'What is the easiest free video editing software? Which is the best free video editing software? What do most YouTubers use to edit their videos? Which video editing software is best for beginners?' Have you ever wondered of these questions in your mind, and do you get any ideal answer about them?
Don't worry, you can end your searching journey here.
My thoughts on the best laptop options for video editing and content creation. Laptop Skins from Blue Drive - XPS 1. Both Mac and Windows have entry level and mid weight solutions now for video editing. IMovie on the Mac is a wonderful tool but it has limitations and Windows Movie Maker is a free entry level package for PC, again it has its limitations. Using free video editing software is a convenient way to edit your videos. Plus, most of them are so easy to use that they're great for beginning editors. You might want a video editing program if you need to extract audio from a video or add different audio, cut out parts of the video, add subtitles, build a DVD menu, merge video files,. Edit and craft video with the same tools used by Hollywood pros. Premiere Pro offers the broadest native media support, tools for immersive video, and powerful proxy workflows for ultimate creative control.
It is known to all that there are a great number of free video editing software for Windows PC, Mac or other operating systems through the Internet, but generally speaking, most of video editing software don't deliver the same quality that you would probably expect.
So recently, I have picked up dozens of video editing software on the market, and tested them one by one. Finally, a full list of the best free video edtiing software for PC/Mac is developed, and today, I'd like to share them with all of you as follows:
Best Video Editing Software for Beginners & Semi-Professionals
Filmora Video Editor or Filmora Video Editor for Mac is the best video editing software for Windows or Mac due to its integrated editing tools. It features ranging from basic video controls, basic editing options to advanced editing options. Moreover, It also provide users with 200+ special effects for customizing your video files as you like.
Besides video clips, this Video Editor program also allows users to edit images and audios as well as videos. Now, you can take a free trial of this powerful program, and enjoy its powerful editing ability by yourself.
Why Choose Filmora as the Best Video Editing Software for Windows
- Filmora Video is built with video controls that allow you to adjust brightness, contrast, volume and also trim, split and rotate videos.
- The audio controls let you trim audios, fade in, fade out, detach audio, adjust pitch and equalizer.
- If you want to enhance your videos then it is built with various overlays, elements, filters, motions and elements.
- With this editing video editing tool, you will get advanced editing options like video stabilizer, 3D Lut, Play reverse, Audio mixer, Advanced Text editing, tilt-shift, background blurs among others.
- Fimora Video Editor is built with a recorder that can record your voice, PC screen activities and also a webcam.
How to Edit Videos on Windows PC using Filmora Video Editor
Step 1. Upload Videos
After installing Filmora Video Editor on your Windows PC, open it and upload the video that you want to edit. On the home window click 'Import' and you will get options to; import files, import folder, import from camera or phone. Click on 'Import Files' to import a video from your computer's local storage.
Step 2. Edit Video
The uploaded video will appear at the top of the window. Now, drag the video to the timeline at the bottom of the window to start editing.
To trim your video, place the cursor at the beginning and the end of the video and then trim.
To cut the video, position the cursor to the section you want to cut and click on the scissor-like button.
To add elements, overlays or filters go to the desired effect and drag it to the video timeline and it will be added to the video. You can then modify on how it will appear.
Step 3. Export Edited Video
Once you are satisfied with the editing, click on 'Export' button and then select 'Output' option to save it on your computer. Select an output format, rename the file and finally save it by clicking on 'Export' born.
Top 5 Free Video Editing Software for Windows 10/8/7 and Mac OS
#1. Windows Movie Maker
Windows Movie Maker is free video editing software for Windows with the help of which you can convert the MP4 to WMV. It has unlimited storage and space facility which is a great advantage for the people. This website provides a good resource for encoding your media files from MP4 to WMV format and enjoy. You will be able to choose the conversion quality and also some of the advanced options like FPS, resolution and Video Bitrate etc.
Pros:
- Easy to use.
- Allows you to easily import videos and pictures and make your videos perfect.
- Enables you to share your movies on YouTube and other video sharing websites.
Cons:
Best Mac Laptop For Editing
- It is not user-friendly for Windows 10, 7 and XP as it is only designed for Vista only.
