Brightening a Video Doesn’t Need to Be Complicated. This Article Will Discuss How to Brighten up Your Videos Easily Using Premiere Pro

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Brighter videos always attract more attention. Indeed, a well-lit video can make your content shine and bring out the best in your story. But what if you forgot to turn on the lights or the camera just couldn’t handle the situation? We’ve all been there: you’re shooting a video, but there aren’t enough light sources. You end up with dark footage. It’s impossible to share this on your social media accounts or with your friends and family.

There are many reasons why people want to brighten a dark video. Maybe you recorded a video with your phone, but the lighting was too dim in the room. Or maybe you were outside, and the sun was behind you, casting shadows on your face while recording. In these cases, it can be helpful to know how to make a dark video brighter.

There is a way to apply simple corrections using Premiere Pro, no matter the reason. In this article, I’ll show you how to brighten your video in Premiere Pro so you can keep all the details in the highlights. This can be very useful if you’re working with a lot of footage that has been underexposed, and sometimes your shot might look too dark or even black.

In this article

01 Can I Brighten A Dark Video?

02 How to Brighten Video in Adobe Premiere Pro?

03 How To Lighten Up A Dark Video In Adobe Premiere Pro?

04 Enhancing Your Video In Premiere Pro

Can I Brighten A Dark Video?

This is a common question that comes up among video editors, so I thought I’d answer it here. The quick answer is yes. There are many online tools that can help you brighten a dark video or adjust the brightness of your video. A lot of times, you’ll get a video file that was shot in low light, and it will make your subject look dark and underexposed. Video brightness is an important feature that is easy to adjust. However, if your video is too dark to start off with, it may be difficult to brighten it in a way that doesn’t look unnatural.

There are several ways you can brighten a dark video. For example, you can use color correction or add more light to the scene before you film. If you already have a dark video, then you’ll need to adjust the contrast and brightness of your video during post-production. You can easily do this by using video editing software but keep in mind that too much brightness or too much contrast can result in poor video quality. So, you have to keep everything in balance.

How to Brighten Video in Adobe Premiere Pro?

Adobe Premiere Pro is your one-stop solution for editing videos, whether you’re editing a film or a TV ad. It gives you the flexibility to edit videos of any format. Adobe Premium makes brightening videos easy. Follow the steps below.

Step 1

Launch Adobe Premiere Pro, open a project, and then import the video file you want to brighten. Make sure that the video file has been imported into the media library before you start editing it.

Step 2

Next, click on the brightness and contrast option in the Effects panel, located at the bottom left of the software to adjust the brightness and contrast of your video.

Step 3

Bring the brightness and contrast option to the center area below the uploaded video. You can do this by simply dragging it and dropping it beneath the video.

Step 4

You can now easily increase the brightness by changing the brightness number in the effects control panel located to the right of the uploaded video.

Step 5

Adjust the brightness according to your needs and save the video with your preferred settings so you can watch it later or share it with your friends across different platforms.

How To Lighten Up A Dark Video In Adobe Premiere Pro?

The first method that we used was quite simple. All you needed to do was to increase the brightness of the video, and you were good to go. But this method is a bit different. Although it is a little more complicated than the first method, it can do wonders for you. Suppose you have a video shot in very dim light, and it has a lot of dark sections. There is a chance that Increasing the brightness won’t do much. So, you can use this method to brighten your video and improve its visibility. Just follow the steps mentioned below:

Step 1

If you haven’t already opened your video in Adobe Premiere Pro, launch the program and import your footage. Then drag it onto the timeline so that it appears at the top.

Step 2

Effects tab can be found in the left-most panel of adobe premiere pro. Click the Effects tab and search for Lightning effects in the search bar and click on it.

Step 3

Use the drag-and-drop method to add the lighting effects to the clip. Once you have done that, you will feel like your video is having a distorted flash-like effect. But don’t worry as we are not going for that.

Step 4

Now go to the effects control tab present at the top of the screen, and from there, you have to click on the lighting effects.

Step 5

Once you click on the lighting effects, you will see many options on your screen. Click on the “Light 1” button to open its dropdown menu. There you will see the spotlight selected by default.

Step 6

Click on the dropdown icon adjacent to the spotlight to open up the menu. You need to select “Directional” instead of Spotlight, and you will notice that the dark sections have been brightened significantly.

Step 7

The brightness intensity can even be increased by changing the value for the intensity option within the effect control panel.

Enhancing Your Video In Premiere Pro

Once you have done all the steps above, you can also use the video enhancing feature of adobe premiere pro to improve the quality of your videos. When you brighten a video, there is a chance that you might lose quality a little bit. So, to overcome that deficiency, this method might be helpful. Enhancing your videos with Premiere Pro is easy once you know the proper steps to do so. Just follow the steps described below:

Step 1

In the effects panel, search for “unsharp Mask” and drag it to the video clip.

Step 2

In the effect control panel under the Unsharp mask, set the amounts, radius, and threshold to enhance the video.

Keep in mind that you can increase the values of these parameters too high, but you will end up with a distorted video. Try increasing the values by small increments and see what happens. Avoid increasing the “amount” and radius value beyond 100% and ten, respectively.

Conclusion

● Brightening in Premiere Pro is a simple process that can benefit some video projects. Whether you want to brighten the video by increasing exposure, increasing luminance, or adding a vignette effect altogether, there are several ways to do so in Premiere Pro.

● However, you should know that neither option is necessarily better than the other. Video editing in general does take a bit of practice to master, but in this article, we have provided you with the basics and helped you on your way. All methods can be helpful in different situations, and even with similar circumstances, you might find advantages to all practices. Try out these methods for yourself and see which one best suits your needs.

Try It Free Try It Free

Brighter videos always attract more attention. Indeed, a well-lit video can make your content shine and bring out the best in your story. But what if you forgot to turn on the lights or the camera just couldn’t handle the situation? We’ve all been there: you’re shooting a video, but there aren’t enough light sources. You end up with dark footage. It’s impossible to share this on your social media accounts or with your friends and family.

There are many reasons why people want to brighten a dark video. Maybe you recorded a video with your phone, but the lighting was too dim in the room. Or maybe you were outside, and the sun was behind you, casting shadows on your face while recording. In these cases, it can be helpful to know how to make a dark video brighter.

There is a way to apply simple corrections using Premiere Pro, no matter the reason. In this article, I’ll show you how to brighten your video in Premiere Pro so you can keep all the details in the highlights. This can be very useful if you’re working with a lot of footage that has been underexposed, and sometimes your shot might look too dark or even black.

In this article

01 Can I Brighten A Dark Video?

02 How to Brighten Video in Adobe Premiere Pro?

03 How To Lighten Up A Dark Video In Adobe Premiere Pro?

04 Enhancing Your Video In Premiere Pro

Can I Brighten A Dark Video?

This is a common question that comes up among video editors, so I thought I’d answer it here. The quick answer is yes. There are many online tools that can help you brighten a dark video or adjust the brightness of your video. A lot of times, you’ll get a video file that was shot in low light, and it will make your subject look dark and underexposed. Video brightness is an important feature that is easy to adjust. However, if your video is too dark to start off with, it may be difficult to brighten it in a way that doesn’t look unnatural.

There are several ways you can brighten a dark video. For example, you can use color correction or add more light to the scene before you film. If you already have a dark video, then you’ll need to adjust the contrast and brightness of your video during post-production. You can easily do this by using video editing software but keep in mind that too much brightness or too much contrast can result in poor video quality. So, you have to keep everything in balance.

How to Brighten Video in Adobe Premiere Pro?

Adobe Premiere Pro is your one-stop solution for editing videos, whether you’re editing a film or a TV ad. It gives you the flexibility to edit videos of any format. Adobe Premium makes brightening videos easy. Follow the steps below.

Step 1

Launch Adobe Premiere Pro, open a project, and then import the video file you want to brighten. Make sure that the video file has been imported into the media library before you start editing it.

Step 2

Next, click on the brightness and contrast option in the Effects panel, located at the bottom left of the software to adjust the brightness and contrast of your video.

Step 3

Bring the brightness and contrast option to the center area below the uploaded video. You can do this by simply dragging it and dropping it beneath the video.

Step 4

You can now easily increase the brightness by changing the brightness number in the effects control panel located to the right of the uploaded video.

Step 5

Adjust the brightness according to your needs and save the video with your preferred settings so you can watch it later or share it with your friends across different platforms.

How To Lighten Up A Dark Video In Adobe Premiere Pro?

The first method that we used was quite simple. All you needed to do was to increase the brightness of the video, and you were good to go. But this method is a bit different. Although it is a little more complicated than the first method, it can do wonders for you. Suppose you have a video shot in very dim light, and it has a lot of dark sections. There is a chance that Increasing the brightness won’t do much. So, you can use this method to brighten your video and improve its visibility. Just follow the steps mentioned below:

Step 1

If you haven’t already opened your video in Adobe Premiere Pro, launch the program and import your footage. Then drag it onto the timeline so that it appears at the top.

Step 2

Effects tab can be found in the left-most panel of adobe premiere pro. Click the Effects tab and search for Lightning effects in the search bar and click on it.

Step 3

Use the drag-and-drop method to add the lighting effects to the clip. Once you have done that, you will feel like your video is having a distorted flash-like effect. But don’t worry as we are not going for that.

Step 4

Now go to the effects control tab present at the top of the screen, and from there, you have to click on the lighting effects.

Step 5

Once you click on the lighting effects, you will see many options on your screen. Click on the “Light 1” button to open its dropdown menu. There you will see the spotlight selected by default.

Step 6

Click on the dropdown icon adjacent to the spotlight to open up the menu. You need to select “Directional” instead of Spotlight, and you will notice that the dark sections have been brightened significantly.

Step 7

The brightness intensity can even be increased by changing the value for the intensity option within the effect control panel.

Enhancing Your Video In Premiere Pro

Once you have done all the steps above, you can also use the video enhancing feature of adobe premiere pro to improve the quality of your videos. When you brighten a video, there is a chance that you might lose quality a little bit. So, to overcome that deficiency, this method might be helpful. Enhancing your videos with Premiere Pro is easy once you know the proper steps to do so. Just follow the steps described below:

Step 1

In the effects panel, search for “unsharp Mask” and drag it to the video clip.

Step 2

In the effect control panel under the Unsharp mask, set the amounts, radius, and threshold to enhance the video.

Keep in mind that you can increase the values of these parameters too high, but you will end up with a distorted video. Try increasing the values by small increments and see what happens. Avoid increasing the “amount” and radius value beyond 100% and ten, respectively.

Conclusion

● Brightening in Premiere Pro is a simple process that can benefit some video projects. Whether you want to brighten the video by increasing exposure, increasing luminance, or adding a vignette effect altogether, there are several ways to do so in Premiere Pro.

● However, you should know that neither option is necessarily better than the other. Video editing in general does take a bit of practice to master, but in this article, we have provided you with the basics and helped you on your way. All methods can be helpful in different situations, and even with similar circumstances, you might find advantages to all practices. Try out these methods for yourself and see which one best suits your needs.

Try It Free Try It Free

Brighter videos always attract more attention. Indeed, a well-lit video can make your content shine and bring out the best in your story. But what if you forgot to turn on the lights or the camera just couldn’t handle the situation? We’ve all been there: you’re shooting a video, but there aren’t enough light sources. You end up with dark footage. It’s impossible to share this on your social media accounts or with your friends and family.

There are many reasons why people want to brighten a dark video. Maybe you recorded a video with your phone, but the lighting was too dim in the room. Or maybe you were outside, and the sun was behind you, casting shadows on your face while recording. In these cases, it can be helpful to know how to make a dark video brighter.

There is a way to apply simple corrections using Premiere Pro, no matter the reason. In this article, I’ll show you how to brighten your video in Premiere Pro so you can keep all the details in the highlights. This can be very useful if you’re working with a lot of footage that has been underexposed, and sometimes your shot might look too dark or even black.

In this article

01 Can I Brighten A Dark Video?

02 How to Brighten Video in Adobe Premiere Pro?

03 How To Lighten Up A Dark Video In Adobe Premiere Pro?

04 Enhancing Your Video In Premiere Pro

Can I Brighten A Dark Video?

This is a common question that comes up among video editors, so I thought I’d answer it here. The quick answer is yes. There are many online tools that can help you brighten a dark video or adjust the brightness of your video. A lot of times, you’ll get a video file that was shot in low light, and it will make your subject look dark and underexposed. Video brightness is an important feature that is easy to adjust. However, if your video is too dark to start off with, it may be difficult to brighten it in a way that doesn’t look unnatural.

There are several ways you can brighten a dark video. For example, you can use color correction or add more light to the scene before you film. If you already have a dark video, then you’ll need to adjust the contrast and brightness of your video during post-production. You can easily do this by using video editing software but keep in mind that too much brightness or too much contrast can result in poor video quality. So, you have to keep everything in balance.

How to Brighten Video in Adobe Premiere Pro?

Adobe Premiere Pro is your one-stop solution for editing videos, whether you’re editing a film or a TV ad. It gives you the flexibility to edit videos of any format. Adobe Premium makes brightening videos easy. Follow the steps below.

Step 1

Launch Adobe Premiere Pro, open a project, and then import the video file you want to brighten. Make sure that the video file has been imported into the media library before you start editing it.

Step 2

Next, click on the brightness and contrast option in the Effects panel, located at the bottom left of the software to adjust the brightness and contrast of your video.

Step 3

Bring the brightness and contrast option to the center area below the uploaded video. You can do this by simply dragging it and dropping it beneath the video.

Step 4

You can now easily increase the brightness by changing the brightness number in the effects control panel located to the right of the uploaded video.

Step 5

Adjust the brightness according to your needs and save the video with your preferred settings so you can watch it later or share it with your friends across different platforms.

How To Lighten Up A Dark Video In Adobe Premiere Pro?

The first method that we used was quite simple. All you needed to do was to increase the brightness of the video, and you were good to go. But this method is a bit different. Although it is a little more complicated than the first method, it can do wonders for you. Suppose you have a video shot in very dim light, and it has a lot of dark sections. There is a chance that Increasing the brightness won’t do much. So, you can use this method to brighten your video and improve its visibility. Just follow the steps mentioned below:

Step 1

If you haven’t already opened your video in Adobe Premiere Pro, launch the program and import your footage. Then drag it onto the timeline so that it appears at the top.

Step 2

Effects tab can be found in the left-most panel of adobe premiere pro. Click the Effects tab and search for Lightning effects in the search bar and click on it.

Step 3

Use the drag-and-drop method to add the lighting effects to the clip. Once you have done that, you will feel like your video is having a distorted flash-like effect. But don’t worry as we are not going for that.

Step 4

Now go to the effects control tab present at the top of the screen, and from there, you have to click on the lighting effects.

Step 5

Once you click on the lighting effects, you will see many options on your screen. Click on the “Light 1” button to open its dropdown menu. There you will see the spotlight selected by default.

Step 6

Click on the dropdown icon adjacent to the spotlight to open up the menu. You need to select “Directional” instead of Spotlight, and you will notice that the dark sections have been brightened significantly.

Step 7

The brightness intensity can even be increased by changing the value for the intensity option within the effect control panel.

Enhancing Your Video In Premiere Pro

Once you have done all the steps above, you can also use the video enhancing feature of adobe premiere pro to improve the quality of your videos. When you brighten a video, there is a chance that you might lose quality a little bit. So, to overcome that deficiency, this method might be helpful. Enhancing your videos with Premiere Pro is easy once you know the proper steps to do so. Just follow the steps described below:

Step 1

In the effects panel, search for “unsharp Mask” and drag it to the video clip.

Step 2

In the effect control panel under the Unsharp mask, set the amounts, radius, and threshold to enhance the video.

Keep in mind that you can increase the values of these parameters too high, but you will end up with a distorted video. Try increasing the values by small increments and see what happens. Avoid increasing the “amount” and radius value beyond 100% and ten, respectively.

Conclusion

● Brightening in Premiere Pro is a simple process that can benefit some video projects. Whether you want to brighten the video by increasing exposure, increasing luminance, or adding a vignette effect altogether, there are several ways to do so in Premiere Pro.

● However, you should know that neither option is necessarily better than the other. Video editing in general does take a bit of practice to master, but in this article, we have provided you with the basics and helped you on your way. All methods can be helpful in different situations, and even with similar circumstances, you might find advantages to all practices. Try out these methods for yourself and see which one best suits your needs.

Try It Free Try It Free

Brighter videos always attract more attention. Indeed, a well-lit video can make your content shine and bring out the best in your story. But what if you forgot to turn on the lights or the camera just couldn’t handle the situation? We’ve all been there: you’re shooting a video, but there aren’t enough light sources. You end up with dark footage. It’s impossible to share this on your social media accounts or with your friends and family.

There are many reasons why people want to brighten a dark video. Maybe you recorded a video with your phone, but the lighting was too dim in the room. Or maybe you were outside, and the sun was behind you, casting shadows on your face while recording. In these cases, it can be helpful to know how to make a dark video brighter.

There is a way to apply simple corrections using Premiere Pro, no matter the reason. In this article, I’ll show you how to brighten your video in Premiere Pro so you can keep all the details in the highlights. This can be very useful if you’re working with a lot of footage that has been underexposed, and sometimes your shot might look too dark or even black.

In this article

01 Can I Brighten A Dark Video?

02 How to Brighten Video in Adobe Premiere Pro?

03 How To Lighten Up A Dark Video In Adobe Premiere Pro?

04 Enhancing Your Video In Premiere Pro

Can I Brighten A Dark Video?

