Intro

Worked on a project for a few hours or even days and ended up frustrated by a watermark from your video editor? We're familiar with that. Don't worry, next time you can avoid this issue. Choose a video editor that won't cause such a problem. Wondering where to find it? The answer is in this article! We have collected our top 10 best video editing software without watermarks.

Key Takeaways

For your easy navigation through the article use the small table of contents below.

1. What is a Watermark?
2. What Watermark is Used For?
3. Best Free Video Editing Software Without Watermark
• VSDC Free Video Editor
• Kapwing (Web-based)
• iMovie (Mac and iPhone)
• Kdenlive (Windows, Mac, and Linux)
• Lightworks (Windows, Mac, and Linux)
• Avid Media Composer First (Windows, Mac)
• Openshot (Windows, Mac, and Linux)
• Clipchamp (Web-based)
• Videopad (Windows, Mac)
• Davinci Resolve (Windows, Mac)
4. Honorable mentions
5. Conclusion

What is a Watermark?

Watermarks can come as an unexpected surprise to users who haven't fully read about the editor they've chosen. Well, jokes aside, what exactly is a watermark? It is a special logo, signature or other pattern widely used nowadays for copyright protection of digital content.

The term watermark dates back several centuries when such marks were applied to wet paper and were visible only when viewed against the light or when the paper was rewetted. So, despite the name, rest assured that no program will actually drench your project.

What Watermark is Used For?

This method was initially used to protect securities and documents from counterfeiting. Today, while still used in paper production, watermarks have also made a significant leap into the digital realm.

Actually, their purpose is primarily the same: copyright protection. But many companies use watermarks not only for legal security but also to enhance brand visibility and recognition. Some platforms also often embed watermarks on images or videos that can be downloaded. It serves both as a copyright claim and as subtle advertisement signaling that content originated from some particular service. Similarly, when video editors leave their watermarks on user content, it becomes a tool for brand extension. Viewers can easily identify where some video was edited. Additionally, you can use watermarks for your own benefit. More and more it is recommended to add your personal watermark to images and videos shared, for instance, on social media. This not only prevents unauthorized use but also helps in establishing your identity online.

Best Free Video Editing Software Without Watermark

Now let's dive into the most interesting part of our article where you learn what video editors to use in order to avoid unwanted watermarks and keep your videos advertisement-free.

VSDC Free Video Editor (Windows PC)

Number one in our ranking, both in features and performance, is VSDC Free Video Editor. It is a perfect option for users with Windows-based computers. Not only does it avoid adding watermarks, but it's also incredibly lightweight, making it ideal even for older PCs. It has no limitation on file size and duration, and you can export your files up to 8K.

It has a wide toolset, allowing you to easily split and merge files, rotate videos, crop borders, create slideshows, apply color correction, and more. For a cinematic look, you can enhance your footage with LUTs (Look-Up Tables). To create smooth transitions, effects like motion blur or zoom can be added. You can also apply filters such as glitch to set a specific style. If you're working with green or blue screen footage, the Chroma Key tool lets you replace the background with any image or video. For minimizing camera shake the stabilization tool is available.

Apart from the video editing toolset, VSDC comes with a built-in video converter, a desktop screen recorder, a webcam video capture tool, a voice recorder, and a YouTube uploader. Compared to most video editors, VSDC is surprisingly lightweight. It works even on potato computers with just a couple of gigabytes of RAM and opens footage from any device without you having to convert it into a required format.

The project is monetized through a premium version called VSDC Pro. The upgrade is available for $19.99 per year, and it includes premium features like masking, motion tracking, and audio waveform. However, if you aren’t looking for these professional-level tools, the free version of VSDC will be more than sufficient.

DOWNLOAD VSDC VIDEO EDITOR

Kapwing (Web-based)

Kapwing is an intuitive video editor, perfect for those with zero editing experience. The tool works in the browser which means you can use it on a computer, on a tablet, and even on your phone, as long as you have a stable Internet connection. This also means you don’t need to have a powerful computer because this software runs in the cloud.

