Best Simple Video Editing Software

Return to site

Best Simple Video Editing Software

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.
Easy Video Edit Program
Best Simple Video Editing Software
Best Simple Video Editing Software Free
Simple Video Editor Free
Mac users who only need a simple video editor will find that Apple iMovie is the best free video editing software, because of its strong integration with Apple's operating system and easy-to-grasp. In this post, we reveal our favorite video editing software for beginners. We'll discuss each in detail below, but if you're just interested in the name of the top picks, find our shortlist below. Best video editing software for beginners: VideoProc: A full-featured editing software that offers great value for money. Comes with a 30-day. A video is a next step in preserving memories, an upgrade from still photos. Not so long ago, creating video seemed a daunting task but today, there is a whole new world of easy-to-use video editing software for anyone to master. This is one of the best video editing software for people who are taking their first steps in the editing world. Even though it lacks the jazz and over the top appeal like some other commercial apps, it is an apt choice of video editing software for beginners.
 January 02, 2020 
 22 min to read 
There is a long list of photo editing software solutions available today that beginner as well as professional photographers can use. That is great news, but what is the use if you have to spend hours trying to figure out just how to use the software? So, to ensure that all your valuable time goes toward taking your pics to the next level, here are easy-to-use photo editing software solutions.
1. Luminar 4With the help of artificial intelligence (AI), Luminar makes tricky editing jobs much easier. Unlike many other similar tools for which you need to pay a monthly subscription fee, Luminar 4 requires only a one-off payment which includes any ongoing updates. 
Its library module, presets (called Looks), advanced masking, batch processing, adjustable gradient and layered editing are just a couple of the features that make Luminar 4 so unique. All things considered, with Luminar 4, image retouching becomes much more accessible and simple. This tool is really easy to use and boasts a long list of cool features. How to snapshot on macbook.
✅ ProsThe AI editing tools can help you to work faster
The interface is intuitive 
It supports basic file organisation
It can be used as a standalone photo editing app or as a plug-in for Apple Photos, Adobe Lightroom or Adobe Photoshop
✖️ ConsThe metadata and export options can be improved
It is difficult to tell which features each panel offers without first clicking on it
2. Adobe Photoshop ElementsThis specific photo editing software solution is very popular among busy non-professional photographers who are searching for a tool that will help them to put their creativity to the test. Adobe Elements uses artificial intelligence (AI) to choose which videos and photos to include in your collages. So, it is a great tool if you want to create collages of your favourite family memories, but always have a difficult time deciding which pics to pick. 
However, while it is one of the simplest Adobe tools to master, there are other photo editing software solutions on the market that are easier to use. 
✅ ProsIt is compatible with both PCs as well as Macs
There are many stunning templates that you can use to create a collage
Features are easy to access thanks to the new home screen 
It offers automated slideshows and collages
It supports HEIF files
Guided edits has a step-by-step guide that lets you work on your photos directly
✖️ ConsYou must first sign in with your Adobe ID before you can use the software
Not so many new features have been introduced with the latest update
3. Aurora HDR
As HDR is tricky to get right, Aurora HDR is a great tool to get. Its wide range of different HDR effects will help you to create natural results. In a single click of a button, you can apply one of the many Looks. Though, if you would like to play around more, you can use the masking and layer features to add extra edits. 
✅ ProsIt is very easy to use and has an intuitive interface
You can effortlessly undo any changes that you have made or even go back to your original picture
It can be used as a standalone app, Apple Photos extension, or plug-in to Adobe Lightroom or Adobe Photoshop
It has a batch processing feature that you can use to import many images or folders
✖️ ConsIt is not a full-featured image editor 
4. PhotolemurAmong all the other photo editing software solutions mentioned in this list, Photolemur is the easiest to use. What makes it so simple to use is that about 90% of it is fully automatic. Thanks to its artificial intelligence (AI), you can create great pics without having to struggle with manual editing. This makes it the ideal photo editing tool for amateur photographers who do not necessarily have the skill to make custom edits.
✅ ProsIt offers impressive batch enhancement
It supports a wide range of image formats including RAW image format
✖️ ConsIt does not offer zoom tools
While GIMP is not as easy to use as some of the other tools already mentioned, it is still simpler than Photoshop. If it does not boast a specific tool, you can rest assured as updates are introduced regularly. That being said, it does offer loads of features including brushes, layers and filters.
✅ ProsIt has many high-quality tools and features
It can virtually open all image files
✖️ ConsThe interface could be more sleek and streamlined
6. PixlrPixlr is an online photo editor that has received hundreds of five-star reviews online already. While it does not offer so many options, you can use it to perform all the editing tasks that other standard photo editors can complete.
