While some paid video editing applications offer extra features and capabilities, you don’t need to spend any money to create professional videos.
In fact, both professionals and home users have more choices than ever when it comes to free video editing.
Let’s take a look at 14 of the most powerful free video editing platforms to consider in 2024 and beyond.
Note that you may need video translation services and/or a separate audio editing program for more involved projects.
iMovie is a free video editing application that comes pre-installed on every Mac computer.
Along with the desktop client, iMovie is also available on both iPads and iPhones through the App Store.
With a familiar interface and no installation needed, it’s the simplest way for Mac users to start video editing.
Additionally, you can upload iMovie videos directly to YouTube or Vimeo, making it easy to get your content online.
Of course, the downside is that iMovie isn’t available on Windows, Linux, Android, or any operating system that isn’t developed by Apple.
Using a different operating system? Skip to the next entries below for a free iMovie alternative.
Lightworks is another popular video editor that’s available as a free download.
You can use it on most desktop operating systems like Mac, Windows, and Linux, but there is no mobile version.
Despite being free to use, Lightworks offers a deep toolkit including transitions, timeline-based editing, cloud and local storage, and no watermarks on the final product.
If you need more functionality, you can upgrade to Lightworks Create or Pro on a monthly, annual, or lifetime basis.
Create costs $9.99 per user per month, $99.99 per user per year, or $159.99 per user for a lifetime license.
Those rates increase to $23.99, $239.99, and $389.99 for the Pro tier, but Lightworks often runs sales with significant discounts.
Note that the monthly and annual options will end up costing more than a lifetime license in under two years.
You should opt for lifetime access if you think you’ll continue using Lightworks for a long period of time.
Like Lightworks, DaVinci Resolve is a video editing platform with free and paid options.
You can also get hardware including an editing keyboard, speed editor, advanced panel, channel fader, audio accelerator, and more.
These devices can supplement your editing software and help you develop even more interesting projects.
The DaVinci Resolve client is currently available for Mac, Windows, and Linux.
It comes with flexible editing features such as trimming, cutting, and multicam editing plus color correction, post-production audio optimization, and more.
DaVinci Resolve also includes unique collaboration tools that enable large teams to work together on a shared project.
Lifetime access to DaVinci Resolve Studio currently runs $295, but most users will be fine without a premium license.
The benefits of the paid option are mostly advanced features like stereoscopic 3D, additional audio plugins, and improved HDR grading.
VSDC is a popular free video editor that supports every version of Windows going back to XP SP3 including Vista, 7, 8, and 10.
However, there is no support for either Mac or Linux devices, so those users will need to look for an alternative.
The VSDC client comes with five types of visual effects: color correction, object transformation, object filters, transition effects, and special effects.
Users can also quickly create masks to hide or emphasize specific elements of the shot.
Furthermore, VSDC offers powerful motion tracking functionality, making it easy to pin elements to the motion of a specific object.
As with iMovie, you can upload the finished product directly to YouTube from within the VSDC application.
Like Lightworks and DaVinci Resolve, VSDC offers a premium tier for users who need more than the free version offers.
Blender is a free, open-source video editing platform that’s available for Linux, Mac, and Windows.
Unlike most other free video editing software, Blender doesn’t offer any paid subscriptions or add-ons.
This means that all users have access to the same set of features.
Blender’s greatest strength is arguably its support for 3D editing.
Users can draw directly in a 3D space, opening up opportunities to experiment with both 2D and 3D designs.
Blender also includes a surprisingly powerful suite of animation tools including an animation pose editor and non-linear animation controls for independent movement.
Developers and other advanced users can use Python scripting to customize the application and add to its native toolkit.
As an open-source platform, Blender has benefitted from contributions from hundreds of home users who have introduced a variety of new features.
It may not be as easy to learn as more popular platforms like iMovie, but it’s one of the most robust and flexible free video editors currently available.
HitFilm Express is another video editing platform with both free and paid options.
It supports Mac OS 10.13 and up as well as Windows 8 and 10, but there is currently no Linux client.
The free version comes with basic features like motion tracking, animation, 4K export, and a library of effects and transitions.
Like Lightworks, HitFilm Express offers two paid subscriptions: Creator and Pro.
Creator runs $12.99 per user per month or $7.99 per month paid annually.
It comes with premium support, 4K exports, image editing, and access to additional assets.