Once you log into your online workspace with Kapwing, you can upload files from your desktop or import them directly from Google Drive or Google Photos. There are several tracks for video and audio files, which means you can overlay files and easily create a picture-in-picture effect, split-screen, or video collages. The editing menu is pretty straightforward too: you can trim, split and rotate files, play with the playback speed and the zoom effect. There are several standard transition effects and a built-in Chroma Key tool for removing the green background.

What makes Kapwing stand out from the competition is its built-in multimedia gallery. Not only does it provide you with video templates designed for social media platforms, such as Linkedin and Instagram, but it also comes with an integrated gallery of stock images, videos, soundtrack, and even sound effects. Whether you’re going to use these assets in your video as is or source inspiration, it’s hard to deny the convenience of having them at hand.

Like VSDC, Kapwing’s monetization model is based on the premium-version subscription, however, in this case, the restrictions of the freemium solution are more noticeable. With the free version, you can export only 3 videos per month without a watermark. Each video must be under 250 MB and shorter than 30 minutes. If you decide to upgrade, that’ll be $24 per month or $192 per year.

iMovie (Mac and iPhone)

For Mac owners, iMovie is usually the default video editor because it’s free and it comes pre-installed with macOS. iMovie is an easy-to-use NLE that will work well for both beginners and professional users. If you own a Mac, and you haven’t explored iMovie yet, look no further.

The program has a modern, intuitive layout and a timeline featuring multiple tracks for video and audio files. The basic editing toolset includes cutting, trimming, shaky footage stabilization, color correction, and even background noise removal. Like Kapwing, iMovie brings a wide selection of presets, including backgrounds and animated text templates for title intro, lower thirds, and scrolling credits. Templates are easily accessible from the main menu, and you can preview them in action before applying, which is very convenient.

The integration with iTunes allows for importing soundtracks from your music library right within the program’s interface. On top of that, there’s a built-in library of royalty-free soundtrack music tracks and audio effects.

Unlike most video editors on this list, iMovie has no premium versions or Pro features you’d have to pay for. It’s completely free video editing software with no watermarks, trial periods, format limitations or upgrades.

Kdenlive (Windows, Mac, and Linux)

Kdenlive is a free, open-source video editor that works on Windows, Mac, and Linux OS. It’s not as beginner-friendly as Kapwing or iMovie, but it brings an extensive set of features and a high level of control of video effects and color correction settings.

Apart from basic video editing, Kdenlive allows you to create animated titles, use multi-camera editing functionality, work with alpha channel, and deep-dive into audio settings. For color correction, you get the standard RGB adjustment tools, white balance controls, keyframable brightness controls, gamma settings, and more.

Like VSDC, Kdenlive is very lightweight. Not only does it have low system requirements, but it also goes easy on your PC due to the powerful proxy technology. Essentially, this means that the program creates smaller-size copies of your files for faster rendering while you’re working on your project. When it’s time to export the video, the tool applies all the changes and effects to the source files, so you end up with the file of original quality. Proxies make it much easier to edit 4K and effect-heavy projects.

Kdenlive is a completely free piece of video editing software with no watermarks or hidden fees. Keep in mind that because it’s an open-source program, you can’t always expect proper technical support from the team members. However, there’s an active user community on Reddit and lots of video tutorials on YouTube that might answer most of your questions.

Lightworks (Windows, Mac, and Linux)

Lightworks is one of the pioneer tools in the video editing industry. With over 25 years in the market, it’s been recognized as one of the go-to solutions for professional filmmakers and used in the production of such legendary movies as Pulp Fiction and King’s Speech.

Unlike most desktop video editors, Lightworks asks you to create an account before downloading the software. Once registered, you’ll be prompted to select your computer’s OS and watch an introductory video while the program is being downloaded and installed. Although it may seem like an extra step preventing you from getting started – in practice, it helps you be better prepared to work with the tool.

Professional movie makers praise Lightworks for keyboard controls and convenient cutting tools designed specifically for working with large volumes of footage. However, the suite also brings an impressive selection of built-in video effects and color correction controls.

