Best Free Tools for Creating and Editing Videos

[Armindesk]

Hello everyone,

I’m interested in learning more about video editing and creating high-quality videos. There are many free tools available for trimming clips, adding effects, adjusting audio, and converting video formats. I’d like to know which free video editing tools you recommend for beginners and which ones offer the best features.

[VWestlife]

Which questions have searching for previous threads about this topic left unanswered?

[tigerman8u]

My arsenal I have used for years
clever FFmpeg GUI, avidemux., VidCoder, tsMuxerGUI., BDRebuilder, HandBrake, VirtualDub2. I do at times use commercial software but not often.
Depending on what I want to do I choose which one to use. Some of these will do pretty much the same thing.
I do like VidCoder for encoding because it allows you to input the exported file size.
Now if "ProWo" would add that to "clever FFmpeg"

[Alwyn]

If you want to get into real video editing for free, not just recoding or chopping bits out, try a real NLE (non-linear editor) such as Kdenlive. I've never used it but it's free and gets good reviews, and looks like it has a full feature-set.

[Sharc]

@Armindesk: Once you are talking about "high quality" video processing a recommended workflow is to do some processing (for example deinterlacing, denoising, rescaling ....) in AviSynth or Vapoursynth, using it natively or via a supporting GUI, exporting it in a lossless (or quasi-lossless) format which an NLE can open, and eventually do the final artwork like color grading, cutting an splicing, adding transitions plus any other bells and whistles using the convenience of an NLE. Shotcut (free) is an alternative to Kdenlive mentioned by Alwyn.

[Sharc]

@Armindesk: Now you experience how questionable it usually is to ask for "the best". You get a pletora of responses with personal (subjective) opinions. Try them all, and good luck with your video projects

[VWestlife]

As for free video editing software for beginners, my recommendations are Microsoft Clipchamp

A warning: Clipchamp does not support interlaced video. If you use it to edit interlaced video, you'll get combing artifacts in the output.

And it's terribly slow because everything you do with it gets uploaded to "the cloud". The app for it is really just a glorified web browser interface; it cannot be used offline.

[GAhere]

In all honesty, I gave up on free video editors. Most times every free editor I looked at lacked key features/tools that I needed just to do bare bones editing, In a nutshell, often free means you may run into limitations like ugly unwanted watermarks on your video output, time limits (5 minutes?), low video quality or very little choices in your final rendered output version or the need to have or use multiple different editors to accomplish your project.

You can often find very good deals on new slightly older versions of the paid video editors. Snagged a couple of different versions of Vegas Pro editing suites a few years ago for less than $40 each when the latest versions were running $200+ on Amazon at the time. I will say, Vegas is not for the faint of heart as it does have a large learning curve and like most all software and Apps now days absolutely nothing is obvious so one must just dive in and start playing with the tools. However, when I get stumped, a quick search of Youtube will result in some very good tutorials. With the Holidays coming up you might be able to land a discounted sale price on some of the popular paid editors, just have to make sure it is a perpetual license (buy once and no additional payments to use it) and not a crummy subscription model (continually pay to use).

[krykmoon]

In all honesty, I gave up on free video editors. Most times every free editor I looked at lacked key features/tools that I needed just to do bare bones editing, In a nutshell, often free means you may run into limitations like ugly unwanted watermarks on your video output, time limits (5 minutes?), low video quality or very little choices in your final rendered output version or the need to have or use multiple different editors to accomplish your project.

This is completely FALSE and misleading.

There are a bunch of fully featured (comparable to commercial alternatives) open source and free video editing software that doesn't have watermarks, resolution limitations or any or the crap you said, such as KdenLive (best FREE open source alternative to Premiere, similar workflow and interface) or Shotcut.

Kdenlive has more than 20 years of ACTIVE development.. and is really mature, ShotCut more than 10.. and it's getting better and better with every release..

So.. the information you gave about free video editing software are totally FALSE and misleading.

