New 2024 Approved 10 Best Sony LUT for Different Purposes

New 2024 Approved 10 Best Sony LUT for Different Purposes

Morgan Lv12

10 Best Sony LUT for Different Purposes

If you’ve ever worked in the color grading profession, you’re aware of how time-consuming and labor-intensive it is to achieve a specific look on a scene. To master color grading, you must practice constantly, one of the reasons for the existence of specialists in this field. While everybody can color grade, not everyone can do it well. People in this business have devised remedies to make the editing workflow considerably more accessible and less time-consuming.

Achieving a specific ambiance in a scene demands ongoing effort and naturally takes longer. LUTs, or Lookup Tables, were created as a result. LUTs are ideal for storing a set of colors to use later or in another program. A LUT is the most effective technique to color or alters your image’s colors.

Benefits of using LUTs

There are numerous advantages to using lookup tables to edit your footage. We’ve already discussed that it helps to give your films a more polished and professional appearance, which is one of the primary explanations why individuals use LUTs, but there are many more.

1. A beginning towards professionalism

This is a fantastic approach for beginners to have a good idea of how to build their own trademark looks in their videos. The time it takes to develop your color grading craft is unavoidable. So, as a novice, LUTs will come in useful for you to establish your approach and save your ass, big time.

You’ll eventually come up with a blend of your own LUTs to use, resulting in your own LUT. Not only will LUTs aid in color grading learning, but they will also save funds and resources. You will not only devote time to learning color grading, but you will also spend a significant amount of money on color grading tools and equipment, such as software and color panels. You’ll see why color grading equipment is necessary when you get to this point.

However, for the time being, employing LUTs is the most cost-effective way to obtain a cinematic look.

2. It saves your time

Because LUTs are predefined colors used to establish a specific look on a picture, they save you time. Having a trustworthy LUT to use for video will save the life of freelance editors who are constantly meeting commitments and modifications. Isn’t the purpose of color grading to generate a visual emotion for your movie? So, with LUTs, you can create one without going through the time-consuming process of manual color correction. Only one-color preset will be applied to all scenes in a single LUT.

However, there’s a good probability that it won’t look the same in all of the images. This is where you’ll adjust the colors to make them more evenly match the film. It’s nothing significant most of the time, just some little saturation adjustments, etc.

3. Work on a budget

Time spent in a color-grade suite may be highly costly, and it can lead your films to go over budget in order to achieve a specific aesthetic. LUTs, on the other hand, are available for free online or for a fee for more complex versions. Even if you buy your LUTs, you could save thousands of dollars based on the size of your film. LUTs can also assist you in meeting tight deadlines, and setting targets too optimistically is something I’m sure we’ve all done at some point.

Whether it’s a client or a personal project, things can often get pushed to the last minute, so having something in your arsenal that can save you time is always a good bonus. There are, however, projects where you need to appear competent without investing a lot of time on them due to budget limits; this is where a lookup table comes in handy because you can modify the complete style of your movie in a matter of seconds by pressing a few buttons. Even complicated editing can be completed quickly, giving you more time to work on other tasks that will earn you more money.

4. It provides an artistic approach

LUTs are beneficial because they allow videos shot with cameras that shoot very dark, discolored images to have more vivid tones and contrast. This is excellent for grabbing viewers’ attention and making videos more intriguing and engaging. LUTs add an artistic element to videos and can help you develop a visual artistic identity for your videos if you use the same colors. Another advantage of LUTs is that they enhance the color quality of videos shot on smartphones with particular color schemes. Although this varies significantly from brand to brand, you can use LUTs to make a Smartphone video more vibrant and appealing.

Top 10 Sony LUT for Different Purposes

The highlights in your videos will seem smooth with this set of Free Sony LUTs, while the shadows will add intensity and depth without sacrificing any details. It’s easy to use Sony LUTs in.CUBE and.LOOK versions, and they help you get the cinematic appearance you want.

1. SLog2 & SLog3 to Enhanced Rec709 LUTs

The Sony Natural Enhanced LUT pack was created to address Sony’s color science-related difficulties with skin tones and hue levels. These LUTs correct and fix the colors in your S-Log2 and S-Log3 videos, giving them a colorful natural look.

Sony Lut - SLog2 & SLog3 to Enhanced Rec709 LUTs

SLog2 & SLog3 to Enhanced Rec709 LUTs

2. Filmic Tone Creative LUTs

One of our choices is the Filmic Tone LUT set. It enhances your creativity by adding a cinematic tone to your footage. These LUTs were created to convert the green color hues to a dark shade reminiscent of a Bali Instagram-type color while keeping the warmth of the mid-tones and highlights.

Sony Lut - Filmic Tone Creative LUTs

Filmic Tone Creative LUTs

3. Sony Nature LUTs

Nature has influenced it. Nature LUTs are designed to complement the natural environs in which we live. Bali, woods, forests, greenery, streams, and beaches are all excellent choices for this design.

Sony Lut - Sony Nature LUTs

Sony Nature LUTs

4. Sony A7S III, FX3 & A7 IV – S-Log 3 Correction LUTs

Three correction LUTs are explicitly created for S-Log 3 footage. They are compatible with Sony a7S III, FX4, and a7 IV footage. They use a simple and clean style that is a wonderful place to start with your film. Following the application of these correction LUTs, we suggest boosting saturation, correcting exposure, and improving contrast. Then you may personalize it. The main goal of these Sony LUTs is to give your videos a new lease on life by enhancing saturation and overall color temperature. When utilized for the environment, lifestyle, and event videos, they also make the picture sharper and more stunning.

Sony Lut - Sony A7S III, FX3 & A7 IV – S-Log 3 Correction LUTs

Sony A7S III, FX3 & A7 IV – S-Log 3 Correction LUTs

5. Sony Cine-4 Film and Standard LUTs

There are 24 Sony Cine-4 Film LUTs and 24 Rec 709 LUTs in this LUTs set. They can be used in films and television shows, social videos, presentations, and more. They’re also quite simple to operate. To apply stunning color grading to your film, import the preset file or simply drag & drop the LUT over it. It works with any resolution. Make your films, social media posts, documentaries, and images look sleek and modern.

Sony Lut - Sony Cine-4 Film and Standard LUTs

Sony Cine-4 Film and Standard LUTs

6. Sony Urban Dark LUT

The Urban Dark LUT pack aims to provide users with some dark, fascinating tones that work well with urban landscapes. These LUTs have a dark vibe that complements skin tones well.

Sony Lut - Sony Urban Dark LUT

Sony Urban Dark LUT

7. LUT Sony Vegas “Adventure”

This is one of the best Sony LUTs for adding drama and depth to the video. It also makes the image moodier and more attention-grabbing, which is ideal if your film focuses on people, architecture, or scenic landscapes because it draws attention to the topics.

Sony Lut - LUT Sony Vegas Adventure

LUT Sony Vegas “Adventure”

8. Sony LUT “Dessert”

This Sony LUT adds a creamy feel to the video, making it more appealing while also boosting the color palette. It’s suitable for indoor footage and works particularly well with family and love stories.

Sony Lut - Sony LUT Dessert

Sony LUT “Dessert”

9. Sony LUTs for the premiere

If you want to make your video clip look professional without the color grading being too obvious, Sony LUTs for Premiere is one of the best options available. It cools down the image and enhances the contrast slightly to make the topic stand out without being overpowering. This LUT is particularly well suited to business, real estate, and action-oriented videos.

Sony Lut - Sony LUTs for the premiere

Sony LUTs for the premiere

10. Sony Base LUT pack

The Sony Base LUT Pack replaces Sony’s rec709 LUT and color space. These LUTs have a wonderful warm tone to them and more accurate green colors, and these LUTs are merely a starting point or base for your grading. We recommend grading beyond the simple use of the LUT if you want the best results. Each LUT in this bundle was built with the Sony S-log2 color profile in mind. These LUTs are intended to assist you in achieving proper exposure during filming and grading while maintaining a pleasant image.

Sony Lut - Sony Base LUT pack

Sony Base LUT pack

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Closing Thoughts:

LUTs should be present in every videographer’s toolbox since they may save time and money and produce a consistent and professional result. In comparison to color grading suites, LUTs are also less expensive. LUTs are helpful for both beginner and seasoned filmmakers and can aid when you run out of innovative ideas.

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Closing Thoughts:

LUTs should be present in every videographer’s toolbox since they may save time and money and produce a consistent and professional result. In comparison to color grading suites, LUTs are also less expensive. LUTs are helpful for both beginner and seasoned filmmakers and can aid when you run out of innovative ideas.

Top 18 Video Editors for PC and Mac

More and more people love to share their knowledge, experience and daily life via videos. Platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, Vimeo are continuing to attract more and more people. But most people don’t know much about video editing. Which video editor they can use? How to apply the effects to improve the video visually? This post will give you all the tips and answers on editing a video.

Contents

01 [Video Editing Basics ](#Part 1)

02 [Editor’s Top 3 Picks ](#Part 2)

03 [Open-Source Video Editors](#Part 3)

04 [Freemium and Freeware Video Editors](#Part 4)

05 [Proprietary Video Editing Software](#Part 5)

06 [How to Choose the Suitable Video Editor](#Part 6)

07 [Video Editing Tips for Newbies](#Part 7)

08 [Frequently Asked Questions of Video Editor](#Part 8)

Part 1: Video Editing Basics

Before going to the best video editors, you should be aware of the basics of video editing. Here are the basic concepts of video editing that you must know as they are common across all video editors.

1. The Timeline: The timeline is an area of a video editor where you place your video clips sequentially. When you play the video after editing, the video will play from the start of the timeline and finish at the end of the timeline where your video content ends. The timeline is where you can place your audio clips, video effects, and graphical elements as per your requirements.

2. The Canvas: The canvas is an area of a video editor where you view your video clips frame by frame. The canvas allows you to edit the video starting from cropping to adding graphical elements. You can view all the changes you make to the video before applying them permanently.

3. Basic editing: The basic editing of a video includes splitting and trimming out important parts of a large video file and, thereafter, joining the different video clips to make an engaging video. The basic editing also includes adding audio clips, adjusting video parameters such as color, brightness, contrast as well as adding texts to the video.

4. Aspect Ratio: The aspect ratio of a video represents the ratio of width to height of the video in terms of pixels. For example, a video with aspect ratio of 16:9 means the video is 1920p x 1080p. You can edit the aspect ratio depending on where you want to publish the video. For example, social media videos use 1:1 and 9: 16 aspect ratio, tablets use 4:3 aspect ratio, and 16:9 is the standard aspect ratio.

5. B-roll: B-roll is a secondary video footage that you can add to your primary video(A-roll) to enhance the video creativity and aesthetic value. B-roll could be a cinematic shot, a slow-motion footage, a close-up shot from different angles, as well as a shot mixed with wide-angle, pans, and tilts.

6. Frame Rate: Frame rate refers to the number of images or frames displayed per second in a video. In short, frame rate refers to frames per second in a video. For example, a video of 30fps means the video is showing 30 different images per second. The 24fps is used for movies and the 30fps is used for online and TV videos. Even 60fps videos are becoming common as they produce a smoother video experience.

Part 2: Editor’s Top 3 Picks - Choose The Best Video Editor

Best Video Editor for All Creators - Filmora

Wondershare Filmora is the ideal video editor with an intuitive user interface. You get all the standard and advanced video editing features packed into its platform. You can record videos of external webcam and computer screen as well. There are unlimited video effects and graphical elements to turn your raw videos into eye-catching videos instantly.

Best for Professional Editing - Premiere Pro

Adobe Premium Pro is the best professional video editor where all the advanced features of video editing are available. The software supports editing multiple projects simultaneously. You can edit VR, Multicam, and 3D videos as well. It is a perfect platform for a professional video editing team to work in sync.

Best for Online Video Editing - WeVideo

WeVideo is by far the best online video editor with 30 million users. Starting from standard video editing options and uploading directly to social media platforms, WeVideo is a full-fledged video editor. You can also record videos and create your own video templates. Moreover, you can collaborate with other video creators and make the best use of the unlimited stock media library.

Part 3: Open-Source Video Editors

Open-source video editors have compatibility with all the desktop operating systems. Moreover, due to their codes readily available online, these video editing software applications are available completely free of cost. Here are the best open-source video editors for beginners and experienced users.

# For Beginner Users

1. Blender

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: best open-source video editor with balanced features

G2 rating: 4.5 out of 5

blender video editor software

Blender is an open-source video editing suite that is popular for its 3D models. Since it is a suite, you can use the platform not only for video editing but also for creating animated videos and games.

Starting from basic video editing such as trim and split to advance video editing such as masking and color adjustment, all options are readily available. Besides, there are options for audio mixing and live preview of editing works.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Video cropping, trimming, splitting, joining, and adjusting speed.
  • Different slots to add videos, images, scenes, audio clips, effects and masks.
  • Different transitions, filters, effects, waveforms, and keyframes available.
  • Create 3D models and animated videos with proper audio mixing.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Takes time to get used to the platform.
  • Reports of bugs have become a regular occurrence.

2. Avidemux

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: best open-source video editor for basic editing

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5

avidemux

Avidemux from Soundforge is a lightweight and basic video editor. Starting from trimming and cutting videos to applying filters and encoding videos, all the options are readily available. The software supports a wide range of video file formats for editing.

The platform also supports scripting through which you can automate tasks to perform on videos. Besides, there are options for color adjustments, video conversion, and advanced interlacing. The simple user interface is perfect for beginners to edit videos intuitively.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Quick video editing for trimming, cutting, rotating, and cropping.
  • Change speed and use different filters for color adjustments and subtitles.
  • Supports different video file formats in import and export.
  • The user interface is simple and suitable for beginners.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Does not have a traditional timeline for video editing.
  • Limited effects, filters, and advanced features.

3. Kdenlive

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: best open-source video editor for all

G2 rating: 4.3 out of 5

kdenlive editor software

Kdenlive video editor is a versatile video editor with standard and advanced video editing features balanced properly. The open-source software allows multi-track timeline and supports dual monitor setup for video editing. The user interface is simple, and you can configure it as per your preference.

Kdenlive supports a wide range of video and audio files, and you can use configurable keyboard shortcuts for easy operation. The automatic backup feature is highly useful in the professional video editing world. Similarly, the presence of keyframe-based effects and advanced effects can make a video stand out.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Multi-track timeline for working with multiple video and audio clips.
  • Keyframeable effects, transitions, color correction and unlimited online resources.
  • Vast set of options for creating stunning texts and titles.
  • Smooth preview, configurable interface, and automatic backup.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Lacks GPU acceleration and hence, slow response at times.
  • Speed adjustment effect is not efficient.

# For Advanced Users

4. OpenShot

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux, Chrome OS

Best for: Best open source editor for all desktop users

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5

openshot

OpenShot is a cross-platform, open-source video editor where you can work on one project on different operating systems. It works on keyframe animation framework, and you can choose from different interpolations. The platform offers you to work with unlimited video and audio clips as well as layers.

You can perform all the basic video editing operations as well as go for advanced editing. The features and tools are well-balanced for regular as well as professional video editing. Starting from video effects and audio mixing to chroma key and time-mapping, everything is available under one roof.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Basic video editing with panning, zooming, and scrolling features.
  • Wide range of transitions, effects, time and speed control.
  • Time-mapping, audio mixing, overlays, and composting.
  • Supports 3D animations and objects, templates for titles and sub-titles.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Hardware acceleration is not very powerful.
  • Not suitable for 4K video editing as it gets extremely slow.

5. Shotcut

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: Best for video editors who love filters and effects

G2 rating: 4.2 out of 5

shotcut

Shotcut is another open-source and cross-platform video editor with a professional user interface. The software supports importing different file formats of video and audio files. It is suitable for editing 4K videos, and it is a full-fledged audio editor as well.

Its vast video filters and effects are comparable to premium video editors. You can work with multi-track timeline and keyframes with markers and rangers. Besides, you can keep notes on your project easily. Overall, it is a balanced video editor in terms of features and functionalities.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Wide categories of video effects, transitions, and filters.
  • Multi-track and multi-format timeline and detailed audio editor.
  • Standard and advanced editing options with hardware acceleration.
  • Export video in high-resolution and in different formats.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • The user interface can take some time to get used to.
  • The stock media library is rather limited.