This is a common question that comes up among video editors, so I thought I’d answer it here. The quick answer is yes. There are many online tools that can help you brighten a dark video or adjust the brightness of your video. A lot of times, you’ll get a video file that was shot in low light, and it will make your subject look dark and underexposed. Video brightness is an important feature that is easy to adjust. However, if your video is too dark to start off with, it may be difficult to brighten it in a way that doesn’t look unnatural.

There are several ways you can brighten a dark video. For example, you can use color correction or add more light to the scene before you film. If you already have a dark video, then you’ll need to adjust the contrast and brightness of your video during post-production. You can easily do this by using video editing software but keep in mind that too much brightness or too much contrast can result in poor video quality. So, you have to keep everything in balance.

How to Brighten Video in Adobe Premiere Pro?

Adobe Premiere Pro is your one-stop solution for editing videos, whether you’re editing a film or a TV ad. It gives you the flexibility to edit videos of any format. Adobe Premium makes brightening videos easy. Follow the steps below.

Step 1

Launch Adobe Premiere Pro, open a project, and then import the video file you want to brighten. Make sure that the video file has been imported into the media library before you start editing it.

Step 2

Next, click on the brightness and contrast option in the Effects panel, located at the bottom left of the software to adjust the brightness and contrast of your video.

Step 3

Bring the brightness and contrast option to the center area below the uploaded video. You can do this by simply dragging it and dropping it beneath the video.

Step 4

You can now easily increase the brightness by changing the brightness number in the effects control panel located to the right of the uploaded video.

Step 5

Adjust the brightness according to your needs and save the video with your preferred settings so you can watch it later or share it with your friends across different platforms.

How To Lighten Up A Dark Video In Adobe Premiere Pro?

The first method that we used was quite simple. All you needed to do was to increase the brightness of the video, and you were good to go. But this method is a bit different. Although it is a little more complicated than the first method, it can do wonders for you. Suppose you have a video shot in very dim light, and it has a lot of dark sections. There is a chance that Increasing the brightness won’t do much. So, you can use this method to brighten your video and improve its visibility. Just follow the steps mentioned below:

Step 1

If you haven’t already opened your video in Adobe Premiere Pro, launch the program and import your footage. Then drag it onto the timeline so that it appears at the top.

Step 2

Effects tab can be found in the left-most panel of adobe premiere pro. Click the Effects tab and search for Lightning effects in the search bar and click on it.

Step 3

Use the drag-and-drop method to add the lighting effects to the clip. Once you have done that, you will feel like your video is having a distorted flash-like effect. But don’t worry as we are not going for that.

Step 4

Now go to the effects control tab present at the top of the screen, and from there, you have to click on the lighting effects.

Step 5

Once you click on the lighting effects, you will see many options on your screen. Click on the “Light 1” button to open its dropdown menu. There you will see the spotlight selected by default.

Step 6

Click on the dropdown icon adjacent to the spotlight to open up the menu. You need to select “Directional” instead of Spotlight, and you will notice that the dark sections have been brightened significantly.

Step 7

The brightness intensity can even be increased by changing the value for the intensity option within the effect control panel.

Enhancing Your Video In Premiere Pro

Once you have done all the steps above, you can also use the video enhancing feature of adobe premiere pro to improve the quality of your videos. When you brighten a video, there is a chance that you might lose quality a little bit. So, to overcome that deficiency, this method might be helpful. Enhancing your videos with Premiere Pro is easy once you know the proper steps to do so. Just follow the steps described below:

Step 1

In the effects panel, search for “unsharp Mask” and drag it to the video clip.

Step 2

In the effect control panel under the Unsharp mask, set the amounts, radius, and threshold to enhance the video.

Keep in mind that you can increase the values of these parameters too high, but you will end up with a distorted video. Try increasing the values by small increments and see what happens. Avoid increasing the “amount” and radius value beyond 100% and ten, respectively.

Conclusion

● Brightening in Premiere Pro is a simple process that can benefit some video projects. Whether you want to brighten the video by increasing exposure, increasing luminance, or adding a vignette effect altogether, there are several ways to do so in Premiere Pro.

● However, you should know that neither option is necessarily better than the other. Video editing in general does take a bit of practice to master, but in this article, we have provided you with the basics and helped you on your way. All methods can be helpful in different situations, and even with similar circumstances, you might find advantages to all practices. Try out these methods for yourself and see which one best suits your needs.

18 Video Editors We’ve Tested [Here’s What We Learned]

More and more people love to share their knowledge, experience and daily life via videos. Platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, Vimeo are continuing to attract more and more people. But most people don’t know much about video editing. Which video editor they can use? How to apply the effects to improve the video visually? This post will give you all the tips and answers on editing a video.

Contents

01 [Video Editing Basics ](#Part 1)

02 [Editor’s Top 3 Picks ](#Part 2)

03 [Open-Source Video Editors](#Part 3)

04 [Freemium and Freeware Video Editors](#Part 4)

05 [Proprietary Video Editing Software](#Part 5)

06 [How to Choose the Suitable Video Editor](#Part 6)

07 [Video Editing Tips for Newbies](#Part 7)

08 [Frequently Asked Questions of Video Editor](#Part 8)

Part 1: Video Editing Basics

Before going to the best video editors, you should be aware of the basics of video editing. Here are the basic concepts of video editing that you must know as they are common across all video editors.

1. The Timeline: The timeline is an area of a video editor where you place your video clips sequentially. When you play the video after editing, the video will play from the start of the timeline and finish at the end of the timeline where your video content ends. The timeline is where you can place your audio clips, video effects, and graphical elements as per your requirements.

2. The Canvas: The canvas is an area of a video editor where you view your video clips frame by frame. The canvas allows you to edit the video starting from cropping to adding graphical elements. You can view all the changes you make to the video before applying them permanently.

3. Basic editing: The basic editing of a video includes splitting and trimming out important parts of a large video file and, thereafter, joining the different video clips to make an engaging video. The basic editing also includes adding audio clips, adjusting video parameters such as color, brightness, contrast as well as adding texts to the video.

4. Aspect Ratio: The aspect ratio of a video represents the ratio of width to height of the video in terms of pixels. For example, a video with aspect ratio of 16:9 means the video is 1920p x 1080p. You can edit the aspect ratio depending on where you want to publish the video. For example, social media videos use 1:1 and 9: 16 aspect ratio, tablets use 4:3 aspect ratio, and 16:9 is the standard aspect ratio.

5. B-roll: B-roll is a secondary video footage that you can add to your primary video(A-roll) to enhance the video creativity and aesthetic value. B-roll could be a cinematic shot, a slow-motion footage, a close-up shot from different angles, as well as a shot mixed with wide-angle, pans, and tilts.

6. Frame Rate: Frame rate refers to the number of images or frames displayed per second in a video. In short, frame rate refers to frames per second in a video. For example, a video of 30fps means the video is showing 30 different images per second. The 24fps is used for movies and the 30fps is used for online and TV videos. Even 60fps videos are becoming common as they produce a smoother video experience.

Part 2: Editor’s Top 3 Picks - Choose The Best Video Editor

Best Video Editor for All Creators - Filmora

Wondershare Filmora is the ideal video editor with an intuitive user interface. You get all the standard and advanced video editing features packed into its platform. You can record videos of external webcam and computer screen as well. There are unlimited video effects and graphical elements to turn your raw videos into eye-catching videos instantly.

Best for Professional Editing - Premiere Pro

Adobe Premium Pro is the best professional video editor where all the advanced features of video editing are available. The software supports editing multiple projects simultaneously. You can edit VR, Multicam, and 3D videos as well. It is a perfect platform for a professional video editing team to work in sync.

Best for Online Video Editing - WeVideo

WeVideo is by far the best online video editor with 30 million users. Starting from standard video editing options and uploading directly to social media platforms, WeVideo is a full-fledged video editor. You can also record videos and create your own video templates. Moreover, you can collaborate with other video creators and make the best use of the unlimited stock media library.

Part 3: Open-Source Video Editors

Open-source video editors have compatibility with all the desktop operating systems. Moreover, due to their codes readily available online, these video editing software applications are available completely free of cost. Here are the best open-source video editors for beginners and experienced users.

# For Beginner Users

1. Blender

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: best open-source video editor with balanced features

G2 rating: 4.5 out of 5

Blender is an open-source video editing suite that is popular for its 3D models. Since it is a suite, you can use the platform not only for video editing but also for creating animated videos and games.

Starting from basic video editing such as trim and split to advance video editing such as masking and color adjustment, all options are readily available. Besides, there are options for audio mixing and live preview of editing works.

Reason to Choose:-

• Video cropping, trimming, splitting, joining, and adjusting speed.
• Different slots to add videos, images, scenes, audio clips, effects and masks.
• Different transitions, filters, effects, waveforms, and keyframes available.
• Create 3D models and animated videos with proper audio mixing.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Takes time to get used to the platform.
• Reports of bugs have become a regular occurrence.

2. Avidemux

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: best open-source video editor for basic editing

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5

Avidemux from Soundforge is a lightweight and basic video editor. Starting from trimming and cutting videos to applying filters and encoding videos, all the options are readily available. The software supports a wide range of video file formats for editing.

The platform also supports scripting through which you can automate tasks to perform on videos. Besides, there are options for color adjustments, video conversion, and advanced interlacing. The simple user interface is perfect for beginners to edit videos intuitively.

Reason to Choose:-

• Quick video editing for trimming, cutting, rotating, and cropping.
• Change speed and use different filters for color adjustments and subtitles.
• Supports different video file formats in import and export.
• The user interface is simple and suitable for beginners.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Does not have a traditional timeline for video editing.
• Limited effects, filters, and advanced features.

3. Kdenlive

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: best open-source video editor for all

G2 rating: 4.3 out of 5

Kdenlive video editor is a versatile video editor with standard and advanced video editing features balanced properly. The open-source software allows multi-track timeline and supports dual monitor setup for video editing. The user interface is simple, and you can configure it as per your preference.

Kdenlive supports a wide range of video and audio files, and you can use configurable keyboard shortcuts for easy operation. The automatic backup feature is highly useful in the professional video editing world. Similarly, the presence of keyframe-based effects and advanced effects can make a video stand out.

Reason to Choose:-

• Multi-track timeline for working with multiple video and audio clips.
• Keyframeable effects, transitions, color correction and unlimited online resources.
• Vast set of options for creating stunning texts and titles.
• Smooth preview, configurable interface, and automatic backup.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Lacks GPU acceleration and hence, slow response at times.
• Speed adjustment effect is not efficient.

# For Advanced Users

4. OpenShot

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux, Chrome OS

Best for: Best open source editor for all desktop users

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5

OpenShot is a cross-platform, open-source video editor where you can work on one project on different operating systems. It works on keyframe animation framework, and you can choose from different interpolations. The platform offers you to work with unlimited video and audio clips as well as layers.

You can perform all the basic video editing operations as well as go for advanced editing. The features and tools are well-balanced for regular as well as professional video editing. Starting from video effects and audio mixing to chroma key and time-mapping, everything is available under one roof.

Reason to Choose:-

• Basic video editing with panning, zooming, and scrolling features.
• Wide range of transitions, effects, time and speed control.
• Time-mapping, audio mixing, overlays, and composting.
• Supports 3D animations and objects, templates for titles and sub-titles.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Hardware acceleration is not very powerful.
• Not suitable for 4K video editing as it gets extremely slow.

5. Shotcut

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: Best for video editors who love filters and effects

G2 rating: 4.2 out of 5

Shotcut is another open-source and cross-platform video editor with a professional user interface. The software supports importing different file formats of video and audio files. It is suitable for editing 4K videos, and it is a full-fledged audio editor as well.

Its vast video filters and effects are comparable to premium video editors. You can work with multi-track timeline and keyframes with markers and rangers. Besides, you can keep notes on your project easily. Overall, it is a balanced video editor in terms of features and functionalities.

Reason to Choose:-

• Wide categories of video effects, transitions, and filters.
• Multi-track and multi-format timeline and detailed audio editor.
• Standard and advanced editing options with hardware acceleration.
• Export video in high-resolution and in different formats.

Reason to Avoid:-

• The user interface can take some time to get used to.
• The stock media library is rather limited.

6. NATRON

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: Best open-source video editor with visual effects

G2 rating: 3.5 out of 5

NATRON is a robust video editor with powerful tracking tool for 2D and planar tracking. You can work with multiple layers and clips and avail various keying options on your video editing project. In fact, it is a full-fledged video compositing software for better video production with multi-layer structure.

The hardware acceleration of the software produces faster rendering. You get to work with presets, tracker nodes, rotoscoping, multi-plane and motion editing. The option of multi-view workflow along with real-time playback is extremely useful while editing multicam videos.

Reason to Choose:-

• Superior visual effects and motion editing.
• Multi-tasking with multi-view workflow.
• Option of rotoscoping and python scripting.
• Supports different open-source plugins.

Reason to Avoid:-

• The user interface is quite advanced and needs some learning time.
• It gets unstable and slow while previewing high-resolution videos.

Part 4: Freemium and Freeware Video Editors

Freeware video editors are available completely free of cost and they are mostly exclusive to a certain operating system. On the other hand, freemium video editors have certain features completely free while it charges users a small fee for certain advanced features. Here is the list of the best freemium and freeware video editors.

# For Beginner Users

7. ActivePresenter

Compatibility: Windows and Mac

Best for: best video editing software for learning videos.

G2 rating: 4.5 out of 5

ActivePresenter from AtomiSystems is a video editor with screen recording options. The software is particularly useful in making and editing learning videos. There are different templates available for editing videos quickly. Besides, you can use the platform for standard editing options for any video.

Starting from working with multiple timelines to making videos interactive and responsive, there are various out-of-box features. Moreover, you can edit your audio and export your edited video in different file formats.

Reason to Choose:-

• Multiple timelines for editing various video and audio clips.
• Basic video and audio editing options and greenscreen effects.
• Webcam and screen recording with audio from different sources.
• Export videos with different file formats, HTML, xAPI, SCORM and much more.

Reason to Avoid:-

• The learning curve is slightly steep.
• Not suitable for editing all types of videos.

8. Microsoft Photos

Compatibility: Windows

Best for: best built-in video editor for Windows users

G2 rating: 4.6 out of 5

Microsoft Photos is the inbuilt video editor for Windows users. The app comes pre-installed in Windows and it is mostly used for viewing photos. But there is an inbuilt video editor where you can do the basic video editing works.

You can trim a video, add texts, and apply 3D effects as well as different filters available. There are also options for rotating videos, applying background music and customizing audio. The user interface is very simple for all users.

Reason to Choose:-

• Instant basic video editing options available.
• Apply effects, filters, as well as music.
• Simple and intuitive user interface for everyone.
• Comes pre-installed and completely free of cost.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Very limited video editing options.
• Very limited video file formats supported.

9. iMovie

Compatibility: Mac

Best for: Best built-in video editor for Mac users

G2 rating: 4.3 out of 5

iMovie is the inbuilt video editor for Mac users as it comes pre-installed on macOS. The application is free to use and it is compatible with iPhone and iPad as well. You can perform all the basic video editing works starting from trimming to rotating videos.

Besides, there is a wide range of effects and filters available to apply on your videos. The best part is that it supports editing 4K videos. There are also various graphical elements available and you can share your video easily on different platforms.

Reason to Choose:-

• Trim, rotate, split and crop videos easily.
• Work across Mac, iPhone and iPad seamlessly.
• Wide range of effects, filters, and objects available.
• Supports editing 4K videos without any lag.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Lacks advanced editing options though it is a dedicated video editor.
• Supports very limited video file formats.

# For Advanced Users

10. Lightworks

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: best for social media video creators

G2 rating: 3.5 out of 5

Lightworks is a freemium video editor where most features are reserved for premium users. If you are a social media creator or learning video creator, Lightworks Create is best for you. If you are a professional video creator, you should opt for Lightworks Pro.

The software supports almost all file formats, and you can export videos on social media instantly. The timeline is advanced with proxy editing, autosave and background processing features. You can share projects with your teammates and work collaboratively.

Reason to Choose:-

• Powerful and advanced timeline for quick editing.
• Motion graphics and tilting along with advanced metadata.
• Flexible user interface with proxy workflow and storyboard bin.
• Suitable for collaborating works and cloud storage.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Can crash while working with 4K videos.
• Limited options for advanced video editing.

11. VideoPad

Compatibility: Windows

Best for: best video editor for short video creators.

G2 rating: 4.1 out of 5

VideoPad by NCH Software is an intuitive video editor that supports over 60 different video file formats. There are tools available for basic editing such as trimming and cropping. Besides, there are various effects and transitions available to apply on your video.

The video editor also lets you edit audio files and you can edit 360-degree videos as well. There are video stabilization and chroma key effect available. The video editor is available free for non-commercial use with certain limitations that you can overcome with its premium plan.

Reason to Choose:-

• Edit in Storybook or Timeline mode and perfect all basic editing works.
• Audio editing options with different audio effects.
• Add 3D video effects, special filters, and change video speed.
• Supports a wide range of video file formats.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Can crash while editing 4K videos.
• Lacks advanced editing options.

12. VSDC Free Video Editor

Compatibility: Windows only.

Best for: Free feature-rich video editing suite

G2 rating: 4.0 out of 5

VSDC Free Video Editor is a free suite that includes both video and audio editor. You can use the software for recording screen as well as voiceovers. The software is suitable for low-end computers as it is a lightweight application.

Apart from basic editing, you can edit 360 videos. Starting from color correction and zooming to split-screen effect and chroma key, it is full-fledged feature-rich software. For more advanced features, you can opt for VSDC Video Editor Pro version.

