The best free video editing software can help you create professional videos for YouTube, Instagram, Vimeo, TikTok and more – all without having to spend a dime on software.

It’s no secret that videos are more engaging than any other form of content. If you’re just getting started, you may not have a big budget for video creation. Free editing software can help you create your video content and grow your audience today.

12 Free Video Editors

1. Wave.video

Wave.video is the best free video editing software out there, and you don’t even need a high-end PC or Mac to use it. Why? Because Wave is browser-based, which means you can start editing your video content anytime, anywhere.

Because Wave is browser-based, you have more flexibility in where and how you edit your videos. Start on your desktop PC and pick up where you left off on your tablet. Wave allows you to create your videos on any internet-connected device.

With an impressive library of stock media and templates, it’s easy to create professional videos in minutes. In just a few clicks, you can resize your videos for different platforms and give your content a branded look and feel.

Wave.video is jam-packed with features that make video creation quick, easy and fun.

Features

• User-friendly interface that makes it easy for beginners to start editing videos.
• Browser-based editing, so there’s no need to download software.
• 1,000+ free professional video templates that you can customize to create attention-grabbing videos in minutes.
• 300 million stock videos, sound effects and music assets to take your video to the next level.
• Auto-generate subtitles for multiple languages to make your videos accessible to a wider audience. Automated speech-to-text conversion creates editable captions in minutes.
• Instantly resize your videos for different formats, from YouTube to TikTok, Instagram and more.
• Advanced text editing and vast font selection allow you to create eye-catching text animations and bright visuals in just a few clicks.
• Record and edit voiceovers without ever leaving the editor, or use the auto-generated voiceover and text-to-speech feature to speed up creation.

Pros

• User-friendly interface is perfect for beginners
• Impressive stock media library to enhance video content
• Professional templates take the pain out of video creation
• Automated voiceovers and subtitles save time
• No need to download software

Verdict

Wave.video is the best free editing software in 2023 because it makes the entire video creation process effortless. In minutes, you can create professional-quality videos that are ready for publishing on multiple platforms. It’s never been easier to engage your audience with video content that tells your story and builds brand awareness.

2. Animoto

Animoto is a browser-based video editing solution that has a basic free tier and multiple paid options. The platform’s drag-and-drop video editing solution makes it a beginner-friendly option for businesses and individuals.

From trimming to recording voiceovers and using templates, Animoto has a variety of features that aim to make video editing as easy as possible.

Features

• Drag-and-drop video editing using your own videos and images.
• Limited stock photo and video library.
• Cloud-based editing allows you to edit videos on any device.
• Customizable templates.
• Trim and crop your photos and images.
• Record, edit and upload voice-overs.
• 40 professional fonts.
• Add logo watermarks.
• Team collaboration through comments and feedback.

Verdict

While the platform has a powerful set of video editing tools, the free tier is quite limited. It offers just standard video quality, 3 standard fonts, 50 music tracks and 30 color swatches. Social sharing is unlimited, but you’ll have to deal with Animoto’s branding in your videos.

Although Animoto is a great video editing tool that’s easy to use, it’s not the best free option because it’s so limited.

3. iMovie

iMovie is a free video editor for Mac and iOS users. Features like a simple interface and stylized editing make it a popular choice for video editing. The app has a number of features that make it easy to create cinematic-quality video content right from your Apple device.

Features

• Magic Movie feature creates stylized videos with transitions, titles and music with just a few taps. Choose from more than 20 styles.
• Rearrange or delete clips, trim, split and more.
• Storyboards feature has premade templates for easy video creation for genres like cooking or product reviews.
• 4K video support.
• Special effects, like split-screen, green screen, picture-in-picture, slow motion and more.
• 13 video filters and 100+ smart soundtracks.
• Cloud storage allows you to edit projects on different Apple devices

Verdict

iMovie is a great video editing solution for cinematic and personal video content. But it’s lacking the branding options and templates that other video editors offer. It’s also only available to iOS and Mac users, so Android and Windows users can’t use this solution.

