15 Best Free Video Editing Software for 2025

The best free video editing software makes it straightforward to edit videos for platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Vimeo, and YouTube.

Below, discover 15 top free video editing programs from around the web. Each videographer has their own needs, so this post includes some of the most useful features of each video editor and the pros and cons of the tools.

15 best free video editing software

1. HitFilm: Best overall free video editor
2. Lightworks: Best for powerful features
3. iMovie: Best free video editor for Mac
4. VideoPad: Best for beginners
5. DaVinci Resolve: Best for advanced editors
6. VSDC: Best free editor with no watermark
7. OpenShot: Best for intermediate editors
8. Shotcut: Best for audio editing
9. Clipchamp: Best free editor for Windows 11
10. Vimeo make: Best free video editor with AI
11. KineMaster: Best free editor for mobile
12. Movie Maker Online: Best in-browser free editor
13. Movavi Video Editor: Best for social media influencers
14. ActivePresenter: Best for screencasts
15. Video Grabber: Best for short clips

1. Best overall free video editor: HitFilm

If you don’t have a lot of encounter with video editing software, HitFilm may feel a little advanced at first. It’s used to produce Hollywood-style films, but it’s worth the learning curve, as it’s the best all-in-one free video editor available. (HitFilm does inquire you to distribute a social media position update when you download the software, but that’s a tiny worth to pay.)

HitFilm includes animation tools for creating and editing audio and video transitions without the require for composite shots, which is a huge period saver. It also has chilly 3D effects for films, music videos, and even YouTube videos—plus features you’d normally discover in a paid video editing software, such as 360-degree editing and a library of special effects.

Available for: Mac and Windows.

worth: Free ($12.99 per month for HitFilm Pro, when billed yearly).

Watermark? No.

HitFilm features:

• Motion tracking, color pickers, and cropping tools
• Composite shot characteristic
• Auto-stabilizer to smooth shaky footage
• Adaptive trimmer to re-trim clips after adding them to the timeline
• intelligent attribute copy and paste
• Audio mixer for fine-tuning sound output
• Various shift options including push, zoom, and dissolve

2. Best free video editor for powerful features: Lightworks

Lightworks includes a straightforward and intuitive interface, so it’s straightforward to pick up and use. It also offers a collection of detailed video tutorials, making it one of the more accessible video editing software options on this list.

Lightworks works with Linux, and has a suite of original distribute videos and music clips licensed for use. Overall, it’s a straightforward but powerful piece of software that can add polish to any marketing video.

Available for: Windows, Mac, and Linux.

worth: Free ($27.99 per month for Lightworks pro).

Watermark? No.

Lightworks features:

• straightforward trim function for precise video editing
• Speed optimization that lets you edit while importing content
• Multicam editing for syncing clips from multiple cameras
• distribute projects in real period with your throng

3. Best free editor for Mac: iMovie

Popular standby Apple iMovie comes bundled with macOS. Like many native Apple apps, iMovie is uncomplicated and uses a straightforward drag-and-drop interface for moving files from your drive to your workstation. It’s an straightforward way to construct powerful videos that can boost your YouTube marketing efforts.

A large advantage to iMovie is that files are saved on Apple’s cloud, meaning you can work on a assignment interchangeably across iPhone, iPad, or Mac. iMovie is constantly being updated, too, so you can look forward to recent features and improvements.

Available for: Mac, iOS.

worth: Free.

Watermark? No.

iMovie features

• 4K resolution
• Cloud storage
• Studio standard title and credits animations
• Video filters for specific genres
• Built-in music and sound effects library
• Voice-over recording
• Speed controls for action scenes and leisurely-motion highlights

4. Best free editor for beginners: VideoPad

VideoPad is a great alternative for anyone who wants to make high-standard videos without opening your wallet. With VideoPad, you’ll discover all kinds of straightforward and straightforward-to-use features—such as 3D video editing and a sound effects library—to try out different video compositions and styles.

You can edit videos with special effects, overlays, texts, and transitions, as well adjust color sound levels. When you’re done, export finished videos to YouTube, Facebook, or Google Drive quickly and easily.

The main drawback to VideoPad is that it’s too straightforward for advanced video editing. It doesn’t arrive with as many features as some of the other best free video editing software on this list—but, with options to add light effects, fine tune colors, and overlay text, there’s enough here to make it worth the free download.

Available for: Mac, Windows, Android, iOS.

worth: Free.

Watermark? No.

VideoPad features

• Double-screen view
• Preset export settings for Facebook, YouTube, and other platforms
• Large library of customizable transitions and visual effects
• Video optimization tools, including stabilization

5. Best free editor for advanced editors: DaVinci Resolve

DaVinci Resolve combines professional 8K editing, color correction, visual effects, and audio post-production into a single production tool, which is why it’s the software of selection for many professional editors of films, television shows, and commercials.

