Best Free Video Editing Software of 2025 We've Tested [TOP 12]

When I launched CapCut on my PC, I was struck by how modern and clean the interface was: a dark UI, magnetic timeline, and panels for media and effects. There are cheerful icons and a generally friendly vibe (I know UI vibe is subjective, but CapCut feels fun to use).

In one of my first projects, I experimented with its Auto-Caption feature on a talking clip; it transcribed the speech and generated timed captions in seconds, right there on the video. Then I tried removing a background from a clip without a green screen: CapCut has a Remove Background tool, which with one click isolated my subject. It wasn’t perfect around the hair, but still, it worked.

I also loved the built-in filters and effects; there are plenty of TikTok-style visual effects (like sparkle, glitch, etc.), some labeled “Pro” which I skipped since I wasn’t subscribed. Editing itself was straightforward: cut, trim, move clips – all the basics were intuitive.

One thing I noticed is CapCut is very oriented towards short content. By that I mean the features it highlights (text styles, stickers, social media formats) are all about creating cool short videos. I did export a test video in 1080p and another in 4K; both exported fast and looked good. I’ve heard some people mention that CapCut can be heavy if you add tons of effects, but I didn’t experience major slowdowns.

Use it if:

• You’re a beginner looking for something super easy to use.
• You create a big deal of short social media content.
• You want a free tool with surprisingly powerful features.
• You’d like multi-platform software with the option to sync your projects.

Avoid it if:

• You want all the features for free (without upgrading to CapCut Pro).
• You need more advanced tools and fine control over effects.
• You have privacy concerns about using an app, developed by a Chinese company (ByteDance).

Difficulty level: 2/10 (very easy). It’s nearly plug-and-play.

The first time I launched Adobe^® Express in my Chrome browser, I was greeted with a clean interface and even an option to start from a template (thank you for that). I skipped the template, though, and began a project from scratch, dragging a few video clips and photos into the timeline. The layout was extremely simple: the timeline at the bottom, a preview window up top, and big icons for things like Media, Text, Elements, and so on. Within minutes, I trimmed my clips, added a couple of transitions, dropped in a soundtrack from the built-in library, and overlaid some animated text.

One feature I absolutely loved was the massive collection of templates and stock assets. When I felt stuck creatively, I could grab a professionally designed video template and just swap in my own footage and text. It also has a surprisingly great library of free stock photos, videos, and music.

The fact that stunned me the most was that Adobe^® has been integrating its new AI tools into Express. For example, you can generate images, videos, and templates from a text prompt, which is super useful when you’re out of footage. There’s also an auto-captioning feature for any video and a bunch of fun animated effects for text and graphics.

Of course, being a lightweight web app, Express has its limitations. It isn’t designed for complex, long-form projects or heavy multi-track editing. You’re essentially limited to a single video track (plus overlays) to keep things simple. But that’s enough for quick, short edits.

Use it if:

• You want to create videos in practically no time, leaving the heavy lifting to templates and smart features.
• You want an editor that works on any device with cloud-sync.
• You’re not a fan of overcomplicated, cluttered interfaces.
• You’d love a big head start with built-in templates, stock media, and even some AI tools.

Avoid it if:

• You need advanced editing.
• You plan to edit very long or high-resolution videos.
• You can’t always be online, or you dislike login-required apps.
• You insist on having every feature for free.

Difficulty level: 1/10 (extremely easy). I’d say Express strips away everything non-essential.

Firing up Clipchamp is basically just visiting its website, hence pretty easy. The interface loaded and, to my pleasant surprise, looked a lot like a simplified Premiere^® Pro or iMovie. There’s a timeline with multiple tracks, a media library area, and property panels on the right when needed. I dragged in a few test clips and once in, I edited like I would in any app: cut, trim, move clips around on the timeline.

It supports multiple tracks, which immediately sets Clipchamp apart from something like Adobe^® Express. The performance was not bad: short clips (720p and 1080p) scrubbed fine. I did notice a bit of lag when previewing a transition effect or when I had a lot of browser tabs open. But considering it’s in a browser, it was acceptable.