4. Adobe Premiere

Adobe Premiere is a leader in professional video editing, and the robust tool is packed with features. While anyone can use this solution, Premiere is geared more toward professional editors with industry experience.

Features

• Motion graphics templates allow you to add animated titles.
• AI-driven audio mixing tools and access to Adobe Stock for samples.
• Collaboration tools for real-time reviews, approvals, sharing and more.
• Color correction and grading.
• Import and trim footage in the timeline editor.
• Integrates with Adobe After Effects and Adobe Stock.
• Speech-to-text feature automatically generates captions for videos.

Verdict

Adobe Premiere has a wealth of features to help you create professional videos, but the free trial only lasts so long. Once that trial is up, the subscription will run you around $20/month. On top of that, you have to worry about installing software and learning how to use it. Premiere has a steep learning curve, so it’s not a solution you can start using today if you don’t have experience.

5. Lightworks

Lightworks offers Hollywood video production in its free editing software for Windows. The Free Forever tier is difficult to find on the company’s site, but it’s available and best for newbies. When you sign up, you will be prompted to choose the free option.

The free version lacks many of the advanced features that paid users receive. However, you still can access a wealth of other features:

Features

• Access stock music.
• Export videos in up to 720p quality.
• Equalize and mix your audio.
• Create advanced transitions to move between clips seamlessly.
• Access custom UI templates to streamline your workflow.
• Presets available for Vimeo and YouTube.
• Background processing, so you can still create while your production is finishing.

Verdict

Lightworks free will leave you wanting more, but it’s a powerful editor that everyone should try. It’s certainly worth upgrading to the Create tier if you plan to create professional-quality broadcasts. However, for basic video editing, the free version offers features that will enhance your production quality and improve viewership.

6. DaVinci Resolve

DaVinci Resolve offers the best free video editing for PC, unless you choose to use a SaaS solution. Resolve is on its 18th iteration and is known for its ability to turn basic videos into professional productions.

The platform is feature-rich and does have something many free versions do not: multi-user collaboration.

Features

• Real-time, local collaboration allows teams to work together in-house to create high-end productions.
• Intelligent editing will sync audio and video clips together.
• Speed up or slow down videos with motion estimation features.
• Add stabilization, dynamic zoom, picture-in-picture and more.
• Trim and edit videos with the dedicated trim interface.

Verdict

DaVinci Resolve is an extremely powerful video editor, but the real power is behind the Studio version, which costs $295. With that in mind, the free version does have more features than many paid video editors and is perfect for anyone who is just starting their journey as a video creator.

7. OpenShot

OpenShot is free and open-source, and it is compatible with Linux, Mac and Windows. The interface is sleek and powerful. Users have the option to use animation and keyframes to edit their videos, and you can add layers and unlimited tracks.

Features

• Drag-and-drop images, audio and video elements.
• 70+ languages supported.
• Time effects and slow motion.
• 3D animations to level up your video.
• Add multiple layers – unlimited – for audio, watermarks, videos and more.
• Trim and slice videos in minutes to shorten videos or make more.
• Easily add video titles with the advanced title editor.

Verdict

OpenShot is perfect for intermediate video productions and lacks some of the more advanced editing options that platforms like Wave.video offers. Small businesses or new video creators are the ideal candidates for this software. The simple user interface will allow you to edit and upload your first professional video rapidly.

8. Shotcut

Shotcut is a cross-platform video editor that allows you to switch from one workstation to another without impacting your editing ability. Tutorials will help you get started with your first professional video, and the only bottleneck will be your PC.

Shotcut has an extensive audio editor, making it the leading choice for videos where audio is just as important as stunning visuals.

The platform’s features include:

Features

• Hundreds of video and audio formats.
• Dockable and undockable panels to customize the interface.
• Capture video from webcam.
• HDR and SDR tone mapping.
• Support for 4K.
• Audio scopes and filters instantly improve audio quality.
• Mix audio across all tracks.
• Fade audio in and out.

