Exploring the Top Professional Tools to Perform Mask Tracking

Mask tracking refers to editing a specific part of a video without overlapping. Masking helps with creative transitions and background removal with ease. The integration of AI technology in masking tools has made masking more accessible. They help with masking an object or landscape with precision.

In addition, you can correct the colors of a specific part through a motion tracking mask. In this article, we’ll discuss masker tracking using three different software. Two of those software are renowned for their professionalism and precision. We’ll discuss masking in Adobe After Effects , Adobe Premiere Pro , and an alternative.

AI Smart Masking Spice up your video content with the endless possibilities of AI masking functions!

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Part 1: Working Out the Comprehensive Methods to Perform Mask Tracking on Adobe After Effects

Adobe After Effects is a powerful tool for mask tracking and other functions. The interface of this tool tailors your content to your needs with precision. The process of masking is convenient and accessible and provides accurate results. Its advanced masking options, like filling up the mask, add a realistic touch. Before learning about masking in After Effects, let’s discuss some of its features:

• Text Animations: Animating your text in Adobe After Effects is a comprehensive experience. It is because the software has amazing text fonts and animation options. You can also set the appearance settings like opacity, color, and more text. In addition, the software has pre-installed effects and presets to ease the process.
• VFX/Visual Effects: Elevate your images and videos using Adobe’s amazing visual elements. It can eliminate mistakes, and results are so promising that they become invisible. You can use the mask tracking effect to hide and fill objects. In addition, you can turn your transitions into high-resolution 3D or 4D videos.
• Motion Graphics: It moves anything with its motion graphics functionality and advanced keyframing. Along with animating text, the feature allows you to move the logos. You can move a logo on any background from top to bottom or left to right. With its flickering and wiggling effects, make animations without keyframing.
• Rotoscoping: This After Effects function eliminates using green screens in your videos. Using the pen tool, you can merge a different object in a different footage. Afterward, you can polish the mask by resizing and adjusting opacity values.
• Motion Tracking: Elevate the graphics of your videos using the motion tracking feature. This function connects any image with an object’s motion. Therefore, your images become animated and add a creative element to the content. Its cloud collaboration with other software allows users to download assets.

Step-by-Step Procedure for Masking in Adobe After Effects

Now that you know the After Effects masker line tracking feature, let’s move forward. Read the following guide to learn more about masking:

Step 1

After importing your clip into the timeline, select it in the timeline panel. Navigate towards the upper toolbar and select the “Pen Tool” option. Afterward, create a mask around the object that you want to remove.

Step 2

You’ll see a mask around the object, and the rest of the screen will disappear. Navigate to the timeline panel, expand the video track options, and select “Mask.” Click the “Mask” navigation arrow and select “None.”

Step 3

Click the “Mask” button and select the “Track Mask” option. A mask tracker window will appear on the right side; expand the “Method” option. Following that, select the type of masking you want, like “Position.” Play the video from beginning to end for motion detection. Afterward, change the “Mask” mode to “Add” to apply masking.

Step 4

Afterward, change the Mask mode to “Subtract” from the timeline. Now, navigate towards the topmost toolbar and expand the “Window” tab. From the expansion menu, click the “Content-Aware Fill” option.

Step 5

Move towards the “Mask” option, expand “Mask Path,” and change the values below. Now, go to the right side, increase “Alpha Expansion,” and click “Generate Fill Layer.” Once the mask tracking completes, download your video.

Part 2: Providing a Detailed Guide on How to Do Mask Tracking with Adobe Premiere Pro

Adobe Premiere Pro is one of the industry’s leading tools for editing videos. It offers a wide range of features and built-in effects to elevate content. The software offers precise editing capabilities for mask tracking and other enhancements. In addition, it has many visual, video, and audio effects and presets to apply. Let’s discuss some key features of this tool that make it worthy of being top:

• Motion Graphics Templates: With its seamless After Effect collaboration, it offers built-in templates. These templates include multiple text, shapes, and graphics. You can also customize these templates as per content relevancy and taste.
• Edit Audio: Premiere Pro has multiple audio editing options to maintain audio quality. The tool allows you to decrease the volume of one track while increasing others. In addition, you can make audio adjustments that fit a sound.
• Color Correction: Enhance the graphical element in your videos using this feature. It offers both color correction and enhancing capabilities. You can employ this color correction if you have overexposed or underexposed videos.
• Movie and Film Editing: A professional editor offers applications in the media industry. The Premiere Pro offers seamless collaboration with all video and audio formats. In addition, it can import files from all sources like DSLRs and more.
• Speech to Text: It doesn’t just limit you to video editing but also offers transcript creation. The software analyzes your footage’s audio and creates transcripts. Afterward, you can use them as subtitles and captions.

Step-by-Step Procedure for Masking in Premiere Pro

After introducing mask tracking in Adobe Premiere Pro, let’s progress further. Continue reading the following guide to gain a deeper understanding of masking:

Step 1

After importing your video in the timeline, select it and navigate towards the toolbar. In the “Edit > Effect” section, select “Lumetri Color” under “Video Effects.” Then, select the mask option under Lumetri colors and set it on the screen.

Step 2

Then, apply the color correction options on the masked areas.

Step 3

Select “Mask Path” under the Mask section and play it upon color correcting. This will start the mask tracking throughout the clip. The color corrections will be applied to the masked area throughout the video.

Part 3: Make Mask Tracking Easy with Wondershare Filmora: Working Out the Details

The above-mentioned mask tracking software is professional but is difficult to comprehend. This software is not compatible in terms of convenience. This was when users needed software with easy access and an editing interface. Wondershare Filmora performs diverse creation and editing tasks with expertise. The software assists in diverse audio, video, and text-editing tasks.

The AI-backed algorithms have made achieving perfection in your editing task seamless. In Filmora’s new V13 upgrade, it has introduced an AI masking feature. This feature offers to mask character or subject and auto-analyzes the selected area. In addition, for manual motion tracking masks, users can also resize the mask brush.