✅ ProsAs it is a web app, there is no need first to download a big programme
The app is easy to navigate and use
✖️ ConsIf you have grown used to Adobe, you will find that it lacks the same level of sophistication
It is not the most powerful web app for photo editing
The interface is slightly outdated
7. Paint.NETYou might be taken aback that this simple tool has made this list. While it was initially just planned to replace the basic Microsoft Paint software, it has actually become an impressive photo editing tool. All in all, it is a functional software solution that focuses more on actual photo editing as opposed to creativity.
✅ ProsPaint.NET boasts a big selection of handy tools and special effects 
The user interface is modern, yet easy to use
If you get stuck, there is a big online network that can help you
✖️ ConsIt is only available for Windows users
8. Photos for MacOS
Sometimes you do not need to look too far to find the right photo editing tool. If you use a Mac, Apple Photos offers more than enough functionality to create high-quality photos. While it might be simple to use, rest assured there is nothing simple about the editing tools on offer. Over the years the editing tools have developed and today they are not bad at all. That being said, do not grow too excited just yet as it does miss a couple of handy features.
✅ ProsIt is very simple to use 
It has the basic edits such as red eye removal, crop and white balance 
✖️ ConsIt is only available for Mac OS
You cannot adjust the brush
It does not offer a history panel 
While it does offer a good selection of filters, graduated filters are not included
9. XnViewIf you use Windows, XnView is a handy image viewer, converter, photo editor and browser to add to your arsenal of tools. What is more, it supports over 500 image file formats!
✅ ProsIf you get stuck, you can consult the Online Help file, forum or FAQ page
The user interface is very practical
It supports a wide range of file formats that include GIF, JPEG, and PNG
✖️ ConsSome users have reported that the controls are a bit too sensitive
It is only compatible with Windows
10. IrfanViewLike most of the other photo editing tools, IrfanView boasts an intuitive interface which makes it ideal for novices. While it may not offer every single feature that other professional photo editors boast, it is still powerful enough to satisfy most of your requirements. And, if you are searching for a more specialist feature, you might just be able to find a plug-in that can help.
✅ ProsYou can use it to create slideshows
It offers watermarking
It supports plug-ins
✖️ ConsWhile the interface is easy to use, its appearance is a bit dated
11. AirMagicNo list with photo editing software solutions will be quite complete without a tool especially for drone lovers. https://ameblo.jp/sumpgecajiqj/entry-12649208299.html. As drones offer a different perspective, there are many other elements that must be considered when modifying the pics taken by a drone. 
The magic quality of AirMagic is that it has been specifically created to edit the photos captured by drones. In fact, it will read the metadata or the photos taken by your drone automatically and then apply the modifications that match your particular model of drone. 
✅ ProsIt uses artificial intelligence to deliver the best results 
It supports JPG, RAW, PNG and TIFF file formats
You can edit your final photo with the use of a practical side-by-side view 
✖️ ConsThe colour can appear exaggerated and in some instances there is a blue tint visible
Some people believe when it comes to video editing, there is no such a thing as having GOOD and FREE at the same time, but that's not the case. We got 14 good candidates for you here and put together a 15-minute or so review of best free video editing software for anybody in need. Whether you'd like a quick editing or set your hands on professional film making, you'll find the answer.
This list is in no particular order of importance. We tried and tested each one from various aspects, and grouped them for different editing scenarios based on their highlighted features.
Our Picks for Top Free Video Editing Software Are:
 Photos App | Windows Movie Maker | iMovie - Best for quick editing
Shotcut | VSDC | PowerDirector- Best for sports videos
Hitfilm Express | Lightworks - Best for film-making and VFX
DaVinci Resolve - Best for landscape videos
Kdenlive - Best for making video tutorials
Openshot - Best for small business and studios
GoPro Studio | Quik - Best for videos featuring outdoor activities
Blender - Best for 3D modeling and animation
Why should you trust us? Jump to the bottom to see how we picked the best free video editing software.
#1. Windows 10 Photos AppBest for: novices seeking a quick editing tool for occasional usage.
Supported OS: Windows 10
Windows Photos app has a hidden video editing feature, and can be utilized to quickly trim videos, change speed, or draw freely directly over the footage. Depending on your Windows 10 version, you might have additional options to add music to a video in windows 10 or create 3D effects. These additional features allow you to do a project-based editing, with storyboards, filters, animated text, camera motion effects and 3D effects such as rain, fire, and thunders, ready to lay over your footage.
