Raw footage or photos rarely look their best without tweaking 🤳. Yes, lighting, color balance and saturation often need adjustments to make content pop. While luck might occasionally deliver a perfect shot, most creators rely on editing tools to polish their work and maintain consistency.
This is especially true for marketers, influencers and creators who need to produce high-quality content to steal the spotlight of their target audience.
After researching your pain points, decoding your content calendar chaos and aligning with your need-it-yesterday roadmap frequency, we have handpicked the best video editing software that delivers professional results in minutes.
| Do you know🤓 The video editing software market is projected to reach a $5.13 billion by 2032! |
Table of Contents
Video Editing Software vs Editing Tools
While the term video editing itself makes a grand entrance, it’s important to understand the current industry trends based on editing. Before you dive into the listing section, let’s explore the major differences between editing software and editing tools.
| Aspect | Video Editing Software | Video Editing Tools |
| About | Used for professional video creation to edit entire projects from start to finish, like cutting, transition, exporting, etc. | Complies specific features or add-ons to enhance video quality with cropping, splitting, AI effects, animation, merging etc. |
| Examples | Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Camtasia. | Color Grading Tools, Motion Graphics, Audio Enhancers, Text Overlays and Filters. |
| Purpose | Mainly used for complex editing films, documentaries, etc.. | Used for quick edits, social media posts and content repurposing. |
| Skill Level | Requires technical skills; steep learning curve to use advanced features. | User-friendly, even for beginners, with intuitive drag-and-drop features. |
| Cost | High-end versions are expensive; subscription-based or one-time purchase. | These tools also come for free with affordable add-ons or low-cost subscriptions that is perfect for budget-conscious creators. |
| Engagement Impact | Great for professional storytelling, but can lack quick trends. | Adds trendy effects, filters, and viral elements that captivate audiences instantly. |
Use case | Corporate videos, YouTube documentaries, cinematic content. | Instagram Reels, TikTok videos, promotional snippets, influencer shoutouts and more. |
Things to Look for in the Best Video editing Software/Tool
Now that we are aware of what is what in video editing, let’s see how to pick the right one that suits your needs at all times and make every penny worthy.
Editing features
Look for the list of editing features offered in the dashboard. Don’t overpay for features you won’t even use or need; try to find software/tools that act as your savior and help you speed up content delivery in 4K quality.
Limitations for free users
Nothing comes for free. While you can use a tool/software for free, it is typically available only for a limited free trial period, after which you’ll need to switch to the paid version to continue using it. The good part is that you can check its intuitive interface, compatibility, and navigational capabilities during the free trial and make informed decisions by comparing it with others.
Efficiency
Check its efficiency in handling video uploading, exporting and editing speed, as any time lag in these areas could affect your project timeline. Make sure the platform manages the editing process smoothly and is flexible enough to execute your commands within minutes.
Hidden costs
While the platform may come with a price, it shouldn’t burden your budget with hidden costs or unannounced charges. Make sure the platform you trust is genuine, user-friendly and offers 24/7 customer support along with troubleshooting assistance.
With these points covered in your to-do list, it’s time to see how video editing can transform your marketing goals with the best beginner video editing software (free) or advanced video editing tools that fit within your budget.
Best Professional-Level Free Video Editing Software/Tools
We want our readers to get started instantly by rolling the dice with the best video editing software listed below. May the odds be in your favor! 😊
1. GUDSHO
GUDSHO is the best video editor for social media that lets you reach your video marketing goals 10x faster compared to other video editing software and tools.
With no skills required to use GUDSHO, you can get started immediately, upload endless videos to the media hub, and start editing in no time without the need of any video editing tips. For marketers, creators, brands, and businesses looking to establish a long-lasting connection with their audience through videos and images, this is the right place to start, and you don’t even have to scroll down to check the rest.
The most significant part of the platform is that it not only combines built-in video editing capabilities but also offers video hosting, video embedding, social media management tools and live webinar hosting to transform your marketing goals and expand your reach in minutes.
Features
- Supports 50+ editing styles that suit any use cases with MP4 video format.
