- However, the inherently user-friendly design of the Mac is particularly well-suited to beginning video editors, and few Mac applications are easier to use than Apple iMovie. Included free with every Mac that has been sold since 2011, iMovie is not only highly intuitive but surprisingly capable when it comes to producing videos with a.
- There are also some free video apps on the Windows Store, including Animotica, Movie Maker, and Video Editor Studio. Some of these are quite basic, but most include with clip joining, transitions.
If video isn't already an important part of your content marketing strategy, odds are it's about to be. Web content is taking a turn toward video whether SEOs and content marketers like it or not. Nearly 50% of marketers are adding YouTube and Facebook channels for video distribution in the next year; one third of online activity is spent watching video; and video itself is projected to account for more than 80% of all internet traffic by 2019. 80%!
Dec 21, 2020 Wondershare's Filmora9 is a strong video editing tool for enthusiasts, or those just getting started with editing. The intuitive interface should make it easy to get started with, and there are built-in titles, effects and filters designed for budding YouTubers.
For those looking to continue to grow their organic traffic, that means one thing:
Not an expert? Don't know how to edit videos, have a video studio, or have a bona fide video specialist to shoot and cut your features? That's alright! The goal of today's blog is to show you that with the right video editing software, you too can churn out sleek, professional video content—regardless of experience—and keep your content strategy ahead of the curve.
Let's dive in! Here are our recs for the top 10 best pieces of video editing software or video editing apps for beginners—from cheapest (i.e. free!) to most expensive.
1. Apple iMovie
Ok—so to those of you working with PCs, this one won't really apply; but we'd remiss to leave it off the list. If you're looking for simplicity and elegance, it doesn't get much better than Apple iMovie. iMovie's ten high-fidelity filters are some of the classiest in the video editing game; and if you're shooting on your iPhone, or have been editing a project on your iPad, you can use AirDrop to wirelessly and seamlessly transfer your project over to your Mac.
One of iMovie's most coveted features is its green-screen, or 'chroma-key' tool, which allows you to place your characters in exotic locations—Hawaii, say—at a moment's notice. Want to overlay the scene with 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow'? iMovie ties directly in with iTunes and GarageBand, so you can easily implement custom tracks and sounds. When your movie's finally ready to ship, release it into the wild using iMessage, Facebook, YouTube, or any other of iMovie's succinctly connected platforms.
Standout Features: Seamless Apple product integration; green-screen; audio and social platform integration
Pricing: Free with the purchase of a Mac
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2. Lumen5: How to Edit Videos Without Much Technical Ability
We'll put this more in the category of a video editing 'tool' than video editing software, but for social media marketers who want to create fun, flashy social promos in the blink of an eye, Lumen5 is a no brainer. Here's a short little feature we made for a recent blog post, 14 Fun & Festive Holiday Marketing Ideas for 2017:
Lumen5 markets itself as a tool that turns blog posts into social promos. While the process isn't perfect, and you'll likely have to do some tinkering to get your blog content looking just the way you want it, the rest of the video creation process is a cinch. Merely refine some copy that teases your blog post; drag and drop some gifs, screengrabs, or video clips; add some music; and your engaging social video will be ripe for Facebook and Twitter.
Standout Features: Blog-to-social-promo creation; drag-and-drop interface
Pricing: Create as many 480p videos as you want with the free version; or, for $50 per month, upgrade to 1080p HD.
3. Nero Video
One of the cheaper options around ($49.99), Nero Video holds its own on this list—it comes well-stocked with a lot of the tricks and effects you'll find among other products vying for video editing supremacy, and as far as software for beginners, you can certainly do worse. If you're going to spend money learning how to edit videos, however, you might want to steer clear. Nero just doesn't have the speed and functionality of some of the other products listed here, and if it's value proposition is its price, $50 is still not all that cheap.
Standout Features: Low pricing
Pricing: One-time payment of $49.99
4. Corel VideoStudio
Corel VideoStudio has all the characteristics of the other top-of-the-line products on this list, including 360-degree VR and 4k support, but it also has the distinction of being the first piece of consumer video editing software to offer motion tracking—which, if you're not already familiar, is a feature that allows you to track specific objects throughout your cut (if you wanted, say, to point an arrow at one of your characters, blur out his face, or bestow him with a funny hat). Most of the products on this list come equipped with motion tracking, but VideoStudio still boasts one of the best motion tracking systems around.
