Need a video editing software program that works properly on your PC or Mac? You’re in the right place now. This is our recommended list of the best video editing software programs you can try in 2019 for Windows/Mac with our detail reviews and buying guides for beginners!
Video editing software program is technically an application that needs to be installed on your computer. It can handle the post-production editing work of your digital clips or still images. With a professional video editing software, you can easily cut out unwanted parts of the video, join multiple clips, add text title to video as well as adjust the color of the clip and add special effects to your project.
In this world, there is only one best software for a certain purpose, suitable for your needs and your budget. There is no “best video editing software” for all!
As a beginner, you may find it difficult to choose the best video editor program for your needs because of so many available options on the market now.
Most of them has similar features and prices. However, if you carefully examine each program, you will discover the differences easily. They are not exactly the same, at least in some points. We’ll find out soon in this post.
Let’s getting started now!
The Best Video Editing Software Free & Paid For Windows/Mac/Linux
A. Best Free Video Editing Software For Windows/Mac/ Linux
These free video editing software programs comes in with basic advanced video editing tools. They are powerful enough for creating stunning home movies or YouTube videos without watermark on the outputs. Apparently, they are worth to try before you think about paid video editing software.
1. VSDC Free Video Editor
VSDC is a completely free video editing program for Windows, meaning you will not have any feature limitation in its free version. The program is packed with all necessary feature for creating home movies and slideshows from raw footage and images.
It has intuitive user interface that any one can learn quickly. VSDC makes working with video editing work a breeze: just import videos and photos, trim and enhance individual segments, apply a soundtrack or voice-over, insert text, and add atmosphere with stylish filters and animated transitions! Save your completed movie in a range of popular formats, optimized for playback on mobile devices and online sharing.
What makes VSDC stand-out of the crowd is its powerful and completely free version. It lets you edit and export 4K video and even 360 degree videos without watermark on the output. Added to that, the program also includes a slideshow maker and a screen recorder which are helpful for making video from images and screencasting. To learn more about this software, read our detail review of VSDC here!
2. ActivePresenter – Free Video Editing Suite for Windows/Mac
ActivePresenter is an all-in-one eLearning authoring tool which includes a screen recorder and a feature rich video/audio editing package with basic and advanced features such as Chroma key, Closed Caption, PIP, Zoom and pan, Blur moving objects and so on. Like VSDC, this program is completely free to use without any restriction.
Editing video with ActivePresenter is as easy as any other video editing software you find on the market. The best parts of ActivePresenter is of course its free screen recorder and a bunch of annotation tools, including shapes, text, gestures, icons and many things more. You can overlay all of those things on your videos easily. Finally, you can export the video in full HD (1920×1080) quality without watermark. It’s worth to try if you’re going to produce how-to tutorials, educational video for YouTube. To learn more detail about ActivePresenter, read our detail review here!
3. Davinci Resolve
When it comes to video editing, Davinci Resolve is one of the best free video editing software for professional uses now. It has everything you need to create Hollywood style films at no cost. Though it needs a high end machine to run and a steep learning curve, it’s worth your effort.
This free video editor is available for Windows, Mac and Linux. Don’t miss this powerful program if you’re about to make your first home movie. Read our detail review here!
B. Best Video Editing Software For Beginners
These programs are not completely free. However, they are easy-to-use and cheap, compared to other expensive video editing software you see on the market.
4. Filmora Video Editor
Filmora video editor is a lightweight and easy-to-use video editing software that any novice can learn in minutes. The program comes in with an intuitive user interface and smart workflow that lets everyone edit videos without steep learning curve like other professional video editors.
Though this video editor is suitable for novices and casual users, this does not mean the program lacks of advanced editing tools. With Filmora, you are able to edit 4K video, apply Chroma key, remove camera shake, make use of its effect library to empower your creativity. Take a look at our latest review of Filmora here!
