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Videos rule the digital world of today. From short films for YouTube or Vimeo to quick videos for TikTok or Instagram Reels, it seems everyone has become a filmmaker. You might be ready to edit videos, your best video editing software for windows but you might not know which software to use.
We’ll talk about the main features, pros and cons, and skill level of each option on our list, show you how to choose a video editor for your computer or laptop, and answer any questions you have about video editing. Businesses that want to make promotional videos have a lot of desktop-based editing software to choose from. Most free mobile video editing apps don’t have as many features as best video editing software for windows.
The best video editing software for windows is now more powerful than ever. It has everything you need to make professional videos, from special effects and filters to grading and audio production tools, and it lets you optimise your workflow. But even the most advanced software is made to be easy for beginners to use, with tutorials and easy-to-use user interfaces.
Best Video Editing Software for Windows
PowerDirector Essential
PowerDirector is our overall pick for the best video editing software for windows because it is a great choice for people of all skill levels. It has an easy-to-use interface and a simple design, which makes it easy for beginners to edit videos. It also has powerful advanced features and hardware acceleration, which will please even the most experienced video editors.
You can start editing videos right away with its easy-to-use tools, effects, transitions, and titles. You don’t have to pay for advanced features or have any experience with video editing. The free version of this video editor for PC will do all the basic things you need it to do. This free video editing software has professional and AI-powered tools that can turn your videos into masterpieces that look like they were made in a studio.
VideoPad
VideoPad is a great free choice for anyone who wants to make high-quality videos without spending a dime on software to edit them. You can try out different video styles and compositions with VideoPad’s simple and easy-to-use features, such as 3D video editing and a library of sound effects.
You can add special effects, overlays, texts, and transitions to your videos. You can also change the colours and add sound effects. The only problem is that it might be too easy for people who are good at making videos. It doesn’t have as many advanced features as some of the other best video editing software for windows on this list, but the ability to add light effects, fine-tune colours, and overlay text and images is enough to make it worth the free download.
Corel VideoStudio Ultimate
Corel has been in competition with Adobe for a long time when it comes to best video editing software for windows. This competition continues with VideoStudio Ultimate, which is an excellent editing package for beginners on Windows. VideoStudio is a powerful but easy-to-use app for making simple videos quickly without having to deal with complicated controls.
Its interface is simple but inviting, and it has a huge number of tools, such as support for 4K, 360-degree video editing, multicam editing, more than 2,000 effects, improved tools for lens correction, and 3D text editing. Our biggest problem is that it only works on Windows and you can’t change your workspace as easily as with other programmes.
Lightworks
Lightworks is one of the best video editing software for windows, and it has a bit of a history behind it. You can see how proud they are of how many professional feature films have been cut with it by going to their website. But this is only with the Pro version. The interface is the same for the Free option, but there are fewer tools to choose from and now you can easily download Lightworks from its officially website.
We talked about this in our review, where we said, “Lightworks is a great free video editor with a lot of tools that will satisfy most casual video editors. If you want more advanced features, though, you’ll have to pay.” Still, don’t let that put you off. Most of the pro features are meant for professionals, and if you’re an amateur, an enthusiast, or just starting out, you’ll have a great time learning how to use it.
VSDC
VSDC is the best choice if you are a beginner with an old, low-powered Windows laptop. Because it’s made for people whose computers don’t have the latest internals and specs, it won’t crash and freeze all the time. But keep in mind that there is no Mac version. When we looked at VSDC, we liked that it had a lot of different ways to import and export files.
It was also great for adding text, lines, charts, and other special effects to presentations. We were surprised to see that the free version has almost all of the features of the Pro version, and there are no watermarks. In short, VSDC is a great desktop tool for novices. OpenShot, which is also a good option, has more features, but we found VSDC to be less slow and it still does a good job with the basics.
HitFilm
HitFilm is known for how fast it is. The best video editing software for windows is its easy-to-use interface, which makes it easy to trim, copy, slice, and sync with no lag. Supposedly, it exports twice as fast as competitors and plays back eight times faster.
The tools are simple but very useful: use drag-and-drop transitions and ready-to-use presets to make content that looks like a pro made it in no time. Auto audio sync makes it easy to change the sound. If you want to go that far with your social video editing, lighting effects are also a nice touch: light leaks and glows give the video a cinematic feel.
OpenShot
The best video editing software for windows that has won awards works on Mac, Windows, and Linux, so anyone who makes videos is welcome here. OpenShot is another open-source option. It has unlimited tracks, so you can add as many layers as you want.
You can add background videos, tonnes of audio, and cool effects. This one is unique on this list because it has an animation framework built in. To make your video project stand out, you can fade, bounce, slide, or animate almost anything in the frame.
ActivePresenter
ActivePresenter is a way to record your screen and edit videos without putting a watermark on them. It can be used to make interactive training demos, manuals, presentations, documentation, and screencast videos.
With the best video editing software for windows has full-featured editor, you can edit audio and video, change how content looks and feels, and decide on branching scenarios in a simple and clear way. ActivePresenter’s content can be made available on almost any device or platform because it works with HTML5 and can be connected to Learning Management Systems.
Final Words
The best video editing software for windows may not have as many features as paid software, but many of the best ones still have a lot to offer. So, when we test free video editing software, we look at more than just its most basic and most used features. We still start with the user interface, checking how easy it is for new and experienced users to use and navigate. Even professionals need a smooth, easy way to work so they can focus more on being creative.