6. NATRON

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: Best open-source video editor with visual effects

G2 rating: 3.5 out of 5

natron video editor

NATRON is a robust video editor with powerful tracking tool for 2D and planar tracking. You can work with multiple layers and clips and avail various keying options on your video editing project. In fact, it is a full-fledged video compositing software for better video production with multi-layer structure.

The hardware acceleration of the software produces faster rendering. You get to work with presets, tracker nodes, rotoscoping, multi-plane and motion editing. The option of multi-view workflow along with real-time playback is extremely useful while editing multicam videos.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Superior visual effects and motion editing.
  • Multi-tasking with multi-view workflow.
  • Option of rotoscoping and python scripting.
  • Supports different open-source plugins.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • The user interface is quite advanced and needs some learning time.
  • It gets unstable and slow while previewing high-resolution videos.

Part 4: Freemium and Freeware Video Editors

Freeware video editors are available completely free of cost and they are mostly exclusive to a certain operating system. On the other hand, freemium video editors have certain features completely free while it charges users a small fee for certain advanced features. Here is the list of the best freemium and freeware video editors.

# For Beginner Users

7. ActivePresenter

Compatibility: Windows and Mac

Best for: best video editing software for learning videos.

G2 rating: 4.5 out of 5

active presenter

ActivePresenter from AtomiSystems is a video editor with screen recording options. The software is particularly useful in making and editing learning videos. There are different templates available for editing videos quickly. Besides, you can use the platform for standard editing options for any video.

Starting from working with multiple timelines to making videos interactive and responsive, there are various out-of-box features. Moreover, you can edit your audio and export your edited video in different file formats.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Multiple timelines for editing various video and audio clips.
  • Basic video and audio editing options and greenscreen effects.
  • Webcam and screen recording with audio from different sources.
  • Export videos with different file formats, HTML, xAPI, SCORM and much more.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • The learning curve is slightly steep.
  • Not suitable for editing all types of videos.

8. Microsoft Photos

Compatibility: Windows

Best for: best built-in video editor for Windows users

G2 rating: 4.6 out of 5

windows photos app

Microsoft Photos is the inbuilt video editor for Windows users. The app comes pre-installed in Windows and it is mostly used for viewing photos. But there is an inbuilt video editor where you can do the basic video editing works.

You can trim a video, add texts, and apply 3D effects as well as different filters available. There are also options for rotating videos, applying background music and customizing audio. The user interface is very simple for all users.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Instant basic video editing options available.
  • Apply effects, filters, as well as music.
  • Simple and intuitive user interface for everyone.
  • Comes pre-installed and completely free of cost.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Very limited video editing options.
  • Very limited video file formats supported.

9. iMovie

Compatibility: Mac

Best for: Best built-in video editor for Mac users

G2 rating: 4.3 out of 5

imovie editor for mac

iMovie is the inbuilt video editor for Mac users as it comes pre-installed on macOS. The application is free to use and it is compatible with iPhone and iPad as well. You can perform all the basic video editing works starting from trimming to rotating videos.

Besides, there is a wide range of effects and filters available to apply on your videos. The best part is that it supports editing 4K videos. There are also various graphical elements available and you can share your video easily on different platforms.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Trim, rotate, split and crop videos easily.
  • Work across Mac, iPhone and iPad seamlessly.
  • Wide range of effects, filters, and objects available.
  • Supports editing 4K videos without any lag.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Lacks advanced editing options though it is a dedicated video editor.
  • Supports very limited video file formats.

# For Advanced Users

10. Lightworks

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: best for social media video creators

G2 rating: 3.5 out of 5

lightworks

Lightworks is a freemium video editor where most features are reserved for premium users. If you are a social media creator or learning video creator, Lightworks Create is best for you. If you are a professional video creator, you should opt for Lightworks Pro.

The software supports almost all file formats, and you can export videos on social media instantly. The timeline is advanced with proxy editing, autosave and background processing features. You can share projects with your teammates and work collaboratively.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Powerful and advanced timeline for quick editing.
  • Motion graphics and tilting along with advanced metadata.
  • Flexible user interface with proxy workflow and storyboard bin.
  • Suitable for collaborating works and cloud storage.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Can crash while working with 4K videos.
  • Limited options for advanced video editing.

11. VideoPad

Compatibility: Windows

Best for: best video editor for short video creators.

G2 rating: 4.1 out of 5

videopad

VideoPad by NCH Software is an intuitive video editor that supports over 60 different video file formats. There are tools available for basic editing such as trimming and cropping. Besides, there are various effects and transitions available to apply on your video.

The video editor also lets you edit audio files and you can edit 360-degree videos as well. There are video stabilization and chroma key effect available. The video editor is available free for non-commercial use with certain limitations that you can overcome with its premium plan.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Edit in Storybook or Timeline mode and perfect all basic editing works.
  • Audio editing options with different audio effects.
  • Add 3D video effects, special filters, and change video speed.
  • Supports a wide range of video file formats.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Can crash while editing 4K videos.
  • Lacks advanced editing options.

12. VSDC Free Video Editor

Compatibility: Windows only.

Best for: Free feature-rich video editing suite

G2 rating: 4.0 out of 5

vsdc

VSDC Free Video Editor is a free suite that includes both video and audio editor. You can use the software for recording screen as well as voiceovers. The software is suitable for low-end computers as it is a lightweight application.

Apart from basic editing, you can edit 360 videos. Starting from color correction and zooming to split-screen effect and chroma key, it is full-fledged feature-rich software. For more advanced features, you can opt for VSDC Video Editor Pro version.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Zooming, panning, and color correction options.
  • Wide range of effects and filters present.
  • Chrome key option as well as 360 degree video editing.
  • Work with multiple layers and sync objects perfectly.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Lacks advanced video editing options.
  • No masking or video stabilization option available.

Part 5: Proprietary Video Editing Software

If you are a regular video creator and you want to invest in video editing to improve the quality of your video content, you have to opt for a proprietary video editing software. All professional video creators prefer proprietary video editing software over freeware and freemium video editors. Here are the best premium video videos with the most advanced video editing options.

# For Beginner Users

13. Filmora

Compatibility: Windows and Mac.

Best for: Best video editors for YouTubers and vloggers

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5

filmora video editor

Wondershare Filmora is a feature-rich video editor but an intuitive user interface. Therefore, it is perfectly suitable for beginners who want all the features and tools for advanced video editing without a steep learning curve. Filmora is also useful if you want to record screen or webcam video.

Starting from tons of video effects and transitions to a large stock library and graphical elements, Filmora is tailor-made for editing all types of videos. It also supports a wide range of file formats and you can edit 4K videos as well as audio files comfortably.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

Reason to Choose:-

  • Trim, split, join, crop and work with multiple video and audio clips.
  • Large collection of video and audio effects, transitions, and graphical elements.
  • Large stock library of free media files and animations.
  • Work with multiple layers and clips effortlessly on its smooth timeline.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • The processing time for videos could be on the higher side.

14. Camtasia

Compatibility: Windows and Mac.

Best for: Teachers and students to edit tutorial videos

G2 rating: 4.6 out of 5

camtasia video editing software

Camtasia by Techsmith is a premium video editor and it is equally popular as a video recorder. It is particularly useful for recording and editing tutorial videos as there are different templates available. Coming to video editing part, you can perform all the basic video editing works instantly.

There are various trendy effects, transitions, and presets available. You can remove green screen and apply different frames for video compatibility on different devices. Besides, you can upload the editing video different on different platforms instantly.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Quick trimming, splitting, cropping options.
  • Large collection of templates and presets.
  • Wide range of effects, annotations, and transitions.
  • Import, export, and share different file formats.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • No motion tracking option.
  • Reports of frequent crashes.

15. Final Cut Pro

Compatibility: Mac only.

Best for: best professional video editors for Mac users

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5

final cut pro

Final Cut Pro from Apple is an extremely popular premium video editor among professional video creators who are Mac users. It is a powerful and advanced video editor that can handle high resolution videos smoothly. It is a perfect mix of standard and advanced video editing features.

Starting from editing multicam and VR videos to 3D and 360 degree videos, Final Cut Pro is suitable for all. There are unlimited presets and effects present and you can edit 4K videos as well as large video files smoothly.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Basic and advanced video and audio editing features.
  • Supports editing all the different video types such as 3D, 4K, VR videos.
  • Supports plug-ins, external tools and cinematic effects.
  • Renders high resolution, large video files in short time.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Learning curve is quite steep.
  • Pricing is on the higher side.

# For Beginner Users

16. Adobe Premiere Pro

Compatibility: Windows only.

Best for: best professional video editing software for most people

G2 rating: 4.5 out of 5

adobe premiere pro

Adobe Premiere Pro is the ultimate video editor in the professional video editing world. You get all the different advanced features of video editing packed in the application. Even though the learning curve is steep, Adobe Premiere Pro is one of the most used video editors in professional video creation.

Adobe Premiere Pro supports all the different video file formats and you can edit various videos simultaneously. It is a perfect tool for editing a large video project collaboratively. It supports editing VR videos, 3D videos, as well as multicam videos.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Standard and advanced editing options with quick rendering.
  • Suitable for multi-tasking and collaborative work in video editing.
  • Supports almost all types of videos and audio file formats.
  • Flexible and configurable user interface and advanced timeline.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Learning curve is very steep.
  • Not suitable for low-end computers.

17. Vegas Pro

Compatibility: Windows only.

Best for: Video & audio editing for professionals

G2 rating: 4.2 out of 5

vegas

Vegas Pro from Sony is a professional video and audio editor. You can work with multiple video and audio files and you can choose from timeline or storyboard layout. In fact, there are options for nested timeline and multicam editing. The customized workflow and layouts make the application suitable for everyone.

You can enhance your video with its large collection of filters, effects, and titles. There are options for keyframing, scene detection, color correction, and light adjustments. The artificial intelligence makes editing faster with automation control.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Powerful timeline and storyboard mode with keyframing.
  • Advanced HDR color correction and grading.
  • Artificial intelligence for quick and repeated editing.
  • Multicam editing, motion tracking, and support for 3D videos.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Stability of the application is questionable.
  • Pricing is steep and lacks tutorial guide.

18. Hitfilm Express

Compatibility: Windows and Mac

Best for: Best for video effects lovers

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5

hitfilm express

Hitfilm Express is particularly popular for its unlimited video effects that make the video stand out easily. The user interface is quite simple to use, and you can apply effects to turn your raw video into professional video instantly. In fact, it has the largest VFX toolkit with industry-grade effects.

You can edit 4K videos, and there are options for motion tracking and video animations. You can also opt for color correction and grading. You can also edit vertical videos and upload them on social media platforms. You can also edit audio clips and use composting and layering features to enhance your video.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Advanced timeline for better workflow.
  • Standard and advanced video editing options.
  • Largest collection of video effects of different categories.
  • Color grading, correction, and free training and support.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Lacks green screen editing option.
  • Rendering is not always swift.

Part 6: How to Choose the Suitable Video Editor?

The most important part of video editing is to choose the most suitable video editor for your videos. Here are some important factors to consider while choosing a video editor.

1. Budget and Price: If you are getting started, you can opt for a free video editor. But eventually, you have to go for a premium video editor if you are serious about video editing. You should opt for that video editor that fits your budget and offers more features for the price charged in comparison to its competitors.

2. Learning Curve: You should always opt for a video editor that has a low learning curve. If the video editor is complicated to operate, you will get frustrated, and you won’t be able to unlock the full potential of the video editor. Besides, you will have to lose a lot of time in learning and perfecting the usage of the application.

3. Stock Library: The video editor you are choosing must have a sizeable stock media library. A stock library is where you can find video clips and audio clips that are free to use for everyone. You can incorporate them into your video to enhance the content quality and bring variety to your audiences.

4. Audio control: Video editing is incomplete without proper audio editing. Your video editor should have a separate timeline for audio clips so that you can place them perfect to go in sync with the video clips. Some video editors have dedicated options for audio mixing and editing as per requirements.

5. upport video formats: Your video editor must support a wide range of video file formats that you have to include from time to time. If it supports only the popular file formats, you will not be able to include the interesting videos you may get from different sources which the video editor does not support.

6. Software stability: If you need to edit high-resolution videos, you have to ensure that the video editor you are choosing can stay stable throughout. There are many popular video editors available that become unstable while editing and rendering high-resolution videos. You have to read reviews to come to a conclusion about software stability.

7. Customer Support: Last but most importantly, your video editor must have a good customer support team. In your video editing journey, you will need the help of technical customer support to clarify issues related to the software so that you can excel in your video editing sessions.

Part 7: Video Editing Tips for Beginners

Here are some basic video editing tips that you should keep in mind while editing any video.

1. Try Tight Cuts: Your video should not be too long so that it gets boring for the viewers. Therefore, you have to make tight cuts which means you have to cut out pauses, gaps between dialogs, and anything that is unnecessary for viewers. If you think that tight cuts will take more time than usual, you can consider reshooting the part to save time.

2. Put The Story Before The Footage: When you are shooting a planned video, you must be shooting the video with multiple cameras from different angles. While editing and choosing the perfect angle for a certain video segment, you have to select the one that enhances the story you are telling through your video. For example, in an interview video, you should know when to emphasize and show close angles to capture the emotion of the speaker.

3. Chop Out Mistakes: The most basic work in video editing is to cut out the mistakes. This is because you are sure to make mistakes while shooting, and you will reshoot a lot of mistakes to correct them. Therefore, take your time to chop out mistakes but make sure that the video feels continuous, and if required, you can reshoot. To avoid mistakes in action, you can use different camera angles, blur portions, and bleep out certain words.

4. Learn to use color: Color correction and adjustment is a majorly neglected part of video editing that can make your video different from others. When you are shooting in outdoor conditions, the color of the video could get disturbed depending on the color of your dress as well as your surrounding. While editing, you need to correct them so that the video looks visually pleasing to the eyes.

5. Cut to music: Audio plays a very important role in any video, and hence, you should not neglect it. Always opt for a video editor that has a good collection of stock music so that you can apply them to your video in appropriate places. Music helps to break the monotony and grab the attention of the audience instantly.

6. Back up your work: It takes hours to shoot a video but only a second to lose it. Instead of blindingly relying on your storage device, you should take back up of your work on multiple devices. Taking backup in the cloud storage area is the best option as you can access your work from anywhere.

Part 8: Frequently Asked Questions of Video Editor

What is the best video editor?

Wondershare Filmora is the best video editor as it has the perfect mix of standard and advanced video editing options. The user interface is intuitive and easy to operate for every video creator.

What editor do YouTubers use on PC?

The most commonly used video editors by YouTubers are Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere Pro and Filmora. Unless you are a pro in video editing, we recommend Filmora and Shotcut for your YouTube videos.

How can I edit videos for free?

If you are a Windows user, you can use Microsoft Photos and Openshot for editing your videos for free. For Mac users, iMovie is the best free video editor with balanced features.

Does Windows 10 have a free video editor?

Yes, Windows 10 does come with a free video editor and it is called Microsoft Photos. You can edit your photos and videos with the application.

Is Filmora Free?

No, Filmora is a premium video editor. However, you can download its free trial version to understand its features and functionalities. Thereafter, you can purchase its premium plan as per your suitability.

02 [Editor’s Top 3 Picks ](#Part 2)

03 [Open-Source Video Editors](#Part 3)

04 [Freemium and Freeware Video Editors](#Part 4)

05 [Proprietary Video Editing Software](#Part 5)

06 [How to Choose the Suitable Video Editor](#Part 6)

07 [Video Editing Tips for Newbies](#Part 7)

08 [Frequently Asked Questions of Video Editor](#Part 8)

Part 1: Video Editing Basics

Before going to the best video editors, you should be aware of the basics of video editing. Here are the basic concepts of video editing that you must know as they are common across all video editors.

1. The Timeline: The timeline is an area of a video editor where you place your video clips sequentially. When you play the video after editing, the video will play from the start of the timeline and finish at the end of the timeline where your video content ends. The timeline is where you can place your audio clips, video effects, and graphical elements as per your requirements.

2. The Canvas: The canvas is an area of a video editor where you view your video clips frame by frame. The canvas allows you to edit the video starting from cropping to adding graphical elements. You can view all the changes you make to the video before applying them permanently.

