Using free video editing software is a convenient way to edit your videos. Plus, most of them are so easy to use that they're great for beginning editors.
You might want a video editing program if you need to extract audio from a video or add different audio, cut out parts of the video, add subtitles, build a DVD menu, merge video files, or fade a video in or out. Most vloggers need a video editor of some kind.
Because most free video editors limit their features to advertise their professional versions, you may find roadblocks that stop you from making advanced edits. For editors with more-advanced features but that aren't free, check out mid-level digital video software or these top professional video editing programs.
If you need to convert your video files to different file formats such as MP4, MKV, and MOV, this list of free video converters has some great options.
OpenShot (Windows, Mac, and Linux)
What We Like
The easy-to-use interface.
It's open source.
Great user forum.
What We Don't Like
The application has multiple layers of setup.
Occasional lag.
Editing videos with OpenShot is extraordinary when you see everything you can do with it. You can download it free for Windows, Mac, and Linux systems.
The supported features in this free editor include desktop integration for drag-and-drop, image and audio support, curve-based key frame animations, unlimited tracks and layers, and 3D animated tiles and effects.
OpenShot is also good for clip resizing, scaling, trimming, snapping, and rotation, plus motion picture credit scrolling, frame-stepping, time-mapping, audio mixing, and real-time previews.
Free Video Editor Sites
The fact that you get all of this for free is reason enough to download it yourself and try it out before you purchase a video editor.
VideoPad (Windows and Mac)
What We Like
Supports a wide range of video formats.
Easy to install and use.
Another video editing software program for both Windows and Mac is VideoPad, from NCH Software. It's free for non-commercial use.
It supports drag-and-drop, effects, transitions, 3D video editing, text and caption overlay, video stabilization, easy narration, free built-in sound effects, and color control.
VideoPad can also change the video speed, reverse the video, burn DVDs, import music, and export movies to YouTube and other similar sites and a variety of resolutions including 2K and 4K.
Freemake Video Converter (Windows)
What We Like
Supports many input formats.
Burn files directly to a disc.
Easy-to-use editing features.
What We Don't Like
May require purchase of needed features.
Can be slow to make conversions.
Limited number of output formats.
Freemake Video Converter is a free video converter with simple and easy-to-use editing features that set it apart from some of the more complex and confusing editors.
Being able to do light editing to your videos with the same tool you use to convert the file to a variety of other formats, or even burn the files directly to a disc, is convenient.
Some of the video editing features of this program include adding subtitles, clipping out sections you don't want in the video, removing or adding audio, and merging or joining videos.
VSDC Free Video Editor (Windows)
What We Like
Features you won't find elsewhere.
Exports to a variety of file formats.
Includes optional screen recorder.
What We Don't Like
Not super user-friendly.
Some video lag with free version.
VSDC is a full-featured free video editing tool that you can install on Windows. A fair warning though: This program might be a little hard to use for beginners because of the sheer number of features and menus.
However, if you poke around for while and play with your videos within the editor, you'll find that it's not quite as daunting as it seemed when you first opened it.
Editor For Videos No Download
There's even a wizard you can run to make things easier. Use it to do add lines, text, and shapes, as well as charts, animations, images, audio, and subtitles. Plus, as any good video editor should, VSDC can export videos to a variety of file formats.
The VSDC Video Editor setup lets you easily install the company's video capture program and screen recorder. These are optional, but they may come in handy in certain projects.
iMovie (Mac)
What We Like
Easy-to-use interface.
Plenty of tools to improve video and audio quality.
Supports 4K.
What We Don't Like
Limited features available.
Output controls not robust.
IMovie is free for macOS users. It offers many options for editing video and audio plus adding photos, music, and narration to your videos.
One of the best features of iMovie is its ability to make 4K-resolution movies. You can even start doing so from your iPhone or iPad and then finish on your Mac. That's pretty cool!