Photos app is a good pal when all you need is quick and basic edits. Since all functions are self explanatory, you need zero editing experiences to get going. It works nicely if you want to quickly churn out a 5 minute video of traveling shots and recordings. Plus, you can take advantage of the apps integration with mobile media importing. This app allows you to directly import photos and videos from iPhone, iPad and other USB-enabled camera devices. If you are familiar with those auto-created memories videos on iPhone, you would love the automatic video with music option.
Chances of improvement:
The lack of true NLE features makes it less productive for a beginner who wants to dive deeper.
Users on Windows 10 N versions will find most video editing features missing.
Limited options to save video as a desired format.
Less filters and effects to choose from.
So, have you ever used the Photos app to cut a video?You can use photos app as the media library to host and display your videos and photos, and the hidden editing feature might surprise you if you simply want to trim off unwanted parts, mix music and text with the footage. Those with a Microsoft Surface can also utilize the touch screen and the pen.
Read our full review of Windows Photos app >>
#2. Windows Movie Maker Best for: plenty of templates, easy-to-navigate interface for quick video editing and mixing.
Supported OS: Windows
Windows Movie Maker was the pre-build video mixer software of Windows. Though it has been phased out for years and was officially discontinued in 2017, it is still the set on for many who want to create simple videos with background music and subtitles. No learning curve or tutorials to watch, it offers beginners with the most straightforward timeline and menu to do all necessary edits like cutting, rotating, subtitling, stabilizing, speeding up, subtitling, filtering videos. 
As is often the case when you do home video or slideshows editing, you want to correct the picture color, add transitions, create subtitles or captions, and then mix the video with background music. Windows Movie Maker makes the acquiring of all those features a snap, with 77 different transitions, 26 effects, 6 movie themes, stock audios, and rich caption templates come in handy. 
Can you screenshot on macbook air. Chances of improvement:
Lack of a few basic and frequently use edit features like watermark, subtitle files, and crop. 
Output video has to be MP4 or WMV video, and the ratio rate has to be with 16:9 or 4:3. 
Transitions, effect, and templates are ready-make which leave little room for creative users making intriguing content.
As a discontinued app, it has lots of bugs, crashes and compatibility issue on Windows 8/10, and all known cons would never get improved
Believe it or not, Movie Maker uses hardware acceleration, howeverThe loading of high-resolution video can take minutes. It still responses extremely slow when editing 4K or any types of high-resolution videos. Windows Movie Maker benefits little from the GPU acceleration. Anyway, that's not a surprise for an app abandoned by its developers. Besides, the resolution of the generated video can't go beyond 1920 x 1080pixels.
#3. iMovieBest for: quick editing with plenty of theme templates and transitions.
Supported OS: macOS, iOS
3 card poker free online multiplayer. Mac user? It might be a bit bold but I'll say: No one can come up with an easier iMovie alternative for Mac. It is accessible on any iOS devices so that you can do part of the editing on the iPhone, finish movie creating on Mac, and then share on social media instantly.
It covers basic (4K) video editing features, for instance, cut, crop, rotate, stabilize, overlay, subtitle, chroma key, speed controls, transition, etc. Thanks to the intuitive and clean interface, iMovie is the epitome of simple. You just plug in the footage and it can do the rest for mixing a variety of videos and audios. In addition, there are dozens of themes, animated titles, and credits, creative filters in various genres that you can access to spice up your videos without needing to set a plethora of parameters.
Chances of improvement:
iMovie does not support plug-in effects. The majority of the handful of built-in effects are over bright.
The support of GIF file is absent. iMovie displays the animated picture as a still image.
It doesn't allow you to tweak the intensity of color correction.
The timeline of iMovie is inflexible and inconvenient for movie creating as you can only add 2 video layers.
It only permits video outputting in H.264 and ProRes. Most drone clips and H.265 videos won't be read correctly.
Not support GPU acceleration. This brings up slow and error-ridden playback, effect rendering, and exporting. On my Macbook, the CPU utilization gets pegged to nearly 100% when exporting video.
Ready to dive deep?iMovie is very limited. It enables the editing and export of 4K 60FPS videos if only the initial clip we put to timeline is 4K 60FPS clip. You are not allowed to create any videos with 1:1 aspect ratio. Sadly, Facebook, Instagram, and many social media still love square videos.
Read our full review of iMovie >>
#4. Shotcut Best for: high compatibility and easy stabilization for sports videos.
Supported OS: Windows, macOS, Linux, FreeBSD
Shotcut is cross-platform open-source free video editing software developed by Dan Dennedy based on the MLT multimedia framework. It provides both 32-bit and 64-bit version for Windows 7 to 10. macOS needs to be 10.10 or above. Shotcut is popular for numerous input/export options, low hardware requirements, good developer support, vibrant forum community, and surely multiple video editing features for quick editing. As a rule of thumb, it takes a total noob ten tries to get the hang of it. 