Step-by-Step Guide to AI Masking in Filmora

To understand this mask tracking feature better, we have assembled the steps of it. In the following guide, you will learn about accessing and applying this tool:

Step 1Place Media to the Timeline

Upon entering Filmora, click the “New Project” button and access its editing interface. Go to the Project Media section and click the “Import” button. Afterward, import your file and bring it to the timeline using your cursor.

Step 2Access and Employ AI Masking

Select the video in the timeline and navigate towards the right-side settings panel. In the “Video” tab, you’ll find the “Mask” section. Under this section, select the “AI Mask” option and scroll down to adjust its settings. Expand the “AI Mask” section, and choose the options you want masking for. Once you see the masked results on the preview screen, adjust the other settings below.

Step 3Save the Settings and Export

Afterward, click the “Save as custom” button to save these settings as a preset for later use. Further, make other adjustments and click on the “Export” button to finalize.

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

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

Additional Editing Features of Wondershare Filmora

Along with masker line tracking, there are other video editing and AI features of Filmora. Keep reading the below section to know more about them:

• AI Text-to-Video
• AI Copilot Editing
• Screen Recorder
• Remove Video Background
• Silence Detection

1. AI Text-to-Video

Turn your words into graphics using this generative AI of Filmora. It transforms your textual directions into videos, along with images and voices. Using this AI will save you the effort of creating or hiring a professional.

2. AI Copilot Editing

Why spend hours exploring Filmora’s interface when you can have your guide? The AI Copilot acts like your personal chatbot assistant. You can converse with it like regular people, and it will show you directions on the feature. In addition, it features buttons to employ a specific effect or function.

3. Screen Recorder

Are you a creator who uploads video tutorials and educational videos? You can use Filmora’s screen recorder to create content in a seamless manner. It offers microphone recording and webcam recording for maximum interactivity. In addition, you can adjust custom screen resolution settings and more.

4. Video Background Remover

Leave the effort of adding a green screen in your background during video creation. Filmora’s AI technology can remove video backgrounds without any flaws. Users can replace the background with solid colors, gradients, and more afterward.

5. Silence Detection

Those long or short pauses during video recording are annoying for your audience. They decline the quality of the video and ultimately decline audience engagement. To remove such pauses, use Filmora silence detection AI to auto-eliminate them.

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

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

Conclusion

In this article, users have gained insights into top mask tracking software. Along with their applications, the article discussed how to access and apply masking. However, masking in the first two tools can be difficult for some people. Hence, we introduced Wondershare Filmora as an easy desktop alternative. If you want to employ an easy motion tracking mask, use this versatile software.

Free Download Free Download Learn More

Part 1: Working Out the Comprehensive Methods to Perform Mask Tracking on Adobe After Effects

Adobe After Effects is a powerful tool for mask tracking and other functions. The interface of this tool tailors your content to your needs with precision. The process of masking is convenient and accessible and provides accurate results. Its advanced masking options, like filling up the mask, add a realistic touch. Before learning about masking in After Effects, let’s discuss some of its features:

• Text Animations: Animating your text in Adobe After Effects is a comprehensive experience. It is because the software has amazing text fonts and animation options. You can also set the appearance settings like opacity, color, and more text. In addition, the software has pre-installed effects and presets to ease the process.
• VFX/Visual Effects: Elevate your images and videos using Adobe’s amazing visual elements. It can eliminate mistakes, and results are so promising that they become invisible. You can use the mask tracking effect to hide and fill objects. In addition, you can turn your transitions into high-resolution 3D or 4D videos.
• Motion Graphics: It moves anything with its motion graphics functionality and advanced keyframing. Along with animating text, the feature allows you to move the logos. You can move a logo on any background from top to bottom or left to right. With its flickering and wiggling effects, make animations without keyframing.
• Rotoscoping: This After Effects function eliminates using green screens in your videos. Using the pen tool, you can merge a different object in a different footage. Afterward, you can polish the mask by resizing and adjusting opacity values.
• Motion Tracking: Elevate the graphics of your videos using the motion tracking feature. This function connects any image with an object’s motion. Therefore, your images become animated and add a creative element to the content. Its cloud collaboration with other software allows users to download assets.

Step-by-Step Procedure for Masking in Adobe After Effects

Now that you know the After Effects masker line tracking feature, let’s move forward. Read the following guide to learn more about masking:

Step 1

After importing your clip into the timeline, select it in the timeline panel. Navigate towards the upper toolbar and select the “Pen Tool” option. Afterward, create a mask around the object that you want to remove.

Step 2

You’ll see a mask around the object, and the rest of the screen will disappear. Navigate to the timeline panel, expand the video track options, and select “Mask.” Click the “Mask” navigation arrow and select “None.”

Step 3

Click the “Mask” button and select the “Track Mask” option. A mask tracker window will appear on the right side; expand the “Method” option. Following that, select the type of masking you want, like “Position.” Play the video from beginning to end for motion detection. Afterward, change the “Mask” mode to “Add” to apply masking.

Step 4

Afterward, change the Mask mode to “Subtract” from the timeline. Now, navigate towards the topmost toolbar and expand the “Window” tab. From the expansion menu, click the “Content-Aware Fill” option.

Step 5

Move towards the “Mask” option, expand “Mask Path,” and change the values below. Now, go to the right side, increase “Alpha Expansion,” and click “Generate Fill Layer.” Once the mask tracking completes, download your video.