DaVinci allows for both offline and online editing, and its high-act playback engine saves period when trimming clips—even with processor-intensive file formats such as H.264 and RAW. DaVinci Resolve’s complicated features may be too extensive for some users, but its free version is perfect for mid-level projects.

Available for: Windows, Mac, and Linux.

worth: Free ($235 for the packed Studio version).

Watermark? No.

DaVinci Resolve features

• Dual timeline for quick navigation and cuts
• Dedicated trimming interface
• Intelligent auto-editing to sync audio and video
• Picture-in-picture, stabilization, and dynamic zoom
• Facial recognition and automatic people-sorting tool
• Motion estimation speed changes and frame rate conversions

6. Best free editor with no watermark: VSDC

VSDC’s desktop video editing software is available in both free and paid versions. Although the free version has reduced features, it still comes with VSDC’s packed video editing suite—including a masking tool and chroma key functionality for green-screen video effects. VSDC is a popular free video editing software used for GoPro footage.

If you have the funds to spring for the packed version, the suite of tools expands to include video stabilization, robust post-production effects, slideshow/showcase capabilities, 3D diagram templates, and direct social media publishing.

Available for: Windows.

worth: Free ($29.99 for the pro version).

Watermark? No.

VSDC features:

• Color-correction
• A packed library of transitional effects
• Masking tools for hiding, blurring, or highlighting
• HEVC/H.265 (advanced video-compression standard)

7. Best free editor for intermediate editors: OpenShot

OpenShot’s straightforward-to-use user interface makes it a great video editing program for beginner and intermediate editors. More complicated tools may propose more editing components, but OpenShot’s minimal design is perfect for straightforward editing jobs.

OpenShot is an efficient alternative for tiny businesses who require to make ads and social media posts. It’s best for clip resizing, scaling, trimming, snapping, and rotation. It also offers borrowing scrolling, frame stepping, period mapping, audio editing, and real-period previews.

Available for: Windows, Mac, and Linux.

worth: Free.

Watermark? No.

OpenShot features:

• Unlimited layers for backgrounds and audio tracks
• Customizable title-card templates
• Digital video effects including chroma key compositing
• Key-frame animation for animated videos

8. Best open-source editor for audio editing: Shotcut

Shotcut is an open-source, cross-platform video editor with a vast collection of tutorial videos. It also supports a wide range of formats, including FFmpeg, 4K, ProRes, and DNxHD. A warning, however: Shotcut was originally designed for Linux, so some may discover the interface a little quirky. Despite this, it’s still a top-notch editor.

Shotcut also has extensive audio editing options, making it ideal for audiophiles. Its host of fine-tuning audio tools lets users make bass and treble adjustments, make bandpass filters, adjust boost, add dynamic compression, and more.

Available for: Windows, Mac, and Linux.

worth: Free.

Watermark? No.

Shotcut features:

• File format back with FFmpeg
• Native timeline editing
• Advanced audio filters including bandpass filters and compressor
• AV1 decoding and encoding back

9. Best free video editor for Windows 11: Microsoft Clipchamp

Microsoft Clipchamp comes preinstalled on Windows 11. It’s one of the more intuitive video editors on this list, with some neat period-saving features such as batch editing, auto captions, and text-to-talk.

Clipchamp lets you edit videos from screen recordings as well as uploaded video files. There are drag-and-drop editing tools, plus a range of well-designed templates and music tracks that you can add to your creations.

Available for: Windows.

worth: Free.

Watermark? No.

Clipchamp features:

• Speaker coach
• Unlimited 1080p exports
• AI editing features
• Royalty-free music library

10. Best free AI video editor: Vimeo make

Vimeo make, a free editing software you can connect directly to your Shopify store, automatically turns your existing product images and text into polished ecommerce videos—no video encounter needed.

All you have to do is respond a few questions about your product, add your footage and logo, and choose style customizations. Vimeo make then automatically edits your video in minutes (though you can also choose your own styles, or commence from scratch). The AI software even suggests colors, themes, music, and fonts.

It’s especially useful for creating videos at scale (declare, for example, you desire to commence a channel for your business in an attempt to make money on YouTube and desire to streamline the creation procedure). Because Vimeo is an all-in-one answer, you can also manage, host, and distribute all your videos from one place, streamlining your workflow.

Available for: iOS and Android.

worth: Free (Advanced features commence at $12 per month).

Watermark? No.

Vimeo make features:

• More than 1,000 templates
• Facial recognition characteristic
• Auto-cropping
• iStock integration for unlimited distribute images
• Commercially licensed music library

11. Best free video editor for mobile: KineMaster

If you’re video editing on the leave, consider KineMaster your leave-to software. This free (subscription model discretionary) yet powerful video editing app is perfect for mobile devices. With KineMaster, you can shoot, edit, and upload footage from your phone or tablet. Mobile editors usually sacrifice advanced tools to simplify video creation, but KineMaster does the opposite.

