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Easy To Use Video Editing Software Free

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  1. Editing Software For Youtube
  2. Windows Movie Maker
  3. Vsdc Free Video Editor
  4. Easy Free Video Editing Program

With the right free video editing software, you can create picture-perfect clips that are ready to share to YouTube, Facebook, Instagram or anywhere else, with no unsightly watermarks or frustrating time limits.

OpenShot™ was created in 2008, in an effort to build a free, simple, open-source video editor for Linux. It is now available on Linux, Mac, and Windows, has been downloaded millions of times, and continues to grow as a project! Magisto, an easy-to-use free video editing software for mobile, uses AI to create video content in minutes. Yo only have to do three things: choose editing style, add footage, and pick music. Magisto then automatically edits and makes your video. It also makes music suggestions to match the style and theme of your footage, or you can use your own.

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.

Finding the best free options 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 video editing software overall

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1. Adobe Premiere Pro | PC & Mac | $20 per month

For a small monthly sub, Premiere Pro offers outstanding value for money. It's the industry-standard video editing program, used by the pros. It's also really easy to use and get the hang of. If you're serious about your videos, you should seriously consider biting the bullet and going for Premiere Pro.

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2 Adobe Premiere Elements | PC & Mac | $99

If you're open to spending some money on your video editing software you'll find the quality of your videos improving massively. With more features, filters and wizards available to you, you'll be able to do things with your video that are well beyond what you get from any free options.

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3. Apple Final Cut Pro X | Mac only | $299.99

Final Cut Pro is still one of the most popular video editing options on Mac. It's not cheap so if the $300 asking price is too much, consider Premiere Elements above which at $99 offers all the same features for a third of the price.

Editing Software For Youtube

The best free video editing software

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1. Lightworks

Operating system: Windows, macOS, Linux

Highly customizable interface
Steeper learning curve than some

Windows Movie Maker

Lightworks is the best free option for anyone who wants to create professional-quality movies and videos without paying a penny. While it still can't be considered a match for a program like Adobe Premiere Elements, 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.

Editing

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 Lightworks review

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2. Hitfilm Express

Free software for amateurs and experts alike

Operating system: Windows, macOS

Professional-grade tools
Excellent online tutorials

Like 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.

3d slicer software. 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 Hitfilm Express review

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3. Shotcut

Operating system: Windows, macOS, Linux

Supports direct streaming
Can't preview filters

Shotcut 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 one of the best free video editors 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. Does sims 4 work on macbook pro 2015. Once added, you can layer and customize filters to achieve the precise effect you're looking for.

Read our full Shotcut review

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4. Movie Maker Online

An online video editing tool that you can use anywhere

Easy To Use Video Editing Software Free

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 Lightworks review

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2. Hitfilm Express

Free software for amateurs and experts alike

Operating system: Windows, macOS

Professional-grade tools
Excellent online tutorials

Like 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.

3d slicer software. 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 Hitfilm Express review

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Video: iOS 13.5 - Noise Cancelling Podcast Highlight (TechRadar)

3. Shotcut

Operating system: Windows, macOS, Linux

Supports direct streaming
Can't preview filters

Shotcut 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 one of the best free video editors 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. Does sims 4 work on macbook pro 2015. Once added, you can layer and customize filters to achieve the precise effect you're looking for.

Read our full Shotcut review

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4. Movie Maker Online

An online video editing tool that you can use anywhere

Operating system: Windows, macOS, Linux (in browser)

Works on any computer
Intrusive advertising

Movie 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 Movie Maker Online review

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5. VSDC Video Editor

Free software with multi-monitor support

Vsdc Free Video Editor

Operating system: Windows

Anti-shake technology
No hardware acceleration

VSDC 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 a non-linear video editor 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 VSDC Video Editor review

Other free options to try:

Adobe Spark If 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. Capturegrid. 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.

Why should I care about free 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.

Which programs do most YouTubers use?

Generally speaking YouTubers tend to go for simple, effective and affordable apps. One of the best free apps is Lightworks, 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. HitFilm Pro has a free version but also offers a powerful professional version. Iskysoft itube studio 5 7 3. The free app DaVinci Resolve is very good, especially on colour correction, and while the VSDC Free Video Editor lacks the hardware acceleration of paid-for editing apps that's not really an issue if you're not in a busy working environment.

Which programs 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 Adobe Premiere Pro CC or Apple Final Cut Pro X 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.

Should I pay for a premium option?

To 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. They can. 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.

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.

Why do you need a free video editing software

As with any good video in order to get it right it'll need some edits. Editing your videos shouldn't be that expensive either as there are some good, free, safe and easy to use video editing software in the internet.

Video editing has been made easy by tools that are readily available online. However, not all programs do what they're supposed to. A lot of such freeware packages are harmful and contain spyware/adware. Nevertheless, there're a lot that are quite professional and there are even some that come without watermarks.

As there are so many on the market, we've put together a selection of 7 of the best free video editing software on the internet.