3. Basic editing: The basic editing of a video includes splitting and trimming out important parts of a large video file and, thereafter, joining the different video clips to make an engaging video. The basic editing also includes adding audio clips, adjusting video parameters such as color, brightness, contrast as well as adding texts to the video.

4. Aspect Ratio: The aspect ratio of a video represents the ratio of width to height of the video in terms of pixels. For example, a video with aspect ratio of 16:9 means the video is 1920p x 1080p. You can edit the aspect ratio depending on where you want to publish the video. For example, social media videos use 1:1 and 9: 16 aspect ratio, tablets use 4:3 aspect ratio, and 16:9 is the standard aspect ratio.

5. B-roll: B-roll is a secondary video footage that you can add to your primary video(A-roll) to enhance the video creativity and aesthetic value. B-roll could be a cinematic shot, a slow-motion footage, a close-up shot from different angles, as well as a shot mixed with wide-angle, pans, and tilts.

6. Frame Rate: Frame rate refers to the number of images or frames displayed per second in a video. In short, frame rate refers to frames per second in a video. For example, a video of 30fps means the video is showing 30 different images per second. The 24fps is used for movies and the 30fps is used for online and TV videos. Even 60fps videos are becoming common as they produce a smoother video experience.

Part 2: Editor’s Top 3 Picks - Choose The Best Video Editor

Best Video Editor for All Creators - Filmora

Wondershare Filmora is the ideal video editor with an intuitive user interface. You get all the standard and advanced video editing features packed into its platform. You can record videos of external webcam and computer screen as well. There are unlimited video effects and graphical elements to turn your raw videos into eye-catching videos instantly.

Best for Professional Editing - Premiere Pro

Adobe Premium Pro is the best professional video editor where all the advanced features of video editing are available. The software supports editing multiple projects simultaneously. You can edit VR, Multicam, and 3D videos as well. It is a perfect platform for a professional video editing team to work in sync.

Best for Online Video Editing - WeVideo

WeVideo is by far the best online video editor with 30 million users. Starting from standard video editing options and uploading directly to social media platforms, WeVideo is a full-fledged video editor. You can also record videos and create your own video templates. Moreover, you can collaborate with other video creators and make the best use of the unlimited stock media library.

Part 3: Open-Source Video Editors

Open-source video editors have compatibility with all the desktop operating systems. Moreover, due to their codes readily available online, these video editing software applications are available completely free of cost. Here are the best open-source video editors for beginners and experienced users.

# For Beginner Users

1. Blender

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: best open-source video editor with balanced features

G2 rating: 4.5 out of 5

blender video editor software

Blender is an open-source video editing suite that is popular for its 3D models. Since it is a suite, you can use the platform not only for video editing but also for creating animated videos and games.

Starting from basic video editing such as trim and split to advance video editing such as masking and color adjustment, all options are readily available. Besides, there are options for audio mixing and live preview of editing works.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Video cropping, trimming, splitting, joining, and adjusting speed.
  • Different slots to add videos, images, scenes, audio clips, effects and masks.
  • Different transitions, filters, effects, waveforms, and keyframes available.
  • Create 3D models and animated videos with proper audio mixing.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Takes time to get used to the platform.
  • Reports of bugs have become a regular occurrence.

2. Avidemux

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: best open-source video editor for basic editing

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5

avidemux

Avidemux from Soundforge is a lightweight and basic video editor. Starting from trimming and cutting videos to applying filters and encoding videos, all the options are readily available. The software supports a wide range of video file formats for editing.

The platform also supports scripting through which you can automate tasks to perform on videos. Besides, there are options for color adjustments, video conversion, and advanced interlacing. The simple user interface is perfect for beginners to edit videos intuitively.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Quick video editing for trimming, cutting, rotating, and cropping.
  • Change speed and use different filters for color adjustments and subtitles.
  • Supports different video file formats in import and export.
  • The user interface is simple and suitable for beginners.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Does not have a traditional timeline for video editing.
  • Limited effects, filters, and advanced features.

3. Kdenlive

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: best open-source video editor for all

G2 rating: 4.3 out of 5

kdenlive editor software

Kdenlive video editor is a versatile video editor with standard and advanced video editing features balanced properly. The open-source software allows multi-track timeline and supports dual monitor setup for video editing. The user interface is simple, and you can configure it as per your preference.

Kdenlive supports a wide range of video and audio files, and you can use configurable keyboard shortcuts for easy operation. The automatic backup feature is highly useful in the professional video editing world. Similarly, the presence of keyframe-based effects and advanced effects can make a video stand out.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Multi-track timeline for working with multiple video and audio clips.
  • Keyframeable effects, transitions, color correction and unlimited online resources.
  • Vast set of options for creating stunning texts and titles.
  • Smooth preview, configurable interface, and automatic backup.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Lacks GPU acceleration and hence, slow response at times.
  • Speed adjustment effect is not efficient.

# For Advanced Users

4. OpenShot

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux, Chrome OS

Best for: Best open source editor for all desktop users

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5

openshot

OpenShot is a cross-platform, open-source video editor where you can work on one project on different operating systems. It works on keyframe animation framework, and you can choose from different interpolations. The platform offers you to work with unlimited video and audio clips as well as layers.

You can perform all the basic video editing operations as well as go for advanced editing. The features and tools are well-balanced for regular as well as professional video editing. Starting from video effects and audio mixing to chroma key and time-mapping, everything is available under one roof.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Basic video editing with panning, zooming, and scrolling features.
  • Wide range of transitions, effects, time and speed control.
  • Time-mapping, audio mixing, overlays, and composting.
  • Supports 3D animations and objects, templates for titles and sub-titles.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Hardware acceleration is not very powerful.
  • Not suitable for 4K video editing as it gets extremely slow.

5. Shotcut

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: Best for video editors who love filters and effects

G2 rating: 4.2 out of 5

shotcut

Shotcut is another open-source and cross-platform video editor with a professional user interface. The software supports importing different file formats of video and audio files. It is suitable for editing 4K videos, and it is a full-fledged audio editor as well.

Its vast video filters and effects are comparable to premium video editors. You can work with multi-track timeline and keyframes with markers and rangers. Besides, you can keep notes on your project easily. Overall, it is a balanced video editor in terms of features and functionalities.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Wide categories of video effects, transitions, and filters.
  • Multi-track and multi-format timeline and detailed audio editor.
  • Standard and advanced editing options with hardware acceleration.
  • Export video in high-resolution and in different formats.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • The user interface can take some time to get used to.
  • The stock media library is rather limited.

6. NATRON

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: Best open-source video editor with visual effects

G2 rating: 3.5 out of 5

natron video editor

NATRON is a robust video editor with powerful tracking tool for 2D and planar tracking. You can work with multiple layers and clips and avail various keying options on your video editing project. In fact, it is a full-fledged video compositing software for better video production with multi-layer structure.

The hardware acceleration of the software produces faster rendering. You get to work with presets, tracker nodes, rotoscoping, multi-plane and motion editing. The option of multi-view workflow along with real-time playback is extremely useful while editing multicam videos.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Superior visual effects and motion editing.
  • Multi-tasking with multi-view workflow.
  • Option of rotoscoping and python scripting.
  • Supports different open-source plugins.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • The user interface is quite advanced and needs some learning time.
  • It gets unstable and slow while previewing high-resolution videos.

Part 4: Freemium and Freeware Video Editors

Freeware video editors are available completely free of cost and they are mostly exclusive to a certain operating system. On the other hand, freemium video editors have certain features completely free while it charges users a small fee for certain advanced features. Here is the list of the best freemium and freeware video editors.

# For Beginner Users

7. ActivePresenter

Compatibility: Windows and Mac

Best for: best video editing software for learning videos.

G2 rating: 4.5 out of 5

active presenter

ActivePresenter from AtomiSystems is a video editor with screen recording options. The software is particularly useful in making and editing learning videos. There are different templates available for editing videos quickly. Besides, you can use the platform for standard editing options for any video.

Starting from working with multiple timelines to making videos interactive and responsive, there are various out-of-box features. Moreover, you can edit your audio and export your edited video in different file formats.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Multiple timelines for editing various video and audio clips.
  • Basic video and audio editing options and greenscreen effects.
  • Webcam and screen recording with audio from different sources.
  • Export videos with different file formats, HTML, xAPI, SCORM and much more.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • The learning curve is slightly steep.
  • Not suitable for editing all types of videos.

8. Microsoft Photos

Compatibility: Windows

Best for: best built-in video editor for Windows users

G2 rating: 4.6 out of 5

windows photos app

Microsoft Photos is the inbuilt video editor for Windows users. The app comes pre-installed in Windows and it is mostly used for viewing photos. But there is an inbuilt video editor where you can do the basic video editing works.

You can trim a video, add texts, and apply 3D effects as well as different filters available. There are also options for rotating videos, applying background music and customizing audio. The user interface is very simple for all users.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Instant basic video editing options available.
  • Apply effects, filters, as well as music.
  • Simple and intuitive user interface for everyone.
  • Comes pre-installed and completely free of cost.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Very limited video editing options.
  • Very limited video file formats supported.

9. iMovie

Compatibility: Mac

Best for: Best built-in video editor for Mac users

G2 rating: 4.3 out of 5

imovie editor for mac

iMovie is the inbuilt video editor for Mac users as it comes pre-installed on macOS. The application is free to use and it is compatible with iPhone and iPad as well. You can perform all the basic video editing works starting from trimming to rotating videos.

Besides, there is a wide range of effects and filters available to apply on your videos. The best part is that it supports editing 4K videos. There are also various graphical elements available and you can share your video easily on different platforms.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Trim, rotate, split and crop videos easily.
  • Work across Mac, iPhone and iPad seamlessly.
  • Wide range of effects, filters, and objects available.
  • Supports editing 4K videos without any lag.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Lacks advanced editing options though it is a dedicated video editor.
  • Supports very limited video file formats.

# For Advanced Users

10. Lightworks

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: best for social media video creators

G2 rating: 3.5 out of 5

lightworks

Lightworks is a freemium video editor where most features are reserved for premium users. If you are a social media creator or learning video creator, Lightworks Create is best for you. If you are a professional video creator, you should opt for Lightworks Pro.

The software supports almost all file formats, and you can export videos on social media instantly. The timeline is advanced with proxy editing, autosave and background processing features. You can share projects with your teammates and work collaboratively.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Powerful and advanced timeline for quick editing.
  • Motion graphics and tilting along with advanced metadata.
  • Flexible user interface with proxy workflow and storyboard bin.
  • Suitable for collaborating works and cloud storage.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Can crash while working with 4K videos.
  • Limited options for advanced video editing.

11. VideoPad

Compatibility: Windows

Best for: best video editor for short video creators.

G2 rating: 4.1 out of 5

videopad

VideoPad by NCH Software is an intuitive video editor that supports over 60 different video file formats. There are tools available for basic editing such as trimming and cropping. Besides, there are various effects and transitions available to apply on your video.

The video editor also lets you edit audio files and you can edit 360-degree videos as well. There are video stabilization and chroma key effect available. The video editor is available free for non-commercial use with certain limitations that you can overcome with its premium plan.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Edit in Storybook or Timeline mode and perfect all basic editing works.
  • Audio editing options with different audio effects.
  • Add 3D video effects, special filters, and change video speed.
  • Supports a wide range of video file formats.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Can crash while editing 4K videos.
  • Lacks advanced editing options.

12. VSDC Free Video Editor

Compatibility: Windows only.

Best for: Free feature-rich video editing suite

G2 rating: 4.0 out of 5

vsdc

VSDC Free Video Editor is a free suite that includes both video and audio editor. You can use the software for recording screen as well as voiceovers. The software is suitable for low-end computers as it is a lightweight application.

Apart from basic editing, you can edit 360 videos. Starting from color correction and zooming to split-screen effect and chroma key, it is full-fledged feature-rich software. For more advanced features, you can opt for VSDC Video Editor Pro version.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Zooming, panning, and color correction options.
  • Wide range of effects and filters present.
  • Chrome key option as well as 360 degree video editing.
  • Work with multiple layers and sync objects perfectly.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Lacks advanced video editing options.
  • No masking or video stabilization option available.

Part 5: Proprietary Video Editing Software

If you are a regular video creator and you want to invest in video editing to improve the quality of your video content, you have to opt for a proprietary video editing software. All professional video creators prefer proprietary video editing software over freeware and freemium video editors. Here are the best premium video videos with the most advanced video editing options.

# For Beginner Users

13. Filmora

Compatibility: Windows and Mac.

Best for: Best video editors for YouTubers and vloggers

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5

filmora video editor

Wondershare Filmora is a feature-rich video editor but an intuitive user interface. Therefore, it is perfectly suitable for beginners who want all the features and tools for advanced video editing without a steep learning curve. Filmora is also useful if you want to record screen or webcam video.

Starting from tons of video effects and transitions to a large stock library and graphical elements, Filmora is tailor-made for editing all types of videos. It also supports a wide range of file formats and you can edit 4K videos as well as audio files comfortably.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

Reason to Choose:-

  • Trim, split, join, crop and work with multiple video and audio clips.
  • Large collection of video and audio effects, transitions, and graphical elements.
  • Large stock library of free media files and animations.
  • Work with multiple layers and clips effortlessly on its smooth timeline.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • The processing time for videos could be on the higher side.

14. Camtasia

Compatibility: Windows and Mac.

Best for: Teachers and students to edit tutorial videos

G2 rating: 4.6 out of 5

camtasia video editing software

Camtasia by Techsmith is a premium video editor and it is equally popular as a video recorder. It is particularly useful for recording and editing tutorial videos as there are different templates available. Coming to video editing part, you can perform all the basic video editing works instantly.

There are various trendy effects, transitions, and presets available. You can remove green screen and apply different frames for video compatibility on different devices. Besides, you can upload the editing video different on different platforms instantly.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Quick trimming, splitting, cropping options.
  • Large collection of templates and presets.
  • Wide range of effects, annotations, and transitions.
  • Import, export, and share different file formats.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • No motion tracking option.
  • Reports of frequent crashes.

15. Final Cut Pro

Compatibility: Mac only.

Best for: best professional video editors for Mac users

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5

final cut pro

Final Cut Pro from Apple is an extremely popular premium video editor among professional video creators who are Mac users. It is a powerful and advanced video editor that can handle high resolution videos smoothly. It is a perfect mix of standard and advanced video editing features.

Starting from editing multicam and VR videos to 3D and 360 degree videos, Final Cut Pro is suitable for all. There are unlimited presets and effects present and you can edit 4K videos as well as large video files smoothly.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Basic and advanced video and audio editing features.
  • Supports editing all the different video types such as 3D, 4K, VR videos.
  • Supports plug-ins, external tools and cinematic effects.
  • Renders high resolution, large video files in short time.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Learning curve is quite steep.
  • Pricing is on the higher side.

# For Beginner Users

16. Adobe Premiere Pro

Compatibility: Windows only.

Best for: best professional video editing software for most people

G2 rating: 4.5 out of 5

adobe premiere pro

Adobe Premiere Pro is the ultimate video editor in the professional video editing world. You get all the different advanced features of video editing packed in the application. Even though the learning curve is steep, Adobe Premiere Pro is one of the most used video editors in professional video creation.

Adobe Premiere Pro supports all the different video file formats and you can edit various videos simultaneously. It is a perfect tool for editing a large video project collaboratively. It supports editing VR videos, 3D videos, as well as multicam videos.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Standard and advanced editing options with quick rendering.
  • Suitable for multi-tasking and collaborative work in video editing.
  • Supports almost all types of videos and audio file formats.
  • Flexible and configurable user interface and advanced timeline.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Learning curve is very steep.
  • Not suitable for low-end computers.

17. Vegas Pro

Compatibility: Windows only.

Best for: Video & audio editing for professionals

G2 rating: 4.2 out of 5

vegas

Vegas Pro from Sony is a professional video and audio editor. You can work with multiple video and audio files and you can choose from timeline or storyboard layout. In fact, there are options for nested timeline and multicam editing. The customized workflow and layouts make the application suitable for everyone.

You can enhance your video with its large collection of filters, effects, and titles. There are options for keyframing, scene detection, color correction, and light adjustments. The artificial intelligence makes editing faster with automation control.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Powerful timeline and storyboard mode with keyframing.
  • Advanced HDR color correction and grading.
  • Artificial intelligence for quick and repeated editing.
  • Multicam editing, motion tracking, and support for 3D videos.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Stability of the application is questionable.
  • Pricing is steep and lacks tutorial guide.