Reason to Choose:-

• Zooming, panning, and color correction options.
• Wide range of effects and filters present.
• Chrome key option as well as 360 degree video editing.
• Work with multiple layers and sync objects perfectly.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Lacks advanced video editing options.
• No masking or video stabilization option available.

Part 5: Proprietary Video Editing Software

If you are a regular video creator and you want to invest in video editing to improve the quality of your video content, you have to opt for a proprietary video editing software. All professional video creators prefer proprietary video editing software over freeware and freemium video editors. Here are the best premium video videos with the most advanced video editing options.

# For Beginner Users

13. Filmora

Compatibility: Windows and Mac.

Best for: Best video editors for YouTubers and vloggers

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5

Wondershare Filmora is a feature-rich video editor but an intuitive user interface. Therefore, it is perfectly suitable for beginners who want all the features and tools for advanced video editing without a steep learning curve. Filmora is also useful if you want to record screen or webcam video.

Starting from tons of video effects and transitions to a large stock library and graphical elements, Filmora is tailor-made for editing all types of videos. It also supports a wide range of file formats and you can edit 4K videos as well as audio files comfortably.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

Reason to Choose:-

• Trim, split, join, crop and work with multiple video and audio clips.
• Large collection of video and audio effects, transitions, and graphical elements.
• Large stock library of free media files and animations.
• Work with multiple layers and clips effortlessly on its smooth timeline.

Reason to Avoid:-

• The processing time for videos could be on the higher side.

14. Camtasia

Compatibility: Windows and Mac.

Best for: Teachers and students to edit tutorial videos

G2 rating: 4.6 out of 5

Camtasia by Techsmith is a premium video editor and it is equally popular as a video recorder. It is particularly useful for recording and editing tutorial videos as there are different templates available. Coming to video editing part, you can perform all the basic video editing works instantly.

There are various trendy effects, transitions, and presets available. You can remove green screen and apply different frames for video compatibility on different devices. Besides, you can upload the editing video different on different platforms instantly.

Reason to Choose:-

• Quick trimming, splitting, cropping options.
• Large collection of templates and presets.
• Wide range of effects, annotations, and transitions.
• Import, export, and share different file formats.

Reason to Avoid:-

• No motion tracking option.
• Reports of frequent crashes.

15. Final Cut Pro

Compatibility: Mac only.

Best for: best professional video editors for Mac users

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5

Final Cut Pro from Apple is an extremely popular premium video editor among professional video creators who are Mac users. It is a powerful and advanced video editor that can handle high resolution videos smoothly. It is a perfect mix of standard and advanced video editing features.

Starting from editing multicam and VR videos to 3D and 360 degree videos, Final Cut Pro is suitable for all. There are unlimited presets and effects present and you can edit 4K videos as well as large video files smoothly.

Reason to Choose:-

• Basic and advanced video and audio editing features.
• Supports editing all the different video types such as 3D, 4K, VR videos.
• Supports plug-ins, external tools and cinematic effects.
• Renders high resolution, large video files in short time.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Learning curve is quite steep.
• Pricing is on the higher side.

# For Beginner Users

16. Adobe Premiere Pro

Compatibility: Windows only.

Best for: best professional video editing software for most people

G2 rating: 4.5 out of 5

Adobe Premiere Pro is the ultimate video editor in the professional video editing world. You get all the different advanced features of video editing packed in the application. Even though the learning curve is steep, Adobe Premiere Pro is one of the most used video editors in professional video creation.

Adobe Premiere Pro supports all the different video file formats and you can edit various videos simultaneously. It is a perfect tool for editing a large video project collaboratively. It supports editing VR videos, 3D videos, as well as multicam videos.

Reason to Choose:-

• Standard and advanced editing options with quick rendering.
• Suitable for multi-tasking and collaborative work in video editing.
• Supports almost all types of videos and audio file formats.
• Flexible and configurable user interface and advanced timeline.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Learning curve is very steep.
• Not suitable for low-end computers.

17. Vegas Pro

Compatibility: Windows only.

Best for: Video & audio editing for professionals

G2 rating: 4.2 out of 5

Vegas Pro from Sony is a professional video and audio editor. You can work with multiple video and audio files and you can choose from timeline or storyboard layout. In fact, there are options for nested timeline and multicam editing. The customized workflow and layouts make the application suitable for everyone.

You can enhance your video with its large collection of filters, effects, and titles. There are options for keyframing, scene detection, color correction, and light adjustments. The artificial intelligence makes editing faster with automation control.

Reason to Choose:-

• Powerful timeline and storyboard mode with keyframing.
• Advanced HDR color correction and grading.
• Artificial intelligence for quick and repeated editing.
• Multicam editing, motion tracking, and support for 3D videos.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Stability of the application is questionable.
• Pricing is steep and lacks tutorial guide.

18. Hitfilm Express

Compatibility: Windows and Mac

Best for: Best for video effects lovers

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5

Hitfilm Express is particularly popular for its unlimited video effects that make the video stand out easily. The user interface is quite simple to use, and you can apply effects to turn your raw video into professional video instantly. In fact, it has the largest VFX toolkit with industry-grade effects.

You can edit 4K videos, and there are options for motion tracking and video animations. You can also opt for color correction and grading. You can also edit vertical videos and upload them on social media platforms. You can also edit audio clips and use composting and layering features to enhance your video.

Reason to Choose:-

• Advanced timeline for better workflow.
• Standard and advanced video editing options.
• Largest collection of video effects of different categories.
• Color grading, correction, and free training and support.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Lacks green screen editing option.
• Rendering is not always swift.

Part 6: How to Choose the Suitable Video Editor?

The most important part of video editing is to choose the most suitable video editor for your videos. Here are some important factors to consider while choosing a video editor.

1. Budget and Price: If you are getting started, you can opt for a free video editor. But eventually, you have to go for a premium video editor if you are serious about video editing. You should opt for that video editor that fits your budget and offers more features for the price charged in comparison to its competitors.

2. Learning Curve: You should always opt for a video editor that has a low learning curve. If the video editor is complicated to operate, you will get frustrated, and you won’t be able to unlock the full potential of the video editor. Besides, you will have to lose a lot of time in learning and perfecting the usage of the application.

3. Stock Library: The video editor you are choosing must have a sizeable stock media library. A stock library is where you can find video clips and audio clips that are free to use for everyone. You can incorporate them into your video to enhance the content quality and bring variety to your audiences.

4. Audio control: Video editing is incomplete without proper audio editing. Your video editor should have a separate timeline for audio clips so that you can place them perfect to go in sync with the video clips. Some video editors have dedicated options for audio mixing and editing as per requirements.

5. upport video formats: Your video editor must support a wide range of video file formats that you have to include from time to time. If it supports only the popular file formats, you will not be able to include the interesting videos you may get from different sources which the video editor does not support.

6. Software stability: If you need to edit high-resolution videos, you have to ensure that the video editor you are choosing can stay stable throughout. There are many popular video editors available that become unstable while editing and rendering high-resolution videos. You have to read reviews to come to a conclusion about software stability.

7. Customer Support: Last but most importantly, your video editor must have a good customer support team. In your video editing journey, you will need the help of technical customer support to clarify issues related to the software so that you can excel in your video editing sessions.

Part 7: Video Editing Tips for Beginners

Here are some basic video editing tips that you should keep in mind while editing any video.

1. Try Tight Cuts: Your video should not be too long so that it gets boring for the viewers. Therefore, you have to make tight cuts which means you have to cut out pauses, gaps between dialogs, and anything that is unnecessary for viewers. If you think that tight cuts will take more time than usual, you can consider reshooting the part to save time.

2. Put The Story Before The Footage: When you are shooting a planned video, you must be shooting the video with multiple cameras from different angles. While editing and choosing the perfect angle for a certain video segment, you have to select the one that enhances the story you are telling through your video. For example, in an interview video, you should know when to emphasize and show close angles to capture the emotion of the speaker.

3. Chop Out Mistakes: The most basic work in video editing is to cut out the mistakes. This is because you are sure to make mistakes while shooting, and you will reshoot a lot of mistakes to correct them. Therefore, take your time to chop out mistakes but make sure that the video feels continuous, and if required, you can reshoot. To avoid mistakes in action, you can use different camera angles, blur portions, and bleep out certain words.

4. Learn to use color: Color correction and adjustment is a majorly neglected part of video editing that can make your video different from others. When you are shooting in outdoor conditions, the color of the video could get disturbed depending on the color of your dress as well as your surrounding. While editing, you need to correct them so that the video looks visually pleasing to the eyes.

5. Cut to music: Audio plays a very important role in any video, and hence, you should not neglect it. Always opt for a video editor that has a good collection of stock music so that you can apply them to your video in appropriate places. Music helps to break the monotony and grab the attention of the audience instantly.

6. Back up your work: It takes hours to shoot a video but only a second to lose it. Instead of blindingly relying on your storage device, you should take back up of your work on multiple devices. Taking backup in the cloud storage area is the best option as you can access your work from anywhere.

Part 8: Frequently Asked Questions of Video Editor

What is the best video editor?

Wondershare Filmora is the best video editor as it has the perfect mix of standard and advanced video editing options. The user interface is intuitive and easy to operate for every video creator.

What editor do YouTubers use on PC?

The most commonly used video editors by YouTubers are Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere Pro and Filmora. Unless you are a pro in video editing, we recommend Filmora and Shotcut for your YouTube videos.

How can I edit videos for free?

If you are a Windows user, you can use Microsoft Photos and Openshot for editing your videos for free. For Mac users, iMovie is the best free video editor with balanced features.

Does Windows 10 have a free video editor?

Yes, Windows 10 does come with a free video editor and it is called Microsoft Photos. You can edit your photos and videos with the application.

Is Filmora Free?

No, Filmora is a premium video editor. However, you can download its free trial version to understand its features and functionalities. Thereafter, you can purchase its premium plan as per your suitability.

02 [Editor’s Top 3 Picks ](#Part 2)

03 [Open-Source Video Editors](#Part 3)

04 [Freemium and Freeware Video Editors](#Part 4)

05 [Proprietary Video Editing Software](#Part 5)

06 [How to Choose the Suitable Video Editor](#Part 6)

07 [Video Editing Tips for Newbies](#Part 7)

08 [Frequently Asked Questions of Video Editor](#Part 8)

Part 1: Video Editing Basics

Before going to the best video editors, you should be aware of the basics of video editing. Here are the basic concepts of video editing that you must know as they are common across all video editors.

1. The Timeline: The timeline is an area of a video editor where you place your video clips sequentially. When you play the video after editing, the video will play from the start of the timeline and finish at the end of the timeline where your video content ends. The timeline is where you can place your audio clips, video effects, and graphical elements as per your requirements.

2. The Canvas: The canvas is an area of a video editor where you view your video clips frame by frame. The canvas allows you to edit the video starting from cropping to adding graphical elements. You can view all the changes you make to the video before applying them permanently.

3. Basic editing: The basic editing of a video includes splitting and trimming out important parts of a large video file and, thereafter, joining the different video clips to make an engaging video. The basic editing also includes adding audio clips, adjusting video parameters such as color, brightness, contrast as well as adding texts to the video.

4. Aspect Ratio: The aspect ratio of a video represents the ratio of width to height of the video in terms of pixels. For example, a video with aspect ratio of 16:9 means the video is 1920p x 1080p. You can edit the aspect ratio depending on where you want to publish the video. For example, social media videos use 1:1 and 9: 16 aspect ratio, tablets use 4:3 aspect ratio, and 16:9 is the standard aspect ratio.

5. B-roll: B-roll is a secondary video footage that you can add to your primary video(A-roll) to enhance the video creativity and aesthetic value. B-roll could be a cinematic shot, a slow-motion footage, a close-up shot from different angles, as well as a shot mixed with wide-angle, pans, and tilts.

6. Frame Rate: Frame rate refers to the number of images or frames displayed per second in a video. In short, frame rate refers to frames per second in a video. For example, a video of 30fps means the video is showing 30 different images per second. The 24fps is used for movies and the 30fps is used for online and TV videos. Even 60fps videos are becoming common as they produce a smoother video experience.

Part 2: Editor’s Top 3 Picks - Choose The Best Video Editor

Best Video Editor for All Creators - Filmora

Wondershare Filmora is the ideal video editor with an intuitive user interface. You get all the standard and advanced video editing features packed into its platform. You can record videos of external webcam and computer screen as well. There are unlimited video effects and graphical elements to turn your raw videos into eye-catching videos instantly.

Best for Professional Editing - Premiere Pro

Adobe Premium Pro is the best professional video editor where all the advanced features of video editing are available. The software supports editing multiple projects simultaneously. You can edit VR, Multicam, and 3D videos as well. It is a perfect platform for a professional video editing team to work in sync.

Best for Online Video Editing - WeVideo

WeVideo is by far the best online video editor with 30 million users. Starting from standard video editing options and uploading directly to social media platforms, WeVideo is a full-fledged video editor. You can also record videos and create your own video templates. Moreover, you can collaborate with other video creators and make the best use of the unlimited stock media library.

Part 3: Open-Source Video Editors

Open-source video editors have compatibility with all the desktop operating systems. Moreover, due to their codes readily available online, these video editing software applications are available completely free of cost. Here are the best open-source video editors for beginners and experienced users.

# For Beginner Users

1. Blender

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: best open-source video editor with balanced features

G2 rating: 4.5 out of 5

Blender is an open-source video editing suite that is popular for its 3D models. Since it is a suite, you can use the platform not only for video editing but also for creating animated videos and games.

Starting from basic video editing such as trim and split to advance video editing such as masking and color adjustment, all options are readily available. Besides, there are options for audio mixing and live preview of editing works.

Reason to Choose:-

• Video cropping, trimming, splitting, joining, and adjusting speed.
• Different slots to add videos, images, scenes, audio clips, effects and masks.
• Different transitions, filters, effects, waveforms, and keyframes available.
• Create 3D models and animated videos with proper audio mixing.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Takes time to get used to the platform.
• Reports of bugs have become a regular occurrence.

2. Avidemux

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: best open-source video editor for basic editing

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5

Avidemux from Soundforge is a lightweight and basic video editor. Starting from trimming and cutting videos to applying filters and encoding videos, all the options are readily available. The software supports a wide range of video file formats for editing.

The platform also supports scripting through which you can automate tasks to perform on videos. Besides, there are options for color adjustments, video conversion, and advanced interlacing. The simple user interface is perfect for beginners to edit videos intuitively.

Reason to Choose:-

• Quick video editing for trimming, cutting, rotating, and cropping.
• Change speed and use different filters for color adjustments and subtitles.
• Supports different video file formats in import and export.
• The user interface is simple and suitable for beginners.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Does not have a traditional timeline for video editing.
• Limited effects, filters, and advanced features.

3. Kdenlive

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: best open-source video editor for all

G2 rating: 4.3 out of 5

Kdenlive video editor is a versatile video editor with standard and advanced video editing features balanced properly. The open-source software allows multi-track timeline and supports dual monitor setup for video editing. The user interface is simple, and you can configure it as per your preference.

Kdenlive supports a wide range of video and audio files, and you can use configurable keyboard shortcuts for easy operation. The automatic backup feature is highly useful in the professional video editing world. Similarly, the presence of keyframe-based effects and advanced effects can make a video stand out.

Reason to Choose:-

• Multi-track timeline for working with multiple video and audio clips.
• Keyframeable effects, transitions, color correction and unlimited online resources.
• Vast set of options for creating stunning texts and titles.
• Smooth preview, configurable interface, and automatic backup.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Lacks GPU acceleration and hence, slow response at times.
• Speed adjustment effect is not efficient.

# For Advanced Users

4. OpenShot

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux, Chrome OS

Best for: Best open source editor for all desktop users

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5

OpenShot is a cross-platform, open-source video editor where you can work on one project on different operating systems. It works on keyframe animation framework, and you can choose from different interpolations. The platform offers you to work with unlimited video and audio clips as well as layers.

You can perform all the basic video editing operations as well as go for advanced editing. The features and tools are well-balanced for regular as well as professional video editing. Starting from video effects and audio mixing to chroma key and time-mapping, everything is available under one roof.

Reason to Choose:-

• Basic video editing with panning, zooming, and scrolling features.
• Wide range of transitions, effects, time and speed control.
• Time-mapping, audio mixing, overlays, and composting.
• Supports 3D animations and objects, templates for titles and sub-titles.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Hardware acceleration is not very powerful.
• Not suitable for 4K video editing as it gets extremely slow.

5. Shotcut

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: Best for video editors who love filters and effects

G2 rating: 4.2 out of 5

Shotcut is another open-source and cross-platform video editor with a professional user interface. The software supports importing different file formats of video and audio files. It is suitable for editing 4K videos, and it is a full-fledged audio editor as well.

Its vast video filters and effects are comparable to premium video editors. You can work with multi-track timeline and keyframes with markers and rangers. Besides, you can keep notes on your project easily. Overall, it is a balanced video editor in terms of features and functionalities.

Reason to Choose:-

• Wide categories of video effects, transitions, and filters.
• Multi-track and multi-format timeline and detailed audio editor.
• Standard and advanced editing options with hardware acceleration.
• Export video in high-resolution and in different formats.

Reason to Avoid:-

• The user interface can take some time to get used to.
• The stock media library is rather limited.

6. NATRON

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: Best open-source video editor with visual effects

G2 rating: 3.5 out of 5

NATRON is a robust video editor with powerful tracking tool for 2D and planar tracking. You can work with multiple layers and clips and avail various keying options on your video editing project. In fact, it is a full-fledged video compositing software for better video production with multi-layer structure.

