Social videos are convincing, and they resonate with users; this is good news.
What concerns to editing, you can use YouTube video editor or as you've got MAC you can use iMovie. These programs are very easy to use. You just add your pictures, music, videos and voiceover, put it in the sequence you like and that’s it. Jahshaka, previously known as CineFX, combines video editing, 2D and 3D animation, compositing, color correction, and video effects into across-platform over Mac, Linux and Windows package. It is probably best compared to Adobe After Effects in terms of what it. (Best video editing software for Mac, Price: $299.99) Supported platforms: Mac only FCP or Final Cut Pro is a premium software developed by Apple Inc. For Mac computers.
Many brands, however, still struggle to create high-quality, professional videos that they can share on social media as a strong representation of their brand.
Top 10 Best Free Video Editing Software in 2018 for Mac Users. Many people are looking of free Mac video editing software since they have tons of videos and are eager to edit the videos either for better presentation or preservation. # 1 Free Video Editing Software for Mac - iMovie. IMovie is a video editing software developed by Apple Company for Mac and iOS devices. Originally released in 1999 as an application for Mac OS 8, and now the latest version is iMovie 11.
But with the incredible technology available today, we have more resources than ever before to make this task more manageable.
We wrote this post for the first time in 2016; it included only five video editing apps. We updated it last year, adding six new (at that time) apps. But a lot has changed and improved since then– including some of the apps we’d initially written about!
In this update, we’re going to look at 16 of the best video apps and software for 2018 that will cover all your video editing needs, along with some best social video practices.
Social video has never been so much essential to online marketing.
It’s automatically more engaging and dynamic than plain-text posts or even posts with images, meaning it can more effortlessly grab a users’ attention.
Videos can also be more persuasive marketing tools.
This is backed up by statistics, which show that:
- 65% of senior marketing executives believe that visual assets (including video) are essential to how their brand story is communicated
- Customers would be 4x more likely to watch a video about a product instead of reading about it
- Mobile social video views have skyrocketed each year; by 2020, it’s expected that 75% of mobile traffic will be video views
- Viewers will retail about 95% of a message after watching it through video, as opposed to just 10% when reading the same message in text form.
The video editing apps and tools on this list offer a wide range of different features.
Some are excellent video editors, while others have unique peculiarities like the ability to create incredible time-lapse videos or play with 50’s inspired comedy reels.
We selected both mobile apps and professional-quality desktop editors, and different price ranges (from free to a few hundred dollars).
Between these 16 tools, you’ll be able to create every video you’ve ever dreamed of, even if you have little to no experience.
1. FilmoraGo
Filmora is known for its incredible video editing software, so it’s no surprise that their video editing app FilmoraGo maintains that high standard.
This app allows you to trim a video clip, create subtitles and text, speed up the content, add filters, and add overlays.
You can add music to the video, which will play in the background. You can also add different themes, like a Charlie Chaplin theme, which adds relevant visual effects and, in some cases, music.
FilmoraGo is free but has in-app purchases you can choose from. It’s available for both iOS and Android, and it’s easily one of the best video editing apps out there.
2. Magisto
Magisto is an easy-to-use editing app. Their goal is to turn images and videos into stories in just a few seconds. This app can enhance your videos in a few quick clicks.
Once you choose an image or video, you’ll select an “editing style,” with options including real estate, memories, storyteller, dance, and more.
Each will come with music suggestions, but you can add your own music from your library or get music for commercial use. It combines these features with your video to help you achieve the effect that you were going for, giving your video an extra added touch.
Magisto is free for both iOS and Android users, though they have a business plan that allows you to reorder movie scenes.
3. Adobe Premiere Clip
Adobe Premiere Clip is another one of our best video apps that comes from a big-name editing tool.
Unlike the full desktop version, this app has more simplified features. It still accomplishes its mission to help users “create, edit, and share” videos.
They have two editing styles that you can choose from when you get started.
Their automatic editing option will quickly generate a clip based on your uploaded video, where you customize the pace of the video, the music, and the order of clips.
Their freeform editing lets you trim the video clip, sequence it, and edit it manually.
