The perfect free video enhancing software program makes it simple to edit movies for platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Vimeo, and YouTube.
Beneath, discover 15 high free video enhancing applications from across the internet. Every videographer has their very own wants, so this publish consists of among the most helpful options of every video editor and the professionals and cons of the instruments.
15 finest free video enhancing software program
- HitFilm: Finest general free video editor
- Lightworks: Finest for highly effective options
- iMovie: Finest free video editor for Mac
- VideoPad: Finest for newcomers
- DaVinci Resolve: Finest for superior editors
- VSDC: Finest free editor with no watermark
- OpenShot: Finest for intermediate editors
- Shotcut: Finest for audio enhancing
- Clipchamp: Finest free editor for Home windows 11
- Vimeo Create: Finest free video editor with AI
- KineMaster: Finest free editor for cellular
- Film Maker On-line: Finest in-browser free editor
- Movavi Video Editor: Finest for social media influencers
- ActivePresenter: Finest for screencasts
- Video Grabber: Finest for brief clips
1. Finest general free video editor: HitFilm
For those who don’t have a whole lot of expertise with video enhancing software program, HitFilm might really feel somewhat superior at first. It’s used to provide Hollywood-style movies, but it surely’s definitely worth the studying curve, because it’s the most effective all-in-one free video editor accessible. (HitFilm does ask you to share a social media standing replace while you obtain the software program, however that’s a small worth to pay.)
HitFilm consists of animation instruments for creating and enhancing audio and video transitions with out the necessity for composite photographs, which is a big time saver. It additionally has cool 3D results for movies, music movies, and even YouTube movies—plus options you’d usually discover in a paid video enhancing software program, comparable to 360-degree enhancing and a library of particular results.
Out there for: Mac and Home windows.
Value: Free ($12.99 per 30 days for HitFilm Professional, when billed yearly).
Watermark? No.
HitFilm options:
- Movement monitoring, shade pickers, and cropping instruments
- Composite shot characteristic
- Auto-stabilizer to easy shaky footage
- Adaptive trimmer to re-trim clips after including them to the timeline
- Sensible attribute copy and paste
- Audio mixer for fine-tuning sound output
- Numerous transition choices together with push, zoom, and dissolve
Professionals
✓
Limitless video and audio observe creation.
✓
Create professional-looking movies utilizing movement monitoring and stabilization.
✓
Composite shot enhancement allows you to animate photographs collectively.
✓
With good copy, choose a bunch of attributes and apply them to a number of clips or all the challenge.
Cons
✕
HitFilm has superior instruments and options, so there could also be a studying curve for newcomers.
2. Finest free video editor for highly effective options: Lightworks
Lightworks features a easy and intuitive interface, so it’s simple to select up and use. It additionally gives a group of detailed video tutorials, making it one of many extra accessible video enhancing software program choices on this checklist.
Lightworks works with Linux, and has a collection of unique inventory movies and music clips licensed to be used. Total, it’s a easy however highly effective piece of software program that may add polish to any advertising and marketing video.
Out there for: Home windows, Mac, and Linux.
Value: Free ($27.99 per 30 days for Lightworks professional).
Watermark? No.
Lightworks options:
- Easy trim operate for exact video enhancing
- Velocity optimization that permits you to edit whereas importing content material
- Multicam enhancing for syncing clips from a number of cameras
- Share initiatives in actual time together with your crew
Professionals
✓
Helps a variety of video codecs, so there’s no have to convert clips earlier than importing.
✓
Sharing is straightforward with Lightworks. You possibly can export clips to YouTube, Vimeo, Fb, and Instagram.
✓
Share your challenge with different editors by granting dwell entry.
Cons
✕
The free model does not help 4K. For those who’re producing movies for big screens, you’ll have to improve.
3. Finest free editor for Mac: iMovie
Fashionable standby Apple iMovie comes bundled with macOS. Like many native Apple apps, iMovie is uncomplicated and makes use of a easy drag-and-drop interface for shifting information out of your drive to your workstation. It’s a straightforward option to construct highly effective movies that may enhance your YouTube advertising and marketing efforts.
An enormous benefit to iMovie is that information are saved on Apple’s cloud, that means you possibly can work on a challenge interchangeably throughout iPhone, iPad, or Mac. iMovie is continually being up to date, too, so you possibly can look ahead to new options and enhancements.