- A one-stop image and video editing spot to crop, merge, split, and combine with simple drag-and-drop elements.
- Host or upload your raw footage to the cloud storage media hub and save edited projects easily.
- Record videos instantly on the platform to edit them on the spot and deliver them in minutes.
- Integrate with popular social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, and X to schedule and post your edited files seamlessly with just a few clicks.
Pros
- Add branding assets and include video SEO, CTAs, lead forms, and link annotations without watermarks.
- Edit webinar recordings and repurpose your webinar content into various formats, all from a single dashboard.
- Share the edited videos as embed codes through a customizable video player and paste them anywhere on your website, blogs, landing pages and more.
Pricing
- Get in touch with their experts to know the pricing details! Avail the 14-day instant free trial period today!
2. Canva
Canva is a good video editor like CapCut that helps you create captivating videos in minutes with a simple drag-and-drop interface. With full device compatibility, the platform offers both simple and advanced video editing features that allow you to deliver professional videos quickly. Like GUDSHO, the platform also helps you schedule your videos using the content calendar and post them on Instagram Stories, Reels, Facebook Stories and TikTok.
Combining powerful AI technology, Canva lets users identify their video’s best moments in seconds, saving time on manual editing and speeding up the process with AI features that make video editing quick and hassle-free.
Features
- Magic Design option to visualise ideas in video and foresee the outcome in seconds.
- Share edited videos as an MP4 file or as a link to post on your socials without watermarks.
- Easy access to customizable templates and a library of free stock videos, images and graphics to get started instantly.
- Over 25K music tracks and 89K sound effects to give your videos a professional audio effect.
- Beat Sync to automatically match your video clips to any selected music.
Pros
- Offers pre-defined video templates to create professional videos.
- Team collaboration option to comment and work on videos in real time.
Limitations
- Fewer video marketing features available.
- Paid plans are expensive, and the platform offers pricing plans for individual users, which is expensive.
Pricing
- Offers free pack with all necessary features.
3. Davinci Resolve 20
DaVinci Resolve 20 is an all-in-one software tool and one of the best Clipchamp alternative. It combines the world’s top video editing solutions, including editing, color correction, visual effects, motion graphics and even audio post-production, all of which you need as a video editor.
For those who don’t have time to learn how to work with multiple apps or find it chaotic to switch between software to edit a single video, this platform is the go-to choice. With 100+ latest features, you can get your professional-quality videos ready in minutes, all without needing any special skills.
Features
- Multiple video editors can work on the same project simultaneously, making teamwork seamless.
- Mix and edit audio like a pro with powerful features, ensuring your videos sound great.
- Speed up your editing with smart tools like auto-cropping, face recognition, scene analysis, text scripting and more.
- Make your raw footage stand out with advanced color grading and color wrap tools.
- Easily adjust video contrast, temperature and other settings for perfect visuals.
Pros
- The software simplifies complex, recurring, and time-consuming video editing tasks with an easy-to-use interface.
- Colorists, editors, VFX artists, and sound engineers use it every day to complete their favorite films and streaming television shows.
Limitations
- The software may be perfect for advanced-level editors, but it may not be suitable for beginners.
- Video promotion and marketing features are not available.
Pricing
- The starting pack of Davinci Resolve Studio costs $325.
4. Adobe
Adobe is the best picture and video editing software suite that offers fast and easy tools to design flyers, brand logos, social media videos and posts, all from a single dashboard called Adobe Express. For those seeking advanced and professional video editing solutions, Adobe Premiere Pro is the ideal choice. It is a timeline-based video editing application tailored for high-quality video productions.
If you’re a short filmmaker, YouTuber or content creator, signing up with Adobe could be the best decision you ever make, especially if you’re already skilled in editing.
Features
- The Adobe software helps you integrate with After Effects (for VFX), Audition (for sound editing) and Photoshop without switching tabs.
- Multiple video formats make it easy to upload and export videos to platforms like YouTube, social media or broadcast.
- There are numerous built-in visual effects and video transition elements to enhance your videos.
- Customizable templates for specific needs, like social media posts, videos and more, to help you create professional content.
