user-friendliness of commercial software they may well deliver all the features you need without requiring you to spend any money. We've also rounded up.
![]() Comments are closed.
|
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
March 2023
Categories |