Out there for: Mac, iOS.
Value: Free.
Watermark? No.
iMovie options
- 4K decision
- Cloud storage
- Studio high quality title and credit animations
- Video filters for particular genres
- Constructed-in music and sound results library
- Voice-over recording
- Velocity controls for motion scenes and slow-motion highlights
Professionals
✓
Begin your challenge on Mac, then end it through iPhone with iCloud.
✓
iMovie’s filters are a enjoyable manner so as to add style cliches to your challenge, comparable to a Western or sci-fi look.
✓
The voiceover recording characteristic retains audio and video synchronized.
Cons
✕
As Apple’s native video enhancing software program, iMovie is designed for Mac customers solely.
4. Finest free editor for newcomers: VideoPad
VideoPad is a good possibility for anybody who desires to create high-quality movies with out opening your pockets. With VideoPad, you’ll discover every kind of easy and easy-to-use options—comparable to 3D video enhancing and a sound results library—to check out totally different video compositions and types.
You possibly can edit movies with particular results, overlays, texts, and transitions, as properly modify shade sound ranges. While you’re performed, export completed movies to YouTube, Fb, or Google Drive rapidly and simply.
The principle downside to VideoPad is that it’s too easy for superior video enhancing. It doesn’t include as many options as among the different finest free video enhancing software program on this checklist—however, with choices so as to add mild results, superb tune colours, and overlay textual content, there’s sufficient right here to make it definitely worth the free obtain.
Out there for: Mac, Home windows, Android, iOS.
Value: Free.
Watermark? No.
VideoPad options
- Double-screen view
- Preset export settings for Fb, YouTube, and different platforms
- Giant library of customizable transitions and visible results
- Video optimization instruments, together with stabilization
Professionals
✓
Attempt the double-screen characteristic to see chosen clips and your full sequence in a single view.
✓
Social publishing instruments are nice for these occasions when you must edit and share movies rapidly.
Cons
✕
VideoPad lacks the superior enhancing instruments present in different software program on this checklist.
✕
For those who’re a Mac consumer, you’ll discover most of VideoPad’s options are already accessible in iMovie.
5. Finest free editor for superior editors: DaVinci Resolve
DaVinci Resolve combines skilled 8K enhancing, shade correction, visible results, and audio post-production right into a single manufacturing instrument, which is why it’s the software program of alternative for a lot of skilled editors of movies, tv reveals, and commercials.
DaVinci permits for each offline and on-line enhancing, and its high-performance playback engine saves time when trimming clips—even with processor-intensive file codecs comparable to H.264 and RAW. DaVinci Resolve’s advanced options could also be too in depth for some customers, however its free model is ideal for mid-level initiatives.
Out there for: Home windows, Mac, and Linux.
Value: Free ($235 for the complete Studio model).
Watermark? No.
DaVinci Resolve options
- Twin timeline for fast navigation and cuts
- Devoted trimming interface
- Clever auto-editing to sync audio and video
- Image-in-picture, stabilization, and dynamic zoom
- Facial recognition and computerized people-sorting instrument
- Movement estimation velocity adjustments and body charge conversions
Professionals
✓
A devoted trim interface that provides you the power to edit in minute element.
✓
Facial recognition detects faces in your video and creates bins for every person who seems.
Cons
✕
DaVinci gives advanced video enhancing software program options which may be overkill for less complicated use circumstances.
6. Finest free editor with no watermark: VSDC
VSDC’s desktop video enhancing software program is accessible in each free and paid variations. Though the free model has lowered options, it nonetheless comes with VSDC’s full video enhancing suite—together with a masking instrument and chroma key performance for green-screen video results. VSDC is a well-liked free video enhancing software program used for GoPro footage.
When you’ve got the funds to spring for the complete model, the suite of instruments expands to incorporate video stabilization, strong post-production results, slideshow/presentation capabilities, 3D diagram templates, and direct social media publishing.
Out there for: Home windows.
Value: Free ($29.99 for the professional model).
Watermark? No.
VSDC options:
- Colour-correction
- A full library of transitional results
- Masking instruments for hiding, blurring, or highlighting
- HEVC/H.265 (superior video-compression normal)
Professionals
✓
Share movies on to Fb, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, and Vimeo.
✓
Simple-to-use picture filters, much like these discovered on Instagram.
