5 Free Video Editing Programs You Need to Know About

Are you looking to edit videos but don't have the budget to shell out for video editing software? Look no further! In this article, we'll be covering 5 free video editing programs that are worth looking into. Most of these will be multi-platform programs, but not all.

Before jumping into the list, I'd like to recommend checking if there's a free version of video editing software available on your computer or specific device. Some cameras, capture cards, and other videodevices come with free video editing software that might be a good choice for you. For example, Windows Movie Maker is no longer officially available for download, but the Windows 10 Photos app can do some basic video editing. Apple's iMovie for Mac is also definitely serviceable for many users' needs.

Now, let's get into the list of free video editing programs in no particular order.

**1. KdenLive**

KdenLive probably looks the most similar to Vegas Pro or Premiere Pro for some of its more basic features as a free video editor. It's a feature-packed NLE (or nonlinear video editor) with a lot of features built-in, but not everything is modernized. Some users have reported that transitions are mostly still only in 4:3 aspect ratio, and it doesn't take full advantage of GPU acceleration. However, it is available on Windows and Linux, and if you want to compile the code yourself, it should run on Mac OS. KdenLive supports virtually any source format, multi-track editing, a customizable user interface, keyframe effects, transitions, a 2D titler, audio and video scopes to help with color and audio work, and even proxy-based editing!

**2. OpenShot**

Next up, we have OpenShot. OpenShot is more of a user-friendly video editor, designed to work on more simple projects but not overwhelm you with too much UI. I personally found it pretty limiting for my complex editing needs, but I know many users swear by it for basic video edits. OpenShot supports unlimited tracks and edits, a variety of different audio, video, and image formats, a variety of effects, keyframe animation, 3D animated titles, transitions, and speed changes. OpenShot is available on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

**3. Olive**

I've received numerous comments asking me to check out Olive video editor. It's open-source and available for Windows, Mac, and Linux, and it's still in very early alpha but aiming at the big boys in the video editing space, at least UI-wise, looking quite similar to Premiere's panel system, which isn't a bad thing. Olive supports multi-track editing, a growing list of effects, lots of exporting options, and is constantly updating. For my kind of work, I couldn't really use such an early-in-development project regularly, but I'll definitely keep an eye on it and recommend that those with less serious needs give it a go! They seem to be actively integrating feedback and requests via GitHub, so now's the time to really shape the program.

**4. Avid Media Composer | First**

Now we're getting into the big leagues. Avid Media Composer is kind of the king of standard Hollywood-level digital NLEs for a very long time. While Final Cut Pro X, Premiere Pro, and DaVinci Resolve are rising up for a few films and TV work, Avid is something you want to know in the professional field. Used to, it would cost a lot of money, but now there's an option called Avid Media Composer | First which offers many features at no cost! This software is geared towards new and aspiring editors who are looking to learn video editing for a potential professional path.

**5. BlackMagic Design DaVinci Resolve**

BlackMagic Design DaVinci Resolve is another great option that I'd like to highlight in this article. While you still need a decent computer to have a fast experience editing high-res videos, there are plenty of options out there for good software that doesn't cost a lot of money! BlackMagic Design DaVinci Resolve offers many features including color correction and audio post-production tools making it an excellent choice for filmmakers looking to get started with video editing. I've covered my progress learning Resolve as well as a couple tutorials on setting up render servers in videos, you can check those out by going to the description.

While there are plenty of options out there for free video editing software, if you're genuinely wanting to learn video editing for a potential professional path, I'd definitely recommend starting with Avid Media Composer | First or BlackMagic DaVinci Resolve. It will require a lot of tutorial watching to get going, but the end results will be worth it! What's your favorite video editing program? What operating system do you use it on? Let's discuss in the comments below while you're there, hit that like button, subscribe for more tech education, and maybe enable notifications so you don't miss an upload. I'm EposVox here to make tech easier and more fun!