Lightworks brings three subscription plans, designed for creators of different experience levels. In the free version, this video editing software has no watermarks or significant toolset limitations – however, as a free user, you’re limited to 720p resolution and only two predefined export options: YouTube and Vimeo. Feature-wise, the free toolset is sufficient for newbie creators, according to the company. When you’re ready to step up your video editing game, you can choose between Lightworks Create ($9.99 per month) and Lightworks Pro ($23.99 per month).

Avid Media Composer First (Windows, Mac)

Avid Media Composer First is a free version of the full-featured Avid Media Composer software, but as a beginner user, you might not notice significant limitations. Overall, it’s a powerful tool for aspiring video makers that can help you create projects of any complexity.

The editor comes with 4 video tracks and 8 audio tracks, multicam editing, smart trimming tools, video stabilization, a large selection of audio and video effects, and a color correction toolset. The program also supports AVX and AAX plugins from the Avid Marketplace. At the export stage, you can save your video in 1080p resolution and upload it directly to YouTube or Vimeo.

For stable software performance, the developers recommend having at least 16 GB of memory (32 GB if you’re working with UHD or high FPS videos) and a powerful graphics card.

Openshot (Windows, Mac, and Linux)

Openshot is another open-source, free video editing software without watermarks. Of all tools, this one is probably one of the most newbie-friendly editors, and it works on any operating system (OS) including Windows, macOS, Linux, and Chrome OS.

Like most non-linear video editors, Openshot allows you to use multiple tracks and mix multiple files in the same scene. You can easily achieve a picture-in-picture or split-screen effect. There’s a good selection of video transitions, a built-in gallery of emoji icons, and a separate menu tab housing video and audio effects. The latter group includes some really cool effects like Robotization, Whisperization, and Distortion.

For video titles, Openshot offers over a dozen pre-designed templates including generic text titles, lower thirds, Creative Commons license messages, and Film rating warnings. For animated titles, Openshot suggests connecting Blender – a free open-source animation program.

Openshot has no paid version of their software. The company’s monetization model seems to include website ads and donations. As with many unmonetized products, you may expect a lack of stable performance and technical support. However, if you like the interface and only need the editor for basic tasks occasionally, Openshot might very well be the right solution for you.

Clipchamp (Web-based)

Clipchamp is an online video editing app that has a free version and allows you to export videos without watermarks. The developers of the platform are targeting creators, influencers, and online teachers – as opposed to professional videographers – making the video creation process quick and effortless with templates.

Clipchamp works right in the browser, so all you need to do is register an account and follow the prompts. From there, you’ll be able to select a template for your video or start from scratch by uploading your media and adding text elements, images, and sounds as you go. Like VSDC, Clipchamp allows you to record your screen and capture webcam video – all within the same app.

If you’re a creator working on a video for social media, perhaps the most convenient part about this editor is its extensive gallery of stock media files, including royalty-free videos, images, and sounds. The app even has built-in stickers and a GIF gallery from GIPHY.

At the export stage, you can save your video in MP4 format and 480p, 720p, 1080p, or GIF. You can also send the video directly to YouTube, TikTok, Pinterest, or one of your cloud storage platforms. So what are the key limitations of the free version? First, if you’re a free version user, some of the premium-level stock files and templates will be unavailable to you. Second, the paid tiers (starting at $19/mo) include brand kits designed to help you create consistent content aligned with your brand’s style — and as a free user, you have no access to them. That being said, even without all the bells and whistles, Clipchamp looks like every social media manager's dream.

Videopad (Windows, Mac)

Videopad is a video editor for Windows OS and Mac OS X that offers a free version for non-commercial use. The program offers a plethora of tools including video and audio recorders, a screenshot capture tool, and a template gallery (more on that in a moment). However, the ribbon-style interface may quickly overwhelm an inexperienced user, so we highly recommend watching an introductory tutorial before getting started – especially since they’re conveniently accessible through a dedicated tab in the preview window.