18. Hitfilm Express

Compatibility: Windows and Mac

Best for: Best for video effects lovers

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5

hitfilm express

Hitfilm Express is particularly popular for its unlimited video effects that make the video stand out easily. The user interface is quite simple to use, and you can apply effects to turn your raw video into professional video instantly. In fact, it has the largest VFX toolkit with industry-grade effects.

You can edit 4K videos, and there are options for motion tracking and video animations. You can also opt for color correction and grading. You can also edit vertical videos and upload them on social media platforms. You can also edit audio clips and use composting and layering features to enhance your video.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Advanced timeline for better workflow.
  • Standard and advanced video editing options.
  • Largest collection of video effects of different categories.
  • Color grading, correction, and free training and support.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Lacks green screen editing option.
  • Rendering is not always swift.

Part 6: How to Choose the Suitable Video Editor?

The most important part of video editing is to choose the most suitable video editor for your videos. Here are some important factors to consider while choosing a video editor.

1. Budget and Price: If you are getting started, you can opt for a free video editor. But eventually, you have to go for a premium video editor if you are serious about video editing. You should opt for that video editor that fits your budget and offers more features for the price charged in comparison to its competitors.

2. Learning Curve: You should always opt for a video editor that has a low learning curve. If the video editor is complicated to operate, you will get frustrated, and you won’t be able to unlock the full potential of the video editor. Besides, you will have to lose a lot of time in learning and perfecting the usage of the application.

3. Stock Library: The video editor you are choosing must have a sizeable stock media library. A stock library is where you can find video clips and audio clips that are free to use for everyone. You can incorporate them into your video to enhance the content quality and bring variety to your audiences.

4. Audio control: Video editing is incomplete without proper audio editing. Your video editor should have a separate timeline for audio clips so that you can place them perfect to go in sync with the video clips. Some video editors have dedicated options for audio mixing and editing as per requirements.

5. upport video formats: Your video editor must support a wide range of video file formats that you have to include from time to time. If it supports only the popular file formats, you will not be able to include the interesting videos you may get from different sources which the video editor does not support.

6. Software stability: If you need to edit high-resolution videos, you have to ensure that the video editor you are choosing can stay stable throughout. There are many popular video editors available that become unstable while editing and rendering high-resolution videos. You have to read reviews to come to a conclusion about software stability.

7. Customer Support: Last but most importantly, your video editor must have a good customer support team. In your video editing journey, you will need the help of technical customer support to clarify issues related to the software so that you can excel in your video editing sessions.

Part 7: Video Editing Tips for Beginners

Here are some basic video editing tips that you should keep in mind while editing any video.

1. Try Tight Cuts: Your video should not be too long so that it gets boring for the viewers. Therefore, you have to make tight cuts which means you have to cut out pauses, gaps between dialogs, and anything that is unnecessary for viewers. If you think that tight cuts will take more time than usual, you can consider reshooting the part to save time.

2. Put The Story Before The Footage: When you are shooting a planned video, you must be shooting the video with multiple cameras from different angles. While editing and choosing the perfect angle for a certain video segment, you have to select the one that enhances the story you are telling through your video. For example, in an interview video, you should know when to emphasize and show close angles to capture the emotion of the speaker.

3. Chop Out Mistakes: The most basic work in video editing is to cut out the mistakes. This is because you are sure to make mistakes while shooting, and you will reshoot a lot of mistakes to correct them. Therefore, take your time to chop out mistakes but make sure that the video feels continuous, and if required, you can reshoot. To avoid mistakes in action, you can use different camera angles, blur portions, and bleep out certain words.

4. Learn to use color: Color correction and adjustment is a majorly neglected part of video editing that can make your video different from others. When you are shooting in outdoor conditions, the color of the video could get disturbed depending on the color of your dress as well as your surrounding. While editing, you need to correct them so that the video looks visually pleasing to the eyes.

5. Cut to music: Audio plays a very important role in any video, and hence, you should not neglect it. Always opt for a video editor that has a good collection of stock music so that you can apply them to your video in appropriate places. Music helps to break the monotony and grab the attention of the audience instantly.

6. Back up your work: It takes hours to shoot a video but only a second to lose it. Instead of blindingly relying on your storage device, you should take back up of your work on multiple devices. Taking backup in the cloud storage area is the best option as you can access your work from anywhere.

Part 8: Frequently Asked Questions of Video Editor

What is the best video editor?

Wondershare Filmora is the best video editor as it has the perfect mix of standard and advanced video editing options. The user interface is intuitive and easy to operate for every video creator.

What editor do YouTubers use on PC?

The most commonly used video editors by YouTubers are Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere Pro and Filmora. Unless you are a pro in video editing, we recommend Filmora and Shotcut for your YouTube videos.

How can I edit videos for free?

If you are a Windows user, you can use Microsoft Photos and Openshot for editing your videos for free. For Mac users, iMovie is the best free video editor with balanced features.

Does Windows 10 have a free video editor?

Yes, Windows 10 does come with a free video editor and it is called Microsoft Photos. You can edit your photos and videos with the application.

Is Filmora Free?

No, Filmora is a premium video editor. However, you can download its free trial version to understand its features and functionalities. Thereafter, you can purchase its premium plan as per your suitability.

02 [Editor’s Top 3 Picks ](#Part 2)

03 [Open-Source Video Editors](#Part 3)

04 [Freemium and Freeware Video Editors](#Part 4)

05 [Proprietary Video Editing Software](#Part 5)

06 [How to Choose the Suitable Video Editor](#Part 6)

07 [Video Editing Tips for Newbies](#Part 7)

08 [Frequently Asked Questions of Video Editor](#Part 8)

Part 1: Video Editing Basics

Before going to the best video editors, you should be aware of the basics of video editing. Here are the basic concepts of video editing that you must know as they are common across all video editors.

1. The Timeline: The timeline is an area of a video editor where you place your video clips sequentially. When you play the video after editing, the video will play from the start of the timeline and finish at the end of the timeline where your video content ends. The timeline is where you can place your audio clips, video effects, and graphical elements as per your requirements.

2. The Canvas: The canvas is an area of a video editor where you view your video clips frame by frame. The canvas allows you to edit the video starting from cropping to adding graphical elements. You can view all the changes you make to the video before applying them permanently.

3. Basic editing: The basic editing of a video includes splitting and trimming out important parts of a large video file and, thereafter, joining the different video clips to make an engaging video. The basic editing also includes adding audio clips, adjusting video parameters such as color, brightness, contrast as well as adding texts to the video.

4. Aspect Ratio: The aspect ratio of a video represents the ratio of width to height of the video in terms of pixels. For example, a video with aspect ratio of 16:9 means the video is 1920p x 1080p. You can edit the aspect ratio depending on where you want to publish the video. For example, social media videos use 1:1 and 9: 16 aspect ratio, tablets use 4:3 aspect ratio, and 16:9 is the standard aspect ratio.

5. B-roll: B-roll is a secondary video footage that you can add to your primary video(A-roll) to enhance the video creativity and aesthetic value. B-roll could be a cinematic shot, a slow-motion footage, a close-up shot from different angles, as well as a shot mixed with wide-angle, pans, and tilts.

6. Frame Rate: Frame rate refers to the number of images or frames displayed per second in a video. In short, frame rate refers to frames per second in a video. For example, a video of 30fps means the video is showing 30 different images per second. The 24fps is used for movies and the 30fps is used for online and TV videos. Even 60fps videos are becoming common as they produce a smoother video experience.

Part 2: Editor’s Top 3 Picks - Choose The Best Video Editor

Best Video Editor for All Creators - Filmora

Wondershare Filmora is the ideal video editor with an intuitive user interface. You get all the standard and advanced video editing features packed into its platform. You can record videos of external webcam and computer screen as well. There are unlimited video effects and graphical elements to turn your raw videos into eye-catching videos instantly.

Best for Professional Editing - Premiere Pro

Adobe Premium Pro is the best professional video editor where all the advanced features of video editing are available. The software supports editing multiple projects simultaneously. You can edit VR, Multicam, and 3D videos as well. It is a perfect platform for a professional video editing team to work in sync.

Best for Online Video Editing - WeVideo

WeVideo is by far the best online video editor with 30 million users. Starting from standard video editing options and uploading directly to social media platforms, WeVideo is a full-fledged video editor. You can also record videos and create your own video templates. Moreover, you can collaborate with other video creators and make the best use of the unlimited stock media library.

Part 3: Open-Source Video Editors

Open-source video editors have compatibility with all the desktop operating systems. Moreover, due to their codes readily available online, these video editing software applications are available completely free of cost. Here are the best open-source video editors for beginners and experienced users.

# For Beginner Users

1. Blender

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: best open-source video editor with balanced features

G2 rating: 4.5 out of 5

blender video editor software

Blender is an open-source video editing suite that is popular for its 3D models. Since it is a suite, you can use the platform not only for video editing but also for creating animated videos and games.

Starting from basic video editing such as trim and split to advance video editing such as masking and color adjustment, all options are readily available. Besides, there are options for audio mixing and live preview of editing works.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Video cropping, trimming, splitting, joining, and adjusting speed.
  • Different slots to add videos, images, scenes, audio clips, effects and masks.
  • Different transitions, filters, effects, waveforms, and keyframes available.
  • Create 3D models and animated videos with proper audio mixing.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Takes time to get used to the platform.
  • Reports of bugs have become a regular occurrence.

2. Avidemux

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: best open-source video editor for basic editing

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5

avidemux

Avidemux from Soundforge is a lightweight and basic video editor. Starting from trimming and cutting videos to applying filters and encoding videos, all the options are readily available. The software supports a wide range of video file formats for editing.

The platform also supports scripting through which you can automate tasks to perform on videos. Besides, there are options for color adjustments, video conversion, and advanced interlacing. The simple user interface is perfect for beginners to edit videos intuitively.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Quick video editing for trimming, cutting, rotating, and cropping.
  • Change speed and use different filters for color adjustments and subtitles.
  • Supports different video file formats in import and export.
  • The user interface is simple and suitable for beginners.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Does not have a traditional timeline for video editing.
  • Limited effects, filters, and advanced features.

3. Kdenlive

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: best open-source video editor for all

G2 rating: 4.3 out of 5

kdenlive editor software

Kdenlive video editor is a versatile video editor with standard and advanced video editing features balanced properly. The open-source software allows multi-track timeline and supports dual monitor setup for video editing. The user interface is simple, and you can configure it as per your preference.

Kdenlive supports a wide range of video and audio files, and you can use configurable keyboard shortcuts for easy operation. The automatic backup feature is highly useful in the professional video editing world. Similarly, the presence of keyframe-based effects and advanced effects can make a video stand out.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Multi-track timeline for working with multiple video and audio clips.
  • Keyframeable effects, transitions, color correction and unlimited online resources.
  • Vast set of options for creating stunning texts and titles.
  • Smooth preview, configurable interface, and automatic backup.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Lacks GPU acceleration and hence, slow response at times.
  • Speed adjustment effect is not efficient.

# For Advanced Users

4. OpenShot

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux, Chrome OS

Best for: Best open source editor for all desktop users

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5

openshot

OpenShot is a cross-platform, open-source video editor where you can work on one project on different operating systems. It works on keyframe animation framework, and you can choose from different interpolations. The platform offers you to work with unlimited video and audio clips as well as layers.

You can perform all the basic video editing operations as well as go for advanced editing. The features and tools are well-balanced for regular as well as professional video editing. Starting from video effects and audio mixing to chroma key and time-mapping, everything is available under one roof.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Basic video editing with panning, zooming, and scrolling features.
  • Wide range of transitions, effects, time and speed control.
  • Time-mapping, audio mixing, overlays, and composting.
  • Supports 3D animations and objects, templates for titles and sub-titles.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Hardware acceleration is not very powerful.
  • Not suitable for 4K video editing as it gets extremely slow.

5. Shotcut

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: Best for video editors who love filters and effects

G2 rating: 4.2 out of 5

shotcut

Shotcut is another open-source and cross-platform video editor with a professional user interface. The software supports importing different file formats of video and audio files. It is suitable for editing 4K videos, and it is a full-fledged audio editor as well.

Its vast video filters and effects are comparable to premium video editors. You can work with multi-track timeline and keyframes with markers and rangers. Besides, you can keep notes on your project easily. Overall, it is a balanced video editor in terms of features and functionalities.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Wide categories of video effects, transitions, and filters.
  • Multi-track and multi-format timeline and detailed audio editor.
  • Standard and advanced editing options with hardware acceleration.
  • Export video in high-resolution and in different formats.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • The user interface can take some time to get used to.
  • The stock media library is rather limited.

6. NATRON

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: Best open-source video editor with visual effects

G2 rating: 3.5 out of 5

natron video editor

NATRON is a robust video editor with powerful tracking tool for 2D and planar tracking. You can work with multiple layers and clips and avail various keying options on your video editing project. In fact, it is a full-fledged video compositing software for better video production with multi-layer structure.

The hardware acceleration of the software produces faster rendering. You get to work with presets, tracker nodes, rotoscoping, multi-plane and motion editing. The option of multi-view workflow along with real-time playback is extremely useful while editing multicam videos.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Superior visual effects and motion editing.
  • Multi-tasking with multi-view workflow.
  • Option of rotoscoping and python scripting.
  • Supports different open-source plugins.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • The user interface is quite advanced and needs some learning time.
  • It gets unstable and slow while previewing high-resolution videos.

Part 4: Freemium and Freeware Video Editors

Freeware video editors are available completely free of cost and they are mostly exclusive to a certain operating system. On the other hand, freemium video editors have certain features completely free while it charges users a small fee for certain advanced features. Here is the list of the best freemium and freeware video editors.

# For Beginner Users

7. ActivePresenter

Compatibility: Windows and Mac

Best for: best video editing software for learning videos.

G2 rating: 4.5 out of 5

active presenter

ActivePresenter from AtomiSystems is a video editor with screen recording options. The software is particularly useful in making and editing learning videos. There are different templates available for editing videos quickly. Besides, you can use the platform for standard editing options for any video.

Starting from working with multiple timelines to making videos interactive and responsive, there are various out-of-box features. Moreover, you can edit your audio and export your edited video in different file formats.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Multiple timelines for editing various video and audio clips.
  • Basic video and audio editing options and greenscreen effects.
  • Webcam and screen recording with audio from different sources.
  • Export videos with different file formats, HTML, xAPI, SCORM and much more.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • The learning curve is slightly steep.
  • Not suitable for editing all types of videos.

8. Microsoft Photos

Compatibility: Windows

Best for: best built-in video editor for Windows users

G2 rating: 4.6 out of 5

windows photos app

Microsoft Photos is the inbuilt video editor for Windows users. The app comes pre-installed in Windows and it is mostly used for viewing photos. But there is an inbuilt video editor where you can do the basic video editing works.

You can trim a video, add texts, and apply 3D effects as well as different filters available. There are also options for rotating videos, applying background music and customizing audio. The user interface is very simple for all users.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Instant basic video editing options available.
  • Apply effects, filters, as well as music.
  • Simple and intuitive user interface for everyone.
  • Comes pre-installed and completely free of cost.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Very limited video editing options.
  • Very limited video file formats supported.

9. iMovie

Compatibility: Mac

Best for: Best built-in video editor for Mac users

G2 rating: 4.3 out of 5

imovie editor for mac

iMovie is the inbuilt video editor for Mac users as it comes pre-installed on macOS. The application is free to use and it is compatible with iPhone and iPad as well. You can perform all the basic video editing works starting from trimming to rotating videos.

Besides, there is a wide range of effects and filters available to apply on your videos. The best part is that it supports editing 4K videos. There are also various graphical elements available and you can share your video easily on different platforms.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Trim, rotate, split and crop videos easily.
  • Work across Mac, iPhone and iPad seamlessly.
  • Wide range of effects, filters, and objects available.
  • Supports editing 4K videos without any lag.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Lacks advanced editing options though it is a dedicated video editor.
  • Supports very limited video file formats.

