Free Video Editor Compare List
Quality | Pro Grade | Consumer Grade | Basic Grade | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Name | DaVinci Resolve 12 | Windows Movie Maker | iMovie | your phone built-in video editor |
Platform | Windows & Mac | Windows | Mac | iOS, Android |
Download | blackmagicdesign | windows essentials package | built-in (new version require payment for old Mac version upgrade) | built-in |
Ease of use | Easy for basic Medium for advanced | Easy | Easy | Easy |
Format support | Wide range | Medium range | Medium Range | Limited Range |
audio support | .wav .aif | |||
export format | .mov |
Other full feature free video editors
- Blender 3D
- a free full feature 3D animation software, that has video editor built-in
- windows, mac, linux
- Ease of use: Medium (ref: https://www.blender.org/features/)
- Format support: wide range
- VideoLAN Movie Creator
- a free video editor made by one of the best video player software maker.
- windows, mac, linux
- Ease of use: Easy
- Format support: wide range
- Natron 2.0
- a free powerful compositing software
- windows, mac, linux
- Ease of use: High learning curve
- Format support: wide range
- Fusion 8
- a free powerful compositing software, from same company of DaVinci Resolve
- win, mac, linux
- ease of use: high learning curve
- Format support: wide range
Paid Video Editor Compare List
- all of them have the features you need to get the job done, there is not much difference. It is all based on personal preference.
- Adobe Premiere Pro: if you use Adobe software suite, then it make sense for you
- windows, mac
- it has tiny version called Adobe Premiere Element: http://www.adobe.com/products/premiere-elements.html
- Final Cut Pro X: only if you have Mac
- mac only
- Sony Vegas Pro
- windows only
- Avid Media Composer
- windows, mac
Other Free Video Editors but with locked features as Free version
- Lightworks Free version: limited to HD 720p mp4 video output.
- windows and mac
- HitFilm 3 Express: no AVCHD video import, limited to FHD 1080p mp4 video output and image sequence output
- windows and mac
- a good video editor with a lot of visual effects and stock footage features built-in, targeting at indi film makers, the extra effects and footage can be get in the software itself with pay-to-use method
- quick overview tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtwZ8wahH6M
Adobe CS2 products - include Premiere Pro 2.0 and After Effects 7
- although they are old from 2005 and unsupported software for modern computers, but Adobe provide free download for those old customers who still use them, and also put the ready-to-use serial code public for their old customers.
- so technically you can download them and use the code like their old customers
- link of download, press Escape key (ESC key on top left of keyboard) if you don't want the page to auto jump to login page. https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-suite/kb/cs2-product-downloads.html
- the Mac version I think will not run on modern Mac well, as Mac OS generally change too much in each version
- the Windows version I think I will run fine with compatibility mode turn-on when right click on application and set up in compatibility property tab. or just virtual box and run a windows XP to use them.
- read more on this article: http://blog.rainwebs.net/2013/01/27/adobe-cs-2-on-windows-8/