One of the knocks on VideoStudio is its speed, which lags notably behind some of the faster systems on this list, like CyberLink PowerDirector and Pinnacle Studio. Still: for a one-time payment of $51.99? You can do much worse.
Standout Features: Motion tracking
Pricing: One-time payment of $51.99
5. Filmora from Wondershare
When it comes to video editing software, Filmora is about as multi-faceted as they come. Filmora is Wondershare's standard, simple, high-quality video editing offering; but Wondershare also offers FilmoraGo (for mobile editing) and Filmora Scrn (for screen recording and editing). The design is intuitive and easy to use, and comes replete with filters, overlays, motion elements, transitions, and a small selection of royalty-free music. Here are a few more of the 'basics' Filmora offers:
4k and gif support are boilerplate features for most video editing products today, but one thing Filmora does particularly well is titles. Title tools are trending in video software, and while Filmora's doesn't have the functionality of say, an Apple Final Cut Pro X, which can superimpose 3D titles over your videos and rotate them on three axes, it nonetheless has some snazzy titling features for the money you're spending.
Another Filmora feature beginners to video editing will find attractive is 'Easy Mode,' which allows you to create fun, polished edits by merely dragging and dropping clips, choosing a theme, and selecting music.
Standout features: Title tool; mobile and screen editing; 'Easy Mode'
Pricing: Starts at $59.99 for a lifetime license; or, $39.99 for a year.
6. CyberLink PowerDirector
So—we stretched the meaning of 'software' a bit earlier; now, we're going to stretch the meaning of 'beginner.' We included CyberLink PowerDirector on this list because its interface is, at the end of the day, pretty straightforward. Head to the product page, run through the tutorials, and you'll be alright. There is within the interface, however, an embarrassment of options and effects. If you're not willing to invest the time in learning all of them, it can get a bit overwhelming.
Don't be scared of CyberLink's extra features; just be wary of your commitment level!
In terms of rendering, PowerDirector is regarded as one of the fastest video editing systems around. It also operates consistently in the sphere of the innovative and cutting edge. PowerDirector led the charge in the switch to 4k, and today, it's one of the first systems to support 360-degree virtual reality footage.
Price: you get what you pay for! $79.99 gets you unlimited access to one of the most capable pieces of video editing software around.
Standout Features: Lightning-fast rendering; comprehensive suite of effects
Pricing: One-time payment of $79.99
Best Free Video Editor
7. Adobe Premiere Elements
We include Premiere Elements on the list mostly because it's been an industry leader in the video editing game for some time. And $79.99 is not egregious, but we're here to say that at that price, you're mostly paying for the name. In the time since Premiere Elements' inception, too many other products have surpassed it in speed and capability for us to place it among the cream of the crop. That's to take nothing away from Premiere Elements' usability, though—specifically for beginners.
The Guided Edits feature makes Adobe Premiere a particularly attractive option for beginners, as it allows them to take on both quick edits and advanced projects with substantial assistance from the software.
If you're not entirely sure what you're doing, don't sleep on Guided Edits!
So while Premiere Elements lags behind the competition in terms of speed, 3D editing, multi-cam, and some other advanced features, it's still a great choice for the beginner looking for a comprehensive suite of effects, and some guidance on how to implement them.
Standout Features: Guided Edits; simple interface
Pricing: One-time payment of $79.99
Corel VideoStudio has all the characteristics of the other top-of-the-line products on this list, including 360-degree VR and 4k support, but it also has the distinction of being the first piece of consumer video editing software to offer motion tracking—which, if you're not already familiar, is a feature that allows you to track specific objects throughout your cut (if you wanted, say, to point an arrow at one of your characters, blur out his face, or bestow him with a funny hat). Most of the products on this list come equipped with motion tracking, but VideoStudio still boasts one of the best motion tracking systems around.
