The best free video editing software. Publish 4K video directly to YouTube, and export 3D videos, but the free video editing software includes everything else you need to make impressive. This is the article about free video editing software for Windows, please check some free video editing for mac here. We do love to hear from you in the comment below if there are some other awesome free video editing software for Windows which are worth mention. Section 1: 2 Best Free Video Editing Software for YouTube Videos for Novices The following video editing software is free to use, yet the function is limited. It is recommended if you haven't made any single video before and don't want to cost much in editing software. 1 Windows Movie Maker. When you are looking for the best free YouTube video editing software program to use with Mac, iMovie will be the best choice to consider. This free video editing software for YouTube allows for easy importing of videos as well as editing in terms of adding effects, inserting titles and adding sound tracks.
Sep 17,2019• Proven solutions
In the last couple of years, the amount of video content that is being uploaded to various social media networks has skyrocketed. YouTube is currently the largest video sharing platform on the Internet that hosts unimaginable amounts of videos. In 2017 alone, more than 4 million hours of content has been uploaded to YouTube each day, and these numbers are expected to continue to rise.
Editing the videos you shared on YouTube is important because the raw footage needs to be organized and cleared of mistakes if you want your videos to attract the attention of millions of viewers. That's the reason why we've selected the 11 best video editing software for YouTube that you can use on Windows and Mac OS, that can help you produce visual content that meets professional standards. Among these best YouTube video creators, some of them are the best choice for YouTube beginners to edit videos, some of them are for professional video editors.
Best YouTube video editing software for beginners and semi-pros [Windows & Mac]: Wondershare Filmora9
We list Wondershare Filmora9 as one of the best video editor for making YouTube videos for beginners and semi-pros. Filmora9 is much powerful than Windows Movie Maker on Windows and iMovie on Mac machine, while it also allows you to make a professional looking YouTube video with hundreds of presets such as filters, overlays, elements, transitions, and mixing multiple layer of effects and audio to empower your YouTube story. Hence, it is recommended at the first place as the best YouTube video creator on PC and Mac. Watch the video below to know more features of Filmora9.
We’ve made a Topic Page about YouTube Video Editing, hope you’ll enjoy it.
Part 1: Best Video editing software for YouTube on Windows [Free & Paid]
Over the course of the last decade, PCs have become powerful enough to enable their users to edit video material captured with all types of cameras. These are the five best free and paid options for PC owners who want to edit their videos on a PC before they upload them to YouTube. Besides Filmora9, you can also try these two easy to use YouTube video editors on Windows if you are new to video editing.
Section 1: 2 Best Free Video Editing Software for YouTube Videos [for Novices]
The following video editing software is free to use, yet the function is limited. It is recommended if you haven't made any single video before and don't want to cost much in editing software.
1 Windows Movie Maker
Windows Movie Maker was never a powerful video editing software, but it always provided a quick and simple way to edit videos for Windows 7 users. However, on January 10. 2017, the iconic video editing software that was bundled with all versions of Windows in the last couple of decades has been discontinued.
If you are using Windows 7 operating system, you are luck to use Windows Movie Maker: adding titles, trimming or cutting videos in this software doesn't require you to be a professional video editor, and to make things even better Windows Movie Maker offers support for a lot of different video and audio file formats.
Check more about Windows Movie Maker Editing Tips and Tricks
However, the software doesn't provide any filters or visual effects which significantly limits your possibilities. Windows Movie Maker is one of the best video editing software for beginners which is totally free, but it is designed for quick edits that don't require a lot of video editing skills, so semi-professional and professional YouTube video producers will be better off using some more powerful video editing suite for their projects.
Platform: Windows
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2.Virtual Dub
The first version of this open-source software was released in 2000, and since October 27, 2013, VirtualDub hasn't released new versions any more. The software was quite popular in the early 2000's but its fame quickly faded, due to its limited video editing capacity.
Best Youtube Editing Software For Free
This free YouTube video editor is aimed for video editing beginners. VirtualDub's users can capture footage, edit, or assemble videos from TGA and BMP files. Cutting, resizing or trimming video clips is possible, but the software only offers support for AVI file format, so you may experience difficulties if your camera captured footage in some other format.
Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux
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As up-rising stars, Davinci Resolve and HitFilm Express are two FREE video editing software for Windows and Mac, even though paid versions DaVinci Resolve Studio and HitFilm Pro are more famous among professional film makers because of the powerful editing features. Note: If you add effects with “AddOn” green badge, there will be watermark after exporting in HitFilm Express. And for the free DaVinci Resolve, the animation stuff and VFX and 4K supporting features are lacked.
Section 2: 3 Paid video editing software for YouTube on Windows [for Video Editing Enthusiasts]
The following software is a little complicated since providing more powerful abilities to edit YouTube videos.
1. Wondershare Filmora9 Video Editor
Platform: Windows, Mac
Becoming a skilled video editor takes years of practice, but with Wondershare Filmora9 video editor you can produce YouTube videos that have a professional look and feel, even if you are new to the world of video editing. This YouTube Video Creator has big icons and intuitive interface, so those YouTubers who edit videos for the first time can quickly make a video.
As one of the best video editing software for beginners, Filmora9 YouTube Video Editor contains all the tools you'll ever need to create a well-rounded video with the video & audio editing features, stunning effects, and efficient color grading.
Besides the fact that you can easily add as many video, photo and audio files to your projects, this YouTube video creation tool also enables you to perform all basic video editing actions such as trimming or cutting video clips, or advanced editing features such as de-noise, video stabilization and more.
The software's rich effects library enables you to enhance the colors in your videos, add text or image overlays. Wondershare Filmora9 also offers royalty free audio library which includes music track and sound effects you can use to create a perfect soundtrack for your videos that can be exported to YouTube directly from the editor (for personal use). You can add text and add emoji with animations and save it as preset to use in the future. You can also make some creative videos with the split-screen video or chroma keying feature.
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Filmora9 is a freemium video editing software, and you need to pay to remove the watermark in the Free Trial Version.
You can share the video made with Filmora9 to YouTube directly. We have also made a video to introduce some of the best video editing software for YouTube videos, no matter you are using Windows or Mac, you will find the free and paid software based on your needs.
2. Pinnacle Studio 21.5
The wide range of input file formats this video editing software provides guarantees that you'll never have to worry about the camera you're using to capture your YouTube videos. The Pinnacle Studio bring advanced video editing tools to inexperienced users and it simplifies the video editing process.
The software is equipped with all of the basic video editing features, while the paint effects or 360-degree video editing support enable you to add a special flavor to each project you are working on.
YouTubers will find the mosaic blur with motion tracking feature useful, because it allows them to conceal private information in a video, but this feature is only available on the Ultimate version of the software. If you choose to purchase Plus or the Ultimate Pinnacle Studio versions you'll be able to edit 3D and 4K videos.
Platform: Windows
Price: Pricing plans start at $49,95
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3. Corel VideoStudio
This award-winning software features multi-track video editing option, as well as a number of professional video editing features. The Lens Correction tools, 3D video editing, or Stop Motion Animation features are just a few out of many reasons why Corel VideoStudio is one of the best video editing software products for PC owners. You can crop or resize videos, while the split screen feature is also available if you want to have more than just one video source in your video.
To make things even better VideoStudio is equipped with video hardware acceleration technologies that shorten the amount of time required to render a video. The software's users can export their projects to YouTube, Flickr or Vimeo, so they can save time on the exporting and uploading videos manually to these video sharing platforms.
Platform: Windows
Price: $69.99
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4. Vegas Pro
Image resource: from Internet
Platform: Windows
Price: $599.00
For Windows users who are looking for a professional and advanced video editing software, Sony Vegas Pro maybe one of the solution that you should consider. The interface in Vegas Pro is not so intuitive and not very modern-looking, so you have to spend some time to figure out all the features and how to use them.
For beginners who are new to video editing, there may be a steep learning curve, since Vegas Pro has a tons of advanced features like 3D editing, compositing, color correction, automatic corssfades, multicam-editing, chroma keying and various special effects.
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Part 2: Best Free and Paid Video editing software for YouTubers on Mac
Some of the greatest movies in history were edited on Mac computers, but if you are not a professional video editor that doesn't mean you can't use your Mac to create impeccable YouTube videos your followers are going to adore.
Section 1: Best Free video editing software to edit YouTube videos on Mac
iMovie and blender are free to use, but one is targeted on starters, another is specialized in modeling. You can choose which one to use based on your YouTube niche and editing skills as well.