By default, Videopad offers only one video track and one audio track, but it’s possible to create additional tracks and overlay files using masking, green screen, or picture-in-picture effects. There’s also an impressive collection of transition and animation effects, including Motion blur, Zoom, Ken Burns, and plenty of others. Like VSDC, Videopad provides in-depth control of the effect parameters, which means you can adjust the way the effect looks and tailor it to your needs.

Most creators will benefit from the set of built-in libraries featuring sounds and sound effects, frames, and clipart objects. Another valuable addition to this software is called “Video maker.” Designed as a video template gallery, it allows you to quickly create an animated intro, outro, or even a slideshow-style video for a special occasion. All you need to do is add the content and type your own text where it’s required.

At the export stage, Videopad reminds you of the premium version of their software, but as a non-commercial user, you can skip the reminder and proceed to the settings. There are no format, duration, or resolution limitations, and you can save the video on your computer, export it to a DVD, or upload it directly to YouTube, Vimeo, Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, or Flickr.

Davinci Resolve (Windows, Mac)

Davinci Resolve is an award-winning video editor developed by Blackmagic Design. Although it provides a full spectrum of video editing features, what makes Resolve stand out from the competition is its color correction and color grading toolset. This program is famous for being the software of choice for such movies as Avatar, La La Land, and Pirates of the Caribbean.

Now, even for experienced video creators, Resolve is a complex platform that will require some time to master. However, if you strive to become a professional movie maker, knowing your way around it will pay off. As a matter of fact, if that’s your ambition, you may want to skip the rest of the programs from the list and go straight to Davinci Resolve because it has everything to help you take your filmmaking skills to the right level. The program offers a convenient cutting and splitting toolset, effects menu, intuitive timeline, text editor, and pro-level audio processing.

For color correction and color grading, you can use color scopes, curves, and wheels. When working on repetitive color matching tasks, you can easily apply node structure from previous projects as a template. And if you’re trying to achieve a look from a particular image, you can use it as a reference shot right in the program and compare your footage with the original while performing color grading.

Resolve is a rare example of truly professional video editing software that comes for free without watermarks or feature limitations. Bear in mind, however, that apart from the time investment, this software requires a powerful machine to operate. In addition to sufficient storage space, you want to have at least 8 GB of system RAM and at least 4 GB of graphics memory.

Honorable mentions

Video editing software, including professional-level software, stopped being a category of tools available to videographers only. It’s now available to nearly anyone with a decent computer and an Internet connection. The market is growing, much due to the rise of the creators’ economy, so new video editing tools continue to pop up every few months.

This means you can find the right software regardless of your computer’s specs or video editing skills. For instance, if you’re looking for a lightweight yet full-featured solution, VSDC, Kdenlive, and Openshot will be your best bet from this roundup. If you prefer working in the browser, Kapwing and Clipchamp are both great options for non-professional use. And if you need a tool to start your professional journey as a filmmaker, consider Davinci Resolve, Avid, or Lightworks.

Want more options to test? You can try Shotcut (open source), Hitfilm Express, Olive editor (open source), or VN video editor (MacOS). All four pieces of video editing software are free and have no watermarks. Spend some time with every option, test the features you think you’ll be using the most, and see which one has the interface and toolset that satisfies your needs!

Last week, we received the long-awaited silver button from YouTube for reaching 100K subscribers.

The button arrived in a neat black box, along with a letter of encouragement from the YouTube team. For us, it’s an exciting moment, and judging by the comments on our channel, we have the best, most empathetic audience to share it with.

As creators who have reached their first big milestone, we decided to share some of the lessons we’ve learned during this journey.

You can read them below.

It’s okay not to get things right the first time

Our growth journey has never been straightforward. For a small team with zero experience in video marketing, it was a steep learning curve. For example, although the VSDC’s channel is almost 8 years old, it’s the last 3 years that have made the biggest impact on its growth. During that period, we jumped from 23K to 100K subscribers.

Before we got to those 23K, there had been a long way of trial and error.

