If that's you, we'd suggest instead looking at entries three to 10 on our list. That said, while that interface is quite straightforward to use for anyone with editing experience, it would be quite a challenge for beginners to learn.

All that meant that we didn’t need to ‘do an Adobe’ by jumping around loads of programs to get our perfect video we could do it all within the one interface. We also loved its smart video stabilisation tool, for when you’ve got a shaky shot, and the built-in audio mixing, VFX and title-card-building modes also functioned brilliantly. In our review, we found its colour grading options to be second to none, giving us the ability to fully control the look of our videos. Despite being free, this is a feature-packed powerhouse and really gives paid tools a run for their money in terms of versatility and usefulness. Note that this is not to be confused with DaVinci Resolve Studio, which is a paid version of the same program.ĭaVinci Resolve is made by Blackmagic Design, which also makes a popular family of video cameras, so you know it’s designed for filmmakers. The best free video editing software for professionals right now is DaVinci Resolve. Quick links: best free video editing software trials We've included links to these full reviews below. We checked ease of use, speed and reponsiveness, the power of adjustment, blending and transition features, and video and audio effects. Along with using this software in our day-to-day jobs, and getting feedback from fellow creatives, we've also formally reviewed the majority of tools on this list by editing our own projects. We drew on our personal experience on Windows and Mac computers, as well as the best video editing apps for iOS, Android and Chromebooks. If that suits, see the three quick links below, or our guide to the best premium video editing software. If this isn't an option, you could use a free trial for paid-for software instead (but this will put you on a time limit). With the best free video editor, you'll have to put up with some drawbacks such as watermarks or branded intros, plus you may have a limited range of export formats.

Here, we've listed the most popular free video editing software and tools, considering the varying skill levels of users (new to video editing? See our video editing for beginners guide).

Imovie on a chromebook