The hardware acceleration of the software produces faster rendering. You get to work with presets, tracker nodes, rotoscoping, multi-plane and motion editing. The option of multi-view workflow along with real-time playback is extremely useful while editing multicam videos.

Reason to Choose:-

• Superior visual effects and motion editing.
• Multi-tasking with multi-view workflow.
• Option of rotoscoping and python scripting.
• Supports different open-source plugins.

Reason to Avoid:-

• The user interface is quite advanced and needs some learning time.
• It gets unstable and slow while previewing high-resolution videos.

Part 4: Freemium and Freeware Video Editors

Freeware video editors are available completely free of cost and they are mostly exclusive to a certain operating system. On the other hand, freemium video editors have certain features completely free while it charges users a small fee for certain advanced features. Here is the list of the best freemium and freeware video editors.

# For Beginner Users

7. ActivePresenter

Compatibility: Windows and Mac

Best for: best video editing software for learning videos.

G2 rating: 4.5 out of 5

ActivePresenter from AtomiSystems is a video editor with screen recording options. The software is particularly useful in making and editing learning videos. There are different templates available for editing videos quickly. Besides, you can use the platform for standard editing options for any video.

Starting from working with multiple timelines to making videos interactive and responsive, there are various out-of-box features. Moreover, you can edit your audio and export your edited video in different file formats.

Reason to Choose:-

• Multiple timelines for editing various video and audio clips.
• Basic video and audio editing options and greenscreen effects.
• Webcam and screen recording with audio from different sources.
• Export videos with different file formats, HTML, xAPI, SCORM and much more.

Reason to Avoid:-

• The learning curve is slightly steep.
• Not suitable for editing all types of videos.

8. Microsoft Photos

Compatibility: Windows

Best for: best built-in video editor for Windows users

G2 rating: 4.6 out of 5

Microsoft Photos is the inbuilt video editor for Windows users. The app comes pre-installed in Windows and it is mostly used for viewing photos. But there is an inbuilt video editor where you can do the basic video editing works.

You can trim a video, add texts, and apply 3D effects as well as different filters available. There are also options for rotating videos, applying background music and customizing audio. The user interface is very simple for all users.

Reason to Choose:-

• Instant basic video editing options available.
• Apply effects, filters, as well as music.
• Simple and intuitive user interface for everyone.
• Comes pre-installed and completely free of cost.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Very limited video editing options.
• Very limited video file formats supported.

9. iMovie

Compatibility: Mac

Best for: Best built-in video editor for Mac users

G2 rating: 4.3 out of 5

iMovie is the inbuilt video editor for Mac users as it comes pre-installed on macOS. The application is free to use and it is compatible with iPhone and iPad as well. You can perform all the basic video editing works starting from trimming to rotating videos.

Besides, there is a wide range of effects and filters available to apply on your videos. The best part is that it supports editing 4K videos. There are also various graphical elements available and you can share your video easily on different platforms.

Reason to Choose:-

• Trim, rotate, split and crop videos easily.
• Work across Mac, iPhone and iPad seamlessly.
• Wide range of effects, filters, and objects available.
• Supports editing 4K videos without any lag.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Lacks advanced editing options though it is a dedicated video editor.
• Supports very limited video file formats.

# For Advanced Users

10. Lightworks

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: best for social media video creators

G2 rating: 3.5 out of 5

Lightworks is a freemium video editor where most features are reserved for premium users. If you are a social media creator or learning video creator, Lightworks Create is best for you. If you are a professional video creator, you should opt for Lightworks Pro.

The software supports almost all file formats, and you can export videos on social media instantly. The timeline is advanced with proxy editing, autosave and background processing features. You can share projects with your teammates and work collaboratively.

Reason to Choose:-

• Powerful and advanced timeline for quick editing.
• Motion graphics and tilting along with advanced metadata.
• Flexible user interface with proxy workflow and storyboard bin.
• Suitable for collaborating works and cloud storage.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Can crash while working with 4K videos.
• Limited options for advanced video editing.

11. VideoPad

Compatibility: Windows

Best for: best video editor for short video creators.

G2 rating: 4.1 out of 5

VideoPad by NCH Software is an intuitive video editor that supports over 60 different video file formats. There are tools available for basic editing such as trimming and cropping. Besides, there are various effects and transitions available to apply on your video.

The video editor also lets you edit audio files and you can edit 360-degree videos as well. There are video stabilization and chroma key effect available. The video editor is available free for non-commercial use with certain limitations that you can overcome with its premium plan.

Reason to Choose:-

• Edit in Storybook or Timeline mode and perfect all basic editing works.
• Audio editing options with different audio effects.
• Add 3D video effects, special filters, and change video speed.
• Supports a wide range of video file formats.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Can crash while editing 4K videos.
• Lacks advanced editing options.

12. VSDC Free Video Editor

Compatibility: Windows only.

Best for: Free feature-rich video editing suite

G2 rating: 4.0 out of 5

VSDC Free Video Editor is a free suite that includes both video and audio editor. You can use the software for recording screen as well as voiceovers. The software is suitable for low-end computers as it is a lightweight application.

Apart from basic editing, you can edit 360 videos. Starting from color correction and zooming to split-screen effect and chroma key, it is full-fledged feature-rich software. For more advanced features, you can opt for VSDC Video Editor Pro version.

Reason to Choose:-

• Zooming, panning, and color correction options.
• Wide range of effects and filters present.
• Chrome key option as well as 360 degree video editing.
• Work with multiple layers and sync objects perfectly.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Lacks advanced video editing options.
• No masking or video stabilization option available.

Part 5: Proprietary Video Editing Software

If you are a regular video creator and you want to invest in video editing to improve the quality of your video content, you have to opt for a proprietary video editing software. All professional video creators prefer proprietary video editing software over freeware and freemium video editors. Here are the best premium video videos with the most advanced video editing options.

# For Beginner Users

13. Filmora

Compatibility: Windows and Mac.

Best for: Best video editors for YouTubers and vloggers

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5

Wondershare Filmora is a feature-rich video editor but an intuitive user interface. Therefore, it is perfectly suitable for beginners who want all the features and tools for advanced video editing without a steep learning curve. Filmora is also useful if you want to record screen or webcam video.

Starting from tons of video effects and transitions to a large stock library and graphical elements, Filmora is tailor-made for editing all types of videos. It also supports a wide range of file formats and you can edit 4K videos as well as audio files comfortably.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

Reason to Choose:-

• Trim, split, join, crop and work with multiple video and audio clips.
• Large collection of video and audio effects, transitions, and graphical elements.
• Large stock library of free media files and animations.
• Work with multiple layers and clips effortlessly on its smooth timeline.

Reason to Avoid:-

• The processing time for videos could be on the higher side.

14. Camtasia

Compatibility: Windows and Mac.

Best for: Teachers and students to edit tutorial videos

G2 rating: 4.6 out of 5

Camtasia by Techsmith is a premium video editor and it is equally popular as a video recorder. It is particularly useful for recording and editing tutorial videos as there are different templates available. Coming to video editing part, you can perform all the basic video editing works instantly.

There are various trendy effects, transitions, and presets available. You can remove green screen and apply different frames for video compatibility on different devices. Besides, you can upload the editing video different on different platforms instantly.

Reason to Choose:-

• Quick trimming, splitting, cropping options.
• Large collection of templates and presets.
• Wide range of effects, annotations, and transitions.
• Import, export, and share different file formats.

Reason to Avoid:-

• No motion tracking option.
• Reports of frequent crashes.

15. Final Cut Pro

Compatibility: Mac only.

Best for: best professional video editors for Mac users

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5

Final Cut Pro from Apple is an extremely popular premium video editor among professional video creators who are Mac users. It is a powerful and advanced video editor that can handle high resolution videos smoothly. It is a perfect mix of standard and advanced video editing features.

Starting from editing multicam and VR videos to 3D and 360 degree videos, Final Cut Pro is suitable for all. There are unlimited presets and effects present and you can edit 4K videos as well as large video files smoothly.

Reason to Choose:-

• Basic and advanced video and audio editing features.
• Supports editing all the different video types such as 3D, 4K, VR videos.
• Supports plug-ins, external tools and cinematic effects.
• Renders high resolution, large video files in short time.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Learning curve is quite steep.
• Pricing is on the higher side.

# For Beginner Users

16. Adobe Premiere Pro

Compatibility: Windows only.

Best for: best professional video editing software for most people

G2 rating: 4.5 out of 5

Adobe Premiere Pro is the ultimate video editor in the professional video editing world. You get all the different advanced features of video editing packed in the application. Even though the learning curve is steep, Adobe Premiere Pro is one of the most used video editors in professional video creation.

Adobe Premiere Pro supports all the different video file formats and you can edit various videos simultaneously. It is a perfect tool for editing a large video project collaboratively. It supports editing VR videos, 3D videos, as well as multicam videos.

Reason to Choose:-

• Standard and advanced editing options with quick rendering.
• Suitable for multi-tasking and collaborative work in video editing.
• Supports almost all types of videos and audio file formats.
• Flexible and configurable user interface and advanced timeline.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Learning curve is very steep.
• Not suitable for low-end computers.

17. Vegas Pro

Compatibility: Windows only.

Best for: Video & audio editing for professionals

G2 rating: 4.2 out of 5

Vegas Pro from Sony is a professional video and audio editor. You can work with multiple video and audio files and you can choose from timeline or storyboard layout. In fact, there are options for nested timeline and multicam editing. The customized workflow and layouts make the application suitable for everyone.

You can enhance your video with its large collection of filters, effects, and titles. There are options for keyframing, scene detection, color correction, and light adjustments. The artificial intelligence makes editing faster with automation control.

Reason to Choose:-

• Powerful timeline and storyboard mode with keyframing.
• Advanced HDR color correction and grading.
• Artificial intelligence for quick and repeated editing.
• Multicam editing, motion tracking, and support for 3D videos.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Stability of the application is questionable.
• Pricing is steep and lacks tutorial guide.

18. Hitfilm Express

Compatibility: Windows and Mac

Best for: Best for video effects lovers

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5

Hitfilm Express is particularly popular for its unlimited video effects that make the video stand out easily. The user interface is quite simple to use, and you can apply effects to turn your raw video into professional video instantly. In fact, it has the largest VFX toolkit with industry-grade effects.

You can edit 4K videos, and there are options for motion tracking and video animations. You can also opt for color correction and grading. You can also edit vertical videos and upload them on social media platforms. You can also edit audio clips and use composting and layering features to enhance your video.

Reason to Choose:-

• Advanced timeline for better workflow.
• Standard and advanced video editing options.
• Largest collection of video effects of different categories.
• Color grading, correction, and free training and support.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Lacks green screen editing option.
• Rendering is not always swift.

Part 6: How to Choose the Suitable Video Editor?

The most important part of video editing is to choose the most suitable video editor for your videos. Here are some important factors to consider while choosing a video editor.

1. Budget and Price: If you are getting started, you can opt for a free video editor. But eventually, you have to go for a premium video editor if you are serious about video editing. You should opt for that video editor that fits your budget and offers more features for the price charged in comparison to its competitors.

2. Learning Curve: You should always opt for a video editor that has a low learning curve. If the video editor is complicated to operate, you will get frustrated, and you won’t be able to unlock the full potential of the video editor. Besides, you will have to lose a lot of time in learning and perfecting the usage of the application.

3. Stock Library: The video editor you are choosing must have a sizeable stock media library. A stock library is where you can find video clips and audio clips that are free to use for everyone. You can incorporate them into your video to enhance the content quality and bring variety to your audiences.

4. Audio control: Video editing is incomplete without proper audio editing. Your video editor should have a separate timeline for audio clips so that you can place them perfect to go in sync with the video clips. Some video editors have dedicated options for audio mixing and editing as per requirements.

5. upport video formats: Your video editor must support a wide range of video file formats that you have to include from time to time. If it supports only the popular file formats, you will not be able to include the interesting videos you may get from different sources which the video editor does not support.

6. Software stability: If you need to edit high-resolution videos, you have to ensure that the video editor you are choosing can stay stable throughout. There are many popular video editors available that become unstable while editing and rendering high-resolution videos. You have to read reviews to come to a conclusion about software stability.

7. Customer Support: Last but most importantly, your video editor must have a good customer support team. In your video editing journey, you will need the help of technical customer support to clarify issues related to the software so that you can excel in your video editing sessions.

Part 7: Video Editing Tips for Beginners

Here are some basic video editing tips that you should keep in mind while editing any video.

1. Try Tight Cuts: Your video should not be too long so that it gets boring for the viewers. Therefore, you have to make tight cuts which means you have to cut out pauses, gaps between dialogs, and anything that is unnecessary for viewers. If you think that tight cuts will take more time than usual, you can consider reshooting the part to save time.

2. Put The Story Before The Footage: When you are shooting a planned video, you must be shooting the video with multiple cameras from different angles. While editing and choosing the perfect angle for a certain video segment, you have to select the one that enhances the story you are telling through your video. For example, in an interview video, you should know when to emphasize and show close angles to capture the emotion of the speaker.

3. Chop Out Mistakes: The most basic work in video editing is to cut out the mistakes. This is because you are sure to make mistakes while shooting, and you will reshoot a lot of mistakes to correct them. Therefore, take your time to chop out mistakes but make sure that the video feels continuous, and if required, you can reshoot. To avoid mistakes in action, you can use different camera angles, blur portions, and bleep out certain words.

4. Learn to use color: Color correction and adjustment is a majorly neglected part of video editing that can make your video different from others. When you are shooting in outdoor conditions, the color of the video could get disturbed depending on the color of your dress as well as your surrounding. While editing, you need to correct them so that the video looks visually pleasing to the eyes.

5. Cut to music: Audio plays a very important role in any video, and hence, you should not neglect it. Always opt for a video editor that has a good collection of stock music so that you can apply them to your video in appropriate places. Music helps to break the monotony and grab the attention of the audience instantly.

6. Back up your work: It takes hours to shoot a video but only a second to lose it. Instead of blindingly relying on your storage device, you should take back up of your work on multiple devices. Taking backup in the cloud storage area is the best option as you can access your work from anywhere.

Part 8: Frequently Asked Questions of Video Editor

What is the best video editor?

Wondershare Filmora is the best video editor as it has the perfect mix of standard and advanced video editing options. The user interface is intuitive and easy to operate for every video creator.

What editor do YouTubers use on PC?

The most commonly used video editors by YouTubers are Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere Pro and Filmora. Unless you are a pro in video editing, we recommend Filmora and Shotcut for your YouTube videos.

How can I edit videos for free?

If you are a Windows user, you can use Microsoft Photos and Openshot for editing your videos for free. For Mac users, iMovie is the best free video editor with balanced features.

Does Windows 10 have a free video editor?

Yes, Windows 10 does come with a free video editor and it is called Microsoft Photos. You can edit your photos and videos with the application.

Is Filmora Free?

No, Filmora is a premium video editor. However, you can download its free trial version to understand its features and functionalities. Thereafter, you can purchase its premium plan as per your suitability.

02 [Editor’s Top 3 Picks ](#Part 2)

03 [Open-Source Video Editors](#Part 3)

04 [Freemium and Freeware Video Editors](#Part 4)

05 [Proprietary Video Editing Software](#Part 5)

06 [How to Choose the Suitable Video Editor](#Part 6)

07 [Video Editing Tips for Newbies](#Part 7)

08 [Frequently Asked Questions of Video Editor](#Part 8)

Part 1: Video Editing Basics

Before going to the best video editors, you should be aware of the basics of video editing. Here are the basic concepts of video editing that you must know as they are common across all video editors.

1. The Timeline: The timeline is an area of a video editor where you place your video clips sequentially. When you play the video after editing, the video will play from the start of the timeline and finish at the end of the timeline where your video content ends. The timeline is where you can place your audio clips, video effects, and graphical elements as per your requirements.

2. The Canvas: The canvas is an area of a video editor where you view your video clips frame by frame. The canvas allows you to edit the video starting from cropping to adding graphical elements. You can view all the changes you make to the video before applying them permanently.

3. Basic editing: The basic editing of a video includes splitting and trimming out important parts of a large video file and, thereafter, joining the different video clips to make an engaging video. The basic editing also includes adding audio clips, adjusting video parameters such as color, brightness, contrast as well as adding texts to the video.

4. Aspect Ratio: The aspect ratio of a video represents the ratio of width to height of the video in terms of pixels. For example, a video with aspect ratio of 16:9 means the video is 1920p x 1080p. You can edit the aspect ratio depending on where you want to publish the video. For example, social media videos use 1:1 and 9: 16 aspect ratio, tablets use 4:3 aspect ratio, and 16:9 is the standard aspect ratio.

5. B-roll: B-roll is a secondary video footage that you can add to your primary video(A-roll) to enhance the video creativity and aesthetic value. B-roll could be a cinematic shot, a slow-motion footage, a close-up shot from different angles, as well as a shot mixed with wide-angle, pans, and tilts.

6. Frame Rate: Frame rate refers to the number of images or frames displayed per second in a video. In short, frame rate refers to frames per second in a video. For example, a video of 30fps means the video is showing 30 different images per second. The 24fps is used for movies and the 30fps is used for online and TV videos. Even 60fps videos are becoming common as they produce a smoother video experience.

Part 2: Editor’s Top 3 Picks - Choose The Best Video Editor

Best Video Editor for All Creators - Filmora

Wondershare Filmora is the ideal video editor with an intuitive user interface. You get all the standard and advanced video editing features packed into its platform. You can record videos of external webcam and computer screen as well. There are unlimited video effects and graphical elements to turn your raw videos into eye-catching videos instantly.