Like other tools on this list, you can add in the music of your choice from your library, and you can share the video with the app’s community if you want to.
Adobe Premiere Clip is a free app, and I think it’s effective without needing to upgrade to any of the paid plans if you’re looking for an app that will help you edit easily and quickly.
4. Overvideo
Overvideo is the only video editing app on this list that is only for iOS devices, so Android users may want to skip this one.
If you want to add subtitles to your video (but don’t want to do so on every social platform separately), this app is my best recommendation.
You can add text anywhere to a video, and determine how long it will appear on the screen.
This tool also has some great additional features, like the ability to add music and adjust the text and opacity of the text block.
The paid version of this app lets you edit your video a little more thoroughly, including with view cropping and clip trimming.
5. LapseIt
LapseIt is a simple but excellent editing app that I love.
Timelapse videos can perform really well on social media; they grab your eye quickly, and they are effective at showing something that takes space over an extended period of time.
LapseIt lets you shoot a new video through the app or choose an existing video from your gallery.
They have some amazing editing options, including an exceptionally user-friendly clip trimming system.
You can add music and filter effects, and you can also choose how quickly you’d like your video to progress.
Once you’re happy with your video, you can upload it directly to social media sites, including YouTube.
The basic LapseIt app is free for both iOS and Android, but their pro version is only $2.99. This version comes with added features and lets you produce higher resolution videos.
6. Quik
Quik is an incredible video editing software created by GoPro, and makes it easy to create social-ready videos in a few minutes or less.
You can add images (up to 200 of them), videos, and music to your video with just a few clicks.
It even has some great features that you won’t see from other video editing apps, like the ability to auto-sync music.
Quick will also automatically analyze the images and videos you’ve uploaded to select the best moments, but you can also choose to pick them manually.
You can add text (with fonts of your choice), emojis, and slide titles.
This is easily one of the best mobile editing apps when it comes to ease of trimming and reordering clips of images and videos.
It’s the only mobile app that I always use to edit the actual video content.
Quik also has excellent social sharing options, along with the possibility to share your video with text or email. It is currently available for desktop, iOS, and Android.
7. Vizmato
If you’re looking for a quick video editing tool, Vizmato is a good choice. It lets you record videos in-app in HD from either rear or front-view cameras, or use videos from your phone’s library.
Vizmato lets you add themes, filters, and visual effects to your videos to make them interesting, exciting, and diverse.
Some of these effects would be particularly helpful for Instagram Story ad creation, especially since you need to have all the video’s editing done before you upload it to Facebook’s ad system.
Like other tools on this list, Vizmato has one-touch social sharing to several different platforms, including Vizmato’s own video feature portal to help your content gain additional visibility.
Vizmato starts as a free video editing app, but upgrading gets you additional features. A per-month subscription is $.99 (USD), and a year subscription is $9.99. It’s currently available iOS and is coming soon to Android.
8. Cute CUT
I’ve used Cute CUT when I needed to create Instagram Story Ads quickly (but make sure you choose the portrait view).
It lets you draw right onto the video, and you can add drawings, shapes, and text to only the specific segments of the video that you want. This is extremely helpful.
While it does have features that allow you to trim or reorder clips, I’ve found Quik’s to be a little more intuitive and user-friendly.
Cute CUT has excellent drawing features—particularly the pro version—which is what I’d recommend it for.
Cute CUT has a Base app (which is a free video editing app) and a Pro app, which is only $5.99. If this is an app that you see yourself using often, go for the Pro version. It’s available for iOS and Android.
9. In-Shot App
In-Shot App is another one of those great, easy-to-use video editing apps that you can use on the go.
You can upload videos and then add music, voice over narrations, text and emoji overlays, and time them all to appear at the right time and for the exact desired length.
Another advantage of using this one? There’s a decent library of royalty-free music that artists have donated, which you can use in your marketing content without paying a penny or worrying about copyright.
The learning curve is not high on this tool, which is nice if you’re looking for something to turn content around very quickly, but this also means that the functionality isn’t quite as high as other tools on this list.