# For Advanced Users

10. Lightworks

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: best for social media video creators

G2 rating: 3.5 out of 5

lightworks

Lightworks is a freemium video editor where most features are reserved for premium users. If you are a social media creator or learning video creator, Lightworks Create is best for you. If you are a professional video creator, you should opt for Lightworks Pro.

The software supports almost all file formats, and you can export videos on social media instantly. The timeline is advanced with proxy editing, autosave and background processing features. You can share projects with your teammates and work collaboratively.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Powerful and advanced timeline for quick editing.
  • Motion graphics and tilting along with advanced metadata.
  • Flexible user interface with proxy workflow and storyboard bin.
  • Suitable for collaborating works and cloud storage.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Can crash while working with 4K videos.
  • Limited options for advanced video editing.

11. VideoPad

Compatibility: Windows

Best for: best video editor for short video creators.

G2 rating: 4.1 out of 5

videopad

VideoPad by NCH Software is an intuitive video editor that supports over 60 different video file formats. There are tools available for basic editing such as trimming and cropping. Besides, there are various effects and transitions available to apply on your video.

The video editor also lets you edit audio files and you can edit 360-degree videos as well. There are video stabilization and chroma key effect available. The video editor is available free for non-commercial use with certain limitations that you can overcome with its premium plan.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Edit in Storybook or Timeline mode and perfect all basic editing works.
  • Audio editing options with different audio effects.
  • Add 3D video effects, special filters, and change video speed.
  • Supports a wide range of video file formats.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Can crash while editing 4K videos.
  • Lacks advanced editing options.

12. VSDC Free Video Editor

Compatibility: Windows only.

Best for: Free feature-rich video editing suite

G2 rating: 4.0 out of 5

vsdc

VSDC Free Video Editor is a free suite that includes both video and audio editor. You can use the software for recording screen as well as voiceovers. The software is suitable for low-end computers as it is a lightweight application.

Apart from basic editing, you can edit 360 videos. Starting from color correction and zooming to split-screen effect and chroma key, it is full-fledged feature-rich software. For more advanced features, you can opt for VSDC Video Editor Pro version.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Zooming, panning, and color correction options.
  • Wide range of effects and filters present.
  • Chrome key option as well as 360 degree video editing.
  • Work with multiple layers and sync objects perfectly.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Lacks advanced video editing options.
  • No masking or video stabilization option available.

Part 5: Proprietary Video Editing Software

If you are a regular video creator and you want to invest in video editing to improve the quality of your video content, you have to opt for a proprietary video editing software. All professional video creators prefer proprietary video editing software over freeware and freemium video editors. Here are the best premium video videos with the most advanced video editing options.

# For Beginner Users

13. Filmora

Compatibility: Windows and Mac.

Best for: Best video editors for YouTubers and vloggers

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5

filmora video editor

Wondershare Filmora is a feature-rich video editor but an intuitive user interface. Therefore, it is perfectly suitable for beginners who want all the features and tools for advanced video editing without a steep learning curve. Filmora is also useful if you want to record screen or webcam video.

Starting from tons of video effects and transitions to a large stock library and graphical elements, Filmora is tailor-made for editing all types of videos. It also supports a wide range of file formats and you can edit 4K videos as well as audio files comfortably.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

Reason to Choose:-

  • Trim, split, join, crop and work with multiple video and audio clips.
  • Large collection of video and audio effects, transitions, and graphical elements.
  • Large stock library of free media files and animations.
  • Work with multiple layers and clips effortlessly on its smooth timeline.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • The processing time for videos could be on the higher side.

14. Camtasia

Compatibility: Windows and Mac.

Best for: Teachers and students to edit tutorial videos

G2 rating: 4.6 out of 5

camtasia video editing software

Camtasia by Techsmith is a premium video editor and it is equally popular as a video recorder. It is particularly useful for recording and editing tutorial videos as there are different templates available. Coming to video editing part, you can perform all the basic video editing works instantly.

There are various trendy effects, transitions, and presets available. You can remove green screen and apply different frames for video compatibility on different devices. Besides, you can upload the editing video different on different platforms instantly.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Quick trimming, splitting, cropping options.
  • Large collection of templates and presets.
  • Wide range of effects, annotations, and transitions.
  • Import, export, and share different file formats.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • No motion tracking option.
  • Reports of frequent crashes.

15. Final Cut Pro

Compatibility: Mac only.

Best for: best professional video editors for Mac users

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5

final cut pro

Final Cut Pro from Apple is an extremely popular premium video editor among professional video creators who are Mac users. It is a powerful and advanced video editor that can handle high resolution videos smoothly. It is a perfect mix of standard and advanced video editing features.

Starting from editing multicam and VR videos to 3D and 360 degree videos, Final Cut Pro is suitable for all. There are unlimited presets and effects present and you can edit 4K videos as well as large video files smoothly.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Basic and advanced video and audio editing features.
  • Supports editing all the different video types such as 3D, 4K, VR videos.
  • Supports plug-ins, external tools and cinematic effects.
  • Renders high resolution, large video files in short time.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Learning curve is quite steep.
  • Pricing is on the higher side.

# For Beginner Users

16. Adobe Premiere Pro

Compatibility: Windows only.

Best for: best professional video editing software for most people

G2 rating: 4.5 out of 5

adobe premiere pro

Adobe Premiere Pro is the ultimate video editor in the professional video editing world. You get all the different advanced features of video editing packed in the application. Even though the learning curve is steep, Adobe Premiere Pro is one of the most used video editors in professional video creation.

Adobe Premiere Pro supports all the different video file formats and you can edit various videos simultaneously. It is a perfect tool for editing a large video project collaboratively. It supports editing VR videos, 3D videos, as well as multicam videos.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Standard and advanced editing options with quick rendering.
  • Suitable for multi-tasking and collaborative work in video editing.
  • Supports almost all types of videos and audio file formats.
  • Flexible and configurable user interface and advanced timeline.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Learning curve is very steep.
  • Not suitable for low-end computers.

17. Vegas Pro

Compatibility: Windows only.

Best for: Video & audio editing for professionals

G2 rating: 4.2 out of 5

vegas

Vegas Pro from Sony is a professional video and audio editor. You can work with multiple video and audio files and you can choose from timeline or storyboard layout. In fact, there are options for nested timeline and multicam editing. The customized workflow and layouts make the application suitable for everyone.

You can enhance your video with its large collection of filters, effects, and titles. There are options for keyframing, scene detection, color correction, and light adjustments. The artificial intelligence makes editing faster with automation control.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Powerful timeline and storyboard mode with keyframing.
  • Advanced HDR color correction and grading.
  • Artificial intelligence for quick and repeated editing.
  • Multicam editing, motion tracking, and support for 3D videos.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Stability of the application is questionable.
  • Pricing is steep and lacks tutorial guide.

18. Hitfilm Express

Compatibility: Windows and Mac

Best for: Best for video effects lovers

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5

hitfilm express

Hitfilm Express is particularly popular for its unlimited video effects that make the video stand out easily. The user interface is quite simple to use, and you can apply effects to turn your raw video into professional video instantly. In fact, it has the largest VFX toolkit with industry-grade effects.

You can edit 4K videos, and there are options for motion tracking and video animations. You can also opt for color correction and grading. You can also edit vertical videos and upload them on social media platforms. You can also edit audio clips and use composting and layering features to enhance your video.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Advanced timeline for better workflow.
  • Standard and advanced video editing options.
  • Largest collection of video effects of different categories.
  • Color grading, correction, and free training and support.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Lacks green screen editing option.
  • Rendering is not always swift.

Part 6: How to Choose the Suitable Video Editor?

The most important part of video editing is to choose the most suitable video editor for your videos. Here are some important factors to consider while choosing a video editor.

1. Budget and Price: If you are getting started, you can opt for a free video editor. But eventually, you have to go for a premium video editor if you are serious about video editing. You should opt for that video editor that fits your budget and offers more features for the price charged in comparison to its competitors.

2. Learning Curve: You should always opt for a video editor that has a low learning curve. If the video editor is complicated to operate, you will get frustrated, and you won’t be able to unlock the full potential of the video editor. Besides, you will have to lose a lot of time in learning and perfecting the usage of the application.

3. Stock Library: The video editor you are choosing must have a sizeable stock media library. A stock library is where you can find video clips and audio clips that are free to use for everyone. You can incorporate them into your video to enhance the content quality and bring variety to your audiences.

4. Audio control: Video editing is incomplete without proper audio editing. Your video editor should have a separate timeline for audio clips so that you can place them perfect to go in sync with the video clips. Some video editors have dedicated options for audio mixing and editing as per requirements.

5. upport video formats: Your video editor must support a wide range of video file formats that you have to include from time to time. If it supports only the popular file formats, you will not be able to include the interesting videos you may get from different sources which the video editor does not support.

6. Software stability: If you need to edit high-resolution videos, you have to ensure that the video editor you are choosing can stay stable throughout. There are many popular video editors available that become unstable while editing and rendering high-resolution videos. You have to read reviews to come to a conclusion about software stability.

7. Customer Support: Last but most importantly, your video editor must have a good customer support team. In your video editing journey, you will need the help of technical customer support to clarify issues related to the software so that you can excel in your video editing sessions.

Part 7: Video Editing Tips for Beginners

Here are some basic video editing tips that you should keep in mind while editing any video.

1. Try Tight Cuts: Your video should not be too long so that it gets boring for the viewers. Therefore, you have to make tight cuts which means you have to cut out pauses, gaps between dialogs, and anything that is unnecessary for viewers. If you think that tight cuts will take more time than usual, you can consider reshooting the part to save time.

2. Put The Story Before The Footage: When you are shooting a planned video, you must be shooting the video with multiple cameras from different angles. While editing and choosing the perfect angle for a certain video segment, you have to select the one that enhances the story you are telling through your video. For example, in an interview video, you should know when to emphasize and show close angles to capture the emotion of the speaker.

3. Chop Out Mistakes: The most basic work in video editing is to cut out the mistakes. This is because you are sure to make mistakes while shooting, and you will reshoot a lot of mistakes to correct them. Therefore, take your time to chop out mistakes but make sure that the video feels continuous, and if required, you can reshoot. To avoid mistakes in action, you can use different camera angles, blur portions, and bleep out certain words.

4. Learn to use color: Color correction and adjustment is a majorly neglected part of video editing that can make your video different from others. When you are shooting in outdoor conditions, the color of the video could get disturbed depending on the color of your dress as well as your surrounding. While editing, you need to correct them so that the video looks visually pleasing to the eyes.

5. Cut to music: Audio plays a very important role in any video, and hence, you should not neglect it. Always opt for a video editor that has a good collection of stock music so that you can apply them to your video in appropriate places. Music helps to break the monotony and grab the attention of the audience instantly.

6. Back up your work: It takes hours to shoot a video but only a second to lose it. Instead of blindingly relying on your storage device, you should take back up of your work on multiple devices. Taking backup in the cloud storage area is the best option as you can access your work from anywhere.

Part 8: Frequently Asked Questions of Video Editor

What is the best video editor?

Wondershare Filmora is the best video editor as it has the perfect mix of standard and advanced video editing options. The user interface is intuitive and easy to operate for every video creator.

What editor do YouTubers use on PC?

The most commonly used video editors by YouTubers are Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere Pro and Filmora. Unless you are a pro in video editing, we recommend Filmora and Shotcut for your YouTube videos.

How can I edit videos for free?

If you are a Windows user, you can use Microsoft Photos and Openshot for editing your videos for free. For Mac users, iMovie is the best free video editor with balanced features.

Does Windows 10 have a free video editor?

Yes, Windows 10 does come with a free video editor and it is called Microsoft Photos. You can edit your photos and videos with the application.

Is Filmora Free?

No, Filmora is a premium video editor. However, you can download its free trial version to understand its features and functionalities. Thereafter, you can purchase its premium plan as per your suitability.

02 [Editor’s Top 3 Picks ](#Part 2)

03 [Open-Source Video Editors](#Part 3)

04 [Freemium and Freeware Video Editors](#Part 4)

05 [Proprietary Video Editing Software](#Part 5)

06 [How to Choose the Suitable Video Editor](#Part 6)

07 [Video Editing Tips for Newbies](#Part 7)

08 [Frequently Asked Questions of Video Editor](#Part 8)

Part 1: Video Editing Basics

Before going to the best video editors, you should be aware of the basics of video editing. Here are the basic concepts of video editing that you must know as they are common across all video editors.

1. The Timeline: The timeline is an area of a video editor where you place your video clips sequentially. When you play the video after editing, the video will play from the start of the timeline and finish at the end of the timeline where your video content ends. The timeline is where you can place your audio clips, video effects, and graphical elements as per your requirements.

2. The Canvas: The canvas is an area of a video editor where you view your video clips frame by frame. The canvas allows you to edit the video starting from cropping to adding graphical elements. You can view all the changes you make to the video before applying them permanently.

3. Basic editing: The basic editing of a video includes splitting and trimming out important parts of a large video file and, thereafter, joining the different video clips to make an engaging video. The basic editing also includes adding audio clips, adjusting video parameters such as color, brightness, contrast as well as adding texts to the video.

4. Aspect Ratio: The aspect ratio of a video represents the ratio of width to height of the video in terms of pixels. For example, a video with aspect ratio of 16:9 means the video is 1920p x 1080p. You can edit the aspect ratio depending on where you want to publish the video. For example, social media videos use 1:1 and 9: 16 aspect ratio, tablets use 4:3 aspect ratio, and 16:9 is the standard aspect ratio.

5. B-roll: B-roll is a secondary video footage that you can add to your primary video(A-roll) to enhance the video creativity and aesthetic value. B-roll could be a cinematic shot, a slow-motion footage, a close-up shot from different angles, as well as a shot mixed with wide-angle, pans, and tilts.

6. Frame Rate: Frame rate refers to the number of images or frames displayed per second in a video. In short, frame rate refers to frames per second in a video. For example, a video of 30fps means the video is showing 30 different images per second. The 24fps is used for movies and the 30fps is used for online and TV videos. Even 60fps videos are becoming common as they produce a smoother video experience.

Part 2: Editor’s Top 3 Picks - Choose The Best Video Editor

Best Video Editor for All Creators - Filmora

Wondershare Filmora is the ideal video editor with an intuitive user interface. You get all the standard and advanced video editing features packed into its platform. You can record videos of external webcam and computer screen as well. There are unlimited video effects and graphical elements to turn your raw videos into eye-catching videos instantly.

Best for Professional Editing - Premiere Pro

Adobe Premium Pro is the best professional video editor where all the advanced features of video editing are available. The software supports editing multiple projects simultaneously. You can edit VR, Multicam, and 3D videos as well. It is a perfect platform for a professional video editing team to work in sync.

Best for Online Video Editing - WeVideo

WeVideo is by far the best online video editor with 30 million users. Starting from standard video editing options and uploading directly to social media platforms, WeVideo is a full-fledged video editor. You can also record videos and create your own video templates. Moreover, you can collaborate with other video creators and make the best use of the unlimited stock media library.

Part 3: Open-Source Video Editors

Open-source video editors have compatibility with all the desktop operating systems. Moreover, due to their codes readily available online, these video editing software applications are available completely free of cost. Here are the best open-source video editors for beginners and experienced users.

# For Beginner Users

1. Blender

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: best open-source video editor with balanced features

G2 rating: 4.5 out of 5

blender video editor software

Blender is an open-source video editing suite that is popular for its 3D models. Since it is a suite, you can use the platform not only for video editing but also for creating animated videos and games.

Starting from basic video editing such as trim and split to advance video editing such as masking and color adjustment, all options are readily available. Besides, there are options for audio mixing and live preview of editing works.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Video cropping, trimming, splitting, joining, and adjusting speed.
  • Different slots to add videos, images, scenes, audio clips, effects and masks.
  • Different transitions, filters, effects, waveforms, and keyframes available.
  • Create 3D models and animated videos with proper audio mixing.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Takes time to get used to the platform.
  • Reports of bugs have become a regular occurrence.

2. Avidemux

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: best open-source video editor for basic editing

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5

avidemux

Avidemux from Soundforge is a lightweight and basic video editor. Starting from trimming and cutting videos to applying filters and encoding videos, all the options are readily available. The software supports a wide range of video file formats for editing.