With KineMaster, you can cut, splice, crop, and merge videos easily, with more than 2,500 downloadable transitions and effects. Use color filters and adjustments to correct and enhance videos so they stand out. When you’re finished, easily distribute to YouTube, TikTok, Reels, Stories, and more.

Available for: iOS, Android, Chromebook.

worth: Free ($8.99 per month for the paid schedule).

Watermark? Yes.

KineMaster features:

• assignment backup characteristic for added safety
• Blending options to make artistic video effects
• Tool for focal shifts and in-camera transitions
• Edit and export 4K videos at 60 FPS

12. Best in-browser free video editor: Movie Maker Online

Movie Maker Online is the best browser-based video editor. It’s a free tool for people that desire to make videos, but there are some drawbacks. The tool is supported by ads, so you’ll have to navigate around them to edit your videos. It also has a 10-minute maximum duration, which should be OK for most use cases.

The interface also has some quirks. The video and audio timelines are positioned vertically, instead of horizontally, like traditional video editors. It’s a bit challenging to get used to at first. However, it’s easily accessible on multiple devices because it’s completely browser-based.

Movie Maker Online gives you all the basics you require to make a video for free. You also get access to free music, videos, and photos, which is a enjoyable bonus.

Available for: In-browser use.

worth: Free.

Watermark? No.

Movie Maker Online features:

• Royalty-free music, photo, and sound result library
• Built-in back

13. Best free editor for influencers: Movavi Video Editor

With Movavi Video Editor, you can make polished, professional videos with an array of dynamic features. With its straightforward-to-use interface and intuitive features, this software is great for beginners, but it also has advanced features that will appeal to those making social media reels.

With the software, you can make videos that work with virtually any file format: another rationale why Movavi Video Editor is a great selection for people who desire to make high-standard videos without spending a lot of period learning how to do it.

Available for: Windows and Mac.

worth: Free (trial version only).

Watermark? Yes.

Movavi features:

• Visual enhancement library
• Superimpose video over backgrounds
• Audio balancing
• Add multiple layers of video, audio, and effects

14. Best free video editor for screencasts: ActivePresenter

ActivePresenter is an all-in-one screen recording and video editing software, available in free and paid versions. Developed by Atomi Systems, it serves the video editing niche of instructional and e-learning videos.

Available for: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android.

worth: Free (paid version starts at $199).

Watermark? No.

ActivePresenter features:

• Record in packed screen, window, or locked application
• Screenshots warm key
• Picture-in-picture (PIP), text-to-talk (TTS), and audio normalization
• Interactive quizzes
• Export to SCORM and xAPI standards

15. Best free video editor for short clips: Video Grabber

Video Grabber is not only a video downloader but also a converter, screen recorder, and basic video editor, making it one of the most versatile video creation and editing tools in this list. With the same platform, you can download videos, convert them into different formats, record screen activities, and even perform some basic video editing procedure.

Available for: In-Browser use.

worth: Free.

Watermark? No.

Video Grabber features

• Download videos from any online source
• Convert files from a wide range of formats
• Screen recording function with adjustable settings
• Video subtitling tool
• Batch processing characteristic

How to choose a video editor

There are many desktop-based editing software programs available for businesses looking to make promotional videos. The biggest advantage of free video editing software for desktops is that they tend to have more features than most mobile video editing apps.

Whether you’re editing videos for YouTube or TikTok, here are some considerations to keep in mind:

• User encounter. Look for software that has express editing modes so you can edit videos in your preferred style quickly. Templates are also a bonus. A excellent editing software will also have tutorials so you can discover the features and excel.
• Editing features. Check to view if your software of selection has powerful video editing tools that will impress viewers. For example, if you’re using drone footage, you’ll desire an editing software that can enhance and add effects to video. Maybe you require chroma key editing or color grading, or more advanced features, like 360-degree editing. 
• Hidden costs. Some video editors are “free,” but only work well if you pay more money to access better features. Completely free editing software may have limited file format back, impoverished act, or other limitations. The software you desire to consider should meet all your basic editing needs without added fees. 
• back. Customer back is always helpful when you’re recent to video editing. If you have a question about a characteristic, it’s enjoyable to have somewhere to get answers. Check if your software has back services like email/phone back, FAQs, or throng forums where you can get assist from real humans.
• Export options. Where will you publish videos? Be sure your video editing software is capable of outputting high-standard video in popular formats, so you can upload videos to your social channels with ease. 
• Requirements. Some programs are only available for sure computer types. For example, not every software on this list may work with Google Chromebook. Before investing period into a software, make sure it’s compatible with whatever desktop you use.

That’s a wrap

Now that you recognize your options for finding the best free video editing software, try a few out to view what works for you. While each alternative comes with its own advantages and disadvantages, hopefully you now have a better concept of which alternative is best for your level of video production.

Videos are proven to receive more engagement, on average, across all social media platforms than pictures or text posts. A professional, well-made video will assist capture the attention of your spectators and develop your brand’s personality.

With so many editing tools to debt, there’s no limit to the creative potential of your video content.