The Best Free Video Editing Software of 2024

2024 marks a significant advancement in free video editing software with numerous professional post-production tools that do not require subscriptions, licenses, or watermark restrictions. To find the best options for users, our team of experts tested and reviewed free video editing software for both Windows and Mac. Among these, DaVinci Resolve is rated as the best free video editing software, providing a great alternative to paid software.

Whether you're a filmmaker, YouTuber, influencer, or marketing your business, here are the top free video editing software options we recommend. During our review process, we carefully evaluated the editing experience, overall performance, the latest features, and optional upgrade packages to ensure each software is entirely free to use. Below is a detailed list of the best free video editing software of 2024.

1. DaVinci Resolve

• Operating Systems: Windows, Mac, Linux  
• Key Features: Color grading, VFX software, audio transcription  
• Suitable For: Experienced editors, professionals, advanced users  

Pros:  

• Offers a wide range of powerful features for free  
• Integrates with the Fusion VFX tool, allowing for professional special effects creation  
• Available on multiple platforms, including Windows, Mac, and Linux  
• Widely used in professional film and television production  

Cons:  

• Complex interface, which can be challenging for beginners  
• Node-based workflow, which might not suit everyone  

DaVinci Resolve is considered the best free video editing software available today. Developed by Blackmagic Design, DaVinci Resolve not only stands out with its powerful VFX tools but also offers deep video editing capabilities, providing an excellent alternative to paid software.

With DaVinci Resolve, users can enjoy a professional video editing experience without cost. The software features a robust node-based effects system, detailed color correction tools, and excellent audio capabilities. It is ideal for those seeking a powerful, versatile, and expandable video editing software. Additionally, the software is regularly updated and has a strong support community, making it easy for users to learn and adapt.

If you want to upgrade, DaVinci Resolve Studio offers more features for $295 for a perpetual license, including all future upgrades. However, the free version is sufficient for most users, from beginners to professionals.

2. Lightworks

• Operating Systems: Windows, macOS, Linux  
• Key Features: Cross-platform, drag-and-drop interface, VFX tools  
• Suitable For: Social media content creators, marketers.  

Pros:  

• Strong features and effects, including multi-track editing and real-time effects  
• Highly customizable interface, easily adjusted to personal preferences  
• Used in many professional film projects  

Cons:  

• Steeper learning curve compared to some other software  
• Free version only allows video export in MPEG format and a maximum resolution of 720p  

Lightworks is one of the longest-standing and most powerful video editing software, used in many Hollywood films. The free version of Lightworks offers enough tools for beginners or casual users to easily get started with video editing.

Lightworks provides a professional editing experience with an easy-to-use interface and many powerful features. Although the free version is limited in video export capabilities, it is still very useful for social media content creators and marketers. To experience the full features of Lightworks, you can choose to upgrade to the Pro version.

3. HitFilm

• Operating Systems: Windows, macOS  
• Key Features: Transitions, asset library, subtitles  
• Suitable For: Filmmakers, content creators, marketers  

Pros:  

• Provides professional editing and VFX tools, with many options for expansion through paid packages  
• Offers numerous online tutorials to help users quickly learn the software  

Cons:  

• Requires high system specifications, demanding strong hardware  
• Steep learning curve, requires time to familiarize with all features  

HitFilm combines both video editing and VFX tools into a single software, offering a versatile experience for users. This software is particularly suitable for beginners with its user-friendly interface and detailed online tutorials.

HitFilm provides powerful features that help users create high-quality, professional videos without investing in paid software. If you are a beginner, you will especially enjoy the tutorials available right in the software. While there are many paid expansion features, HitFilm remains a great choice for free users.

4. Shotcut

• Operating Systems: Windows, macOS, Linux  
• Key Features: Wide format support, up to 8K resolution, webcam recording  
• Suitable For: YouTube users, prosumers  

Pros:  

• Diverse features, filters, and effects, including live streaming support  
• Supports multiple video and audio formats, making media import easy  
• Open-source software, regularly updated and improved by the community  

Cons:  

• Interface is quite simple and may appear "Spartan" to some users  
• Some tools, like voiceover, still have bugs  

Shotcut is a completely free open-source video editing software suitable for those looking to access simple yet powerful editing tools without worrying about costs.

Shotcut is a stable and robust choice for users looking for free video editing software. Despite some minor bugs, this software is worth trying if you need a basic yet effective editing tool. Shotcut's flexible interface and high customization capabilities also help users work in their own way.

5. ACDSee Luxea Video Editor

• Operating Systems: Windows  
• Key Features: Keyframing, 4K support, screen and webcam recording  
• Suitable For: Beginners, content creators  

Pros:  

• User-friendly, easy to use  
• Great for beginners and intermediate users  
• Offers many powerful video editing and special effects (VFX) tools  

Cons:  

• Windows-only  
• Free version adds intro and outro to videos  
• Not strong enough for professional editors  

ACDSee Luxea Video Editor is a free video editing software designed specifically for Windows, especially suitable for beginners and content creators on social media platforms. While not an ideal choice for filmmakers and professional editors, Luxea provides great features to create professional-looking videos quickly. With screen and webcam recording capabilities and 4K resolution support, Luxea allows users to take full advantage of advanced features without needing extensive video editing knowledge.

While simple and accessible, this software integrates many powerful features, such as design and VFX tools, making video creation and editing fast and easy, even for those without prior experience. However, a significant limitation of the free version is that it automatically adds an intro and outro to all exported videos, which may not be suitable for users who need clean videos. Additionally, Luxea's low system requirements make it a good choice for low-end personal computers and laptops.