The platform also supports scripting through which you can automate tasks to perform on videos. Besides, there are options for color adjustments, video conversion, and advanced interlacing. The simple user interface is perfect for beginners to edit videos intuitively.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Quick video editing for trimming, cutting, rotating, and cropping.
  • Change speed and use different filters for color adjustments and subtitles.
  • Supports different video file formats in import and export.
  • The user interface is simple and suitable for beginners.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Does not have a traditional timeline for video editing.
  • Limited effects, filters, and advanced features.

3. Kdenlive

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: best open-source video editor for all

G2 rating: 4.3 out of 5

kdenlive editor software

Kdenlive video editor is a versatile video editor with standard and advanced video editing features balanced properly. The open-source software allows multi-track timeline and supports dual monitor setup for video editing. The user interface is simple, and you can configure it as per your preference.

Kdenlive supports a wide range of video and audio files, and you can use configurable keyboard shortcuts for easy operation. The automatic backup feature is highly useful in the professional video editing world. Similarly, the presence of keyframe-based effects and advanced effects can make a video stand out.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Multi-track timeline for working with multiple video and audio clips.
  • Keyframeable effects, transitions, color correction and unlimited online resources.
  • Vast set of options for creating stunning texts and titles.
  • Smooth preview, configurable interface, and automatic backup.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Lacks GPU acceleration and hence, slow response at times.
  • Speed adjustment effect is not efficient.

# For Advanced Users

4. OpenShot

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux, Chrome OS

Best for: Best open source editor for all desktop users

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5

openshot

OpenShot is a cross-platform, open-source video editor where you can work on one project on different operating systems. It works on keyframe animation framework, and you can choose from different interpolations. The platform offers you to work with unlimited video and audio clips as well as layers.

You can perform all the basic video editing operations as well as go for advanced editing. The features and tools are well-balanced for regular as well as professional video editing. Starting from video effects and audio mixing to chroma key and time-mapping, everything is available under one roof.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Basic video editing with panning, zooming, and scrolling features.
  • Wide range of transitions, effects, time and speed control.
  • Time-mapping, audio mixing, overlays, and composting.
  • Supports 3D animations and objects, templates for titles and sub-titles.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Hardware acceleration is not very powerful.
  • Not suitable for 4K video editing as it gets extremely slow.

5. Shotcut

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: Best for video editors who love filters and effects

G2 rating: 4.2 out of 5

shotcut

Shotcut is another open-source and cross-platform video editor with a professional user interface. The software supports importing different file formats of video and audio files. It is suitable for editing 4K videos, and it is a full-fledged audio editor as well.

Its vast video filters and effects are comparable to premium video editors. You can work with multi-track timeline and keyframes with markers and rangers. Besides, you can keep notes on your project easily. Overall, it is a balanced video editor in terms of features and functionalities.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Wide categories of video effects, transitions, and filters.
  • Multi-track and multi-format timeline and detailed audio editor.
  • Standard and advanced editing options with hardware acceleration.
  • Export video in high-resolution and in different formats.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • The user interface can take some time to get used to.
  • The stock media library is rather limited.

6. NATRON

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: Best open-source video editor with visual effects

G2 rating: 3.5 out of 5

natron video editor

NATRON is a robust video editor with powerful tracking tool for 2D and planar tracking. You can work with multiple layers and clips and avail various keying options on your video editing project. In fact, it is a full-fledged video compositing software for better video production with multi-layer structure.

The hardware acceleration of the software produces faster rendering. You get to work with presets, tracker nodes, rotoscoping, multi-plane and motion editing. The option of multi-view workflow along with real-time playback is extremely useful while editing multicam videos.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Superior visual effects and motion editing.
  • Multi-tasking with multi-view workflow.
  • Option of rotoscoping and python scripting.
  • Supports different open-source plugins.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • The user interface is quite advanced and needs some learning time.
  • It gets unstable and slow while previewing high-resolution videos.

Part 4: Freemium and Freeware Video Editors

Freeware video editors are available completely free of cost and they are mostly exclusive to a certain operating system. On the other hand, freemium video editors have certain features completely free while it charges users a small fee for certain advanced features. Here is the list of the best freemium and freeware video editors.

# For Beginner Users

7. ActivePresenter

Compatibility: Windows and Mac

Best for: best video editing software for learning videos.

G2 rating: 4.5 out of 5

active presenter

ActivePresenter from AtomiSystems is a video editor with screen recording options. The software is particularly useful in making and editing learning videos. There are different templates available for editing videos quickly. Besides, you can use the platform for standard editing options for any video.

Starting from working with multiple timelines to making videos interactive and responsive, there are various out-of-box features. Moreover, you can edit your audio and export your edited video in different file formats.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Multiple timelines for editing various video and audio clips.
  • Basic video and audio editing options and greenscreen effects.
  • Webcam and screen recording with audio from different sources.
  • Export videos with different file formats, HTML, xAPI, SCORM and much more.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • The learning curve is slightly steep.
  • Not suitable for editing all types of videos.

8. Microsoft Photos

Compatibility: Windows

Best for: best built-in video editor for Windows users

G2 rating: 4.6 out of 5

windows photos app

Microsoft Photos is the inbuilt video editor for Windows users. The app comes pre-installed in Windows and it is mostly used for viewing photos. But there is an inbuilt video editor where you can do the basic video editing works.

You can trim a video, add texts, and apply 3D effects as well as different filters available. There are also options for rotating videos, applying background music and customizing audio. The user interface is very simple for all users.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Instant basic video editing options available.
  • Apply effects, filters, as well as music.
  • Simple and intuitive user interface for everyone.
  • Comes pre-installed and completely free of cost.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Very limited video editing options.
  • Very limited video file formats supported.

9. iMovie

Compatibility: Mac

Best for: Best built-in video editor for Mac users

G2 rating: 4.3 out of 5

imovie editor for mac

iMovie is the inbuilt video editor for Mac users as it comes pre-installed on macOS. The application is free to use and it is compatible with iPhone and iPad as well. You can perform all the basic video editing works starting from trimming to rotating videos.

Besides, there is a wide range of effects and filters available to apply on your videos. The best part is that it supports editing 4K videos. There are also various graphical elements available and you can share your video easily on different platforms.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Trim, rotate, split and crop videos easily.
  • Work across Mac, iPhone and iPad seamlessly.
  • Wide range of effects, filters, and objects available.
  • Supports editing 4K videos without any lag.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Lacks advanced editing options though it is a dedicated video editor.
  • Supports very limited video file formats.

# For Advanced Users

10. Lightworks

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: best for social media video creators

G2 rating: 3.5 out of 5

lightworks

Lightworks is a freemium video editor where most features are reserved for premium users. If you are a social media creator or learning video creator, Lightworks Create is best for you. If you are a professional video creator, you should opt for Lightworks Pro.

The software supports almost all file formats, and you can export videos on social media instantly. The timeline is advanced with proxy editing, autosave and background processing features. You can share projects with your teammates and work collaboratively.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Powerful and advanced timeline for quick editing.
  • Motion graphics and tilting along with advanced metadata.
  • Flexible user interface with proxy workflow and storyboard bin.
  • Suitable for collaborating works and cloud storage.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Can crash while working with 4K videos.
  • Limited options for advanced video editing.

11. VideoPad

Compatibility: Windows

Best for: best video editor for short video creators.

G2 rating: 4.1 out of 5

videopad

VideoPad by NCH Software is an intuitive video editor that supports over 60 different video file formats. There are tools available for basic editing such as trimming and cropping. Besides, there are various effects and transitions available to apply on your video.

The video editor also lets you edit audio files and you can edit 360-degree videos as well. There are video stabilization and chroma key effect available. The video editor is available free for non-commercial use with certain limitations that you can overcome with its premium plan.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Edit in Storybook or Timeline mode and perfect all basic editing works.
  • Audio editing options with different audio effects.
  • Add 3D video effects, special filters, and change video speed.
  • Supports a wide range of video file formats.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Can crash while editing 4K videos.
  • Lacks advanced editing options.

12. VSDC Free Video Editor

Compatibility: Windows only.

Best for: Free feature-rich video editing suite

G2 rating: 4.0 out of 5

vsdc

VSDC Free Video Editor is a free suite that includes both video and audio editor. You can use the software for recording screen as well as voiceovers. The software is suitable for low-end computers as it is a lightweight application.

Apart from basic editing, you can edit 360 videos. Starting from color correction and zooming to split-screen effect and chroma key, it is full-fledged feature-rich software. For more advanced features, you can opt for VSDC Video Editor Pro version.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Zooming, panning, and color correction options.
  • Wide range of effects and filters present.
  • Chrome key option as well as 360 degree video editing.
  • Work with multiple layers and sync objects perfectly.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Lacks advanced video editing options.
  • No masking or video stabilization option available.

Part 5: Proprietary Video Editing Software

If you are a regular video creator and you want to invest in video editing to improve the quality of your video content, you have to opt for a proprietary video editing software. All professional video creators prefer proprietary video editing software over freeware and freemium video editors. Here are the best premium video videos with the most advanced video editing options.

# For Beginner Users

13. Filmora

Compatibility: Windows and Mac.

Best for: Best video editors for YouTubers and vloggers

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5

filmora video editor

Wondershare Filmora is a feature-rich video editor but an intuitive user interface. Therefore, it is perfectly suitable for beginners who want all the features and tools for advanced video editing without a steep learning curve. Filmora is also useful if you want to record screen or webcam video.

Starting from tons of video effects and transitions to a large stock library and graphical elements, Filmora is tailor-made for editing all types of videos. It also supports a wide range of file formats and you can edit 4K videos as well as audio files comfortably.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

Reason to Choose:-

  • Trim, split, join, crop and work with multiple video and audio clips.
  • Large collection of video and audio effects, transitions, and graphical elements.
  • Large stock library of free media files and animations.
  • Work with multiple layers and clips effortlessly on its smooth timeline.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • The processing time for videos could be on the higher side.

14. Camtasia

Compatibility: Windows and Mac.

Best for: Teachers and students to edit tutorial videos

G2 rating: 4.6 out of 5

camtasia video editing software

Camtasia by Techsmith is a premium video editor and it is equally popular as a video recorder. It is particularly useful for recording and editing tutorial videos as there are different templates available. Coming to video editing part, you can perform all the basic video editing works instantly.

There are various trendy effects, transitions, and presets available. You can remove green screen and apply different frames for video compatibility on different devices. Besides, you can upload the editing video different on different platforms instantly.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Quick trimming, splitting, cropping options.
  • Large collection of templates and presets.
  • Wide range of effects, annotations, and transitions.
  • Import, export, and share different file formats.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • No motion tracking option.
  • Reports of frequent crashes.

15. Final Cut Pro

Compatibility: Mac only.

Best for: best professional video editors for Mac users

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5

final cut pro

Final Cut Pro from Apple is an extremely popular premium video editor among professional video creators who are Mac users. It is a powerful and advanced video editor that can handle high resolution videos smoothly. It is a perfect mix of standard and advanced video editing features.

Starting from editing multicam and VR videos to 3D and 360 degree videos, Final Cut Pro is suitable for all. There are unlimited presets and effects present and you can edit 4K videos as well as large video files smoothly.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Basic and advanced video and audio editing features.
  • Supports editing all the different video types such as 3D, 4K, VR videos.
  • Supports plug-ins, external tools and cinematic effects.
  • Renders high resolution, large video files in short time.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Learning curve is quite steep.
  • Pricing is on the higher side.

# For Beginner Users

16. Adobe Premiere Pro

Compatibility: Windows only.

Best for: best professional video editing software for most people

G2 rating: 4.5 out of 5

adobe premiere pro

Adobe Premiere Pro is the ultimate video editor in the professional video editing world. You get all the different advanced features of video editing packed in the application. Even though the learning curve is steep, Adobe Premiere Pro is one of the most used video editors in professional video creation.

Adobe Premiere Pro supports all the different video file formats and you can edit various videos simultaneously. It is a perfect tool for editing a large video project collaboratively. It supports editing VR videos, 3D videos, as well as multicam videos.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Standard and advanced editing options with quick rendering.
  • Suitable for multi-tasking and collaborative work in video editing.
  • Supports almost all types of videos and audio file formats.
  • Flexible and configurable user interface and advanced timeline.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Learning curve is very steep.
  • Not suitable for low-end computers.

17. Vegas Pro

Compatibility: Windows only.

Best for: Video & audio editing for professionals

G2 rating: 4.2 out of 5

vegas

Vegas Pro from Sony is a professional video and audio editor. You can work with multiple video and audio files and you can choose from timeline or storyboard layout. In fact, there are options for nested timeline and multicam editing. The customized workflow and layouts make the application suitable for everyone.

You can enhance your video with its large collection of filters, effects, and titles. There are options for keyframing, scene detection, color correction, and light adjustments. The artificial intelligence makes editing faster with automation control.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Powerful timeline and storyboard mode with keyframing.
  • Advanced HDR color correction and grading.
  • Artificial intelligence for quick and repeated editing.
  • Multicam editing, motion tracking, and support for 3D videos.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Stability of the application is questionable.
  • Pricing is steep and lacks tutorial guide.

18. Hitfilm Express

Compatibility: Windows and Mac

Best for: Best for video effects lovers

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5

hitfilm express

Hitfilm Express is particularly popular for its unlimited video effects that make the video stand out easily. The user interface is quite simple to use, and you can apply effects to turn your raw video into professional video instantly. In fact, it has the largest VFX toolkit with industry-grade effects.

You can edit 4K videos, and there are options for motion tracking and video animations. You can also opt for color correction and grading. You can also edit vertical videos and upload them on social media platforms. You can also edit audio clips and use composting and layering features to enhance your video.

Reason to Choose:-

  • Advanced timeline for better workflow.
  • Standard and advanced video editing options.
  • Largest collection of video effects of different categories.
  • Color grading, correction, and free training and support.

Reason to Avoid:-

  • Lacks green screen editing option.
  • Rendering is not always swift.

Part 6: How to Choose the Suitable Video Editor?

The most important part of video editing is to choose the most suitable video editor for your videos. Here are some important factors to consider while choosing a video editor.

1. Budget and Price: If you are getting started, you can opt for a free video editor. But eventually, you have to go for a premium video editor if you are serious about video editing. You should opt for that video editor that fits your budget and offers more features for the price charged in comparison to its competitors.

2. Learning Curve: You should always opt for a video editor that has a low learning curve. If the video editor is complicated to operate, you will get frustrated, and you won’t be able to unlock the full potential of the video editor. Besides, you will have to lose a lot of time in learning and perfecting the usage of the application.

3. Stock Library: The video editor you are choosing must have a sizeable stock media library. A stock library is where you can find video clips and audio clips that are free to use for everyone. You can incorporate them into your video to enhance the content quality and bring variety to your audiences.

4. Audio control: Video editing is incomplete without proper audio editing. Your video editor should have a separate timeline for audio clips so that you can place them perfect to go in sync with the video clips. Some video editors have dedicated options for audio mixing and editing as per requirements.

5. upport video formats: Your video editor must support a wide range of video file formats that you have to include from time to time. If it supports only the popular file formats, you will not be able to include the interesting videos you may get from different sources which the video editor does not support.

6. Software stability: If you need to edit high-resolution videos, you have to ensure that the video editor you are choosing can stay stable throughout. There are many popular video editors available that become unstable while editing and rendering high-resolution videos. You have to read reviews to come to a conclusion about software stability.

7. Customer Support: Last but most importantly, your video editor must have a good customer support team. In your video editing journey, you will need the help of technical customer support to clarify issues related to the software so that you can excel in your video editing sessions.

Part 7: Video Editing Tips for Beginners

Here are some basic video editing tips that you should keep in mind while editing any video.

1. Try Tight Cuts: Your video should not be too long so that it gets boring for the viewers. Therefore, you have to make tight cuts which means you have to cut out pauses, gaps between dialogs, and anything that is unnecessary for viewers. If you think that tight cuts will take more time than usual, you can consider reshooting the part to save time.

2. Put The Story Before The Footage: When you are shooting a planned video, you must be shooting the video with multiple cameras from different angles. While editing and choosing the perfect angle for a certain video segment, you have to select the one that enhances the story you are telling through your video. For example, in an interview video, you should know when to emphasize and show close angles to capture the emotion of the speaker.

