30 Best Free Video Editing Software Programs in 2022
30 Best Free Video Editing Software Programs in 2022 Skip to content Start selling online now with Shopify
Windows Video Editor is the built-in editor for Windows offered by Microsoft. Convenient and straightforward, this tool is ideal for those in need of basic editing functionality. You’ll have access to a range of helpful tools for cropping, adding text or audio, and trimming content. Already included with Windows 10 and up, this free video editor takes very little time to master. Within seconds, you’ll be adding new text and audio to your videos and experimenting with basic 3D effects. Features include: Auto-previewing to check the impact of your edits Animation tab for adding titles, credits, and music Easy-to-use file organization 3D effects Auto-movie options for customizable video clip cuts Pros: Auto-movie options; animation effects. Cons: Windows only. Best for: Hassle-free video editing on Windows PC. Check out Windows Video Editor reviews
Aimed at beginners and hobbyists, VideoProc Vlogger combines easy-to-use editing technology with fantastic versatility. This convenient tool is perfect for editing action-camera footage, with a range of advanced speed adjustment tools and presets. You can also access video-stabilization, time-lapse, and motion-simulation tools. The learning center included with this video editing tool makes it quick and easy to figure out how different features work, so you can start designing great content—fast. You can even experiment with pan, zoom, and motion paths. Some of the features you’ll discover include: 30 LUTs for quick and easy color editing 28 motion presets Audio extractor Advanced color correction Grain and noise removal Low light fix Pros: Beginner-friendly interface; social media export options.
Cons: Lacks some advanced features.
Best for: Creating cinematic videos for fun, everyday moments. Check out VideoProc Vlogger user reviews
30 Best Free Video Editing Software Programs in 2022
Article by Tom Wells 8 Jun, 2022 In a world dominated by visual content, a captivating video can help drive your brand’s success. But creating stunning video content is only possible with the help of editing software. Most renowned video editing tools carry a high price tag, but there are some equally good options that don’t cost a penny. That’s great news for the starry-eyed entrepreneur! Whether it’s Instagram Stories, Facebook ads, or YouTube product testimonials, using the best free video editing software will make your brand look slick and professional. With the amount and quality of video editing software available, you don’t have to be Spielberg—or have his budget—to get epic results. For this article, we’ve compiled the best free video editing software for 2022. Our list focuses on the most versatile video editing software that we could find. While each user has different needs, this guide will provide you with a good overview of what you can expect from each movie editor and how to get the best out of it. We’ve divided our selection into the best free video editing software for desktop, mobile video editing apps, and video editors for Instagram. Ready to get started? Lights, camera, action! Start selling online now with Shopify Start your free trialBest free video editing software for desktop
The following is a list of free video editing software apps for desktop computers. Desktop applications typically have more editing power than mobile apps. You can use these video editors to produce longer-form content for YouTube or your website. All of these video editors are either entirely free to use or have an excellent free version. And their use ranges from basic to advanced.1 Blender
Available for Windows, Mac, and Linux Blender, one of the best free video editing software on the market, is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Blender is an open-source program that is entirely free to use. The tool was actually designed as a 3D animation suite, but it does come with a very good video editor app. The editor allows you to perform basic actions like video cuts and splicing. You can also carry out more complex tasks like video masking. This makes it a very flexible video editor that caters to beginners and advanced users. Some of Blender’s best features include: Live preview, luma waveform, chroma vectorscope, and histogram displays Audio mixing, syncing, scrubbing, and waveform visualization Up to 32 slots for adding video, images, audio, and effects Speed control, adjustment layers, transitions, keyframes, filters, and more Pros: Perfect for advanced users who want sophisticated editing tools. Cons: The sheer array of features makes the learning curve steeper. Most of the tutorials are focused on the 3D animation/modeling side. Best for: More advanced projects that involve 3D animation. Check out Blender user reviews2 Lightworks
Available for Windows, Mac, and Linux Lightworks is another great free video editing software. Lightworks is one of the more powerful video editors on our list. It’s packed with tons of useful features to help you create high-quality footage. These include: High-precision video trimming Multicam support Export to 720p for YouTube 4K support for a wide range of video formats While most features are accessible in Lightworks’ free version, 4K video support for YouTube and Vimeo is only included in the paid version of the software, which costs around $25 a month. Pros: Powerful video editor with various export options. Cons: 4K video support only in the paid version. Some users may find Lightworks too advanced. Best for: All-round desktop video editing. Check out Lightworks user reviews3 Shotcut