As to sports video editing, video files recorded by drone/GoPro in 4K HDR and high frame rate like 120fps are well accepted. Necessary filters like lens correction and video stabilization are available. And thanks to FFmpeg, you are allowed to have a good control over the export settings. Based on our testing, Shotcut seems to be comparatively more stable than other free video editing tools. It does crash occasionally, but at the very least, the failure recovery sounds fantastic. 
Chances of improvement:
The interface is unusual and a bit confusing to the beginners. 
Proxy is said to be removed from the plan for the next version. 
Keyframe based animations and transitions are not available. 
Lack of support for RAW camera video formats. 
No stock media and templates. 
The speed function needs much improvement. 
Shotcut users are the most loyal ones. Why?Still remember the developer's name? Dan Dennedy, he is one of the two reasons why a lot of users choose to stay with Shotcut, despite various free options out there, while another is the existence of a school-like forum community. But is Shotcut really qualified for creating amazing outputs besides sports video?
Read our full review of Shotcut >>
#5. VSDC Free Video Editor Best for: editing ultra-high resolution videos and applying fish-eye correction for sports videos.
Supported OS: Windows
VSDC Free Video Editor is the free version of VSDC Video Editor. Though being a cut down version, it is still a well thought out video mixing software developed by Flash-Integro LLC, and allows you to do most of everything its big brother can with a buffet of awesome features. Adjustable filters, chroma keys, masks, picture-in-picture, animated text, and many advanced tools can get accessed by clicking the well-designed visual icons. Therefore, even a beginner can take advantage of VSDC Free Video Editor to create stunning videos while keeping things incredibly simple.
Thanks to its capability to edit and export 4K UHD videos in high-compressed H.265/HEVC codec, adrenaline junkies can use VSDC Free Video Editor to process 4K UHD recordings from DJI Drone, DSLR, and action camera without comprising much to the picture quality. Besides, it cheers you up with countless effects, for instance, crop, split, rotate, speed, play backward, lens distortion, etc.
Chances of improvement:
Mac and Linux cannot take advantage of this Windows-only program. 
Slow rendering and stutter preview of 4K high-resolution video due to the lack of hardware acceleration. 
Frequently pop-up ads that remind you to upgrade to the pro version is annoying. 
The transition options are very limited and difficult to properly apply to your recordings.
Any features missing compared to its brethren?Hardware acceleration, video stabilization, motion tracking are 3 most often used toolkits for the post-production of large sport videos. Sadly, they are available on the paid VSDC Video Editor only. The masking tool and chrome key of VSDC Free Video Editor are less flexible than the pro version neither.
Read our full review of VSDC Free Video Editor >>
#6. CyberLink PowerDirectorBest for: quickly producing sports video with eye-catching effects Ios 10 5 download.
Supported OS: Windows, Mac, Linux
PowerDirector is the flagship product presented by Cyberlinks. This intuitive and elegant piece of software offers you a streamlined experience, no matter you are in storyboard mode, time-line based free editing, slideshow or auto mode. If you priority is to quickly cut and edit videos to share with friends and families, while investing less effort in learning how to use an NLE, then PowerDirector perfectly fits the bill. Technical newbie or moderately experienced hands, you can quickly pick up PowerDirector to trim videos, add effects, and apply transitions and music. 
PowerDirector can spice up your sports videos and showcase those exciting moment. On the plus side, motion tracker in Cyberlinks helps you to track designated objects, so that you can add text, graphic and other elements along with that object in motion. It is nice because the tracking is done automatically, instead of created manually frame-by-frame. You can also make use of time shift to create slow motion out of a section of your footage, thus allowing viewers to savor that highlighted moment during a slowed-down flow of time.
Chances of improvement:
Won't support exporting H.265/HEVC in free version.
Lack of advanced tools making it not suitable for commercial environment.
Speed control is limited to constant speed change, with simple option to ease in and ease out; You cannot make speed ramping effects using curves to smooth out harsh cuts.
Want to see time flows back? Use Video in Reverse in PowerDirectorBesides Speed Multiplier that allows you to speed up or slow down a part of the video, PowerDirector also helps you to reverse speed, creating a rewind effects that everything moves backwards in terms of time flow. Instead of showcasing the cliff diving moment, you can reverse the footage into the diver rising back onto the cliff from the sea. Ready to explore more ?
Read full review of PowerDirector >>
#7. HitFilm Express 14Best for: visual effects dabblers and YouTubers; create VFX-intensive videos for fun.