3. Chop Out Mistakes: The most basic work in video editing is to cut out the mistakes. This is because you are sure to make mistakes while shooting, and you will reshoot a lot of mistakes to correct them. Therefore, take your time to chop out mistakes but make sure that the video feels continuous, and if required, you can reshoot. To avoid mistakes in action, you can use different camera angles, blur portions, and bleep out certain words.

4. Learn to use color: Color correction and adjustment is a majorly neglected part of video editing that can make your video different from others. When you are shooting in outdoor conditions, the color of the video could get disturbed depending on the color of your dress as well as your surrounding. While editing, you need to correct them so that the video looks visually pleasing to the eyes.

5. Cut to music: Audio plays a very important role in any video, and hence, you should not neglect it. Always opt for a video editor that has a good collection of stock music so that you can apply them to your video in appropriate places. Music helps to break the monotony and grab the attention of the audience instantly.

6. Back up your work: It takes hours to shoot a video but only a second to lose it. Instead of blindingly relying on your storage device, you should take back up of your work on multiple devices. Taking backup in the cloud storage area is the best option as you can access your work from anywhere.

Part 8: Frequently Asked Questions of Video Editor

What is the best video editor?

Wondershare Filmora is the best video editor as it has the perfect mix of standard and advanced video editing options. The user interface is intuitive and easy to operate for every video creator.

What editor do YouTubers use on PC?

The most commonly used video editors by YouTubers are Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere Pro and Filmora. Unless you are a pro in video editing, we recommend Filmora and Shotcut for your YouTube videos.

How can I edit videos for free?

If you are a Windows user, you can use Microsoft Photos and Openshot for editing your videos for free. For Mac users, iMovie is the best free video editor with balanced features.

Does Windows 10 have a free video editor?

Yes, Windows 10 does come with a free video editor and it is called Microsoft Photos. You can edit your photos and videos with the application.

Is Filmora Free?

No, Filmora is a premium video editor. However, you can download its free trial version to understand its features and functionalities. Thereafter, you can purchase its premium plan as per your suitability.

How to Create Loop Videos Using Filmora

A loop fashion lookbook will be familiar to you if you are a fashion YouTuber. Here we will show you how to record shots and make a creative lookbook to show off your best outfits in an excellent way with Wondershare Filmora.

loop video

Shots recording for loop masking

The first and most crucial step for creating a good loop video is to record perfect shots. Here are the steps to record video shots for loop videos.

How to create a loop video

Step1 Set your camera or phone on a tripod. Make sure it stands still and does not move.

set up a camera

Step2 Set it so that you have a door on one side and enough room for the subject to walk through the door and move out of the frame.

move out of the frame

Step3 Make sure all your outfits are ready.

outfits ready

Step4 Start recording on your camera. Walk through the door wearing the first outfit. Change your outfits and repeat the step with all your dresses. It would help if you kept the camera rolling while recording all these clips. Turning the recording on and off with every shot will result in many small movements.

Editing footage with a professional video editor - Wondershare Filmora

After recording the shots, the next step is to edit them. Wondershare Filmora is the best software for this purpose. Creating a loop video using filmora is an easy task.

Free Download For Win 7 or later(64-bit)

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

Below is the step-by-step guide on using Wondershare Filmora to create a loop masking or lookbook video.

How to edit a loop lookbook video

Step1 Download and install Wondershare Filmora on your PC or Mac.

Step2 Launch Wondershare Filmora, import the video clip into Filmora and place it on the first track.

import clip into filmora

Step3 Find a frame with an empty background, i.e., without the subject, and freeze the frame.

empty background frame

Step4 Extend the frozen frame and cut out the rest of the video.

extend the frozen frame

Step5 We are done with the first track so lock it.

lock first track

Step6 Import the clip again on the second track. And find the sections of the clips where the subject is walking in the video. Cut the remaining part.

import the clip on the second track

Step7 It will create several small sections on the second track.

second track sections

Step8 Put the first clip at the start of the timeline and move the playhead to find the frame containing enough room for the second outfit.

put the first outfit clip

Step9 Move the second outfit to that playhead area.

put the second outfit

Step10 Double-click on the clip, go to effects, and choose a single-line mask.

choose single line mask

Step11 Drag the mask to the point where it shows the outfit on its right side.

drag the mask line

Step12 Blur the mask edges by increasing blur numbers.

blur the mask edges

Step13 Click on the add button to add a mask keyframe and move the play head forward until the first outfit leaves the frame.

add a mask keyframe

Step14 Move the mask to the left to reveal the entire frame, and repeat the same process with all outfits.

reveal the frame and repeat with all outfits

Step15 After finishing all outfits, copy the clip from the first outfit. And paste it on top of all the tracks after the last outfit. And add a mask keyframe to this section too.

add a mask frame

Step16 Unlock the first track and move the playhead to find the point where the subject with 4th outfit moves out of the frame. Then, cut the remaining part of the freeze frame on the right.

unlock first track

Step17 Now move the playhead to the first frame and find where it coincides with the last part of the final frame. Cut the previous piece.

move playhead to first frame

Post it on Instagram, and it will keep playing automatically and act like a loop video. Otherwise, duplicate this edited clip several times to create a longer loop video. Background music plays a vital role in these videos, setting the tone and pace. Follow all the steps in the correct order. Then, create and post loop videos on your social media platforms.

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

Below is the step-by-step guide on using Wondershare Filmora to create a loop masking or lookbook video.

How to edit a loop lookbook video

Step1 Download and install Wondershare Filmora on your PC or Mac.

Step2 Launch Wondershare Filmora, import the video clip into Filmora and place it on the first track.

import clip into filmora

Step3 Find a frame with an empty background, i.e., without the subject, and freeze the frame.

empty background frame

Step4 Extend the frozen frame and cut out the rest of the video.

extend the frozen frame

Step5 We are done with the first track so lock it.

lock first track

Step6 Import the clip again on the second track. And find the sections of the clips where the subject is walking in the video. Cut the remaining part.

import the clip on the second track

Step7 It will create several small sections on the second track.

second track sections

Step8 Put the first clip at the start of the timeline and move the playhead to find the frame containing enough room for the second outfit.

put the first outfit clip

Step9 Move the second outfit to that playhead area.

put the second outfit

Step10 Double-click on the clip, go to effects, and choose a single-line mask.

choose single line mask

Step11 Drag the mask to the point where it shows the outfit on its right side.

drag the mask line

Step12 Blur the mask edges by increasing blur numbers.

blur the mask edges

Step13 Click on the add button to add a mask keyframe and move the play head forward until the first outfit leaves the frame.

add a mask keyframe

Step14 Move the mask to the left to reveal the entire frame, and repeat the same process with all outfits.

reveal the frame and repeat with all outfits

Step15 After finishing all outfits, copy the clip from the first outfit. And paste it on top of all the tracks after the last outfit. And add a mask keyframe to this section too.

add a mask frame

Step16 Unlock the first track and move the playhead to find the point where the subject with 4th outfit moves out of the frame. Then, cut the remaining part of the freeze frame on the right.

unlock first track

Step17 Now move the playhead to the first frame and find where it coincides with the last part of the final frame. Cut the previous piece.

move playhead to first frame

Post it on Instagram, and it will keep playing automatically and act like a loop video. Otherwise, duplicate this edited clip several times to create a longer loop video. Background music plays a vital role in these videos, setting the tone and pace. Follow all the steps in the correct order. Then, create and post loop videos on your social media platforms.

Top 5 Tips to Freeze-Frame in After Effects

Top 5 Tips to Freeze Frame in After Effects

An easy yet powerful editor

Numerous effects to choose from

Detailed tutorials provided by the official channel

Try It Free Try It Free

After Effects (AE) does not require any introduction as it is one of the most preferred video editing tools for commercial and professional purposes. However, this editing software is a bit complex for beginners. A freeze-frame is basically for holding the video on a single frame for an extended period. When it comes to clip editing, Adobe After Effects is a tool that no one can miss as it has plenty of editing tools and features that other tools do not have. In addition, AE offers a layer-based editing tool that provides the most professional way to edit videos, whereby users can add transition, multiple layers, effects, audio, etc., at the same instant.

freeze-frame in After Effect

Among many other features, one of the essential features of AE that we will talk about is a freeze-frame. Now the question is, what is freeze-frame? The freeze-frame stops or freezes stop the specific frame that users should focus on or feature. Simply, select or pick the frame required to be frozen and follow the steps to freeze the frame of their choice. This article will explain how you can frame hold in After Effects by following a few simple steps.

In this article

01 [How to Freeze-frame in After Effects](#Part 1)

02 [FAQs on Freeze Effect on After Effects](#Part 2)

03 [Compared with Filmora, What Are the Advantages of Freeze-frame After Effects?](#Part 3)

Part 1 How to Freeze-frame in After Effects

This part explains how to hold a frame in After Effects and the working of the freeze-frame button. After Effects requires ample resources, and the layers need to be solo for the editing process to speed up. However, sometimes you may need to see other objects in the scene, and that is where the freeze-frame button will be helpful. This freeze-frame Effect temporarily freezes the selected layers while you continue editing the video and does not overload the After Effects editor. In addition, you can press the button again to remove the freeze. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use Adobe After Effects to freeze-frame:

Step 1: Add Video Clip to Adobe After Effects

First, make sure you have the AE composition open, and the video clip added. Next is to find the point where you want the video to “pause” or freeze by moving the time position indicator on the timeline.

Step 2: Choose Layer for Freezing Frame

Next, select the layer and then right-click on the layer to find Time in the menu that appears, and under Time find Freeze-frame and click it. Once done, the entire layer will get stuck on that frame.

how to freeze-frame in After Effect 01

Step 3: Add Multiple Layers for Effects

Start the same way before and repeat it several times by splitting the layer, which means that After Effects will take the layer at the time position indicator and cut it into two layers. To achieve this, use the keyboard shortcut Command+Shift+D if you are using a Mac or Control+Shift+D if you are using a Windows operating system.

Step 4: Zoom in

Next, hit the plus (+) sign a few times to zoom into the timeline, move forward one frame, select the new layer, the one on top, and split the layer again using the keyboard shortcut, and now have three layers.

how to freeze-frame in After Effect 02

Finally, export and save it on your device when you are satisfied with the result.

Thus, you successfully used the After Effects Freeze Frame to bring cinematic effects to your video.

Part 2 FAQs on Freeze Effect on After Effects

Now, let us view some common FAQs that may come across while using After Effects frame hold.

What does freeze do in After Effects?

With After Effects holding the last frame (freeze-frame), you can instantly add multiple layers, effects, transitions, audio, and other media. In addition, the freeze-frame in After Effect pauses or stops the specific frame that you want to feature or focus.

Why can’t I freeze-frame in After Effects?

The reason you cannot freeze-frame in After Effect could be a result of the greyed-out features. With this grey-out feature, a freeze-frame cannot be created or added from a sequence, as you will be required to go back to the original clip to create a freeze-frame or any other type of Effect.

How do you Freeze the current frame for the duration of the layer in After Effects 2020?

First, in the Composition or the Timeline panel, pick the layer.

Place the current-time indicator on the frame that you want to freeze.

Choose Layer > Time > Freeze-frame.

Part 3 Compared with Filmora, What Are the Advantages of Freeze-frame After Effects?

A freeze-frame can be any frame from a video clip you would like to turn into an After Effects still frame or still image. Another perfect way to explain a freeze-frame called a still image is that it is like pressing the pause button on remote control, making a statue, or taking a photo.

Other Advantages of Freeze-frame in Adobe After Effect is that:

The images can be worked upon quickly without discussion or rehearsed and planned.

They are instrumental as an immediate way of communicating ideas or telling a story.

They can be valuable to represent people or objects and even abstract concepts like emotions or atmospheres.

As there are no lines to learn, frame hold in After Effects can help shyer performers to gain confidence.

More so, with the Filmora Video Editor, you can freeze a frame of your video clip, and it also allows users to set the duration of the freeze automatically.

Other Advantages of Freeze-frame in Filmora are that:

Freeze Frame in Filmora has made the editing tasks more flexible and accessible.

It makes the video more appealing and exciting.

It helps extend the duration of any point in the video and makes it more focused.

Comparison Table of Adobe After Effect and Wondershare Filmora Video Editor

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

DIMENSIONS ADOBE AFTER EFFECT (AE) FILMORA
Smartscore 9.0 9.5
User Satisfaction 82% 96%
Price $29.99 $7.99
Price Model Monthly PaymentAnnual SubscriptionQuote Based Monthly PaymentAnnual SubscriptionQuote BasedOne-time Payment
List of Features Immersive Virtual Reality EffectsData-Driven AnimationExpression Access to Shape, Mask, And Brush Stroke Path PointsCreate Virtual Reality EffectsVR ConverterVR Comp EditorVR Rotate SphereCreate Nulls from Path PanelGPU Accelerated Effects 4K editing supportGIF supportNoise removalColor tuningAdvanced text editorAudio mixerVideo stabilizationScene detectionAudio equalizer
Integration Video collaboration tool3D graphic programProject management solution YouTubeFacebookTwitterInstagramVimeo
Language Supported EnglishDutchPolishTurkishSwedish EnglishSwedishPortugueseDutchItalianRussianFrenchSpanishJapaneseHindiGermanChinese
Available Device WindowsMacAndroidWeb-basediPhone/iPadLinux WindowsMac

In short, Adobe After Effects is a much better instrument for professionals due to its extensive range of features. However, it can seem complex for newbies. Thus, if you are new to video editing and freeze frames on After Effects, we suggest you go for Filmora first to get yourself acquainted.

Ending Thoughts

Thus, this report recommends Filmora as an essential alternative to After Effect in using freeze-frame as Filmora allows work with ease.

We added a list of FAQs on the After Effects freeze-frame.

Try It Free Try It Free

After Effects (AE) does not require any introduction as it is one of the most preferred video editing tools for commercial and professional purposes. However, this editing software is a bit complex for beginners. A freeze-frame is basically for holding the video on a single frame for an extended period. When it comes to clip editing, Adobe After Effects is a tool that no one can miss as it has plenty of editing tools and features that other tools do not have. In addition, AE offers a layer-based editing tool that provides the most professional way to edit videos, whereby users can add transition, multiple layers, effects, audio, etc., at the same instant.

freeze-frame in After Effect

Among many other features, one of the essential features of AE that we will talk about is a freeze-frame. Now the question is, what is freeze-frame? The freeze-frame stops or freezes stop the specific frame that users should focus on or feature. Simply, select or pick the frame required to be frozen and follow the steps to freeze the frame of their choice. This article will explain how you can frame hold in After Effects by following a few simple steps.

In this article

01 [How to Freeze-frame in After Effects](#Part 1)

02 [FAQs on Freeze Effect on After Effects](#Part 2)

03 [Compared with Filmora, What Are the Advantages of Freeze-frame After Effects?](#Part 3)

Part 1 How to Freeze-frame in After Effects

This part explains how to hold a frame in After Effects and the working of the freeze-frame button. After Effects requires ample resources, and the layers need to be solo for the editing process to speed up. However, sometimes you may need to see other objects in the scene, and that is where the freeze-frame button will be helpful. This freeze-frame Effect temporarily freezes the selected layers while you continue editing the video and does not overload the After Effects editor. In addition, you can press the button again to remove the freeze. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use Adobe After Effects to freeze-frame:

Step 1: Add Video Clip to Adobe After Effects

First, make sure you have the AE composition open, and the video clip added. Next is to find the point where you want the video to “pause” or freeze by moving the time position indicator on the timeline.

Step 2: Choose Layer for Freezing Frame

Next, select the layer and then right-click on the layer to find Time in the menu that appears, and under Time find Freeze-frame and click it. Once done, the entire layer will get stuck on that frame.

how to freeze-frame in After Effect 01

Step 3: Add Multiple Layers for Effects

Start the same way before and repeat it several times by splitting the layer, which means that After Effects will take the layer at the time position indicator and cut it into two layers. To achieve this, use the keyboard shortcut Command+Shift+D if you are using a Mac or Control+Shift+D if you are using a Windows operating system.

Step 4: Zoom in

Next, hit the plus (+) sign a few times to zoom into the timeline, move forward one frame, select the new layer, the one on top, and split the layer again using the keyboard shortcut, and now have three layers.

how to freeze-frame in After Effect 02

Finally, export and save it on your device when you are satisfied with the result.

Thus, you successfully used the After Effects Freeze Frame to bring cinematic effects to your video.