1. iMovie: Best free video editing software for beginners for Mac Users
If you are a video editing newbie and do not want to download any third party editor for your YouTube videos, you can try iMovie, which is one of the best option for YouTube Video Creator beginners for Mac users. iMovie was released in 1999, and since 2003 it has been included in all new versions of Mac OS. The software offers basic video editing features, that enable its users to crop, trim and arrange their video clips in any way they want. Adding titles, applying visual effects or editing audio files is also on the list of features iMovie provides. The latest versions of the software offer support for HD and 4K videos, which means that you can edit footage captured with iPhones, GoPros, and all other modern digital video cameras.
The software's video-sharing capabilities are impressive since it enables its users to share 4K videos to YouTube, Facebook or Vimeo with just a few clicks. Even though iMovie offers a lot of powerful video editing tools, professional video editors may find the software's features underwhelming.
Platform: Mac, iOS
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2. Blender: Free YouTube Video Creating Software for video editing & modeling professionals]
Blender is much more than a simple video editing software since it can also be used for modeling, animation, rendering, VFX or game creation. The amount of video editing features Blender offers is limited, but you can still trim videos, insert transitions or apply filters. The software's timeline allows you to add as many video, audio and image files to your projects as you want, and it grants you access to chroma vectorscope, live preview, and histogram displays.
Audio mixing and waveform visualization options provide a considerable amount of creative freedom to the software's users, while speed control and layer adjustment features broaden the scope of video editing actions you can perform with Blender. Despite the amazing animation, modeling and video editing features, this software fails to live up to the standards set by professional video editing software products for Mac.
Platform: Mac, Linux, Windows
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Section 2: 3 Paid software to edit YouTube videos for Mac [for video editing professionals]
The following 3 software are for professionals and may be hard to use if haven’t enough editing experience.
1. Final Cut Pro: Professional Video Editing Software on Mac
This video editing software is famous for its high-end video editing capabilities on Mac and it is frequently used by the industry's leading professionals on demanding projects. Final Cut Pro is designed for non-linear and non-destructive video editing and it offers tools that make working with large amounts of video, audio and image files easier. The recent versions of the software offer support for 4K and 5K videos, while the 360-degree video editing is also an option that is available to the video editor's users.
A brief look at the list of feature Final Cut Pro offers will leave you wondering if there is anything this software cannot do. That's the reason why YouTube video producers can only benefit from editing their videos in Final Cut Pro, one of the best video editing software for Mac ever created.
Platform: Mac
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Cost price: $299,99, free trial available
2. Adobe Premiere Pro CC: Advanced Video Editing Software
Gone Girl or Deadpool are just a few cult movies edited with Adobe Premiere Pro, The software is reliable and offers features that surpass the demands even the most advanced YouTube video producers have. However, this doesn't mean you can't use the Adobe's video editing software to perform quick and simple edits on your footage. Importing and organizing video files is easy in Adobe Premiere Pro while applying transitions or removing the unwanted parts of a video clip is a simple operation which even the novice video editors can perform.
The software offers support for nearly all video file formats, including the 8K footage produced by professional video cameras. Adobe Premiere Pro CC also enables you to edit VR or 360-degree videos, while adding motion graphics or customizable transitions is also on the list of features the software provides.
Platform: Mac, Windows
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Cost Price: $20,99 per month, billed annually
3. Lightworks: Professional Video Editing Software for Making Hollywood-Like videos
The features Lightworks offers may seem intimidating to inexperienced video editors, but this software is also a perfect learning tool. The user-friendly interface is equipped with a rich selection of visual effects, transitions and superb trimming options which guarantee that each YouTube video you edit in Lightworks is going to be a small masterpiece.
The software supports all popular video file formats, including 4K videos, and you can export your videos to YouTube easily. What's more, Lightworks is optimized to save time on exporting files, so you won't have to spend a lot of time waiting for your videos to be uploaded to your YouTube channel. Professionals will enjoy the Multicam editing feature that enables you to work with the footage captured by two or more video cameras.
Platform: Mac, Windows, Linux
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Cost Price: Free version available, $24,99 per month, One Year License: $174,99
We have also made a comparison table to help you find the best video editing software for YouTube videos, hope this will save your time when picking the right video editing software for your YouTube videos.