✓
HEVC/H.265 maintains high quality on the minimal file measurement; important for processing 4K.
Cons
✕
The free model is for Home windows solely, and has restricted options.
7. Finest free editor for intermediate editors: OpenShot
OpenShot’s easy-to-use consumer interface makes it an amazing video enhancing program for newbie and intermediate editors. Extra advanced instruments might supply extra enhancing parts, however OpenShot’s minimal design is ideal for easy enhancing jobs.
OpenShot is an environment friendly possibility for small companies who have to make adverts and social media posts. It’s finest for clip resizing, scaling, trimming, snapping, and rotation. It additionally gives credit score scrolling, body stepping, time mapping, audio enhancing, and real-time previews.
Out there for: Home windows, Mac, and Linux.
Value: Free.
Watermark? No.
OpenShot options:
- Limitless layers for backgrounds and audio tracks
- Customizable title-card templates
- Digital video results together with chroma key compositing
- Key-frame animation for animated movies
Professionals
✓
Drag-and-drop performance for including video, audio, and picture information.
✓
Regulate brightness, gamma, hue, and grayscale, and carry out chroma key compositing for green-screen results.
Cons
✕
Lacks superior enhancing instruments.
✕
OpenShot is best for trimming and mixing clips than including results.
8. Finest open-source editor for audio enhancing: Shotcut
Shotcut is an open-source, cross-platform video editor with an unlimited assortment of instructional movies. It additionally helps a variety of codecs, together with FFmpeg, 4K, ProRes, and DNxHD. A warning, nevertheless: Shotcut was initially designed for Linux, so some might discover the interface somewhat quirky. Regardless of this, it’s nonetheless a top-notch editor.
Shotcut additionally has in depth audio enhancing choices, making it superb for audiophiles. Its host of fine-tuning audio instruments lets customers make bass and treble changes, create bandpass filters, modify acquire, add dynamic compression, and extra.
Out there for: Home windows, Mac, and Linux.
Value: Free.
Watermark? No.
Shotcut options:
- File format help with FFmpeg
- Native timeline enhancing
- Superior audio filters together with bandpass filters and compressor
- AV1 decoding and encoding help
Professionals
✓
A multi-format timeline for mixing and matching resolutions and body charges inside a challenge.
✓
Import video information instantly into your challenge file fairly than a media library.
Cons
✕
Some really feel that Shotcut’s interface is unintuitive.
✕
Shot could also be higher suited to audio enhancing.
9. Finest free video editor for Home windows 11: Microsoft Clipchamp
Microsoft Clipchamp comes preinstalled on Home windows 11. It’s one of many extra intuitive video editors on this checklist, with some neat time-saving options comparable to batch enhancing, auto captions, and text-to-speech.
Clipchamp allows you to edit movies from display recordings in addition to uploaded video information. There are drag-and-drop enhancing instruments, plus a variety of well-designed templates and music tracks you could add to your creations.
Out there for: Home windows.
Value: Free.
Watermark? No.
Clipchamp options:
- Speaker coach
- Limitless 1080p exports
- AI enhancing options
- Royalty-free music library
Professionals
✓
A speaker coach helps you enhance your voice-over and digital assembly expertise.
✓
Simple to make use of for novice Home windows customers.
Cons
✕
Clipchamp is simply free when put in with a Microsoft 365 subscription.
10. Finest free AI video editor: Vimeo create
Vimeo Create, a free enhancing software program you possibly can join on to your Shopify retailer, mechanically turns your current product photographs and textual content into polished ecommerce movies—no video expertise wanted.
All it’s a must to do is reply a couple of questions on your product, add your footage and brand, and select fashion customizations. Vimeo Create then mechanically edits your video in minutes (although you too can select your individual types, or begin from scratch). The AI software program even suggests colours, themes, music, and fonts.
It’s particularly helpful for creating movies at scale (say, for instance, you wish to begin a channel for what you are promoting in an effort to earn money on YouTube and wish to streamline the creation course of). As a result of Vimeo is an all-in-one answer, you too can handle, host, and distribute all of your movies from one place, streamlining your workflow.
Out there for: iOS and Android.
Value: Free (Superior options begin at $12 per 30 days).
Watermark? No.