One of the knocks on VideoStudio is its speed, which lags notably behind some of the faster systems on this list, like CyberLink PowerDirector and Pinnacle Studio. Still: for a one-time payment of $51.99? You can do much worse.
Standout Features: Motion tracking
Pricing: One-time payment of $51.99
5. Filmora from Wondershare
When it comes to video editing software, Filmora is about as multi-faceted as they come. Filmora is Wondershare's standard, simple, high-quality video editing offering; but Wondershare also offers FilmoraGo (for mobile editing) and Filmora Scrn (for screen recording and editing). The design is intuitive and easy to use, and comes replete with filters, overlays, motion elements, transitions, and a small selection of royalty-free music. Here are a few more of the 'basics' Filmora offers:
4k and gif support are boilerplate features for most video editing products today, but one thing Filmora does particularly well is titles. Title tools are trending in video software, and while Filmora's doesn't have the functionality of say, an Apple Final Cut Pro X, which can superimpose 3D titles over your videos and rotate them on three axes, it nonetheless has some snazzy titling features for the money you're spending.
Another Filmora feature beginners to video editing will find attractive is 'Easy Mode,' which allows you to create fun, polished edits by merely dragging and dropping clips, choosing a theme, and selecting music.
Standout features: Title tool; mobile and screen editing; 'Easy Mode'
Pricing: Starts at $59.99 for a lifetime license; or, $39.99 for a year.
6. CyberLink PowerDirector
So—we stretched the meaning of 'software' a bit earlier; now, we're going to stretch the meaning of 'beginner.' We included CyberLink PowerDirector on this list because its interface is, at the end of the day, pretty straightforward. Head to the product page, run through the tutorials, and you'll be alright. There is within the interface, however, an embarrassment of options and effects. If you're not willing to invest the time in learning all of them, it can get a bit overwhelming.
Don't be scared of CyberLink's extra features; just be wary of your commitment level!
In terms of rendering, PowerDirector is regarded as one of the fastest video editing systems around. It also operates consistently in the sphere of the innovative and cutting edge. PowerDirector led the charge in the switch to 4k, and today, it's one of the first systems to support 360-degree virtual reality footage.
Price: you get what you pay for! $79.99 gets you unlimited access to one of the most capable pieces of video editing software around.
Standout Features: Lightning-fast rendering; comprehensive suite of effects
Pricing: One-time payment of $79.99
Best Free Video Editor
7. Adobe Premiere Elements
We include Premiere Elements on the list mostly because it's been an industry leader in the video editing game for some time. And $79.99 is not egregious, but we're here to say that at that price, you're mostly paying for the name. In the time since Premiere Elements' inception, too many other products have surpassed it in speed and capability for us to place it among the cream of the crop. That's to take nothing away from Premiere Elements' usability, though—specifically for beginners.
The Guided Edits feature makes Adobe Premiere a particularly attractive option for beginners, as it allows them to take on both quick edits and advanced projects with substantial assistance from the software.
If you're not entirely sure what you're doing, don't sleep on Guided Edits!
So while Premiere Elements lags behind the competition in terms of speed, 3D editing, multi-cam, and some other advanced features, it's still a great choice for the beginner looking for a comprehensive suite of effects, and some guidance on how to implement them.
Standout Features: Guided Edits; simple interface
Pricing: One-time payment of $79.99
8. Pinnacle Studio
At the higher end of the Corel product line is Pinnacle Studio—which, at $129.95 (the amount you'll need to pay to edit 360-degree and 4k content with the 'Ultimate' version), costs more than twice as much as VideoStudio. What do you get for the extra money? Well, not only does Pinnacle come readily equipped with all the features you'd expect from an upper-echelon product—motion tracking, 360-degree VR support, 4k support, multi-cam, etc.—but you'd be hard-pressed to find a faster product on the market in terms of rendering.
For all of its features, Pinnacle's interface is still as user-friendly and intuitive as anything on this list. Thus, is you have the need for speed, and you don't mind shelling out a few extra bucks for it, Pinnacle might be the product for you.