Clipchamp provides a bunch of templates for things like Instagram story videos, YouTube intros, etc. I tried one: it basically populated a timeline with placeholder clips, titles, and transitions, and I could replace the content with mine. It’s very useful if you want a stylish result without design skills.

Clipchamp also impressed me with its text-to-speech feature: you can type a script and choose from many voices to generate a narration. The free voices sound a bit robotic (premium voices are slightly better), but it’s a neat tool for quickly narrating a video if you don’t want to record your own voice.

Use it if:

• You don’t want to install software.
• You’re a beginner who wants an intuitive UI with templates and a stock library.
• You’re looking for an editor for social media content.

Avoid it if:

• You have browser limitations and performance concerns.
• You need fine control over color grading and effects.
• You don’t want to upload your content to a web app (privacy concerns).

Difficulty level: 2/10 (very easy). The interface is straightforward and forgiving.

I’ve used iMovie on and off over the years and every time I do, I appreciate its simplicity and optimization. Launching iMovie is lightning quick. The interface is friendly: a big viewer, a timeline (with the “magnetic” style timeline like Final Cut Pro where clips snap together), and a sidebar of my media and preset effects.

To test it recently, I took some 4K clips from a hiking trip and added some titles and background music. The whole process was easy and frankly enjoyable. iMovie’s timeline, though “magnetic,” allows for one additional video track above (for cutaways or picture-in-picture) and two additional audio tracks below (for music/narration) besides the main track. So you can do some layering, but not too much.

One advanced feature that impressed me: green screen (chroma key) is built in. It’s not as configurable as pro tools, but it works for fun projects. iMovie also has stabilization and audio noise reduction toggles. The performance on a Mac is top-notch: I was scrubbing through 4K footage, and it played back pretty well.

Some limitations became apparent: I couldn’t do something like keyframe animations (no moving an object across the screen over time manually, aside from built-in behaviors), and iMovie locks the aspect ratio at 16:9, so editing vertical video is awkward. But for anything 16:9, it’s fine.

Use it if:

• You’re a beginner with an Apple device who doesn’t want to install software.
• You need seamless Apple ecosystem integration.
• You want a free-with-no-strings-attached tool.

Avoid it if:

• You have an Android smartphone or a Windows PC.
• You prefer working on advanced projects.
• You want something that is frequently updated with new features.

Difficulty level: 2/10 (very easy). Famously user-friendly.

Kdenlive impresses by feeling like a premium product in disguise. The interface is logical and uncluttered, so I didn’t get lost even with all the features available.

It has multi-track editing, a robust set of effects, and even motion tracking and keyframing tools (yep, you can do some VFX here too). I appreciated that I could customize the layout to my workflow, and it never felt like the software was fighting me.

Performance was solid in my tests, though heavy effects can render slowly since GPU acceleration is still experimental. Importantly, there are no watermarks or export limits whatsoever. I found it a great middle ground: more powerful than beginner editors, but simpler than DaVinci Resolve in many ways.

Use it if:

• You want a full-featured editor without paying.
• You’re an enthusiast or budding pro who needs advanced tools (color grading, effects, etc.) for free.
• You feel like most professional apps are overkills.

Avoid it if:

• You’re a complete beginner who finds any complexity scary.
• You rely heavily on GPU-accelerated rendering.

Difficulty level: 6/10 (moderate). Easier to grasp than many tools, but you’ll still spend time learning advanced features.

OpenShot is like the friendly golden retriever of video editors: loyal, simple, and happy to help with the basics. When I opened it, I found an original but highly flexible interface. It’s not the slickest UI, but it’s drag-and-drop easy. I was adding clips, trimming, and throwing in quick transitions within minutes. It supports unlimited tracks, keyframe animations, and even has some fun features like emoji overlays, which is perfect for goofy social posts.

However, as I dug deeper, I noticed some rough edges. Transitions can be fiddly or “pretty complex” to get right (and I’ll admit, I encountered a glitch where a couple of transitions just refused to behave).

It’s also not the fastest. With larger projects, I had a few stutters. That said, for straightforward editing projects, OpenShot performed admirably and didn’t overwhelm me with options. It’s really aimed at making simple edits as easy as possible. And it manages to do just that.

