Videos have become the ultimate language of the internet. It is seen everywhere, starting from the viral video clips from social media to corporate presentations to indie films. And, the one common thing about them is that all are edited before they go online. So, if you’re planning to bring your footages to the outside world, then editing is a must for which you will need video editing software.

You can take the help of a video editing company for the same but if you want to try out editing yourself, then we have mentioned about a few options in this article. We have selected some of the best free video editing software that lets you edit footages similar to that of the paid ones, but doesn’t need spending a fortune.

best video editing software

But, before we begin with the free video editors, we would like to mention 3 different programs that are considered as the best video editors in 2022. These aren’t available for free but can be availed with a modest subscription.

Paid Video Editing Programs

  • Adobe Premiere Pro

    Adobe premiere pro video editing software

    Price: Starts at $20.99/ month

    OS compatibility: Windows and macOS

    Merits:

    • Easy to use
    • Value for money
    • Fast rendering
    • Ability to customize the layout
    • Tons of features and convenient tools

    Demerits:

    • Limited customization for graphics panel
    • Uses a lot of computer resources, which may result in crashing

    Adobe Premiere Pro is the industry-standard video editing software for professionals. However, it can be used by others as well. It has a user-friendly interface. The program allows you to edit footage in any format, whether it is taken using a professional camera or a phone.

  • CyberLink PowerDirector 365

    cyberlink powerdirector 365 video editing software

    Price: $51.99/ year

    OS Compatibility: Windows

    Merits:

    • Less expensive than Premiere Pro
    • Cutting-edge features
    • Great tool for audio and video editing
    • Supports cropping, transition, splitting, effects

    Demerits:

    • Tricky blurring feature
    • Need an upgrade to remove advertisements
    • Recently updated programs are hard to find

    If you love premium video editors but would like to keep the costs low, then CyberLink PowerDirector is an excellent option. This powerful tool is packed with a lot of features and can meet the video editing needs of beginners, intermediates, and professionals alike.

  • Corel VideoStudio Ultimate

    Corel VideoStudio Ultimate

    Price: $99.99

    OS Compatibility: Windows

    Merits:

    • Simple and intuitive interface
    • Easy to learn
    • A huge array of tools
    • Excellent resources to help learners
    • Videos and graphics can be easily swapped

    Demerits:

    • No zoom feature
    • Requires update on a timely basis

    This is another powerful tool that lets you create amazing footages without any fuss. The software provides you an expanded collection of tools and features, such as video masking, color grading, split-screen editing, titles, transitions, drag and drop graphics, etc. for optimized performance.

Best Free Video Editing Software

  1. Lightworks

    Lightworks free video editing software

    OS Compatibility: Linux, Windows, macOS

    Merits:

    • Completely free of cost
    • Customizable interface
    • Active user forum
    • Powerful effects
    • Basic and advanced features
    • Multi-track editing
    • Good performance

    Demerits:

    • No built-in help
    • Steeper learning curve
    • Exports only in MPEG format
    • Requires payment for certain features
    • Exporting options are limited to H.264/MP4 and 720p

    Lightworks will let you create professional-looking footages and movies totally free of cost. Here, you’ll find a variety of high-end features that are usually present in expensive software packages. It supports a non-linear editor, which will ensure that the quality of your footage isn’t reduced during video post-production.

  2. Movie Maker Online

    Movie Maker Online free video editing software

    OS Compatibility: Windows, Linux, macOS

    Merits:

    • Royalty-free content
    • Works on any PC

    Demerits:

    • Confusing layout
    • Intrusive advertisement

    This video editor will usually run in your browser. So, you can access it from any device. Also, there is no need to worry about content storage. To edit your footage, you need to the vertical project timeline, carry out the needed cropping or clipping, and add the desired transition or filter effects.

  3. Shotcut

    Shotcut free video editing software

    OS Compatibility: Linux, Windows, macOS

    Merits:

    • Flexible interface
    • Audio and video format support
    • Huge selection of audio and video filters
    • Direct streaming support
    • Excellent filters and effects
    • Easy importing of media files

    Demerits:

    • Doesn’t offer a filter preview
    • Steeper learning curve
    • Different interface conventions

    This open-source cross-platform video editor can work with various footage resolutions. It possesses an abundance of audio and video effects along with premium editing features. So, if it’s a wedding video editing project that you need help with, then the software is a must-try.

  4. Hitfilm Express

    Hitfilm Express video editing software

    OS Compatibility: macOS, Windows

    Merits:

    • Extendable but for a fee
    • Cross-platform
    • Drag and drop special effects
    • Free online tutorials
    • Professional tools for editing

    Demerits:

    • High system requirements
    • New users must pay for the dark interface

    With this free best video editing software, you can gain professional experience in editing your footage. The software package comes with a wide range of features, like trimming clips, adjusting color balance, setting green screen chroma keys, developing custom masks, etc. to take your footages to the next level.

  5. VSDC Video Editor

    VSDC Video Editor

    OS Compatibility: Windows

    Merits:

    • Anti-shake technology
    • Support for multi-monitor
    • Stylish built-in transitions, effects, and audio filters
    • Includes screen-capture tool
    • Easy for simple footage tasks

    Demerits:

    • Old-fashion interface
    • Limitation for resolution
    • No acceleration for hardware
    • No support for motion tracking, 360-degree, multi-cam editing,

    This program allows control for creating and editing footages along with the option to link instructional videos. Navigating through its UI is super easy and it can provide supreme flexibility during editing. However, the learning may take some time.

  6. DaVinci Resolve

    DaVinci Resolve Video Editor

    OS Compatibility: macOS, Windows, Linux

    Merits:

    • Completely free of cost
    • No watermarks
    • Supports audio production, compositing, color grading, etc.

    Demerits:

    • No direct exporting to social media
    • Learning curve for advanced features

    DaVinci is a pro-level cross-platform app that can enable you to simultaneously collaborate on a project for free. This function is only available in paid version software. It’s an excellent tool that can be employed for real estate video editing.

  7. Apple iMovie

    Apple iMovie Video Editor

    OS Compatibility: macOS

    Merits:

    • Supports 4K
    • Plenty of audio tools
    • Professional-looking trailers and themes

    Demerits:

    • Limited output controls
    • Doesn’t have multi-cam, 360-degree features, motion-tracking

    The software allows editing and sharing 4K footages. However, it does not have certain features that most free video editors usually have, such as multi-cam editing, motion tracking, 360-degree video, etc. The recent updates have changed the interface and included Touch Bar support.

  8. VideoPad

    VideoPad video editing software

    OS Compatibility: macOS, Windows

    Merits:

    • Intuitive user interface
    • Easy to learn
    • Extensive support for YouTube, social media, and mobile-output formats

    Demerits:

    • Slide-show creator is not available for free
    • Lacks features like motion tracking and multi-cam editing

    This free editing software allows you to easily export your creations to different social media platforms, like Facebook, YouTube, Google Drive, Dropbox, Flicker, etc. Its user interface has a simple and soothing appearance.

So, start using the free video editing software from the list today to create outstanding videos. We understand that it can be a little daunting at first but don’t lose hope and keep trying until you reach your goals. If you need any support, get in touch with us and understand how our video editing services helps you.

However, while selecting the software, make sure that you choose the one that can perform the kind of editing that you need. Also, check the formats and resolutions that it can support along with other features as per your requirement.