Best for Professional Editing - Premiere Pro

Adobe Premium Pro is the best professional video editor where all the advanced features of video editing are available. The software supports editing multiple projects simultaneously. You can edit VR, Multicam, and 3D videos as well. It is a perfect platform for a professional video editing team to work in sync.

Best for Online Video Editing - WeVideo

WeVideo is by far the best online video editor with 30 million users. Starting from standard video editing options and uploading directly to social media platforms, WeVideo is a full-fledged video editor. You can also record videos and create your own video templates. Moreover, you can collaborate with other video creators and make the best use of the unlimited stock media library.

Part 3: Open-Source Video Editors

Open-source video editors have compatibility with all the desktop operating systems. Moreover, due to their codes readily available online, these video editing software applications are available completely free of cost. Here are the best open-source video editors for beginners and experienced users.

# For Beginner Users

1. Blender

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: best open-source video editor with balanced features

G2 rating: 4.5 out of 5

Blender is an open-source video editing suite that is popular for its 3D models. Since it is a suite, you can use the platform not only for video editing but also for creating animated videos and games.

Starting from basic video editing such as trim and split to advance video editing such as masking and color adjustment, all options are readily available. Besides, there are options for audio mixing and live preview of editing works.

Reason to Choose:-

• Video cropping, trimming, splitting, joining, and adjusting speed.
• Different slots to add videos, images, scenes, audio clips, effects and masks.
• Different transitions, filters, effects, waveforms, and keyframes available.
• Create 3D models and animated videos with proper audio mixing.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Takes time to get used to the platform.
• Reports of bugs have become a regular occurrence.

2. Avidemux

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: best open-source video editor for basic editing

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5

Avidemux from Soundforge is a lightweight and basic video editor. Starting from trimming and cutting videos to applying filters and encoding videos, all the options are readily available. The software supports a wide range of video file formats for editing.

The platform also supports scripting through which you can automate tasks to perform on videos. Besides, there are options for color adjustments, video conversion, and advanced interlacing. The simple user interface is perfect for beginners to edit videos intuitively.

Reason to Choose:-

• Quick video editing for trimming, cutting, rotating, and cropping.
• Change speed and use different filters for color adjustments and subtitles.
• Supports different video file formats in import and export.
• The user interface is simple and suitable for beginners.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Does not have a traditional timeline for video editing.
• Limited effects, filters, and advanced features.

3. Kdenlive

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: best open-source video editor for all

G2 rating: 4.3 out of 5

Kdenlive video editor is a versatile video editor with standard and advanced video editing features balanced properly. The open-source software allows multi-track timeline and supports dual monitor setup for video editing. The user interface is simple, and you can configure it as per your preference.

Kdenlive supports a wide range of video and audio files, and you can use configurable keyboard shortcuts for easy operation. The automatic backup feature is highly useful in the professional video editing world. Similarly, the presence of keyframe-based effects and advanced effects can make a video stand out.

Reason to Choose:-

• Multi-track timeline for working with multiple video and audio clips.
• Keyframeable effects, transitions, color correction and unlimited online resources.
• Vast set of options for creating stunning texts and titles.
• Smooth preview, configurable interface, and automatic backup.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Lacks GPU acceleration and hence, slow response at times.
• Speed adjustment effect is not efficient.

# For Advanced Users

4. OpenShot

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux, Chrome OS

Best for: Best open source editor for all desktop users

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5

OpenShot is a cross-platform, open-source video editor where you can work on one project on different operating systems. It works on keyframe animation framework, and you can choose from different interpolations. The platform offers you to work with unlimited video and audio clips as well as layers.

You can perform all the basic video editing operations as well as go for advanced editing. The features and tools are well-balanced for regular as well as professional video editing. Starting from video effects and audio mixing to chroma key and time-mapping, everything is available under one roof.

Reason to Choose:-

• Basic video editing with panning, zooming, and scrolling features.
• Wide range of transitions, effects, time and speed control.
• Time-mapping, audio mixing, overlays, and composting.
• Supports 3D animations and objects, templates for titles and sub-titles.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Hardware acceleration is not very powerful.
• Not suitable for 4K video editing as it gets extremely slow.

5. Shotcut

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: Best for video editors who love filters and effects

G2 rating: 4.2 out of 5

Shotcut is another open-source and cross-platform video editor with a professional user interface. The software supports importing different file formats of video and audio files. It is suitable for editing 4K videos, and it is a full-fledged audio editor as well.

Its vast video filters and effects are comparable to premium video editors. You can work with multi-track timeline and keyframes with markers and rangers. Besides, you can keep notes on your project easily. Overall, it is a balanced video editor in terms of features and functionalities.

Reason to Choose:-

• Wide categories of video effects, transitions, and filters.
• Multi-track and multi-format timeline and detailed audio editor.
• Standard and advanced editing options with hardware acceleration.
• Export video in high-resolution and in different formats.

Reason to Avoid:-

• The user interface can take some time to get used to.
• The stock media library is rather limited.

6. NATRON

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: Best open-source video editor with visual effects

G2 rating: 3.5 out of 5

NATRON is a robust video editor with powerful tracking tool for 2D and planar tracking. You can work with multiple layers and clips and avail various keying options on your video editing project. In fact, it is a full-fledged video compositing software for better video production with multi-layer structure.

The hardware acceleration of the software produces faster rendering. You get to work with presets, tracker nodes, rotoscoping, multi-plane and motion editing. The option of multi-view workflow along with real-time playback is extremely useful while editing multicam videos.

Reason to Choose:-

• Superior visual effects and motion editing.
• Multi-tasking with multi-view workflow.
• Option of rotoscoping and python scripting.
• Supports different open-source plugins.

Reason to Avoid:-

• The user interface is quite advanced and needs some learning time.
• It gets unstable and slow while previewing high-resolution videos.

Part 4: Freemium and Freeware Video Editors

Freeware video editors are available completely free of cost and they are mostly exclusive to a certain operating system. On the other hand, freemium video editors have certain features completely free while it charges users a small fee for certain advanced features. Here is the list of the best freemium and freeware video editors.

# For Beginner Users

7. ActivePresenter

Compatibility: Windows and Mac

Best for: best video editing software for learning videos.

G2 rating: 4.5 out of 5

ActivePresenter from AtomiSystems is a video editor with screen recording options. The software is particularly useful in making and editing learning videos. There are different templates available for editing videos quickly. Besides, you can use the platform for standard editing options for any video.

Starting from working with multiple timelines to making videos interactive and responsive, there are various out-of-box features. Moreover, you can edit your audio and export your edited video in different file formats.

Reason to Choose:-

• Multiple timelines for editing various video and audio clips.
• Basic video and audio editing options and greenscreen effects.
• Webcam and screen recording with audio from different sources.
• Export videos with different file formats, HTML, xAPI, SCORM and much more.

Reason to Avoid:-

• The learning curve is slightly steep.
• Not suitable for editing all types of videos.

8. Microsoft Photos

Compatibility: Windows

Best for: best built-in video editor for Windows users

G2 rating: 4.6 out of 5

Microsoft Photos is the inbuilt video editor for Windows users. The app comes pre-installed in Windows and it is mostly used for viewing photos. But there is an inbuilt video editor where you can do the basic video editing works.

You can trim a video, add texts, and apply 3D effects as well as different filters available. There are also options for rotating videos, applying background music and customizing audio. The user interface is very simple for all users.

Reason to Choose:-

• Instant basic video editing options available.
• Apply effects, filters, as well as music.
• Simple and intuitive user interface for everyone.
• Comes pre-installed and completely free of cost.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Very limited video editing options.
• Very limited video file formats supported.

9. iMovie

Compatibility: Mac

Best for: Best built-in video editor for Mac users

G2 rating: 4.3 out of 5

iMovie is the inbuilt video editor for Mac users as it comes pre-installed on macOS. The application is free to use and it is compatible with iPhone and iPad as well. You can perform all the basic video editing works starting from trimming to rotating videos.

Besides, there is a wide range of effects and filters available to apply on your videos. The best part is that it supports editing 4K videos. There are also various graphical elements available and you can share your video easily on different platforms.

Reason to Choose:-

• Trim, rotate, split and crop videos easily.
• Work across Mac, iPhone and iPad seamlessly.
• Wide range of effects, filters, and objects available.
• Supports editing 4K videos without any lag.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Lacks advanced editing options though it is a dedicated video editor.
• Supports very limited video file formats.

# For Advanced Users

10. Lightworks

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: best for social media video creators

G2 rating: 3.5 out of 5

Lightworks is a freemium video editor where most features are reserved for premium users. If you are a social media creator or learning video creator, Lightworks Create is best for you. If you are a professional video creator, you should opt for Lightworks Pro.

The software supports almost all file formats, and you can export videos on social media instantly. The timeline is advanced with proxy editing, autosave and background processing features. You can share projects with your teammates and work collaboratively.

Reason to Choose:-

• Powerful and advanced timeline for quick editing.
• Motion graphics and tilting along with advanced metadata.
• Flexible user interface with proxy workflow and storyboard bin.
• Suitable for collaborating works and cloud storage.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Can crash while working with 4K videos.
• Limited options for advanced video editing.

11. VideoPad

Compatibility: Windows

Best for: best video editor for short video creators.

G2 rating: 4.1 out of 5

VideoPad by NCH Software is an intuitive video editor that supports over 60 different video file formats. There are tools available for basic editing such as trimming and cropping. Besides, there are various effects and transitions available to apply on your video.

The video editor also lets you edit audio files and you can edit 360-degree videos as well. There are video stabilization and chroma key effect available. The video editor is available free for non-commercial use with certain limitations that you can overcome with its premium plan.

Reason to Choose:-

• Edit in Storybook or Timeline mode and perfect all basic editing works.
• Audio editing options with different audio effects.
• Add 3D video effects, special filters, and change video speed.
• Supports a wide range of video file formats.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Can crash while editing 4K videos.
• Lacks advanced editing options.

12. VSDC Free Video Editor

Compatibility: Windows only.

Best for: Free feature-rich video editing suite

G2 rating: 4.0 out of 5

VSDC Free Video Editor is a free suite that includes both video and audio editor. You can use the software for recording screen as well as voiceovers. The software is suitable for low-end computers as it is a lightweight application.

Apart from basic editing, you can edit 360 videos. Starting from color correction and zooming to split-screen effect and chroma key, it is full-fledged feature-rich software. For more advanced features, you can opt for VSDC Video Editor Pro version.

Reason to Choose:-

• Zooming, panning, and color correction options.
• Wide range of effects and filters present.
• Chrome key option as well as 360 degree video editing.
• Work with multiple layers and sync objects perfectly.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Lacks advanced video editing options.
• No masking or video stabilization option available.

Part 5: Proprietary Video Editing Software

If you are a regular video creator and you want to invest in video editing to improve the quality of your video content, you have to opt for a proprietary video editing software. All professional video creators prefer proprietary video editing software over freeware and freemium video editors. Here are the best premium video videos with the most advanced video editing options.

# For Beginner Users

13. Filmora

Compatibility: Windows and Mac.

Best for: Best video editors for YouTubers and vloggers

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5

Wondershare Filmora is a feature-rich video editor but an intuitive user interface. Therefore, it is perfectly suitable for beginners who want all the features and tools for advanced video editing without a steep learning curve. Filmora is also useful if you want to record screen or webcam video.

Starting from tons of video effects and transitions to a large stock library and graphical elements, Filmora is tailor-made for editing all types of videos. It also supports a wide range of file formats and you can edit 4K videos as well as audio files comfortably.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

Reason to Choose:-

• Trim, split, join, crop and work with multiple video and audio clips.
• Large collection of video and audio effects, transitions, and graphical elements.
• Large stock library of free media files and animations.
• Work with multiple layers and clips effortlessly on its smooth timeline.

Reason to Avoid:-

• The processing time for videos could be on the higher side.

14. Camtasia

Compatibility: Windows and Mac.

Best for: Teachers and students to edit tutorial videos

G2 rating: 4.6 out of 5

Camtasia by Techsmith is a premium video editor and it is equally popular as a video recorder. It is particularly useful for recording and editing tutorial videos as there are different templates available. Coming to video editing part, you can perform all the basic video editing works instantly.

There are various trendy effects, transitions, and presets available. You can remove green screen and apply different frames for video compatibility on different devices. Besides, you can upload the editing video different on different platforms instantly.

Reason to Choose:-

• Quick trimming, splitting, cropping options.
• Large collection of templates and presets.
• Wide range of effects, annotations, and transitions.
• Import, export, and share different file formats.

Reason to Avoid:-

• No motion tracking option.
• Reports of frequent crashes.

15. Final Cut Pro

Compatibility: Mac only.

Best for: best professional video editors for Mac users

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5

Final Cut Pro from Apple is an extremely popular premium video editor among professional video creators who are Mac users. It is a powerful and advanced video editor that can handle high resolution videos smoothly. It is a perfect mix of standard and advanced video editing features.

Starting from editing multicam and VR videos to 3D and 360 degree videos, Final Cut Pro is suitable for all. There are unlimited presets and effects present and you can edit 4K videos as well as large video files smoothly.

Reason to Choose:-

• Basic and advanced video and audio editing features.
• Supports editing all the different video types such as 3D, 4K, VR videos.
• Supports plug-ins, external tools and cinematic effects.
• Renders high resolution, large video files in short time.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Learning curve is quite steep.
• Pricing is on the higher side.

# For Beginner Users

16. Adobe Premiere Pro

Compatibility: Windows only.

Best for: best professional video editing software for most people

G2 rating: 4.5 out of 5

Adobe Premiere Pro is the ultimate video editor in the professional video editing world. You get all the different advanced features of video editing packed in the application. Even though the learning curve is steep, Adobe Premiere Pro is one of the most used video editors in professional video creation.

Adobe Premiere Pro supports all the different video file formats and you can edit various videos simultaneously. It is a perfect tool for editing a large video project collaboratively. It supports editing VR videos, 3D videos, as well as multicam videos.

Reason to Choose:-

• Standard and advanced editing options with quick rendering.
• Suitable for multi-tasking and collaborative work in video editing.
• Supports almost all types of videos and audio file formats.
• Flexible and configurable user interface and advanced timeline.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Learning curve is very steep.
• Not suitable for low-end computers.

17. Vegas Pro

Compatibility: Windows only.

Best for: Video & audio editing for professionals

G2 rating: 4.2 out of 5

Vegas Pro from Sony is a professional video and audio editor. You can work with multiple video and audio files and you can choose from timeline or storyboard layout. In fact, there are options for nested timeline and multicam editing. The customized workflow and layouts make the application suitable for everyone.

You can enhance your video with its large collection of filters, effects, and titles. There are options for keyframing, scene detection, color correction, and light adjustments. The artificial intelligence makes editing faster with automation control.

Reason to Choose:-

• Powerful timeline and storyboard mode with keyframing.
• Advanced HDR color correction and grading.
• Artificial intelligence for quick and repeated editing.
• Multicam editing, motion tracking, and support for 3D videos.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Stability of the application is questionable.
• Pricing is steep and lacks tutorial guide.

18. Hitfilm Express

Compatibility: Windows and Mac

Best for: Best for video effects lovers

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5

Hitfilm Express is particularly popular for its unlimited video effects that make the video stand out easily. The user interface is quite simple to use, and you can apply effects to turn your raw video into professional video instantly. In fact, it has the largest VFX toolkit with industry-grade effects.

You can edit 4K videos, and there are options for motion tracking and video animations. You can also opt for color correction and grading. You can also edit vertical videos and upload them on social media platforms. You can also edit audio clips and use composting and layering features to enhance your video.

Reason to Choose:-

• Advanced timeline for better workflow.
• Standard and advanced video editing options.
• Largest collection of video effects of different categories.
• Color grading, correction, and free training and support.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Lacks green screen editing option.
• Rendering is not always swift.

Part 6: How to Choose the Suitable Video Editor?

The most important part of video editing is to choose the most suitable video editor for your videos. Here are some important factors to consider while choosing a video editor.

1. Budget and Price: If you are getting started, you can opt for a free video editor. But eventually, you have to go for a premium video editor if you are serious about video editing. You should opt for that video editor that fits your budget and offers more features for the price charged in comparison to its competitors.

2. Learning Curve: You should always opt for a video editor that has a low learning curve. If the video editor is complicated to operate, you will get frustrated, and you won’t be able to unlock the full potential of the video editor. Besides, you will have to lose a lot of time in learning and perfecting the usage of the application.

3. Stock Library: The video editor you are choosing must have a sizeable stock media library. A stock library is where you can find video clips and audio clips that are free to use for everyone. You can incorporate them into your video to enhance the content quality and bring variety to your audiences.

4. Audio control: Video editing is incomplete without proper audio editing. Your video editor should have a separate timeline for audio clips so that you can place them perfect to go in sync with the video clips. Some video editors have dedicated options for audio mixing and editing as per requirements.

5. upport video formats: Your video editor must support a wide range of video file formats that you have to include from time to time. If it supports only the popular file formats, you will not be able to include the interesting videos you may get from different sources which the video editor does not support.

6. Software stability: If you need to edit high-resolution videos, you have to ensure that the video editor you are choosing can stay stable throughout. There are many popular video editors available that become unstable while editing and rendering high-resolution videos. You have to read reviews to come to a conclusion about software stability.

7. Customer Support: Last but most importantly, your video editor must have a good customer support team. In your video editing journey, you will need the help of technical customer support to clarify issues related to the software so that you can excel in your video editing sessions.

Part 7: Video Editing Tips for Beginners

Here are some basic video editing tips that you should keep in mind while editing any video.