Supported OS: Windows 10/8, macOS (High Sierra and later)
Presented by FXhome, HitFilm Express is a decent desktop editor with powerful VFX tools to produce films, gaming videos and other great content for free. It combines editing, VFX and 3D tools in one place, so that you won't need to hoop from one app for editing, to another app for compositing. It has all the basic editing functions you would expect from mainstream NLEs, and relatively large amount of effects and features that you wouldn't expect in other free editors.
HitFilm Express is mostly noted for its VFX capacity that helps to turn your footage into impressive filmic productions. Gunfire and Star War lightsaber effects, bold and flashy animation titles are all at your disposal to spice up the video. HitFilm even helps you to create animate 3D particles based on audio waveforms! Nicely enough, this app adopts a dual-timeline approach, with all the basic editing done in the editing timeline, and VFX done in the composite shot timeline. In this way, it keeps the main editing timeline from getting cluttered up, so that you can easily assemble the clips order. While in the composite shot timeline, you can let your creative juice flow and play around with graphics, effects and visual elements.
Lightning Eyes Effects Edited with HitFilm Express
Chances of improvement:
Won't support HEVC/H.265, which might be a hassle if you shoot regularly on iPhone in high efficiency format.
No XML/AAF/EDL support, meaning you won't be able to share the project to other software to continue editing.
No multicam editing, and audio editing toolkit is limited, there is no EQ adjustment.
Exporting errors occur if you choose to render in-and-out instead of content, as the tool mistakenly choose a non-existence point as out point.
Are you a big fan of editing mini-epic with dope VFX?Thinking about a horror movie? How about the scene of ghost cropping out of your mobile phone? With HitFilm Express, you can utilize the tracking feature. While the character is walking with a mobile phone at his hand, you can use the tracking tool to follow the same trajectory. Then you shall be able to replace the mobile screen, with a clip of ghost popping out. There is more for HitFilm to re-create what's in your mind.
Read our full review of HitFilm Express >>
#8. LightworksBest for: movie industry experts and content marketers.
Supported OS: Windows, Mac, Linux.
Lightworks as a professional video editing software has been around for more than 25 years, as long as Avid Media Composer and Adobe Premiere start their business in the industry. It offers a free version for serious enthusiasts to try out most of the commonly used features. If you are looking for a free editing program with ready-to-use templates for titles, animation graphics and stickers, Lightworks is definitely not the best choice. This tool is designed with professional editors, with requirements and workflow logic that are feature-film-specific, and may be difficult for people without a movie editing background.
For that reason, a certain feature may be highly praised by professional editors, while at the same time complained by beginners or people accustomed to other paradigms of more popular NLEs. For instance, the unique Flexible layout allows experts to experiment with ideas and compare various edits easily, while beginners would be confused. No razor tool in Lightworks is another head scratcher for people coming from other programs, while the supplementing mark-and-park method is loved by loyal users.
Chances of improvement:
Lack of guided wizards makes it difficult for beginners to get the work done.
Different editing paradigms entail a transitional pain for seasoned editors accustomed to other popular NLEs.
No 1080p or 4K support, limited export settings: the free version maxes out at 720p, H.264/MPEG4.
Free users are required to reactivate the license from time to time, and failure of activation might be a problem if you have unfinished projects.
Biased reviews occur when people fail to make the best of LightworksBeginners and seasoned editors may fail to access the full power of Lightworks, due to lack of decent tutorials and 'muscle memory' from other NLEs. For instance, when you get accustomed to mark-and-park and pressing x at the cursor point, instead of thinking in terms of razor cut, you would find Lightworks efficient. Want more tricks?
Read full review of Lightworks >>
#9. DaVinci Resolve 16Best for: breathtaking color correction in HD/UHD landscape video editing.
Supported OS: Windows, macOS, Linux
DaVinci Resolve is a non-linear video editing and mixing system developed by Blackmagic Design, making a name for itself as a top-notch color corrector originally, and having been awarded for Engineering Excellence by the Hollywood Professional Association. The learning curve would be steep to be familiar closely with such a professional free video editing tool. But to get started quickly, crash courses are everywhere. 
Color correction is key to creating awe-inspiring landscape videos and cinematic looks, which happens to be what makes DaVinci Resolve critically acclaimed. In DaVinci Resolve 16, you can have a full control of image in precision with node-based color grading tools. And both the editing and rendering of landscape video in RAW formats like CinemaDNG and ARRIRAW can be fast, even on an old computer, for its proxy mode and optimized media support. Two bonus features for advanced users - Fairlight for audio adjusting and Fusion for VFX. Remember there is only 64-bit version for Windows 10, and Mac should be 10.10 or later.