- Very limited as far as functionality is concerned.
Supported platform: It is designed for Windows Vista only.
#2. VirtualDub
VirtualDub is a free video editing software for Windows PC designed for frame capture of video files only that can accomplish just any task for cleaning and trimming videos. The software is capable of changing the original audio of the video, cutting and splitting videos and extending the number of formats to work with. It is mostly best at processing AVI files but it does not have the advanced editing capabilities like most software. The software comes with capture features for VFD drivers for the AVI2 files created when capturing videos with your TV tuner or any other external device.
Pros:
- For a 1.4MB software its features are just incredible.
- It has user friendly interface.
- It is very reliable when it comes to the most essential editing.
- It is extremely clear and simple to use.
Cons:
- It does not support a lot of video formats like MPEG2 and QuickTime.
- Not compatible with Windows 10 at present.
Supported platform: Supports Windows XP/Vista/7
#3. Ezvid
Ezvid Free Video Editing Software is thought to be the world's best free video editor software for Windows because it is the only free software for Windows that can capture computer screen with just one click of a button. It is the all-in-one video editing software hence you can do a lot with it. What more, it is much easier to use compared to the rest of the free editing programs. It features a unique speech synthesis feature known as the 'text-to-speech' system that allows you to convert normal text into a computer language.
Pros:
- You can upload your videos directly to YouTube.
- The software is completely free of any cost.
- It can make a video or a slideshow in less than three minutes.
- To be able to download and use the software no registration is needed.
- To install the software you don't require any codec packs.
Cons:
- It does not give you options to save or export your videos to your Vimeo, computer or Facebook but only on YouTube.
- It takes quite some time to record like 45 minutes maximum.
Supported platform: It supports all Windows platforms including Windows 8, Windows 7, XP SP3 and Vista.
#4. iMovie
This is an video editing tool that Apple designed to be used with iOS devices as well as Mac. Every version comes with unique modifications to make the experience wonderful and memorable.
Pros:
- The program has an intuitive interface;
- It supports very many file formats for video and has an array of editing functionalities.
Cons:
- Many people are unable to purchase due to the high price.
Tanbee video editor for mac. Supported platform: All versions of Mac OS (macOS 10.14 included)
#5. Blender
Everything you do with this free video editing software program will be for free. Whether it's editing, sharing or selling your videos online you will not be charged anything for that. This video editing free software allows the user to enjoy total experience with edited videos without limitations. You can enjoy a wide range of animation essentials with Blender that includes UV unwrapping, shading, interface, rigging and modeling.
Pros:
- It's very versatile and lightweight.
- Perfect for designers, graphic artists and 3D enthusiasts.
- It comes with so many savvy features.
- Offers quality professional 3D at no cost.
Cons:
- Like Avidemux, newbie's might find it a bit complicated to understand how to use blender but with time this becomes a past tense.
Supported platform: Windows 10/8/7/XP/Vista.
Best Video Editing Software for Professionals
#1. Adobe Premiere Pro
This is a truly professional video editing software that you should not ignore. The standout thing with the program is its unique tracking and masking feature that allows for blurring of unwanted sections of videos like logos. It will be a good way of concealing anything from a scene without cutting.
Pros:
- It comes with built-in training to help one sharpen his or her editing skills with a wide selection of tutorials.
- On-the-go video editing is another advantage to enjoy with the program because it offers flexibility since it's possible to use mobile devices.
Cons:
- Occasional crashing down is the notable disadvantage that you will endure with this software program.
- The price is high for some people to afford.
Operating system: Windows and Mac OS X
Price: $19.99/month
#2. Sony Vegas Pro
This is one of the best video editing programs designed to allow you total control of your editing. It has very creative features that include audio metering, archival tools and companion app to make editing easy. With the powerful effects and innovative tools for editing, that makes it well suited for your use.
Pros:
- It has very fast workflows that make it possible to manage the editing even when on the move.
- Its simple interface further makes it easy to edit video.
Cons:
- The workflows and interface of the program might be good but they lack proper refining.
- That is the point where other competing programs in the market have an edge over Sony Vegas Pro.
