The modern film-maker can find a wealth of valuable features in the best free video editing software options. Even though it might not be possible to make big-budget blockbusters with these tools, you can do a lot with them to make fun and interesting clips or professional-looking videos on a smaller scale.
We’ve tested best free video editing software for more than a decade, so we have put together a hand-picked list of options for Windows, Macs, Chromebooks, and mobile devices. Our team has not only used these tools a lot in our daily work, but we have also learned a lot from other creative people. Also, we have done formal reviews to look at things like how easy it is to use, how fast it is, and how many features it has.
Importance of Video Editing for Content Creation
Video editing is an important part of making content and plays a big role in making high-quality, interesting videos that can be shared on social media, websites, YouTube, TV, and other platforms. Several key points show how important it is to edit videos when making content:
Improving the way a video looks: Video editing lets people improve the way their videos look. By cutting, trimming, and rearranging clips and adding transitions, effects, and animations, they can make a video that looks polished and professional and grabs the attention of the audience.
Storytelling and narrative: Video editing is an art that helps content creators tell interesting stories or get their point across. By putting together clips in a way that makes sense and is interesting, video editors can make viewers feel things, keep them interested, and keep them watching the whole time.
Efficiency with time: Raw footage often has mistakes, extraneous information, or pauses that slow down the viewing experience. Video editing lets people get rid of these things they don’t want, making a short, powerful video that makes the most of viewers’ time and attention.
Best Free Video Editing Software Comparison Table
In the table below, you can compare the best free video editing software based on their features, ease of use, compatibility, and performance. It gives a quick overview of each tool’s best features, so users can choose the best one for their editing needs and preferences.
Software | Platform | Advanced Editing | 4K+ Video Support | Color Correction | Visual Effects | Audio Editing | Keyframe Animation | User-Friendly | Learning Curve | Official Link |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DaVinci Resolve | Windows, Mac, Linux | Yes | Yes | Advanced | Extensive | Advanced | Yes | Moderate | Steep | Visit Website |
Hitfilm | Windows, Mac | Yes | Yes | Advanced | Extensive | Basic | Yes | Moderate | Moderate | Visit Website |
ACDSee Luxea Video Editor | Windows, Mac | Yes | Yes | Basic | Limited | Basic | No | Yes | Easy | Visit Website |
OpenShot | Windows, Mac, Linux | Yes | Yes | Basic | Basic | Basic | Yes | Yes | Easy | Visit Website |
VSDC | Windows | Yes | Yes | Basic | Basic | Basic | Yes | Moderate | Moderate | Visit Website |
DaVinci Resolve
Features
- Professional-grade color correction and grading capabilities
- Advanced video editing and audio post-production features
- Powerful visual effects and motion graphics tools
DaVinci Resolve is the best free software for pros to use right now to edit videos. Not to be confused with DaVinci Resolve Studio, which is the same program but costs money. For now, this is one of the best Free Video Editing Software you can consider now.
Blackmagic Design makes DaVinci Resolve. This company also makes a popular line of video cameras, so you know it was made for filmmakers. Even though it’s free, this is a powerful tool with a lot of features that really puts paid tools to shame in terms of how useful and flexible they are.
Pros
- Professional-grade video editing capabilities
- Advanced color correction and grading tools
- Support for high-resolution and complex projects
- Includes audio editing and visual effects features
- Suitable for both beginners and advanced users
Cons
- Steeper learning curve for beginners
- High system requirements may limit usage on older computers
Hitfilm
Features
- Comprehensive special effects and compositing capabilities
- User-friendly interface for easy video editing and VFX integration
- Supports a wide range of video formats and resolutions
Hitfilm (which used to be called Hitfilm Express) is another good choice for professional video editors. Before the latest update, we used to call it the Swiss Army knife of free video editing software. But some things have changed, and this software is no longer at the top of our list. Overall, this is one of the best Free Video Editing Software you can consider now.
With the name change to Hitfilm, there are now two subscription levels. As you might expect, this means that the free version isn’t quite all-singing and all-dancing and is no longer a real alternative to paid tools. If you use the free version, a lot of the transitions, animations, color grading, and other effects now have watermarks.
