Looking for a free 4K video editor that handles UHD 60fps without lagging or watermarks? As 4K Ultra HD becomes the standard for YouTube and TikTok, you need software that supports HEVC/H.265 encoding. This 2026 guide reviews the top 4K video editing apps for Android and desktop, ensuring high-bitrate exports every time.
Comparison of the Best Free 4K Video Editing Software (2026)
| Name | System | Type | Export (Free / Paid) | Performance (GPU / Export Speed) | Long Timeline & Big Files | Watermark (Free) | Price | Key Pros / Cons |
| Filmora | Windows / Mac / iOS / Android | Desktop / Mobile | 4K (free, watermark) / Up to 8K (paid) | ✅ GPU-accelerated preview/render/export; fast H.264/HEVC delivery | ✅ Proxy/optimized media; stable on multi-track hour-long projects | Yes | Free (Watermark) / Paid | ✅ AI tools, easy start, rich assets; ❗ Free adds watermark |
| DaVinci Resolve | Windows / Mac / Linux | Desktop | UHD 4K (free) / Higher & advanced codecs (Studio) | ✅ Strong GPU pipeline; very fast on high-end rigs | ✅ Robust for long timelines; advanced proxy/optimized media | No | Free / Paid (Studio) | ✅ Elite color/VFX/Fairlight; ❌ Steeper learning, higher spec needs |
| iMovie | macOS / iOS | Desktop / Mobile | 4K 60fps (free) / — | ✅ Hardware-accelerated on Apple silicon; quick social exports | ⚠️ Stable for short/medium projects; limited pro controls | No | Free | ✅ Simple, seamless Apple sync; ❌ Apple-only, fewer pro features |
| Shotcut | Windows / Mac / Linux | Desktop (Open-source) | 4K (free) / — | ✅ HW decode/encode available; export speed depends on setup | ⚠️ Large projects OK with proxies; UI can feel manual | No | Free | ✅ Wide format support, rich filters; ❌ Learning curve for layout |
| Lightworks | Windows / Mac / Linux | Desktop | 720p (free) / 4K+ (paid) | ✅ Mature engine; good timeline performance | ✅ Handles long edits; professional toolset | No (but 720p cap) | Free / Paid | ✅ Plugins, multicam; ❌ Free capped at 720p export |
| VSDC | Windows | Desktop | 4K (free) / Faster HW accel & extras (Pro) | ⚠️ HW acceleration stronger in Pro; free is serviceable | ⚠️ Big files OK with care; interface less intuitive | No | Free / Paid | ✅ Motion tracking, screen record; ❌ UI complexity |
| OpenShot | Windows / Mac / Linux | Desktop (Open-source) | 4K (free) / — | ⚠️ Export speed moderate; depends on codecs | ⚠️ May lag on very large projects | No | Free | ✅ Drag-and-drop, cross-platform; ❌ Performance can vary |
| Kdenlive | Windows / Mac / Linux | Desktop (Open-source) | 4K (free) / — | ✅ Good proxy workflow; solid playback with tuning | ✅ Generally stable on long timelines with proxies | No | Free | ✅ Feature-rich, flexible; ❌ Can overwhelm beginners |
Notes: Capabilities and free-tier limits can change. Always run a short 10-second 4K test export to verify watermark, resolution, and speed on your hardware.
Top-Rated Free 4K Video Editors for Windows & Mac
1. Filmora: The Best Free 4K Video Editor for Beginners
Secure DownloadFilmora is a powerful yet beginner-friendly 4K video editor free that lets you create high-quality content effortlessly. It supports full 4K video editing — from importing to exporting — making it an excellent choice for vloggers, content creators, and anyone wanting to produce Ultra HD videos.
One of the standout features of Filmora is its AI Video Enhancer, which can automatically improve video quality by enhancing clarity, reducing noise, and refining low-resolution footage — ideal for restoring or upgrading older videos. Plus, Filmora’s intuitive drag-and-drop interface and searchable media library help streamline the editing process without any upfront payment.
Note: Although the free version includes a watermark on exported videos, all core tools, including 4K export and AI enhancement, are available without charge. You can also explore legal ways to remove the Filmora watermark if needed.
- Modern and easy-to-use interface
- Full 4K video editing and exporting
- AI-powered video enhancement for better quality
- Extensive built-in resources and effects
- Watermark on exported videos in the free version
- Some premium effects require a subscription
Filmora is designed for creators who want professional results without complex learning curves. Its intuitive drag-and-drop interface, AI-powered enhancements, and built-in effects library make it ideal for beginners producing YouTube videos, vlogs, or social media clips in 4K.