1. Try Tight Cuts: Your video should not be too long so that it gets boring for the viewers. Therefore, you have to make tight cuts which means you have to cut out pauses, gaps between dialogs, and anything that is unnecessary for viewers. If you think that tight cuts will take more time than usual, you can consider reshooting the part to save time.

2. Put The Story Before The Footage: When you are shooting a planned video, you must be shooting the video with multiple cameras from different angles. While editing and choosing the perfect angle for a certain video segment, you have to select the one that enhances the story you are telling through your video. For example, in an interview video, you should know when to emphasize and show close angles to capture the emotion of the speaker.

3. Chop Out Mistakes: The most basic work in video editing is to cut out the mistakes. This is because you are sure to make mistakes while shooting, and you will reshoot a lot of mistakes to correct them. Therefore, take your time to chop out mistakes but make sure that the video feels continuous, and if required, you can reshoot. To avoid mistakes in action, you can use different camera angles, blur portions, and bleep out certain words.

4. Learn to use color: Color correction and adjustment is a majorly neglected part of video editing that can make your video different from others. When you are shooting in outdoor conditions, the color of the video could get disturbed depending on the color of your dress as well as your surrounding. While editing, you need to correct them so that the video looks visually pleasing to the eyes.

5. Cut to music: Audio plays a very important role in any video, and hence, you should not neglect it. Always opt for a video editor that has a good collection of stock music so that you can apply them to your video in appropriate places. Music helps to break the monotony and grab the attention of the audience instantly.

6. Back up your work: It takes hours to shoot a video but only a second to lose it. Instead of blindingly relying on your storage device, you should take back up of your work on multiple devices. Taking backup in the cloud storage area is the best option as you can access your work from anywhere.

Part 8: Frequently Asked Questions of Video Editor

What is the best video editor?

Wondershare Filmora is the best video editor as it has the perfect mix of standard and advanced video editing options. The user interface is intuitive and easy to operate for every video creator.

What editor do YouTubers use on PC?

The most commonly used video editors by YouTubers are Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere Pro and Filmora. Unless you are a pro in video editing, we recommend Filmora and Shotcut for your YouTube videos.

How can I edit videos for free?

If you are a Windows user, you can use Microsoft Photos and Openshot for editing your videos for free. For Mac users, iMovie is the best free video editor with balanced features.

Does Windows 10 have a free video editor?

Yes, Windows 10 does come with a free video editor and it is called Microsoft Photos. You can edit your photos and videos with the application.

Is Filmora Free?

No, Filmora is a premium video editor. However, you can download its free trial version to understand its features and functionalities. Thereafter, you can purchase its premium plan as per your suitability.

02 [Editor’s Top 3 Picks ](#Part 2)

03 [Open-Source Video Editors](#Part 3)

04 [Freemium and Freeware Video Editors](#Part 4)

05 [Proprietary Video Editing Software](#Part 5)

06 [How to Choose the Suitable Video Editor](#Part 6)

07 [Video Editing Tips for Newbies](#Part 7)

08 [Frequently Asked Questions of Video Editor](#Part 8)

Part 1: Video Editing Basics

Before going to the best video editors, you should be aware of the basics of video editing. Here are the basic concepts of video editing that you must know as they are common across all video editors.

1. The Timeline: The timeline is an area of a video editor where you place your video clips sequentially. When you play the video after editing, the video will play from the start of the timeline and finish at the end of the timeline where your video content ends. The timeline is where you can place your audio clips, video effects, and graphical elements as per your requirements.

2. The Canvas: The canvas is an area of a video editor where you view your video clips frame by frame. The canvas allows you to edit the video starting from cropping to adding graphical elements. You can view all the changes you make to the video before applying them permanently.

3. Basic editing: The basic editing of a video includes splitting and trimming out important parts of a large video file and, thereafter, joining the different video clips to make an engaging video. The basic editing also includes adding audio clips, adjusting video parameters such as color, brightness, contrast as well as adding texts to the video.

4. Aspect Ratio: The aspect ratio of a video represents the ratio of width to height of the video in terms of pixels. For example, a video with aspect ratio of 16:9 means the video is 1920p x 1080p. You can edit the aspect ratio depending on where you want to publish the video. For example, social media videos use 1:1 and 9: 16 aspect ratio, tablets use 4:3 aspect ratio, and 16:9 is the standard aspect ratio.

5. B-roll: B-roll is a secondary video footage that you can add to your primary video(A-roll) to enhance the video creativity and aesthetic value. B-roll could be a cinematic shot, a slow-motion footage, a close-up shot from different angles, as well as a shot mixed with wide-angle, pans, and tilts.

6. Frame Rate: Frame rate refers to the number of images or frames displayed per second in a video. In short, frame rate refers to frames per second in a video. For example, a video of 30fps means the video is showing 30 different images per second. The 24fps is used for movies and the 30fps is used for online and TV videos. Even 60fps videos are becoming common as they produce a smoother video experience.

Part 2: Editor’s Top 3 Picks - Choose The Best Video Editor

Best Video Editor for All Creators - Filmora

Wondershare Filmora is the ideal video editor with an intuitive user interface. You get all the standard and advanced video editing features packed into its platform. You can record videos of external webcam and computer screen as well. There are unlimited video effects and graphical elements to turn your raw videos into eye-catching videos instantly.

Best for Professional Editing - Premiere Pro

Adobe Premium Pro is the best professional video editor where all the advanced features of video editing are available. The software supports editing multiple projects simultaneously. You can edit VR, Multicam, and 3D videos as well. It is a perfect platform for a professional video editing team to work in sync.

Best for Online Video Editing - WeVideo

WeVideo is by far the best online video editor with 30 million users. Starting from standard video editing options and uploading directly to social media platforms, WeVideo is a full-fledged video editor. You can also record videos and create your own video templates. Moreover, you can collaborate with other video creators and make the best use of the unlimited stock media library.

Part 3: Open-Source Video Editors

Open-source video editors have compatibility with all the desktop operating systems. Moreover, due to their codes readily available online, these video editing software applications are available completely free of cost. Here are the best open-source video editors for beginners and experienced users.

# For Beginner Users

1. Blender

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: best open-source video editor with balanced features

G2 rating: 4.5 out of 5

Blender is an open-source video editing suite that is popular for its 3D models. Since it is a suite, you can use the platform not only for video editing but also for creating animated videos and games.

Starting from basic video editing such as trim and split to advance video editing such as masking and color adjustment, all options are readily available. Besides, there are options for audio mixing and live preview of editing works.

Reason to Choose:-

• Video cropping, trimming, splitting, joining, and adjusting speed.
• Different slots to add videos, images, scenes, audio clips, effects and masks.
• Different transitions, filters, effects, waveforms, and keyframes available.
• Create 3D models and animated videos with proper audio mixing.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Takes time to get used to the platform.
• Reports of bugs have become a regular occurrence.

2. Avidemux

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: best open-source video editor for basic editing

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5

Avidemux from Soundforge is a lightweight and basic video editor. Starting from trimming and cutting videos to applying filters and encoding videos, all the options are readily available. The software supports a wide range of video file formats for editing.

The platform also supports scripting through which you can automate tasks to perform on videos. Besides, there are options for color adjustments, video conversion, and advanced interlacing. The simple user interface is perfect for beginners to edit videos intuitively.

Reason to Choose:-

• Quick video editing for trimming, cutting, rotating, and cropping.
• Change speed and use different filters for color adjustments and subtitles.
• Supports different video file formats in import and export.
• The user interface is simple and suitable for beginners.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Does not have a traditional timeline for video editing.
• Limited effects, filters, and advanced features.

3. Kdenlive

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: best open-source video editor for all

G2 rating: 4.3 out of 5

Kdenlive video editor is a versatile video editor with standard and advanced video editing features balanced properly. The open-source software allows multi-track timeline and supports dual monitor setup for video editing. The user interface is simple, and you can configure it as per your preference.

Kdenlive supports a wide range of video and audio files, and you can use configurable keyboard shortcuts for easy operation. The automatic backup feature is highly useful in the professional video editing world. Similarly, the presence of keyframe-based effects and advanced effects can make a video stand out.

Reason to Choose:-

• Multi-track timeline for working with multiple video and audio clips.
• Keyframeable effects, transitions, color correction and unlimited online resources.
• Vast set of options for creating stunning texts and titles.
• Smooth preview, configurable interface, and automatic backup.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Lacks GPU acceleration and hence, slow response at times.
• Speed adjustment effect is not efficient.

# For Advanced Users

4. OpenShot

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux, Chrome OS

Best for: Best open source editor for all desktop users

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5

OpenShot is a cross-platform, open-source video editor where you can work on one project on different operating systems. It works on keyframe animation framework, and you can choose from different interpolations. The platform offers you to work with unlimited video and audio clips as well as layers.

You can perform all the basic video editing operations as well as go for advanced editing. The features and tools are well-balanced for regular as well as professional video editing. Starting from video effects and audio mixing to chroma key and time-mapping, everything is available under one roof.

Reason to Choose:-

• Basic video editing with panning, zooming, and scrolling features.
• Wide range of transitions, effects, time and speed control.
• Time-mapping, audio mixing, overlays, and composting.
• Supports 3D animations and objects, templates for titles and sub-titles.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Hardware acceleration is not very powerful.
• Not suitable for 4K video editing as it gets extremely slow.

5. Shotcut

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: Best for video editors who love filters and effects

G2 rating: 4.2 out of 5

Shotcut is another open-source and cross-platform video editor with a professional user interface. The software supports importing different file formats of video and audio files. It is suitable for editing 4K videos, and it is a full-fledged audio editor as well.

Its vast video filters and effects are comparable to premium video editors. You can work with multi-track timeline and keyframes with markers and rangers. Besides, you can keep notes on your project easily. Overall, it is a balanced video editor in terms of features and functionalities.

Reason to Choose:-

• Wide categories of video effects, transitions, and filters.
• Multi-track and multi-format timeline and detailed audio editor.
• Standard and advanced editing options with hardware acceleration.
• Export video in high-resolution and in different formats.

Reason to Avoid:-

• The user interface can take some time to get used to.
• The stock media library is rather limited.

6. NATRON

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: Best open-source video editor with visual effects

G2 rating: 3.5 out of 5

NATRON is a robust video editor with powerful tracking tool for 2D and planar tracking. You can work with multiple layers and clips and avail various keying options on your video editing project. In fact, it is a full-fledged video compositing software for better video production with multi-layer structure.

The hardware acceleration of the software produces faster rendering. You get to work with presets, tracker nodes, rotoscoping, multi-plane and motion editing. The option of multi-view workflow along with real-time playback is extremely useful while editing multicam videos.

Reason to Choose:-

• Superior visual effects and motion editing.
• Multi-tasking with multi-view workflow.
• Option of rotoscoping and python scripting.
• Supports different open-source plugins.

Reason to Avoid:-

• The user interface is quite advanced and needs some learning time.
• It gets unstable and slow while previewing high-resolution videos.

Part 4: Freemium and Freeware Video Editors

Freeware video editors are available completely free of cost and they are mostly exclusive to a certain operating system. On the other hand, freemium video editors have certain features completely free while it charges users a small fee for certain advanced features. Here is the list of the best freemium and freeware video editors.

# For Beginner Users

7. ActivePresenter

Compatibility: Windows and Mac

Best for: best video editing software for learning videos.

G2 rating: 4.5 out of 5

ActivePresenter from AtomiSystems is a video editor with screen recording options. The software is particularly useful in making and editing learning videos. There are different templates available for editing videos quickly. Besides, you can use the platform for standard editing options for any video.

Starting from working with multiple timelines to making videos interactive and responsive, there are various out-of-box features. Moreover, you can edit your audio and export your edited video in different file formats.

Reason to Choose:-

• Multiple timelines for editing various video and audio clips.
• Basic video and audio editing options and greenscreen effects.
• Webcam and screen recording with audio from different sources.
• Export videos with different file formats, HTML, xAPI, SCORM and much more.

Reason to Avoid:-

• The learning curve is slightly steep.
• Not suitable for editing all types of videos.

8. Microsoft Photos

Compatibility: Windows

Best for: best built-in video editor for Windows users

G2 rating: 4.6 out of 5

Microsoft Photos is the inbuilt video editor for Windows users. The app comes pre-installed in Windows and it is mostly used for viewing photos. But there is an inbuilt video editor where you can do the basic video editing works.

You can trim a video, add texts, and apply 3D effects as well as different filters available. There are also options for rotating videos, applying background music and customizing audio. The user interface is very simple for all users.

Reason to Choose:-

• Instant basic video editing options available.
• Apply effects, filters, as well as music.
• Simple and intuitive user interface for everyone.
• Comes pre-installed and completely free of cost.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Very limited video editing options.
• Very limited video file formats supported.

9. iMovie

Compatibility: Mac

Best for: Best built-in video editor for Mac users

G2 rating: 4.3 out of 5

iMovie is the inbuilt video editor for Mac users as it comes pre-installed on macOS. The application is free to use and it is compatible with iPhone and iPad as well. You can perform all the basic video editing works starting from trimming to rotating videos.

Besides, there is a wide range of effects and filters available to apply on your videos. The best part is that it supports editing 4K videos. There are also various graphical elements available and you can share your video easily on different platforms.

Reason to Choose:-

• Trim, rotate, split and crop videos easily.
• Work across Mac, iPhone and iPad seamlessly.
• Wide range of effects, filters, and objects available.
• Supports editing 4K videos without any lag.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Lacks advanced editing options though it is a dedicated video editor.
• Supports very limited video file formats.

# For Advanced Users

10. Lightworks

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: best for social media video creators

G2 rating: 3.5 out of 5

Lightworks is a freemium video editor where most features are reserved for premium users. If you are a social media creator or learning video creator, Lightworks Create is best for you. If you are a professional video creator, you should opt for Lightworks Pro.

The software supports almost all file formats, and you can export videos on social media instantly. The timeline is advanced with proxy editing, autosave and background processing features. You can share projects with your teammates and work collaboratively.

Reason to Choose:-

• Powerful and advanced timeline for quick editing.
• Motion graphics and tilting along with advanced metadata.
• Flexible user interface with proxy workflow and storyboard bin.
• Suitable for collaborating works and cloud storage.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Can crash while working with 4K videos.
• Limited options for advanced video editing.

11. VideoPad

Compatibility: Windows

Best for: best video editor for short video creators.

G2 rating: 4.1 out of 5

VideoPad by NCH Software is an intuitive video editor that supports over 60 different video file formats. There are tools available for basic editing such as trimming and cropping. Besides, there are various effects and transitions available to apply on your video.

The video editor also lets you edit audio files and you can edit 360-degree videos as well. There are video stabilization and chroma key effect available. The video editor is available free for non-commercial use with certain limitations that you can overcome with its premium plan.

Reason to Choose:-

• Edit in Storybook or Timeline mode and perfect all basic editing works.
• Audio editing options with different audio effects.
• Add 3D video effects, special filters, and change video speed.
• Supports a wide range of video file formats.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Can crash while editing 4K videos.
• Lacks advanced editing options.

12. VSDC Free Video Editor

Compatibility: Windows only.

Best for: Free feature-rich video editing suite

G2 rating: 4.0 out of 5

VSDC Free Video Editor is a free suite that includes both video and audio editor. You can use the software for recording screen as well as voiceovers. The software is suitable for low-end computers as it is a lightweight application.

Apart from basic editing, you can edit 360 videos. Starting from color correction and zooming to split-screen effect and chroma key, it is full-fledged feature-rich software. For more advanced features, you can opt for VSDC Video Editor Pro version.

Reason to Choose:-

• Zooming, panning, and color correction options.
• Wide range of effects and filters present.
• Chrome key option as well as 360 degree video editing.
• Work with multiple layers and sync objects perfectly.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Lacks advanced video editing options.
• No masking or video stabilization option available.

Part 5: Proprietary Video Editing Software

If you are a regular video creator and you want to invest in video editing to improve the quality of your video content, you have to opt for a proprietary video editing software. All professional video creators prefer proprietary video editing software over freeware and freemium video editors. Here are the best premium video videos with the most advanced video editing options.

# For Beginner Users

13. Filmora

Compatibility: Windows and Mac.

Best for: Best video editors for YouTubers and vloggers

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5

Wondershare Filmora is a feature-rich video editor but an intuitive user interface. Therefore, it is perfectly suitable for beginners who want all the features and tools for advanced video editing without a steep learning curve. Filmora is also useful if you want to record screen or webcam video.

Starting from tons of video effects and transitions to a large stock library and graphical elements, Filmora is tailor-made for editing all types of videos. It also supports a wide range of file formats and you can edit 4K videos as well as audio files comfortably.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

Reason to Choose:-

• Trim, split, join, crop and work with multiple video and audio clips.
• Large collection of video and audio effects, transitions, and graphical elements.
• Large stock library of free media files and animations.
• Work with multiple layers and clips effortlessly on its smooth timeline.

Reason to Avoid:-

• The processing time for videos could be on the higher side.

14. Camtasia

Compatibility: Windows and Mac.

Best for: Teachers and students to edit tutorial videos

G2 rating: 4.6 out of 5

Camtasia by Techsmith is a premium video editor and it is equally popular as a video recorder. It is particularly useful for recording and editing tutorial videos as there are different templates available. Coming to video editing part, you can perform all the basic video editing works instantly.

There are various trendy effects, transitions, and presets available. You can remove green screen and apply different frames for video compatibility on different devices. Besides, you can upload the editing video different on different platforms instantly.

Reason to Choose:-

• Quick trimming, splitting, cropping options.
• Large collection of templates and presets.
• Wide range of effects, annotations, and transitions.
• Import, export, and share different file formats.

Reason to Avoid:-

• No motion tracking option.
• Reports of frequent crashes.

