You don’t have to be an expert video editor to bring your ideas to life in 2024. But surprisingly 90% of marketers and business owners still feel like video editing is a super complex arena. They either outsource this and spend 4X the cost or drop the idea of creating videos altogether and lose out on a valuable marketing tool in the bargain.
But what if there’s a way out wherein you can actually create videos online in minutes even if you’ve never edited a video before? That’s exactly what we’ll cover in this article, where we put together the 11 best video editing software for PC that are free and completely online to help you create stunning videos quickly and easily.
Here are the best free video editing programs we will cover:
1. InVideo
2. Windows 10 Video Editor
3. Kapwing
4. Apple iMovie
5. OpenShot
6. Shotcut
7. VSDC Free Video Editor
8. Lightworks
9. Kdenlive
10. Hitfilm Express
11. DaVinci Resolve 17
1. InVideo
Are you looking to create a business presentation or maybe a music video? InVideo is a super-intuitive video creation platform that will enable you to create professional-quality videos in minutes, even if you’ve never edited a video before.
InVideo is one of the best free video editors for windows or any other system out there as it comes pre-built with everything you need to create amazing, professional videos, from templates to stock footage to a super user-friendly editor.
There are many other video editors that claim to have fully-customizable templates, but what makes InVideo the best video editing software for PC is the sheer number of assets it has.
A user can go ahead and change the structure of the entire template if that's what they want to. You have the freedom to pick up an ice cream template in InVideo and transform it into a shoe ad.
Here’s a quick GIF to give you a look at the transformation:
Watch the video below if you want to see a step-by-step breakdown of how it was done:
With InVideo, you can also mix and match scenes from different templates all within the same project.
No need to restrict yourself to a single style! Check this out in action below, where we mixed a corporate testimonial scene with another for a food-related service.
Ideal for? InVideo works equally well for professional and personal use, making it the best free video editor for Windows as well as Mac users since it’s cloud-based. Whether you’re a social media marketer, a business owner, or a YouTube creator —InVideo caters to your needs with over 5,000 templates and over 8 million stock videos and photos that cover almost every use-case and industry.
You can sign up for your free account here.
InVideo features
- 5,000+ fully-customizable ready-to-edit templates
- An unmatched library of stock assets consisting of images, videos, and music clips
- Share videos directly to your social media channels after production
- Allows one-click repurposing of collateral like articles into videos
- Streamlined video creation with branding presets that ensure branding consistency across videos
- 24*7 instant chat support ensures frictionless workflow
- Cloud storage of up to 100GB on the paid version
- Paid membership gives you full access to the Filmr – Video Editor and Video Maker mobile app
Pros
- Ease of use.
- 5000+ completely customisable video templates.
- Free in-built stock media library with 8M+ royalty-free images and video clips.
- Good for beginner and seasoned users alike.
- Includes many features like automated voice-overs, HD resolution, speed adjustment, video stabilization and more.
- Automated text-to-speech.
- Unlimited team members and team sharing.
- Brand presets such as color palettes, logos, and fonts are available.
- 24x7 priority support.
- Up to 100GB cloud storage.
You can check out the complete list of features here.
Cons
- Video duration capped at 15 minutes.
Pricing
Free Plan: Set yourself up on InVideo with a free account to explore the features and edit videos with the InVideo watermark until you’ve determined if it’s a good fit for your gameplay editing toolkit.
Business: $15/month: The business plan includes everything offered for free plus the option to remove the InVideo watermark, 60 video exports per month, 10GB cloud storage, 10 iStock media per month, 1M+ premium media, and access to Filmr Pro.
Unlimited: $30/month: The unlimited plan includes all features of the free plan plus unlimited video exports, 100GB cloud storage, 120 iStock media per month, 1M+ premium media, and access to Filmr Pro.
To get an overview of all plans and their features, head over to the InVideo pricing page.
Bonus: Try InVideo's Online Video Editor
2. Windows 10 Video Editor
If you’re on a Windows 10 system, you don't need to look outside for the best free video editor for Windows because your system already comes equipped with one. It has a set of editing tools native to the OS and its sheer ease of use and clutter-free, minimalistic interface is what make it rank this high in our list.