Movie Maker (Windows)
What We Like
User-friendly with a classic Microsoft feel.
Great for beginning video editors.
Movie Maker was Windows' pre-installed free video editing software. While it is no longer pre-installed, you can still download this application from some third-parties and use it to create and share high-quality movies.
It's included in this list because it's already on lots of Windows computers, which means you might not even need to download anything in order to start using it.
Online-Only Options
If you've tried out these video editing programs but prefer some other options or you're more interested in editing videos online for free than downloading software, there are several online editors that function in the same way as these downloadable tools:
These services are great for re-editing and remixing web videos, and some even let you produce DVDs of your videos.
- What is the best alternative to YouTube Video Eidtor in 2019?
- Are there some free video editing software for YouTube available in the market?
- What is the best video editor for YouTube free?
YouTube is not only a great place to watch videos, but also an awesome platform to share your own created videos with friends all over the world. Uploading videos to YouTube is easy, but it is not an easy task for creating an awesome video. So more and more YouTube users want to find a professional video editing software for YouTube free or paid.
Can't Miss: What Video Editing Software Do YouTubers Use
Yes, you will come across very many free or paid YouTube video maker or editor software over the internet for working with. All YouTube video editing software have their distinct features that you should lookout for as well as pros and cons. The following top 5 free video editor for YouTube will give you a good starting point.
In short: If you're looking for the best video editing software for YouTube (like me), you'll love this guide.
Now, let's get started.
Filmora Video Editor - Best YouTube Video Maker [Free or Paid]
Filmora Video Editor for Windows (or Filmora Video Editor for Mac) is the best video editing software for YouTube on Mac or Windows. This video editor for YouTube has very many effects that you can use to personalize your video when editing. They include intro/credit where you will get to enjoy multiple templates, transitions to help come up with a flawless exchange from one scene to another, sound effect and filters. The selection will be all yours to make and you should be very keen on what you decide to use with your video. Furthermore, this powerful YouTube video editing software has support for very many file formats and guarantees high quality to edited files.
Key Features:
- This video editing software for YouTube has video color correction which allows for adjustment of brightness, saturation and contrast.
- Green screen is another feature that makes it possible to replace the background.
- Scene detection helps to know when changes have been made to scenes.
- Face off offers fun faces for making a video funny.
- PIP effect makes it possible to overlay more than one video together.
- A wide range of video and audio effects and very handy video editing tools.
- Various output options help you directly upload video to YouTube or Viemo for sharing as you like.
Easy Steps to Use This Best Video Editing Software for YouTube
The Filmora YouTube Video Editing software is very affordable and can edit both videos and audios. With this software you can edit the YouTube video according to you, it helps in applying effects or customize your video.
Step 1. Import the Video for YouTube
At first, you need to download the Filmora Video Editor from the official website. After the installation, you can import the video clips by 2 methods. Click the 'FULL FEATURE MODE' from the main window, you can directly drag your videos to the software or click on the 'Import Media Files Here' button to import all video clips to Filmora Video Editor.
Step 2. Edit Your Video Clips
Drag the video clips to timeline directly, now you can adjust the order of the video clips by click on the video clips and drag, and you can also trim unwanted video clips.
Step 3. Add Effects to Your Videos
After you cut and splice the video clips to a complete video you want to post to YouTube, you can choose to add some effects on the video to make it amazing.
For example you can add filters to the video, click on 'FILTERS' option from the menu, and you will see all the filter in the Filmora Video Editor. Select a suitable filter and drag it to timeline to apply.
In addition to the filter, there are many other effects you can apply to your videos including transitions, overlays, audio effect and others as follows:
- How to overlay videos (picture in picture)
- How to make a split-screen video
- How to make cool videos with effects
Step 4. Export the Videos to YouTube Directly
After you are satisfied with the editing of your video, you can preview the excellent video in Filmora Video Editor firstly, and then export it to YouTube directly.