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enWant to edit video but don’t have the budgetto shell out for video editing software?This is the video for you.In this video, I’ll be covering 5 free videoediting programs that are worth looking intoto get cutting and editing.Most of these will be multi-platform programs,but not all.Before jumping into the list, I’d definitelyrecommend looking into the software that mightbe freely available to you with your computeror specific device.Some cameras, capture cards, and other videodevices come with free video editing softwarethat might be a good choice for you.While Windows Movie Maker is no longer officiallyavailable for download, apparently the Windows10 Photos app can do some basic video editing- and Apple’s iMovie for Mac is definitelyserviceable for many users’ needs.Let’s get into the list in no particularorder.#1 KdenLiveKdenLive probably looks the most similar toVegas Pro or Premiere Pro for some of themore basic free video editors.It’s a feature-packed NLE (or nonlinearvideo editor) with a lot of features built-in- but not everything is modernized.Some users have reported that transitionsare mostly still only 4:3 aspect ratio, andit doesn’t take full advantage of GPU acceleration.It is, however, available on Windows and Linux- and if you want to compile the code yourselfit should run on Mac OS.Kdenlive supports virtually any source format,multi-track editing, a customizable user interface,keyframe effects, transitions, a 2D titler,audio and video scopes to help with colorand audio work, and even proxy-based editing!#2 OpenShotNext up, we have OpenShot.OpenShot is more of a user-friendly videoeditor, designed to work on more simple projectbut not overwhelm you with too much UI.I personally found it pretty limiting formy complex editing needs, but I know manyusers swear by it for basic video edits.OpenShot supports unlimited tracks and edits,a variety of different audio, video, and imageformats, a variety of effects, keyframe animation,3D animated titles, transitions, and speedchanges.OpenShot is available on Windows, Mac, andLinux.#3 - OliveI’ve received numerous comments asking meto check out Olive video editor.Open Source and available for Windows, Mac,and Linux, Olive is still in very early alpha- but it’s aiming at the big bois in thevideo editing space, at least UI-wise, lookingquite similar to Premiere’s panel system,which isn’t a bad thing.Olive supports multi-track editing, a growinglist of effects, lots of exporting options,and is constantly updating.For my kind of work I can’t really use suchan early-in-development project regularly,but I’ll definitely keep an eye on it andrecommend that those with less serious needsgive it a go!They seem to be actively integrating feedbackand requests via GitHub, so now’s the timeto really shape the program.#4 Avid Media Composer | FirstNow we’re getting into the big leagues.Avid Media Composer is kind of the king ofstandard Hollywood-level digital NLEs fora very long time.While Final Cut Pro X, Premiere Pro, and DaVinciResolve are rising up for a few films andTV work, Avid is something you want to knowin the professional field.Used to, it would cost tens of thousands ofdollars to have Avid set up in a studio, butnow they’ve started branching into affordableindividual licensing and even a free versionwith Avid Media Composer First.This comes with the full kit of professionaltools for color grading, stabilizing footage,adjust exposure, and so on.It has multi-cam workflows, audio duckingtools, reframing capabilities, and a lot ofaudio tools.This software, however, only runs on newerWindows and Mac machines.No Linux support, sadly.#5 BlackMagic DaVinci ResolveBlackMagic Design decided to make the firstprofessional foray into Linux video editing,however, with their DaVinci Resolve editingsoftware.Honestly, as with Avid, Resolve’s featureset is far too vast for me to list here.It literally has EVERYTHING.Professional color grading tools that manyuse even if they don’t actually edit inresolve, built-in Fusion effects suite formotion graphics and visual effects, a multi-trackeditor, transitions, speed effects, audiotools, multitrack timelines, insane CUDA accelerationfrom graphics cards, Fairlight Audio suite,2D and 3D title tools - there’s little thiseditor can’t do.In previous versions, in order to get audioplayback on Linux, you needed a BlackMagichardware device in your system - but thisseems to have been resolved (haha pun) inversion 15.DaVinci Resolve is available on Windows, Mac,and Linux, and has both free and paid versions- though most YouTubers, won’t really needany of the paid features.That’s more geared towards big studios.I’ve covered my progress learning Resolveas well as a couple tutorials on setting renderservers up for it in videos in the past, I’llhave them linked in the description.Wham bam, video editing… slam?While you still need a decent computer tohave a fast experience editing high res video- you can’t get around the physics of that- there are plenty of options out there forgood software that doesn’t cost a lot ofmoney.If you’re genuinely wanting to *learn videoediting* for a potential professional path,I’d definitely recommend starting with AvidMedia Composer | First or BlackMagic DaVinciResolve - it will require a lot of tutorialwatching to get going, but the end resultswill definitely be worth it.What’s your favorite video editing program?What operating system do you use it on?Let’s discuss in the comments below.While you’re down there, hit that like button,subscribe for more tech education, and maybeenable notifications so you don’t miss anupload.I’m EposVox here to make tech easier andmore fun and I’ll see you in the next video.Peaceeeee\n"