15. Final Cut Pro

Compatibility: Mac only.

Best for: best professional video editors for Mac users

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5

Final Cut Pro from Apple is an extremely popular premium video editor among professional video creators who are Mac users. It is a powerful and advanced video editor that can handle high resolution videos smoothly. It is a perfect mix of standard and advanced video editing features.

Starting from editing multicam and VR videos to 3D and 360 degree videos, Final Cut Pro is suitable for all. There are unlimited presets and effects present and you can edit 4K videos as well as large video files smoothly.

Reason to Choose:-

• Basic and advanced video and audio editing features.
• Supports editing all the different video types such as 3D, 4K, VR videos.
• Supports plug-ins, external tools and cinematic effects.
• Renders high resolution, large video files in short time.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Learning curve is quite steep.
• Pricing is on the higher side.

# For Beginner Users

16. Adobe Premiere Pro

Compatibility: Windows only.

Best for: best professional video editing software for most people

G2 rating: 4.5 out of 5

Adobe Premiere Pro is the ultimate video editor in the professional video editing world. You get all the different advanced features of video editing packed in the application. Even though the learning curve is steep, Adobe Premiere Pro is one of the most used video editors in professional video creation.

Adobe Premiere Pro supports all the different video file formats and you can edit various videos simultaneously. It is a perfect tool for editing a large video project collaboratively. It supports editing VR videos, 3D videos, as well as multicam videos.

Reason to Choose:-

• Standard and advanced editing options with quick rendering.
• Suitable for multi-tasking and collaborative work in video editing.
• Supports almost all types of videos and audio file formats.
• Flexible and configurable user interface and advanced timeline.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Learning curve is very steep.
• Not suitable for low-end computers.

17. Vegas Pro

Compatibility: Windows only.

Best for: Video & audio editing for professionals

G2 rating: 4.2 out of 5

Vegas Pro from Sony is a professional video and audio editor. You can work with multiple video and audio files and you can choose from timeline or storyboard layout. In fact, there are options for nested timeline and multicam editing. The customized workflow and layouts make the application suitable for everyone.

You can enhance your video with its large collection of filters, effects, and titles. There are options for keyframing, scene detection, color correction, and light adjustments. The artificial intelligence makes editing faster with automation control.

Reason to Choose:-

• Powerful timeline and storyboard mode with keyframing.
• Advanced HDR color correction and grading.
• Artificial intelligence for quick and repeated editing.
• Multicam editing, motion tracking, and support for 3D videos.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Stability of the application is questionable.
• Pricing is steep and lacks tutorial guide.

18. Hitfilm Express

Compatibility: Windows and Mac

Best for: Best for video effects lovers

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5

Hitfilm Express is particularly popular for its unlimited video effects that make the video stand out easily. The user interface is quite simple to use, and you can apply effects to turn your raw video into professional video instantly. In fact, it has the largest VFX toolkit with industry-grade effects.

You can edit 4K videos, and there are options for motion tracking and video animations. You can also opt for color correction and grading. You can also edit vertical videos and upload them on social media platforms. You can also edit audio clips and use composting and layering features to enhance your video.

Reason to Choose:-

• Advanced timeline for better workflow.
• Standard and advanced video editing options.
• Largest collection of video effects of different categories.
• Color grading, correction, and free training and support.

Reason to Avoid:-

• Lacks green screen editing option.
• Rendering is not always swift.

Part 6: How to Choose the Suitable Video Editor?

The most important part of video editing is to choose the most suitable video editor for your videos. Here are some important factors to consider while choosing a video editor.

1. Budget and Price: If you are getting started, you can opt for a free video editor. But eventually, you have to go for a premium video editor if you are serious about video editing. You should opt for that video editor that fits your budget and offers more features for the price charged in comparison to its competitors.

2. Learning Curve: You should always opt for a video editor that has a low learning curve. If the video editor is complicated to operate, you will get frustrated, and you won’t be able to unlock the full potential of the video editor. Besides, you will have to lose a lot of time in learning and perfecting the usage of the application.

3. Stock Library: The video editor you are choosing must have a sizeable stock media library. A stock library is where you can find video clips and audio clips that are free to use for everyone. You can incorporate them into your video to enhance the content quality and bring variety to your audiences.

4. Audio control: Video editing is incomplete without proper audio editing. Your video editor should have a separate timeline for audio clips so that you can place them perfect to go in sync with the video clips. Some video editors have dedicated options for audio mixing and editing as per requirements.

5. upport video formats: Your video editor must support a wide range of video file formats that you have to include from time to time. If it supports only the popular file formats, you will not be able to include the interesting videos you may get from different sources which the video editor does not support.

6. Software stability: If you need to edit high-resolution videos, you have to ensure that the video editor you are choosing can stay stable throughout. There are many popular video editors available that become unstable while editing and rendering high-resolution videos. You have to read reviews to come to a conclusion about software stability.

7. Customer Support: Last but most importantly, your video editor must have a good customer support team. In your video editing journey, you will need the help of technical customer support to clarify issues related to the software so that you can excel in your video editing sessions.

Part 7: Video Editing Tips for Beginners

Here are some basic video editing tips that you should keep in mind while editing any video.

1. Try Tight Cuts: Your video should not be too long so that it gets boring for the viewers. Therefore, you have to make tight cuts which means you have to cut out pauses, gaps between dialogs, and anything that is unnecessary for viewers. If you think that tight cuts will take more time than usual, you can consider reshooting the part to save time.

2. Put The Story Before The Footage: When you are shooting a planned video, you must be shooting the video with multiple cameras from different angles. While editing and choosing the perfect angle for a certain video segment, you have to select the one that enhances the story you are telling through your video. For example, in an interview video, you should know when to emphasize and show close angles to capture the emotion of the speaker.

3. Chop Out Mistakes: The most basic work in video editing is to cut out the mistakes. This is because you are sure to make mistakes while shooting, and you will reshoot a lot of mistakes to correct them. Therefore, take your time to chop out mistakes but make sure that the video feels continuous, and if required, you can reshoot. To avoid mistakes in action, you can use different camera angles, blur portions, and bleep out certain words.

4. Learn to use color: Color correction and adjustment is a majorly neglected part of video editing that can make your video different from others. When you are shooting in outdoor conditions, the color of the video could get disturbed depending on the color of your dress as well as your surrounding. While editing, you need to correct them so that the video looks visually pleasing to the eyes.

5. Cut to music: Audio plays a very important role in any video, and hence, you should not neglect it. Always opt for a video editor that has a good collection of stock music so that you can apply them to your video in appropriate places. Music helps to break the monotony and grab the attention of the audience instantly.

6. Back up your work: It takes hours to shoot a video but only a second to lose it. Instead of blindingly relying on your storage device, you should take back up of your work on multiple devices. Taking backup in the cloud storage area is the best option as you can access your work from anywhere.

Part 8: Frequently Asked Questions of Video Editor

What is the best video editor?

Wondershare Filmora is the best video editor as it has the perfect mix of standard and advanced video editing options. The user interface is intuitive and easy to operate for every video creator.

What editor do YouTubers use on PC?

The most commonly used video editors by YouTubers are Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere Pro and Filmora. Unless you are a pro in video editing, we recommend Filmora and Shotcut for your YouTube videos.

How can I edit videos for free?

If you are a Windows user, you can use Microsoft Photos and Openshot for editing your videos for free. For Mac users, iMovie is the best free video editor with balanced features.

Does Windows 10 have a free video editor?

Yes, Windows 10 does come with a free video editor and it is called Microsoft Photos. You can edit your photos and videos with the application.

Is Filmora Free?

No, Filmora is a premium video editor. However, you can download its free trial version to understand its features and functionalities. Thereafter, you can purchase its premium plan as per your suitability.

Detailed Tutorial to Crop Videos Using Openshot?

OPENSHOT is a free and open source video editing software that can be used to create or edit videos for various purposes. It provides the users with some special features like easy trimming, splitting and merging of clips, etc. By using Openshot, you can easily crop your short video (a clip) and also resize it.

OpenShot is freely available for Windows, Mac, and Linux platforms. You can download the software from Openshot official web page given below.

To install the program follow the steps mentioned below:

1. OpenShot can be downloaded from the website <www.openshot.org>. After opening your browser, you have to select your operating system (Windows, Mac, or Linux).

2. Now you have to choose the correct download link for your computer. You can find 32 bit and 64-bit Openshot software there.

3. Once you have downloaded this software, then open it using a double click on its icon.

4. then a dialog box will open up on your screen, asking you to choose the language. You can select any of them based on your requirements.

5. Now another dialog box will appear on your screen asking you to give the location where you want to install this software. To install it in the default location, simply click on the “Next” button.

6. Now Openshot is successfully installed on your computer.

Openshot provides some special features like easy trimming, splitting and merging of clips, etc. You can easily cut or crop a part of your video by using its editing tools such as Crop (To remove unwanted black borders), Trim (To remove the unwanted front and end parts of your video clip).

Step-by-step on how to crop videos using Openshot?

To crop your short video (a clip) and also resize it, follow the steps given below:

Step 1: Open OpenShot Video Editor. Go to Applications> Education> OpenShot Video Editor.

Step 2: Import your video in Openshot. Under the “Project files” tab, you can either right click on your mouse and an Import Files command will show up, click it and choose the video that you want to import.

Step 3: Then, go to the “Effects” tab.

Step 4: From the list of options, you have to choose “Crop” option and drag it to the clip that you want to crop.

Step 5: After dragging it, you will see a letter ‘C’ on the clip which means crop. Right click on it and you will see few selections. Select ‘Properties’.

Step 6: Under ‘Properties’, you will see a ‘Selection’ drop down. Choose ‘Crop’. You can utilize it to adjust to your preferred video size, a video preview will show on the right side of the screen.

Step 7: You can also use the crop frame that will appear on your screen with some handles around it. You can drag these handles from four corners to resize the frame according to the content you want to crop.

Step 8: Once you have cropped your video, then go to the “File” tab in the uppermost part of the editor and select the “Save as” option and save your file.

In conclusion, follow the steps given above to crop your video, resize it and save your work.

There is a better way to do it which using Filmora. It is an online video editing software that allows its users to create videos for various purposes. It provides the users with some special features like easy trimming, splitting and merging of clips, etc. By using Filmora, you can easily crop your short video (a clip) and also resize it.

An easier way to crop video using Filmora

Wondershare Filmora Video Editor is a software created for use on Windows, designed to edit videos. It has many of the features of Adobe Premiere, but it is free.

It supports the following formats: AVI, MP4, WMV, MKV, MOV, FLV and 3GP.

Wondershare Filmora is different than most video editors in that it does not use timelines. Instead, the user edits clips in a storyboard and adds effects and titles to them. It also has an Audio Visualization feature that plays back music in your collection and shows what you’re listening to in real time. There is no voice-over tool and it is not possible to add an audio track.

Wondershare Filmora has a very large number of effects, all editable via keyframes. These include simple motion graphics such as fades and dissolves, but it also includes advanced options like motion blur and chroma-key. There are free downloadable effects, which are created by users.

Wondershare Filmora supports text editing and there is a large library of free fonts available for download on its website. It does not support green-screening/chroma-keying. This can be done in post production via Adobe Premiere or other software.

It also has the ability to add a number of different titles, which can be stacked and moved around in 3D space.

Wondershare Filmora allows you to import photos for use in slideshows and effects. Every clip or image can have its own effect applied to it if desired.

After editing, the project is rendered in real time with no waiting. You can also choose to render only part of the video by selecting the time range.

One final bonus is Wondershare Filmora’s media library, which allows users to add files from their computer and sort them by category. This makes finding your desired video a much easier task.

This software has a very simple interface that is easy to navigate, even for beginners. The design of the program makes it intuitive enough that you can start editing videos right away without having to go through tutorials. It is easy to create the desired effects and titles that you need for your video with just a few clicks. Its editing tools are powerful enough for professional use while still being easy to learn.

The one downside is that Wondershare Filmora does not support 4K resolution—the maximum output size is 1080p.

Free Download

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Free Download

For macOS 10.14 or later

Step-by-step on how to crop videos using Filmora?

To crop your short video (a clip) and also resize it, follow the steps given below:

Step 1: Open Filmora video editor. Go to the ‘Home’ menu and click on ‘Open Project’ or go to File > Open Project. Now, select your *.AVI or *.MP4 file.

Step 2: Click Alt + C in your keyboard. A small pop-out will show, it is for the command Crop and Zoom.

Step 3: Drag the corners of the frame to resize the size of your video or adjust position by dragging the handles. You can crop off anything outside this frame and hit “OK”.

Step 4: Adjust the crop and zoom as you like and finally, click on ‘Save Project As’ to export your video.

You can download Filmora free video editor from the official website easily. Just visit the behind-the-link and click on ‘Download’ to get the installer file. Once you have downloaded it, you need to install Filmora software on your computer to start using it.

Step 3: Then, go to the “Effects” tab.

Step 4: From the list of options, you have to choose “Crop” option and drag it to the clip that you want to crop.

Step 5: After dragging it, you will see a letter ‘C’ on the clip which means crop. Right click on it and you will see few selections. Select ‘Properties’.

Step 6: Under ‘Properties’, you will see a ‘Selection’ drop down. Choose ‘Crop’. You can utilize it to adjust to your preferred video size, a video preview will show on the right side of the screen.

Step 7: You can also use the crop frame that will appear on your screen with some handles around it. You can drag these handles from four corners to resize the frame according to the content you want to crop.

Step 8: Once you have cropped your video, then go to the “File” tab in the uppermost part of the editor and select the “Save as” option and save your file.

In conclusion, follow the steps given above to crop your video, resize it and save your work.

There is a better way to do it which using Filmora. It is an online video editing software that allows its users to create videos for various purposes. It provides the users with some special features like easy trimming, splitting and merging of clips, etc. By using Filmora, you can easily crop your short video (a clip) and also resize it.

An easier way to crop video using Filmora

Wondershare Filmora Video Editor is a software created for use on Windows, designed to edit videos. It has many of the features of Adobe Premiere, but it is free.

It supports the following formats: AVI, MP4, WMV, MKV, MOV, FLV and 3GP.

Wondershare Filmora is different than most video editors in that it does not use timelines. Instead, the user edits clips in a storyboard and adds effects and titles to them. It also has an Audio Visualization feature that plays back music in your collection and shows what you’re listening to in real time. There is no voice-over tool and it is not possible to add an audio track.

Wondershare Filmora has a very large number of effects, all editable via keyframes. These include simple motion graphics such as fades and dissolves, but it also includes advanced options like motion blur and chroma-key. There are free downloadable effects, which are created by users.

Wondershare Filmora supports text editing and there is a large library of free fonts available for download on its website. It does not support green-screening/chroma-keying. This can be done in post production via Adobe Premiere or other software.

It also has the ability to add a number of different titles, which can be stacked and moved around in 3D space.

Wondershare Filmora allows you to import photos for use in slideshows and effects. Every clip or image can have its own effect applied to it if desired.

After editing, the project is rendered in real time with no waiting. You can also choose to render only part of the video by selecting the time range.

One final bonus is Wondershare Filmora’s media library, which allows users to add files from their computer and sort them by category. This makes finding your desired video a much easier task.

This software has a very simple interface that is easy to navigate, even for beginners. The design of the program makes it intuitive enough that you can start editing videos right away without having to go through tutorials. It is easy to create the desired effects and titles that you need for your video with just a few clicks. Its editing tools are powerful enough for professional use while still being easy to learn.

The one downside is that Wondershare Filmora does not support 4K resolution—the maximum output size is 1080p.

Free Download

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Free Download

For macOS 10.14 or later

Step-by-step on how to crop videos using Filmora?

To crop your short video (a clip) and also resize it, follow the steps given below:

Step 1: Open Filmora video editor. Go to the ‘Home’ menu and click on ‘Open Project’ or go to File > Open Project. Now, select your *.AVI or *.MP4 file.

Step 2: Click Alt + C in your keyboard. A small pop-out will show, it is for the command Crop and Zoom.

Step 3: Drag the corners of the frame to resize the size of your video or adjust position by dragging the handles. You can crop off anything outside this frame and hit “OK”.

Step 4: Adjust the crop and zoom as you like and finally, click on ‘Save Project As’ to export your video.

You can download Filmora free video editor from the official website easily. Just visit the behind-the-link and click on ‘Download’ to get the installer file. Once you have downloaded it, you need to install Filmora software on your computer to start using it.

Step 3: Then, go to the “Effects” tab.

Step 4: From the list of options, you have to choose “Crop” option and drag it to the clip that you want to crop.

Step 5: After dragging it, you will see a letter ‘C’ on the clip which means crop. Right click on it and you will see few selections. Select ‘Properties’.

Step 6: Under ‘Properties’, you will see a ‘Selection’ drop down. Choose ‘Crop’. You can utilize it to adjust to your preferred video size, a video preview will show on the right side of the screen.

Step 7: You can also use the crop frame that will appear on your screen with some handles around it. You can drag these handles from four corners to resize the frame according to the content you want to crop.

Step 8: Once you have cropped your video, then go to the “File” tab in the uppermost part of the editor and select the “Save as” option and save your file.

In conclusion, follow the steps given above to crop your video, resize it and save your work.

There is a better way to do it which using Filmora. It is an online video editing software that allows its users to create videos for various purposes. It provides the users with some special features like easy trimming, splitting and merging of clips, etc. By using Filmora, you can easily crop your short video (a clip) and also resize it.

An easier way to crop video using Filmora

Wondershare Filmora Video Editor is a software created for use on Windows, designed to edit videos. It has many of the features of Adobe Premiere, but it is free.