Top 4 Free YouTube Video Editing Software for Windows, Mac OS X
iMovie (Mac)
When you are looking for the best free YouTube video editing software program to use with Mac, iMovie will be the best choice to consider. This free video editing software for YouTube allows for easy importing of videos as well as editing in terms of adding effects, inserting titles and adding sound tracks. A simple drag and drop will help you add files to the program.
Pros:
- This video editor for YouTube is very easy to use. And it is the best alternative to YouTube Video Editor.
- This video editing tool has a friendly interface and allows for sharing of edited videos online. Those are the standout advantages you will enjoy.
Cons:
- One of the biggest disadvantages of iMovie is inability to import files in MP4 format.
- It is not readily available because of its price tag that ranges around $14.99.
Windows Movie Maker (Windows)
This YouTube video editing software is another best video editing software for YouTube videos and it's designed by Microsoft. You can create, edit and publish your videos using this program on online sites like YouTube and Facebook. That will help in enhancing your overall editing experience. It has support for very many transitions, effects and titles to help customize video.
Pros:
- Key advantages of using this software program are availability for free.
- This video editor for YouTube is easy for beginners to learn.
- This video editing tool offers a variety of editing tools and functions as well as perfect for photos slide shows.
Cons:
- When you choose this program, expect to enjoy limitations on the number of features you will enjoy because it comes for free.
- This video editing tool is not good for advanced users.
- It is highly prone to crashing down thus not reliable enough.
YouTube Video Editor (Windows and Mac)
This free YouTube video editor allows for easy customizing of video files through specialized tools and effects. You should choose a good combination of those that will suit your video editing. Also, the program helps in trimming down the size of videos.
Pros:
- You will have an easy time learning how to use this program.
- This video editing tool works at high speeds and it is available for free as well as allowing adding music to video.
Cons: Izotope authorization serial number free.
- Its availability for free means this program comes with limitations on some features.
- You will enjoy only the basic features.
LightWorks (Windows and Mac)
This free editing software is a professional free video editing software for YouTube that you can use to work on any YouTube files. It's non-linear and has support for resolutions amounting to 4K. It works well with videos on both HD and SD formats. If you have a film that you want to edit, LightWorks will be a good choice to consider at any given time.
Pros:
- Ability to customize is the biggest advantage for using this software program.
- Other pros are support for different platforms.
- Support for professional video editing and availability as paid or free versions.
Cons:
- This video editing tool lacks FireWire support for Linux.
- The pro version has changes in pricing and does not offer any help with basic hints alone.
Write in the End
Although some online video editors or editing apps for YouTube provide most promising results but there aren't as good as professional video editors available for Windows and Mac. One of the biggest disadvantage is that if you don't have an internet connection, you will not be able to edit the videos. Moreover, if your video needs a lot of editing, you can't perform all the functions using online video editors.
So, if you want to create an awesome video, or you have some requirement of the YouTube video, then, I'd like to strongly recommend the Filmora Video Editor or Filmora Video Editor for Mac for your reference. It can help you quickly make a cool video with effects.
Related Articles & Tips
Editing videos usually requires a specialist bit of video editing software you'll need to download (and pay for), but there are some excellent online tools around that are just as powerful – if you know where to look. We've scoured the web for online editors that will have your videos looking and sounding great, without the need to download a thing. Best of all, they're free to use.
The quality of browser-based tools varies greatly, so here we've picked out the best program available today. Selecting the right tool will often be a case of seeing which closest meets your needs, so we've included a mixture of very basic and more advanced options.
Looking for a more powerful movie-making tool that you can use offline? Take a look at our guide to the best video editors, with recommended free and paid options listed.
1. Movie Maker Online
An amazingly flexible online tool, with royalty-free media to supplement your own movie clips, audio files and images
First, a word of warning: Movie Maker Online is funded by ads that you might find distracting, and you'll have to deactivate any ad-blocking plugins you have installed before you can use it.