The features on offer are exactly what a beginner would need in their arsenal — a title card option, animated text styles, a decent-sized audio library, and basic video effects. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the interfaces of more heavy-duty editing platforms and are simply looking to stitch together a few photos or clips, the Windows 10 Video Editor may be the best video editing software for PC you will find.
Best for: Newbies, home video enthusiasts, and small businesses.
Windows Video Editor Features
- Beginner-friendly
- Animated text styles
- Decent-sized audio library
- Basic video effects
- Minimalistic interface
- Ideal beginner-friendly video editor for Windows users
Pros
- Ease of use.
- Intuitive and beginner-friendly interface.
- Lightweight.
- Allows you to export your video in upto 1080p.
- Contains pre-set themes with unified filters, music and text styles.
- Has a variety of 3D elements that can be animated and overlaid onto the video.
Cons
- Only available on Windows systems.
- No free stock library.
- Doesn't allow you to add free cloud storage.
Pricing
Free for use on laptops running on Windows 10 or higher.
3. Kapwing
Kapwing is one of the best free video editor for Windows as well as Mac users as it is completely online and provides all the basic functions of professional video editing software. With Kapwing, you can crop and trim video clips, add transitions, overlay images, and audio, and generate subtitles to create a shareable video. It also supports teams, which means creators can collaborate and edit or make a video together in real-time.
Best for: Educators, vloggers, and businesses.
Kapwing features
- Easy-to-use collaborative workspace
- Drag and drop editor
- Hundreds of templates to choose from
- Supports HD resolution
- Ability to merge and split videos and control video speed
- Screen and audio recorder to record tutorials, gameplay, or voiceovers.
Pros
- Offers almost all the basic editing functions you’d need to make your next Vlog stand out.
- No watermark.
- Screen and audio recorder to record tutorials, gameplay, or voiceovers.
- This online video editor allows unlimited cloud storage.
- Supports audio and video imports from YouTube and other URLs.
- AI-powered features such as auto subtitle generator, remove background tool, and automatic translation.
Cons
- Very few ready-to-use templates.
- Limited stock photos from free stock image banks such as Unsplash, Pexels.
- Video duration capped at 7 minutes for free version.
Pricing
While Kapwing is is one of the best free video editing software for Windows as well as Mac users, you can get additional features on their paid plan that can make your editing even smoother. The paid plans start at $16 per month.
4. Apple iMovie
If you’re a Mac user, your device comes with a version of Apple’s native video editing software, iMovie. Since its release in 1999, iMovie has dramatically improved its efficiency and become a dynamic video editing software for Mac users.
All you have to do is choose your clips, then add titles, music, and effects. iMovie even supports 4K UHD videos for stunning high-quality films.
Best for: Amateur/student filmmakers, freelancers, Youtube creators, small to mid sized businesses.
Pros
- Comes free with all Apple devices.
- Easy to use, and great for beginners.
- Packed with professional features, including impressive transitions and titles, color correction tools, audio - equalizer.
- Supports 4K UHD resolution.
- Drag-and-drop interface makes editing easy.
- Runs well on phone, iPad, (app version) as well as laptop.
Cons
- Not complex enough to manipulate each and every pixel out there, which wouldn’t make it a good option for videos with lots of animated elements.
- Only available on Apple devices.
- No option to do multi-track editing, which means you can’t mix together multiple audio tracks to create layered soundtracks or elaborate musical compositions.
- Templates cannot be customised.
- No free stock library.
- Doesn't allow you to add team members to a project, or to add free cloud storage.
Pricing
Free to use for macOS users
5. OpenShot
A value-packed free video editing software, OpenShot remains one of the best video editing software for PC and is high on features but is still intuitive enough for newbies to get a hang of. OpenShot is also open-source, so it is a super accessible video editing software.
The interface is extremely clean and simplified with lots of icons. It offers a range of options and tools that come in handy as you progress further on your video editing journey. If you’re working on a project that doesn’t require super-detailed edits or a lot of visual effects, this can be a great option.