Chances of improvement:
Fusion and Fairlight are too complicated to learn, with few tutorials available.
Audio and video out of sync issue happens a lot, most importantly, with no effective solutions. 
RED and BMPCC 4K footages have rendering errors frequently. 
Occasional 4K video stuttering, slow rendering, or media import problems. 
DaVinci Resolve is still light on third-party plug-ins, not enough for using. 
Once you load your videos/audios, the project frame rate value can't be changed anymore. 
Ready for some filmic look with enchanting color?For your information, DaVinci Resolve was used for the color grading in famous movies and TV shows like Avatar, Deadpool 2, La La Land, The Walking Dead and Westworld, to name a few. You won't want to miss the chance to embrace such a great tool for free. To check how mighty the color grading could be:
Read our full review of DaVinci Resolve 16 >>
#10. KdenliveBest for: tutorial videos with 2D titles, screen/sound capture.
Supported OS: Windows, Mac, FreeBSD, Linux, Ubuntu
Kdenlive is one of the most involved and complex open-source video editors. It offers all you need to create simple videos. It's wide range of advanced functionalities like multiple tracks, transitions, keyframe, rotoscoping, video/audio scope, and chroma key, just to name a few, even rival some commercial video editing software. However, those nifty features come with the sacrifice of a nitty interface. The major update it received recently, somehow, further separates it away from beginners.
One essential feature for making easy-approached tutorials is the screen capture tool. Kdenlive is well designed on this facility. It can record your computer screen or webcam with sound coming from the microphone. The latest version allows you to add audio track on the timeline. This is a useful capability for instruction video creators as it lets them record sound while previewing the video simultaneously. Subtitle is another terrific feature of Kdenlive, with which you are on your own to create plain or animated text and decide when and where the subtitles showed up, for how long, and in what kind of format.
Edit with Kdenlive
Chances of improvement:
It can't create video in some of the most prevalent formats like MKV and AVI, and offers no ready-made output format.
Some effect options seem to be absent from the drop-down menu, as like, you can only found the curves effect by entering its name on the effect search bar. 
Buggy & Laggy. It is buggy as hell on Windows, and voracious with its CPU and RAM requirements. Sometimes it even becomes laggy when you just try to preview the file without any editing.
Unstable. For example, it worked fine yesterday on my Windows 10 64 bit i5-3470 with SSD and 8GB RAM but keeps crashing this time, with nothing different from the previous process.
GPU acceleration is absent. This is not likely to change for the foreseeable future as it's a sad flaw of the underlying MLT framework.
Worth updating to 19.x version?Kdenlive now combines audio and video in one track, and you aren't enabled to opt 'auto separate audio and video' anymore. This controversial update is in fact another sacrifices made by Kdenlive to gain a buggy free performance.
Under the render tab, there are only WebM, Mpeg-2 and few other codecs. Beginners have to learn FFmpeg command to understand those video jargons.
Read our full review of Kdenlive >>
#11. OpenShot Best for: quick editing for small business video.
Supported OS: Windows, macOS, Linux
OpenShot is another open-source free video editing software, started by Jonathan Thomas for Linux originally, compatible with various pla1tforms now including Windows, macOS and FreeBSD. Different from Shotcut based on MLT framework, OpenShot uses C++ libopenshot project library. Note that OpenShot is only available in 64-bit for Linux, Windows 7 to 10, and OS X 10.9 or later. 
Due to the ease of use and unique 3D animation features 'borrowed' from Blender, OpenShot is pretty good for novices to make decent small business videos. All OpenShot updates try to keep up with the latest Blender for new 3D features, so that stunning 3D animation titles can be used to attract your customers in the presentation. Various presets in transitions, filters, curve-based time-mapping and hardware acceleration in the latest 2.5.0 could be pluses. 
Easy Video Edit ProgramChances of improvement:
Severe slow and crashing problems, maybe out of the operating system, the hardware, or the software algorithm. 
Presets only in time-mapping and speed changes. There is no curve to adjust manually. 
Limited editing functions, good for quick editing but not enough for advanced refining. 
Hardware acceleration is still in experimental period. 
Random final file broken error without any sign during the editing.
Does OpenShot support GPU acceleration now?Download OpenShot 2.5.0 or later and you should see hardware encoder options like NVENC and VA-API in the Export panel. But since it is still experimental, errors happen a lot. Most Windows 10 users find it can't detect GPU correctly, leading to 'No acceleration' problems. To check detailed information:
Read our full review of Shotcut >>
#12. GoPro Studio Best for: personalizing videos of outdoor activities.