If you can look past that, Movie Maker Online is an excellent tool (and it's only fair that its developers are reimbursed for their work). Movie Maker Online lets you upload video, images and music, and combine them into a project by dragging and dropping them onto a timeline. The page layout is a little strange, so you'll need to scroll down a little way to find it.
You can crop uploaded videos, and there are numerous filters available to give them a new look. Movie Maker Online provides fade options for both audio and video too, as well as text overlays, transitions and more.
There's even a selection of royalty-free images and music files that you can use to help complete your project.
It just might take you a while to find your way around the system of menus and you can only export your finished projects in MP4 format, but this is a minor complaint. Movie Maker Online is the best for your browser.
2. ClipChamp
The free version of this online tool lacks some advanced features, but it's easy to use and is a good choice for simple movie-making tasks
ClipChamp strikes a good balance between power and usability, and might be just the tool for you if Movie Maker Online (above) offers more options and settings than you're likely to need.
The free version of ClipChamp has a few limitations, the biggest of which is that you can only export videos in standard definition. There are premium tiers starting at US$9 per month (about £7, AU$13), that give you more freedom, but if your needs a simple, the free version might well offer everything you need.
You can either upload a video you've already recorded or use your webcam to capture new footage. Either method works well, and once your footage is in ClipChamp, you'll have ready access to tools including trimming, cropping, flipping, rotating and brightness/contrast adjustment.
Processing is fast, and you can share the results online or download the video to use in other projects. Simple, but it gets the job done.
3. Adobe Spark
Slick and easy to use – ideal for creating clips for sharing on social media
Adobe Spark is something of a Jack-of-all-trades, offering browser-based tools for making greeting cards, flyers, Instagram posts and, yes, videos.
Spark gives you two options for making videos: use one of Adobe's own themed templates, or start from scratch. Whichever you choose, you'll be able to upload still photos and video clips, or import them from cloud services including Dropbox, Google Drive, and Adobe's own Creative Cloud.
You can record audio from your PC's microphone (a great way to annotate a video), add titles, apply color themes, and add music from an impressive choice of options. To adjust the length of a clip, just change the number at the bottom right of the preview image.
You won't get a huge choice of tweaking tools (there's no multi-track option, for example) but it's ideal for putting together stylish videos for social media. You can even create square formatted videos specifically for Instagram.
Your finished video will bear a small Adobe Spark watermark on the bottom, but it's unobtrusive.
4. Online Video Cutter
If some of the tools above look confusing, check out Online Video Cutter. It's simple to use, and is available as a handy Chrome extension
Despite the name, Online Video Cutter is about more than just cutting up videos. The site lets you upload files up to 500MB in size, or work with clips stored on Google Drive or other online service.
You can then opt to trim away unwanted footage, and crop in if you have taken too wide a shot. There's a rotate function for footage accidentally shot with your phone on its side, and there's even a Chrome extension available so you can access the tools more easily.
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When you're happy with the changes you've made, you can take your pick from a variety of popular video formats and choose lower a quality setting if you need to minimize file size.
There may not be that many features on offer here, but the site is beautifully set out and everything is nicely streamlined, making it a joy to use.
5. Kizoa
Make fun videos and slideshows ready to share on Twitter and Facebook
Kizoa is designed for making fun slideshow-style videos to share on social media rather than crafting a cinematic masterpiece, but it's very good at what it does.
Although you can use it to rotate and trim video clips, paste several pieces of video together and add titles, in our experience Kizoa works best as a way to turn a set of still photos into something more exciting.
You can tag your finished creations with keywords, then save them to your desktop or share them immediately via email or social media. Kizoa also provides a shareable link, which is a nice touch.
You'll need to sign up for a free account to get started, but this doesn't take long. Free users get 1GB storage for their videos, which will be watermarked.
- Find out how to download YouTube videos for free
- Don't miss out on our choice of the best free video editing software