It supports the following formats: AVI, MP4, WMV, MKV, MOV, FLV and 3GP.

Wondershare Filmora is different than most video editors in that it does not use timelines. Instead, the user edits clips in a storyboard and adds effects and titles to them. It also has an Audio Visualization feature that plays back music in your collection and shows what you’re listening to in real time. There is no voice-over tool and it is not possible to add an audio track.

Wondershare Filmora has a very large number of effects, all editable via keyframes. These include simple motion graphics such as fades and dissolves, but it also includes advanced options like motion blur and chroma-key. There are free downloadable effects, which are created by users.

Wondershare Filmora supports text editing and there is a large library of free fonts available for download on its website. It does not support green-screening/chroma-keying. This can be done in post production via Adobe Premiere or other software.

It also has the ability to add a number of different titles, which can be stacked and moved around in 3D space.

Wondershare Filmora allows you to import photos for use in slideshows and effects. Every clip or image can have its own effect applied to it if desired.

After editing, the project is rendered in real time with no waiting. You can also choose to render only part of the video by selecting the time range.

One final bonus is Wondershare Filmora’s media library, which allows users to add files from their computer and sort them by category. This makes finding your desired video a much easier task.

This software has a very simple interface that is easy to navigate, even for beginners. The design of the program makes it intuitive enough that you can start editing videos right away without having to go through tutorials. It is easy to create the desired effects and titles that you need for your video with just a few clicks. Its editing tools are powerful enough for professional use while still being easy to learn.

The one downside is that Wondershare Filmora does not support 4K resolution—the maximum output size is 1080p.

Free Download

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Free Download

For macOS 10.14 or later

Step-by-step on how to crop videos using Filmora?

To crop your short video (a clip) and also resize it, follow the steps given below:

Step 1: Open Filmora video editor. Go to the ‘Home’ menu and click on ‘Open Project’ or go to File > Open Project. Now, select your *.AVI or *.MP4 file.

Step 2: Click Alt + C in your keyboard. A small pop-out will show, it is for the command Crop and Zoom.

Step 3: Drag the corners of the frame to resize the size of your video or adjust position by dragging the handles. You can crop off anything outside this frame and hit “OK”.

Step 4: Adjust the crop and zoom as you like and finally, click on ‘Save Project As’ to export your video.

You can download Filmora free video editor from the official website easily. Just visit the behind-the-link and click on ‘Download’ to get the installer file. Once you have downloaded it, you need to install Filmora software on your computer to start using it.

Step 3: Then, go to the “Effects” tab.

Step 4: From the list of options, you have to choose “Crop” option and drag it to the clip that you want to crop.

Step 5: After dragging it, you will see a letter ‘C’ on the clip which means crop. Right click on it and you will see few selections. Select ‘Properties’.

Step 6: Under ‘Properties’, you will see a ‘Selection’ drop down. Choose ‘Crop’. You can utilize it to adjust to your preferred video size, a video preview will show on the right side of the screen.

Step 7: You can also use the crop frame that will appear on your screen with some handles around it. You can drag these handles from four corners to resize the frame according to the content you want to crop.

Step 8: Once you have cropped your video, then go to the “File” tab in the uppermost part of the editor and select the “Save as” option and save your file.

In conclusion, follow the steps given above to crop your video, resize it and save your work.

There is a better way to do it which using Filmora. It is an online video editing software that allows its users to create videos for various purposes. It provides the users with some special features like easy trimming, splitting and merging of clips, etc. By using Filmora, you can easily crop your short video (a clip) and also resize it.

An easier way to crop video using Filmora

Wondershare Filmora Video Editor is a software created for use on Windows, designed to edit videos. It has many of the features of Adobe Premiere, but it is free.

It supports the following formats: AVI, MP4, WMV, MKV, MOV, FLV and 3GP.

Wondershare Filmora is different than most video editors in that it does not use timelines. Instead, the user edits clips in a storyboard and adds effects and titles to them. It also has an Audio Visualization feature that plays back music in your collection and shows what you’re listening to in real time. There is no voice-over tool and it is not possible to add an audio track.

Wondershare Filmora has a very large number of effects, all editable via keyframes. These include simple motion graphics such as fades and dissolves, but it also includes advanced options like motion blur and chroma-key. There are free downloadable effects, which are created by users.

Wondershare Filmora supports text editing and there is a large library of free fonts available for download on its website. It does not support green-screening/chroma-keying. This can be done in post production via Adobe Premiere or other software.

It also has the ability to add a number of different titles, which can be stacked and moved around in 3D space.

Wondershare Filmora allows you to import photos for use in slideshows and effects. Every clip or image can have its own effect applied to it if desired.

After editing, the project is rendered in real time with no waiting. You can also choose to render only part of the video by selecting the time range.

One final bonus is Wondershare Filmora’s media library, which allows users to add files from their computer and sort them by category. This makes finding your desired video a much easier task.

This software has a very simple interface that is easy to navigate, even for beginners. The design of the program makes it intuitive enough that you can start editing videos right away without having to go through tutorials. It is easy to create the desired effects and titles that you need for your video with just a few clicks. Its editing tools are powerful enough for professional use while still being easy to learn.

The one downside is that Wondershare Filmora does not support 4K resolution—the maximum output size is 1080p.

Free Download

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Free Download

For macOS 10.14 or later

Step-by-step on how to crop videos using Filmora?

To crop your short video (a clip) and also resize it, follow the steps given below:

Step 1: Open Filmora video editor. Go to the ‘Home’ menu and click on ‘Open Project’ or go to File > Open Project. Now, select your *.AVI or *.MP4 file.

Step 2: Click Alt + C in your keyboard. A small pop-out will show, it is for the command Crop and Zoom.

Step 3: Drag the corners of the frame to resize the size of your video or adjust position by dragging the handles. You can crop off anything outside this frame and hit “OK”.

Step 4: Adjust the crop and zoom as you like and finally, click on ‘Save Project As’ to export your video.

You can download Filmora free video editor from the official website easily. Just visit the behind-the-link and click on ‘Download’ to get the installer file. Once you have downloaded it, you need to install Filmora software on your computer to start using it.

Easy Ways to Remove Motion Blur In Photoshop

The motion blur effect is created in photos when the picture is taken in poor light conditions or due to a fast-moving object. Moreover, if the shutter speed of the camera is too low, it will also produce a motion blur effect. In such a situation, the captured picture may look out of focus and tedious. In order to fix this issue, this article can help you.

By reading this article, you can learn how to remove motion blur in Photoshop with simple steps. Moreover, we will also provide the best alternatives to Photoshop that you can utilize to remove motion blur from your photos.

1. IMAGamigo
2. Vance.AI
3. AKVIS Refocus AI

• Bonus Tip – How to Add Motion Blur to Your Images?

Part 1: How to Remove the Motion Blur in Photoshop?

To fix a motion blur in an image, you would require a professional tool such as Adobe Photoshop . Photoshop is a well-recognized tool comprising tons of features for image editing and graphic designing. It offers selection tools that enable you to choose the specific parts of a photo efficiently. You can also add layers to your photo to modify and edit specific areas of the image.

You can also apply appealing filters from this platform to transform an ordinary image drastically. Moreover, using this precise tool, you can also fix motion blur in Photoshop. You can choose the blurry areas of your photo through its selection tools. Thus, with a few clicks, you can eliminate the flaws from your image easily.

Steps to Fix Motion Blur in Photos Using Photoshop

If you are new to Photoshop and don’t know how to fix motion blur in photos, then follow the instructions described below:

Step1 Open the Photoshop tool on your PC or Mac and upload your photo. From the “Layers” section, press “Ctrl + J” or “Command + J” to copy the first layer. Afterward, convert the first layer by choosing the option “Smart Object.”

Step2 Now head to the “Filter” section and tap on “Sharpen” to proceed. Afterward, proceed with the option of “Shake Reduction” by clicking on it. Now Photoshop will automatically reduce the blur effect. From the displayed panel, uncheck the option called “Artifact Suppression.”

Step3 To continue, open the “Advanced” tab from the left panel and enhance the size of your rectangular. Manage the position of the rectangle according to your preference. By doing so, you can see the details of the image clearly.

Step4 From the left panel, manage the options like “Blur Trace Bounds” and “Smoothing” according to your desire. Once done, press the “OK” button. For adding more modifications, add a blank layer and choose the “Clone Stamp Tool.” Afterward, select “Soft Round Brush” from the general brushes.

Step5 Now adjust the Opacity to 100% and Flow to 50%. Moreover, select “Current & Below” as the sample. Press the Alt key to take a sample of any flawless part of your photo and apply it to the blurry area. Make sure that the color of the sample taken is the same as the blurry area in the photo.

Part 2: Remove the Motion Blur with an Alternative to Photoshop

It may be possible that you don’t get satisfactory results from Photoshop removing motion blur. Or, if you find the interface of Photoshop intimidating, it can affect your productivity. For your assistance, this section will bring you the best alternatives to Photoshop.

1. IMAGamigo

IMAGamigo is an online tool that allows you to perform different operations on pictures efficiently. To fix motion blur, it offers a Deblurrer feature. Using this feature, you can automatically remove blur from your photos without any external effort. It also provides other distinct features such as Background Remover, Restorer, Colorizer, Upscale, etc.

To use this tool, first, navigate to its official website. From its tools, select “Deblurrer” to proceed. A new window will open on your screen instantly. Scroll down a little bit and locate the area saying, “Drop Image Here.” Click on this area and upload your image. Afterward, the tool will automatically start analyzing the picture. Once the process gets finished, click on the Download button to save your photo.

2. Vance.AI

This online platform is also a well-trusted tool by professionals and content creators. It provides AI-supported tools such as AI Image Denoiser, AI Image Upscaler, AI Photo Enhancer, etc. You can use its AI Image Sharpener to eliminate motion blur from pictures. It supports all popular image file formats, such as JPEG, PNG, and JPG. Thus, without any installations, you can quickly utilize this tool to fix motion blur photos.

To use this tool, access the official webpage of Vance.AI and select the “AI Image Sharpener” feature. Once done, click on the “Upload Image” option and import your blurry photo. Afterward, a new window will be open from which you can adjust the settings. Select the “Sharpen” option and choose the preferred Sharpen Mode. Afterward, click on the “Start to Process” option. Once the process ends, you can download the picture with a single click.

3. AKVIS Refocus AI

AKVIS is an offline tool that produces high-end results at a fast processing speed. You can find multiple options in this tool, such as Airbrush, Retoucher, Sketch, Decorator, etc. When it comes to fixing blurry pictures, this tool provides an exclusive feature called “Refocus AI.” Through this feature, you can instantly increase the sharpness of your photo. Also, it offers different modes such as Motion Blur, Radial Blur, Refocus-AI, and Tilt-Shift.

To fix motion blur:

Step1 Launch this tool and navigate to its Refocus AI option.

Step2 Select Refocus AI as your mode and upload the blurry picture. The default preset will be AKVIS Default AI.

Step3 Disable the “Image Sharpening” feature and navigate to the “Motion Deblur AI” section.

Step4 From there, adjust your Focus accordingly.

Step5 For more enhancements, enable the Image Sharpening feature and adjust the parameters.

Bonus Tip – How to Add Motion Blur to Your Images?

Do you want to add motion blur to your images? Many people like to intentionally add a motion blur effect in their images to add an artistic element. If you are interested in doing so, the best desktop tool you can try is Wondershare Filmora . This tool offers trending and high-quality effects that you can easily apply to your images.

Free Download For Win 7 or later(64-bit)

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

To add a motion blur effect:

Step1 Launch Filmora and create a new project.

Step2 Import your photo on this tool and drop it into the timeline.

Step3 Split the clip where you want to add the blur effect.

Once done, go to the Effects tab and search “Blur.” By doing so, you would be able to check all the blur effects on your screen. Choose and apply the blur effect to the split part of your clip. Once done, hit the Export button.

Conclusion

Photoshop is an excellent tool to edit and modify your pictures in great quality. You can use this article to take guidance to remove motion blur from photos. However, if you are not getting desired results from Photoshop, we have also provided the best alternatives to Photoshop to remove motion blur. Moreover, to create a motion blur effect in your images, you can explore the Wondershare Filmora tool.

Part 1: How to Remove the Motion Blur in Photoshop?

To fix a motion blur in an image, you would require a professional tool such as Adobe Photoshop . Photoshop is a well-recognized tool comprising tons of features for image editing and graphic designing. It offers selection tools that enable you to choose the specific parts of a photo efficiently. You can also add layers to your photo to modify and edit specific areas of the image.

You can also apply appealing filters from this platform to transform an ordinary image drastically. Moreover, using this precise tool, you can also fix motion blur in Photoshop. You can choose the blurry areas of your photo through its selection tools. Thus, with a few clicks, you can eliminate the flaws from your image easily.

Steps to Fix Motion Blur in Photos Using Photoshop

If you are new to Photoshop and don’t know how to fix motion blur in photos, then follow the instructions described below:

Step1 Open the Photoshop tool on your PC or Mac and upload your photo. From the “Layers” section, press “Ctrl + J” or “Command + J” to copy the first layer. Afterward, convert the first layer by choosing the option “Smart Object.”

Step2 Now head to the “Filter” section and tap on “Sharpen” to proceed. Afterward, proceed with the option of “Shake Reduction” by clicking on it. Now Photoshop will automatically reduce the blur effect. From the displayed panel, uncheck the option called “Artifact Suppression.”

Step3 To continue, open the “Advanced” tab from the left panel and enhance the size of your rectangular. Manage the position of the rectangle according to your preference. By doing so, you can see the details of the image clearly.

Step4 From the left panel, manage the options like “Blur Trace Bounds” and “Smoothing” according to your desire. Once done, press the “OK” button. For adding more modifications, add a blank layer and choose the “Clone Stamp Tool.” Afterward, select “Soft Round Brush” from the general brushes.

Step5 Now adjust the Opacity to 100% and Flow to 50%. Moreover, select “Current & Below” as the sample. Press the Alt key to take a sample of any flawless part of your photo and apply it to the blurry area. Make sure that the color of the sample taken is the same as the blurry area in the photo.

Part 2: Remove the Motion Blur with an Alternative to Photoshop

It may be possible that you don’t get satisfactory results from Photoshop removing motion blur. Or, if you find the interface of Photoshop intimidating, it can affect your productivity. For your assistance, this section will bring you the best alternatives to Photoshop.

1. IMAGamigo

IMAGamigo is an online tool that allows you to perform different operations on pictures efficiently. To fix motion blur, it offers a Deblurrer feature. Using this feature, you can automatically remove blur from your photos without any external effort. It also provides other distinct features such as Background Remover, Restorer, Colorizer, Upscale, etc.

To use this tool, first, navigate to its official website. From its tools, select “Deblurrer” to proceed. A new window will open on your screen instantly. Scroll down a little bit and locate the area saying, “Drop Image Here.” Click on this area and upload your image. Afterward, the tool will automatically start analyzing the picture. Once the process gets finished, click on the Download button to save your photo.

2. Vance.AI

This online platform is also a well-trusted tool by professionals and content creators. It provides AI-supported tools such as AI Image Denoiser, AI Image Upscaler, AI Photo Enhancer, etc. You can use its AI Image Sharpener to eliminate motion blur from pictures. It supports all popular image file formats, such as JPEG, PNG, and JPG. Thus, without any installations, you can quickly utilize this tool to fix motion blur photos.

To use this tool, access the official webpage of Vance.AI and select the “AI Image Sharpener” feature. Once done, click on the “Upload Image” option and import your blurry photo. Afterward, a new window will be open from which you can adjust the settings. Select the “Sharpen” option and choose the preferred Sharpen Mode. Afterward, click on the “Start to Process” option. Once the process ends, you can download the picture with a single click.

3. AKVIS Refocus AI

AKVIS is an offline tool that produces high-end results at a fast processing speed. You can find multiple options in this tool, such as Airbrush, Retoucher, Sketch, Decorator, etc. When it comes to fixing blurry pictures, this tool provides an exclusive feature called “Refocus AI.” Through this feature, you can instantly increase the sharpness of your photo. Also, it offers different modes such as Motion Blur, Radial Blur, Refocus-AI, and Tilt-Shift.

To fix motion blur:

Step1 Launch this tool and navigate to its Refocus AI option.

Step2 Select Refocus AI as your mode and upload the blurry picture. The default preset will be AKVIS Default AI.

Step3 Disable the “Image Sharpening” feature and navigate to the “Motion Deblur AI” section.

Step4 From there, adjust your Focus accordingly.

Step5 For more enhancements, enable the Image Sharpening feature and adjust the parameters.

Bonus Tip – How to Add Motion Blur to Your Images?

Do you want to add motion blur to your images? Many people like to intentionally add a motion blur effect in their images to add an artistic element. If you are interested in doing so, the best desktop tool you can try is Wondershare Filmora . This tool offers trending and high-quality effects that you can easily apply to your images.

Free Download For Win 7 or later(64-bit)

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

To add a motion blur effect:

Step1 Launch Filmora and create a new project.

Step2 Import your photo on this tool and drop it into the timeline.

Step3 Split the clip where you want to add the blur effect.

Once done, go to the Effects tab and search “Blur.” By doing so, you would be able to check all the blur effects on your screen. Choose and apply the blur effect to the split part of your clip. Once done, hit the Export button.

Conclusion

Photoshop is an excellent tool to edit and modify your pictures in great quality. You can use this article to take guidance to remove motion blur from photos. However, if you are not getting desired results from Photoshop, we have also provided the best alternatives to Photoshop to remove motion blur. Moreover, to create a motion blur effect in your images, you can explore the Wondershare Filmora tool.

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