Standout Features: Top-of-the-line rendering speeds; full range of features and support
Pricing: One-time payment of $129.95
9. Adobe Premiere Pro
With a virtually unmatched suite of features, 360 VR and 4k support, and a newly implemented ability to store, organize, and share assets online with a team, Adobe Premiere Pro is perhaps the most complete piece of video editing software around. Here's a recent video promo for our free AdWords account structure guide we cut using Premiere Pro.
One of the more dazzling of Premiere Pro's tools is the Lumetri Color tool, which offers color adjustment and manipulation on par with that of a Photoshop. The multi-cam feature is also a winner—whereas most systems allow you to work with a limited number of camera angles, Premiere Pro's latest iteration allows for an unlimited amount.
Throw in a wealth of titling options, readily connected ancillary apps (like Photoshop and After Effects), and a flexible, easy-to-use interface, and Premiere Pro is a no brainer.
Shortcut key for home screen. Standout Features: Multi-cam and coloring options; title tool; easy integration with Adobe Products; straightforward interface
Pricing: $19.99/month
10. Apple Final Cut Pro X
For the most advanced, least fiscally prudent of beginners, there's Apple Final Cut Pro X. $299.99 might be a little steep for a product you may well have a difficult time understanding; but for those among you who enjoy a challenge, and who aspire to some level of professionalism in video editing, why not go for it? Apple has made the transition from iMovie to Final Cut Pro more painless than ever—so if you're the kind of guy or gal who enjoys him/herself an Apple product, and has worked with iMovie to the point of mastery, it might be time to splurge on Final Cut Pro. The power is still daunting; the interface, significantly less so.
Standout Features: Magnetic Timeline; Touch Bar support
Pricing: One-time payment of $299.99
Some Final Thoughts
Are you a content or social media marketer looking to get in the video editing game for the sake of keeping up with the growing video trend? Don't stress! Any of the above software apps would make a fine choice for a beginner. Emulator for laptop.
Think about your budget, your current level of expertise, and how much time you're willing to devote to learning a new skill. Whether you're looking for the best video editing software for YouTube, or the responsibility has simply fallen on you to get your team's video marketing strategy up to snuff—don't wait around deliberating! Get invested in one of these video editing products, and make it yours.
There are over 200 free and paid video editing programs on the market. It's hard to get both free and easy-to-use video editing software with useful features like adding text to video, making slideshows, changing soundtrack of a video, adding filters or effects and much more. We selected the best of the best free video editors for you.
Our #1 is a free video editor for Windows that you can get by clicking the button below.
However, if you want to check other utilities, click a link below to find out the best video editing tool for Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android & web:
3 top video editors [Free video editing software]
Freemake
Freemake can do basic video editing operations: cut unwanted video parts, join files, rotate video, delete black bars, add images, music, visual effects, text to video. Still, it has never pretended to be a fully-featured video editor; it's an easy video editing freeware for beginners. If you want to do quick video editing for your video footage with the options mentioned above, you'll need Freemake video editing software for Windows.
Pros:
- clear and modern interface
- ideal for beginners
- supports almost all formats and codecs: MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI, WMV, 3GP, etc.
- saves project in dozens of formats: MP4, AVI, DVD, Blu-ray, MKV, WMV, etc.
- HD & SD video support
- imports all types of media: video from iPhone, Android, GoPro, video screen captures, camcorders, DVD movies, photos
SEE ALSO: Learn How to Use DVD Ripper to Digitize Your Movies
Cons:
- no support for h.265 codec
- no photo / music stock library
- no flip option
Verdict: Freemake is simplest video editing free software for Windows PC that covers all key needs in video editing.
SEE ALSO: How to Convert AVI to MP4 with Freemake Call of duty helpline uk.
VideoLAN (VLC)
VideoLAN, the authors of VLC video player, started a video editor project called VideoLAN Creator (VLMC) about 10 years ago. Now the project is frozen, it didn't go further than a pre-alpha version and is available only as source code. However, their flagship product – VLC, a cross-platform media player, can be used as a video editor. With VLC you can cut, rotate, crop and flip a video file. You can normalize sound volume, apply certain effects like Water, Motion, Blur, add text and logo.
