Video editing software can certainly be useful in this digital age, but investing in a software package is costly. Thankfully, there are some quality options for free video editing software available, you just have to know where to look. We’ve found 13 of the top rated software programs for you to consider so that you can improve your video editing skills for free.

Video editing used to be something reserved for the professionals only, but these days with the amount of content creation and video sharing that goes on, it makes sense for everyday folk to have access to quality video editing software as well.

If you’ve taken a look around previously at what’s out there, you’ll notice it can get quite pricey. For those who don’t need a professional editing suite, you probably don’t want to spend a lot of money for the software and so finding the best free video editing software is the choice for you.

Thankfully, there are some amazing free options out there that are packed with features. We’re here to show you the top rated ones and exactly what they offer so that you can be on the way to making professionally edited videos to share with friends and family.

There are countless free software programs out there, but not all of them are up to par. We’ve done the hard work for you and found those that are really worth downloading and can show you exactly why. Here are the best free video editing software programs of the year, and what each of them offers.

Comparison Table

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This is the free version of the hugely popular Wondershare Filmora software, so some of the features are limited. However, what do you get in the free version is more than enough to make a home video editor happy, most notably the number of effects that you can use. There are wipes, transitions, and PIP that you won’t find in any other free software so if this sounds like your style then give it a go.

Wondershare Filmora is missing some things like an effects editor, but it’s available when you upgrade to their full suite. The user interface is easy to use and it’s a great tool for absolute beginners, so definitely one to consider.

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When you like your software with no frills and straight to the point, you’d probably prefer doing your video editing with VirtualDub. This free program certainly looks like it doesn’t cost anything but it will surprise you in how much it actually can do, especially for professional video editors.

Where VirtualDub stands out is its capture and encoding capabilities, so don’t get it thinking you’ll do a lot of fancy editing and effects. This is more of a free software program for the processing side of things and its ability to work with a large number of files at once, so might be better suited for professional use.

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This is a tool for those who like to go a little more in-depth with their video editing. Blender is a 3D imaging tool that works for both Mac and PC and is a free open source content creation tool. This isn’t just a video editing program but it can help with every stage of the 3D process including rigging, modeling, animation, and simulation.

Blender is a public project which means people from all around the world contribute to it and it’s constantly being updated. For those who want to get into 3D imaging or need a reliable tool that’s always relevant but doesn’t cost a cent, Blender is the perfect choice.

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Everybody gets access to Windows Movie Maker when the buy a PC, but that doesn’t make it any less effective as a video editor. This is the tool of choice for many home video editors and it’s got plenty of features to help your videos stand out. Simplicity is the aim of the game with Windows Movie Maker, so you don’t need to know anything about editing to get started.

This is a fun little program to use and you can spend hours going through all of the effects available. Unlike other editing programs, there’s plenty of focus on the audio side of things as well so you’re able to make a complete video with quality sound and picture.

#9: VSDC Video Editor

VSDC Video Editor is a non-linear video suite that works with Windows and is completely free, which might be surprising when you see the features. VSDC is super easy to use and would be the perfect tool for absolute beginners, but it’s got plenty of things to play around with for those experts as well.

This is the complete package with access to editing for video, images, and audio, so you’ll never have to rely on another program. There are plenty of audio and video filters, transitions, effects, and fun things to play around with. VSDC is the perfect tool for your video editing projects and it’s got plenty of features to keep you busy.

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VideoPad Video Editor is a fairly basic program that’s not as feature rich as the others, but still a quality option to consider. It’s a complete offering with 360-degree camera editing and output so you can pretty much use it for the entire process without having to look anywhere else.

One of the best things about this is its simplicity, so if you don’t like the cluttered look that most programs have then this will appeal. The free version lacks a little when compared to the paid full suite but for a noncommercial home user, it’s got more than enough to make it one of our top picks.

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There are two versions of DaVinci Resolve, the free and the paid, but if you don’t want to spend anything then you’ll have more than enough to work with using their free version. You will need a pretty hefty system in order to run it though, so this is probably better for those using desktops rather than laptops.