Part 2: Providing a Detailed Guide on How to Do Mask Tracking with Adobe Premiere Pro

Adobe Premiere Pro is one of the industry’s leading tools for editing videos. It offers a wide range of features and built-in effects to elevate content. The software offers precise editing capabilities for mask tracking and other enhancements. In addition, it has many visual, video, and audio effects and presets to apply. Let’s discuss some key features of this tool that make it worthy of being top:

• Motion Graphics Templates: With its seamless After Effect collaboration, it offers built-in templates. These templates include multiple text, shapes, and graphics. You can also customize these templates as per content relevancy and taste.
• Edit Audio: Premiere Pro has multiple audio editing options to maintain audio quality. The tool allows you to decrease the volume of one track while increasing others. In addition, you can make audio adjustments that fit a sound.
• Color Correction: Enhance the graphical element in your videos using this feature. It offers both color correction and enhancing capabilities. You can employ this color correction if you have overexposed or underexposed videos.
• Movie and Film Editing: A professional editor offers applications in the media industry. The Premiere Pro offers seamless collaboration with all video and audio formats. In addition, it can import files from all sources like DSLRs and more.
• Speech to Text: It doesn’t just limit you to video editing but also offers transcript creation. The software analyzes your footage’s audio and creates transcripts. Afterward, you can use them as subtitles and captions.

Step-by-Step Procedure for Masking in Premiere Pro

After introducing mask tracking in Adobe Premiere Pro, let’s progress further. Continue reading the following guide to gain a deeper understanding of masking:

Step 1

After importing your video in the timeline, select it and navigate towards the toolbar. In the “Edit > Effect” section, select “Lumetri Color” under “Video Effects.” Then, select the mask option under Lumetri colors and set it on the screen.

Step 2

Then, apply the color correction options on the masked areas.

Step 3

Select “Mask Path” under the Mask section and play it upon color correcting. This will start the mask tracking throughout the clip. The color corrections will be applied to the masked area throughout the video.

Part 3: Make Mask Tracking Easy with Wondershare Filmora: Working Out the Details

The above-mentioned mask tracking software is professional but is difficult to comprehend. This software is not compatible in terms of convenience. This was when users needed software with easy access and an editing interface. Wondershare Filmora performs diverse creation and editing tasks with expertise. The software assists in diverse audio, video, and text-editing tasks.

The AI-backed algorithms have made achieving perfection in your editing task seamless. In Filmora’s new V13 upgrade, it has introduced an AI masking feature. This feature offers to mask character or subject and auto-analyzes the selected area. In addition, for manual motion tracking masks, users can also resize the mask brush.

Step-by-Step Guide to AI Masking in Filmora

To understand this mask tracking feature better, we have assembled the steps of it. In the following guide, you will learn about accessing and applying this tool:

Step 1Place Media to the Timeline

Upon entering Filmora, click the “New Project” button and access its editing interface. Go to the Project Media section and click the “Import” button. Afterward, import your file and bring it to the timeline using your cursor.

Step 2Access and Employ AI Masking

Select the video in the timeline and navigate towards the right-side settings panel. In the “Video” tab, you’ll find the “Mask” section. Under this section, select the “AI Mask” option and scroll down to adjust its settings. Expand the “AI Mask” section, and choose the options you want masking for. Once you see the masked results on the preview screen, adjust the other settings below.

Step 3Save the Settings and Export

Afterward, click the “Save as custom” button to save these settings as a preset for later use. Further, make other adjustments and click on the “Export” button to finalize.

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

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

Additional Editing Features of Wondershare Filmora

Along with masker line tracking, there are other video editing and AI features of Filmora. Keep reading the below section to know more about them:

• AI Text-to-Video
• AI Copilot Editing
• Screen Recorder
• Remove Video Background
• Silence Detection

1. AI Text-to-Video

Turn your words into graphics using this generative AI of Filmora. It transforms your textual directions into videos, along with images and voices. Using this AI will save you the effort of creating or hiring a professional.

2. AI Copilot Editing

Why spend hours exploring Filmora’s interface when you can have your guide? The AI Copilot acts like your personal chatbot assistant. You can converse with it like regular people, and it will show you directions on the feature. In addition, it features buttons to employ a specific effect or function.

3. Screen Recorder

Are you a creator who uploads video tutorials and educational videos? You can use Filmora’s screen recorder to create content in a seamless manner. It offers microphone recording and webcam recording for maximum interactivity. In addition, you can adjust custom screen resolution settings and more.

4. Video Background Remover

Leave the effort of adding a green screen in your background during video creation. Filmora’s AI technology can remove video backgrounds without any flaws. Users can replace the background with solid colors, gradients, and more afterward.

5. Silence Detection

Those long or short pauses during video recording are annoying for your audience. They decline the quality of the video and ultimately decline audience engagement. To remove such pauses, use Filmora silence detection AI to auto-eliminate them.

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

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

Conclusion

In this article, users have gained insights into top mask tracking software. Along with their applications, the article discussed how to access and apply masking. However, masking in the first two tools can be difficult for some people. Hence, we introduced Wondershare Filmora as an easy desktop alternative. If you want to employ an easy motion tracking mask, use this versatile software.

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.

The Ultimate Guide to Countdown Animation in Videos

Many online marketers find that the animated countdown timer is the perfect way to bring a visual element to their videos while maintaining the quality and effectiveness of the video itself.

There are many ways to show a countdown timer on videos using animated GIFs. But they can be hard to implement or could cost a lot of money. You can use some free services, but they are limited in terms of features.

But not to worry, this post will go through a detailed process of creating an animated timer with 3 different methods. Before that, let’s discuss the benefits of using a timer for videos.

1. Method 1: Make a Countdown Animation with a Professional Video Editing Software
2. Method 2: Generate the timer with Free Online Countdown Timer Video Generators
3. Method 3: Make a Countdown Timer with a Graphic Design Platform

• Top 10 animated countdown effects to make your video like a Pro

What are the benefits of using a countdown timer for videos/live streams?

Countdowns are a great way to get your message across and get your viewers excited about your product or service. A countdown timer provides a very simple visual cue to help motivate yourself and your audience to start watching the video.

It also works well with vlogs and YouTube, seamlessly transitioning from one part of your video to the next. This works best when your video isn’t about the product itself (but rather a review, a demo, or something else that lends itself well to a countdown).

As you can see, the Vlogger uses a countdown timer at the beginning of his video. Vlogger uses a countdown timer to make it appear as if the time is running out because it adds urgency and suspense. As a viewer, you’ll want to hurry up and watch this video, so you don’t miss out on anything.