Pros:
- 100% free
- supports both h.264 and h.265 codecs
- support exotic input video formats
Cons:
- not user-friendly interface
- no timeline
- not for beginners
Verdict: Video editing in VLC is a complicated task. Film editing features are complementary, and VLC isn't focused on that, but it's entirely free.
VirtualDub
VirtualDub is open-source and completely free software for Windows XP. Unfortunately, the video editing software hasn't been updated since release in 2000 and, thus, the only thing it can edit is .AVI files with a specific codec. It has a bit utilitarian interface and seems uneasy to master; still the software is great to do difficult video editing operations: delete, add, reorder video parts, crop sidebars, reduce video file size, convert to grayscale, rotate video if you manage to learn it. Download here.
Pros:
- video capturing option;
- can be extended with third-party video filters
- batch-processing capabilities for processing large numbers of files
Cons:
- no support for modern file types: MP4, MKV, FLV, MOV
- poor interface
- no updates
This video guide will help learn how to use VirtualDub:
Verdict: VirtualDub is free, suitable for Windows XP users. The lack of MP4, MOV, MKV editing makes it useless on Windows 10 & 7.
Windows video editor [Easiest PC Programs in 2018]
Freemake
Freemake video editing software is again the #1 free video editor for Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7 & Vista on the list. It supports the most popular Microsoft video formats – WMV & MP4 extensions. Freemake video editor doesn't have high demands for PC or laptop hardware, so even an amateur can use it for film editing. The short learning curve and many ready how-to's allow you to make video slideshows, multimedia presentations, video tutorials, interviews, gameplay shows, family comedies, and music clips right from the start. Download here.
Verdict: Easy preview and comprehensible timeline let us name Freemake as the best free Windows video editor. See full Freemake description above.
DVDVideoSoft Video Editor
DVDVideoSoft Free Video Editor is a free video editing software for Windows OS with a watermark on the output file (a completely watermark-free version requires a paid subscription). The tool has a plain and quite simple interface with a footage timeline. You can find all video editing toolkit there. However, the program doesn't notify you about the changes that were applied and sometimes it's not clear what actions were made. For example, if you click on the Rotate button several times, you'll know the file position only after conversion. By the way, to save your multimedia project, select an output format and click the Convert button. Download here.
Pros:
- plain interface
- supports many formats: MP4, VOB, MKV, AVI, WMV, FLV, etc.
- supports audio & video tags
Cons:
- some video editing features are not intuitive
- no step by step guides
- in-app purchases
Verdict: DVDVideoSoft Video Editor is a good solution for Microsoft Windows users who need basic video polishing and ready to explore all features on their own.
VSDC Free Video Editor
VSDC Free Video Editor is a powerful non-linear video editor which may seem a bit complicated for amateurs. Still, the advanced functionality is worth time spent on digging into the program. The tool lets users cut video and combine multiple cuts, add various effects and transitions, reshape and modify the video picture, change and fine-tune video sound via an audio waveform, screen capture the desktop. Download here.
Pros:
- built-in burner (look here how to burn a DVD on Windows 10)
- create diagrams of different kinds, including 3D diagrams
- create custom visual effects
Cons:
- steep learning curve
- in-app paid upgrade
Check out how to deal with the software here:
Verdict: VSDC free video editor is a good solution for those who look for a more than simple video editor.
Mac video editor [Top Selected]
iMovie
It's the free default video editor on MacOS. Sometimes free means poor quality, but not in Apple case. The freeware is intuitive and powerful. There are all necessary video editing features: cutting, trimming, splitting, mixing, soundtracks, changing video background color, adjusting brightness, etc. The list is long. Apple Macintosh video editor supports various input file formats: MOV, QuickTime, MP4, AVCHD, etc. Besides, you can start editing your clip on iPhone app and continue to do it on Mac. With 4K quality and slow-motion effects, Mac video editing software can easily beat all other competitors. Download here.
Pros:
- easy to use
- tons of video editing features
- 100% free
Video Editor User Friendly App
Cons:
- a limited number of export file extensions
- slow media import from SD cards
Verdict: Apple video editing software is a superb all-in-one tool for all Macintosh users: free, easy, powerful and available for everyone.
