Creating pro level videos isn’t only for the experts. Anyone can make a high-quality video with the right editing tools. There are tons of free video maker tools out in the market. So, it doesn’t matter if you’re looking to edit a commercial, a promotional video, a social media vlog or even a short film. Finding a free video maker with all the features you need yet easy to use can be a little bit confusing if you’re a beginner.
So how do you find the best and easiest free video maker for you? In this article, we list down the top 15 options available for the total novice. So, stick to the choices on this list and you’ll find a great tool that’s easy to use, is compatible with your hardware and software, and offers the features and support you need.
1. Promo Video Editor
Compatibility: Windows and macOS
Promo Video Maker is especially developed to help amateur creators and brand marketers create captivating videos in minutes. Whether it’s a YouTube promo video, Facebook ad, Instagram Stories campaign, Shopify promo, or GIFs, Promo Video Maker has it covered. Thus, with a wide range of tools and customizable templates, you don’t need any expensive equipment or previous knowledge in video creation. However, its extensive library features over 140 million premium high-quality videos and photos, copyright-free music for all social media channels and millions of free assets for you to use.
2. Avidemux
Compatibility: Windows, macOS, and Linux
Avidemux is an open-source free video maker software built for non-linear video editing and transcoding multimedia files. Also, according to its developers, Avidemux is “a simple tool for simple video processing tasks that allows users to do elementary things in a very simple way”.
3. Blender
Compatibility: Windows, macOS, and Linux
Blender is a free and open-source software, originally designed as a 3D animation suite for creating animated films, visual effects, 3D printed models, motion graphics, interactive 3D animations, virtual reality, and computer games. Blender is also perfect for video editing tasks such as cutting, splicing, and video masking.
4. DaVinci Resolve
Compatibility: Windows, macOS, and Linux
DaVinci Resolve is a free colour grading and non-linear video editing application originally developed by da Vinci Systems, and now developed by Blackmagic Design following its acquisition in 2009. Moreover, DaVinci Resolve combines professional 8K editing, colour correction, visual effects, and audio post-production all in one software platform. You can instantly move between colour, editing, effects, and audio with a single click.
5. Freemake Video Converter
Compatibility: Windows
Freemake Video Converter is a free entry-level video editing platform developed by Ellora Assets Corporation. It can be used to convert between video formats and rip video DVDs, as well as create photo slideshows and music visualisations. Freemake can read the majority of video, audio, and image formats, and convert them into a variety of formats.
6. Hitfilm Express
Compatibility: Windows and macOS
HitFilm Express is a free video maker editing software with user-friendly features ranging from basic actions like trimming, audio editing, and slicing to advanced tools and features. Its free version is designed with over 180 special effects as well as a built-in YouTube uploading.
7. iMovie
Compatibility: macOS
iMovie is perfect for entry-level video editors who are Mac users. It is a user-friendly video editing software designed with an easy drag and drop interface. Also, iMovie has features like video trimming, split-screen, audio editing, pre-made transitions library, and 4K resolution support.
8. Lightworks
Compatibility: Windows, macOS, and Linux
Lightworks is a non-linear editing software for editing and mastering digital video.
It comes with high precision video trimming, 720p video export for YouTube, multicam support, and support of a large range of video formats. Lightworks’ free version has ample features enough for most users, but you can upgrade to the paid pro version for $25 a month.
9. Lumen5
Compatibility: Windows and macOS
Lumen5 is a video creation and editing software that helps brands, marketers, and publishers create video content in a snap, even without any technical expertise. Plus, Lumen5 offers a free subscription with 5 videos per month. Paid plans are also available with monthly as well as annual billing. Monthly subscriptions include the Starter Plan at $29 per month, Premium at $79 per month, and Business at $199 per month.
10. Machete Video Editor Lite
Compatibility: Windows
Machete Video Editor Lite is a free software designed for quick and simple slicing of your video files. It combines the functionality of both a video splitter (cutter, trimmer) and a video joiner (for joining video files with the same formats) and more. So, only AVI and WMV files are supported in its free version. Its full version costs $19.95 having audio editing and more file type support, allowing you to remove audio tracks from video files and edit tags (metadata) in all supported file formats.
11. Openshot
Compatibility: Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, and Linux
OpenShot is an award-winning free and open-source video editing platform designed for creating videos with exciting video effects, titles, audio tracks, and animations. It has an easy-to-use interface with features like unlimited layers and tracks, time-mapping, real-time previews, trimming, snapping, clip resizing, curve-based keyframe animations etc. For a free software, OpenShot offers more than enough features.
12. Adobe Spark Video
Compatibility: iPad and iPhone
Spark Video allows you to edit voices, add backing music, and automatically generate animated motion graphics along with the corresponding narration and visuals, dynamically adjusting the animations to properly align with each line of the story. Also, Spark includes built-in motion graphics themes that apply colour palettes, digital effects, and custom typography, as well as animation designed using Adobe After Effects, such as motion blur, drop shadows, 3D, camera motion, zooming and panning, and textures.
13. Shotcut
Compatibility: Windows, macOS, and Linux
Shotcut is a free, open source, cross-platform video editing software with major features including support for a wide variety of formats. It uses a timeline for non-linear video editing of multiple tracks. Scrubbing and transport control are assisted by OpenGL GPU-based processing and a number of video and audio filters are available.
14. Videopad Video Editor
Compatibility: Windows
VideoPad Video Editor is a free video editing software that allows you to easily create stunning videos and perform basic editing tasks for different social media platforms and personal use. But, while it doesn’t have a wide variety of advanced features, the basic video editing functions suffice for entry-level video editing enthusiasts. Its super simple interface makes the entire editing process enjoyable.
15. VSDC
Compatibility: Windows
VSDC is a free non-linear editing (NLE) application developed by Multilab LLC. The software is capable of processing high-resolution footage including 4K UHD, 3D, and VR 360-degree videos. It also allows for applying post-production effects, live color correction, and motion tracking.