So, if you’re looking for something really simple and fast to say, help create videos for Instagram Stories, this could be a good one. Otherwise, I’d likely recommend other tools on this list.
10. PowerDirector Video App
This GooglePlay video app can do a lot, and it can do so while delivering fantastic quality: including 4k videos with hardware support.
This is something that not a ton of other apps on this can do, so that’s a huge advantage.
If you want your content pulled up on YouTube on a fancy big-screen TV, after all, the ability to have your videos show up in 4k will not only make them more enjoyable to watch, but it’ll make your brand look exceptional and highly qualified, too.
PowerDirector has excellent voice over capabilities that are really easy to use, even for beginners. Also worth noting is their chroma key, which can layer color effects over an entire video to quickly change the color effects and the feel of the video itself.
Their chroma key works better than other “filters” on similar apps, which sometimes don’t translate to the HD high pixelation that can make your videos seriously look outstanding.
PowerDirector also features fantastic blue screen and green screen capabilities, so you can place yourself in somewhere new and do something exceptional with your video content.
Other cool features include:
- Video collages
- Voice/ sound fading effects
- Advanced background editing
11. KineMaster
KineMaster is all about precision editing, and you can actually trim videos at a frame-by-frame granularity and then immediately preview them to see how they look.
This app also gives you a lot more flexibility with layering than some of the other options here.
You can add layer after layer of text, graphics, images, and even handwriting on top of your videos to get the exact desired effect that you’re going for.
This makes design a lot easier in the long run if you’re creating more involved videos with multiple texts or graphics.
There’s also green-screen support, which is extraordinary.
In addition to being able to carefully adjust color, brightness, and the video clips and their speed, you can also fine-tune the audio on your videos within this app.
You can even edit the audio separately from the video itself, giving you more control and making things a little easier.
This app is available in both the Apple Store and on GooglePlay. The Pro Edition of the app is $39.99, and well worth it.
12. LumaFusion
I spent a lot of time in writing communities and kept noticing that some of my journalists friends kept mentioning something called “LumaFusion” over and over again. When I asked about it, they told me it was their go-to choice for video editing on the go, mainly when they were in a place they couldn’t bring their laptops.
This multi-track mobile video editing app is extraordinary and powerful.
It has undo/redo functionalities (which not all other apps do), and it covers the basics like trimming clips, duplicating content, adding transitions, and more.
You can also stack different images and video clips on top of each other, making more interesting and dynamic videos.
I like that this app also has several different UI layout templates that you can use to more easily create gorgeous, professional quality videos very quickly.
I’m also a fan of the audio features that comes with LumaFusion. My favorite might be the ability to adjust audio levels while you’re actually listening to it, which makes it easier to get it right a whole lot faster.
Their royalty-free audio library doesn’t hurt either and will save you a lot of time and effort (and potentially lawsuits) while you can improve your video with music.
Right now, LumaFusion is only available for iOS, though you never know if that will change. It costs $19.99 (well worth the price) and can be downloaded here.
Best Desktop Video Editing Software
With the increased emphasis on—and necessity for—video in marketing, having reliable, high-quality video editing tools is a necessity.
While the above should have you covered for social posts, there are a few editing tools I also wanted to include.
The following tools will help even amateurs like me assemble professional-quality videos for your social media, product pages, and landing pages so you can represent your brand the way it deserves.
They’re all desktop apps for full potential functionality and precision, and though they cost more than a mobile app, they’re all worth every penny.
13. Shakr
While some videos like explainer videos may work best when created by a designer who is working on custom animation, most videos that brands use on social media and their landing pages merely need a little help to take it from an “I shot this on my iPhone” look to something that looks professional.
Shakr is the tool I recommend for these brands.
Shakr has an enormous library of video design templates that businesses can use to assemble gorgeous, high-quality marketing videos quickly.
Some of these templates are designed for specific purposes, like Facebook video ads or those geared towards restaurants.
These designs have all been proven to provide high conversion rates, and are fully customizable; you can add your own images, video clips, and text.
A subscription even allows you to use their commercially licensed music for your videos and gives you access to a library of stock photos. Pricing starts at $79 per month.