Use it if:

• You’re an absolute beginner or have a very simple project.
• You have an older computer.
• You just need to do quick cuts, add some titles or music, and call it a day.
• You don’t want to be nagged by any trials or ads. Ever.

Avoid it if:

• You need advanced editing or absolute stability.
• You edit a feature-length film or a paid client project.

Difficulty level: 3/10 (very easy). I could perform basic edits right away with almost no learning.

VSDC Free Editor is like a hidden gem in an old-school wrapper. Don’t let the utilitarian vibes fool you; under the hood, it’s quite capable.

When I launched it, I noticed it’s snappy and runs well even on low-end hardware (it installed on my ancient laptop without complaints). The interface is different from typical editors: instead of a classic horizontal timeline by default, clips feel more “object”-oriented (you place video objects on the timeline). It threw me off for a minute, but once I got used to it, it was fine.

VSDC impressed me with features: it has color correction tools, transitions, a slideshow wizard, stabilization, even motion tracking in the Pro version. Most of those features are usable in the free version, except a few like hardware acceleration, which are Pro-only. I edited a short music video with multiple overlay tracks, and VSDC handled it with no crashes, just a bit of lag when stacking many effects (understandable for a free tool).

The export options are plentiful, and it didn’t add any watermark on my 1080p output (huge plus). The experience feels a bit more technical (there’s a learning curve because it’s not as guided as, say, Clipchamp), but I see why many recommend VSDC: it’s surprisingly powerful once you get comfortable with it.

Use it if:

• You’re on Windows and want maximum features for minimum cost.
• You want something that is quite lightweight on resources.
• You need an editor that can do a bit of everything (within reason) and you’re not ready to jump into super complex software.

Avoid it if:

• You’re not on Windows.
• You prefer modern, sleek UIs or you need a Mac-like simplicity.
• You don’t like it when advanced niceties are behind a paywall.

Difficulty level: 5/10 (moderate). Not as daunting as pro suites, but not the gentlest learning curve either.

Launching VideoProc Vlogger, I was greeted by a clean, modern interface that didn’t make me twitch in confusion. To put it through its paces, I loaded some shaky 4K action-cam clips from a mountain biking trip. The built-in video stabilization was a minor miracle: it smoothed out my GoPro’s bumpiest rides with a single click.

Then, I dove into the speed ramping tools. The app has a dedicated “Play speed” panel with presets, making it dead simple to add slow-motion highlights and speed-up thrills; my jump off a rock went from real-time to slo-mo and back to full speed smoothly, and I didn’t have to wrestle with complex keyframes to do it.

I also tinkered with color editing, and although it’s no DaVinci Resolve, it got the job done for basic grading. Throughout my editing session, performance was snappy. Even with multiple tracks (a couple of video layers plus some music and titles), my laptop handled it well. Exports had no watermarks or arbitrary time limits. And unlike some “free” editors, there’s no gotcha; no feature that suddenly demands a paid upgrade. It honestly felt a bit unreal that this software is completely gratis.

Use it if:

• You want advanced editing tools wrapped in an easy, newbie-friendly interface.
• You shoot a lot of action or travel footage and need built-in features to smooth out shakes and add cinematic flair.
• You absolutely despise watermarks, trials, or paywalls in your software.

Avoid it if:

• You require ultra high-end features like multi-camera editing, elaborate 3D VFX, or collaboration tools.
• You’re working on Linux.
• You’re happy with a bare-bones editor for ultra-simple tasks.

Difficulty level: 3/10 (easy). I found it a breeze to get started.

While working on my first project in Shotcut, I was struck by how fast and lightweight it felt. It opened in mere seconds and was ready to go, which is a pleasant surprise compared to some heavier suites.

The interface is utilitarian: a timeline, a preview window, and panels you can drag around. No flashy start screens or template wizards here. I kind of appreciated that simplicity; it feels like a tool made by editors for editors. Within minutes, I was dragging clips onto the timeline and making cuts. It’s straightforward for basic edits, though I’ll admit I had to hunt through the menus to find some features (e.g. adding text isn’t immediately obvious). Shotcut doesn’t hold your hand, but it does offer a lot once you start digging.

