The Best Video Editing Software for 2025
If you're working within a tight budget or just starting your journey as a creator, there are plenty of free video editors to choose from. They range from accessible freebies to professional-level tools that are recognized as some of the best in the industry. There are options for Windows, Mac, and Linux, plus web apps for use in a desktop browser. That's all to say: you won't be left out just because you're looking for free.
| Updated: Mar 27, 2025, 16:40 IST
Over the past 15 years, I've tried more video editors than I'd care to mention. I've used them for everything from slapping together iPhone videos for sharing on social media to producing commissioned product reviews shot on "real" cameras. I'm always on the lookout for new editors and significant updates to existing tools that can make video editing easier and more accessible.
This is my second time updating this article. This time, I started with more than 60 apps and put the best of them through their paces. What I ended up with is a shortlist of the best free video editors for YouTube and beyond.
The best free video editing apps
DaVinci Resolve for the most powerful free video editor
CapCut for a free easy-to-use video editor with added depth
Adobe Premiere Rush for the best free video editing software for quick edits
Clipchamp for the best free web-based video editor
iMovie for the best free, simple video editor for Mac users
Kdenlive for a free, open-source, and cross-platform video editor
What makes the best free video editing software?
There are free video editors that hold your hand through the entire process, and there are more powerful apps that offer room to grow. At the very least, all of the apps on this list allow you to cut together clips and export a finished product at 1080p—with no watermark—in a format that's suitable for sharing on platforms like YouTube.
As I was testing all the free video editing apps I could get my hands on, I used the following criteria to help pick the best one for the job:
Editing features. The ability to easily arrange clips on a timeline is the bread and butter of video editing. Some apps take care of this for you with automatic editing options, while others leave you to your own devices with tools for splitting clips and adding markers. I also looked at more advanced editing features like chroma keying (green screen), multi-camera editing, visual effects, and AI features, like text-based editing.
Limitations for free users. Only some of the editors featured in my shortlist are completely free—the rest are free versions of premium apps. I only considered apps that satisfied my criteria of being able to export at 1080p or better with no watermark and without any limits on the number of exports performed. Some apps include optional premium aspects, like transitions, effects, and tools that are nice to have but not essential for performing simple edits.
Efficiency. I looked for performant apps with good options for exporting video. Publishing directly to YouTube is a nice bonus but not essential. Playback should be smooth while editing, and video preview windows should ideally include toggles for quality settings and transcoding options to accommodate less powerful hardware. Web-based video editors should feel as close to a desktop app as possible and handle the editing workflow accordingly.
Learning and support. Ample support documentation, tutorials, and an active community of users can be huge, especially for more advanced editors. For simpler tools, intuitive design and in-app guidance might be all you need.
Extras. Some video editors are complete suites that can handle effects, audio mastering, and even subtitling. Others offer integration with stock footage services and cloud storage providers. Though not essential, extras like these can help some video editing apps stand out.
To test these video editors, I cut together a selection of 4K HDR videos shot on an iPhone 13 Pro (in HEVC format) and 4K footage from a Sony mirrorless camera encoded in H.264. I performed simple edits, like adding clips to a timeline, splitting clips, adjusting playback speed, and adding transitions between clips. I also dabbled in the more advanced options (where available), including chroma keying, syncing video and audio, and color correction. Finally, I made sure the exported files met my standards for quality—and didn't include a watermark.
In the end, I settled on the following free video editors that should satisfy a range of abilities across all three major desktop operating systems and the web.