If you ever decide to scroll all the way down our channel uploads, you’ll notice that we’ve dramatically changed our approach to YouTube videos several times. For example, during the first few years, we used the channel to educate users about specific features and settings using short, technical videos, often with no intro or narration. The channel was an extension of our Help center, not a marketing tool. Today, we use the channel to both educate current VSDC users and attract new creators looking for a specific solution or guidance.

As we switched from single-feature-centered tutorials, our workflow has also changed. Here are the three steps we take each time when we want to post a new video:

• Research – that’s when we look and search queries, trends, and comments
• Production – that’s when we record a video and put it together with the voiceover
• Optimization – that’s when we craft the copy, thumbnail, end screen, and other elements

Overnight success doesn’t exist. But if you continuously test new hypotheses, ask your audience for feedback, and use analytics tools, you’ll inevitably figure things out. However (here comes a spoiler) even when you do, you should still be ready for numerous ups and downs. That brings us to the next lesson.

Growing a channel is a rollercoaster

Way too many factors are involved in a channel’s success. The biggest ones are often out of your control: search trends, algorithms, and global events.

For example, we saw a huge spike in views and subscriptions at the beginning of the pandemic.

This is easy to explain: people stayed home, spent more time on YouTube, and many returned to their hobbies — video editing being one of them.

The year 2021 (that’s when many countries started lifting the stay-at-home mandate) was visibly less successful for the channel, despite us pouring the same amount of effort into it. Seeing a drop in subscribers growth was upsetting, but it was something out of our control.

As a creator, it’s important that you learn to spot anomalies in your channel’s performance and tell whether they are the result of your actions or one of those outside factors.

That being said, it’s also crucial to focus on the factors you can control. Here are some of them:

• Consistency – set a publishing schedule and stick to it
• Video structure – use the “PPP formula" described by Brian Dean
• Engagement – ask questions, use calls to action, and always, always respond to comments

Each of these factors affects different metrics that influence your overall channel performance. For example, consistency is believed to be a good SEO signal for YouTube. A clear and cohesive video structure helps increase video retention. Engagement helps you build relationships with your audience and discover content ideas.

YouTube analytics is an underused tool that has plenty of answers

Every creator knows that YouTube provides access to detailed performance reports. However, some creators tend to focus on vanity metrics, such as the overall number of views and subscribers.

A large number of views and subscribers have little value if people stop watching your videos after a few seconds, and the comments section is empty.

That’s why it’s essential to look at other metrics, such as:

• Impression click-through rate (CTR) – helps quickly evaluate your thumbnail and copy
• Average percentage viewed – shows for how long your video can hold the viewer’s attention
• Subscribers gained – identifies which videos drive subscribers to your channel

Notice how the two videos in the screenshot below have almost the same number of impressions and views. However, if you look at the CTR, percentage viewed, and the number of subscribers each video gained, you’ll see that the second video is hugely underperforming.

Understanding your channel’s and each video’s performance will help you spot trends (both positive and negative) and optimize your content creation strategy.

For example, in the past three years, our 5 best-performing videos are:

• How to create an amazing title intro (317K views)
• Getting started with VSDC (234K views)
• How to cut and split a video in VSDC (223K views)
• How to make a green screen (163K views)
• How to make any video look cinematic (137K views)

These videos don’t just bring lots of new subscribers — they also have high retention rates. Of course, for you, success metrics may be different.

Now, when is the next milestone?

Now that we’ve reached 100K subscribers, we’re on to the next milestone. SocialBlade, an analytics platform for YouTube channels, predicts our channel will reach 200K subscribers in 2027. Let’s speed things up together!

The new version of VSDC includes two new video effects, expands the functionality of the LUT editor, and makes video editing more convenient by bringing an improved interface, optimized timeline, and custom shortcuts.

Let’s have a look at each update in more detail.

DOWNLOAD VSDC 7.1

Matrix effect (PRO)

The Matrix video effect has become available in the list of Special FX so that now you can replicate the raining code from the famous movie trilogy. As you would expect, the effect is fully customizable: you’ll be able to decide whether you want it to consist of alphabet letters or runes; how frequently the symbols should be changing, and how fast they should be falling. On top of that, you can work with the background and foreground ‘layers’ which adds depth to the effect.