Conclusion
Above are our picks for the best video editing software for YouTube videos on the market, from some free video editing software for Windows and Mac, to the paid solution to edit your YouTube videos. Some of the video editing software are best suitable for video editing beginners such as iMovie and Windows Movie Maker, some are creative professional software like Adobe Premiere. If your favorite YouTube video creating and editing software is not listed above, share your recommendations in the comment below with us. Check the video below to know how to empower your imagination with Filmora9 YouTube Video Creator easily. Download it and have a try now!
Easy-to-use and powerful video editor for all creators.
Bring up your video to a professional level with straightforward tools.
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On the face of it, getting hold of the best video editing software is no easy task. There are loads of options out there, all boasting brilliant features and innovative add-ons. But the option that will suit a professional video editor won't necessarily be the best for the enthusiastic amateur. And what about free video editing software?
That's where this TechRadar guide to choosing the best video editing software comes in. We've used all the best (and worst) editors around and distilled them down to an easy-to-digest list of our favorites.
Below you'll see lists of both premium and free video editing software. So if you're ready for something advanced, opting for a paid product will get you high-end extras like 360-degree video support, motion tracking and multi-cam editing, but that's just the start.
The most impressive programs make your everyday tasks like cutting, trimming, combining and applying filters to clips as simple as possible - that's true regardless of whether you demand the absolute best video editor out there, or if you were hoping for free video editing software instead. Downloading an inferior option will lead only to frustration and a less polished finished product. The tools we've picked out for you in this guide are the very best in their class.
Keep reading to get the best of both worlds, with Adobe Premiere Pro leading the way as our #1 favorite. And further down the page we have an FAQ to answer all your burning questions about video editing software.
The overall best video editing software
These premium video editors can't be matched - not even by the very greatest free options. The extra resources available to commercial projects help to refine the entire package, often bringing more accurate and configurable effects, an enhanced interface and a faster rendering engine. If it's the very best video editing software that you're after, then look no further than this quintet:
1. Adobe Premiere Pro CC
Dedicate the time to mastering Premiere Pro and reap the rewards
Platform: Windows/Mac | Free trial: 7 days | Upload straight to YouTube: Yes | 8K support: Yes | 360 support: Yes | Purchase type: Subscription
$20.99
$49.94
Youtube Video Editor Free
Supports 360-degree and VR video
Customizable interface
Adobe Premiere Pro is an industry-standard video editor and getting the most from it will require an investment of time as well as cash, but if you’re serious about video then it’s well worth the effort.
There's a vast assortment of stackable audio and video filters, support for 360-degree and VR video, native support for a huge number of raw file formats, and the ability to work collaboratively with others. You can even start editing your videos before they've finished importing.
This kind of power doesn't come cheap and the monthly or annual subscription fee adds up, but the lack of a large initial outlay makes Premiere Pro surprisingly accessible. It's worth downloading a trial of the other video editors here before making a decision, but Premiere Pro is extremely versatile and the cloud-based model means you won't have to pay for upgrades as they're released.
Read our full review: Adobe Premiere Pro CC
Adobe Premiere Pro |From $20.99 (£19.97) per month
Like all of Adobe's single app plans, Premier Pro costs around $20/£20 per month when you sign up for a year. That's excellent value for such an impressive piece of software. 2. Apple Final Cut Pro X
A premium editor for Mac owners, with a unique interface
Platform: Mac | Free trial: 30 days | Upload straight to YouTube: Yes | 8K support: Yes | 360 support: Yes | Purchase type: Retail
Smart 'trackless' timeline
Price includes major updates
This is a video editor aimed squarely at the professional end of the market, but Apple Final Cut Pro X is not needlessly complicated. Its interface is a little different to most, and is built around a 'trackless' timeline that encourages you to organize elements into specific 'roles', such as voiceover, music and titles.
If you're looking for a video editor to pair with your drone, Final Cut Pro is an excellent choice. It supports raw video from all the major makes and models, and is regularly updated with additional profiles. It also supports 360-degree video editing (fast becoming mandatory for premium video editing software) and HDR, with advanced color grading.
Rather than adopt a subscription model like Adobe, Apple has chosen to make Final Cut Pro available for a one-off flat fee. It's relatively expensive, but includes all major updates and will work out cheaper than Premiere Pro if you keep using it over a couple of years. If you own a Mac and are torn between Apple and Adobe, we recommend taking the free trials of both for a spin before making up your mind.