Verdict

Shotcut is full-featured, free and cross-platform. The developers push updates frequently, and you can customize the layout to meet your production needs. But the lack of automatic layer creation and no previews for transitions and effects will slow down your production.

9. HitFilm

HitFilm Free is lightweight and ideal for beginner video editing. You’ll find the built-in tutorials make it easy to get started on the platform. Exports are in HD, and there are even a few templates to help you get started.

The platform does include advanced features, such as:

Features

• 360-degree editing.
• Special effects library.
• Auto-stabilization to eliminate “shaky” productions.
• Adaptive timeline and the option to trim your clips.
• Transition options to zoom, dissolve or push transitions.
• HD exporting on the free version, but paid does include 4K exports.

Verdict

HitFilm is often at the top of the best free video editing software lists, but it’s really the paid version that is super powerful. However, even with the free version, you can access five templates, ten songs and 25 sound effects.

Paid versions add far more power, such as access to the Imerge tool, premium support, and more songs, sound effects and templates.

10. Microsoft Video

Microsoft Video comes with Windows 10 and 11, and it is suitable for anyone who wants a basic video editor without all of the “bloat.” The software is ideal for short video clips and basic editing, and it does have a nice set of features to help you get started with your editing.

Features

• The animation tab allows you to add credits, titles and music to your production.
• Create small video clips with the auto-movie option.
• Preview effects and edits automatically.
• Add filters to the video to change its appearance.
• Adjust the duration of your clips or add in motion.
• Add 3D effects from the 3D library.

Verdict

Microsoft Video once offered the best free video editing for PC, but it lacks the power that some of the other free video editors on this list provide. If you are on a Windows computer, give it a try for yourself to see if it meets your needs. It’s a convenient app, and it’s great for fast edits.

11. Kinemaster

Kinemaster’s app is available on Android and iOS, and its free video editors are well-rated for their ability to help you create stunning videos in minutes. You can access thousands of video templates and begin editing videos for free today.

Features

• Templates to help you create content for Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and other platforms.
• Share templates and use templates from other creators.
• Add multiple layers to your videos for easier editing.
• Magic remove feature helps you remove items from your background.
• Adjust or reverse video speed.
• Royalty-free music and a ton of copyright-free assets.
• Powerful audio editor.
• Export videos in clear, crisp 4K quality.

Verdict

Over 100+ million people on Google Play have downloaded this app, and it has decent reviews. A major drawback is that many users complain about the app crashing mid-edit and then deleting their video. Aside from this glitch, which the developers say is fixed, the app is feature-rich and provides immense editing power for free.

Ads and in-app purchases help fund development, but they also impact editing workflow.

12. Kdenlive

Kdenlive is a software solution, so you’ll need to download it to your computer to use it. However, the platform is free and open source, making it a good option for anyone who wants to begin editing on a tight budget.

Features

• Multi-track video editing to combine videos together, mute certain ones and even lock them.
• Support for H.264, ProRest, DNxHD, DivX, HDV, QuickTime and more.
• Streamline workflows with custom shortcuts and a configurable interface.
• Create 2D titles using the Titler solution.
• Dozens of built-in transitions and effects.
• Automatic backups.
• Much more.

Verdict

Kdenlive’s free editing software works for Windows, Linux and Mac. The platform is lightweight and was heavily refactored in 2019 to improve processing speed. GPU acceleration isn’t enabled on the latest version, meaning that it can cause older workstations to run slowly or become unresponsive.

The committed team behind Kdenlive does release frequent updates to the platform and mentions that the next update is going to be “a game-changer.”

Conclusion

The list above includes the best free video editing software in 2023. From Wave.video and its 300 million stock videos, sound effects and music to Kdenlive’s open-source software, you’re sure to find free video editors to help you bring your production quality to the next level.