Did you know that approximately 83% of internet users in the US consume digital video content?
With the staggering growth in video marketing, it is vital for a digital agency to not miss out on a potential market.
Well-produced videos are more likely to appeal to viewers, which means that you need exceptional video editing tools to turn your project into a masterpiece.
Yes, we know you must be thinking that most of these tools come with a hefty price tag!
But hey there are a few great options with free plans and features.
So for your ease, we have compiled a list of some of the best video editing software in this article.
Let’s dive in.
A video editing software allows you to edit (of course!), modify or manipulate a video file. Using the software, you can add filters or special effects to augment your videos. Additionally, you can also add background music or text to your videos.
A video editing software can help you with:
Now that you know how a video editing tool benefits you, let’s get back to our list.
Created by FXhome, HitFilm Express is a professional tool that includes a large VFX toolkit along with 4K exports. HitFilm also has a few add-on packs that allow you to access features like Skin Retouch, Picture-in-Picture, Grain Removal and Split Screen Masking.
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OpenShot is an easy-to-use open-source video editing software that helps you trim videos and add 3D animations. Created in 2008, this software lets you add or adjust video effects like grayscale, gamma, hue and chroma key.
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InVideo is a great video tool that includes thousands of customizable templates. One downside for this software is that the free videos will include InVideo watermarks. However, you can get rid of the watermarks and get add-on benefits with their monthly plan starting with 15 USD.
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Blender is a fantastic 3D creation software that is backed by The Blender Foundation. Completely free to use, this software gives you sculpting, rendering and modeling tools to make high-end videos. You can easily combine video edits with animation using Blender.
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This simple non-linear video editor can be used to cut, filter and decode media files. Avidemux supports many media formats and integrates advanced scripting. Compared to the rest of the software on this list, Avidemux has lesser editing functions.
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Lightworks is a pro-editing software that was created purely for editing videos. Lightworks offers an impressive array of free tools but also comes with monthly and annual pricing plans. The free plan covers much of the basic editing needs.
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Promo.com, as the name suggests, aids you in making high-quality promotional videos. Suitable for amateurs as well as professionals, you can easily create videos for social media and access the ready-made templates and an audio library.
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Adobe Premiere Rush is one of the most popular video editing applications. Available for desktop and mobile, the app gives you access to audio and motion graphic tools to create and share impressive high-quality videos. The free version of Premiere Rush gives you cloud storage of 2 GB, while a monthly paid version of 9.99 USD offers 100 GB of storage.
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DaVinci Resolve can be deemed as one of the top 10 free video editing software currently available in the market. Owned by Blackmagic Design, DaVinci Resolve is a state-of-the-art tool equipped with tools that can be used to create movie-worthy clips. One word of caution though, this software has lots of advanced tools and may not be easily grasped by beginners.
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VideoStudio is software packed with great video tools, including Project Templates and AR Stickers. The free version of VideoStudio is a ‘try it before you buy it’ option to access the tools before purchasing a Pro or Ultimate version of the software. A downside is that the 30-day trial may not help much with long-term use.
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Only accessible to iOS and Mac users, iMovie has a sophisticated, minimal interface. This software includes cinematic filters and effects like split-screen and picture-in-picture. It is great for basic editing, especially for mobile devices. However, professionals may feel the features are a bit limited.
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Another great open-source and free software on our list is Shotcut. This software supports a wide array of audio and visual formats. Integrated with multiple audio filters, Shotcut has preset filters and is operational on multiple platforms.
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Surely one of the best free video editing software on our list, Kdenlive is an easy-to-use software available for all purposes. Backed with the FFmpeg libraries, users can save custom layouts in this software. It includes tools like Histogram, Audio Meter, Vectorscope and Proxy editing.
The software has robust features that are great for professionals. Plus, the open-source resource keeps getting updated by the user base.
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VSDC is a powerful video suite that is user-friendly and supports almost all media formats. VSDC editor has been updated to a sleek, dual monitor creator interface. Yes, there is a paid version available; however, the free version is pretty good to use as well.
The software includes motion tracking, animations, overlays and stabilization tools.
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Clipchamp is an editing software available in basic (free), creator and business versions. The basic version allows you access to the basic editing tools with webcam and screen recording. However, if you’re looking to use pro-tools and get rid of the watermark, you would have to opt for the paid plans.
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To Summarize
Videos are known to garner more engagement as compared to text posts or images. We hope that our list helps you determine the software that best fits your business needs.
Additionally, if there are any special features that your company or brand requires, you can check the software’s official website to see if the preferable feature is available.
Okay. So what after you’ve used the right tools and created great videos that support your campaign?
What next?
Check out SocialPilot to take care of your client’s social accounts. It allows you to seamlessly collaborate with your team and access customizable white labeling for impressive branding.
Yes, there are some software that are completely free to use. However, there are also tools that are free but allow you to access premium features with monthly price plans. Note that some free software have limited features, trial plans or even watermarks. Make sure to check the free features outlined before you invest in a software.
It’s always best to consider the technical specifications and user reviews before you download a software. You should also check if the software is compatible with different operating systems and supports various file formats. At the very least, good software should also include free templates, tile options and graphics to work with.
That would vary depending on the type of video a professional would like to create. Adobe Premiere Pro is quite common with ad agencies. Meanwhile, DaVinci Resolve has been used in Hollywood for post-production. Final Cut Pro is often used by Mac device owners. There’s also HitFilm Pro which allows you to combine editing tools along with visual effects and compositing in one platform.
Most of the software on our lists like Lightworks, Inshot, Adobe Premiere Rush and Shotcut can be accessible on mobile. You can also try tools like:
You don’t necessarily have to unless you are unable to find a preferable feature available in the free version. There are so many free tools available in the video editing software. But if you wish, you can try a monthly price plan to access additional tools or functionalities. Some software brands even offer free trials to try out the premium tools for a limited time.