The best video editing software for beginners strikes the right balance between an expansive feature set and ease of use. Whether you're a content creator on TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube, or a freelancer, the best video editing software helps you create professional-looking videos.
The increasing popularity of 4K videos thanks to ever-improving smartphone cameras means that the ability to process 4K video editing was one of the factors while choosing the best video editing software for Windows for beginners.
Among other factors, we considered are support for non-linear editing, special effects, filters, templates, and cross-platform support, wherever possible.
See Also: The Best Video Editing Software For Macs For Beginners
The software we shortlisted are also a great beginning point for learning how to edit videos. When you're done with your first lessons and ready to take the leap, some of these tools will prove adequate even for advanced video editing.
Dive in and check out the best video editing software for Windows for beginners in 2023.
Best Video Editing Software For Windows
1. Adobe Premiere Elements
Adobe Premiere Elements is a good place to start if you want the power of Adobe's tools at an affordable price point. What also works for Premiere Elements is its simple and clean interface with guided editing prompts, so you can find your way back even if you get lost or just need some help.
Premiere Elements also comes with plenty of video effects, over 100 audio tracks to play with and add to your videos, slideshow templates, and more.
Another good thing about Adobe Premiere Elements is that it is cross-platform and has the option to switch between interfaces depending on the complexity you are comfortable with. From learning the basics to understanding more complex video editing styles, Premiere Elements has something for everyone.
Adobe Premiere Elements is targeted primarily at consumers. It is available at a price of $99.
2. Clipchamp
Clipchamp is a great solution if you want lightweight video editing that is perfect for sharing on social media. Think of it as Canva, but for video editing. It also runs in the browser, so you don't have to worry about the platform or rush to get a high-performance computer or a laptop. If you don't like web apps, Clipchamp is also available for Windows as a standalone app.
One of the good things about Clipchamp, apart from its ease of use, is the fact that it has plenty of social media templates for most of the major platforms. This is useful in cases where you need different templates for the same video content – Clipchamp can help you churn out those videos quickly and easily.
Clipchamp is now owned by Microsoft and is free to use. However, if you want 4K support and other premium features, it has a monthly and annual subscription option.
3. Shotcut
Shotcut is a free and open-source video editing software available for all the major desktop operating systems, including Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Shotcut supports hundreds of audio and video formats and codecs, multi-format timelines, resolutions, and frame rates. It has a simple yet feature-rich interface, with repositionable panels and floating windows support. It supports up to 4K resolution and also drag-and-drop of assets like video, audio, and other effects.
While Clipchamp is great for social media content and for those just getting started, Shotcut is another great entry point for beginners who want to do some finer editing using free solutions.
Shotcut for Windows is available as a free download.
4. Wondershare Filmora
A quirky interface aside, Wondershare Filmora is a good video editing option to consider if you are looking for something on a budget.
Like Premiere Elements, Filmora includes timeline view support and also has handy tooltips to help you when something gets too confusing. This beginner-friendly video editing tool also includes the ability to change aspect ratio, video trimming, filters,, and even a built-in screen recorder.
Wondershare has also added many AI-powered features, including cut out, stretch, denoise, reframe, and more.
Wondershare Filmora is available with both a subscription and a one-time purchase option.
5. CyberLink PowerDirector
CyberLink PowerDirector is an old name and despite being relatively more advanced and feature-rich than some of the other options above, it finds a place here because of its ease of use.
PowerDirector is a great option to consider if you are already familiar with some basics of video editing. It can also act as a good option to have on the side while you learn the basics using other software mentioned above – you can experiment with some of the advanced options it has on the side to hone your skills.
PowerDirector is great for simple video editing as well as complex final edits. It has features like AI-powered motion tracking, object detection, scene replacement, and more. It also has thousands of templates you can choose from, transitions, and more.
CyberLink PowerDirector is available with a monthly or annual subscription.
Image Credits – Shutterstock
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