7 Best Free Video Editor Options for Beginners

HitFilm (No Longer Maintained)

✨ Recommendation: Historically 8.1 / 10

HitFilm was known for combining basic editing with fun, movie-level VFX. It included lots of 2D and 3D compositing effects, curve-based color tools, and compositing utilities.

That made it very friendly for creators who want to add visual effects. It also offered many tutorials so beginners could put cinematic VFX into their projects.

But note: after Artlist bought FXhome and changed the product and business model, many users complained. In early 2025, Artlist announced it would stop operating the FXhome apps, and the FXhome website was taken down on January 15, 2025. Users can keep using already-installed copies, but there will be no new downloads, registrations, updates, or ongoing support.

What this means for you: if you don't already have HitFilm installed, the official channels no longer offer new downloads or registrations. If you already have it, you can usually keep using the last released version — but there will be no patches or official customer support. Only use it if you already have a stable installer and accept the "no future updates" risk. Otherwise, consider another free video editor.

If you love cinematic compositing and VFX, HitFilm Express was a great tool. It let creators use Hollywood-style VFX on their own videos. Its editing features were solid too, so it worked well as a free video editor for normal editing tasks. The older versions earned high marks, and if you can get an older HitFilm Pro version, it's still worth checking out.

Lightworks

✨ Recommendation: 7.6 / 10

Lightworks is a professional non-linear editor with a clean interface. It's known for strong color grading and audio controls. The app includes powerful color-correction tools and an audio equalizer.

Lightworks has been used on several Hollywood films, including Oscar-winning titles like The King's Speech.

There is a free version, so it's a solid free video editor to try before you pay.

Highlights:

Multi-cam editing: You can sync and cut clips from multiple camera angles.
Background rendering: Effects can render in the background, so your editing stays smooth.
Powerful color tools: Professional-grade controls let you fine-tune LUMA, HSL, and other color settings.

The free version only exports up to 720p and supports a limited set of formats (for example, YouTube/Vimeo exports are capped at 720p). The paid version unlocks full-HD and more export options.

If you need free 4K output, Lightworks may not meet that need. Still, its stable, professional toolset and industry reputation make it worth trying.

lightworks free video editor

VSDC Free Video Editor

✨ Recommendation: 8.5 / 10

VSDC is a free video editor for Windows. It has a clear, easy-to-use interface and a full set of tools, which makes it great for beginners. It supports almost every common video, audio, and image format (for example, AVI, MP4, MKV, MP3, WAV, PNG).

It also offers a wide range of video filters and audio effects. It supports blend modes and masking tools for advanced image processing. The software includes built-in motion tracking, hardware acceleration, and screen recording, making it easy to create dynamic content.

Highlights:

4K export with no watermark: The free version can export 4K videos without adding a watermark.
Hardware acceleration & motion tracking: Uses hardware encoding for faster rendering and preview. Motion tracking lets you attach masks or captions to moving objects.
Easy social sharing: Comes with export presets for YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram, so you can export the right format with one click.

VSDC is a very capable free video editor with beginner-friendly tools. It lets you edit and share ultra-high-definition videos without watermarks, which is great for everyday projects and tutorials. If you need more advanced effects later, you can consider upgrading to the Pro version.

OpenShot Video Editor

✨ Recommendation: 7.0 / 10

OpenShot is open-source and free. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. The interface is simple and clean, so beginners can learn it quickly. Key features include unlimited video and audio tracks (so you can stack many layers) and lots of transitions and effects with real-time preview.

The program includes more than 40 vector title templates for animated titles. If you install Blender, you can also make 3D animated titles through the Blender integration.

Highlights:

Multi-track editing: Unlimited tracks let you layer clips, subtitles, and images easily.
Lots of transitions and effects: Over 400 transitions (fades, wipes, etc.) and color tools like brightness, hue, grayscale, and chroma key.
Cross-platform: Works on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Active community updates: The project is community-maintained and gets regular improvements.

OpenShot has many features, but it can be a bit slower than some editors and may sometimes lag or crash. Some advanced tasks (like complex 3D animation) are better handled in other software. Overall, OpenShot is still a very beginner-friendly free video editor.

Filmora

✨ Recommendation: 7.8 / 10

Filmora is a popular video editor from Wondershare. It has been around for years and has millions of users worldwide. The interface looks modern and is easy to use. Filmora also comes with a huge library of creative assets: over 3,000 built-in templates, thousands of effects, and lots of music, animation, and text templates.

The subtitle tools are strong. You get many animated caption templates, and Filmora can auto-generate and style subtitles for you.

Highlights:

Practical tools: Besides basic editing, Filmora includes screen recording and format conversion tools.
Frame-by-frame preview: You can adjust one frame at a time for precise edits.
Export note: The free version adds a watermark to exported videos.
Other features: Multi-cam support, 4K export, advanced color grading, and AI tools for voice-over and speech recognition (features update over time).