Pros
- Combines video editing and visual effects in one software
- Intuitive user interface
- Good selection of visual effects and compositing tools
- Suitable for creating YouTube and social media content
Cons
- Some advanced features are locked behind a paywall
- Export options limited in the free version
ACDSee Luxea Video Editor
Features
- Intuitive interface with basic video editing tools
- Offers storyboard and timeline editing modes
- Built-in screen recording functionality
With the best free video editing software out there, you never know what you are going to get. If you’ve read through the entries on this page, you’ll see that some tools are only available for some platforms. Then there’s the old trick of giving a free user a few tools while hiding other great tools behind a paid subscription.
ACDSee Luxea Video Editor is one of the best free video editing programs out there. It comes with a lot of great video editing tools that you’ll want to use. When you want to export your video, you get the string, if you can call it that. Then you have to sign up, and the video will play with an intro and outro from ACDSee. Still, this is one of the best Free Video Editing Software you can consider now.
Pros
- Simple and easy-to-use interface
- Quick and efficient for basic video editing tasks
- Includes basic visual effects and transitions
Cons
- Limited advanced editing features
- May not be suitable for professional-grade projects
OpenShot
Features
- Simple and easy-to-use interface for beginners
- Cross-platform compatibility (Windows, macOS, Linux)
- Support for various audio and video formats
The main goal of most free video editing software is to get you to buy a paid version. Open-source software is an exception to this rule. Here, you get the full product for free, and a huge group of volunteer developers is always working to make it better without charging you anything. Thus, this is one of the best Free Video Editing Software you can consider now.
OpenShot is one of the best ways to show this. When we tested it, we found that its simple drag-and-drop interface for layers made it easy to use. This made it our top choice for beginners in general. We especially liked that you can add as many layers as you want to your video, whether it’s music, videos that overlap, or your own images. We also liked how easy it was to change the title-card templates.
Pros
- User-friendly interface
- Cross-platform support (Windows, macOS, Linux)
- Wide range of supported video and audio formats
- Good for basic editing needs
Cons
- Slower rendering times for complex projects
- Occasional stability issues
VSDC
Features
- Advanced video editing features with multi-track support
- Wide range of visual and audio effects and filters
- Non-linear editing and animation tools
VSDC is the best choice if you are a beginner with an old, low-powered Windows PC. Because it’s made for people whose computers don’t have the latest internals and specs, it won’t crash and freeze all the time. But keep in mind that there is no Mac version. Overall, this is one of the best Free Video Editing Software you can consider now.
When we looked at VSDC, we liked that it had a lot of different ways to import and export files. It was also great for adding text, lines, charts, and other special effects to presentations. We were surprised to see that the free version has almost all of the features of the Pro version, and there are no watermarks.
Pros
- Comprehensive video editing toolkit
- Supports a wide range of video formats
- Includes advanced features like masking and blending modes
Cons
- Complex interface for beginners
- Limited support and documentation for troubleshooting issues
Benefits of Using Free Video Editing Software
There are many benefits to using free video editing software, especially for beginners, hobbyists, and people on a tight budget. Here are some good reasons to use free software to edit videos:
Cost-effective: As the name suggests, free video editing software doesn’t cost anything, so it’s a good choice for people who don’t want to pay for professional editing tools.
Easy to get: You can find free video editing software online and easily download and install it on your computer without having to pay or sign up for a service.
Interfaces that are easy to use: Many free video editing programs are made to be easy to use. They usually have easy-to-use interfaces that are good for people who are just starting out or don’t have much editing experience.
Learning opportunities: Using free software, people who want to learn how to edit videos can try things out, practice, and learn the basics without taking on much risk. Before buying more advanced tools, it’s a great way to learn new skills and feel more confident.
Basic editing tools: Most free software for editing videos has basic editing tools like cutting, trimming, and adding text or music. These features can be good enough for simple editing tasks.
FAQs
Video editing is the process of organizing and changing video clips to make a final product that makes sense. This means knowing how to use your editing software, cutting and arranging clips, adding transitions, editing the sound, adjusting the color, and exporting the finished video in the format you want.
As a film or video editor, you will work with things like camera footage, dialogue, sound effects, graphics, and special effects to make a final film or video. This is an important part of the post-production process, and how well you do it can affect the quality and delivery of the final product.