Best Windows Movie Maker Alternatives (2025) for video editing

When I think back on my own experience, Windows Movie Maker was a big part of how I turned my amateur video projects into great movies. The drag-and-drop feature in the easy-to-use interface made it simple for me to make my thoughts come to life and share them with family and friends. Movie Maker became an essential benefit for me as I looked for a simple tool to improve my home movies. It brings back memories of how common this built-in software was on older versions of Windows, where artistic types like me used it all the time. But as technology has changed, Movie Maker is no longer included in the bundled program.

This is especially true for newer versions of Windows like Windows 10. Due to this absence, I looked into other ways to edit videos, ranging from simple tools that are easy to use to more complex software. After Movie Maker was taken offline, many other video editing program came out to meet the needs of people with different tastes and levels of skill. The lack of Movie Maker has been filled by these replacements, which also come with a wider range of features and functions. Video editing has changed a lot over the years, from simple tools that are good for beginners to more complex ones.

Also, the release of video editing apps for iOS and Android has given me even more ways to be artistic. Now I can edit and improve videos without any problems while I’m on the go, going beyond the limits of a desktop-only method. This change in how easy it is to get to has changed how I edit videos, letting me record and edit moments whenever the mood hits.

Best Windows Movie Maker Alternatives Comparison Table

It used to be that Windows Movie Maker was the best tool for editing movies. If you used to edit videos like I did, you probably know which one I’m talking about. Because it came loaded with Windows and was easy for beginners to use, Windows Movie Maker was the obvious choice for any video editing needs you might have.

Best Windows Movie Maker Alternatives

For many people who use Windows, Windows Movie Maker was an indispensable program that was highly regarded as a movie editor for novices. A lot of people liked the program because of how easy it was to use and how entertaining its special effects were. It was pre-installed on all Windows devices. The most significant thing is that it was completely free.

Kdenlive

Because it is compatible with a variety of operating systems, including macOS, Linux, and Windows, Kdenlive has become a vital tool for video editing. Because of its vast range of capabilities and versatility, it is suited for a wide variety of editing chores, regardless of whether you are a newbie or an experienced professional.

Users of Kdenlive are given the ability to bring their creative visions to life through the use of its multi-track editing capacity, broad array of effects and transitions, titling options, and comprehensive colour correction tools.

OpenShot

The realm of video editing can be entered with ease with OpenShot, which has shown to be an accessible entry point. Additionally, it provides important editing features such as trimming, chopping, and creating transitions, which makes it particularly appealing to beginners due to its user-friendly interface.

Even though it may not have the same level of intricacy as Kdenlive, OpenShot still has some advanced features like as slow motion and time lapse effects. These features ensure that users are able to easily generate remarkable results.

FilmForth

The cloud-based approach that FilmForth takes provides a convenient option for editing activities that eliminates the need to download individual software program. Its user-friendly design makes the editing process easier to understand, making it suitable for those who place a premium on effectiveness and convenience.

Although FilmForth may be lacking in some of the more advanced capabilities that are available in other editors, the fact that it prioritises ease of use and accessibility makes it an excellent choice for projects that require short edits and are carried out on the go.

Microsoft Photos

Users who are looking to do uncomplicated editing activities can benefit from using Microsoft Photos, which, while being a default application in Windows 10 and 11, presents itself as a plain yet functional editor.

In spite of the fact that it might not provide as many functionality as other editors, the fact that it is so easy to use and is integrated with the Windows ecosystem makes it a good option for straightforward editing requirements.

Camtasia

Among commercial editors, Camtasia stands out as a powerful tool that can be utilised for both personal and professional purposes. Because of its extensive feature set, which includes multi-track editing, a multitude of effects and transitions, the ability to title, and even the capability to record the screen, it is a flexible tool for those who create material.

Through the usage of Camtasia’s customizable workspace, users are able to personalize their editing environment to better suit their tastes, hence further improving the efficiency of their workflow.

Why Choose Windows Movie Maker?

Microsoft made Windows Movie Maker, which was a famous program for editing videos. That being said, Windows Movie Maker was used by a lot of people in the past, but Microsoft stopped supporting it in 2017 and it can’t be downloaded or updated anymore. But if you still have access to it or want to use it on an older computer, here are some reasons why many people picked it:

1. Easy to Use: Windows Movie Maker was known for having a simple and easy-to-use interface that made it easy for newbies and casual users to use. It had basic editing tools like the ability to cut, split, and merge clips. You could also add media files and transitions by dragging and dropping them.
2. Built into Windows: One of the best things about Windows Movie Maker was that it came pre-installed with Windows. This meant that users could use it right away without having to download or install anything else. Because it worked with Windows, it was a good choice for people who wanted to edit videos without having to find other tools.
3. Basic Editing Tools: Windows Movie Maker didn’t have the advanced editing tools that you’d find in professional video editing software, but it did have the basic tools you need to make movies, slideshows, and presentations. Within the software, users could add text overlays, use simple transitions and effects, and change the volume of the sound.
4. With Windows Movie Maker, you could use other Windows Live services, like Windows Live Photo Gallery and Windows Live Mail. This was part of the Windows Live Essentials suite. With this integration, users could easily post their edited movies on sites like YouTube, Facebook, and Vimeo, all from within the software.
5. Free to Use: Because Windows Movie Maker came with Windows, all Windows users could use it for free. This made it a good choice for people and businesses on a tight budget who needed an easy way to edit videos for personal or non-business purposes.

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