Vimeo Create options:
- Greater than 1,000 templates
- Facial recognition characteristic
- Auto-cropping
- iStock integration for limitless inventory photographs
- Commercially licensed music library
Professionals
✓
Simply share your movies throughout advertising and marketing channels.
✓
Harness AI so as to add results and model parts.
✓
Skilled auto-editing instruments.
Cons
✕
Higher for batch enhancing movies that want minimal corrections.
11. Finest free video editor for cellular: KineMaster
For those who’re video enhancing on the go, think about KineMaster your go-to software program. This free (subscription mannequin elective) but highly effective video enhancing app is ideal for cellular units. With KineMaster, you possibly can shoot, edit, and add footage out of your telephone or pill. Cellular editors often sacrifice superior instruments to simplify video creation, however KineMaster does the alternative.
With KineMaster, you possibly can lower, splice, crop, and mix movies simply, with greater than 2,500 downloadable transitions and results. Use shade filters and changes to right and improve movies so that they stand out. While you’re completed, simply share to YouTube, TikTok, Reels, Tales, and extra.
Out there for: iOS, Android, Chromebook.
Value: Free ($8.99 per 30 days for the paid plan).
Watermark? Sure.
KineMaster options:
- Mission backup characteristic for added safety
- Mixing choices to create creative video results
- Device for focal shifts and in-camera transitions
- Edit and export 4K movies at 60 FPS
Professionals
✓
Go to the asset retailer to obtain results, soundtracks, stickers, fonts, and extra.
Cons
✕
KineMaster is meant for cellular use solely.
✕
Designed for taking pictures then enhancing video, fairly than as a devoted editor program.
12. Finest in-browser free video editor: Film Maker On-line
Film Maker On-line is the most effective browser-based video editor. It’s a free instrument for those who wish to create movies, however there are some drawbacks. The instrument is supported by adverts, so that you’ll should navigate round them to edit your movies. It additionally has a 10-minute most length, which needs to be OK for many use circumstances.
The interface additionally has some quirks. The video and audio timelines are positioned vertically, as an alternative of horizontally, like conventional video editors. It’s a bit difficult to get used to at first. Nonetheless, it’s simply accessible on a number of units as a result of it’s utterly browser-based.
Film Maker On-line provides you all of the fundamentals you must make a video free of charge. You additionally get entry to free music, movies, and photographs, which is a pleasant bonus.
Out there for: In-browser use.
Value: Free.
Watermark? No.
Film Maker On-line options:
- Royalty-free music, picture, and sound impact library
- Constructed-in help
Professionals
✓
Free, in-browser enhancing you could entry in seconds.
✓
Splendid for rapidly trimming, combining, and adjusting movies
Cons
✕
Some customers discover the interface complicated.
✕
Film Maker is supported by adverts, which will be distracting.
✕
Most clip length of 10 minutes.
13. Finest free editor for influencers: Movavi Video Editor
With Movavi Video Editor, you may make polished, skilled movies with an array of dynamic options. With its easy-to-use interface and intuitive options, this software program is nice for newcomers, but it surely additionally has superior options that may attraction to these making social media reels.
With the software program, you possibly can create movies that work with nearly any file format: another excuse why Movavi Video Editor is a good alternative for individuals who wish to create high-quality movies with out spending a whole lot of time studying how one can do it.
Out there for: Home windows and Mac.
Value: Free (trial model solely).
Watermark? Sure.
Movavi options:
- Visible enhancement library
- Superimpose video over backgrounds
- Audio balancing
- Add a number of layers of video, audio, and results
Professionals
✓
One-click auto-improve the standard of your video.
✓
Save and share your challenge in nearly any file format.
✓
Suggests adjustments to your footage and the place to separate clips.
Cons
✕
The free model provides watermarks to movies.
14. Finest free video editor for screencasts: ActivePresenter
ActivePresenter is an all-in-one display recording and video enhancing software program, accessible in free and paid variations. Developed by Atomi Methods, it serves the video enhancing area of interest of tutorial and e-learning movies.
Out there for: Home windows, Mac, iOS, Android.
Value: Free (paid model begins at $199).
Watermark? No.
ActivePresenter options:
- Document in full display, window, or locked software
- Screenshots scorching key
- Image-in-picture (PIP), text-to-speech (TTS), and audio normalization
- Interactive quizzes
- Export to SCORM and xAPI requirements
Professionals
✓
Designed for creating interactive elearning content material.