6. Clipchamp

• Operating Systems: Web, Windows  
• Key Features: Green screen, rich asset library, resizing tool, browser-based editor  
• Suitable For: Social media content creators, marketers, beginners  

Pros:  

• Easy to use, intuitive  
• No installation required, works in the browser  
• Provides a variety of video templates  
• Free, with no watermark  

Cons:  

• Not as powerful as some professional software  
• Lacks detailed editing tools  

Clipchamp is an online video editing tool that runs directly in the browser, requiring no installation, saving time and computer resources. This application is ideal for new users or those who need to quickly create social media content videos without investing in heavy video editing software. Clipchamp offers a simple, user-friendly interface that allows quick editing without needing in-depth knowledge.

Clipchamp's standout feature is its pre-designed video templates, helping users easily create videos suitable for most social media platforms. Support for green screens and a rich asset library, including images, videos, and music, also increases flexibility and creativity for users. However, the free version of Clipchamp is limited to some basic editing tools and may not be powerful enough for large or complex projects.

7. Apple iMovie

• Operating Systems: Mac, iOS  
• Key Features: Transitions, effects, sound library  
• Suitable For: Beginners, marketers.

Pros:  

• Perfect integration with iOS and Final Cut Pro  
• Compatible with the iPhone 13's Cinematic mode  
• Simple, user-friendly interface  
• Completely free  

Cons:  

• Only available on Mac platforms  
• Features are not frequently updated  

Apple iMovie has long been a favorite video editing software for Mac users due to its friendly interface and basic but effective features. Although not frequently updated, iMovie remains a powerful tool for beginners and those needing to perform basic video editing tasks without complicated software. iMovie offers perfect compatibility with other Apple devices, allowing users to start editing on an iPhone and continue on a Mac seamlessly.

However, iMovie does not provide as many advanced features as other video editing software, and new updates are quite limited. For those seeking advanced editing tools and effects, iMovie may not meet the demand, but it remains an excellent choice for basic users and those new to video editing.

8. Adobe Premiere Rush

• Operating Systems: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android  
• Key Features: Motion graphics, color correction, integration with Adobe ecosystem  
• Suitable For: Social media content creators, YouTube users, beginners  

Pros:  

• Easy to use, intuitive interface  
• Available on multiple platforms  
• Good integration with other Adobe applications

Cons:  

• Only the free version is available, to unlock more features, a monthly subscription is required  
• Lacks some advanced editing tools  

Adobe Premiere Rush is a free version of Adobe's popular Premiere Pro video editing software, geared toward new users and content creators on social media platforms. This software provides a simple, intuitive interface that allows users to quickly create engaging videos without spending too much time learning complicated features.

Adobe Premiere Rush integrates well with other Adobe applications, allowing easy asset sharing and creation in the Adobe ecosystem. However, it does have some limitations, such as a reduced number of free features and some advanced tools that require a paid monthly subscription.

9. OpenShot

• Operating Systems: Windows, Mac, Linux  
• Key Features: Emoji support, cross-platform support, keyframe animation  
• Suitable For: Professional users  

Pros:

• Free and open-source  
• Cross-platform support  
• Continual improvements and updates  

Cons: 

• Mac version has stability issues  
• Some tools can be difficult to use  

OpenShot is an open-source video editing software available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. It offers flexibility in video editing, allowing users to easily customize the interface and tools to their liking. With features like keyframe animation, emoji support, and a variety of effects, OpenShot is a powerful tool for those needing a cross-platform video editing solution.

However, OpenShot still faces stability issues, particularly on the Mac version, and some tools are not yet fully optimized, which can be challenging for new users. Despite these issues, OpenShot remains a strong contender for those looking for a free and robust video editing software with ongoing improvements.

10. Canva Video

• Operating Systems: Web, Windows, Mac, iOS, Android  
• Key Features: Drag-and-drop interface, animations, screen recording  
• Suitable For: Social media content creators, marketers.

Pros:  

• Very easy to use and accessible  
• Rich resource library  
• Ideal for influencers and marketers  

Cons:

• Not a full-featured video editing software  
• Limited effects and output formats.

Canva Video is a straightforward and powerful online video editing tool, perfect for content creators, especially on social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. With its user-friendly drag-and-drop interface, Canva allows users to create eye-catching videos in minutes without needing extensive video editing knowledge.

Although it doesn’t offer the full range of editing tools available in other software, Canva provides useful features like screen recording, animations, and motion effects. This helps users quickly produce high-quality content. However, for those needing more advanced video editing features, Canva Video might not be the optimal choice.

11. Adobe Express

• Operating Systems: Web  
• Key Features: Video resizing, merging, format conversion  
• Suitable For: Social media content creators, marketers, beginners

Pros: 

• Easy-to-use interface  
• Includes many free media resources  

Cons:  

• Some resources require payment  
• Not powerful enough for large video editing projects  

Adobe Express (formerly Adobe Spark) is a convenient and user-friendly online video editing tool focused on small projects, especially social media content. With a friendly interface and easy-to-use features like resizing, merging videos, and format conversion, Adobe Express is well-suited for beginners or those with limited video editing experience.

While it provides a basic set of tools, Adobe Express lacks the robust features needed for complex or large video editing projects. Additionally, some resources like images and videos may require payment, which could reduce its appeal for free users. However, for marketers and social media content creators, Adobe Express remains a useful tool for quickly and easily creating engaging videos.

Summary and Recommendations

Selecting the best free video editing software in 2024 depends on your individual needs and preferences. DaVinci Resolve is a great choice for those looking for a professional editing experience without cost, while Lightworks, HitFilm, and Shotcut also offer powerful features and are free for most editing tasks. Beginners might find Clipchamp or iMovie a suitable choice for their ease of use and basic features.

To choose the best free video editing software for you, consider the specific needs and objectives of your video editing project. Whether you're a beginner looking for a quick editing tool or a professional editor in need of advanced features, this list should help you find a suitable option that meets your requirements.