Let’s now dive deep into methods of creating countdown animation for videos.

Method 1: Make a Countdown Animation with a Professional Video Editing Software

The most common trend today is video content creation, and it’s everywhere. Videos are not only entertaining, but they have a significant impact on audience retention.

With a video editor, you can create compelling content that will entice your viewers to watch the whole thing. Moreover, it can also help you get started by adding captions, transitions, effects, etc.

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

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

If you’re ready to make your next project more engaging and interactive, you can try the best video editing software, Wondershare Filmora !

Wondershare Filmora is the industry standard when it comes to editing video. The video editing software industry is filled with features that promise to be faster, smarter, and easier to use than others.

Moreover, Wondershare has Filmstock effects that have revolutionized the world of video creators.

Filmstock is a collection of videos ready to be used with Filmora that contains more than 1,000 free stock footage clips of various scenes and locations, plus video effects, transitions, and titles, to make creating professional-quality videos faster and easier.

Let’s see some of its features that help us make animation countdown timers easily.

• Rich effects for you to choose customizing countdown animation at ease.
• You’re not stuck with traditional slow motion in your videos; you can add dynamism and energy to your videos with smooth animations.
• It has various countdown animation templates simplify the whole process, just drag-and-drop, everything gets done.

How to make a countdown animation with Filmora

You’re looking for an animated countdown timer for your website or your very first YouTube video, but you want one that stands out. You don’t want your visitors to think it’s generic or boring, so you’re thinking about how to make your countdown timer more interesting.

That’s where Filmora comes in. It’s an amazing tool that makes it easy to create countdown animations on websites or videos for almost any purpose. Let’s look at how to create your own cool, creative countdown timers using Filmora.

Step1Open Filmora and import the background video file from the media section.

Step2After importing the video, go to elements options from the top tab.

Step3After choosing elements, you’ll see the countdown tab on your left. Click on the countdown and choose any animation. You can adjust the animation duration, size, and audio.

Step4Adjust the animation duration according to the background video, and finally, export your animated countdown timer.

Pros and Cons of using Video Editing Software to make a countdown animation

Pros

• You can save any countdown effects project as a project to be used in future videos.
• You can create a vision of your brand concept in your way.
• Free templates are available according to your brand and target audience.
• More stable.

Cons

• Standard out-of-the-box video editing software isn’t enough to create a professional-quality video.

Method 2: Generate the timer with Free Online Countdown Timer Video Generators

If you’re trying to catch your audience’s attention by giving them a reason to ‘countdown’ to something, then you’ll want to use a countdown timer with some great free online countdown videos.

There are many countdown timer websites like;Biteable ,Kapwing ,Movavi ,and MakeWebVideo . But we’ve rounded up the best countdown video generator site you’ll ever see:

FlexClip

FlexClip is a powerful yet easy-to-use online video editor. Its music library is versatile and high-quality. It lets you pick and add favorite tracks without infringing worries. Apply interesting editing to make your videos look better by adding transitions, filters, text, and more.

FlexClip’s biggest advantage is its extensive amount of free media assets. Whether you’re a master or rookie with FlexClip, you’re capable of producing excellent videos with music. You can be a video guru or a video beginner. You’re capable of producing awesome videos with great sound using FlexClip.

Key Features:

• Provides a complete set of video-making processes.
• A diverse range of royalty-free music selection
• Loads of handy editing tools
• Thousands of ready-made templates
• Multiple advanced features like adding text, emoji, effects, and more

How to make a countdown animation with FlexClip

The FlexClip countdown creator is a leading video editor with many powerful features. To make your countdown video, click the Create a Video button below.

Step1Set Your Countdown Video Background

Set your timer to how long you want your message to start your countdown. Usually, it’s 10 seconds.

Then add scenes and adjust the duration of scenes to make them all length. You can use the background color to make it more appealing to your audience.

Step2Highlight Your Countdown with Animated Elements

Using the amazing elements, you can make your countdown interactive and much more fun. Just go to the sidebar and switch to the Elements options. Apply the elements you want, then customize them on size, position, and color.

Step3Add the Number to Your Countdown

Now, add the numbers for the countdown, e.g., if you want a 10-second countdown, type in the number “10”. You can pick a basic text effect and manually enter the number.

After you’ve created the number, go to the timeline and control how long the number will appear and when it will disappear.

Step4Add Music or Sound Effects to Your Countdown Video

FlexClip lets you upload your audio files from a local folder, or you can select one from FlexClip’s library. Once you’re done adding the countdown music, you can trim the duration, set it to start and end at any time, and use the fade-in/out effect to make the music match your countdown. Plus, you can also adjust the volume to make the music softer.

Step5Preview and Export Your Countdown Video

You can preview it to see how the countdown video will look in the end, finally, hit export, and you’re done!

Method 3: Make a Countdown Timer with a Graphic Design Platform

Today’s graphic design platforms give designers more options than ever before, but many designers struggle to make the most of these resources. Let us share some tips and tricks on designing a countdown timer using the tools available through Canva, a graphic design platform.

Canva

Many types of graphic design software are available, and Canva is one of the best. While its critics may disagree, Canva is an undeniable tool to help millions of business owners and marketers improve their social media graphics and redesign their brand image without needing to learn graphic design.

Key Features:

• Drag and drop feature
• Free templates
• Background Removal Tool
• Canva Brand Kit
• Magic Resizing

How to make a countdown animation with Canva

Canva offers a range of great-looking countdown templates that’ll help you create one in just a few minutes. And if you need a simple countdown animation, you can download one of their free templates. Let’s make it from scratch:

Step1Select The Background

With Canva, you get a wide range of free backgrounds. Click on the button labeled “Search.” Now choose the “light old film” background element and click Add.

Step2Enter Your Text (Number)

Then select the text tab and choose any font style, color, and size.

Step3Animate Text

Next, select the font again, and then, at the top, there’s an option for Text Animation.

Adding text animation to your countdown timer will make it more realistic and match your background better than a straight-up countdown timer.

