If you are YouTuber, you must be already looking for some easy-to-use, affordable video editors for making your next YouTube video. What if you do not need to spend a dime to get the best tools for video editing? We have sorted out the best free video editing tools for different purposes that will be useful for your vlog making.
Let us walk you through our list of the best YouTube video-making tools you can get for free, at absolutely zero cost.
Best Free Professional Video Editors
There are many video editors for Youtube available, both paid and unpaid. Yet, for most of them, like Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro, you have to pay before using. But, there are also certain free tools for editings like DaVinci Resolve that give you almost similar experience and professional tools to edit your YouTube videos on Windows and Mac.
DaVinci Resolve
The YouTube editing software has a modern user interface. You can easily learn to edit in this software even if you are a beginner. All the video editing tasks are available on a single screen and you do not require extra apps for different tasks. Whatsmore, the video quality will be retained throughout the editing.
Best for:
- Color correction
- Color grading
- Advanced video editing
Not for:
- Beginners
- Simple video edits
Key Features: professional editing tool| Color correction | Fairlight audio | Media and delivery | Multi-user collaboration
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
Download: DaVinci Resolve (Free)
HitFilm Express
The video editing software for YouTube has a built-in voice recorder and 410+ effects and presets. The tool is available for both Windows and Mac. You also get free video tutorials and projects on their website.
You can download the HitFilm express at zero cost. But by paying as low as $9, you get extra perks and tools. There will be no watermarks left on your edited videos as well.
Best for:
- Coloring and effects
- Intermediate level editing
Not for:
- Advanced video editing
Key Features: Advanced Tracking | Screen simulation | Footage distortions | Lighting effects | Iconic titles
Platforms: Windows, Mac
Download: HitFilm Express (Freemium)
Best Free Video Trimmers
If you are a real beginner in video editing, or just want to trim the video before uploading it to YouTube, you just need the trimming tools. There are many free-to-use video trimmers available. Some of them are listed below.
ShotCut
ShotCut can capture your screen or web camera to make videos and add clips to the projects. The video editing software for YouTube supports resolutions up to 4K. Apart from basic video trimming, ShotCut also lets you edit videos with multiple tracks as well.
Best for:
- Trimming videos
- Cutting and merging shots
Not for:
- Complete video editing
Key Features: Video compositing across video tracks | Auto-rotate | fade in/out | Eyedropper tool
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
Download: ShotCut (Free)
Avidemux
The video trimming software is available for Linux, Mac, and Windows. You can use this YouTube editing software to compress videos and sync audio tracks too.
Best for:
- Fast video cutting and trimming
Not for:
- Professional video editing
Key Features: Cutting | Copy portions | Filtering | Save small parts | Encoding | Audio filters
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
Download: Avidemux (Free)
Best Free Video Compressors and Encoders
Sometimes, the final output of your edited video might weigh gigabytes. If your internet connectivity is not that fast, it will take hours to upload the entire video. To save you some time, you can losslessly compress the video into a lightweight file. There are tons of free video converters and compressors like Handbrake you can make use of for this purpose.
HandBrake
The installation process is very simple. Besides, HandBrake has easy-to-understand features. It converts videos with various codecs to make them compatible with all your devices. You can use HandBrake to rip and convert video files across different supported devices.
Best for:
- Converting videos between any formats
- Resizing videos
Not for:
- Video editing or trimming
Key Features: Video conversion presets | Basic video manipulation | Live video preview | Input sources support
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
Download: HanBrake (Free)
Shutter Encoder
Shutter Encoder has a panel containing a large number of settings. Some of its features include duplicate frame detection and analytical tools. Many filters are available within the tool. This video editing software for YouTube is well suited for beginners to convert videos between any format and compressing.
Best for:
- Fast encoding
- Sound conversion
- Subtitle adding
Not for:
- Advanced conversions
Key Features: Cut without re-encoding | Sound conversion | Replace audio | Rewrap | Merge | Subtitling | Video inserts
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
Download: Shutter Encoder (Free)
Best Open Source Video Editors
We have already discussed some of the top video editors for YouTube. Although all of them are free, they are all proprietary tools. If you are concerned about privacy, here are some of the best open-source video editors.
OpenShot
There is a video effects engine in the video editor which you can use to remove background from your video. OpenShot also has other video effects for colors, adjusting brightness, and many more. Apart from the effects and flares, you can create simple titles for your YouTube videos.
Best for:
- Basic edits
- Beginners
Not for:
- Advanced edits
- Effects or presets
Key Features: Cross-platform | Powerful curve-based Keyframes | Clip resizing | Unlimited tracks | Desktop integration
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
Download: OpenShot (Free)
Olive Editor
You are also able to inspect the modifications from the Playback menu. For example, you can switch back and forth between the frames, and increase or decrease speed, or play in a loop.