Easy Free Video Editing Program

7 free and easy to use video editing software

Some of the software listed below are all recommended for either both Windows and Mac.

  1. Openshot

    Openshot is a great free video editing software for beginners who wants to edit YouTube videos. It has a very easy drag and drop facility that is much like that of iMovie and it's excellent for making special occasion films.

    Advantages

    • The software is available for PC running Windows 10, 8 and 7. It's also compatible with Linux and Mac platforms.
    • It caters for both the novice user and the more experienced one.
    • The program's advanced timeline allows for panning, scrolling, zooming, snapping and easy drag and drop.
    • The package comes with a whole trove of 3D animated subtitles, you can create titles or choose some from the hose of templates it has.
    • The software is a full open source system.

    Disadvantages

    • It doesn't have a very comprehensive help section.
  2. Lightworks

    If you're looking for a professional video editing system then Lightworks is one of the best on the internet. This software is jammed full of useful utilities and features that more meet the needs of any user. It comes with a $25 per month Pro Version but the free version is more than adequate for most people's editing needs.

    Advantages

    • Video trimming to the highest precision standard.
    • It supports almost all video formats and allows for 720p video export to Youtube.
    • It comes with all the standard and advanced video features.
    • It's one of the top packages for all kinds of video editing.
    • The software is supported on Windows, Linux and Mac operating system platforms.

    Disadvantages

    • The video support in 4K for YouTube is only an option in the paid Pro version of the software.
    • It's not user-friendly for a beginner.
  3. iMovie

    As with most iProducts they're relatively easy to use and come with just enough utilities and features. It's a really great package in which anyone with a Mac can learn the basics of video editing. iMovie has easy to use drag and drop features, it's very intuitive but there is only so much you can do with this software.

    Advantages

    • It's one of the best program packages for Mac users to learn how to edit a video.
    • Its features are very easy to use.
    • 4k/60fps Video Recording with the Sony IMX377 Image Sensor capturing high-quality video in full High Definition (HD) and 12MP still images.

    Disadvantages

    • Available only on Mac.
    • The software has limited features.
    • Slow / sluggish rendering time.
  4. Windows Movie Maker

    Movie Maker is a hand free app that comes with Windows. It's a very easy to use and simple piece of software that allows a person to add various background music, effects, titles and transitions to their videos. It has come a long way since it was first released.

    Advantages

    • It's a system application that comes standard with Windows 7, 8.
    • Easy to use timeline for adding clips.
    • Has all the basic functions like slow motion, speed-up, trimming, video playback preview, etc.
    • Enables the user to edit and capture feed direct for the PC camera.
    • Excellent for beginners wanting to learn how to do some video editing before going into a more complicated application.

    Disadvantages

    • Only available on the Windows 7 and 8 platform.
    • Limited functionality and features.
    • Windows 10 no longer supports Movie Maker. For the OS you have to get Movie Moments from the store.
    • People experienced in video editing will be limited with this application.
  5. VSDC Video Editor

    VSDC is one of the best apps. However, the problem with this application is that it's only available for Windows users. It's also quite expensive to get support on a problem because the free version doesn't come with free support. The will charge you a monthly cost of $9.99 or a yearly one of $14.99. If you choose to buy the Pro version for $19.99 the support is free, and it unlocks a host of great functions.

    Advantages

    • The software is available only on the Windows Operating System Platform.
    • Although VSDC free version comes with some power packed features, it does lack in quite a bit of powerful features and functionality.
    • VSDC comes standard with audio editing and correction of color.
    • The software is really easy to use.

    Disadvantages

    • Most of the features are available only in the Pro version.
    • Support of the product is free only for a paid Pro member or if you pay for a month / a year.
  6. Avidemux

    If you're looking for a software to learn how to edit, then this option is for you. It's very easy to use and it has some great basic features and tasks. Avidemux is powerful in its simplicity and gives the novice user a great place to build the video editing knowledge.

    Advantages

    • Simple video editing applications for beginners.
    • The software hasn't got a lot of technical jargon, you don't really even need to read the manual or help documents.
    • Few basic editing functions like filtering, encoding and easy cutting features.

    Disadvantages

    • It's really limited in its functionality and features.
    • The app is not designed for anything other than the simplest video editing.
  7. VideoPad

    VideoPad is one of those small applications that end up being hugely surprising. It's like a super version of Movie Maker.

    Advantages

    • For use with most Windows Operating system platforms.
    • Simple and has great features that are helpful for a beginner user.
    • It has a lot of powerful editing tools that even more experienced user will find it good for video editing.
    • The software is compatible for video uploads to media platforms such as Facebook and YouTube.
    • It supports various video file formats giving a wider editing choice.
    • The editor is completely free for people who are using it for non-commercial use.
    • Handy drag and drop features for quick easy timeline video creations which is good for making special occasion film montages.
    • It comes loaded with special video effects, features and filters.
    • The software has several different transition setting.

    Disadvantages

    • It doesn't have as many special features and effects as some of its competitors.




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