Available for Windows, Mac, and Linux Shotcut is one of the best free video editing software for Windows, and it also works great on Mac and Linux PCs. Shotcut is a fully open-source program, so you get access to all the features without needing a paid upgrade. While this video editing software has great features and tutorial videos, some users may find the interface a little quirky. That’s because Shotcut was originally designed for Linux and its UX indicates that. But under the hood, it’s still a quality video editor. Two of Shotcut’s most striking features are 4K HD resolution support and its timeline editing. Not many video editors offer 4K resolution support for free. Plus, Shotcut doesn’t require you to import your video into the editor: this can be a timesaver when dealing with large video files. What’s more, Shotcut supports 1080p videos at 60 frames per second. You also get three lossless export formats to transfer videos without affecting their quality (the only downside is the huge file sizes). Pros: Native timeline editing and 4K resolution support. Cons: The quirky interface may be off-putting for some users. Best for: 4K, HD, and 1080 video projects. Check out Shotcut user reviews4 DaVinci Resolve
Available for Windows, Mac, and LinuxDaVinci Resolve is arguably the most advanced video editor on the list. While it has many professional video features, its interfaces remain intuitive. Alongside video slicing and trimming, you can master audio and correct color. The app also gives you the option to add 2D and 3D titles to your video. If you just want to trim and upload your videos, the rich feature set of DaVinci Resolve may be too extensive. However, if your video project is a little more advanced, the free version of this software is hard to beat. DiVinci Resolve’s features include: Advanced trimming Multicam editing Color correction Audio mastering Pros: Intuitive interfaces and incredible color correction. Cons: Its wide array of features makes it a little overwhelming, and not all tutorials are free. Best for: More advanced projects where you need to correct colors. Check out DaVinci Resolve user reviews
5 OpenShot
Available for Windows, Mac, and Linux OpenShot is entirely open source, making it one of the best video editing software in terms of accessibility. OpenShot may remind Mac users a little of iMovie, with its easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface. However, OpenShot packs a lot more features, including unlimited layers and audio mixing. This free editor strikes a nice balance between advanced features and a simple interface. It also shows real-time previews when you create transitions between clips. OpenShot’s features include: Unlimited tracks/layers Clip resizing, scaling, trimming, snapping, rotation, and cutting video transitions with real-time previews Compositing, image overlays, watermarks Title templates, title creation, subtitles, 3D animated titles Advanced timeline (including drag and drop, scrolling, panning, zooming, and snapping) Pros: Open source, unlimited layers. Cons: Few video tutorials. Best for: Great for users just getting started with video editing. Check out OpenShot user reviews6 Avidemux
Available for Windows, Mac, and Linux Avidemux’s simple interface makes it one of the best editing software for beginners looking to make enticing video content. This program makes it a breeze to do basic editing, including: Simple cutting Encoding Filtering If you are completely new to video editing, this might be a good place to start. Pros: Very simple software; no need to read technical docs. Cons: Not as many features as other video editors. Best for: Basic editing tasks for beginners. Check out Avidemux user reviews7 HitFilm Express
Available for Windows and MacHitFilm Express is one of the best free 360 video editing software for Mac and PC users. It contains all the features you would expect from a basic editor: splicing, trimming, audio editing, and many more. While some users may find HitFilm a little advanced, it’s still one of the best all-around video editors available. The free version of HitFilm includes over 180 special effects, with tutorials based on popular Hollywood movies like Star Wars. These make for a very interactive and engaging video editing experience. Before you can download this software, Hitfilm asks you to share a status update on social media. However, this is a very small price to pay for such advanced software. Hitfilm’s features include: Advanced cutting tools Keying for green-screen effects Audio and video filters Compositing tools Layers and masking 3D video support Pros: Truly professional video editor without the price tag. Cons: It may take some time to learn the interface. Best for: YouTuber vlogs (YouTube uploading is built in). Check out HitFilm Express user reviews
8 InVideo
Available for Windows and MacThis online video editing tool is great for marketers, publishers, and agencies alike. Users praise InVideo for its amazing customer service, UX, and value for money. With support for intelligent frames, automated voice-overs, and much more, this desktop-compatible software is best in class for many different reasons. The people behind InVideo add new high-quality templates regularly. The interface is quite simple and boasts amazing flexibility, making it ideal for both beginners and seasoned pros. Invideo’s features include: Audio tools Brand/text overlay Collaboration Speed adjustment Split/merge HD resolution support Video stabilization Pros: Awesome for creating quick presentation videos. Cons: It is not an all-in-one, 360 video editor. You cannot add more than one audio file, etc. Best for: Creating marketing videos or listicles for your blog. Check out InVideo user reviews
9 iMovie
Available for MacGood old iMovie comes baked into macOS. Like most native Mac apps, this video editor is very intuitive to use. iMovie’s drag-and-drop interface makes it quick to move and edit video elements. Mac users can use this editing software as a playground for learning the basics of video editing. iMovie’s features include: Library of pre-made transitions Video trimming Audio editing Split screen 4K resolution support Pros: Easy to learn. Cons: Advanced users may find features a little limited; import and render times can be a bit slow. Best for: Mac users getting started with video editing. Check out iMovie user reviews
10 VSDC Free Video Editor
