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2024 Updated | Top 6 Free Video Croppers

Gianni
Gianni Originally published Jul 23, 24, updated Sep 29, 24

Cropping is one of the most common steps of post-production. It offers various benefits, like zooming in on subjects, removing unwanted objects, or adjusting videos for different purposes.

No matter what the goal of your editing workflow is, you have to learn how to crop videos effectively. The first step is to find reliable software for cropping videos. Luckily, you can use many free video croppers effectively without paying anything.

Still, not all of them deliver on their promises. That's why we researched the market for free cropping software and gathered them for you to pick your favorite.

In this article
    1. Wondershare Filmora - Best AI Free Video Cropper
    2. Movavi Video Editor - Best Video Cropper for Screen Recordings
    3. Animotica Video Editor - Best Video Cropper for Social Media
    4. Easy Video Editor - Basic Free Video Cropper for PC
    5. MiniTool MovieMaker - The Minimalistic Free Video Cropper
    6. VSDC - The Robust Software for Cropping Videos

Should You Use a Free Program to Crop Videos?

free software to crop videos

Using a free program to crop videos is generally a good idea, especially if you're just starting and don't have complex needs. However, there are some cons you should consider as well. Luckily, many free video croppers also have paid versions you can upgrade to whenever you want to take your cropping to the next level.

The first benefit is obvious: You won't have to pay anything.

However, one key issue with free croppers is that they leave watermarks on your videos.

That won't be an issue if you don't play on using those videos commercially. You can also use various techniques and methods to remove those watermarks.

Ultimately, since most of these tools are video editing software, using their free versions means you won't have access to advanced video editing capabilities.

Best 6 Free Video Croppers

1. Wondershare Filmora - Best AI Free Video Cropper

Wondershare Filmora is a comprehensive video editing software in the market. You can crop videos in various ways with Filmora, and it supports cropping videos into any shape.

Being available on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS, Filmora is very easy to use and can make other video edits like rotating, splitting, and trimming. Seizing the opportunities of the thriving development of AIGC, Filmora has added various AI capabilities like Copilot, AI text to videos, AI video translation, voice changers, etc, it allows you to perform actions quickly without manual work.

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Key Features

  • Crop videos with AI Crop & Zoom and keep the original resolution.
  • Aspect ratio templates (1:1, 4:3, 16:9, 21:9) or customize them according to your needs.
  • The Pan & Zoom feature allows you to zoom in on the video and zoom out with designated points.
  • AI Object Remover for cropping out objects or people from videos.
  • Keyframe animations for splitting screens, changing sizes, and rotating videos.
  • Cropping, trimming, splitting, rotating, and joining videos.
Pros
  • Cross-platform subscription and editing.
  • Supports many aspect ratios and you can also customize it by yourself.
  • Clear navigation and simple to use.
  • A wide range of AI-powered video editing features.
  • Many free effects and templates.
  • Supports all popular video formats.
Cons
  • The free version leaves watermarks on videos.

2. Movavi Video Editor - Best Video Cropper for Screen Recordings

free video cropper software movavi

Renowned for its powerful all-in-one screen recording and video editing features, Movavi has a clear and easy-to-navigate interface to crop videos. It only takes 4 simple steps to crop out the area you want to delete, click on any of the frame's corners and drag to resize it.

Except for being a video cropping software, Movavi is also supplied with many other useful video editing features like below.

Key Features

  • Chroma-key.
  • Motion tracking.
  • Movie creation tool.
  • All trimming features.
Pros
  • Easy to use.
  • Modern interface.
  • Many features.
Cons
  • Limited trial version.

3. Animotica Video Editor - Best Video Cropper for Social Media

software for cropping videos animotica

Animotica is another completely free video editing tool. Its cropping tool works differently than other programs. You can't use this tool to change the aspect ratio or the original resolution of the video, but you can crop and fill the missing areas with a blurred background.

It's a great option if you post videos on Instagram or YouTube because the blur removes all black bars and video distortion. This tool doesn't let you navigate freely with your cropping tool. Instead, it has dials for the left, right, top, and bottom sides – you can use them to adjust cropping.