This is more suited to professional home editors who have some experience as some of the features can be a little heavy. However, you’ll be gifted with plenty of resources for editing, color correction, audio recording, mixing, and grading, so there’s no shortage of options. Be prepared to spend some time setting it up and the rewards will be more than worth it.

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If you’re not easily intimidated by these complex editing programs, you’ll have no issue at all with LIghtworks. For those who are beginners to editing, you’ll want to steer clear of this one. Lightworks can edit up to 256 images, video, and audio clips which makes it a little more in-depth than the light programs, so better left to those with experience.

This is the video editing software to choose if you like your video effects, and it has a great selection that can turn even the most basic recording into something that looks like it came from Hollywood. There’s a paid version for when you’re ready to upgrade, but we think the free one has more than enough to keep you satisfied.

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Avidemux is another excellent open source content creation tool that relies on the knowledge and effort of its community to keep it up to date. This completely free program can help you cut, filter, encode and perform basic editing tasks, so it’s far more than just fancy filters and wipes.

This software is more directed at those with serious tasks at hand like encoding or configuring for a certain system. However, you can use it for all of your video editing needs if you want, but most prefer to have it running alongside another editor to get the best use out of it.

#4: Kdenlive

Another nonlinear open source content creation tool is Kdenlive, offering up to date and relevant features for your video editing needs. What makes this such a standout is how easy it is to use, but without lacking in features like you might expect. Beginners and experts will find a lot of use out of Kdenlive and everyone will be able to pick it up easily.

Kdenlive doesn’t require a download to use, it’s just opened from a zip file, so this is another benefit to note. There are plenty of analysis tools you can try out like audio meters, waveforms, and histograms, but if those words mean nothing to you and you’d prefer something less feature-rich, it might be best to avoid it.

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It can be hard to find professional grade software when you don’t want to spend a dime, but somehow HitFilm Express has managed to deliver. This is a serious video editing tool that can help you create Oscar worthy videos but you have to be prepared to put in the hours to get past its learning curve.

HitFilm Express has heaps of online tutorials available to make the learning process easier, and once you’ve mastered them you’ll surprise yourself with how good your videos look. If you want to extend your capabilities a little more then you can pay for the upgraded version, but we think the free one is more than enough for the home video editor.

#2: Wax

Wax is the perfect lightweight video editing tool for those who don’t need professional grade tools, but it doesn’t mean you’ll have to miss out on features. You’ll be able to edit unlimited video and audio clips so there’s no restriction on what you can create, but don’t go expecting an interactive user face with this piece of software.

Wax is pretty simple to use so even if you’ve never edited before you shouldn’t have a problem using it. There’s not a lot to it which means no hefty learning period so you can get in straight away and start editing. It’s got heaps of effects like split screens, filters, wipes, and windows, and all of this is on offer for no cost at all, so you have nothing to lose trying it out.

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For the more technical side of video editing that’s not just concerned with applying fun filters and effects, FFmpeg is it. This handy little tool can do just about anything you ask of it, including (but not limited to) resizing, flipping, extracting, and converting. It’s incredibly fast in terms of processing as well so there’s no lagging and lengthy wait periods just to get a job done.

FFmpeg is technically a paid video editing tool but it has a bunch of free software with it that makes it such a great find. You can record, convert, stream, and so much more, so it’s better for those projects that are in their final stages rather than the early days of playing around with the audio and video you have.

Choosing The Right Software For Your Needs

As you can see, there are plenty of great options out there for free video editing software. Depending on what you’re using yours for you’ll likely find one with features that better suit your needs.

The good news is, these software options are all free so you can experiment with them all until you find the best fit. Some might even like to use more than one to get the different features and utilize the best points that they offer.

Video editing software is no longer left just for the experts anymore and you can use these simple tools to give your videos and media a professional touch. Once you find that you have a knack for editing you might even want to upgrade to something more feature rich, but for now, these software options will serve you well.

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