5. Movavi video editor
Movavi Video Editor is a powerful yet easy-to-use video processing program for Windows. Cut and join video clips with zero quality loss, apply stylish video effects and filters, add music, titles, and much more! Despite its extensive functionality, Movavi’s video editing software is very easy to work with: take a pinch of fantasy, mix it with some free time, and you’ll have a Hollywood-like video with a lot less effort. Download the program, review the information on this page – and your path to fame has for sure begun! Movavi has two version for Windows, one Movavi video editor for personal at ~$39,95 and Movavi video editor for Business at $79,95 which are good deal for professional video creators. Besides, Movavi is also one of the most professional, cost effective video editor for Mac.
6. VEGAS Pro
Magix VEGAS Pro 15, came to life on August 28th 2018, is an all-in-one video editing software package that is expected to become a big rival of the famous brands in the market today such as Adobe Premier Pro or Final Cut Pro. The program is said to help us work faster, more efficiently with a flexible and intuitive user interface interface, Picture-in-Picture OFX plug-in, Powerful hardware acceleration technologies, ACES 1.0 support and DVD Architect for DVD and Blu-ray Disc authoring. This program can be the game changer when it offers massive state-of-the-art upgrades, compared to its previous version. MAGIX had done a great job after they took this program from Sony. Read our detail review here!
7. Camtasia
Camtasia makes video editing simple and intuitive. Anyone can create informative, engaging videos easily with Camtasia. No video experience needed. This is one of the most powerful, professional video editors developed by TechSmith. Camtasia Studio 9 has everything you need to create wonderful videos for multi purposes. Read our review of Camtasia here!
8. AVS Video editor
AVS Video Editor maybe a little know products but it is actually a quick, easy video editing tool. You are able to trim, cut, split, merge, rotate, mix videos. Apply effects and overlays, insert menus, audio, texts and subtitles. Burn DVD/Blu-ray discs. There are many more effect in the packages. There are two packages of AVS Video editors which are 1 year subscription or life time subscription.
9. Leawo Video Editor
Geared to the first-time non-linear video editor, Video Editor provides all the freedom you need to arrange clips, images and music with a wealth of available effects, filters, transitions and other editing elements within its easy to use interface. It offers 2 editing modes to meet your needs: Easy Mode and Full Feature Mode. Besides the basic media editing features like transitions, effects, trim, crop, etc., it also includes some special video editing features, including: PIP, scene detection, face-off, auto enhance, close-up, intro/credits, etc. More effects are downloadable from online editing database.
10. mediAvatar video editor
Combining video splitter, cutter and joiner functions together you are able to split video into segments, cut video clips, and join video clips together, supporting most popular video formats including AVI, MPEG, WMV, MP4, FLV, MKV, H.264/MPEG-4, DivX, XviD, MOV, RM and so on. mediAvatar Video Editor offers the accessibility to preview original and edited videos, and adjust output video parameters. This video editing tool can not only edit videos, but also convert videos to another format if you like. Plus, it presets ready to use format for portable players such as Apple iPhone, iPod, iPad, PSP, Android phones, which enables you to play fixed videos directly on these players. More features involved displays in following text.
Try mediAvata video editor for Mac here and mediAvata Video Editor for Windows features.
11. BlazeVideo Video Editor
BlazeVideo Video Editor is an all-in-one video editor and converter program that allows you to clip, crop, rotate and flip videos. You can also add watermark texts and subtitles to the videos, or transfer files to iPad/ iPhone/iPod/mobile phone,etc
Price: $29,95
12. Voilabits Video Editor for Mac
This is a handy new tool that lets you edit videos easily and quickly! Cut and merge various clips, apply special effects, trim, crop, rotate video and much more. Convert for any popular player device and share anywhere. Get awesome experience to edit movie on Mac with a bunch of funny features. Cut and merge your home clips into a new movie easily like an expert. Personalize and spice videos with crop, trim, music, filter, webcam, ect. Convert for playback on popular smartphones/Tablets, and share to YouTube, Facebook, etc.
