- Easiest Video Editor For Beginners
- Free Video Editing Software
- Easiest Video Editing Software For Beginners
Multimedia • Nov.4, 2019
Hitfilm Express is the best free video editing software, as its high-energy style appeals to budding filmmakers who want to put a special touch on a personal event or get creative with a video.
Aug 06, 2020 Another video editing software program for both Windows and Mac is VideoPad, from NCH Software. It's free for non-commercial use. It supports drag-and-drop, effects, transitions, 3D video editing, text and caption overlay, video stabilization, easy narration, free built-in sound effects, and color control. Jan 09, 2019 AVS Video Editor. Another one of the best editing software for beginners is AVS Video Editor. It is a video editor which can be used by even a newbie. It enables you to trim, merge, split, rotate and mix videos in an instant. Furthermore, users can also create slideshows and add video effects, transitions, voice narration, audio and captions.
Have you ever tried to create or edit a video only to give up halfway through? This is just so damn tough, right?
Well, you're not the only one. Many of us struggle to do even the basic stuff, and we know the frustration and confusion of trying to navigate an extensive program that does powerful things with video—we don't even know it does many of those things until years later.
Okay, now that that's out of the way — let's talk easiest video editors for beginners and newbies here.
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The evergreen demand for video editing
There's no doubt that video content is everywhere, and it's only getting more important. Not only Social media platforms are hosting more video content than ever, video interviews are becoming more prevalent – even the classroom is getting more video-friendly.
As per a study by HubSpot, about 70% of businesses say that their sales figures increased by incorporating video content; and, with 85% customers relying more on videos to make buying decisions. Alexa change mac address.
At this moment, there are more than 3,000 available video editing jobs and that's only for freelancing, only for Upwork, and, obviously, only for professionals.
Outside of that, there are also thousands and thousands of professionals who need this kind of software and millions of everyday people – like you – who need to do some basic editing.
While desktop video editing applications are powerful, editing your video content at a high level is still difficult, and if you're getting ready to edit a video for the very first time, you'll need to know the basics like video trimming, audio sync, subtitling, splitting, and the overall complexity of the program, etc.
That's why we decided to make things a bit easier for you by listing some of the best options that are out there at the moment. As the title suggests, most of them are most suitable for beginners. But, some of them can also be used by some more advanced editor.
Let's get started!
Our favorite option: Filmora 9
One of the reasons that we love Filmora so much is because it's very easy to use while still offering the power of storytelling for creative people. Get inspired by the video below.
That being said, it's probably not the best option for professionals. But, then again, if you're a pro, then chances are that you wouldn't be reading this article.
In any case, let us take a closer look at it!
Filmora's editing solutionsOne of the reasons that we love Filmora so much is because of how easy it is to use. If offers a huge variety of different options and features while still keeping things relatively simple.
You may find all the options to be a bit overwhelming at first. But it all becomes a child's play after you get used to it. Trust us when we say that this is one of the editors that's easiest to use.
Regarding the features, let's start with the fact that Filmora does most of the work for you. As you can see at the image above, even if you end up going wrong somewhere, the program will fix things automatically – at least for the most part.
As for editing options, you get to play with titles, audio, transition effects and various other effects, split screen editing, and more.
One of the main differences between Filmora and 'Traditional' editing programs is that we can use this one without having to rely on 3rd party soundtracks.
After all, the program comes with 51 music tracks that are bundled with it. Though, most of them need to be downloaded on demand – definitely something to keep in mind in case that you've got a slow internet connection.
The same thing applies for all the titles, subtitles, effects, transition effects, general effects, and anything that you can use to edit videos.
That's one more reason for picking Filmora 9 as one of the easiest video editing software. For the most part, you don't have to bother with creating custom subtitles, intros, buying soundtracks and dealing with copyright strikes, or anything like that.
And then again, if you like getting your feet wet and creating custom subtitles or inserting your own tracks, you've got that option as well.
UI and ease of useAs you already saw from all the screenshots, Filmora's UI is pretty straight-forward and easy to get used to.
At the very top of the interface, we can find the basic file options, a few basic tools and functions like cropping, cutting, zooming, etc. Then we also have export options and a bit of help for anything regarding the program.