Best for: Students, vloggers, small and mid-sized businesses working with their own footage.
OpenShot features
- Cross-platform support
- Unlimited tracks/layers
- Easy trimming, slicing, and resizing of videos
- Drag-and-drop interface
- 20+ 3D animations
- Powerful keyframe animation framework
- 40+ vector titles
Pros
- A completely open-source video editor with cross-platform templates that are compatible with Mac, PC, as well as Linux.
- User-friendly interface with easy drag-and-drop design make it great for simple editing.
- Extensive library of animated title templates along with audio and video transitions.
- Unlimited layers for background videos, audio tracks, and watermarks.
- Has key-frame animation capabilities for creating animated videos plus it supports 3-D animations.
- Digital video effects, including brightness, gamma, hue, greyscale, chroma key (blue screen/green screen).
Cons
- Editing vertical videos can get difficult.
- There are issues with the app’s stability. It is notorious for crashing even when the user isn’t doing heavy edits.
- Templates cannot be customised.
- No free stock library available.
- You cannot add team members on a project.
- Pay-as-you-go model for cloud storage.
- While it offers email and phone support, a 1-hour call with the team will set you back by $30 USD.
Pricing
Open Shot is an open-source software and hence is completely free to use, making it one of the best free video editing software for windows.
6. Shotcut
Shotcut is one of the best free video editing software for Windows as well as Mac users. It is open-source, cross-platform video editor which allows for native editing. Think 4K resolution support, an intuitive interface with drag-and-drop assets, and multi-format timelines which allow you to mix and match resolutions and frame rates within a project. It has many video wipe transitions and a spectacular colour wheel that allows for professional-grade colour correction.
Best for: Content creators, social media managers, entrepreneurs as well as solopreneurs, and marketing professionals across varying levels of experience.
Shotcut features
- Wide format support including 4k ProRes
- Webcam and audio capture
- Colour, text, noise, and counter generators
- Comes with audio scopes and mixers as well as tone generators
- Hundreds of filters and transitions
- 360º video filters and effects
- Cross platform support and codec independent
Pros
- Available on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
- Fully open-source program, so you can avail the features without any payment.
- It supports 4K HD resolution, unlike most free softwares and also 1080 video projects.
- It has a great selection of filters and effects.
Cons
- Because it was designed originally for Linux, it has many features that are not intuitive for non-Linux users. So the software takes a while to get used to.
- Minor workflow issues with clip and track management — it can only be done manually by moving all the elements within that track.
- Although it has a large selection of filters, you can’t preview them.
- No ready-to-use templates.
- Limited free stock library, with 280+ sound effects.
- Customer support only through their website.
Pricing
Shotcut is open-source software and hence is completely free to use
7. VSDC Free Video Editor
VSDC Free Video Editor is one of the best free video editing software for windows that even the professionals continue to swear by. The software comes with a full editing suite, including chroma key functionality for green-screen video effects and a mask tool.
Its user interface is a bit more complex, owing to the host of advanced features it offers. This makes it a great option for professional video editors who are looking for more minute control over their video content. But for the free precise tag, you’re really getting your money’s worth; this is chock-full with features you’d normally only find in advanced video editing software.
Best for: Content creators, early-career video editing professionals, video production studios, entrepreneurs, and small to mid-sized businesses.
VSDC Features
- Color blending, voice-over, and non-linear effects
- Pro features: AI art filters, masking, and video stabilization
- Advanced features like chroma keying and subpixel accuracy
- Support for HD and 4K resolutions
- Split-screen videos or create videos with picture-in-picture
- Visual and audio effects to create compelling gameplay videos
- Export videos directly to your social media handles
- Dedicated YouTube uploader
- Capture videos from webcams, video tuners, and IP cameras
- Support for all popular video formats and a built-in DVD burning utility
Pros
- Large library of effects, transitions, and sound effects.
- Advanced features like green screen, optical flow for smooth slow motion footage, and video stabilisation.
- Compatible with the most commonly-used video formats
- Certain features have been incorporated with beginners in mind, like the color-correction presets.
