What are people doing online most of the time? Whether it is entertainment, an online workout video, recipes, the news, or a targeted commercial, videos are increasingly becoming the most popular format for consuming content. This trend is creating a greater demand for easy-to-use video editing software for beginners.
Are you looking for a new hobby? Want to freelance as a video editor? Or do you want to spin something new and special out of those old home videos? Well, the right software is the key to getting started. If you're like most people, you'll want to purchase video editing software that gives you the maximum value for your money. And if you're like me, you'll also want intuitive software that doesn't take you frustrating hours to learn.
I understand what you're looking for in video editing software, so I've put together a list of the six best video editing software for beginners for which I feel you'd be absolutely happy to pay. With special discounts online, you can also get the best beginner-friendly video editing software.
Best Video Editing Software for Beginners
With a simple and good video editor, you can easily cut and piece together complex scenes, add special effects, apply fancy filters, and add music or audio sound effects. Hence, when you are just beginning with video editing, you should try to stick to 100% Free or budget-friendly video editors. Once the basics are clear to you, upgrade to a professional video editor.
Movavi Video Editor
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Movavi Video Editor is one of the simplest video editing software programs for beginners. As it is beginner-friendly, you can churn out excellent videos with its intuitive interface, which you will be very pleased to share with friends and family, on social media platforms, or for commercial use. You can easily show off awesome montage videos using Movavi features, piecing together video clips to create your very own story.
It is easy to spice up existing videos or create new ones using their library of media files, with artistic filters, captions, animated transitions, background music, and slow-motion effects. Movavi Video Editor has plenty of special effects options that let your creative juices flow freely. Other features enable you to stabilize shaky footage, pan, zoom, and stylize to create a final product that looks extremely professional and polished.
Is Movavi Video Editor good for beginners?
Yes, Movavi Video Editor is a great option for imaginative individuals who do not want to spend an enormous amount of time learning a new tool. It is easy to pick up, and thanks to its AI-based features, it simplifies many complex editing tasks, such as subtitle generation, noise and silence removal, and scene detection.
The interface is user-friendly, and most beginners can master the art of making a perfect video in just a few minutes! Video processing and rendering are fast. Impressive? I think so. You can take advantage of the 7-day free trial before buying a subscription plan. To learn more about its features, performance, pros, and cons, check out this Movavi Video Editor Review.
Are you looking for an all-in-one Video/Audio Editor that includes a Video/Audio Editor, Video/Audio Converter, Screen Recorder, and CD/DVD Burner feature? In that case, I suggest trying Movavi Video Suite. For a comprehensive review of its features, read the detailed Movavi Video Suite Review before making a purchase.
Wondershare Filmora
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Filmora has evolved into versatile video editing software, making it a perfect choice for editors of all skill levels. If you are a beginner, you can benefit from Filmora's intuitive user interface and efficient AI tools, which are designed to eliminate tedious tasks and ensure a smooth start for novice video editors.
A few simple steps are all it takes to create great-looking videos! Drag and drop features make it a great video editing software for beginners. Customized animated transitions help to elevate visual engagement. You can save time on color correction by using the automatic settings for multiple clips. The audio ducking tool allows music to fade for dialogue to stand out. Additionally, AI tools such as Smart Short Clips, Smart Scene Cut, Text to Video, and more help you create engaging videos with minimal time and effort.
Furthermore, to give your video a professional touch with a polished look, you can benefit from Filmora's advanced video editing tools.
How is Filmora good for beginners?
Filmora video editing software seeks to eliminate tedious (read boring) tasks of creating videos so that you can spend time on the more exciting and creative aspects of video editing. Short-cut keys and advanced AI tools allow you a faster way to do repetitive tasks and ramp up your creativity! You can save and share videos in different formats, including GIFs.
Filmora lets you create special effects using the Chroma Key (Green Screen) tool, smooth optical flow using keyframing and speed ramping tools, and much more. However, these tools can be a bit complicated for beginners starting to navigate the blue seas of video editing. Please find out more in our Wondershare Filmora review. You can buy the software from the official website or online software discount stores that offer Wondershare Filmora discounts.
Understanding the differences between Filmora and Movavi helps in choosing the right editor.
AVS4YOU (Includes AVS Video Editor)
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If you are looking for something easy to pick up, then AVS Video Editor is a solid option. It is one of the tools included in the AVS4YOU multimedia suite and one of its main attractions. At first glance, AVS Video Editor may seem a little bare-bones because of its dated interface. However, its capabilities speak louder than its visual aesthetics. It includes all the essentials you'd expect, like trimming, a solid collection of transitions, and basic color adjustments, along with several advanced features, including chroma key (green screen editing), stabilization, freeze frame, AI plugins, and more. Another interesting inclusion is its hardware acceleration support, which many entry-level, beginner-friendly video editors lack.
Is AVS Video Editor good for beginners?
The short answer is yes, AVS Video Editor is a solid beginner-friendly video editing tool.
Even though the interface provides an old-school feeling, using the program remains highly intuitive. Editing your first video is straightforward: import your media, drag it onto the timeline, and start making your cuts and refining them as you go. Another advantage is its support for HEVC editing (input only), along with HD, Full HD, 2K, QHD, Ultra HD 4K, and DCI 4K resolutions. If you want to move towards a little more advanced editing setup, then features like green screen, freeze frame, and video stabilization can help give your videos a more polished look. If you get stuck in the process, the detailed user guide makes it easy to learn how each feature works.