Clicking on a category will display several other sub-categories and those sub-categories hide even more options.
We know that it sounds like a lot of information to take in at once. But, really, once you get a sense of direction, this is as easy as it gets.
For example, let's suppose for a moment that you need to add a quick blur transition effect between two clips. The first logical step is to head over to ‘Transition'.
After that, we get to choose between Basic Transitions, 3D, Ripple, Speed Blur, Warp, Lifestyle, and Slideshows.
So, since we're after a quick blur, the next logical step is to head over to ‘Speed Blur' and check out the available options.
All we're trying to say is that the UI is very well made and easy to use. All you need is a bit of logic and some basic foresight on what you're trying to achieve.
And even if you don't have any plans, simply scrolling through the numerous effects and options is sure to give a few ideas.
The editing section is a tiny bit tougher since there are different colors and markings which are there to show us what kind of effects each clip is using. We're not saying that memorizing each different color is a must. But it sure helps a lot.
That being said, if there's something that you don't understand, you can always rely on Filmora's tutorial videos to figure things out!
Pricing and availabilityFilmora is available for Windows and macOS and it's available in a free trial, which offers you all the options but adds a watermark on exported videos. If you want to get the full version, you can get a subscription starting at $39/year. You can also get a lifetime license starting at $69 for a single computer.
Also great: Movavi Video Editor 2020
Don't like Filmora 9? Then your next best bet is quite possibly Movavi Video Editor 2020. It's without a doubt one of the best video editing software for beginners.
As for others who are more experienced and need to do more demanding work, there's always the Video Editor Plus and the Movie Suit.
Still, as we mentioned above, beginners should stick with the basic version instead. And if you feel like you're getting better at this, there's always the option of upgrading later on.
That's enough talking. Let us check out the program!
Movavi's editing solutionsAn older version of Filmora used to have a feature that was called ‘Easy Mode'. This feature could be used to quickly create a very basic clip with little control over the transitions, effects, and music.
Sure – it wasn't the ideal option for those who wanted even the basic level of control. But, some people still found it useful.
For some reason, this feature got removed in Filmora 9. If you're one of these people who liked Easy Mode, then you'll be glad to know that Movavi Video Editor is using a very similar option which is called ‘Quick Video'.
As we mentioned above, you can use this to quickly create a video by putting a bunch of pictures together, selecting a theme (Or choosing the soundtrack and effects on your own), and that's how you get a video ready in less than 10 minutes!
It's not the ideal option for those who want attention to detail. But it gets the job done. And for everyone else? Well, you always have the option of using the full-fledged, basic editor.
Just like with Filmora, we get the option of easily adding various filters, transition effects, titles, stickers, and more.
At this point, let us mention that we struggled to find the basic subtitles quite a bit, which is definitely a huge con for an editor that's focused on helping beginners. More on that later.
One thing that we particularly loved with Movavi is the quick tools that it offers.
Things like cutting/trimming, cropping, adjusting the contrast, quickly recording with the mic, and anything like that are nothing but child's play. If you like creating parodies just for the laughs, then this is definitely the ideal editor for you.
UI and ease of useAs we mentioned above on the ‘editing' section, Movavi Video Editor 2020 definitely doesn't feel as easy to use as Filmora. Or at least that's how we feel.
Everything is kind of straight forward and easy to understand. Adobe photoshop 7 0 for macbook air. But, the lack of names next to the various icons is something that's going to confuse a lot of people for the first minutes-hours of use. Especially if you're a beginner to editing and your brain is on full processing power just trying to figure out what to do next.
At least the basic adjustments like brightness, contrast, saturation, and everything like that is pretty simple to understand.
The navigation is pretty similar to Filmora. So, if you're a previous user, then switching over to Movavi should be simple.
Still, there were a couple of cases when we had to use Google in order to figure out how something works. For example, since there are no sub-headings/categories, we couldn't find a dedicated category for subtitles – like we did on Filmora.
After a bit of searching, it turns out that you can use some basic titles in the form of subtitles instead. The only problem with that is that we didn't need to rely on Google while using Filmora. So, that's one con for Movavi here.