[fred_abila]

Since you're starting out, I'd split it by job rather than look for one best app:

- Trimming and joining without re-encoding: LosslessCut or Avidemux (set video and audio to Copy). Fast and no quality loss, as long as you cut near keyframes.
- Actual editing (tracks, titles, transitions, effects, audio levels): Shotcut or Kdenlive. Both are free with no watermark or time limit, as krykmoon says. Shotcut is a bit simpler to start in, Kdenlive feels more like a traditional NLE. DaVinci Resolve's free version is more powerful but heavier on the GPU and steeper to learn.
- Audio: both editors have per-clip gain, normalize and fades. For cleaning up noise, Audacity.
- Converting formats: HandBrake with one of its H.264 presets covers most things.

The fastest way to learn is to pick one editor and finish one small real project: cut a 2 minute clip, add a title, put music under speech at a lower level, export an H.264 MP4. That teaches more than comparing feature lists.

Disclosure: I build Vidmoat, a hosted AI video editor where you describe the edit in plain words and it builds a timeline you can still adjust, then renders an MP4. It has a free tier and suits people who mostly want quick edits without learning an editor first. If your goal is to learn editing itself, Shotcut or Kdenlive is the better place to start.

[Alwyn]

Since you're starting out, I'd split it by job rather than look for one best app:

I wouldn't agree with that. You're effectively having to learn two programs. Unless you have a specific need for lossless trimming eg to save space and doing the real editing later on, it would be far simpler to just bring your videos into your "real" editor from the start.

[GAhere]

In all honesty, I gave up on free video editors. Most times every free editor I looked at lacked key features/tools that I needed just to do bare bones editing, In a nutshell, often free means you may run into limitations like ugly unwanted watermarks on your video output, time limits (5 minutes?), low video quality or very little choices in your final rendered output version or the need to have or use multiple different editors to accomplish your project.

This is completely FALSE and misleading.

There are a bunch of fully featured (comparable to commercial alternatives) open source and free video editing software that doesn't have watermarks, resolution limitations or any or the crap you said, such as KdenLive (best FREE open source alternative to Premiere, similar workflow and interface) or Shotcut.

Kdenlive has more than 20 years of ACTIVE development.. and is really mature, ShotCut more than 10.. and it's getting better and better with every release..

So.. the information you gave about free video editing software are totally FALSE and misleading.

Not false or misleading.

After a while just got tired of sifting through the dregs of misleading free bloatware that came short on desired results. Yes, there are literally thousands of "freeware", "Trialware" editors out there to sift through one by one spending a lot of hrs trying each one at a time is a very big ask of anyone.

I don't mind "freeware" but often it is fraught with additional bloatware, Malware and other unwanted PUPs that one must be aware of that may install, not to mention missing important key features that are often in commercially available paid NLEs.

Glad you have found some "freeware" that works for you, but it was a no brainer to just buy a commercially available editor Like Sony Vegas especially when it cost me less than $40 US to do so. Yes, it is an older version (IE not current), yes, it IS a legally licensed product and not a hacked license, yet it is current enough to handle current HD video formats.. It also was bundled with DVD and BR authoring software and even Sound forge audio studio editor..

My point which is not false or misleading is, if you know when and where to search, there IS often legitimate discount deals for legally licensed commercial quality NLEs. Holiday time is often a good time to look around for discounted software deals.

On edit, adding a custom countdown timer I created with Sony Vegas..

https://files.videohelp.com/u/315464/Countdowntimer1.mp4

Cut the clip from longer section, added in additional text overlays, added in a custom countdown. This is the "base" timer, for actual use I can remove the audio track that the camcorder recorded and add in any music trac I wish to use and I can also add in other graphic or text content just by adding a new video overlay.

Have another version that I was experimenting with that uses the clip time code as the countdown, a bit trickier but very do able as to do that the time code counting must be in reverse.

[krykmoon]

Not false or misleading.

After a while just got tired of sifting through the dregs of misleading free bloatware that came short on desired results. Yes, there are literally thousands of "freeware", "Trialware" editors out there to sift through one by one spending a lot of hrs trying each one at a time is a very big ask of anyone.

I don't mind "freeware" but often it is fraught with additional bloatware, Malware and other unwanted PUPs that one must be aware of that may install, not to mention missing important key features that are often in commercially available paid NLEs.