Color twist effect

The Color twist effect from the Adjustments menu has been updated and included in the Basic effects window for easier access. As the name suggests, it allows you to adjust colors in the footage by working directly with the GRB color channels and changing tone values for each component. In many scenarios, the purpose of the Color Twist effect is similar to the LUT editor – however, the former option will be much easier to use for basic tasks. For example, you can quickly change cool color tones to warm color tones, create color inversion, and so on.

LUT editor upgrade

The LUT editor has become more versatile, as it now allows for performing color correction of the same object in stages. At each stage, you’ll be able to define a scope of color tones you’re working with and set the desired Hue, Saturation, and Lightness values for them. In other words, if you need to perform correction of several different color tones, there’s no need to use the same histogram – you can create a separate stage for each tone, which is way more convenient.

On top of that, it’s now possible to view color scopes and histograms for each separate scene or object. Finally, you’ll be able to apply fade-in transitions to LUTs and use adjustments for brightness, contrast, gamma, temperature, and saturation values.

Optimized GUI and timeline

In addition to the user interface enhancements, there’s been a series of minor functional improvements as well. For example, you can now quickly trim videos by grabbing side handlers and dragging them inwards.

To streamline the editing process, we’ve also added a storyboard and a simplified version of an audio waveform to the pop-up Cutting and splitting window. If you were looking for a more precise tool to edit videos to the beat in the free version, this might be the best solution for your needs.

Finally, the timeline has received 3 new scrolling modes to help you better control the playhead position when previewing a scene at an increased timeline scale.

Here are the names of the new timeline scrolling modes:

• Fixed smooth scrolling
• Adaptive smooth scrolling
• Scrolling from the timeline center

To switch between them, open the Options menu in the top right corner of the editor’s interface and proceed to Timeline options.

Custom shortcuts

The ability to create custom shortcuts is a long-awaited feature, and we’re excited to finally announce its release. Although VSDC has been supporting a list of commonly used shortcuts for a few years now, the freedom to create your own hotkey combinations will make the editing process more convenient for creators.

To get started, open the general settings, type the desired hotkey combination, and select the action you want to associate it with. If you change your mind, you can always restore the default shortcut scheme.

Subtitle markdown

Those using subtitles in videos can now take advantage of a markdown. Markdown is a feature that automatically creates markers for each subsequent line of subtitles that appears in the scene. To activate the markdown, upload the file with subtitles to the editor, select it on the timeline, and click Add markers in the Properties window. This way, you’ll be able to see each moment on the timeline when subtitles appear and align other objects if needed.

It’s time to download VSDC 7.1

Without further ado, we suggest that you download the latest version of VSDC and see all the updates with your own eyes. Got any questions? Email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or leave a comment under the release video on our channel.

DOWNLOAD VSDC 7.1

Ask any successful content creator, and they’ll tell you there’s no single best video editor for YouTube.

For some, the built-in YouTube Studio editor might be sufficient. It allows you to cut out unwanted pieces of footage, add music and text. If that’s all you need – great! Your search is over. However, if you want to use more sophisticated effects, transitions, and overlays, you’ll need a more powerful piece of software.

In this article, we’ll review 5 beginner-friendly video editors for YouTube that happen to be completely free.

Let’s dive right in.

VSDC – free video editor for YouTube creators on PC

VSDC is a free video editor for Windows PC. It’s lightweight, intuitive, and feature-rich. VSDC requires 2GB RAM, and its installation file is less than 80 Mb, so it’s a great option for those struggling to find software with low system requirements.

Although the program interface might seem tricky at first, there’s plenty of tutorials both in text and video format, so you’ll quickly get the hang of it.

One of the biggest advantages of VSDC is the ability to easily open videos in any format, regardless of the recording device. Furthermore, this editor handles 120fps and allows you to export footage using the newest H.265/HEVC codec (if you haven’t heard of it, H.265 is designed to preserve high video quality after maximum file compression). For these reasons, VSDC is officially recommended by the GoPro team and a few popular drone YouTubers, including Quadcopter 101.