The lack of sub-categories can be a bit annoying as well. In some cases, like with blur effects, it's not really an issue – because there are not a whole lot of effects to choose from in the first place.
However, things do get rather confusing when there are a ton of effects and they are all listed on a huge menu that almost seems to be never ending.
Overall, the UI is a noticeable downgrade when compared to Filmora. But, it's still the best alternative.
Pricing and availabilityMovavi can be used on both Windows and Mac. The price starts at $39.95 depending on the edition you choose to go for and has a free trial version for you to test.
Other options that worth mention
Easiest Video Editor For Beginners
There are plenty of others to choose from. Here are some that we recommend!
1. Pinnacle Studio 23 ($59.95, Windows)Pinnacle Studio 23 is the cheapest option out of the 3 Pinnacle's offerings. But, that doesn't mean that it doesn't worth anything.
In fact, it's quite the opposite. This program has so many options and features to play with that it barely qualifies as video editing software for beginners!
It's most suitable for intermediate users – and that's one of the primary reasons that we didn't place it on our top 2. Because, otherwise, it's pretty decent!
And you always have the option of spending a bit more and getting a version with more editing power. But, do keep in mind that the more advanced versions are mostly targeted towards, well, advanced users.
2: Adobe Premiere Elements ($99.99, Windows and Mac)Adobe is a huge name in various professional areas – including photo and video editing. Adome Premiere Elements, in particular, is without a shadow of a doubt one of the best options that one can find.
However, just like Pinnacle Studio 23, Adobe Premiere Elements is a bit too good for its own good. Meaning that someone who is new to video editing may feel overwhelmed with all the features and the different options.
The automated modes and the Adobe Sensei AI definitely help a lot. But, again, this is not exactly targeted towards someone who's never edited a video before.
3: Magix Movie Edit Pro ($69.99, Windows)Magix Movie Edit Pro claims to be suitable for both advanced users and beginners alike – and it kind of is. But, compared to our top picks, the truth is that it struggles to compete.
Still, for everything that it offers, this program is a far cry from being a bad option. We're talking about more than 900 effects, 4K support, an ‘Easy Mode', bundled tracks, and more.
All of that and anything else that you may find is only there for the basic version. If you're willing to spend even more, then we're easily talking about more than 1500 effects, 360-degree video editing, and a bunch of other features that beginners are highly unlikely to take advantage of.
4: Muvee Reveal Automatic Video Editor ($79.99, Windows)Can you play fortnite on macbook pro 2018. Unlike most of the other alternative options that we checked out till now, Muvee Reveal is focused towards making video editing easy.
The only problem with it is that it asks quite a lot of money to do it while also taking away a big part of the control that you otherwise get with a traditional editor. It's basically the ‘Quick Video' feature that Movavi offers – but with a higher price tag.
Of course, it's not like the program doesn't have anything else to offer. But, for about 80 bucks, it's a tough buy. That being said, do keep in mind that pricing may wildly vary from region to region.
Free video editing alternatives
Most of these programs frankly offer more than most of us can handle – which, in a way, is a great thing to have. But the truth is that not everyone can or is willing to pay for video editing software.
That's precisely why we decided to list some free options as well. Here are our top free picks!
1: Apple iMovie (Mac, iOS)This is quite possibly the best freebie that Apple users can get. And we're saying ‘Apple users' because it's only available for the Apple ecosystem (iOS, and MacOS). And that's actually one of the best things about it. Since it works flawlessly with Apple devices, you can easily switch between your iPhone or iPad to your Mac and vice versa.
This is something that can rarely be done with other editors – if ever. So, iMovie is definitely worth checking out. Especially because it's free. While for the most part, it doesn't offer a lot of features and options to play with.
2: HitFilm Express Free (Windows, Mac)HitFilm Express is available for both Windows and Mac and it's another great free video editor. And when we say free, we mean it. It's not a free trial or the actual editor that exports everything with a watermark. It's a full-fledged, basic editor that's mostly targeted towards beginners.
It even offers a bunch of free tutorials that you can use to get better at editing. And when you feel like you're capable of more, there is always the pro variant which is better in pretty much every single way.