- Allows the user to export in 4K and full HD.
- Can directly export to social media platforms.
Cons
- Interface is a bit more complex and requires a bit of a learning curve if you’re new to video editing.
- Available only for Windows.
- Lacks features like 360-degree, multicam editing and motion-tracking.
- It has been reported that the free version lags sometimes.
- Lacks ready-to-use templates.
- Doesn't have a free stock library.
- Doesn't allow one to add team members to a project, nor does it allow you to add free cloud storage.
- Free technical support is not available.
Pricing
While the VSDC Video Editor offers a robust free plan, they also have a Pro 1-year subscription for $19.99 that gives you a host of additional features.
8. Lightworks
Lightworks is a relatively lesser-known cross-platform video editor that works across Mac, PC, and Linux.
You can colour correct, adjust audio, add titles, and edit, amongst a long list of features with easy-to-use tools. And it’s also got all the advanced features that the professionals seek. If you’re big on aesthetics, the interface is also one of the cleanest of the bunch of free downloadable video editing softwares out there.
Best for: Narrative/feature film editors, early to mid-career video professionals.
Lightworks Features
- Drag-and-drop interface
- Color correction and blend modes, Transitions, chroma keying, and color LUTs
- Access files on your Dropbox, Google Drive/Photos, pCloud, OneDrive accounts right from the interface
- Useful audio controls like hum removal and boost treble
- Video routing
- 4K exports (only on the Pro version)
- Uploads to YouTube and Vimeo directly from within Lightworks (with several frame rate options)
- Saves work automatically and unobtrusively in the background
- Templates and integrations for social media video export formats
- 800+ customizable and motion graphics
Pros
- Clean interface with advanced features.
- Customisable interface that enhances your workflow.
- Allows high-precision video trimming.
- Multicam support.
- Great video tutorials.
- A wide range of video formats supported.
- Ability to export to 720p for social media platforms like YouTube, so this is a good fit for YouTube video creators.
Cons
- Interface is relatively complex.
- It tends to lag with extended use.
- 4k video support is available only in the paid version.
- Involves a relatively steep learning curve to get the hang of.
- Can only export in MPEG format.
- Doesn't allow you to add free cloud storage.
- No free technical support available.
Pricing
Lightworks has a free forever version that lets you create advanced edits but its biggest drawback is that it doesn’t let you export videos in a resolution higher than 720p. For that you can upgrade to Lightworks’ paid plans starting at $9.99 per month.
9. Kdenlive
Kdenlive is another great choice if you’re looking to stick with an open-source video editing software.
It comes with a host of nifty features in addition to the basics, including multiple audio and video live track editing. So you save time and really focus on the important thing: storytelling. The excellent integrated workflows help you jazz up your final output without breaking a sweat, because you can polish up your work without once leaving your timeline.
This software was initially designed for Linux users and later expanded to Windows and Mac. Because of this, there are some issues to be expected if you’re using it on a non-Linux OS.
Best for: Professional filmmakers, video editors and video production agencies.
Kdenlive Features
- Multi-track video editing
- Supports almost all audio and video formats
- Configurable interface and shortcuts
- Ability to create 2D titles for videos
- Huge library of effects and transitions
- Audio and video scopes to monitor levels
- Automatic backup
Pros
- A great option if you’re looking to transition into or purchase a professional paid video editing software due to the similar interface.
- Packed with professional video editing features.
- Works across platforms since it is an open-source software.
- Robust support community and tutorials.
Cons
- Known to be glitchy and slow for Mac users.
- Windows build lacks certain features present in the Linux version.
- Slow render times.
- Doesn't support multi frame-rate video editing.
- Doesn't allow you to add team members to a project.
- Doesn't allow you to add free cloud storage.
- Website support only — no support team.
Pricing
Kdenlive is an open source software and hence completely free to use.
10. Hitfilm Express
This is another great choice if you’re looking for a high-end video editing software. It’s no surprise that it’s used to produce Hollywood-style films.
The USP of Hitfilm Express is that it is superb for working with technical and visual effects. At the same time, it is extremely user-friendly, with the standard drag-and-drop model.