Part 2 FAQs on Freeze Effect on After Effects

Now, let us view some common FAQs that may come across while using After Effects frame hold.

What does freeze do in After Effects?

With After Effects holding the last frame (freeze-frame), you can instantly add multiple layers, effects, transitions, audio, and other media. In addition, the freeze-frame in After Effect pauses or stops the specific frame that you want to feature or focus.

Why can’t I freeze-frame in After Effects?

The reason you cannot freeze-frame in After Effect could be a result of the greyed-out features. With this grey-out feature, a freeze-frame cannot be created or added from a sequence, as you will be required to go back to the original clip to create a freeze-frame or any other type of Effect.

How do you Freeze the current frame for the duration of the layer in After Effects 2020?

First, in the Composition or the Timeline panel, pick the layer.

Place the current-time indicator on the frame that you want to freeze.

Choose Layer > Time > Freeze-frame.

Part 3 Compared with Filmora, What Are the Advantages of Freeze-frame After Effects?

A freeze-frame can be any frame from a video clip you would like to turn into an After Effects still frame or still image. Another perfect way to explain a freeze-frame called a still image is that it is like pressing the pause button on remote control, making a statue, or taking a photo.

Other Advantages of Freeze-frame in Adobe After Effect is that:

The images can be worked upon quickly without discussion or rehearsed and planned.

They are instrumental as an immediate way of communicating ideas or telling a story.

They can be valuable to represent people or objects and even abstract concepts like emotions or atmospheres.

As there are no lines to learn, frame hold in After Effects can help shyer performers to gain confidence.

More so, with the Filmora Video Editor, you can freeze a frame of your video clip, and it also allows users to set the duration of the freeze automatically.

Other Advantages of Freeze-frame in Filmora are that:

Freeze Frame in Filmora has made the editing tasks more flexible and accessible.

It makes the video more appealing and exciting.

It helps extend the duration of any point in the video and makes it more focused.

Comparison Table of Adobe After Effect and Wondershare Filmora Video Editor

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

DIMENSIONS ADOBE AFTER EFFECT (AE) FILMORA
Smartscore 9.0 9.5
User Satisfaction 82% 96%
Price $29.99 $7.99
Price Model Monthly PaymentAnnual SubscriptionQuote Based Monthly PaymentAnnual SubscriptionQuote BasedOne-time Payment
List of Features Immersive Virtual Reality EffectsData-Driven AnimationExpression Access to Shape, Mask, And Brush Stroke Path PointsCreate Virtual Reality EffectsVR ConverterVR Comp EditorVR Rotate SphereCreate Nulls from Path PanelGPU Accelerated Effects 4K editing supportGIF supportNoise removalColor tuningAdvanced text editorAudio mixerVideo stabilizationScene detectionAudio equalizer
Integration Video collaboration tool3D graphic programProject management solution YouTubeFacebookTwitterInstagramVimeo
Language Supported EnglishDutchPolishTurkishSwedish EnglishSwedishPortugueseDutchItalianRussianFrenchSpanishJapaneseHindiGermanChinese
Available Device WindowsMacAndroidWeb-basediPhone/iPadLinux WindowsMac

In short, Adobe After Effects is a much better instrument for professionals due to its extensive range of features. However, it can seem complex for newbies. Thus, if you are new to video editing and freeze frames on After Effects, we suggest you go for Filmora first to get yourself acquainted.

Ending Thoughts

Thus, this report recommends Filmora as an essential alternative to After Effect in using freeze-frame as Filmora allows work with ease.

We added a list of FAQs on the After Effects freeze-frame.

Try It Free Try It Free

After Effects (AE) does not require any introduction as it is one of the most preferred video editing tools for commercial and professional purposes. However, this editing software is a bit complex for beginners. A freeze-frame is basically for holding the video on a single frame for an extended period. When it comes to clip editing, Adobe After Effects is a tool that no one can miss as it has plenty of editing tools and features that other tools do not have. In addition, AE offers a layer-based editing tool that provides the most professional way to edit videos, whereby users can add transition, multiple layers, effects, audio, etc., at the same instant.

freeze-frame in After Effect

Among many other features, one of the essential features of AE that we will talk about is a freeze-frame. Now the question is, what is freeze-frame? The freeze-frame stops or freezes stop the specific frame that users should focus on or feature. Simply, select or pick the frame required to be frozen and follow the steps to freeze the frame of their choice. This article will explain how you can frame hold in After Effects by following a few simple steps.

In this article

01 [How to Freeze-frame in After Effects](#Part 1)

02 [FAQs on Freeze Effect on After Effects](#Part 2)

03 [Compared with Filmora, What Are the Advantages of Freeze-frame After Effects?](#Part 3)

Part 1 How to Freeze-frame in After Effects

This part explains how to hold a frame in After Effects and the working of the freeze-frame button. After Effects requires ample resources, and the layers need to be solo for the editing process to speed up. However, sometimes you may need to see other objects in the scene, and that is where the freeze-frame button will be helpful. This freeze-frame Effect temporarily freezes the selected layers while you continue editing the video and does not overload the After Effects editor. In addition, you can press the button again to remove the freeze. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use Adobe After Effects to freeze-frame:

Step 1: Add Video Clip to Adobe After Effects

First, make sure you have the AE composition open, and the video clip added. Next is to find the point where you want the video to “pause” or freeze by moving the time position indicator on the timeline.

Step 2: Choose Layer for Freezing Frame

Next, select the layer and then right-click on the layer to find Time in the menu that appears, and under Time find Freeze-frame and click it. Once done, the entire layer will get stuck on that frame.

how to freeze-frame in After Effect 01

Step 3: Add Multiple Layers for Effects

Start the same way before and repeat it several times by splitting the layer, which means that After Effects will take the layer at the time position indicator and cut it into two layers. To achieve this, use the keyboard shortcut Command+Shift+D if you are using a Mac or Control+Shift+D if you are using a Windows operating system.

Step 4: Zoom in

Next, hit the plus (+) sign a few times to zoom into the timeline, move forward one frame, select the new layer, the one on top, and split the layer again using the keyboard shortcut, and now have three layers.

how to freeze-frame in After Effect 02

Finally, export and save it on your device when you are satisfied with the result.

Thus, you successfully used the After Effects Freeze Frame to bring cinematic effects to your video.

Part 2 FAQs on Freeze Effect on After Effects

Now, let us view some common FAQs that may come across while using After Effects frame hold.

What does freeze do in After Effects?

With After Effects holding the last frame (freeze-frame), you can instantly add multiple layers, effects, transitions, audio, and other media. In addition, the freeze-frame in After Effect pauses or stops the specific frame that you want to feature or focus.

Why can’t I freeze-frame in After Effects?

The reason you cannot freeze-frame in After Effect could be a result of the greyed-out features. With this grey-out feature, a freeze-frame cannot be created or added from a sequence, as you will be required to go back to the original clip to create a freeze-frame or any other type of Effect.

How do you Freeze the current frame for the duration of the layer in After Effects 2020?

First, in the Composition or the Timeline panel, pick the layer.

Place the current-time indicator on the frame that you want to freeze.

Choose Layer > Time > Freeze-frame.

Part 3 Compared with Filmora, What Are the Advantages of Freeze-frame After Effects?

A freeze-frame can be any frame from a video clip you would like to turn into an After Effects still frame or still image. Another perfect way to explain a freeze-frame called a still image is that it is like pressing the pause button on remote control, making a statue, or taking a photo.

Other Advantages of Freeze-frame in Adobe After Effect is that:

The images can be worked upon quickly without discussion or rehearsed and planned.

They are instrumental as an immediate way of communicating ideas or telling a story.

They can be valuable to represent people or objects and even abstract concepts like emotions or atmospheres.

As there are no lines to learn, frame hold in After Effects can help shyer performers to gain confidence.

More so, with the Filmora Video Editor, you can freeze a frame of your video clip, and it also allows users to set the duration of the freeze automatically.

Other Advantages of Freeze-frame in Filmora are that:

Freeze Frame in Filmora has made the editing tasks more flexible and accessible.

It makes the video more appealing and exciting.

It helps extend the duration of any point in the video and makes it more focused.

Comparison Table of Adobe After Effect and Wondershare Filmora Video Editor

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

DIMENSIONS ADOBE AFTER EFFECT (AE) FILMORA
Smartscore 9.0 9.5
User Satisfaction 82% 96%
Price $29.99 $7.99
Price Model Monthly PaymentAnnual SubscriptionQuote Based Monthly PaymentAnnual SubscriptionQuote BasedOne-time Payment
List of Features Immersive Virtual Reality EffectsData-Driven AnimationExpression Access to Shape, Mask, And Brush Stroke Path PointsCreate Virtual Reality EffectsVR ConverterVR Comp EditorVR Rotate SphereCreate Nulls from Path PanelGPU Accelerated Effects 4K editing supportGIF supportNoise removalColor tuningAdvanced text editorAudio mixerVideo stabilizationScene detectionAudio equalizer
Integration Video collaboration tool3D graphic programProject management solution YouTubeFacebookTwitterInstagramVimeo
Language Supported EnglishDutchPolishTurkishSwedish EnglishSwedishPortugueseDutchItalianRussianFrenchSpanishJapaneseHindiGermanChinese
Available Device WindowsMacAndroidWeb-basediPhone/iPadLinux WindowsMac

In short, Adobe After Effects is a much better instrument for professionals due to its extensive range of features. However, it can seem complex for newbies. Thus, if you are new to video editing and freeze frames on After Effects, we suggest you go for Filmora first to get yourself acquainted.

Ending Thoughts

Thus, this report recommends Filmora as an essential alternative to After Effect in using freeze-frame as Filmora allows work with ease.

We added a list of FAQs on the After Effects freeze-frame.

Try It Free Try It Free

After Effects (AE) does not require any introduction as it is one of the most preferred video editing tools for commercial and professional purposes. However, this editing software is a bit complex for beginners. A freeze-frame is basically for holding the video on a single frame for an extended period. When it comes to clip editing, Adobe After Effects is a tool that no one can miss as it has plenty of editing tools and features that other tools do not have. In addition, AE offers a layer-based editing tool that provides the most professional way to edit videos, whereby users can add transition, multiple layers, effects, audio, etc., at the same instant.

freeze-frame in After Effect

Among many other features, one of the essential features of AE that we will talk about is a freeze-frame. Now the question is, what is freeze-frame? The freeze-frame stops or freezes stop the specific frame that users should focus on or feature. Simply, select or pick the frame required to be frozen and follow the steps to freeze the frame of their choice. This article will explain how you can frame hold in After Effects by following a few simple steps.

In this article

01 [How to Freeze-frame in After Effects](#Part 1)

02 [FAQs on Freeze Effect on After Effects](#Part 2)

03 [Compared with Filmora, What Are the Advantages of Freeze-frame After Effects?](#Part 3)

Part 1 How to Freeze-frame in After Effects

This part explains how to hold a frame in After Effects and the working of the freeze-frame button. After Effects requires ample resources, and the layers need to be solo for the editing process to speed up. However, sometimes you may need to see other objects in the scene, and that is where the freeze-frame button will be helpful. This freeze-frame Effect temporarily freezes the selected layers while you continue editing the video and does not overload the After Effects editor. In addition, you can press the button again to remove the freeze. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use Adobe After Effects to freeze-frame:

Step 1: Add Video Clip to Adobe After Effects

First, make sure you have the AE composition open, and the video clip added. Next is to find the point where you want the video to “pause” or freeze by moving the time position indicator on the timeline.

Step 2: Choose Layer for Freezing Frame

Next, select the layer and then right-click on the layer to find Time in the menu that appears, and under Time find Freeze-frame and click it. Once done, the entire layer will get stuck on that frame.

how to freeze-frame in After Effect 01

Step 3: Add Multiple Layers for Effects

Start the same way before and repeat it several times by splitting the layer, which means that After Effects will take the layer at the time position indicator and cut it into two layers. To achieve this, use the keyboard shortcut Command+Shift+D if you are using a Mac or Control+Shift+D if you are using a Windows operating system.

Step 4: Zoom in

Next, hit the plus (+) sign a few times to zoom into the timeline, move forward one frame, select the new layer, the one on top, and split the layer again using the keyboard shortcut, and now have three layers.

how to freeze-frame in After Effect 02

Finally, export and save it on your device when you are satisfied with the result.

Thus, you successfully used the After Effects Freeze Frame to bring cinematic effects to your video.

Part 2 FAQs on Freeze Effect on After Effects

Now, let us view some common FAQs that may come across while using After Effects frame hold.

What does freeze do in After Effects?

With After Effects holding the last frame (freeze-frame), you can instantly add multiple layers, effects, transitions, audio, and other media. In addition, the freeze-frame in After Effect pauses or stops the specific frame that you want to feature or focus.

Why can’t I freeze-frame in After Effects?

The reason you cannot freeze-frame in After Effect could be a result of the greyed-out features. With this grey-out feature, a freeze-frame cannot be created or added from a sequence, as you will be required to go back to the original clip to create a freeze-frame or any other type of Effect.

How do you Freeze the current frame for the duration of the layer in After Effects 2020?

First, in the Composition or the Timeline panel, pick the layer.

Place the current-time indicator on the frame that you want to freeze.

Choose Layer > Time > Freeze-frame.

Part 3 Compared with Filmora, What Are the Advantages of Freeze-frame After Effects?

A freeze-frame can be any frame from a video clip you would like to turn into an After Effects still frame or still image. Another perfect way to explain a freeze-frame called a still image is that it is like pressing the pause button on remote control, making a statue, or taking a photo.

Other Advantages of Freeze-frame in Adobe After Effect is that:

The images can be worked upon quickly without discussion or rehearsed and planned.

They are instrumental as an immediate way of communicating ideas or telling a story.

They can be valuable to represent people or objects and even abstract concepts like emotions or atmospheres.

As there are no lines to learn, frame hold in After Effects can help shyer performers to gain confidence.

More so, with the Filmora Video Editor, you can freeze a frame of your video clip, and it also allows users to set the duration of the freeze automatically.

Other Advantages of Freeze-frame in Filmora are that:

Freeze Frame in Filmora has made the editing tasks more flexible and accessible.

It makes the video more appealing and exciting.

It helps extend the duration of any point in the video and makes it more focused.

Comparison Table of Adobe After Effect and Wondershare Filmora Video Editor

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

DIMENSIONS ADOBE AFTER EFFECT (AE) FILMORA
Smartscore 9.0 9.5
User Satisfaction 82% 96%
Price $29.99 $7.99
Price Model Monthly PaymentAnnual SubscriptionQuote Based Monthly PaymentAnnual SubscriptionQuote BasedOne-time Payment
List of Features Immersive Virtual Reality EffectsData-Driven AnimationExpression Access to Shape, Mask, And Brush Stroke Path PointsCreate Virtual Reality EffectsVR ConverterVR Comp EditorVR Rotate SphereCreate Nulls from Path PanelGPU Accelerated Effects 4K editing supportGIF supportNoise removalColor tuningAdvanced text editorAudio mixerVideo stabilizationScene detectionAudio equalizer
Integration Video collaboration tool3D graphic programProject management solution YouTubeFacebookTwitterInstagramVimeo
Language Supported EnglishDutchPolishTurkishSwedish EnglishSwedishPortugueseDutchItalianRussianFrenchSpanishJapaneseHindiGermanChinese
Available Device WindowsMacAndroidWeb-basediPhone/iPadLinux WindowsMac

In short, Adobe After Effects is a much better instrument for professionals due to its extensive range of features. However, it can seem complex for newbies. Thus, if you are new to video editing and freeze frames on After Effects, we suggest you go for Filmora first to get yourself acquainted.

Ending Thoughts

Thus, this report recommends Filmora as an essential alternative to After Effect in using freeze-frame as Filmora allows work with ease.

We added a list of FAQs on the After Effects freeze-frame.

Also read:

  • Title: New 2024 Approved 10 Best Sony LUT for Different Purposes
  • Author: Morgan
  • Created at : 2024-05-19 05:12:47
  • Updated at : 2024-05-20 05:12:47
  • Link: https://ai-video-editing.techidaily.com/new-2024-approved-10-best-sony-lut-for-different-purposes/
  • License: This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
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New 2024 Approved 10 Best Sony LUT for Different Purposes