Step4Edit The Page Timing

Next, click on the “Edit Timing” option. You can set the timer for each page as per your choice

Step5Duplicate The Page

Now, select the duplicate page option and change the number of duplicate pages from 3 to 2,1, with the same design and formatting.

Step6Export / Download Video

You’re finally done! Click the Download button to export your design.

The background of this photo is not a static image, so you cannot select the JPG, PNG, or SVG. You must choose an MP4 video or a GIF when creating an animation.

Top 10 animated countdown effects to make your video like a Pro

Animated countdown effects are a great way to add some “pizzazz” to a simple video. They look awesome and are extremely effective in creating a memorable video. When used well, they can add some excitement to a boring video. We’ll go over the top 10 animated countdown effects from Filmstock

1. Cool Countdown

1. Fitness Countdown

1. Cinematic Countdown

1. Neon Countdown

1. Cyber Countdown

1. Digital Countdown Pack

1. Big Metal Countdown

1. Glitch Countdown Transition

1. Countdown To New Year

1. Flashing Light Countdown

How to use these effects in Wondershare Filmora

You can access Filmstock directly from the Filmora application or by visiting the website:

• Create a new project by clicking Filmora Video Editor in the menu.
• Select the audio effects tab, or go to the Audio tab, title tab. You will see the film stock option.
• Click the Visit Filmstock button, and you will be taken to the Filmstock website.

• Log in to Filmstock using your Wondershare account.

• After the download, the new effects will be added to your project in the appropriate section (Audio, Title, Transitions, and Elements). You’ll also be able to preview each effect from this window.

Note: It is highly recommended to log in to Filmstock and Filmora with the same Wondershare ID.

Final Words

A countdown is a powerful tool to add suspense to your videos. It gives your audience more incentive to watch your video all the way through. Get this article, as it is the ultimate guide to making your countdown animations, plus the best video editing software, Wondershare Filmora.

Wondershare Filmora is an excellent place to be creative and make some terrific countdown timers that can improve your viewers’ overall experience. Use their templates to create a strong and engaging online presence. Your audience won’t be able to resist the mesmerizing, hypnotizing, and enthralling effects of Wondershare Filmora.

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

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

What are the benefits of using a countdown timer for videos/live streams?

Countdowns are a great way to get your message across and get your viewers excited about your product or service. A countdown timer provides a very simple visual cue to help motivate yourself and your audience to start watching the video.

It also works well with vlogs and YouTube, seamlessly transitioning from one part of your video to the next. This works best when your video isn’t about the product itself (but rather a review, a demo, or something else that lends itself well to a countdown).

As you can see, the Vlogger uses a countdown timer at the beginning of his video. Vlogger uses a countdown timer to make it appear as if the time is running out because it adds urgency and suspense. As a viewer, you’ll want to hurry up and watch this video, so you don’t miss out on anything.

Let’s now dive deep into methods of creating countdown animation for videos.

Method 1: Make a Countdown Animation with a Professional Video Editing Software

The most common trend today is video content creation, and it’s everywhere. Videos are not only entertaining, but they have a significant impact on audience retention.

With a video editor, you can create compelling content that will entice your viewers to watch the whole thing. Moreover, it can also help you get started by adding captions, transitions, effects, etc.

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

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

If you’re ready to make your next project more engaging and interactive, you can try the best video editing software, Wondershare Filmora !

Wondershare Filmora is the industry standard when it comes to editing video. The video editing software industry is filled with features that promise to be faster, smarter, and easier to use than others.

Moreover, Wondershare has Filmstock effects that have revolutionized the world of video creators.

Filmstock is a collection of videos ready to be used with Filmora that contains more than 1,000 free stock footage clips of various scenes and locations, plus video effects, transitions, and titles, to make creating professional-quality videos faster and easier.

Let’s see some of its features that help us make animation countdown timers easily.

• Rich effects for you to choose customizing countdown animation at ease.
• You’re not stuck with traditional slow motion in your videos; you can add dynamism and energy to your videos with smooth animations.
• It has various countdown animation templates simplify the whole process, just drag-and-drop, everything gets done.

How to make a countdown animation with Filmora

You’re looking for an animated countdown timer for your website or your very first YouTube video, but you want one that stands out. You don’t want your visitors to think it’s generic or boring, so you’re thinking about how to make your countdown timer more interesting.

That’s where Filmora comes in. It’s an amazing tool that makes it easy to create countdown animations on websites or videos for almost any purpose. Let’s look at how to create your own cool, creative countdown timers using Filmora.

Step1Open Filmora and import the background video file from the media section.

Step2After importing the video, go to elements options from the top tab.

Step3After choosing elements, you’ll see the countdown tab on your left. Click on the countdown and choose any animation. You can adjust the animation duration, size, and audio.

Step4Adjust the animation duration according to the background video, and finally, export your animated countdown timer.

Pros and Cons of using Video Editing Software to make a countdown animation

Pros

• You can save any countdown effects project as a project to be used in future videos.
• You can create a vision of your brand concept in your way.
• Free templates are available according to your brand and target audience.
• More stable.

Cons

• Standard out-of-the-box video editing software isn’t enough to create a professional-quality video.

Method 2: Generate the timer with Free Online Countdown Timer Video Generators

If you’re trying to catch your audience’s attention by giving them a reason to ‘countdown’ to something, then you’ll want to use a countdown timer with some great free online countdown videos.

There are many countdown timer websites like;Biteable ,Kapwing ,Movavi ,and MakeWebVideo . But we’ve rounded up the best countdown video generator site you’ll ever see:

FlexClip

FlexClip is a powerful yet easy-to-use online video editor. Its music library is versatile and high-quality. It lets you pick and add favorite tracks without infringing worries. Apply interesting editing to make your videos look better by adding transitions, filters, text, and more.

FlexClip’s biggest advantage is its extensive amount of free media assets. Whether you’re a master or rookie with FlexClip, you’re capable of producing excellent videos with music. You can be a video guru or a video beginner. You’re capable of producing awesome videos with great sound using FlexClip.