Avidemux
Avidemux is a GPL-based non-linear free video editor for Mac and Linux OS. It's not overloaded with features, still, with it, you can perform numerous video editing operations such as cut video, apply visual effects, transcode videos to other formats, insert or extract audio streams into/from a video file, rotate video, add and edit subtitles, captions (check for more info here). Download here.
Pros:
- lightweight program
- command line interface for advanced users
- large selection of filters
Cons:
- outdated interface
- lack of tutorials
- no support service
Follow this video guide to get most of the Avidemux:
Verdict: Avidemux is good video editing studio for geeks.
Lightworks
Lightworks is a professional non-linear video editor which offers two versions: free and Pro ($24.99/month). The software is available for Mac and Linux OS. The only difference between the versions is that with the free one, you can export your projects only to YouTube and Vimeo in up to 720p quality. Still, this is not a problem for Freemake Video Downloader users who can rip any YouTube or Vimeo video off the Internet. The free Lightworks version provides the following video editing options: real-time effects, color correction, video trimming, multicam video syncing, text effects (with a special plugin). Download here.
Pros:
- project auto-saving options
- broad format support, including 4K ultra HD videos (MOV, M2TS, MP4, AVCHD, MPEG2)
- 100+ ready effect presets
Cons:
- difficult for a novice user
- limited file export options in the free version
- Adobe After Effects Plugins, Premiere Plugins, Boris FX support only in a paid version
Find out how to use Lightworks on this video tutorials page.
Verdict: Lightworks is a must have software for professionals or those who dream to make Hollywood style blockbusters.
Online video editor [Service Winner]
WeVideo
WeVideo is a simple web-based video editor. It offers several pricing plans: from Free to Business and Education ones. With a free account, you may create videos up to 720p resolution, download them to your PC, Dropbox or social media channels. However, the WeVideo logo will be placed on your output video. If you want to get white-labeled content, switch to a paid plan ($10-39). Full HD videos can be exported with a Flex $10 account for $3 per export. With WeVideo online video editor, you'll be able to change aspect ratio, resolution, trim video, add video effects and transitions, correct color, modify audio, insert text onto a video.
Pros:
- direct upload to the cloud
- no software downloads
- large soundtrack library
Cons:
- some features (slow-motion, green screen) are available only for paid users
- low resolution with a free account
- watermark on video
Visit WeVideo Academy to learn how to use the video editor.
Verdict: WeVideo is great online video editing suite for all OS. Fast & easy.
iPhone Video Editor [#1 Video Editing App iOS]
iMovie
The default video editing app from Apple Inc. is the best free video editor for iPhone. It's as simple as the desktop program and easy to use on a smartphone. It's re-installed app since iOS 11. Launch the iPhone video editing app, create a new project and make a film on your Apple phone. Add videos or photos to compile and edit them using the corresponding buttons. You can apply several visual effects like fade, slide, swipe; add a theme template, add some texts or emojis, change color, and mix your video with an audio track from the library. Free iPhone video editor gives you many file export options: IM, YouTube, Vimeo, camera roll in any quality: 360p, 720p, 1080p or 4K. Or you can continue to polish your film on desktop using all advanced film editing features. Download here.
Pros:
- 100% free
- no need to install
- extremely easy & fast
Cons:
- basic video editing features
- a few templates
- small buttons
Verdict: iPhone video editing app by Apple is worthy to install and learn how to shoot awesome 4K videos.
Android Video Editor [Must Install APK]
Magisto
Migisto is an excellent video editing APK for Android phones with AI inside. The app is free to use but requires a paid subscription to unlock all premium features. However, it's enough to make short clips from your daily life. You can put together photos, videos and music. And the smart technology turns it into an animated clip. You don't have to do video editing manually, Magisto will perform all work automatically. The application allows you to publish it in social networks, to YouTube, or share it through IM or email. Download here.
Pros:
User Friendly Song
- all video editing is done automatically
- incredibly easy & fast
- huge free music collection
Cons:
- paid subscription
- a few free templates
- no file downloads in the free version
Verdict: Magisto makes magic video editing. Just add a source file and the app will do the rest for you automatically.
Now it's your turn. What is your favorite video editing tool?
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