It’s a good option especially if you need to incorporate VFX. If you’re looking to learn video editing too, this is one software that can carry you through as you become more of an advanced user.
HitFilm Express Features
- It has 400+ visual effects and presets available for free.
- Supports 360 degree video and keying green screen.
- Customisable panels enable easy use.
- Provides color grading features.
Pros
- Combines editing, VFX, and 3D tools in one powerful package.
- Includes animation tools that let you create and edit transitions without the need to create composite shots, which saves a lot of time while editing.
- Allows you to import 3D models.
- Powerful presets and visual effects including colour grading, 3D muzzle flashes, motion blur, lights, flares, etc.
Cons
- Lagging is more apparent when it comes to editing higher resolution clips.
- Lacks certain key video editing features like video stabilisation.
- Limited audio editing features.
- Lacks basic audio tools like equalisation.
- Available for Windows and Mac OS X. 64-bit operating systems only.
- No free stock library.
- Doesn't allow you to add team members to a project.
- Doesn't allow you to add free cloud storage.
Pricing
It has a great free version but if you want more advanced features you can upgrade to one of the paid plans starting at $9.
11. DaVinci Resolve 17
DaVinci Resolve is a software that combines many tools one might need to create outstanding high-quality videos; everything from motion graphics and visual effects to colour correction.
This here is an absolutely industry-defining product, one that is the highest level of editing software known to the editor-kind. And now you can also collaborate and work remotely on the software, at no extra charge.
If you’re on the lookout for the most feature-rich one-stop shop editing software, then this could be where your search ends. With DaVinci Resolve 17, you can work with original-quality images and videos throughout the entire process.
Best for: Content creators, filmmakers, and professional video editors.
Davinci Resolve Features
- All-in-one solution for editing, color correction, visual effects, and motion graphics
- Allows creating title animations, object removal, and adding characters into 3D scenes
- Multicam editing, chroma key, picture-in-picture, and stabilization
- Scene cut detection that automatically finds edit points
- Multi-user collaboration
- Audio editor with support for 2000+ audio tracks
- Download royalty-free stock audio from the Blackmagic website
- Control edits with keyframes and fusion nodes
- AI-powered temporal and spatial noise reduction and color matching
Pros
- Contains video editing modules from beginner to professional.
- Works on Mac, Linux, and Windows.
- Allows node-based editing, instead of a layer-based workflow, which helps simplify complex compositing, and also reduces file size.
- It has advanced video-trimming features.
Cons
- The software may be overwhelming initially for editors who are just starting out.
- No ready-to-use templates.
- No free stock library.
- Customer support only through email.
- Requires heavy-duty hardware, processing capacity and disk space which may lead to frequent crashes
Here’s a quick comparison snapshot of all the video editors we’ve looked at:
Conclusion
And there you have it — that’s our round-up of the top 11 best free video editing softwares. These options give you a lot of wiggle room in terms of features and build, whether you’re completely new to editing or have been doing it for years.
And if you’ve got questions or want to continue the conversation, hop over to the InVideo community and learn from 25K other marketers and video creators just like you.
And if you did find value in this article and were able to shortlist a free video editing software for your projects, we strongly recommend you check out the following guides for some much-needed inspiration on new video ideas!
40+ Instagram Reels ideas every business can use
212 YouTube video ideas that work in 2024
51 Instagram story ideas with ready-to-use templates
33 Instagram post ideas with templates
26 Viral TikTok trends that every brand should create in 2024
FAQs
1. Where can I edit my videos online for free?
There are plenty of options to edit videos online for free. Sign up with InVideo for free, and get access to a super intuitive video maker, with 5000+ customisable video templates and 8M+ standard media library.
2. How can I edit videos for free?
Some online video editors, such as InVideo, allow you to create and edit a video for free. Others, like some of the ones we’ve listed above, come free with a platform or need to be downloaded.
Some offer basic functions such as cropping, trimming, and adjusting the aspect ratio, while others, like InVideo, provide you with templates, stock footage, photos and audio to boot. Scroll through our curated list to select one that best suits your needs.