At $19.99 per user per month/$12.99 paid annually, Pro includes 8K exports, more assets, and support for 3D object editing.
With that in mind, the free version should be enough for most video editing projects — as long as you’re OK with standard HD quality.
OpenShot is a free and open-source video editor with no paid option (although you can support the developers with a donation if you wish).
It supports all versions of Windows going back to 7 as well as Mac OS 10.15 and most distributions of Linux.
OpenShot’s collection of visual effects are impressive for a free service, and it also stands out for its continual updates.
Like other open-source platforms, OpenShot depends on user contributions to keep the application moving forward
It’s worth noting that some users have reported significant slowdowns.
Keep an eye out for any performance issues, especially if you’re using OpenShot on an older device.
VideoPad is a video editing platform that supports Mac and Windows as well as iOS and Android.
You won’t need to pay for a license unless you’re using VideoPad for commercial projects or you need access to advanced features.
VideoPad works with virtually every major video format including avi, mp4, and mpeg — even VHS and DV camcorders.
It also offers full 4K video along with 3D video editing and 2D to 3D stereoscopic conversion.
Furthermore, VideoPad users can access an asset library that includes sound effects, video transitions, and themed templates.
You can even add MixPad multi-track mixing software for more robust audio editing features.
Unfortunately, VideoPad’s pricing system is highly ambiguous.
The homepage says that the free version is “available for non-commercial use only,” but it doesn’t say which features are included.
You can also buy a license for the “Home Edition” for $70 per year.
This tier is described as “fully featured,” but with no external plugins and just two audio tracks.
However, there’s no information about which features are missing in the free plan or the number of audio tracks.
The Master’s Edition comes in at $129 per year with no monthly or lifetime option.
ShotCut is another free and open-source option that works well for both beginners and experienced video editors.
It’s currently available for Mac (11-14), Windows (64-bit 10-11), and Linux (64-bit with at least glibc 2.31).
ShotCut has already received two updates in 2024, illustrating their continuing commitment to the user experience.
It supports most popular image formats such as GIF, JPEG, PNG, BMP, SVG, and TIFF.
With audio editing features like filters, mixing, fading, and pitch compensation, you won’t need third-party software for audio optimization.
ShotCut also stands out for its unique commitment to translations, supporting more than 30 languages.
WeVideo is a video editor with both free and paid options.
With dedicated solutions for businesses, educational institutions, and other organizations, it’s ideal for brand development.
WeVideo comes with over one million stock assets to help creators develop content without paying for third-party assets.
Unlike some competitors, WeVideo is available on iOS and Android as well as Mac, OS, Linux, and even ChromeOS.
The free tier comes with 1 GB of cloud storage, but it also limits users to 480p resolution.
This makes it a less practical choice compared to platforms that offer free plans with full HD video.
Free members are also limited to 5 minutes of publishing time per month, plus watermarks on all exports.
With that in mind, WeVideo is a better choice for users who are willing to pay for one of the premium plans.
Paid subscriptions start at $9.99 per month for the Power tier, or $4.99 per month when billed annually.
Power comes with 30 minutes of published content per month, 20 GB of cloud storage, non-branded exporting, and up to 720p content.
Subsequent plans include Unlimited ($15.99 per month), Professional ($39.99 per month), and Business ($73.99 per month).
Both the Professional and Business tiers support 4K content plus social media uploads and unlimited stock assets.
The Business tier is designed for enterprise users with features like access permissions, customizable templates, and multi-user collaboration.
Filmora is a video editor that supports Windows and macOS going back to Windows 7 and macOS 10.12.
There’s also a mobile client for iOS and Android.
Similar to WeVideo, free Filmora users will see a Filmora watermark in their finished content.
Furthermore, the free version doesn’t come with any cloud storage.
Overall, it’s more like a glorified free trial than a standalone product.
Filmora offers a highly informative learning and support center with text and video guides for editors of all experience levels.
Paid licenses are available for $49.99 per quarter or $69.99 per year, and a single license can be used across all platforms.
Naturally, the annual license is a much better deal unless you only need Filmora for a single quarter.
You can get a lifetime license for a one-time payment of $109.99, but this only works on macOS.
If you need more than just video editing, you can bundle Filmora with other Wondershare applications like Filmstock, FilmoraGo, PixCut, PixStudio, DemoCreator, and UniConverter.
There are also dedicated subscription options for business and education.