Now, speaking of the feature set, VSDC brings editing tools some paid programs wouldn’t be ashamed of. Apart from the basic montage toolset, color correction, and animated text, there’s an array of effects you can apply to your footage and customize. For example, you'll be able to make the picture-in-picture, split-screen, gradual zoom, video-in-text, news ticker, and plenty of other effects commonly used for YouTube videos.

Once you’ve finished your project, you can upload it directly to your YouTube channel without having to save the video to your PC first. If you want to save the video for other social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Vimeo, there are pre-configured export profiles that will apply the required parameters to your video.

Finally, VSDC boasts a powerful screen recorder you can access right from the program interface, which is a big advantage. The recorder lets you use several capturing devices simultaneously, grab external video via HDMI, and record 2D and 3D games in high quality.

Download VSDC Free Video Editor from the official website

iMovie – free video editor for Mac

iMovie makes an excellent free video editor for YouTube creators using Mac computers or iPads, especially at the beginning of the blogging journey. As a matter of fact, even after becoming relatively popular, many YouTubers continue using iMovie for editing, according to the Influencer Equipment database. Because why not? It’s free, it delivers great results, and it’s pre-installed on most Apple devices by default.

If you think you must only use a fancy expensive piece of video editing software to stand out on YouTube, you're wrong. What really matters is your content quality, creativity, and consistency.

iMovie has a minimalistic intuitive interface, and most operations are performed via a simple drag-n-drop motion. Known for being meticulous about design, Apple made sure to create an extended library featuring backdrop themes and title templates you can use in a video. Templates come in especially handy if you're working on a series of videos or slideshows and you want to apply the same style to every episode.

Just like VSDC, iMovie allows you to remove a green or blue background from your footage. You can also add a soundtrack to your video, fine-tune title animations, and use more than 200 different video effects including popular ones, like picture-in-picture, slow motion, fast-forward, fade transitions, zoom, freeze frames, and others.

The best part about this video editor? Perhaps, the Apple product ecosystem. As a video creator, you can benefit from it in many ways. For example, you can use pre-uploaded royalty-free audio tracks, import songs from your iTunes, fetch any media file from your iCloud, or even start editing on your tablet and continue on your Mac or vice versa.

Download iMovie from the Apple App Store

Kdenlive – free video editor for YouTubers on Linux

Kdenlive is a free open-source video editor. For many Linux users, it’s a go-to option because compared to many other open-source video editors, it’s very lightweight, rather stable, and it works well with 4K footage (of course, given that you have a decent CPU).

For beginners and intermediate-level users, Kdenlive has everything to put a video together and make it look more aesthetic. The program allows you to use multiple video and audio tracks, overlay files, add titles, transitions, and custom effects.

Two things make Kdenlive stand out, compared to many other video editors: proxies and ripple editing. Proxies or “proxy files” are file copies reduced in size and quality that allow you to speed up previewing and editing. This means that the software “replaces” the original files with the copies to save resources during the preview, and uses the original files during export, so there’s no impact on the resulting project quality.

The Ripple delete feature allows you to cut out footage from multiple layers simultaneously and merge the remaining pieces within a single Ctrl+X click.

Although Kdenlive is cross-platform software, its Windows solution has received a significant amount of criticism, and therefore, our recommendation is addressed to Linux users only.

Download Kdenlive for Linux

Davinci Resolve – professional color grading for PC, Mac, and Linux

Davinci Resolve is a free cross-platform video editor for those who want to achieve Hollywood-level video post-production. Resolve has a premium version (that comes with a hefty price tag!), but it targets professional filmmakers, so for the sake of this review, it’s irrelevant.

Recommended by indie filmmakers and professional videographers alike, Resolve can be a great video editor for YouTube creators who have a more serious approach to color grading. For example, if your long-term goal is to do video editing for a living, Davinci Resolve is definitely worth your attention. It will help you achieve breathtaking results, but to benefit from it, you need to understand the color theory and be passionate about it enough to invest time into this software.