Key Features:

• Provides a complete set of video-making processes.
• A diverse range of royalty-free music selection
• Loads of handy editing tools
• Thousands of ready-made templates
• Multiple advanced features like adding text, emoji, effects, and more

How to make a countdown animation with FlexClip

The FlexClip countdown creator is a leading video editor with many powerful features. To make your countdown video, click the Create a Video button below.

Step1Set Your Countdown Video Background

Set your timer to how long you want your message to start your countdown. Usually, it’s 10 seconds.

Then add scenes and adjust the duration of scenes to make them all length. You can use the background color to make it more appealing to your audience.

Step2Highlight Your Countdown with Animated Elements

Using the amazing elements, you can make your countdown interactive and much more fun. Just go to the sidebar and switch to the Elements options. Apply the elements you want, then customize them on size, position, and color.

Step3Add the Number to Your Countdown

Now, add the numbers for the countdown, e.g., if you want a 10-second countdown, type in the number “10”. You can pick a basic text effect and manually enter the number.

After you’ve created the number, go to the timeline and control how long the number will appear and when it will disappear.

Step4Add Music or Sound Effects to Your Countdown Video

FlexClip lets you upload your audio files from a local folder, or you can select one from FlexClip’s library. Once you’re done adding the countdown music, you can trim the duration, set it to start and end at any time, and use the fade-in/out effect to make the music match your countdown. Plus, you can also adjust the volume to make the music softer.

Step5Preview and Export Your Countdown Video

You can preview it to see how the countdown video will look in the end, finally, hit export, and you’re done!

Method 3: Make a Countdown Timer with a Graphic Design Platform

Today’s graphic design platforms give designers more options than ever before, but many designers struggle to make the most of these resources. Let us share some tips and tricks on designing a countdown timer using the tools available through Canva, a graphic design platform.

Canva

Many types of graphic design software are available, and Canva is one of the best. While its critics may disagree, Canva is an undeniable tool to help millions of business owners and marketers improve their social media graphics and redesign their brand image without needing to learn graphic design.

Key Features:

• Drag and drop feature
• Free templates
• Background Removal Tool
• Canva Brand Kit
• Magic Resizing

How to make a countdown animation with Canva

Canva offers a range of great-looking countdown templates that’ll help you create one in just a few minutes. And if you need a simple countdown animation, you can download one of their free templates. Let’s make it from scratch:

Step1Select The Background

With Canva, you get a wide range of free backgrounds. Click on the button labeled “Search.” Now choose the “light old film” background element and click Add.

Step2Enter Your Text (Number)

Then select the text tab and choose any font style, color, and size.

Step3Animate Text

Next, select the font again, and then, at the top, there’s an option for Text Animation.

Adding text animation to your countdown timer will make it more realistic and match your background better than a straight-up countdown timer.

Step4Edit The Page Timing

Next, click on the “Edit Timing” option. You can set the timer for each page as per your choice

Step5Duplicate The Page

Now, select the duplicate page option and change the number of duplicate pages from 3 to 2,1, with the same design and formatting.

Step6Export / Download Video

You’re finally done! Click the Download button to export your design.

The background of this photo is not a static image, so you cannot select the JPG, PNG, or SVG. You must choose an MP4 video or a GIF when creating an animation.

Top 10 animated countdown effects to make your video like a Pro

Animated countdown effects are a great way to add some “pizzazz” to a simple video. They look awesome and are extremely effective in creating a memorable video. When used well, they can add some excitement to a boring video. We’ll go over the top 10 animated countdown effects from Filmstock

1. Cool Countdown

1. Fitness Countdown

1. Cinematic Countdown

1. Neon Countdown

1. Cyber Countdown

1. Digital Countdown Pack

1. Big Metal Countdown

1. Glitch Countdown Transition

1. Countdown To New Year

1. Flashing Light Countdown

How to use these effects in Wondershare Filmora

You can access Filmstock directly from the Filmora application or by visiting the website:

• Create a new project by clicking Filmora Video Editor in the menu.
• Select the audio effects tab, or go to the Audio tab, title tab. You will see the film stock option.
• Click the Visit Filmstock button, and you will be taken to the Filmstock website.

• Log in to Filmstock using your Wondershare account.

• After the download, the new effects will be added to your project in the appropriate section (Audio, Title, Transitions, and Elements). You’ll also be able to preview each effect from this window.

Note: It is highly recommended to log in to Filmstock and Filmora with the same Wondershare ID.

Final Words

A countdown is a powerful tool to add suspense to your videos. It gives your audience more incentive to watch your video all the way through. Get this article, as it is the ultimate guide to making your countdown animations, plus the best video editing software, Wondershare Filmora.

Wondershare Filmora is an excellent place to be creative and make some terrific countdown timers that can improve your viewers’ overall experience. Use their templates to create a strong and engaging online presence. Your audience won’t be able to resist the mesmerizing, hypnotizing, and enthralling effects of Wondershare Filmora.

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

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

Leveraging the Vectorscope for Better Color Correction in Premiere Pro

Our eyes process colors differently. When two people look at the same picture, they may see different shades of colors. In post-production, Vectorscopes help to color grade and make sure you get your images exactly right. This means that you will process the exact color that you want across devices. Premiere Vectorscope is a great choice for anyone looking to correct and grade colors. Using Vectorscope Premiere allows you to get quantitative data about your image for a more accurate assessment of colors within the film. In this article, we explore what comprises Premiere Pro Vectorscope and how to use them in video editing.

Color Correction Editor An easy-to-use video editor helps you make color correction and color grading experience for videos!

Free Download Use Vectorscope in Filmora Try Color Correction

Part 1. Vectorscope: What is It and How to Read

Vectorscopes provide a great post-production way for color correction. It is video scope that provides greater data about the color properties of an image. Another way to look at it is that a Vectorscope is a circular graph, which monitors the following information of an image. By looking at it, you can measure saturation outward from the center while hue is measured in a circular pattern.