- Maintain brand consistency through logos, fonts and color schemes ensuring visibility along all projects.
Pros
- Single video editing software with multiple levels of editing options.
- 20+ built-in apps to suit editing use cases across different categories.
Limitations
- No video marketing options to promote videos.
- The platform appears complex, with too many built-in apps, which can confuse users when choosing the right app for their needs.
Pricing
- Offers free trail. Curated pricing plat for each niche.
5. Capcut
CapCut is an affordable video editor and a widely-used app for mobile editing. This app supports creators looking for fun and free video editing for platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.
By offering a variety of easy-to-use video editing features, the app remains ideal for both beginners and more experienced editors looking to create polished videos quickly. Its straightforward interface allows users to navigate easily and produce professional-quality videos without requiring advanced editing skills
Features
- A variety of image and video filters, visual effects, video transitions, and animations to enhance the visual appeal of your videos.
- Easily apply customizable fonts and effects to videos, such as stylish text, fonts, captions, and subtitles.
- A built-in music library or the option to upload your own tracks allows you to manage professional audio soundtracks in every video.
- Adjust the playback speed of clips to create slow-motion or time-lapse video effects.
Pros
- Perfect for social media content editing, like TikTok, Instagram and more.
- It also offers free video editing tools with capcut free layers and tracks.
Limitations
- Though they claim it is free, they have pricing plans to unlock additional features.
- No video marketing features available.
Pricing
- Pricing starts from $9.99 per month.
6. Imovie
iMovie is a video editing software developed by Apple for Mac and iOS devices with a free download. It is not cloud-based and does not have a watermark. The software offers a simple drag-and-drop interface that makes video trimming, editing, and enhancing easy for both beginners and advanced users.
With pre-set themes, templates, transitions, and music tracks, you can create professional videos seamlessly. This software is mainly suitable for personal videos, simple projects, or creating content for social media, home movies, and school projects.
Features
- Access over 600 new sound effects, 20 special effects and 13 predefined overlays.
- 4K HD video editing allows users to work with high-resolution footage.
- Pre-set music tracks and sound effects provide special effects and high-quality audio.
- Advanced AI features include background removal, motion tracking, and noise removal from videos.
- Directly post your videos to social media platforms, email or save them for later use.
Pros
- Free for Mac and iOS users, making it an excellent choice for those on a tight budget.
- Effortlessly sync across multiple Apple devices, allowing you to start editing on one device and continue on another.
Limitations
- Very less video marketing features available.
- Not suitable for Android and Windows users.
Pricing
- Imovie is free, please refer to their page to know more details on pricing.
7. Clipchamp
Clipchamp is one of the best video editing software for PC that simplifies video editing for both beginners and advanced-level users. With its universal video editing interface, you can create perfect, professional-quality videos quickly.
With its AI-powered video editing tools, you can create videos for social media, marketing or personal use. You don’t have to switch tabs, as you can edit videos directly in the web browser or download the suitable version for your windows pc or as a mobile app. With its range of pre-defined templates, you can create videos in up to 1080p HD quality.
Features
- Background noise removal to reduce street, wind and ambient sounds allowing you to create videos even on the go.
- Advanced AI-driven features like auto-cropping, background removal and voiceovers.
- Customizable templates for social media, marketing videos and personal projects, enabling users to create professional content quickly.
- Access to a library of stock footage, images, and audio tracks, making it easier to add high-quality elements to your videos.
- Remove long pauses and silence to create professional audio in minutes.
Pros
- Browser-based video editing tool with no need for installation or download.
- Creates automated captions in 80+ languages.
Limitations
- No video marketing features are available.
- The platform offers very few AI-powered video editing features.
Pricing
- It has a free plan and the premium package starts from Rs.899.
Cheers to Happy Video Editing!
The list we have compiled is based on a survey conducted with 100 marketers and creators who have used the best video editing software, which has made their editing jobs a true pleasure.
We hope you also find your ideal editing partner and enhance your videos with on-the-go editing. For more information on video editing, get in touch with us today! 🤩