Even those with experience may expect a steep learning curve because the program interface is rather overwhelming. Luckily, there are dozens of tutorials and even online courses available for those willing to master Davinci Resolve.

The basic editing toolset of Davinci includes a multi-track timeline, convenient cutting and trimming tools, audio editing features, lots of transition effects, speed settings, and titles. Truth be told, if you work with large volumes of footage and you need to trim a lot, Resolve is incomparably convenient. It brings a real-time timeline zooming feature that guarantees a more precise cut, and a long list of hotkeys you can use when applying repetitive actions. At the export level, the software allows you to upload your project directly to YouTube (or Vimeo) in 1080p resolution.

One thing to be aware of before you jump to download the installation file is the system requirements which can be a dealbreaker for low-end computer owners. Your machine must have at least 8GB of system RAM, at least 4GB of graphics RAM, and enough storage space. The installation file alone weighs 780MB.

Download Davinci Resolve from the official website

Lightworks

Like Davinci Resolve, Lightworks is a professional league player that has been in the market since 1989. This tool is a pioneer in the world of non-linear video editing, and according to the developer’s website, this software has brought multiple Oscar-winning Hollywood movies to life.

Lightworks runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux and brings 3 subscription plans: Free, Create ($9,99 per month), and Pro ($23 per month). For an average user, the free plan has everything to create a good-looking video: its key limitation is the maximum 720p export resolution.

The program brings a clean interface including a multi-track timeline (although you need to add new video tracks manually each time) and three dedicated tabs for video editing, audio editing, and visual effects. Additionally, the main screen includes a file log and a source preview window that allows you to preview files before adding them to the scene. What’s really convenient about it is the ability to add the desired piece of the footage directly to the timeline, already cut out from the source file.

The VFX tab includes all the popular visual effects and a vast selection of color grading tools. You also get a convenient audio editing toolset with keyframes, a set of templates for titles and transitions, cloud storage access, and the local backup feature.

Now, if you’re switching from tools like Movie Maker or iMovie, getting started with Lightworks might be slightly challenging. Luckily, you can find a plethora of helpful video tutorials on YouTube as well as beginner’s guides on the official website. Lightworks is compatible with all the common video formats and employs proxy files to go easy on your computer. The biggest drawback of the free version appears to be a 720p export limitation. However, given that many watch YouTube videos on their smartphones, it doesn’t have to be a deal-breaker.

Get Lightworks from the official website

Why you should choose free video editors for YouTube over paid solutions

You probably want to know what video editing software most YouTubers use; however, the answer might not be helpful if you’re on a budget. The most frequently mentioned software is Adobe Premiere (starts at $19.99/mo, that is if you purchase an annual subscription). The second most common answer is Final Cut Pro (Mac only, one-time $299 payment) and Sony Vegas (Windows only, starts at $400).

But guess what? A lot of those bloggers you’re following on YouTube started their careers as a hobby using free video editors. In fact, many still use freeware for their channels, and that's noteworthy. Why? Because there’s no correlation between the price tag of the software you’re using and the success of your channel.

There's no need to break your piggy bank to purchase a video editor for your brand-new YouTube channel. No matter how much your software costs, no amount of post-production can turn low-quality footage into a masterpiece. Focus on production instead. If you're willing to invest, consider upgrading your hardware! A decent source of light and a microphone are already half the battle, as you probably won't have to sweat the color balance and the audio settings afterward.

What makes a good video editor for YouTube beginners anyway?

It all comes down to your skills and needs. For instance, if you're planning to publish game walkthroughs, you might need a built-in screen recorder (VSDC and Lightworks have it). If reaction videos are your thing, look for an intuitive picture-in-picture tool. If you tend to shoot long pieces before uploading them to the editor, make sure the splitting tool is intuitive.

Bottom line? You might want to try at least a couple of video editors before making the final decision. The tools we’ve included in the list are reliable and genuinely free – meaning there will be no watermarks or other unpleasant surprises after export. For someone who’s getting started, this should be enough to get that YouTube channel rolling with content. You can always switch between tools as you grow!