The video content industry is rapidly expanding, and many of us have thought about going into it, whether in search of wealth or popularity or because we find video editing interesting. But how does one get into editing as a beginner, and where do they start?
In most cases, all you need is good video editing software for beginners, and that's what this article will be about. Stick around; we'll examine the best video editors for beginners this year, comparing various aspects of the top tools and helping you find the easiest video editing software that suits your needs.
Table of Content
What Makes Good Video Editing Software for Beginners?
Editing tools are a dime a dozen today, so finding good video editing software for beginners can be challenging. That's why we've compiled a list of characteristics you should look out for when searching for a video editor for beginners, and these characteristics include the following:
- Easily Navigable Interface - To qualify as good video editing software for beginners, a video editor should have a clean, well-designed, and intuitive interface that anyone can navigate, regardless of their skill level.
- Complete Set of Editing Tools - From fundamental editing tools like cropping and trimming to advanced features like video effects, transitions, and animations, good video editing software for beginners should have everything you need to fine-tune your projects to your desires.
- Helpful Tips and Tutorials - Whether done through non-disruptive in-program tips on basic editing workflows or helpful, well-placed links that showcase specific editing tasks in detail, good video editing software for beginners should guide newcomers through the process with tips and tutorials, making exploration and learning easier.
It's worth noting that having a rich library of templates for different types of video projects also plays a significant role, allowing beginners to edit videos quickly and without starting from scratch.
Best Video Editing Software for Beginners - Quick List
Now that we know what good video editing software for beginners should look like, we can move on to the tools we picked for you and explore their strengths and weaknesses. But before we do that, here's a quick comparison of the tools that made our list of the ten best video editors for beginners.
| Video Editing Apps | Available OS | Standout Features | Pricing |
| Filmora | Windows, macOS, Android & iOS | – Exceptionally beginner-friendly user interface – Vast library of effects, animations, and transitions |
– Free version – Basic plan $49.99/year – $79.99 perpetual plan |
| iMovie | macOS & iOS | – Fantastic Chroma Key tool – Extremely easy to use |
– Free |
| Avidemux | Linux, macOS & Windows | – Excellent encoding and decoding options – Vast library of filters |
– Free and open-source |
| Corel VideoStudio | Windows | – Multipoint motion tracking abilities – Professionally designed templates |
– $79.99 for the Pro version (one time) – $99.99 for the Ultimate version (one time) |
| VideoProc Vlogger | Windows & macOS | – Massive library of presets – Fantastic color correction and grading tools |
– Free |
| Shotcut | Windows, macOS & Linux | – Cross-platform compatibility – Excellent video format support |
– Free and open-source |
| OpenShot | Linux, macOS, Windows & ChromeOS | – Unlimited editing tracks and layers – Powerful animation framework |
– Free and open-source |
| Adobe Premiere Elements | Windows & macOS | – Professional tools in a beginner-friendly form – Integration with other Adobe products and the cloud |
– $99.99 (one time) |
| Nero Video | Windows | – Support for 8K videos – Countless templates and effects |
– $44.95 |
| Clipchamp | Online tool (all operating systems) | – Extensive library of stock footage, effects, and transitions – Pre-built designer templates for social media content |
– Free version – Premium costs $11.99/month or $119.99/year |
Best Video Editing Software for Beginners
With the quick list out of the way, it's time to finally delve deeper into each tool and see what each of the ten video editors is all about, so let's jump right in.
1.Filmora
Filmora
Overall best video editor for beginners
4.5/5 stars on Software Advice
Specifications
Supported OS: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
Free trial & Pricing: 3 days; $49.9.$79.99
Key features: Generative AI features, Keyframing tools, Motion tracking capabilities
Reasons to buy
- Exceptionally quick renders
- Vast libraries of video effects
- Affordable subscription
Reasons to avoid
- No third-party cloud storage
About
Despite being jam-packed with AI-fueled tools like Image Generator, Voice Cloning, and Copilot, and having numerous templates, effects, transitions, animations, and stickers, Filmora remains the best beginner editing software thanks to its exceptionally intuitive and effortless-to-use interface.
Its features are easy to find and use, and that's precisely what most users enjoy about Filmora, which is why it gets the number one spot on this list.
2.iMovie (Mac/iPhone)
iMovie
Best free video editing software for beginners on macOS
4/5 stars on PCMag
Specifications
Supported OS: macOS 13.5 or later & iOS/iPadOS 17 or later
Free trial & Pricing: Free
Key features: Storyboard, Trailers, Chroma Key tool
Reasons to buy
- Free to use
- Straightforward interface
- Worthy collection of editing tools
Reasons to avoid
- Rarely gets updates
- Occasional glitches
About
After all these years, Apple's built-in video editor for beginners, iMovie, remains the top choice for editing videos on macOS and, recently, iOS. It's characterized by a great Chroma Key tool, while its trimming, stitching, and color grading tools run flawlessly, thanks to the app's integration with the Apple ecosystem and hardware.
Its users call it "almost perfect" and appreciate its ease of use but dislike the lack of freedom during editing.
3.Avidemux (Linux)
Avidemux
Best free video editor for beginners with Linux systems
4.3/5 stars on SourceForge
Specifications
Supported OS: Linux, macOS, Windows
Free trial & Pricing: Free
Key features: Denoising and sharpening tools, Terrific encoding options, Fantastic filters
Reasons to buy
- Free and open-source editor
- Clear and easily navigable interface
- Fantastic cutting tool
Reasons to avoid
- Lacks video effects and transitions
- No timeline editing
About
While using a Linux system and being a beginner at anything don't precisely go hand-in-hand, we still decided to include good video editing software for beginners on Linux computers - Avidemux.
This open-source tool was made from scratch in C++ and utilizes FFmpeg for all multimedia functions. It has both a command line and a graphical user interface and focuses on non-linear video editing with effortless application of visual effects or filters.
Users mostly love the tool, calling it the best free video editor for beginners, but dislike its occasional crashing.
4.Corel VideoStudio
Corel VideoStudio
Easiest video editing software for first-time users
4/5 stars on PCMag
Specifications
Supported OS: Windows 8, 10, and 11
Free trial & Pricing: 30 days; $79.9.$99.99 (one time)
Key features: Timeline and storyboard editing, Large palette of artistic filters, Split-screen templates
Reasons to buy
- Simple imperfection correction
- Artistic filters and templates
- Built-in help and training videos
Reasons to avoid
- Inadequate audio editing tools
- Overwhelming number of easy-edit features
About
With an interface that's friendly to beginners and an app filled with remarkably potent video editing tools, Corel VideoStudio is one of the best beginner editing software today. It supports both timeline and storyboard modes, multicam editing, time remapping, auto-captioning, and more, and it has excellent motion-tracking capabilities.
Most reviews of Corel VideoStudio highlight that previous versions were better and that the company started locking away previously available features. However, the app has many valuable features and transitions and is an excellent transcription tool, so we included it.
5.VideoProc Vlogger
VideoProc Vlogger
Best free video editing software for beginners
4.4/5 stars on Capterra
Specifications
Supported OS: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
Free trial & Pricing: Free
Key features: Fantastic preset libraries, Automatic keyframes, Flexible bezier curves for speed changes
Reasons to buy
- Excellent denoising tool
- Top-notch color correction
- Dozens of effects and transitions
Reasons to avoid
- Lacks collaboration tools
- Occasional problems with saving projects
About
Characterized by a simple and intuitive interface, VideoProc Vlogger is a simple video editing software that appeals to many people. Despite being free, it has a fantastic feature set that includes excellent camera movements, superb motion effects, and outstanding color grading and correction tools.
Its users love VideoProc Vlogger's speed and powerful features but prefer the ease of use of online tools like CapCut. For a free tool, however, VideoProc Vlogger deserves its spot on this list.
6.Shotcut
ShotCut
Open-source video editor for beginners
4.2/5 stars on G2
Specifications
Supported OS: Windows 7 - 11, macOS 10.1.14, Linux
Free trial & Pricing: Free
Key features: Wide video format support, Time remapping, Markers
Reasons to buy
- Open-source and free-to-use
- Sleek and intuitive user interface with dockable panels
- Full of excellent editing features
Reasons to avoid
- Voiceover tool is known to crash
- Familiarizing with the interface can take a while
About
Starting as an open-source, cross-platform project, Shotcut quickly became one of the best free video editing software for beginners. Thanks to FFmpeg, this video editor supports dozens of video formats and codecs, allowing users to edit on multi-format timelines and with various resolutions and frame rates within a single project.
While its users feel like Shotcut could include more on-screen guidance and tips, the editor's fantastic feature set and excellent device and transport options get it a pass from us.
7.OpenShot
OpenShot
Easiest video editing software for cross-platform editors
3.6/5 stars on TechRadar
Specifications
Supported OS: Linux, macOS 10.15 or later, Windows 7 - 11, and ChromeOS (64-bit only)
Free trial & Pricing: Free and open-source
Key features: Keyframes and animations, Powerful video effects engine, Audio waveforms
Reasons to buy
- Cross-platform compatibility
- Powerful FFmpeg library for broad format support
- Unlimited tracks and layers
Reasons to avoid
- The Mac version is known to cause trouble
- Transitions don't always work
About
While OpenShot's interface is nothing to write home about and takes some time to get used to, this free video editing software for beginners has immense potential. It supports unlimited tracks and layers for videos, audio tracks, watermarks, and more, and it has a fantastic animation framework for fading, sliding, bouncing, and animating items.
However, it's not all rainbows and sunshine, as many users encounter bugs, especially on macOS and when working with transitions.
8.Adobe Premiere Elements
Adobe Premiere Elements
Best beginner editing software for content creators
3.9/5 stars on PCMag
Specifications
Supported OS: Windows 10 and 11, macOS 12 or later
Free trial & Pricing: 30 days; $99.99 (one time)
Key features: Motion tracking, Color matching, Automatic highlights
Reasons to buy
- Highly versatile video editor
- Multi-platform tool
- A wealth of tutorials for learning
Reasons to avoid
- Expensive
- No screen recording capabilities
About
Whether you're a beginner or a pro, you've undoubtedly heard of Adobe, a software company with over four decades of experience. Its Premiere Elements tool is specifically designed to fit the needs of new editors, offering tools like Highlight Reels for incredibly swift edits.
Adobe's users also love Premiere Elements' advanced features, including Auto Reframe, Smart Trim, Shake Stabilizer, and Color Match, and comment it's great for YouTube videos. However, others dislike the software's pricing and state they've had issues with purchases and activation, so keep that in mind.
9.Nero Video
Nero Video
Best beginner video editor for multi-track editing
3.7/5 stars on Capterra
Specifications
Supported OS: Windows 7 - 11
Free trial & Pricing: 15 days; $44.95
Key features: Multi-track timeline editing, Keyframing, 8K video support
Reasons to buy
- Generous template and effects libraries
- Support for 8K resolution
- AI-based media management
Reasons to avoid
- Slow rendering speed
- No 3D support
About
While Nero Video resembles the dated interface of Windows Vista, getting started with this video editing software is remarkably clear. Its drag-and-drop functionality works flawlessly, and beginners can quickly edit their first project with the help of the Live Guide, a panel filled with links, FAQs, and video tutorials.
Customers love how easy Nero Video is to start, stating it's great for beginners. Still, others are unhappy with the outdated interface and the lack of advanced editing features.
10.Clipchamp
Clipchamp
Easiest video editing software for Windows users
4.1/5 stars on G2
Specifications
Supported OS: Windows personal version; Online version that works on Windows, macOS, Linux, and ChromeOS; iOS version
Free trial & Pricing: Free; $11.99/month for the Premium version
Key features: Auto compose, Designer templates for social media content, Plenty of stock footage
Reasons to buy
- Great collection of templates
- An extensive library of effects and transitions
- Simple, beginner-friendly interface
Reasons to avoid
- Limited effect control
- Slow renders with the online version
About
Microsoft's Clipchamp is a beginner-focused video editor for quick marketing videos, template-based designs, and meme-inspired social media content. Its Windows and iOS versions are great, but the online version, which uses powerful hardware acceleration, still has issues with slow render speed.
Most Trustpilot reviews are positive, with users loving Clipchamp's ease of use, while others call Clipchamp awful due to the online version becoming unresponsive. However, these might be issues on the user's end, so Clipchamp gets a pass as one of the best video editing software for beginners.
How to Pick the Right Video Editing Software as a Beginner
While in-depth testing websites and reviews like this one can help you find good video editing software for beginners, there are still a few aspects you'll need to consider yourself:
- Editing Needs and Goals - If you just want to trim or stitch clips, any video editor for beginners will do. However, if you're after advanced video editing tools like special effects, color corrections, and animations, you'll need to look into professional and paid video editors.
- Learning Curve and Ease of Use - Most beginner-friendly video editors offer a drag-and-drop interface that lets you quickly work your way around. However, you should also consider a video editor's presets, tips, and user guides to avoid software with a steep learning curve.
- Your Budget and Software Pricing - Let's face it. A video editor's pricing is vital, and most beginners might go for free, open-source software. However, that's not always the best idea, as paid tools often have more intuitive interfaces and beginner-friendly features. So, you should set a budget if you're serious about learning video editing.
- Basic and Advanced Tools - While a video editor for beginners with fundamental tools like trimming, basic transitions, and audio editing can be a great starting point, it might be better to start with a tool that also has advanced editing features from the start. That way, you won't have to switch programs as you improve and start color grading or playing with motion graphics.
Of course, the software's compatibility also plays a significant role, and you should only look into beginner video editors that run well on your operating system.
How We Test the Best Easy-to-Use Video Editing Software for Beginners
Making this top list of 2024's best video editors for beginners was a real challenge. As beginners might use different operating systems, we had to include apps for Windows, macOS, and Linux, meaning that not every program could be tested on the same machine.
Nonetheless, we tried to keep things as fair as possible and used one PC and one Mac to test as many video editing tools as possible before narrowing the list down. Here's what our testing process included:
| How We Tested | Details |
| Number of Tools Tested | The test started with over 25 different video editing tools, some of which were cross-platform apps and some that only worked on one OS. After thorough testing, these tools were ranked, and the list was then narrowed down to 2024's ten best video editing programs for beginners. |
| Test Systems | For Windows and Linux-focused video editing software: Custom-built PC with a Ryzen 5 5600 CPU, 16GB of DDR4 RAM, and an RX 6700 XT GPU. The PC has a dual-boot consisting of Windows 11 Pro and Ubuntu 24.04.1 LTS. For Mac-focused video editing software: 2021 14" MacBook Pro with an Apple M1 Pro CPU, 16GB of RAM, and macOS 13 Ventura |
| Considered Aspects | – Design of the interface – Navigation around menus and submenus – Ease of use of basic and advanced editing features – The number of and usability of included advanced features – Pricing and the availability of a free trial |
Conclusion
As video editors are a dime a dozen, finding good video editing software for beginners can be difficult. To help you get started, we compiled a list of the best beginner video editors for every platform. Our list includes free options like VideoProc Vlogger, online, cross-platform tools like Clipchamp, open-source tools like Shotcut and OpenShot, Mac-focused and free-to-use iMovie, and Linux-based Avidemux.
For those who want to take their editing game to another level with advanced editing features, paid options like Nero Video, Corel VideoStudio, and Adobe Premiere Elements are fantastic alternatives to open-source software.
However, the top spot undoubtedly belongs to Filmora, as this easy-to-use editing software perfectly combines beginner-friendly and intuitive design with advanced editing features and AI tools, creating the best of both worlds.
FAQ
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What is the best video editor for beginners?
While the internet is full of fantastic video editing software for beginners, the number one spot undoubtedly goes to Filmora. This cross-platform video editor perfectly balances advanced editing tools, massive libraries of effects, AI-powered features, and ease of use, making it the top choice. -
What is the easiest Adobe program for video editing?
With over four decades in the industry, Adobe has made countless editing tools. Ranging from Premiere Pro to Premiere Rush, the company has a tool for every editing level, but Premiere Elements has to be Adobe's easiest video editing software. -
Is Adobe Premiere Pro good for beginners?
Although the internet is filled with helpful video tutorials about every aspect of editing with Adobe Premiere Pro, this video editor isn't precisely focused on newcomers. In other words, it's not the easiest video editing software to start with. -
Can video editing be self-taught?
Absolutely! While attending university classes on video editing can be helpful, many skilled video editors never went to university and learned the tricks of the trade by themselves. So, video editing can be self-taught; you just need to start. -
How do beginners practice video editing?
Although YouTube tutorials can be a great starting point, you'll need to practice video editing yourself to improve. You can do that by playing around with stock media, editing a single clip multiple times, testing different video effects, animations, and transitions, trying to recreate professional edits, etc. -
What do most YouTubers use to edit their videos?
In most cases, YouTubers prefer well-established tools like Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro. Others might appreciate free tools like DaVinci Resolve or Lightworks more. The third group might be after ease of use and prefer Filmora or Apple's native iMovie.