Despite the humble appearance, Shotcut impressed me with its wide format support and features. It handled my UHD footage and even let me experiment with 4K and 8K clips. And yes, it supports up to 8K video, which is surprising for a free app. I played with filters and effects; there’s a good selection including color grading tools, transitions, and even keyframe animations for things like pan/zoom. I managed to do chroma key and it was serviceable.

Performance-wise, Shotcut ran smoothly for basic edits, though when I stacked multiple filters (like heavy color grading and sharpening) I noticed some lag on playback. Nothing a quick render preview couldn’t fix.

Use it if:

• You want a completely free video editing software for PC with a great set of features.
• You’re a self-directed learner who isn’t afraid to poke around a software to discover its capabilities.
• You have an older or low-spec computer.

Avoid it if:

• You’re a total beginner who wants a glossy interface or guided experience.
• You need advanced effects, modern transitions, or collaboration features out of the box.
• You have zero patience for occasional technical hiccups.

Difficulty level: 5/10 (moderate). Basic cutting and trimming is easy enough, but mastering Shotcut takes some time and a few YouTube tutorials.

Lightworks gives a different vibe from the other free editors. The interface is more complex and professional looking. There’s a timeline, source/preview monitors, bins for organizing footage, and it’s all highly customizable (you can arrange panels to your liking). It did take me a few minutes to get my bearings; Lightworks isn’t as straightforward as simpler tools, but once I remembered some old habits, I started to feel at home. I was surprised that basic editing in Lightworks was easier than I expected.

I tested Lightworks with a short film project I shot last year. I dragged clips to the timeline, and the program supports real-time effects and multi-track editing pretty seamlessly. I especially liked the trimming tools: they feel precise, akin to using something like Adobe^® Premiere^® Pro. Lightworks has a bunch of built-in effects and transitions, and you can layer video tracks for doing picture-in-picture or overlaying text, etc.

Performance-wise, it played back my 1080p timeline smoothly with some color correction applied. When I tried a heavier effect (a blur on an adjustment layer), the playback dropped frames until I rendered that section. But overall, it felt stable. I can see why people use this for serious projects.

Now, the elephant in the room: Lightworks Free has some notable limitations. The biggest one (and I felt this immediately when I went to export) is that the free version caps your export resolution to 720p. Ouch. In an age of HD and 4K, 720p is borderline antiquated.

Use it if:

• You want to learn professional editing techniques on actual pro-grade software without paying.
• You need a powerful editor for a project, but output quality isn’t critical.
• You appreciate customization and advanced tools.

Avoid it if:

• The 720p export limit is a deal-breaker for you, and you don’t want to spend money.
• You’re a beginner who feels overwhelmed by complex interfaces.
• You require certain advanced features without paying.

Difficulty level: 7/10 (hard). Mastering it to its full potential would definitely take time.

Clideo is the kind of flexible editor that lives in your browser. Its homepage lays out dozens of single-purpose tools (crop, merge, add subtitles, etc.), and the interface is clean and intuitive. In use, it felt remarkably easy to pick up: you drag clips onto the timeline, click one of the many tools, and wait for it to finish processing. I found the free tier rather generous: I could trim clips, add music and text, even change aspect ratios, all without paying.

However, the experience can be a bit disjointed since you only work on one tool at a time, and rendering even simple filters took surprisingly long. Exported videos on the free plan come with a watermark, and there’s a 500 MB upload limit and 24‑hour expiry on projects.

In practice, I often found myself sipping coffee while waiting for uploads/downloads to finish. For quick social clips, though, Clideo is delightfully fuss-free.

Use it if:

• You want an online/no-install video editor.
• You’re looking for a beginner-friendly editor with a drag-and-drop interface.
• Lots of simple one-click tools are a big deal for you.

Avoid it if:

• Having a watermark-free video is important for you.
• You hate sitting there and doing nothing while uploading/rendering.
• You’re looking for more advanced features without limitations.

Difficulty level: 3 (easy). Beginners will have no issues with picking up Clideo.