3. CyberLink PowerDirector
A video editor that puts premium tools within reach of newcomers
Platform: Windows | Free trial: 30 days | Upload straight to YouTube: Yes | 8K support: Yes | 360 support: Yes | Purchase type: Retail
Wizard optimizes videos in seconds
Fewer fine controls than some
If Adobe Premiere Elements and Apple Final Cut Pro X are overkill for your video editing projects, take a look at CyberLink PowerDirector.
Although PowerDirector is a premium, feature-packed video editor, it's also very forgiving, and offers a gentle introduction to post production that won't faze complete beginners. The Magic Movie Wizard is the ultimate example, paring the task of combining and optimizing videos down to a few clicks. You'll achieve better results by spending a while in the timeline editor, but for anyone who just wants to quickly piece something together to publish on Facebook, it's ideal.
That's not to say that CyberLink PowerDirector is dumbed down, though; far from it. The software also offers a standard post production interface based around control panels and a timeline. It sometimes takes a little while to drill down to the finer controls, but every filter and option is extremely flexible once you start exploring. Perhaps most impressive of all, CyberLink PowerDirector makes video editing fun.
4. HitFilm Pro
If you're interested in special effects, HitFilm is the editor for you
Platform: Windows | Free trial: No time limit, but can’t export | Upload straight to YouTube: Yes | 8K support: Yes | 360 support: Yes | Purchase type: Retail
Superb for special effects
HitFilm Pro is a premium video editor that's a firm favourite with fanfilm makers - and with good reason. It's packed with tools for creating stunning special effects, but is accessible enough for home users.
One of HitFilm Pro's biggest selling points is the ability to tackle pretty much every aspect of video post-production within the editor. Animations, titles, audio editing and color grading are all accessible with a couple of clicks, but the interface is intuitively designed and never feels cluttered.
Unlike the other video editors in this roundup, HitFilm Pro supports importing and animating of custom 3D models, complete with simulated 3D cameras, custom shadows and dynamic lighting. There are also impressive particle effects, and superb chroma-keying to minimize annoying spill.
5. Adobe Premiere Elements
A friendly introduction to video editing for complete beginners
Platform: Windows/Mac | Free trial: 30 days | Upload straight to YouTube: Yes | 8K support: No | 360 support: No | Purchase type: Retail
Excellent tutorials for new users
Simple step-by-step wizards
Of all the premium video editors in this roundup, Adobe Premiere Elements is the most beginner-oriented. It's designed to make video editing as easy as possible, and even its Expert interface is extremely straightforward.
Unlike Adobe's premium software (like Premiere Pro), Premiere Elements is only available as a one-off purchase, so you aren't committed to paying a monthly fee to keep using it. It's also one of the most affordable video editors around, which is impressive for a huge name like Adobe.
Some video editors assume a certain degree of familiarity before you begin, but Premiere Elements is ideal even for total beginners. Its interface features large buttons, clearly labelled. There are also some excellent tutorials included to help bridge the gap between creating a video using wizards and using the more traditional multi-track timeline.
The best free video editing software
If you're a beginner, there are free video editors that will make the whole process as easy as can be and don't cost a penny. These user-friendly editors offer a gentle introduction to editing, so you'll learn the basics and be able to make the step up to a more advanced premium program when you're ready. We've picked our the five best video editing software choices below.
1. Lightworks
The best free video editing software available, for any level of expertise
Platform: Windows/Mac/Linux | Upload straight to YouTube: Yes | 8K support: No | 360 support: No
Real-time effects
Lightworks is an incredible tool that's published free with the noble aim of making professional quality video editing software available to everyone. As you would expect for such a powerful video editor, you won't be able to master it overnight, but that's certainly not something you could hold against it and hasn't stopped us naming it as our number one best video editing software on the web.
If you've tried other free editors you'll probably find that the interface is a little different to anything you're used to, but you can arrange the various controls and windows to create something that suits your way of working.
There's a paid version, Lightworks Pro, which adds the ability to export in formats other than MPEG, publish 4K video directly to YouTube, and export 3D videos, but the free video editing software includes everything else you need to make impressive videos.