Glad you have found some "freeware" that works for you, but it was a no brainer to just buy a commercially available editor Like Sony Vegas especially when it cost me less than $40 US to do so. Yes, it is an older version (IE not current), yes, it IS a legally licensed product and not a hacked license, yet it is current enough to handle current HD video formats.. It also was bundled with DVD and BR authoring software and even Sound forge audio studio editor..

My point which is not false or misleading is, if you know when and where to search, there IS often legitimate discount deals for legally licensed commercial quality NLEs. Holiday time is often a good time to look around for discounted software deals.

On edit, adding a custom countdown timer I created with Sony Vegas..

https://files.videohelp.com/u/315464/Countdowntimer1.mp4

Cut the clip from longer section, added in additional text overlays, added in a custom countdown. This is the "base" timer, for actual use I can remove the audio track that the camcorder recorded and add in any music trac I wish to use and I can also add in other graphic or text content just by adding a new video overlay.

Have another version that I was experimenting with that uses the clip time code as the countdown, a bit trickier but very do able as to do that the time code counting must be in reverse.

It's completely false and misleading.. I don't know why you are insisting, is absolutely clear you don't know anything about free/open source software for video editing.

You're telling stupid lies: none of the suggested free/open-source software ( KdenLive, Shotcut ) is crippled or limited in any way.
KdenLive is powerful and versatile, a fully-featured software than can compete with commercial video editors like Premiere (and it also has a similar workflow).

About the timer example it's a very basic task.. and you can VERY EASILY do the same with KdenLive as you can see here (one of many tutorials you can find on youtube).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZgbqzQB81k

So .. I don't understand why you insist on giving misinformation about free, valid and competitive (with the commercial alternatives) software you EVIDENTLY don't know at all.

[GAhere]

So .. I don't understand why you insist on giving misinformation about free, valid and competitive (with the commercial alternatives) software you EVIDENTLY don't know at all.

So, telling people that one CAN buy legit commercially made NLEs on sale or REASONABLY PRICED is FALSE?

You are the one that is incorrect and misleading..

I don't mind "free" but it most "free" software often "free" nor COMPLETE "package" that can complete a task from cradle to grave without the need for additional "free" software or "add ons".

Consider yourself highly lucky to have found such wonderful "free" NLE software.

And YES, that sample is simplistic, took a whole 10 minutes to import, edit, add extras and render out, and as I mentioned, it is a BASE for me to work from that I can simply add new content to the project.

Any GOOD editor should be able to make a project like this without any other third party software or third party files add ons required to import ANY video file and render out to ANY modern day video files without watermarks, time limits ect. Some of the import/export video and audio codecs/filters in use today are not "free" and as such can not ever be included with "free" software. "Free" software that includes proprietary codecs means that the developer of the software would have to had BOUGHT licensing to include it and the developer is eating the cost or worse, not paying for the use..

And YES, I have experimented with multiple free NLEs, while not the ones you mentioned, they indeed had a lot of the faults that I mentioned above.

I am simply telling OP that one doesn't always have to use "free" software as it ISN'T hard or difficult to find DEALS on paid versions, they are out there if you bother to look around..

[GAhere]

Here are some current prices on Amazon in US for Corel video editors..


[Attachment 94344 - Click to enlarge]

Never tried Corel, but it has been around for many, many years so should be well matured and stable.

$47 US isn't going to break your piggy bank..

Can also get a pretty current version of Vegas for $199, in the world of commercial software, not all that expensive considering the prices one pays for simple things like food for a week. If you also consider what one is willing to pay to have MS Office 365 every year $199 for a perpetual license to use for the rest of your life is a bargain.

[krykmoon]

In a nutshell, often free means you may run into limitations like ugly unwanted watermarks on your video output, time limits (5 minutes?), low video quality or very little choices in your final rendered output version or the need to have or use multiple different editors to accomplish your project.

I don't mind "freeware" but often it is fraught with additional bloatware, Malware and other unwanted PUPs that one must be aware of that may install, not to mention missing important key features that are often in commercially available paid NLEs.

Those subtle "allusions" you repeatedly made about free software are totally false and misleading and the free software suggested in this thread is absolutely safe, reliable, with decades of active development and fully-featured, apt to do any kind of serious video editing (especially KdenLive).

