The only major downside to the free version is an inability to export your finished product beyond 720p. Still, don’t let that dissuade you: most of the pro features really are destined for professional users, and if you’re an amateur, enthusiast, or just starting out, you’ll have a great time learning the ropes with it.Įverything is pretty intuitive, and the new contextual help windows guide you through your first steps effectively. It was something we highlighted in our review, noting that 'Lightworks is a great free video editor with numerous tools to satisfy most casual video editors, although if you want more advanced features, you’ll need to pay for the privilege.' The Free option offers you the same interface but has a more limited selection of tools. Go to their website, and you’ll see how proud they are of the numerous professional feature films that have been cut with it.īut this is with the Pro version. Lightworks is one of the best free video editing software tools - and it comes with a bit of a pedigree. But if you’re serious about video editing, you should most definitely take this software out for a spin. So what’s stopping everybody from using it? Well, it’s a very complex piece of software that could potentially intimidate newcomers to this profession. The software even includes its own VFX software, Fusion - one of the best Adobe After Effects alternatives for designers. You can also get the more powerful Resolve Studio for a fee - of $295 for a perpetual license, with all future upgrades free from then on. But if you’re serious about video editing, this shouldn’t overwhelm you.' The only downside is so much power leads to a complex interface.

It puts a lot of competing software to shame. You can download it for Mac, Linux, or Windows, and you’ll owe Blackmagic nothing.Įarning 4.5 stars in our review, we hailed the video editor best for pros and those serious about editing as 'incredibly powerful, it’s updated regularly, and to top it all, it’s free. Not only for the vast number of features it comes with, from high-end video editing capabilities to a powerful node-based special effects system, extensive color correction features, and professional-level audio tools, but the whole thing is available for free.

As the best free video editing software overall, Blackmagic’s DaVinci Resolve is a tough video editor to beat.

Video editing programs for beginners