In order to become a successful business, it has become increasingly crucial to maximize online content for current and potential customers and clients. One way to do this is with video.
Unfortunately, many business owners and marketing managers stay away from video because they think it’s too difficult to create a polished commercial, a useful and informative “listicle” for YouTube, or other videos that would serve their industry.
But this isn’t true!
In fact, today more than ever before, video creation and editing basically comes down to buying a camera, learning a bit about lighting and sound, and finding a good video editor. The latter is what we will be discussing today.
We have compiled a list of the top seven video editors available online. All of these video editors are completely and 100% free for download. All of them can be used on Windows computers, and some of them can even be used with Macs and Linux.
Let’s get started!
1. OpenShot
OpenShot is one of the best free video editing software programs out there. It has an easy to use interface, and if you have any questions, the user forum associated with OpenShot always has a thread on what you’re looking for.
Only occasionally will you experience a lag with this program, and keep in mind that you’ll need to go through several steps to set up the editor. We especially like this program for scaling, rotation, motion picture credit creation and scrolling, audio mixing, and preview-creation.
2. Shotcut
Shotcut is fairly straightforward to understand. It offers excellent file format support and has a clearly designed interface, which makes it easy to learn. You’re also not going to get any ads or features that you can’t use unless you pay. The only drawback to Shotcut is that it can be difficult to transfer your video files to different devices.
3. Avid Media Composer
Excellent for learning professionals, Avid Media Composer does have a few limitations if you don’t buy the paid version. Still, it’s amazing software for honing your video editing skills.
You should also be aware that this program does take some getting used to. It is able to produce high-quality, professional-looking video, but that comes at the cost of having a steep learning curve. Even the download process and installation process is long. Once you’re ready to get started, however, we recommend using the start-up wizard to learn the platform.
4. Lightworks
Lightworks provides stellar software capabilities for both media marketers and actual film industry professionals. It is a powerful program that is quite easy to get the hang of and allows for seamless workflow and multiple high-end capabilities you won’t find elsewhere.
Still, many people are frustrated with Lightworks because the free version is so different than the paid version. Essentially, the paid version is excellent, so if you’re thinking about purchasing it, the free version of Lightworks is a good try-before-buying option.
5. DaVinci Resolve
DaVinci Resolve is another program that has a free version and a paid version. But in this case, the free version isn’t going to limit your features too much, and for simple video editing (with many added creative features and options), you won’t need anything else.
Just keep in mind that at first, DaVinci Resolve can be a little overwhelming. Like Avid Media Composer, many users have lamented the long learning process. Therefore, if you’re a novice, be sure to go slow and don’t allow yourself to get discouraged.
6. KdenLive
KdenLive is a non-linear video editing program. Beginner editors and novices to the video world will especially like this program as it’s simple to use — essentially from the get-go.
With that said, this editor provides only basic features. You likely won’t get any wild editing options, and your video should be pretty set when you upload it. The program is also smaller than some of the other options on this list, and it requires less fancy upgrades to your PC. If you only need the basics, though, this is an excellent option.
7. HitFilm Express
HitFilm Express is the last video editor on our list. Again, with this program, you have a paid version and a free version. The latter offers many options, however, including a strong timeline editor and playback options that allow you to edit faster and easier.
Drawbacks with this program include the fact that some of the more popular features you might want to try require the paid version. In addition, exporting can be extremely slow when you’re ready for this step. Still, it’s an intuitive program that’s fairly easy to learn and use.
Why Should My Business Need a Video Editor?
Keep in mind that video creation is an excellent way to get people to go to your website, click on your links, like your social media pages, and in the end, buy from your company. You can create videos about anything, but of course, the more informative, to-the-point, and easy to watch they are, the better.
Again, having a way to edit your videos is part of what video-creation entails. Fortunately, you’ve got a lot of options, so to get started, simply try out one or several of the video editing software options above.
And remember, they’re free, so you’ve got nothing to lose!