Key Features

  • Crop, cut, split, and trim videos.
  • Background music.
  • Offers many transitions and stickers.
  • Customize logo and watermark.
Pros
  • Modern design and easy to use.
  • Export videos up to 4K.
  • Frame-by-frame editing.
Cons
  • The free version leaves watermarks.
  • The free version can only export 720p videos.

4. Easy Video Editor - Basic Free Video Cropper for PC

easy video editor free cropper

Delivers on its promises, Easy Video Editor lets users easily edit and make videos. This tool might be your best option if you're just starting with video editing. It has a simplistic cropping tool with different input options to adjust the crop's frame and aspect ratio.

Apart from offering a free cropping tool, Easy Video Editor also comes with other free features, including resizing, splitting, and cutting videos. It's lightweight software that requires little space and computing power during editing.

Key Features

  • Crop, cut, mix, join, and merge.
  • Video conversion
  • Movie credits.
  • Record audio.
Pros
  • Cropping is free.
  • No watermarks.
  • Supports many file types.
Cons
  • Has pop-up ads.
  • Annoying messages about upgrading to the paid version.

5. MiniTool MovieMaker - The Minimalistic Free Video Cropper

minitool moviemaker free video cropper

MiniTool MovieMaker is a minimalistic video editor that lets you create amazing videos regardless of your skill level. It comes with various templates for creating short movies or videos. As a powerful video cropping software, it allows you to change the video aspect ratio to fit various platforms.

Moreover, like other video cropping software, it also provides features to make more visually appealing content by adding text, animation, motions, effects, and transitions.

MiniTool MovieMaker has different integrated sharing options, allowing you to upload videos directly to platforms like Facebook and YouTube. The free version will enable users to work on three videos without limitations.

Key Features

  • Multi-track timeline.
  • Crop, rotate, split, trim, and adjust video levels.
  • Video transitions.
  • Motion tracking.
  • Chroma key.
  • Title editing.
Pros
  • Easy to use.
  • Simplistic design.
  • Lightweight software.
  • Has different video templates.
Cons
  • Video length is limited with the free version.
  • Only works on Windows.

6. VSDC - The Robust Software for Cropping Videos

vsdc free video cropper

VSDC isn't a free tool, but it has a free version. As a video cropping software, it supports two cropping methods, making it great for any user. First, VSDC lets you use numbers to crop videos from the top, bottom, left, and right corners.

On the other hand, you can use the frame and drag it around the area you want to keep while removing the borders. This tool also enlarges the scene automatically to get your crop to fit the whole screen.

Key Features

  • Capable cropping tools.
  • 360 VR.
  • Color wheel.
  • Powerful video editing features like chroma key to remove green screen background.
  • A large set of trendy video effects, filters, and transitions
Pros
  • Allows adjustable frame border cropping.
  • Saves the original resolution.
  • 4K video support.
  • Works on outdated PCs.
Cons
  • The interface is outdated.
  • The layout can be confusing.

An Overview of The Best Video Cropping Software

These are the best free cropping software for PCs, and even though they all do a great job, you need to find the right option for your needs. Here's a quick comparison table to help you choose the right tool.

Cropping tool Filmora Movavi Video Editor Animotica Video Editor Easy Video Editor MiniTool MovieMaker VSDC
Ease of use Very easy Easy Easy Easy Easy Not beginner-friendly
Best for Any editing requirements Beginners Editing for social media People who want a simple workflow Users who want lightweight software Users who want fancy effects
Basic editing Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Advanced editing Yes Yes Yes No No Yes
Supported platforms Windows, Mac, Android, iPad, and iOS. Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. Windows Windows Windows Windows and Mac

How to Use a Free Program to Crop Videos?

Here are the steps for cropping a video in Filmora. You'll see just how simple the process is.

  1. Download and install Filmora on your device.
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  2. Launch Filmora, click Import video and drag the video to the timeline.
    importing a video to filmora
  3. Right-click the video on the timeline and click Crop and Zoom.
    crop and zoom option in filmora
  4. Adjust the crop area, select the ratio in the bottom left corner, and click OK.
    cropping in filmora
  5. Adjust the export settings and click Export.
    exporting a cropped video from filmora

Conclusion

In our article, you can find several free video cropping software, along with their key features, pros and cons. If you don't want to spend more time on it, simply try Wondershare Filmora because it's the best video editing tool for cropping and offers many other advanced editing features.

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Gianni
Gianni Sep 29, 24
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