When you’re reading this post, chances are you already know you need to incorporate more video content into your marketing.
The following 7 solutions could help you make video magic — whether your video is meant for YouTube or a similar channel where your audience is hungry for content. Click on one of the links under to jump to a selected kind of app, or keep reading to learn about all of them.
Best Video Editing Apps for YouTube
Though the video editing services below don’t offer mobile versions, they do provide easy-to-learn functionality at minimal cost. These apps are the best for sitting down at your computer and editing superb video content for your YouTube channel.
1. Blender
Free | Windows, Mac, Linux
Source: Blender
The open-source program Blender is more than just a video editor: It is a full-blown 3D animation suite, which permits for modeling, rendering, motion tracking, and more.
On the video editing side, there are lots of features, including transitions, speed control, filters, adjustment layers, and more. There are also 32 slots available for including video clips, audio clips, photos, and effects, which means you could produce some incredibly complex video.
For the amateur video editor, all of the functionality that is available could be a bit overwhelming. However, when you are looking to produce truly professional-quality video — without having to cope with watermarks — Blender is a solid option. The best part: “You’re free to use Blender for any objective, including commercially or for education,” based on its site. For the fine print, check out its licensing info.
2. Lightworks
Free | Windows, Mac, Linux
Supply: ZDNet
Like Blender, Lightworks is certainly on the more advanced (and powerful) finish of the video editing software spectrum. Actually, it is a program that is been used to edit some well-known and award-winning films, including Pulp Fiction, The Wolf of Wall Street, and The King’s Speech.
There are two different licenses you could select from with Lightworks: “Free” and “Pro.” (The latter of which, as you may need to be guessed, requires that you cough up some cash.) The main difference between the 2 licenses is that the Professional version provides more features, including stereoscopic output and advanced project sharing. However, the free version is still quite highly effective, providing 100+ effects and supporting Multicam editing.
3. Shotcut
Free | Windows, Mac, Linux
Supply: Shotcut
Shotcut is another open-source video software — and it is completely free. It is possible to use Shotcut to make professional-looking videos, however, the interface is hard to use. Maybe that is because it was originally grown for the Linux platform, which looks and feels a lot different from the typical Windows or Mac UX.
With dedication — and time spent in the Shotcut frequently asked questions and how-to guide sections — it is possible to use this software to create and export high-quality videos, completely free of charge.
4. VSDC Free Video Editor
Free | Windows Only
Supply: Softonic
In experienced hands, the VSDC Free Video Editor could produce some seriously professional-looking video. In addition to supporting almost every major video format, the program provides advanced video effects, including object transformation and color correction, as well as advanced audio effects like volume correction and sound normalization. And not like WeVideo, the VSDC Free Video Editor is truly free. You could use the program’s full feature set without having to deal with pesky watermarks.
Sadly, there’s one catch. If you would like technical support, you have to pay. (And because there’s a little bit of a learning curve, there is a great chance you will need to.) Support for the VSDC Free Video Editor costs $9.99 for one month and $14.99 for one year.
5. Machete Video Editor Lite
Free | Windows Only
Supply: Softonic
At the easy end of the spectrum is Machete Video Editor Lite, a free program permitting you to cut, copy, and paste different sections of the video. As the Machete website puts it, Video Editor Lite was “designed for fast and easy ‘slicing’ of your video files.”
The program’s intuitive interface means you will not have to waste time shuffling via technical support documents. And since Video Editor Lite does not re-encode your video files when you slice them, you don’t have to worry about losing video quality.
The main downsides to the program? It only supports the AVI and WMV video formats, and it does not permit for audio editing. Nonetheless, when you have zero video editing experience and only need to make easy edits, it is a great option.
6. Avidemux
Free | Windows, Mac, Linux
Supply: Softonic
Like Machete Video Editor Lite, Avidemux is one of Video Editing Apps that permits you to do basic video editing (no audio editing) without having to worry about a loss of video quality. However, Avidemux also has a few more methods up its sleeve.
For starters, the program helps multiple video formats, including AVI, DVD, MPEG, QuickTime, and MP4. On top of this, Avidemux comes with several filters that permit you to perform a host of different functions, from flipping and rotating clips, to including subtitles, to adjusting colors and brightness levels.
And while the learning curve for Avidemux is slightly steeper compared to Machete Video Editor Lite, the upside is that there is an extensive Avidemux wiki that covers everything you should know.
7. HitFilm
$99 | Windows, Mac
Source: HitFilm
HitFilm Express is one of the free video editing apps and visual effects software — which means you could use it to add more than 180 particular effects to your videos, including 3D editing.
Possibly the best HitFilm feature is its wealth of tutorial videos — users could practice applying particular visual effects in movie tutorials based on Star Wars, Westworld, and more.
Of course, upgrading to HitFilm Pro grants access to more visual effects, better high resolution and 3D rendering, and better audio syncing between audio and video files. It costs $300, however, when you aren’t ready to fully invest, HitFilm Express users could purchase lower-cost expansions to use more tools in their software.
To see the complete list of differences between HitFilm Free and Pro, check out their “Compare Versions” page.