[GAhere]

In a nutshell, often free means you may run into limitations like ugly unwanted watermarks on your video output, time limits (5 minutes?), low video quality or very little choices in your final rendered output version or the need to have or use multiple different editors to accomplish your project.

I don't mind "freeware" but often it is fraught with additional bloatware, Malware and other unwanted PUPs that one must be aware of that may install, not to mention missing important key features that are often in commercially available paid NLEs.

Those subtle "allusions" you repeatedly made about free software are totally false and misleading and the free software suggested in this thread is absolutely safe, reliable, with decades of active development and fully-featured, apt to do any kind of serious video editing (especially KdenLive).

None of those items you have quoted are "allusions".

Definition of "allusion"..

https://liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/wlf/what-allusion

Allusions are generally regarded as brief but purposeful references, within a literary text, to a person, place, event, or to another work of literature. Allusion is distinguished from other forms of reference—the many ways that works of literature can call out to other works of art—by its brevity and often by its indirection, though just how indirect an allusion is can vary by a wide degree. An allusion is not a deep meditation, but a passing signal that can sometimes escape notice if you’re not reading carefully. However, allusions are an essential tool for literary artists that often serve to situate their own works within the wider culture and the contexts of literary history.

I have not made ANY "references" to your "recommended" software.

Never said anything "bad" or slighting of your "freeware" recommendations.

Only a general mention that not ALL freeware is good, works well or 100% free of unwanted and un needed bloatware, malware, PUPs.

Never said your recommendations were bad.

Never mentioned you. Have never attacked you.

Just pointing out that one does not have to resort to freeware and one can find perfectly good choices of commercially available products if one does not wish to "experiment" with freeware.

My opinion and experiences are mine and your opinion and experiences are yours and perhaps one can stop attacking me just because my experiences with "freeware" resulted in a lot of frustration trying to get free NLEs to work for my needs?

In fact. I do use freeware software like VLC, even AUDACITY.

However Audacity is one of those freeware items that one must download and install a third party product called LAME in order to get the capability to save to MP3 and a few other audio files. Audacity is not able to bundle LAME due to licensing issues and is an example of what can and does happen with a lot of "freeware".

Freeware should be considered sort of like a bunch of building blocks, one sometimes will have to basically build the final product with one or more third party tools.

As such, a PAID commercial version is more a install and go without the need to mess around with finding missing building blocks. This may be a better option for those who would just like to install and edit.

As I have mentioned, nothing wrong with free, and you are happy with your selections, but there is also nothing wrong with pointing out that paid commercial versions can be had for not all that much.. $47 for Corel, you can not even buy a cheap cut of steak dinner out for 2 for that price now days.

[krykmoon]

Only a general mention that not ALL freeware is good, works well or 100% free of unwanted and un needed bloatware, malware, PUPs.

My opinion and experiences are mine and your opinion and experiences are yours and perhaps one can stop attacking me just because my experiences with "freeware" resulted in a lot of frustration trying to get free NLEs to work for my needs?

But the point is not me or you, here: who opened this thread asked for the "BEST FREE TOOLS for..." ... and you continued to suggest only paid software ranting about bloatware and limitations in the free alternatives.

However Audacity is one of those freeware items that one must download and install a third party product called LAME in order to get the capability to save to MP3 and a few other audio files. Audacity is not able to bundle LAME due to licensing issues and is an example of what can and does happen with a lot of "freeware".

It's clear you don't use Audacity in ages: it's many many years it has built-in support for LAME and you don't need to install anything (and there is also a fully portable version you can use from external units). That is also misleading and not true.

Freeware should be considered sort of like a bunch of building blocks, one sometimes will have to basically build the final product with one or more third party tools.

It's not always this way, there are also commercial product you have to pay for that are incomplete, very limited or full of bloatware.
And there is also free software that is very good and robust and reliable, instead.

Software that is open source and that is offered for free has its development costs, anyway. So, we can choose to pay few bucks for crappy commercial software (even when there are better free alternatives) but we can also have the choice to donate those bucks to the people working on those better alternatives offered for free.