In this post, I will introduce you to some of the best free video editing software options on the market today. At a minimum, I would at least recommend trying out one of these programs if you’re looking for more advanced options or if your current video editing software just isn’t cutting it.
There is a treasure trove of free editing software out there. But most of them have too many limitations for you to be able to create a great product demonstration, promotional sale video or tutorial. In this post, I am going to show you which free editing software will get the job done.
iMovie:
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 and editing to add effects, insert titles, and add soundtracks. A simple drag and drop will help you add files to the program.
Pros:
- This video editor for YouTube is straightforward to use. And it is the best alternative to the YouTube Video Editor.
- This video editing tool has a friendly interface and allows for the sharing of edited videos online. Those are the standout advantages you will enjoy.
Cons:
- One of the most significant disadvantages of iMovie is the inability to import files in MP4 format.
- It is not readily available because of its price tag that ranges around $14.99.
Supported Platform:Mac
Price: Free for Mac owners
Shotcut:
Platforms: GNU/Linux, Mac, Windows
Shotcut isn’t pretty. It’s open-source software that looks exactly like what you would expect free, open-source software to look like. But, looks aren’t everything, right? This platform performs very well and offers the features you need. If you can make it past the ugly exterior and not-so-intuitive user interface, Shotcut can be used for trimming and exporting. It does have limited transitions available, but if you just need to edit your creations for uploading to YouTube, Shotcut has you covered.
Premiere Pro:
The best software for editing videos for YouTube overall
SPECIFICATIONS
Platform: Windows and MacPayment model: SubscriptionFree trial: 30 days
Best for: Professional results
Windows Movie Maker:
Windows Movie Maker is another best video editing software for YouTube videos, and Microsoft designs it. 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 many transitions, effects, and titles to help customize the video.
Pros:
- The key advantages of using this software program are available 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 and perfect for photos slide shows.
Cons:
- Limited to basic editing tools with no up-to-date filter, effect, or overlays.
- This video editing tool is not suitable for advanced users.
- It is highly prone to crashing down, thus not reliable enough.
Supported Platform: Windows
Price: Free
Blender:
Platforms: Steam, Linux, Mac, Windows
Blender is not only a video editing software but can also be used for animation, rendering, modeling, VFX, or even game creation. The video editing tools are a bit limited; you can trim videos and add transitions or filters. Blender uses a timeline so you can add your video, audio, and image files to your projects and arrange them easily. In addition, Blender offers a live preview, histogram, and chroma vectorscope displays. To up the creative freedom game, Blender offers speed control and layer adjustment as well as audio mixing and waveform visualization.
Final Cut Pro:
The best software for editing videos for YouTube on Mac
SPECIFICATIONS
Platform: MacPayment model: One-off purchaseFree trial: 90 daysBest for: Sophisticated featuresTODAY’S BEST DEALSVISIT SITE
REASONS TO BUY
Professional tool
Used by top YouTubers
REASONS TO AVOID
-Mac only-Overkill for newbies
If you’re looking for subscription-free software for editing videos for YouTube, we’d recommend Final Cut Pro. Well, as long as you have a Mac, because it’s not available on Windows.
First launched in 2011, Final Cut was the only serious player in this field for many years, and has been used to edit countless Hollywood films. Famous YouTubers using it to edit their videos include iJustine, Marques Brownlee, Austin Evans, Dude Perfect and Jonathan Morrison.
It’s available for a one-off fee, so is a good choice for long-term YouTubers who don’t want to pay a never-ending subscription. Final Cut Pro is also a good choice if you do all your work within the Apple ecosystem, because it works super-smoothly with your iTunes and Photos collections. And there’s currently a very generous 90-day free trial, so you can be sure you like it before committing.
In terms of the software itself, Final Cut Pro is brimming with sophisticated features to help you raise the look and feel of your YouTube videos to new levels. These include support for 4K, 360-degree video and HDR, advanced filters, multichannel audio tools, noise reduction and advanced colour grading. Most notably, the proprietary Magnetic Timeline system makes finding scenes and moving them around very simple and intuitive, while its Multicam feature lets you view up to 16 angles simultaneously and sync up to 64.
In short, as long as you use a Mac, both Final Cut Pro and Premiere Pro offer YouTubers sophisticated tools for editing your videos and giving them that high-class sheen that will help them stand out from the pack. For more details to help you decide between them, check out our article Premiere Pro vs Final Cut Pro.
YouTube Video Editor:
This free YouTube video editor allows for easy customizing of video files through specialized tools and effects. It would be best if you choose the right 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 and allows adding music to video.
Cons:
- Its availability for free means this program comes with limitations on some features.
- You will enjoy only the basic features.
Supported Platform: Windows, Mac
Price: Free
Lightworks:
Platforms: Linux, Mac, Windows
Despite its dated website, Lightworks offers up a user-friendly interface and a great collection of features. It provides a selection of transitions, visual effects, and trim options that help YouTubers create stunning videos. Lightworks supports all popular video file formats and is optimized to help you save time on exporting files so you can get them up on your YouTube channel faster. There’s even a Multicam editing feature that makes it easy to edit footage that was captured by two or more cameras.
Premiere Elements
The best software for editing videos for YouTube for beginners
SPECIFICATIONS
Platform: Windows and MacPayment model: One-off purchaseFree trial: 30 daysBest for: Learning to edit videosTODAY’S BEST DEALSUS$99.99VIEW AT ADOBE£86.56View at Adobe
REASONS TO BUY
Good for beginners
Cheap
Simple interface
REASONS TO AVOID
-Not the most powerful
If you’re just starting out on your career as a YouTuber, you’ll want something a little simpler than the first two tools on our list. In which case, we’d recommend Adobe’s Premiere Elements. It’s essentially a stripped-down version of Premiere Pro, so you get all the standard tools you need for video editing, in a simpler interface, and at a one-off price rather than a subscription.
If video editing is totally new to you, then you’ll appreciate the easy-to-follow interface, clear navigation, video creation wizard, step-by-step tutorials and choice of three editing modes. On the other hand, Premiere Elements is not just a bog-standard basic tool. For those with a little more experience, it also comes with some a number of clever and useful features, such as face detection, audio effects and soundtracks, noise reduction, automatic feature detection and guided edits.
Conclusion:
Whether you’re an amateur or a professional, video editing is the tool of the trade for all kinds of video producers and publishers. And we’ve come a long way from innovating on paper! Video editing software has come a long way in the last few years, to the point where there are tons of them to choose from.