The Vectorscope contains markings indicating the degree of saturation and hue in an image. The distance of the markings from the center indicates how saturated the color is in your image. In simple terms, the further the markings, the more saturated the color. The two main options of Vectorscope are HLS and YUV. The HLS displays the hue, lightness, saturation, and signal information at a glance. On the other hand, the YUV mode contains several color boxes, giving accurate levels of hue and saturation.

Vectorscopes are useful to filmmakers and editors to ensure greater conformity in a film as they transition from one shot to the next. When the camera captures an image with too much saturation, using a Vectorscope helps to reduce the said saturation. This makes Vectorscope a useful feature for color correction and color grading. Color correction involves altering the colors of an image within a film to provide consistency and tone for the film. On the other hand, color grading is more like a supercharged version of color correction. It refers to altering a film so that it matches a tone or theme. Since the two, grading and correction are important, more video editing will use a combination of both.

How to Read a Vectorscope

Learning how to read a Vectorscope will make your video editing fun and easier. The best way is to view the Vectorscope in relation to the color wheel. When using Premiere Vectorscope, the colors are nicely labeled for anyone to understand. You only need to understand the primary colors of saturation and hue to accurately read a Vectorscope.

The hue color is the direction to which the marketer points. For instance, a marker pointing toward the boxes labeled “R” indicates that the hue is predominantly red. On the other hand, the saturation correlates to the length of the marker. The image is more saturated when the marker is furthest from the center of the wheel.

Keep note of the two boxes in each main color. The box that is close to the center indicates 75%, and you will normally avoid the marker extending beyond this first box. Any marketer that extends beyond this is known as non-broadcast safe or illegal colors. Although you may need to go beyond the first box in some projects for stylistic reasons, the general rule of thumb is to avoid that.

Without proper calibration, your images may end up looking too red or too blue. They will not look natural at all and will affect the overall quality of your video. Therefore, using the features within the vectorsope will help you color-grade your images to perfection.

Part 2. Vectorscope in Premiere Pro : A Brief Guide

Just like many other video editing software, Adobe Premiere Pro offers Vectorscope to help in post-production. The best way to look at Vectorscope in Premiere Pro is to use the Color Correction workspace. Once you have launched the software, Click Window, followed by Workspace, and then Color Correction. Access the reference monitor directly to deliver the program.

The reference monitor will first display composite video. Clicking on the setting icon allows you to access the panel and choose the video scope you want to use. Now, this is how you use the Vectorscope in Premiere Pro:

1. Reading a Vectorscope on Premiere Pro

A Vectorscope is similar to a color wheel. It displays colors in the same places as the wheel, with cyan to the bottom right and red to the top left. When you see a dot or line in the Vectorscope, you can tell it is giving you information about the color or chrominance of a shot. Essentially, this information is the hue (specific color) and the saturation (the strength of that hue).

As you examine the Vectorscope, you get to see how strong a particular color is by the length of the line from the center of the wheel. A longer line indicates that the color is more saturated. However, all Vectorscopes have small color targets. The Vectorscope points are lined with a drop-down used to read the scope. The default is set to 75%, which is a good limit for a typical broadcast system.

2. Adjusting Skin Tones

A commonly used feature of the Premier Pro Vectorscope is the Skin Tone Line. With this feature, you get the line on the scope between the Yellow and the Red sections at about 10.30 or 11 o’clock position.

The Vectorscope skin tone line represents the color of blood flowing through the skin. You can use this line to check the accuracy of skin tone color representation regardless of the ethnicity of the person you’re filming. In particular, video images are more accurate

The major problem is figuring out how to look at skin tones in a shot with many other colors. With the skin tons line in Premiere Pro, color correction becomes easy and quick. You only need to use a garbage matte, which is found under video effects then keying. Adjust the points so that they cover the skin of the person on the shot, then look at the Premiere Pro Vectorscope to see your end results.

Part 3. How to Use Vectorscope in Filmora : Step-by-Step Guide

The choice of video editing software can have an impact on how well you use your Vectorscopes. Wondershare Filmora is a great choice for anyone who wants to achieve great results with their videos. The versatile video editing software offers four types of video scopes, including the Vectorscope. This gives you more flexibility in video editing and achieving accurate results in color correction and grading. With the recent V13, you also get access to a range of AI features that make video editing quicker and easier.

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

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

Access Vectorscope on Filmora

Accessing Vectorscope in Filmora is straightforward. As part of the four available video scopes, Filmora has made it easy to use Vectorscope during video editing. Here is a step-by-step guide to follow:

Step 1Create a New Project on Filmora

Once you have downloaded and installed the Filmora software on your desktop, launch it and click Create a New Project.

Step 2Access Video Scopes

After starting a new project, head to the top right corner of the main interface. Click on the Video Scope button to launch the video scope bar on the preview screen.

Step 3Customize Video Scopes Layout Bar

Customizing the layout of the video scope bar allows you to have more freedom in using the feature. You have the option to choose from four layouts or expand the button to display the video scope’s name. The purpose of this step is to modify the display option of the video scopes, allowing you to have a clear view of what you are editing.

Step 4Manage the Vectorscope as Desired

On the preview screen, choose the Vectorscope option. This video scope allows you to define the skin tone indication for better color grading and correction.

Step 5Change Other Video Scopes

To achieve more accurate and better results, explore the other video scopes in the same window. View the color changes in your image through parade, histogram, and waveform video scopes. You can also change the color channels to view specific color changes across the video.

Conclusion

Vectorscopes are great for post-production color correction. Although lesser-known features to many people, they are widely used in video production. They ensure that the colors in your video are consistent across all clips or shots of your film. Since filming will often involve different shots and settings, we recommend using Wondershare Filmora for your video editing. It comes with an easy-to-use Vectorscope and other video scopes that help you achieve great results with color correction and grading.

Free Download Use Vectorscope in Filmora Try Color Correction

Part 1. Vectorscope: What is It and How to Read

Vectorscopes provide a great post-production way for color correction. It is video scope that provides greater data about the color properties of an image. Another way to look at it is that a Vectorscope is a circular graph, which monitors the following information of an image. By looking at it, you can measure saturation outward from the center while hue is measured in a circular pattern.