3: DaVinci Resolve 16 Free (Windows, Mac, Linux)For a free editor, DaVinci Resolve 16 seriously offers a ton of features to play with. There's so much stuff to do that it's not just, suitable for beginners but for Intermediate editors as well. Not to mention that it's one of the very few editors that support all of the popular operating systems – Windows, Mac, and Linux.
As with our other free picks, Davinci Resolve 16 isn't a trial and can be used indefinitely. And when you feel like you can achieve more, there is always the Studio version – just keep in mind that it's rather pricey.
4: VideoPad Video Editor Free (Windows)Last, but not least, there's also VideoPad. Like our other free picks, it's completely free to use. But, that's only for as long as you don't rely on it for commercial use – meaning that those who are in this for the video editing business should probably consider an alternative option.
Regarding the features, VideoPad may definitely feel a bit underwhelming when compared to some of our best options. But, for someone who is new to video editing and needs something to get started, this is probably more than enough.
There are quite a lot of effects to choose from, you get the basic tools like trimming, splitting, and anything like that, and also video optimization tools – such as stabilization, playback speed control, and things like that.
The way forward
Editing videos and shaping it into compelling ones consistently has always been the underlying objective. So, you finally found the best option for you. Now what? Family tree template free mac.
Well, first of all, stop being afraid of tutorials. Video editors offer them for a reason and they'll help you a lot in the long run.
Second of all, make sure that your computer is up to the task. Video editing is very demanding and it would be awful to get halfway through a project before your PC can't handle the rest. Having at least 8 to 16 gigabytes of RAM with an SSD installed is the least that you can do.
As for editing, start by prioritizing work. For example, splitting and mixing generally comes first. You can start thinking about adding subtitles and/or effects after that's done.
Also, never forget about things like contrast, brightness, audio levels, or anything like that. They can make a huge difference in quality with a very small amount of effort. To make certain repetitive tasks easier, you should learn some basic keyboard shortcuts as well.
Last, but not least, pay attention to the size of the video. The framerate, video quality, and format will make a huge difference in size and quality. So, adjust these according to your preference.
Hopefully, these best and easiest video editors help you create and publish content for your target audience.
Try out a few of these apps, identify the best one for you, and start editing!
If video isn't already an important part of your content marketing strategy, odds are it's about to be. Web content is taking a turn toward video whether SEOs and content marketers like it or not. Nearly 50% of marketers are adding YouTube and Facebook channels for video distribution in the next year; one third of online activity is spent watching video; and video itself is projected to account for more than 80% of all internet traffic by 2019. 80%!
For those looking to continue to grow their organic traffic, that means one thing:
Not an expert? Don't know how to edit videos, have a video studio, or have a bona fide video specialist to shoot and cut your features? That's alright! The goal of today's blog is to show you that with the right video editing software, you too can churn out sleek, professional video content—regardless of experience—and keep your content strategy ahead of the curve.
Let's dive in! Here are our recs for the top 10 best pieces of video editing software or video editing apps for beginners—from cheapest (i.e. free!) to most expensive.
1. Apple iMovie
Ok—so to those of you working with PCs, this one won't really apply; but we'd remiss to leave it off the list. If you're looking for simplicity and elegance, it doesn't get much better than Apple iMovie. iMovie's ten high-fidelity filters are some of the classiest in the video editing game; and if you're shooting on your iPhone, or have been editing a project on your iPad, you can use AirDrop to wirelessly and seamlessly transfer your project over to your Mac.
One of iMovie's most coveted features is its green-screen, or 'chroma-key' tool, which allows you to place your characters in exotic locations—Hawaii, say—at a moment's notice. Want to overlay the scene with 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow'? iMovie ties directly in with iTunes and GarageBand, so you can easily implement custom tracks and sounds. When your movie's finally ready to ship, release it into the wild using iMessage, Facebook, YouTube, or any other of iMovie's succinctly connected platforms.