Available for Windows One of the best free 360 video editing software only Available for Windows is VSDC. Its free version has a powerful set of features, including color correction and audio editing. Color blending lets you modify the look of the video to suit your brand image. Additionally, VSDC allows you to create varying shaped masks for blurring, hiding, or featuring specific elements in your footage. If you’re looking for paid video editor recommendations, VSDC has a pro version for $19.99. It comes with all of the features present in the free version, plus image stabilization, voice-over support, and visual waveform. If you choose not to update to the pro version, you can get technical support for $9.99 per month or $14.99 per year. Pros: Powerful features, including Instagram-like filters that save editing time. Cons: Technical support is not free; supports Windows only. Best for: Windows-based editing projects. Check out VSDC user reviews11 Machete Video Editor Lite
Available for Windows Machete Video Editor Lite is the best free video editor for quick editing tasks on a Windows computer. Although the software doesn’t let you edit audio clips, you can remove audio tracks from your videos. Currently, Machete only supports AVI and WMV files. Machete Video Editor Lite’s features include: Copy, cut, paste, and delete video file fragments Integrate one video into another of the same format Edit metadata (file tags) for all compatible media formats Extract the video stream as an individual file The full version costs $19.95, and it allows you to edit audio and supports more file types. Pros: Super simple to learn and use. Cons: Windows only; does not support as many file types as other programs; no audio editing. Best for: Simple video splicing. Check out Machete user reviews12 VideoPad
Available for Windows VideoPad is one of the best video editing tools for taking your first steps into the world of multimedia video editing. It’s perfect for anyone starting to play around with video compositions, as it’s simple and easy to use. Advanced video editors may find it too basic, though. VideoPad’s features include: Library of pre-made transitions Export movies in multiple resolutions 3D video editing Reduce camera shakes Sound effects library Pros: Robust features for directly exporting to YouTube and other social platforms. Cons: Too simple for more advanced users. Best for: Beginners getting started with video editing. Check out VideoPad user reviews13 Freemake Video Converter
Available for Windows Freemake is a free video converter that helps you modify and convert videos, extract audio from video clips, and embed videos on websites. Fast and simple to use, the tool also lets you convert videos for playback on various mobile devices and gadgets. The software can convert videos to more than 500 video file formats and supports multiple audio and image file formats for creating slideshows and video clips. Freemake’s features include: Convert movies with subtitles Convert between 500+ formats Cut, join, and rotate clips 4K resolution support Pros: No specialist knowledge required. Cons: New users have to wait three days to access some features. Best for: Converting videos into different file formats. Check out Freemake user reviews14 EaseUS Video Editor
Available for Windows EaseUS is a simple and effective video editing tool, perfect for beginners and professionals alike. It has features that help you make enticing videos to share on digital pages. You can trim MP3s, add effects, and even apply pre-made templates to your videos. The EaseUS video editor can also be a handy special effects editor, allowing you to quickly add transitions, overlays, and filters to your clips for artistic purposes. And because the free video editing software supports most audio, video, and image formats, you should have no problem importing and exporting files. You’ll need the premium version of the software to remove the video watermark and access the widest selection of high-quality video services. Features include: Access to various file formats, including MP3 and MP4 Conversion files in the wrong format Excellent range of trimming, merging, rotating, mixing, and splitting features Plenty of special effects, filters, and overlays Templates to assist you in building your own videos from scratch Pros: Ideal for adding special effects to your videos with minimal background knowledge. Cons: Doesn’t have as many advanced features as other free video editors. Best for: Adding filters and effects to your videos. Check out EaseUS user reviews15 Windows Video Editor
Available for WindowsWindows Video Editor is the built-in editor for Windows offered by Microsoft. Convenient and straightforward, this tool is ideal for those in need of basic editing functionality. You’ll have access to a range of helpful tools for cropping, adding text or audio, and trimming content. Already included with Windows 10 and up, this free video editor takes very little time to master. Within seconds, you’ll be adding new text and audio to your videos and experimenting with basic 3D effects. Features include: Auto-previewing to check the impact of your edits Animation tab for adding titles, credits, and music Easy-to-use file organization 3D effects Auto-movie options for customizable video clip cuts Pros: Auto-movie options; animation effects. Cons: Windows only. Best for: Hassle-free video editing on Windows PC. Check out Windows Video Editor reviews
16 VideoProc Vlogger
Available for Windows and MacAimed at beginners and hobbyists, VideoProc Vlogger combines easy-to-use editing technology with fantastic versatility. This convenient tool is perfect for editing action-camera footage, with a range of advanced speed adjustment tools and presets. You can also access video-stabilization, time-lapse, and motion-simulation tools. The learning center included with this video editing tool makes it quick and easy to figure out how different features work, so you can start designing great content—fast. You can even experiment with pan, zoom, and motion paths. Some of the features you’ll discover include: 30 LUTs for quick and easy color editing 28 motion presets Audio extractor Advanced color correction Grain and noise removal Low light fix Pros: Beginner-friendly interface; social media export options.
Cons: Lacks some advanced features.
Best for: Creating cinematic videos for fun, everyday moments. Check out VideoProc Vlogger user reviews