Operating system: All Windows system
Price: $599.95
#3. Final Cut Pro
There is a lot you can do with Final Cut Pro to help unleash its full potential. The editing speeds are very high and basic tools for editing available will give you more options. You must maximize on the opportunities to get the best from your editing.
Pros:
- One thing you will enjoy with FCP is powerful editing tools that include magnetic timeline.
- You will have the best opportunity for coming up with a professional video.
- The intuitive interface further makes it easy to work on your videos.
- It's good for both experienced and beginning editors.
Cons:
- It is not available for all versions of the Apple operating system which will offer big limitations.
- The high price means very few people will be able to enjoy its editing services.
Operating system: Mac
Price: $299.99
#4. Avid Media Composer
This is one of the top video editing software programs in the market that is highly trusted by video editors. It is good for creative professionals who are looking for something new in video editing since it offers the open platform for accomplishing that. Use Avid Media Composer to come up with end-to-end workflows thanks to meticulous editing.
Pros:
- It has one of the best media management in the market and this is a program that will surely stand the test of time.
- You can rely on it for some professional editing works.
Cons:
- If you are a beginner, don't go for Avid because it is very difficult to use and even learn the basics.
- You will also experience some hiccups when it comes to effects editing meaning it will be impossible to customize your video.
Operating system:Windows and Mac OS X
Price: $1299
Final Thought
There are 10 different video editing software for Windows and Mac users, which one is the winner in your mind?
Obviously, if you're professional user, which have a high requirement of the video editing software, then tools like Adobe Premiere, Final Cut Pro, etc. are definitely the best option. But these tools always requires lots of technical skills of video editing. So, if you're only a beginner or semi-professional, Filmora Video Editor can satisfy all your needs.
This program can do almost all things you want to edit on a video, and it provide users with free trial version, so that you can experience its powerful functions by yourself.
Related Articles & Tips
How to choose a video editing laptop
Your budget will obviously determine your choice when it comes to selecting a laptop for the best video editing purposes. However, don't forget to choose a device that (a) is expandable (so that you can add more memory or an additional SSD if necessary), (b) one that comes with next business day warranty (or at least offers it as an option) and (c) features ample connectivity as users are likely to transfer files either via a cloud storage option or via an external storage (most likely to be a portable SSD).
If you’re looking to get some editing done while moving around, choosing one of the best laptops for video editing is absolutely essential. Luckily, we’re here to help you find the perfect device.
With this guide, we’ll dive into all the latest and greatest video editing laptops, both in high definition and Ultra HD (4K) resoutions, for all budgets. It’s not going to be easy, especially considering how hard video editing is on PC components, and this is especially true if you’re using a laptop.
However, we’ve employed our tech expertise to help you find the best laptop (or workstation) for editing, so you can be sure you’re getting your money and time’s worth.
We also included our exclusive price comparison tools, so you can spend less time shopping around and more time getting some work done. So, read on to find out what we think are the only video editing laptops worth considering in 2019.
PS: Bear in mind that prices and configurations change all the time. So if you see any discrepancy, feel free to get in touch with us.
- Check out our list of best video editing software
Specs | Minimum | Recommended | Ideal |
---|---|---|---|
Editing resolution | 1080p (1920 x 1080) | 4K (3840 x 2160) | 4K (3840 x 2160) |
Processor | 8th Generation Core i5 or equivalent AMD Ryzen | 8-core Intel CPU or equivalent AMD | Intel Xeon or better |
Memory | 16GB | 32GB | 64GB |
Storage | 256GB SSD | 256GB NVMe PCIe SSD | 1TB NVMe PCIe SSD (RAID-0) |
Screen | Full HD | 4K | 8K |
Video card | Integrated | Discrete | Nvidia RTX or AMD Radeon Pro |
1. Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018)
Best for Mac aficionados
CPU: Dual-core Intel Core i7 – i9 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics, AMD Radeon Pro 555X - 560X | RAM: 16GB - 32GB | Screen: 15.4-inch, (2,880 x 1,800) IPS | Storage: 512GB – 4TB PCIe 3.0 SSD
Very powerful
Very expensive
The 15-inch 2018 MacBook Pro is hands-down the best Mac laptop ever designed for editors. Apple has packed loads of upgrades into this version, offering you the latest generation of Intel Core i7 and i9 processors with six cores, and it now supports up to 32GB of RAM, making this a very adept laptop for cutting and chopping. Discrete graphics are provided by a choice of AMD Radeon Pro GPUs, making this the best laptop for editing.