Standout Features: Seamless Apple product integration; green-screen; audio and social platform integration
Pricing: Free with the purchase of a Mac
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2. Lumen5: How to Edit Videos Without Much Technical Ability
We'll put this more in the category of a video editing 'tool' than video editing software, but for social media marketers who want to create fun, flashy social promos in the blink of an eye, Lumen5 is a no brainer. Here's a short little feature we made for a recent blog post, 14 Fun & Festive Holiday Marketing Ideas for 2017:
Lumen5 markets itself as a tool that turns blog posts into social promos. While the process isn't perfect, and you'll likely have to do some tinkering to get your blog content looking just the way you want it, the rest of the video creation process is a cinch. Merely refine some copy that teases your blog post; drag and drop some gifs, screengrabs, or video clips; add some music; and your engaging social video will be ripe for Facebook and Twitter.
Standout Features: Blog-to-social-promo creation; drag-and-drop interface
Pricing: Create as many 480p videos as you want with the free version; or, for $50 per month, upgrade to 1080p HD.
3. Nero Video
One of the cheaper options around ($49.99), Nero Video holds its own on this list—it comes well-stocked with a lot of the tricks and effects you'll find among other products vying for video editing supremacy, and as far as software for beginners, you can certainly do worse. If you're going to spend money learning how to edit videos, however, you might want to steer clear. Nero just doesn't have the speed and functionality of some of the other products listed here, and if it's value proposition is its price, $50 is still not all that cheap.
Standout Features: Low pricing
Pricing: One-time payment of $49.99
4. Corel VideoStudio
Corel VideoStudio has all the characteristics of the other top-of-the-line products on this list, including 360-degree VR and 4k support, but it also has the distinction of being the first piece of consumer video editing software to offer motion tracking—which, if you're not already familiar, is a feature that allows you to track specific objects throughout your cut (if you wanted, say, to point an arrow at one of your characters, blur out his face, or bestow him with a funny hat). Most of the products on this list come equipped with motion tracking, but VideoStudio still boasts one of the best motion tracking systems around.
One of the knocks on VideoStudio is its speed, which lags notably behind some of the faster systems on this list, like CyberLink PowerDirector and Pinnacle Studio. Still: for a one-time payment of $51.99? You can do much worse.
Standout Features: Motion tracking
Pricing: One-time payment of $51.99
5. Filmora from Wondershare
When it comes to video editing software, Filmora is about as multi-faceted as they come. Filmora is Wondershare's standard, simple, high-quality video editing offering; but Wondershare also offers FilmoraGo (for mobile editing) and Filmora Scrn (for screen recording and editing). The design is intuitive and easy to use, and comes replete with filters, overlays, motion elements, transitions, and a small selection of royalty-free music. Here are a few more of the 'basics' Filmora offers:
4k and gif support are boilerplate features for most video editing products today, but one thing Filmora does particularly well is titles. Title tools are trending in video software, and while Filmora's doesn't have the functionality of say, an Apple Final Cut Pro X, which can superimpose 3D titles over your videos and rotate them on three axes, it nonetheless has some snazzy titling features for the money you're spending.
Another Filmora feature beginners to video editing will find attractive is 'Easy Mode,' which allows you to create fun, polished edits by merely dragging and dropping clips, choosing a theme, and selecting music.
Standout features: Title tool; mobile and screen editing; 'Easy Mode' https://innovativesoftware.mystrikingly.com/blog/dragonvale-breeding-guide-2019.
Pricing: Starts at $59.99 for a lifetime license; or, $39.99 for a year.
6. CyberLink PowerDirector
So—we stretched the meaning of 'software' a bit earlier; now, we're going to stretch the meaning of 'beginner.' We included CyberLink PowerDirector on this list because its interface is, at the end of the day, pretty straightforward. Head to the product page, run through the tutorials, and you'll be alright. There is within the interface, however, an embarrassment of options and effects. If you're not willing to invest the time in learning all of them, it can get a bit overwhelming.
Don't be scared of CyberLink's extra features; just be wary of your commitment level!
In terms of rendering, PowerDirector is regarded as one of the fastest video editing systems around. It also operates consistently in the sphere of the innovative and cutting edge. PowerDirector led the charge in the switch to 4k, and today, it's one of the first systems to support 360-degree virtual reality footage.