Supported OS: Windows, macOS
GoPro Studio was the standalone official video editing software of GoPro for both PC and Mac, which however was wrapped up into the Quik Desktop suite and then removed forever. An educated guess is that GoPro thinks people prefer auto edits for instant sharing than sitting down for mind-numbing post production. 

The best part of GoPro Studio for outdoor activity video editing should go to its Edit Templates with background music and slow-motion effect. Creating an awesome GoPro-style video could be as easy as this: import media, mark in and out the highlights, convert to CineForam for smoother editing, choose a template, drag your highlights onto one separate clip, export your video until all cuts have been replaced by your own footages. You still have necessary functions for sports video editing like fisheye lens correction and color adjusting. 
Chances of improvement:
Limited output file format - MP4 (H.264) and AVI/MOV (CineForm). 
It is only possible to rotate a video 180 degrees. 90 degrees option is not accessible in GoPro Studio. 
No support of GPU acceleration and HEVC codec, which makes it not the ideal one for 4K H.265 video editing. 
A total 10-second GoPro branding will always be there in the start and end of your video, which can't be deleted. 
Anyway, Studio was discontinued years ago. There seems to be no chance of any improvement.
Where to download GoPro Studio now?Although it is discontinued, you still have ways to free download GoPro Studio 2.5.9. 2658. But if you have installed Quik already, GoPro Studio won't be installed or installed correctly, unless you uninstall Quik. Even if you have both installed on your computer, choose Open In Studio will only lead GoPro Studio to shut down. 
Read our GoPro Studio download tutorial >>
#13. GoPro QuikBest for: fast creating mini clips full of outdoor activity highlights.
Supported OS: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android 
Best Simple Video Editing SoftwareQuik is a free video editing app developed by GoPro running on both desktop computer and mobile phone. Well, according to our test, Quik for mobile is much more brilliant than Quik for desktop, while the iOS version has more features than Android. Before you download it, check its system requirements: Windows 10 (64-bit only), Mac OS X 10.10 or above, iOS 10 and up, Android 5.0 and up. 
Quik seems like a hint of Quick. Together with its support of stock music, various templates in different themes, smart Auto modes, instant uploading options, and the unique built-in Wi-Fi connection between editing system and camera, Quik is quite handy for personalizing videos of vacations, trips, family gatherings, etc in a very short time for sharing on the go. Basic editing features like cutting, rotating, and text adding surely are accessible as well. 
GoPro Quik Editing on iPhone
Chances of improvement:
Quik for desktop imports GoPro camera media only. Files from any other cameras won't be detected. 
Only 10 music tracks can be used for free, and there is no way to load local audios. 
Annoying crash problems after 2020 update of Quik for mobile phone. 
Efficient but not profound. There is color correction and clip rearranging options, but not as flexible as you imagine.
1080p and 60 seconds are your highest option for resolution and video length when exporting. 
No need to wait for video transcoding before editing, at the cost of losing accurate frame control and slow raw GoPro file editing. 
GoPro Quik vs. GoPro Studio, which is better?You probably know that GoPro Studio has been replaced by Quik for a long time. But why are there so many people still struggling to find a safe GoPro Studio download file? Which one of them is more full-featured and better for video editing? To get a detailed analysis: 
Read our full comparison of GoPro Studio and Quik >>
#14. BlenderBest for: 3D modeling and animation
Best Simple Video Editing Software FreeSupported OS: Windows, Mac, Linux
Born in 1988 as NeoGeo's in-house 3D toolset in Netherlands, what was known as Blender today undergone re-writing in 1995 and went open-source in 2002. It is the Swiss army knife of 3D modeling and sculpting, animation, video editing and VFX. With the incorporation of video sequencer, Blender grows into a powerful all-in-one tool, especially after the release of 2.80. Small studios and freelancers use it extensively and bigger studios resort to it in a few work stages, for instance, object modeling and texturing. The game industry also witnesses its popularity in recent years.
Whatever other high-end 3D modeling and animation programs can achieve, Blender helps you do almost the same without spending a dime, provided that you have the technical know-how and a skilled hand. You can utilize the powerful tools to focus on some aspects in 3D pipeline: be it modeling, animation, rigging, compositing, simulation or editing. In terms of video editing, Blenders offers you a complete editing system sequencer and compositer. Therefore, if you are daunted by 3D features, you can still learn this tool simply for editing clips (termed as strips in Blender), after all, it is free.
Simple Video Editor FreeChances of improvement:
User interface seems archaic and could be frustrating some times.
Require users to be familiar with tons of keyboard shortcuts to get the hang of this tool, thus making it daunting for less experienced users who might be accustomed to think 'cut' in terms of a razor or a scissors icon.