Whether you have used a video editor before or it's your first time, AVS Video Editor makes the learning curve feel surprisingly short and simple, helping you start creating right away. For a detailed look into AVS Video Editor's capabilities, read this AVS4YOU review.
Tip: Multimedia suites pack everything in one place within the same environment, a cost-effective way to achieve your goals without going back and forth between different tools. If you want a solution that covers video editing, dedicated audio editing, conversion, and more, the AVS4YOU multimedia suite can help you.
Pinnacle Studio
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If you have outgrown basic video editors, then Pinnacle Studio can feel like a powerful step up while remaining beginner-friendly. Developed by Corel (famously known for its design tool CorelDRAW), it comes with all essential editing tools plus a few extras like video stabilization, masking, motion tracking, keyframing, blending modes, and much more. It also has a good selection of effects, transitions, and template collection to help you create engaging content. It can handle upto 4K editing and works with many third-party plugins, allowing you to expand your creative capabilities.
Is Pinnacle Studio good for beginners?
Yes, but not right away. Compared to AVS Video Editor, Movavi, and even Filmora, Pinnacle Studio is not that easy to pick up due to its cluttered layout. However, once you spend some time with it, the workflow becomes much easier. It doesn't offer any features you won't find in competing editors, but what sets it apart is the level of control it gives you. While many video editing software for beginners either rely heavily on automation or offer basic controls, Pinnacle Studio bridges the gap by providing flexible controls without being overly complicated.
iMovie Video Editor
Image Source: Apple Support – iMovie User Guide
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At first glance, iMovie may seem like a basic video editor, but it offers more than that. Along with its drag-and-drop functionality and essential editing features, iMovie includes green-screen editing, stabilization, audio ducking, rolling-shutter correction, and much more. My favorite? The audio filters. It's a powerful tool that lets you create audio effects, such as muffled voices, as if on a telephone or in a cathedral. It also has an equalizer that can help enhance voices, reduce humming and bass, and more. Imagine what you can do with all those audio effects!
In short, iMovie is an excellent starting point for YouTubers and influencers using macOS. You can also instantly upload your creations across multiple channels with just a few clicks.
Is iMovie good for beginners?
If you are part of the Apple ecosystem (macOS, iOS, and iPadOS) and looking for a simple yet capable video editor, then iMovie is a good place to start. Apple is known for its clean, minimal design, and iMovie follows the same philosophy by keeping the interface free of unnecessary clutter. It's easy to get started with, even if you're new to editing. Additionally, the program can help you automate many repetitive tasks with a few keystroke functions. Overall, iMovie is a free, entry-level video editing software that covers all the essentials along with a few extras without overwhelming you.
KineMaster
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Available on both Android and iOS, KineMaster packs almost everything you need in a capable video editor. You get the basics such as trimming, splitting, color adjustments, transitions, and filters, along with advanced tools like Magic Remover, Super Resolution, Animation, and Speed Curve, to name a few. The biggest advantage? You can literally edit your videos on the go.
Is KineMaster good for beginners?
Compared to other tools I have used so far on big screens, KineMaster's layout felt a little cluttered on a mobile device. I also tried it on my PC using an emulator, but the results were the same. So, based on my experience, it's not easy to pick up at first and can feel a little confusing. However, given time, you will come around to using the tool. It combines professional-level features with basic editing tools to help you create engaging videos. The only limitation here is that you are creating videos on your mobile devices, which have comparatively smaller screens.
Special Mention: OpenShot Video Editor
Besides the video editing software for beginners that I have covered so far, OpenShot gets a special mention on this list. Available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, it is a free, open-source video editor that is quite simple to use. It has tools like splitting and trimming, a good collection of transitions and effects, animations, volume adjustment, audio and video keyframing, and drag-and-drop functionality. It does not have many features, but the essentials it provides are more than enough to get started.
As it is completely free, it makes a great choice for budget-conscious folks. However, if you are a beginner, the interface and workflow might seem a little complicated at first. Most editing will require some manual effort, as it offers very few automation features to simplify the process, unlike Movavi or Filmora. During my testing, I also ran into a few stability hiccups, but it was nothing major. If you need a free video editor for home videos or hobby projects as a beginner, OpenShot Video Editor is a great place to start.
Choosing the Best Video Editing Software for Beginners
Choosing the right video editing software will depend on your requirements and the level of skills you already have. If you're looking for a true beginner-friendly video editor, I'd recommend Movavi Video Editor and AVS Video Editor. Their intuitive interfaces and broad range of features make them the easiest video editing software for beginners.
If you are just getting started, check out these video editing tips to improve your editing skills.
Start creating mind-blowing videos to impress your friends and family and maybe even the world. Don't let any occasion go by without capturing it and making it a cherished memory you can relive again and again. Or, take your first step to the start of a beautiful career as a video editor.
Changelog
Jack is an energetic passionate cybersecurity professional, blogger, and software reviewer. As a blogger, he enjoys sharing his cyberworld experiences with the world. He has been blogging for over four years now. Whenever he is not blogging, he loves binge-watching Netflix and fishing.