✓
A simple-to-navigate design that works properly for non-editors.
Cons
✕
Primarily a display recorder, so lacks superior options for lengthy recordings.
✕
ActivePresenter is for creating tutorial movies and demonstrations, so it might not work for all use circumstances.
15. Finest free video editor for brief clips: Video Grabber
Video Grabber will not be solely a video downloader but in addition a converter, display recorder, and primary video editor, making it one of the vital versatile video creation and enhancing instruments on this checklist. With the identical platform, you possibly can obtain movies, convert them into totally different codecs, document display actions, and even carry out some primary video enhancing course of.
Out there for: In-Browser use.
Value: Free.
Watermark? No.
Video Grabber options
- Obtain movies from any on-line supply
- Convert information from a variety of codecs
- Display recording operate with adjustable settings
- Video subtitling instrument
- Batch processing characteristic
Professionals
✓
Tremendous simple to crop, trim, and add results to movies.
✓
Accessible from any system with web entry.
Cons
✕
Designed for easy video enhancing and lacks superior options.
How to decide on a video editor
There are a lot of desktop-based enhancing software program applications accessible for companies trying to create promotional movies. The most important benefit of free video enhancing software program for desktops is that they have an inclination to have extra options than most cellular video enhancing apps.
Whether or not you’re enhancing movies for YouTube or TikTok, listed below are some issues to bear in mind:
- Consumer expertise. Search for software program that has specific enhancing modes so you possibly can edit movies in your most popular fashion rapidly. Templates are additionally a bonus. An excellent enhancing software program may even have tutorials so you possibly can be taught the options and excel.
- Modifying options. Verify to see in case your software program of alternative has highly effective video enhancing instruments that may impress viewers. For instance, when you’re utilizing drone footage, you’ll need an enhancing software program that may improve and add results to video. Perhaps you want chroma key enhancing or shade grading, or extra superior options, like 360-degree enhancing.
- Hidden prices. Some video editors are “free,” however solely work properly when you pay more cash to entry higher options. Fully free enhancing software program might have restricted file format help, poor efficiency, or different limitations. The software program you wish to think about ought to meet all of your primary enhancing wants with out added charges.
- Help. Buyer help is at all times useful while you’re new to video enhancing. When you’ve got a query a couple of characteristic, it’s good to have someplace to get solutions. Verify in case your software program has help companies like electronic mail/telephone help, FAQs, or neighborhood boards the place you will get assist from actual people.
- Export choices. The place will you publish movies? Be certain your video enhancing software program is able to outputting high-quality video in fashionable codecs, so you possibly can add movies to your social channels with ease.
- Necessities. Some applications are solely accessible for sure pc varieties. For instance, not each software program on this checklist may fit with Google Chromebook. Earlier than investing time right into a software program, ensure it’s appropriate with no matter desktop you utilize.
That’s a wrap
Now that you understand your choices for locating the most effective free video enhancing software program, strive a couple of out to see what works for you. Whereas every possibility comes with its personal benefits and downsides, hopefully you now have a greater thought of which possibility is finest in your degree of video manufacturing.
Movies are confirmed to obtain extra engagement, on common, throughout all social media platforms than footage or textual content posts. Knowledgeable, well-made video will assist seize the eye of your viewers and develop your model’s character.
With so many enhancing instruments to leverage, there’s no restrict to the inventive potential of your video content material.
Free video enhancing software program FAQ
What’s video enhancing software program?
Video enhancing software program refers to instruments that assist companies efficiently edit, modify, generate, or manipulate a video or film file. You possibly can lower and prepare video to offer it a greater movement, take away sections, and add results to enhance the video. Firms, no matter measurement, can profit from an excellent video editor to create highly effective video content material.
Which software program do most YouTubers use to edit movies?
- Adobe Premiere Professional
- Remaining Minimize Professional X
- Adobe After Results
- Lightworks
- Freemake
- iMovie
- Shotcut
Is OpenShot video editor actually free?
Sure, OpenShot video editor is free. It’s an open-source software program, which implies its supply code is freely accessible and will be modified and distributed by anybody.
Which Adobe video editor is free?
Adobe Specific is Adobe’s free video editor. With it you possibly can trim your video and add music and messaging to it. You can too merge video clips and resize your movies for dozens of locations.