Lack of official explanation on certain features to help users know the difference: for instance, to make proxies in VSE, there are one option to choose proxy render size directly and another option to make selections in sequencer's properties before choosing render size. Users would be confused as to which is the right way to make proxies.
Error crops up every now and then if you let Blender to set the frame rate or using a custom frame rate, and this may be due to the difficulty of dealing with floats, 29.92 fps for instance.
Is Blender Good for Video Editing?Blender helps you do basic video editing in a timeline-based manner, just as many other NLEs. You have the tracks to cut footage, add layovers, transitions, as well as audios and texts, though you have to acquaint yourself with numerous keyboard shortcuts to give it a spin. As you become more skilled, you will appreciate the range of 3D graphics tools and options in Blender. Aspiring to read more on 3D modeling and animation in plain language?
Read more in our Blender review for beginners >>
Best Free Video Editing Software FAQsOne person's meat is another's poison. There is no absolute one best video editor that caters for all, given your budget, hardware, operating system, and the comfort level. Casual hobbyists may be adequately served by no-brainer tools, while professionals and serious learners go for highly customizable NLEs.
1. What is the best video editing software for beginners?
If you have zero experience in video editing, and are merely seeking tools for quick trimming, add text and background music, use Windows Photos app or iMovie on Mac.
If you are a serious beginner, and are willing to invest in time and effort to become a master, use popular editors. You can quickly hone your skills with YouTube tutorials, and seek help in active forums. In this regard, Shotcut, Kdenlive and DaVinci Resolve may fit the bill.
2. What is the best professional video editing software?
Hollywood mainly uses Avid Media Composer, and those outside Hollywood use Adobe Premiere, Final Cut Pro, Edius etc. These NLEs only offer trial versions, and are thus out of the scope of this article.
3. Which software is best for slow motion video?
Shotcut and Kdenlive allow you to cut up a section and slow it down, say 1/4 speed of the real time. If you prefer speed ramping to harsh cuts, you can use HitFilm or DaVinci Resolve for gradual speed control, and there is a learning curve.
4. What is the best video editing software for low spec computers?
Timeline-based video editing is a computing intensive process that occupies enormous resources on your machine. Want to edit high res files, hard-to-decode format, or add lots of visual effects and animations? It's more about upgrading hardware than picking an editor, though you do have the choice to optimize video clips for smooth editing, in iMovie, Shotcut, and DaVinci Resolve.
How We Picked Best Free Video EditorsIt took us half a month to round up 14 best free video editors out of numerous programms on the market.The result is where all the following efforts come together: 
A list of more than a hundred of video editing tools was compiled based on market presence.
Powerful programs that only have a paid version or limited free trials were removed from the list ( and that's why big names such as Adobe Premiere and Final Cut Pro is missing from the final list). 
That left us with twenty-some truly free programs. We tested each one on Windows and Mac computers, and picked out 14 applications based on following factors.
Factors Considered During the Test
Compatibility - which platforms can run the free editor software.
Capability - how well it nails the task for a specific editing scenario.
Stability and smoothness - especially when you scrub, playback, render and export the video. 
Ease of use - how natural it is to finish a certain editing task and make use of a utility. 
Quality of support - can you get timely response from forums, official tech support, or find resourceful tutorials. 
Test Environment
Operating System: Windows 10 64-bit
CPU: Intel® Core™ i5-8300H CPU @2.30GHz
GPU 1: Intel(R) UHD Graphics 630 | GPU 2: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050Ti
RAM: 8GB | VRAM: 4GB | SSD: 500GB
Operating System: macOS 10.10.5
CPU: Intel® Core i5 @2.7GHz
GPU: AMD Radeon HD 6770M
RAM: 8GB | VRAM: 512MB | SATA Disk: 1TB
General System Requirements for Video Editing
More than half of the free video editors we tested (on this list or not) provide 64-bit version only. 
Most can run on Windows 7 and later. But when it comes to Mac, every application seems to have its own standard. 
Minimum requirement of RAM varies, but normally 4GB is needed, while 16GB/32GB for 4K and VFX. Theoretically, the larger, the better. 
Only part of the free video editing tools we used gives a clear indication of what kind of GPU or how much VRAM is required. Generally, 2GB would be OK. 
Advance Notice
Don't walk away. Our R&D engineers are beavering away on a brand new video editing software – a fully-fledged NLE – and it will be COMPLETELY FREE! You are cordially invited to share this post to social networks, or leave a comment to let us know your most concerned features.
Newest | Oldest | Best
Input your name and email (Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *)