10 Top Free Video Editing Programs in 2020 for Mac and Windows

If you have shot a video, chances are that you would like to make it better in some way before you posted it on social media. But you probably feel that editing your videos and enhancing them is something beyond your reach.

You may be surprised that editing videos and making them super-interesting are something you can do with the help of a video editing site. For instance, you can use an outro maker software like this one here to end your videos in a smooth and professional way.

Make Your Videos go Viral with Good Video Editing Programs

The year 2020 is drawing to a close, and many good video editing programs came to the fore during the year. Let’s take a brief look at 10 of the best free video editing programs that made headlines this year:

#1 OpenShot

As the name suggests, OpenShot is an open-source video editing program. It is packed with useful features and is easy to use. The drag-and-drop interface can be operated by beginners, but it contains features useful for professional editors, too.

With OpenShot, you get unlimited layers, and there the usual video transitions with the facility of real-time previews. You can apply a variety of video effects and animation can also be done. Video cutting and slicing are also easy with OpenShot.

#2 Magisto

Available for iOS as well as Android, Magisto is a versatile free award-winning AI video editing program that you can use on your mobile phone. You just add photos, videos, and music, and the program processes it all into a compact video.

The unique feature of Magisto is that the program offers various story types for your video. Then, based on your inputs, the program delivers a professional video to you. It is extremely useful for sharing videos on Instagram.

#3 VideoPad

VideoPad is available on Windows only, so Mac and Linux users please excuse us for this one. VideoPad is excellent for beginners to learn the fundamentals of video editing in a simple and straightforward manner. 

You get a well-stocked library of transitions and sound effects and you can also dabble in 3D editing. It is also possible to export videos to YouTube and various social media sites after processing. However, it isn’t a program for professionals.

#4 Adobe Premiere Rush

This video editing program is quick and easy to learn and use. Once you import the video to be edited, you can add transitions, music, touch up the color with the auto-correct function, and voilà! Your video is ready for sharing!

Adobe Premiere Rush is perfect for video mobile edits and you can work on two modes, “freeform” if you want to control your editing or “automatic.” Another advantage here is that you get the benefit of other Adobe products like Lightroom.

#5 Filmora

Filmora is a robust free video editing program that contains several pro features like clip layering and sound layering. You can get your timing perfect with the keyframing feature. You can eliminate background noise and get clear videos with 4K resolution.

This program is available on both Windows and Mac. You can export videos of different frame sizes. It is also easy to export and share your videos, once you are done with editing them.

#6 DaVinci Resolve

This video editing program is more of a professional type of software on this list. DaVinci Resolve is for pros who know what they are doing and what to look for, with all the top-end features of professional video editing software and tools.

The User Cache feature helps multiple users to collaborate with each other on a project. Project protection is also possible. You get 500 royalty-free Foley sounds with the program. DaVinci Resolve works on Linux, Mac, and Windows.

#7 InVideo

Here is an online video editor that is suitable for beginners or anyone who needs to make a quick video and add a few embellishments before uploading or sharing. You can use InVideo without having to get involved in too many technicalities.

There are several useful features and more than 1,500 templates to use for making captivating videos. The text-to-speech and URL-to-video features are unique and highly recommended. You can create 60 videos a month on the free plan.

#8 GoPro Quik Stories

As the name suggests, you can create videos while on the go with GoPro Quik Stories. The interface is simple but effective and you can learn to use it quickly. This software is designed to be used for creating videos directly from a video camera.

You can interface the camera with your phone and make direct edits, which is a useful feature. There are a series of presets and you can edit videos in different formats. However, professional users will not get much out of this program.

#9 Horizon Video Editing Software

Horizon is a simple phone app that solves the orientation issue that most mobile phones have while shooting photos and videos. The app ensures horizontal frames regardless of the phone’s position. It helps you in taking sudden impulsive shots.

Other features include “tilt-to-zoom”, eight real-time filters, and 2K horizontal recording. You also get 60 and 120 FPS slow motion support. It is available on Android and iOS, but the iOS version works the best.

# 10 Movie Maker 10

You can download Movie Maker 10 as a free version or as the paid pro version. This free program has a comprehensive list of features from merging videos and photos, text overlaying, and several transition effects with different font captions.

The program also boasts a YouTube intro maker, a music editor, complete with fade-in, fade-out, and clip trimming effects. You can produce high-quality HD videos through Movie Maker 10. It is free to download from the Microsoft Store.         

Features that save your time while editing videos 

  1. Split long clips in half

If your video is too long, it’s not going to grab the viewer’s attention. The best way to make sure that doesn’t happen is to use an editor that can easily split video in half. This allows you to get all of your message across in a shorter period of time and ensures that viewers are paying attention from start to finish.

  1. Auto-saves

This feature saves your work automatically, so you don’t have to worry about losing your work if your computer crashes or if you accidentally quit Premiere Pro without saving your project first.

  1. Video scopes

Video scopes are color-coded visual displays that show you where color errors are in your video and let you correct them on the fly without having to export the file and open it in another program first!

  1. Clip Connections

Clips can be connected together with transitions, blends, keyframes, and audio filters for even more creative possibilities; for example, you could use one clip as an overlay over another clip using a transition effect like Wipe Left or Right!

Use Free Video Editing Software to Make Pro Videos!

Considering the performance and popularity of the free video editing programs that we featured in this list, you could conclude that free software can be good as well. While you can’t beat something you pay for, these free downloads do the job.

If you are new to the video editing world and would like to gain a bit of experience before spending money, these 10 programs are for you. You will see that most professional video editors use quite a lot of free video editing software.

Download any of these free programs and start making great videos. Happy video editing!

Daniel Martin

An adept technology content writer specializing in demystifying the digital world. With a passion for innovation and a knack for translating complex tech jargon into accessible insights, they keep readers informed about the latest trends and breakthroughs. Their writing bridges the gap between technology and everyday life

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