Best for:
- Basic transition videos
Not for:
- Titles and graphics
Key Features: Timeline zoom | Cut & Slice | Pan & zoom | Transitions | Scaling | Rotation | Speed | Retains quality
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
Download: Olive Editor (Free)
Kdenlive
Other features in this YouTube editing software are color scopes and an intuitive multitrack interface. You can use certain tools to create, move, crop, and delete the video, audio, as well as text clips. Some of the visual effects in Kdenlive include options for masking, keying green screen, and color tools.
Best for:
- Basic editing
- Green screen beginners
Not for:
- Professional editing
Key Features: Multi-track video editing | Configurable interface | Many effects | Transitions | Online resources | Key frameable effects
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
Download: Kdenlive (Free)
Best Free YouTube Video Editor for Phones
Without the need for expensive PCs or hardware, you can now edit your videos using mobile apps. We discuss some of them here such as iMovie for iPhone, and Inshot, and many more mobile video editors.
iMovie
There are 13 creative video filters available with the video editor for YouTube. To give your video a broadcast feel by giving picture-in-picture and split-screen effects. iMovie also lets you add built-in sound effects. Also, add green-screen effects in which you can place your characters in exotic locations with a tap.
Best for:
- Beginners
- Short movie making
Not for:
- Professonal editing
Key Features: Import digital video format | Shuffle scenes | Add sound | 13 creative video filters | Split-screen effects
Platforms: iPhone, iPad, Mac
Download: iMovie (Free)
VN Video Editor
You can add your own music to VN and create videos quickly with BeatsClips. Besides, VN supports multiple soundtracks and you can adjust the duration of these tracks.
It is also possible to add title slides, text overlays in the timeline. Moreover, in this YouTube editing app, you are able to use a variety of transitions and effects that look professional. You can do all these without paying anything, and without bothering about a watermark.
Best for:
- Quick editing with highest quality
Not for:
- Syncing audio and video
Key Features: Supports multiple videos and images | Automatic draft save | humanized voice recordings | Import your own video | Full-screen preview mode
Platforms: iPhone, Android, iPad, Mac
Download: iPhone | Android (Free)
InShot
In this Youtube video editing app, you can merge videos and also create a slide show. The videos leave a watermark which you can remove by cropping. Cropping can be done in any ratio, also you can zoom in and out. You can merge multiple clips and compress video without losing quality.
Best for:
- Basic cropping, text and effects
Not for:
- Long videos
Key Features: Video splitting | Video trimming | Merging video clips | Adding music or sound effects | Adding animations | Applying various filter effects
Platforms: iPhone, Android
Download: iPhone | Android (Freemium)
KineMaster
In KineMaster, you can do all the basic edits like cut, splice, copy, and crop videos. Tools like color filters and color adjustments are available within the YouTube video editing app. For immersive audio editing, you can use EQ presets, ducking, and volume envelope tools. The only downside of the app is that the free version leaves a watermark on videos.
Best for:
- Filters and effects
- Preset video templates
Not for:
- Complete video making
Key Features: Speed control | Effects | Themes | Adjustments | Multiple layers | Overlays | Music | Audio filters
Platforms: iPhone, Android
Download: iPhone | Android (Freemium)
Best Free Online Video Editors
We understand if your PC does not come with powerful hardware to run the video editors. In that case, what we suggest is to make use of the online video editors. Many of them will not be as good as native apps like DaVinci Resolve. However, you can use such online editing tools to get your videos for YouTube edited.
Clipchamp
There is an extensive video and audio stock library in this video editor for YouTube. Clipchamp gives a flexible and fast video editing experience. You are able to compress, collect, convert, and record videos easily.
Best for:
- Quick video making with templates
Not for:
- Video editing from scratch
Key Features: Modern video maker | Trimming | cutting | Speed control | Add text | Add audio tracks
Visit: Clipchamp (Free)
Wideo
Wideo lets you create animated videos and presentations using its easy-to-use online tools. The free version of the online video maker does not even require a credit card. You can start making videos on Wideo by simply creating an account for free.
Apart from the tools, you get access to tons of library images and footage to add to your videos. Unfortunately, Wideo is not suitable to edit a video you shot using your camera or mobile phone. The video maker is suitable for those who create animated YouTube videos explaining things.
Best for:
- Animated videos
- Presentations
Not for:
- Video editing
Key Features: Animated presentation | Animated videos | Professional videos | Explaining videos
Visit: Wideo (Freemium)
We have discussed here the best editing tools, video trimmers, video compression tools, open-source video editors, mobile video editors, and online video editors. You saw that there are many software and Youtube editing apps that will let you edit your videos like a pro, add effects, do all the basic edits, and so on without paying a single dime.