The Vectorscope contains markings indicating the degree of saturation and hue in an image. The distance of the markings from the center indicates how saturated the color is in your image. In simple terms, the further the markings, the more saturated the color. The two main options of Vectorscope are HLS and YUV. The HLS displays the hue, lightness, saturation, and signal information at a glance. On the other hand, the YUV mode contains several color boxes, giving accurate levels of hue and saturation.

Vectorscopes are useful to filmmakers and editors to ensure greater conformity in a film as they transition from one shot to the next. When the camera captures an image with too much saturation, using a Vectorscope helps to reduce the said saturation. This makes Vectorscope a useful feature for color correction and color grading. Color correction involves altering the colors of an image within a film to provide consistency and tone for the film. On the other hand, color grading is more like a supercharged version of color correction. It refers to altering a film so that it matches a tone or theme. Since the two, grading and correction are important, more video editing will use a combination of both.

How to Read a Vectorscope

Learning how to read a Vectorscope will make your video editing fun and easier. The best way is to view the Vectorscope in relation to the color wheel. When using Premiere Vectorscope, the colors are nicely labeled for anyone to understand. You only need to understand the primary colors of saturation and hue to accurately read a Vectorscope.

The hue color is the direction to which the marketer points. For instance, a marker pointing toward the boxes labeled “R” indicates that the hue is predominantly red. On the other hand, the saturation correlates to the length of the marker. The image is more saturated when the marker is furthest from the center of the wheel.

Keep note of the two boxes in each main color. The box that is close to the center indicates 75%, and you will normally avoid the marker extending beyond this first box. Any marketer that extends beyond this is known as non-broadcast safe or illegal colors. Although you may need to go beyond the first box in some projects for stylistic reasons, the general rule of thumb is to avoid that.

Without proper calibration, your images may end up looking too red or too blue. They will not look natural at all and will affect the overall quality of your video. Therefore, using the features within the vectorsope will help you color-grade your images to perfection.

Part 2. Vectorscope in Premiere Pro : A Brief Guide

Just like many other video editing software, Adobe Premiere Pro offers Vectorscope to help in post-production. The best way to look at Vectorscope in Premiere Pro is to use the Color Correction workspace. Once you have launched the software, Click Window, followed by Workspace, and then Color Correction. Access the reference monitor directly to deliver the program.

The reference monitor will first display composite video. Clicking on the setting icon allows you to access the panel and choose the video scope you want to use. Now, this is how you use the Vectorscope in Premiere Pro:

1. Reading a Vectorscope on Premiere Pro

A Vectorscope is similar to a color wheel. It displays colors in the same places as the wheel, with cyan to the bottom right and red to the top left. When you see a dot or line in the Vectorscope, you can tell it is giving you information about the color or chrominance of a shot. Essentially, this information is the hue (specific color) and the saturation (the strength of that hue).

As you examine the Vectorscope, you get to see how strong a particular color is by the length of the line from the center of the wheel. A longer line indicates that the color is more saturated. However, all Vectorscopes have small color targets. The Vectorscope points are lined with a drop-down used to read the scope. The default is set to 75%, which is a good limit for a typical broadcast system.

2. Adjusting Skin Tones

A commonly used feature of the Premier Pro Vectorscope is the Skin Tone Line. With this feature, you get the line on the scope between the Yellow and the Red sections at about 10.30 or 11 o’clock position.

The Vectorscope skin tone line represents the color of blood flowing through the skin. You can use this line to check the accuracy of skin tone color representation regardless of the ethnicity of the person you’re filming. In particular, video images are more accurate

The major problem is figuring out how to look at skin tones in a shot with many other colors. With the skin tons line in Premiere Pro, color correction becomes easy and quick. You only need to use a garbage matte, which is found under video effects then keying. Adjust the points so that they cover the skin of the person on the shot, then look at the Premiere Pro Vectorscope to see your end results.

Part 3. How to Use Vectorscope in Filmora : Step-by-Step Guide

The choice of video editing software can have an impact on how well you use your Vectorscopes. Wondershare Filmora is a great choice for anyone who wants to achieve great results with their videos. The versatile video editing software offers four types of video scopes, including the Vectorscope. This gives you more flexibility in video editing and achieving accurate results in color correction and grading. With the recent V13, you also get access to a range of AI features that make video editing quicker and easier.

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

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

Access Vectorscope on Filmora

Accessing Vectorscope in Filmora is straightforward. As part of the four available video scopes, Filmora has made it easy to use Vectorscope during video editing. Here is a step-by-step guide to follow:

Step 1Create a New Project on Filmora

Once you have downloaded and installed the Filmora software on your desktop, launch it and click Create a New Project.

Step 2Access Video Scopes

After starting a new project, head to the top right corner of the main interface. Click on the Video Scope button to launch the video scope bar on the preview screen.

Step 3Customize Video Scopes Layout Bar

Customizing the layout of the video scope bar allows you to have more freedom in using the feature. You have the option to choose from four layouts or expand the button to display the video scope’s name. The purpose of this step is to modify the display option of the video scopes, allowing you to have a clear view of what you are editing.

Step 4Manage the Vectorscope as Desired

On the preview screen, choose the Vectorscope option. This video scope allows you to define the skin tone indication for better color grading and correction.

Step 5Change Other Video Scopes

To achieve more accurate and better results, explore the other video scopes in the same window. View the color changes in your image through parade, histogram, and waveform video scopes. You can also change the color channels to view specific color changes across the video.

Conclusion

Vectorscopes are great for post-production color correction. Although lesser-known features to many people, they are widely used in video production. They ensure that the colors in your video are consistent across all clips or shots of your film. Since filming will often involve different shots and settings, we recommend using Wondershare Filmora for your video editing. It comes with an easy-to-use Vectorscope and other video scopes that help you achieve great results with color correction and grading.

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