2. Hitfilm Express
A powerful free video editor that's expandable if you outgrow it
Platform: Windows/Mac | Upload straight to YouTube: Yes | 8K support: No | 360 support: Requires add-on
Expandable via add-ons
Hitfilm Express is another video editor that promises pro-level features for free – and it delivers. The basic editor is very impressive, with advanced cutting tools, a great set of audio and video filters, layers and masking, compositing options, and chroma keying for creating green screen effects.
Additional tools are available for a fee, starting at £8.85 (about US$10, AU$15) for a pack featuring color-correction, exposure adjustment, split screen masking, and various creative filters. But the free video editor is well worth a look, too.
The downside of all this power is that Hitfilm Express is much more demanding than either Lightworks or Shotcut, which is the main reason it's dropped to third place. Make sure you check the technical requirements before downloading it to avoid disappointment.
3. ShotcutBest Free Youtube Video Editing Software For Pc
It might look unusual, but master it and you'll reap the benefits
Platform: Windows/Mac/Linux | Upload straight to YouTube: No | 8K support: No | 360 support: No
Intuitive interface
Shotcut is another professional-feeling free video editor that requires a little patience if you are achieve the results it is so capable of delivering. The slightly unusual interface can be put down to the fact that this started life as a Linux application, and little has changed in its conversion to Windows.
To start with, the interface may seem a little stark. You will need to not only load a video, but also choose which editing mode you would like to work in and which tools you'd like to use.
There's no getting away from the fact that Shotcut has a steep learning curve. It's possible to achieve some impressive results by simply applying one of its many filters to your video, but the real rewards will only be reaped by those willing to invest the time and energy in fully getting to grips with what's on offer.
4. DaVinci Resolve
Premium quality software for advanced video and audio editing
Platform: Windows/Mac/Linux | Upload straight to YouTube: No | 8K support: Yes | 360 support: Requires add-on
Advanced color correction
DaVinci Resolve is a free version of a premium video editing suite, but as with Lightworks, it's so feature-packed you probably won't miss the few tools it lacks.
DaVinci Resolve is a professional-grade free video editing software, with intuitive interfaces for editing, color correction, audio mastering and exporting. Color correction is one of DaVinci Resolve's standout features, whether you want to adjust a whole video or just a selected part. There's HDR support, and you can work on raw files directly from your camera.
A few of the filters are exclusive to the premium DaVinci Resolve Studio, and there's a maximum export resolution of 3,840 x 2,160, but those are the only limitations. It's overkill if you just want to trim a video and upload it to YouTube, but for bigger projects DaVinci Resolve is hard to beat.
5. VSDC Free Video Editor
A non-linear editor stacked with tools, with more added all the time
Platform: Windows | Upload straight to YouTube: Yes | 8K support: No | 360 support: Yes
Easy to master
Smart interface
VSDC Free Video Editor is highly capable, and can yield superb results. As a non-linear editor, it works in rather a different way to many other similar tools, letting you position clips and other elements on the timeline wherever you like and edit them there.
With the ability to not only work with multiple scenes and transitions, but also to add sprites and text to videos, you can create a professional-quality movie if you're willing to stick with VSDC's slightly unusual workflow – though its interface has recently had a total overhaul, making it look much more slick and modern. You can now detach the timeline too, which gives you lots of extra flexibility – particularly when working on multiple monitors.
VSDC's free video editing software lets you add extra artistic effects, including smoke. There's also a dedicated Instagram export profile and automatic image stabilization. You also get look-up tables (LUTs) for professional color grading, the ability to export footage at 120fps, and automatic alignment when dragging objects. An excellent choice for creative video projects.
More on this:
Video editing software FAQHow do I choose video editing software?Best Video Editing Software For Youtube Free Download Full Version
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? 4K? 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.
Free video editing software vs premium video editors
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.
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.
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.
Best Youtube Editing Software
VHS 335 x 480
DVD 720 x 480
HD 1,280 x 720
Full HD 1,920 x 1,080
Then 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 Adobe’s Premiere Pro CC (yep, our number one recommended video editing software) our if you’re serious about 360-degree video editing.
What video editing software do most YouTubers use?
iMovie 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. Adobe Premiere Pro CC, the entry-level version of Premiere Pro, is very popular too.
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. 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.
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 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.
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