Filmora is popular with new editors. It's easy to learn and has lots of ready-made resources, so it's great for fun, short videos, or tutorial content. Just remember: if you don't buy a license, exports from the free version will include the Filmora watermark — so it's not a fully unrestricted free video editor.

CapCut

✨ Recommendation: 9 / 10

CapCut is a free video editor from ByteDance. It started as a mobile app and now works on iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and in a web browser. The interface is clean and simple. The tools are powerful but easy to use, so it's great for beginners.

Highlights:

Huge asset library: Tons of music, stickers, text styles, effects, and filters. There are many short-video and social templates you can apply with one click — perfect for TikTok and other short-form platforms.
Strong built-in AI: Auto subtitle generation (many languages) and smart background removal make common tasks much faster.
No watermark: The free version exports videos without a watermark by default.
Cross-platform: Use it on your phone, on a desktop, or edit online in the browser.
Helpful AI tools: Auto speech recognition for subtitles, automatic translation, and intelligent tracking features.
Ready-made templates: Lots of templates speed up short-form video creation.

CapCut has become a favorite for new creators. Its free video editor covers most editing needs. The paid version gives higher export quality, a bigger asset library, and extra AI features, but the free version is already excellent for everyday short-video work.

capcut free video editor

DaVinci Resolve

✨ Recommendation: 8.7 / 10

DaVinci Resolve is an all-in-one post-production program from Blackmagic Design. It combines editing, professional color grading (Color), visual effects (Fusion), and audio post (Fairlight) in one app. You can switch between tasks without leaving the program.

The free version is very powerful. It supports 8-bit video and lets you edit up to 3840×2160 (4K UHD) at 60 fps. The free build also supports multi-user collaboration and HDR color grading. DaVinci is best known for its industry-leading color tools, but it also has a full editing page, effects tools, and a strong audio mixer.

The free version's core features are watermark-free and include most editing, color, VFX, and Fairlight audio tools.
The paid Studio version adds more advanced features: the AI Neural Engine (face detection, smart reframe, and other AI assists), extra Resolve FX plugins, stronger noise reduction, advanced demosaic, 10-bit exports, and support for higher frame rates and resolutions up to 8K.

DaVinci Resolve is widely used in professional film and video work. Even as a free video editor, it gives movie-grade color and VFX power. For most solo creators and small teams, the free version is already enough. If you need film-level denoising, 10-bit output, or very high resolutions, consider upgrading to Studio.

DaVinci Resolve free video editor

Which Free Video Editor Should You Pick?

Don't want to get stuck choosing? Use the quick "match by scenario" method below. Then try 1–2 editors and start making videos.

Quick scenario match (pick the best fit):

Want short videos / social content (phone-first, speed is key) → CapCut. Cross-platform, lots of templates, and AI tools. The free version exports without a watermark, so it's perfect for fast short-form content.
Need a Windows desktop tool that's "no watermark and full-featured" → VSDC. Windows-only, supports 4K export and motion tracking. The free version does not add watermarks.
Need cross-platform (Windows / Mac / Linux), simple and multi-track → OpenShot. Open-source, clean interface, and easy to learn. Good for teaching and basic multi-track editing.
Want one free tool that can grow with you toward pro work → DaVinci Resolve. The free version gives professional color tools, 4K/60fps support, and a full post workflow. Great if you plan to get serious.
Care about look and templates and don't mind a watermark in the free tier → Filmora. Fast to learn and loaded with assets. The free/trial export includes a Filmora watermark.
Want to try a pro-grade editor and accept export or feature limits → Lightworks. Has a strong pro toolset, but the free export is generally capped at 720p.
About HitFilm: it used to be a very capable free video editor. Today we recommend new users choose actively maintained alternatives (like the ones above).

Try this 30-minute test to decide:

Pick your two most important needs (for example: no watermark, 4K, or ease of use).
Download two matching editors (for example, CapCut + DaVinci, or VSDC + OpenShot).
Spend 30 minutes making a 3-minute clip: edit, add subtitles, and export once.
Choose the one that feels most stable and comfortable based on export quality and workflow.

That's it — a quick, practical way to find the best free video editor for your needs.

If you want to speed up your editing, try the TourBox creative controller. It has a compact, ergonomic design and lots of customizable buttons, knobs, and wheels. With one hand, you can move the playhead, trim clips, tweak color, and adjust parameters — with less switching between mouse and keyboard.

TourBox Creative Console

What Is TourBox

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For creators who make videos every day or do a lot of repetitive work, TourBox can noticeably speed things up and cut down on fatigue. You can also switch presets to jump between different apps or workflows in seconds.

TourBox works with many editing and post-production programs, including popular free video editor options. It's highly flexible and a great tool for automating your workflow and boosting efficiency.

TourBox Elite Plus

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If you're interested, visit our Video Editing page to learn more.

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