InVideo is a unique video editing service that specifically caters to businesses and organizations.
It includes over 5,000 content templates and flexible customization options to help users create better content.
You can even use the text-to-video tool to quickly develop professional videos based on blog posts and other text content.
InVideo will match relevant images to your text and create a natural-sounding voiceover.
On the other hand, InVideo lacks some of the video editing tools of more well-rounded competitors.
For example, it’s missing 4K support as well as basic tools like stabilization and color correction.
With that in mind, it’s best for users who have footage ready and simply need to turn it into a professional video.
You should consider one of the alternatives we’ve mentioned if you need more powerful editing features.
Like some other services, InVideo limits free users by applying watermarks to all of their videos.
Free users are also restricted to 10 GB of cloud storage, no premium templates, and 10 minutes of AI generation per week.
At $20 per user per month billed annually, the Plus subscription offers unlimited exports, 100 GB of cloud storage, 50 minutes of AI generation weekly, premium templates, and other advanced features like priority support and 80 iStock assets per month.
Max ($48 per user per month billed annually) supports 320 monthly iStock assets, 200 weekly AI generation minutes, and 400 GB of cloud storage.
Take some time to play around with the free tool before paying for a full year of either premium subscription.
Adobe Premiere Rush is a streamlined alternative to Adobe Premiere Pro, one of the most popular video editors.
New subscribers can export up to three videos and use up to 2 GB of cloud storage at no charge.
Premiere Rush is currently available for Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android, but not Linux.
It’s designed for seamless editing across desktop and mobile, so it’s ideal for people who work on different devices throughout the day.
With 100 GB of cloud storage included in the premium subscription, you can edit on one device and pick up where you left off on another.
Premiere Pro subscribers can also import Rush projects into Pro in order to continue with more flexible editing tools.
Premiere Rush is available in the Adobe Express subscription ($9.99 per month) as well as Premiere Pro ($22.99 per month).
Alternatively, you can get access to all Adobe creative apps for one monthly payment of $59.99 per month.
Vimeo Create is another good choice for businesses and organizations that need to craft video content for brand development.
With a templates covering everything from tutorials and slideshows to seasonal promotions and birthday deals, you can find something for virtually any project.
Like InVideo, Vimeo Create lags behind when it comes to general video and audio editing.
Without fundamental capabilities like stabilization, audio editing, color correction, and multicam editing, you may need to use another application for more involved projects.
Instead, Vimeo Create focuses on customization for things like fonts and color schemes.
Free users are limited to one seat, three total uploads, and basic editing tools.
At $12 per user per month billed annually, Starter allows users to upload up to 60 videos, remove the Vimeo watermark, leverage automated captions, and more.
All paid users can also publish to Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest, and Shopify through the Vimeo application.
Standard ($20 per user per month billed annually) raises the upload limit to 120 videos and adds other helpful features like stock assets, custom branding, and search engine optimization.
Finally, Advanced comes with up to 500 uploads, additional marketing integrations, support for webinars and virtual events, and more business-oriented features for $65 per user per month billed annually.
You can start with a 30-day free trial of any of the paid subscriptions.
Vimeo also offers enterprise solutions for organizations that need dedicated support, security tools, and other features that aren’t available with Advanced.
FlexClip is a browser-based AI video editing service with both free and paid options.
It stands out for its collection of millions of stock assets that can be added to your content with a quick search.
If you’re not sure where to start, you can choose from 5000+ video templates in various categories.
FlexClip’s AI functionality includes image generation, text-to-video, background removal, and more.
The free tier is limited to 720p downloads, ten-minute video length, and 12 total projects with one stock video and one stock audio per project.
Plus ($9.99 per month billed annually) offers much more functionality including 1080p downloads, 30 GB of cloud storage, custom branding, and unlimited projects with five audio + five video assets each.
As you might expect, your options will be more limited if you’re looking for a free video editing platform.
Still, there are some solid choices that offer more than enough for most editing projects.
The right one depends on which restrictions you’re willing to deal with.
For example, the Lightworks free tier comes with a robust set of editing tools, but exports are limited to 720p resolution.
On the other hand, DaVinci Resolve offers 2160p resolution for free users, but the free plan is missing many advanced features that are only available with the paid Studio version.
Hopefully, this list will help you find a platform that meets your needs.
Did you like this article? Have any other suggestions? Let us know in the comments.
1 Comments
Thank you so much for your feedback!