Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
Free Video Editing Software That Rivals Paid Options (I've Tested Them All)
15
items I used to think you had to pay hundreds of dollars a year for decent video editing software. Then I spent six months testing every free option I could find, from open-source tools to industry-grade platforms. The result is these 15 free video editors...
Sections
4
Professional-Grade & Completely Free
Beginner-Friendly & Easy to Use
Browser-Based & No Download Required
Open-Source & Privacy-Focused
Professional-Grade & Completely Free
These tools are used by Hollywood editors and YouTubers alike. The free versions are so powerful that most people never need to upgrade.
This is the gold standard of free video editing. DaVinci Resolve offers Hollywood-level color grading, professional editing tools, and audio post-production, all completely free. I switched from Premiere Pro to Resolve and never looked back. The free...
DaVinci Resolve | Blackmagic Design
Shotcut is my go-to when I need a reliable, open-source editor that works on any computer. It supports a huge range of video, audio, and image formats through FFmpeg, so you can import almost anything. I love that it is cross-platform and does not ha...
Shotcut
Lightworks is a legend in the editing world, and it has been used to edit Hollywood films. The free version gives you access to its fast and intuitive trimming tools, which I find incredibly efficient for quick cuts. The export options are plentiful,...
Lightworks
Kdenlive is the open-source editor I recommend to everyone switching from Adobe. It is built on the MLT framework, which makes it stable and flexible for both professional and hobbyist workflows. I love that it has a simple interface but still suppor...
Kdenlive
Beginner-Friendly & Easy to Use
If you are new to video editing, these tools won't overwhelm you. They are intuitive, fun, and totally free.
CapCut is the most user-friendly free editor I have ever used. It is developed by the same company as TikTok, so it is built for creating scroll-stopping content. I use it for quick social media edits and it is incredibly intuitive. The free version ...
CapCut AI Video Editor: Smart Online Video Editing with Advanced AI Tools
OpenShot is the editor I recommend to absolute beginners. The drag-and-drop interface is so simple that I was editing my first video within minutes. It is open-source and completely free with no watermarks, and it can handle multi-track projects. It ...
OpenShot Video Editor | Free, Open, and Award-Winning Video Editor for Linux, Mac, and Windows!
iMovie is the hidden gem for Mac users. It comes pre-installed on every Mac and it is surprisingly capable. I have used it for quick projects and it has chroma-keying, color-matching, and audio tools that you would expect from paid software. The inte...
iMovie - Official Apple Support
Clipchamp is Microsoft's free video editor and it comes built into Windows 10 and 11. I was skeptical at first, but it is surprisingly capable for quick social videos and small business projects. The interface is clean and modern, and it handles basi...
Clipchamp
Browser-Based & No Download Required
Edit videos directly in your browser, no installation needed. Perfect for Chromebooks or when you are on the go.
Google Vids is a game-changer for browser-based editing. It integrates beautifully with Google Drive, so all your footage is already there. I love that it offers basic editing tools and templates for free, and if you are a Google subscriber, you get ...
Google Vids: AI-Powered Video Creator and Editor | Google Workspace
Pikimov is my new favorite browser-based editor. It requires no sign-up, runs entirely in your browser, and works on Windows, Mac, Linux, and Chromebooks. I was amazed at how smooth the motion design and video editing features are. It is completely f...
Pikimov
Omniclip is an open-source video editor that runs entirely in your browser. What I love most is that it requires no accounts, stores everything on your device, and never uploads your files. It is designed for privacy and speed, giving you full editin...
omniclip
Canva is not just for graphics anymore; their video editor is genuinely good. I use it for quick social media videos and it is incredibly easy to use. The drag-and-drop interface is familiar if you have used Canva before, and there are thousands of t...
Free Online Video Editor & Maker | Canva (Drag-and-drop)
Open-Source & Privacy-Focused
Community-built tools that rival commercial software. I recommend these to developers and privacy-conscious creators.
Avidemux is my go-to for quick, no-fuss editing. It is ideal for simple cuts, filters, and format conversions, especially on older computers or Linux systems. It is completely free with no watermarks, and it is incredibly lightweight on system resour...
Avidemux
VSDC is a powerful free editor for Windows that I have used for more complex projects. It supports high-resolution formats with no watermarks, and I love the blending modes and gradient tools. The interface takes a little getting used to, but once yo...
VSDC Free Video Editor
Most people know Blender for 3D modeling, but its built-in video editor is seriously underrated. I have used it for projects that needed both 3D elements and video editing in one place. It is open-source, completely free, and works on Windows, Mac, a...
Blender Video Editor