Price: you get what you pay for! $79.99 gets you unlimited access to one of the most capable pieces of video editing software around.
Standout Features: Lightning-fast rendering; comprehensive suite of effects
Pricing: One-time payment of $79.99
7. Adobe Premiere Elements
We include Premiere Elements on the list mostly because it's been an industry leader in the video editing game for some time. And $79.99 is not egregious, but we're here to say that at that price, you're mostly paying for the name. In the time since Premiere Elements' inception, too many other products have surpassed it in speed and capability for us to place it among the cream of the crop. That's to take nothing away from Premiere Elements' usability, though—specifically for beginners.
The Guided Edits feature makes Adobe Premiere a particularly attractive option for beginners, as it allows them to take on both quick edits and advanced projects with substantial assistance from the software. Foxit print to pdf free.
If you're not entirely sure what you're doing, don't sleep on Guided Edits!
So while Premiere Elements lags behind the competition in terms of speed, 3D editing, multi-cam, and some other advanced features, it's still a great choice for the beginner looking for a comprehensive suite of effects, and some guidance on how to implement them.
Standout Features: Guided Edits; simple interface
Pricing: One-time payment of $79.99
8. Pinnacle Studio
At the higher end of the Corel product line is Pinnacle Studio—which, at $129.95 (the amount you'll need to pay to edit 360-degree and 4k content with the 'Ultimate' version), costs more than twice as much as VideoStudio. What do you get for the extra money? Well, not only does Pinnacle come readily equipped with all the features you'd expect from an upper-echelon product—motion tracking, 360-degree VR support, 4k support, multi-cam, etc.—but you'd be hard-pressed to find a faster product on the market in terms of rendering.
Free Video Editing Software
For all of its features, Pinnacle's interface is still as user-friendly and intuitive as anything on this list. Thus, is you have the need for speed, and you don't mind shelling out a few extra bucks for it, Pinnacle might be the product for you.
Standout Features: Top-of-the-line rendering speeds; full range of features and support
Pricing: One-time payment of $129.95
9. Adobe Premiere Pro
With a virtually unmatched suite of features, 360 VR and 4k support, and a newly implemented ability to store, organize, and share assets online with a team, Adobe Premiere Pro is perhaps the most complete piece of video editing software around. Here's a recent video promo for our free AdWords account structure guide we cut using Premiere Pro.
One of the more dazzling of Premiere Pro's tools is the Lumetri Color tool, which offers color adjustment and manipulation on par with that of a Photoshop. The multi-cam feature is also a winner—whereas most systems allow you to work with a limited number of camera angles, Premiere Pro's latest iteration allows for an unlimited amount.
Throw in a wealth of titling options, readily connected ancillary apps (like Photoshop and After Effects), and a flexible, easy-to-use interface, and Premiere Pro is a no brainer.
Easiest Video Editing Software For Beginners
3d architecture software. Standout Features: Multi-cam and coloring options; title tool; easy integration with Adobe Products; straightforward interface
Pricing: $19.99/month
10. Apple Final Cut Pro X
For the most advanced, least fiscally prudent of beginners, there's Apple Final Cut Pro X. $299.99 might be a little steep for a product you may well have a difficult time understanding; but for those among you who enjoy a challenge, and who aspire to some level of professionalism in video editing, why not go for it? Apple has made the transition from iMovie to Final Cut Pro more painless than ever—so if you're the kind of guy or gal who enjoys him/herself an Apple product, and has worked with iMovie to the point of mastery, it might be time to splurge on Final Cut Pro. The power is still daunting; the interface, significantly less so.
Standout Features: Magnetic Timeline; Touch Bar support
Pricing: One-time payment of $299.99
Some Final Thoughts
Are you a content or social media marketer looking to get in the video editing game for the sake of keeping up with the growing video trend? Don't stress! Any of the above software apps would make a fine choice for a beginner.
Think about your budget, your current level of expertise, and how much time you're willing to devote to learning a new skill. Whether you're looking for the best video editing software for YouTube, or the responsibility has simply fallen on you to get your team's video marketing strategy up to snuff—don't wait around deliberating! Get invested in one of these video editing products, and make it yours.