Recommended: 4K Video Editing App for Android Free Download
If you are on the go, Wondershare Filmora for mobile is the leading 4K video editing app for Android. It supports 4K ultra HD exports directly to social media. Unlike other apps, it provides hardware acceleration, ensuring your phone doesn't overheat while rendering large UHD files.
Secure Download2. iMovie
iMovie is one of the most popular free 4K Video editing software. Using iMovie, you can create a professional-looking video even without any editing experience. You can import 4K images and 4K videos to iMovie, and then trim, split and add titles, transitions, filters or effects to the video by dragging and dropping. What’s more, you can import and export 60 frames per second video in iMovie.
iMovie is a video editing software that imports video footage from digital video cameras that use the MiniDV format. It can play DV, HDV, AVCHD, iFrame, Animation Codec, and other video formats. You can import 4K videos directly to iMovie and export them as 4K videos at 24fps/30fps/60fps. You can also share the 4K video to YouTube from iMovie directly.
Supported OS: iPhone, iPad, and Mac
Ideal for Apple Ecosystem Users
If you’re already using an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, iMovie is a seamless and beginner-friendly option. Its ability to sync across devices and support 4K editing makes it ideal for Apple users with basic editing needs.
Pros:
1. Switching across different devices:
This free 4K video editor is designed to work together using different devices (iPhone, iPad & Mac). You can begin a project on your iPhone, then transfer it to your iPad using AirDrop or iCloud Drive. It allows you to share what you have worked on to different devices, and you can also send projects from your iPad to your MacBook or iMac.
2. Advanced editing features:
What makes this free 4K video editor special is the ability to add some innovative editing functions when creating and editing your videos. Understandably, any video editor should offer basic editing features; however, iMovie allows you to work with more advanced functions like split-screen, picture-in-picture, and green-screen effects.
3. Saving all the original files
An advantage of working with different devices provides an opportunity to save all original files. It saves you time since you can import any media you need to get your project started in the video editor without losing the original files.
Cons:
- Distorted files: If you don’t follow the importing and exporting process, the files might get distorted, resulting in fuzzy images.
- Only available on iOS/macOS/iPad devices
3. VSDC
VSDC is a free 4K video editor that allows for beginner-level editing. It supports recording voice-over, capturing the desktop screen, editing the video and audio files. With VSDC, you can blend multiple footage layers into a single composition. You can easily apply a picture-in-picture effect and make things change their appearance or position.
VSDC allows you to import 4K video, audio, and image files. To successfully import these files; Click ‘Shift + I’ to add an image, ‘Shift A’ to add an audio file, and ‘Shift V’ to add a video file. VSDC allows you to export 4K videos to PC or share to web platforms like YouTube. To export these files, go to the export project tab at the top, and then set the profile to the highest quality. Click the Edit profile button and then select the 4K preset from the list. Choose the video and audio quality size, and then save the video as 4K.
- Every tool for video editing is available
- Amazing Visual Effects
- Efficient Text Processing
- Lots of Blending modes
- Pro editing features are missing
- Available for Windows only
- Audio waveform and hardware acceleration features are not available
VSDC offers a powerful set of tools for Windows users who want to explore creative effects, motion tracking, and multi-layer compositions. Although the interface takes some time to master, it’s feature-rich for a completely free editor, making it a great choice for hobbyists and budget-conscious creators.
4. ShotCut
Shotcut is another free 4K video editor made for Linux, Macintosh, and Windows gadgets. It has wide arranged support that features its astounding usefulness. This 4K video editing software may not be the most alluring programming you see, yet it can assist with making the process of editing smooth and straightforward.
This professional video editing software support almost all the latest audio and video formats, including ProRes, DNxHD, and 4K, and it allows you to trim, cut, insert, and overwrite the video and audio. With its video effects, you can do color correction and grading, add fade-in and fade-out effects, reverse the clip, and even edit the 360° videos.
Its preview panel gives users access to a quick start menu, and its view menu lets them decide which features appear on the screen. The software's video and audio filters are the most amazing of all its features. These filters can be customized, and they can be combined and layered in a variety of ways. Adjusting is now easier thanks to the easy checkbox and slider systems. Shotcut is so good that it makes even the most complicated effects understandable to the average user.
Here is a completed video tutorial from YouTuber Kevin Stratvert, which provides almost all information about how to use Shotcut, including how to create a project, add media, edit clips and export.
- Easy Access: The 4K video editor is open source. Users can easily alter the source codes, enabling the process of editing simple and clear.
- Shotcut has every one of the required instruments to give excellent outcomes to clients. It has all elements of good video editing software and a bunch of other supportive and current choices.
- Shotcut offers an easy-to-use interface that allows you to finish a project quickly while having it examined by multiple members of your team.
- The platform might be a bit confusing when using the software for the first time because the interface isn’t intuitive.
Shotcut is an open-source option ideal for those who want complete control and compatibility across Windows, macOS, and Linux. With advanced video effects, format support, and GPU acceleration, it’s suited for intermediate users who prefer customizable editing environments.
5. LightWorks
Lightworks is another video editor that can edit 4K videos from EditShare for people who have video editing experience. It has a simple and intuitive user interface, and you will find LOG, EDIT, VFX, and AUDIO tabs at the top of the interface. It integrates some paid royalty-free audio files, so you don’t need to find the background music from somewhere else. This software has some advanced editing features such as Multicam editing and batch export. It even supports third-party plugins, such as Boris FX, Boris Graffiti, and GenArts Sapphire. It enables its users to freely edit videos, even to the extent of trimming a video down to the size you desire.
However, if you want to export the videos in 4K, you need to pay, since it is limited to Lightworks Pro users.
- The software allows clips to be easily imported and provides a platform where these clips can be played. This is made possible because this 4K video editor provides an interface made of panels such as bins, timeline, and edit review.
- Lightworks provides an easy way of applying varieties of effects from different clips in a coordinated manner. The software utilizes the hub-based framework to put together clips and recordings, which is needed for clips with numerous effects and tracks.
- Navigating this software, a right-click menu allows the user to export videos directly to YouTube. Also, the software automatically saves your work, so you don’t lose the files you’ve worked on.
- Poor quality exporting options when making use of the free version (720p only)
- You need to register first to use it
Lightworks is built for creators who already have some editing experience and require advanced features such as multicam editing, plugin integration, and batch exporting. While 4K export is limited to the Pro version, its free tools still offer a high level of precision and efficiency for professional-grade projects.
Part 3: System Requirements to Run a 4K Video Editing Software
While the general features of the best free 4K video editors have been discussed, it’s important you are aware of some specific requirements your system must possess to edit your videos successfully. Irrespective of the kind of device you’re using to edit your videos, you need to pay attention to some features your device must have. However, these requirements depend on the 4K video editing software free.
- Central Processing Unit (CPU): Minimum Intel Core i7 12th Gen or Apple M1/M2/M3 chips for smooth 4K playback.
- Random Access Memory (RAM): 16GB RAM (32GB recommended for 4K 60fps editing).
- GPU: 4GB VRAM with Hardware Acceleration support (NVIDIA RTX or AMD Radeon).
Note: Offline editing refers to editing a proxy file of the original source material; online editing is the editing of the original material.
Part 4: Tips for Editing 4K Videos Smoothly
- Choose the software based on your hardware: To choose the best 4K video editing software free, you must not opt for an editing software with higher requirements than your hardware; such software won’t work well on your device. You should instead select an editing software with lower requirements.
- Split large 4K videos into several parts: It has been reiterated that 4K videos are huge files; to edit your videos smoothly, it is recommended to split up the videos and edit one after the other. This will save you from heavy data loss.
- Enable graphics accelerator: A graphic accelerator is used in video editing to turbocharge your video exporting. It’s usually clung to a video board of your system. It makes the editing easier and faster by preventing a heavy workload.
Conclusion
In 2026, the market for free 4K video editors is richer than ever, offering solutions for every type of user — from beginners experimenting with YouTube uploads to professional editors producing cinematic projects. If you value simplicity and creative resources, Filmora and iMovie are excellent starting points. For feature-packed, open-source flexibility, Shotcut is hard to beat. VSDC remains a top pick for Windows users, while Lightworks is tailored for advanced editors who need robust functionality.
No matter which software you choose, remember that smooth 4K editing depends on your hardware setup, and taking time to learn your chosen tool will pay off in higher-quality content.
FAQ
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Is there a truly free 4K video editor with no watermark?
Open-source desktop tools typically export 4K without logos. Many web editors watermark free exports—run a 10-second test to confirm. -
What’s the best free 4K video editing app for Android?
Pick an app with 4K timelines/exports and hardware acceleration (HEVC). Test a short 4K export to verify bitrate and watermark policy. -
What 4K export settings should I use for YouTube?
Use 3840×2160 at 30/60fps, high-bitrate VBR, and AAC 320 kbps audio for crisp text and motion.