The innovative Touch Bar makes it easier for videographers to intuitively access commands, while the Retina display on the 15-inch model offers more than enough pixels should you want to edit at native resolution in Full HD on the move. However, if you are editing 4K, then you'll be disappointed by the limited resolution.
2. Huawei MateBook X Pro
A brilliant MacBook Pro competitor
CPU: 8th generation Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 , Nvidia GeForce MX150 2GB GDDR5 | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 13.9-inch 3K (3,000 x 2,080) | Storage: 512GB SSD
Beautiful design
Terrific battery life
Webcam not great
While Huawei might not be the first company you think of when it comes to laptops, especially laptops you can use for editing, that should change with the company's phenomenal MateBook X Pro. It is a gorgeously-designed laptop with a stunning screen (albeit with a rather odd aspect ratio), and it comes packed with cutting edge components, and a battery life that runs rings around many of its rivals. It has plenty of horse power for editing videos, and it's price is very competitive, making it a great alternative to the MacBook Pro if your budget doesn't stretch that far.
Read the full review: Huawei MateBook X Pro
3. Dell XPS 15
CPU: Intel Core i5-7300HQ - i7-7700HQ | Graphics: NVIDIA® GeForce GTX 1050 with 4GB GDDR5 | RAM: 8GB - 16GB DDR4 | Screen: Up to 15.6-inch Ultra HD (3840 x 2160) InfinityEdge touchscreen | Storage: 1TB HDD - 512GB SSD
Amazing power
Slim design
The Dell XPS 15 is a brilliant laptop it its own right, and it really excels when it comes to video editing. It comes with a gorgeous 15-inch InfinityEdge screen, and the very top end version has a 4K color-accurate display which makes it perfect for video editing. It's also got plenty of processing power as well, making it a dab hand at rendering video files, which is important when looking for a laptop for video editing.
Video Editor For Hp Laptop
Read the full review:Dell XPS 15
4. HP ZBook Studio G3
A winning combination of brains and beauty
CPU: 2.8GHz (3.7GHz) Intel Xeon E3-1505M v5 | Graphics: Nvidia Quadro M1000M | RAM: 32GB | Screen: 15.6-inch, 3840 x 2160 pixels | Storage: 512GB SSD
Intel Xeon processor
Battery life isn't the best
The HP ZBook Studio G3 laptop easily fits in the Ultrabook category with a weight of a tad under 2kg and a thickness of only 18mm, slightly heavier and a smidge thicker than the Precision 15 5000 but more portable and svelte than Lenovo's laptop. Where HP manages to score highly is when it comes to sheer value for money when it comes to powerful components, with a high performance processor and gorgeous 4K screen, which makes it one of the best laptops for video editing.
5. Microsoft Surface Book 2 (13.5-inch)
The most powerful 2-in-1 laptop in the world
CPU: Intel Core i5-7300U - Intel Core i7-8650U 1.9GHz | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620; Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 (2GB GDDR5 VRAM) | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 3,000 x 2,000 (267 ppi) PixelSense display, 3:2 aspect ratio | Storage: 256GB – 1TB SSD
Very good battery life
Pricey
The Surface Book 2 (13.5-inch) is one of the most powerful 2-in-1 laptops in the world. While 2-in-1 laptops may not be the first choice for video editors, the Surface Book 2 has some powerful enough components to handle video editing if you go for a model with a dedicated graphics card. Brilliant build quality and excellent battery life makes this a wonderful device for using as either a laptop, or as a powerful Windows 10 tablet. The tablet mode is convenient if you want to shoot footage and edit it while out and about.