Price: $39,99
Try Voilabits Video editor now
13. GiliSoft Video Editor
GiliSoft Video Editor can help you make awesome edited movies, it cut and join video clips with zero quality loss, apply stylish video effects and filters, add music, titles, and much more! Most videos serve a purpose such as telling a story or providing information. With GiliSoft Video Editor you can Choose the best footage; Remove unwanted footage; Join the best material into movie; Add effects, graphics, music, texts; Alter the style, pace or mood of the video.
Purchase Price: $49,95/ 1 PC and $89,95 for 3 PC
Try GiliSoft Video editor for 1 PC now
Gilisoft is also very famous with other products such as converter, anti-virus software, screen recorder..and so on. With $89,99 you can buy completed packages of #1 Multimedia Toolkit Suite 2017 which we think it is very attractive.
14. Shotcut
Our Review: While we are on our way looking for a free, open source, powerful video editor, we found Shotcut. At the first time, we are really curious about this tool since it is rated as one of the best free video editor at present time. And when digging into its features and capabilities, we must agree that this is a superb free video editor for professional users. During our test, we are totally satisfied with what if provides and it is much more excellent than we expected. Here are some unique features you will get in this free video editor
Price: FREE
15. Lightworks v14
Our review: When we are on the way searching for a free video editor without leaving a watermark on edited videos that has powerful, professional editing package, we found Lightworks. As said above, it is not easy to use at the first time for beginners because its interface is far more different from other simple video editor such as filmora or Movavi that we reviewed before. However, when you come into specific project and get familiar with the tools, you will find it as simple as many other video editing software in the world now. Lighworks 14 has all the tool you need such as: cut, trim clips, copy, paste, split clip, adjust the audios, add effects, title to the videos. While in free version, lightworks provide only Color correction: Main, RGB, HSV, CURVE then the 3D DVE is a bonus from the publisher. We can see that in PRO Version, you are able to add more effects for your clips as well as various type of transitions.
C. Best Video Editing Software For Filmmakers
These programs are powerful and great for getting started your filmaking career.
15. Hitfilm 4 Express
HitFilm 4 Express has all tools you need to create a nice looking videos from multiple footage. It has an intuitive user interface that you can learn in few minutes. While his brothers Hitfilm Pro is a great, powerful software for making Hollywood film. In this free version, you can use all of Hitfilm Pro’s features. But, when you export your video, maximum resulotion you can pick is 720p instead of full HD and 4K like its pro version.
Price: Free
17. CyberLink PowerDirector 15 Ultimate
PowerDirector is no doubt one of the most wonderful video editing software in the world now. At the core of PowerDirector’s famed ease-of-use is a design that bridges the gap between what you know how to do, and what you want to do—a design that trains you, but in a completely natural, unobtrusive way.
Price: $79.99
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Final Words
In order to pick up the right video editor for yourself, you need to figure out your video editing purposes first. We hope you receive helpful information from our post and welcome back soon. Click +follow us via email to receive new post notifications every week.
Good luck!
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Thanks for being here Elizabeth. Enjoy!
Great post. Thanks very much. I got some great tools for editing videos for my business.
That would be awesome! I’ve got a lot of video editing apps but have only used a few of them. The learning curve is always high for anything ‘full-featured’ and there are a lot of ‘one function’ apps like one that crops, one that plays videos in reverse, etc. I suspect with the new ios 11 screen recorder that a lot more people will be looking for editing apps!
Thanks vsajewel. I have Ipads but have not tried to use it to edit videos. I will do it soon 🙂
Great article for computer users! I struggled to find ‘easy to learn’ editing software for Windows 7 a few years back and ended up using Cyberlink. Your article demonstrates there’s a lot more available now! Do you use iPads at all? I’d love to hear your views on the best video editing apps for ios if you do!