14. Camtasia
For a short period of time, I was hired to edit and assemble videos for a marketing company. I used Camtasia the entire time, and I just used it a few weeks ago when recording a training video for a new employee.
If you want to record or heavily edit the technical side of a video that you already have, this would be my go-to choice.
You can record videos using screen capture or your computer’s camera, and you can edit video files you’ve already created.
Camtasia has outstanding video editing capabilities, including:
- High-precision clip editing and reordering
- The ability to remove audio from video and edit them separately, or to add a different voiceover narration
- Rich animation features
Camtasia costs $199 for lifetime access (though you may need to pay for upgrades in the future when they’re released if you want them). It’s available for both Windows and Apple devices, and it’s incredibly user-friendly on both.
Bonus use case: I also use Camtasia to record client calls that happen through my computer when my phone’s TapeACall wouldn’t work. You’re welcome.
15. Premiere Elements 15
For those who prefer Adobe photo editing and are digitally and artistically talented, Premiere Elements 15 may be your video editing tool of choice.
It has better visual editing (as opposed to clip editing) features.
You can, according to one of their videos, literally “turn a frown upside down” with their video editing features designed to adjust facial features.
Some of their unique features (aside from the facial feature adjuster) include:
- Shake reduction, which can help make a video shot with a shaky hand less noticeable
- Dynamic, dramatic effects, including text effects
- Effects that will actually move in the video (for example: if you had a thought bubble, it could follow its subject as they move)
Premiere Elements 15 has a ton of incredible editing features, allowing you to edit every aspect of your video. It’s currently on sale for only $89.99, so I’d start your free trial now and invest if you think it’s the right fit for you.
16. Final Cut Pro X
Final Cut Pro X has some insanely cool features, and if you’re looking for an all-out, does-everything-you-could-possibly-need video editing tool, this is the one to choose.
It’s only available for Apple, but if you have a Mac, you need to check this one out.
It, of course, can tackle everything that you’d expect like trimming video clips, adjusting audio, adding voice-overs, and editing or creating effects– everything that the other tools on this list can help with, and it does so flawlessly.
This includes advanced color adjusting, and the ability to create closed captions and add them to your video with ease.
What really makes this tool unique is its stand-out features, including:
- 360-degree video editing that helps you straighten the horizon, remove camera rigs, and more
- Multi-cam editing, which lets you sync up to 64 different angles of video with frame sizes and frame rates.
- Studio-quality 2D and 3D titles, which can be added to all videos (including 360-degree videos)
- VR headset playback, so that you can watch your 360 videos in real time from your VR headset
- Ability to edit HDR (high dynamic range) video
There’s a free 30-day trial available for Final Cut Pro X, and it costs $299.99 if you choose to purchase once the test period is up.
Final Thoughts: Social Video Best Practices
The video editing apps and tools discussed above can help brands of all sizes to create social videos that their audiences respond to.
Regardless of which tools you use and what kind of videos you’re making, there are a few best practices that can provide better results. These include:
- Keep it brief.
Though there are exceptions to this, brevity is preferred for most social videos. Some platforms like Twitter have strict time limits, so keep that in mind. - Always have a CTA.
Each video you create is made to accomplish something. Add a CTA at the end of every video (bonus points if it’s clickable!) to encourage users to take that desired action. - Add subtitles.
Some platforms are heavy on autoplay videos, which start without sound, so adding subtitles can help grab their attention. Subtitles are also necessary for users who may have hearing disabilities, or for those who are watching in an area where they can’t play the video with sound. - Stick to a single message.
If you want to get your point across, stick to a single, concise, simple message. You want there to be one story, one emotional impact, and one takeaway. Most importantly, there should only be one CTA.
What do you think? Have you used any of our best video editing apps? Did I miss your favorite? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!
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.
- Need the hardware, too? Discover the best laptops for video editing
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
Premiere Pro CC Single App$20.99
Premiere Pro CC All Apps$49.94
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.
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
PowerDirector Ultra
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
Good Video Editor For Mac That Uploads Faster
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. Shotcut
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.
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Video editing software FAQ
How do I choose video editing software?
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.
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.