6. Apple MacBook 12-inch (2017)
Last year's MacBook is still a great laptop for editing
CPU: Intel Core M3 1.2GHz - Intel Core i7 1.4GHz | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 615 | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 12-inch, (2,304 x 1,440) IPS 16:10 | Storage: 256GB – 512GB SSD
Updated processor
Still only one USB-C port
Apple's laptops are great choices for editing, and if you want to save a bit of cash, then last year's MacBook remains a brilliant option, that's a fair bit cheaper than this year's MacBook Pro. You get an Intel 7th-generation Kaby Lake CPU, which brings improved performance and longer battery life while keeping the body thin and light. The Mac App Store has a large number of programs that play to the MacBook's strengths, and you should be able to get a decent deal now that it's been out for a while.
Html editor for mac. Read the full review:Apple MacBook
7. Lenovo ThinkPad P70
Plenty of options to build your dream rig
CPU: 2.8GHz Intel Xeon E3-1505M v5 | Graphics: Nvidia Quadro M5000M 8GB | RAM: 16GB | Screen: 17.3-inch, 3840 x 2160 pixels | Storage: 512GB SSD + 500GB HDD
Expansion capabilities
Non-user replaceable battery
Lenovo’s ThinkPad P70 was one of the first notebooks featuring Intel's Skylake processor, which should give it a boost in performance compared to Broadwell or Haswell chips. Equipped with ample storage and plenty of RAM, an excellent keyboard and a wide selection of ports for connectivity, Lenovo is positioning the ThinkPad P70 as the ultimate workstation that you can take on the go without missing your desktop. Also worth mentioning is the X-Rite Pantone calibration tool, available as an option, which is great to keep your screen accurate for production work, as well as the Quadro GPU that comes with all the P70 SKUs.
8. MSI GS65 Stealth
Pdf editor software for mac. Brilliant for gaming..and video editing
CPU: Intel Core i7 | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 (8GB GDDR5X VRAM, Max-Q) | RAM: 16GB | Screen: 15.6-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080) anti-glare, wide-view 144Hz panel | Storage: 512GB M.2 SSD
Beautiful, subtle design
Underside gets very hot
OK, so the MSI GS65 Stealth is primarily a high-end gaming laptop - with a price tag to match - but it also doubles as an absolutely brilliant laptop. This is because it comes with an excellent array of cutting edge components, which includes an 8th-generation Intel Core i7-8750H CPU and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 GPU. This means multi tasking and editing is handled with aplomb - and if you also want to do a bit of gaming on the side, then it's a no-brainer.
Buying a laptop? Here's what experts say
Video Editor For Mac
We reached out to Michel Yavercovski, Senior Director of Product Management for Corel video products, to get his expert opinions about choosing a creative computer.
'There are a few key things to look for when buying a video editing laptop and of course, when you’re talking about video, the better the hardware, the smoother and more responsive your editing experience will be. Whether you’re talking about ourPinnacle Studio orVideoStudio products, both have been designed to take full benefit of your hardware to make video editing as fast and efficient as possible.' Michel said.
'First, you’ll want to look for a system with a powerful multicore processor -- the Intel Core i7 product line is a good choice to get started with -- and our software has been optimized to take advantage of multithreading so you can get the most out of these impressive chips. A powerful processor will also give you a seamless experience when working with today’s popular formats and creative features like multi-camera and 360° video support. 4K video can create huge file sizes, so you’ll also want to make sure the device has a large and fast SSD storage drive that can read and write large video files without any hang-ups.'
'Video editing takes up a lot of memory, so shop for a system that has between 16GB and 32GB of RAM to keep things running smoothly. And, of course, a 64-bit version of Windows 10 is a must. ' he added.
Best Video Editor For Mac
'Then, when considering graphics cards, look for the latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX or GTX series as well as Intel Iris or HD Graphics for overall faster processing and editing. Most advanced graphics cards will also have HEVC support, enabling the use of this advanced video format in your productions.'
'Since you’ll be working primarily on one screen when you’re on the go, make sure the laptop's built-in monitor produces crisp images and has accurate color rendering. It’s also ideal to have a system that will support multiple screens for when you’re back in your main work space. Lastly, I always advise users to either plug in their laptops or adjust the power settings for high performance since many notebooks default to power-saving features when they’re running on battery which can impact performance. You may have to accept a shorter battery life, but it will ensure faster processing for a great editing experience.'
Watch the video below for the top 7 things to consider when buying a laptop.