Here are some of the best alternatives to using Final Cut Pro for Windows users. We have listed the top free video editing software here. This way, you can start with a free video editor and upgrade to a premium one if needed.
Shotcut
Shotcut is an open-source, free video editor. It comes with wide file format support via the FFmpeg project. You get native editing as well as multi-format timelines for your video editing job. It also gives you multiple resolutions and frame-rates within the project. This ensures that you get the best results. Shotcut supports all popular image formats and image sequences too. This includes JPEG, PNG, SVG, TGA, WebP, BMP, GIF, and more. You can also edit 4K videos in Shotcut. This is not possible in most of the free video editing software. The video editor allows audio mixing across all tracks as well. You can correct color, fix aspect ratio, add filters, trim, rotate, and do more with Shotcut. The video editing software does not rely on system codecs. You can even run it as a portable app from a connected external drive. Key Features:
Open-source free video editing software Output file formats include FLV, MPEG, MP4, AVI, MOV, and more Multi-format timeline Supports 4K resolution Allows audio mixing across all tracks
Pros:
Great selection of video filters Supports all major audio, video, and image formats Ideal for advanced video editing projects
Cons:
It may take some time to learn how to use the software Can experience glitches at times No stock music available
Check out Shotcut Also Read: 15 Best Media Player for Windows 10
DaVinci Resolve
DaVinci Resolve is one of the most advanced free video editing software. It comes with professional editing tools for color correction, visual effects, and more. The free video editor features a powerful DaVinci Neural Engine. It uses machine learning to give you the best results for your video editing needs. You can also apply effects and grades easily using the adjustment clips. The video editor supports 8K resolution as well. This makes it DaVinci Resolve unique from the other best video editing software. It even allows you to add immersive 3D audio and custom filters to your videos. You can add transitions, titles, mix audio, match color, and do much more with DaVinci Resolve. If you wanted even more features, you can upgrade to DaVinci Resolve Studio. Key Features:
Free/Premium Powerful DaVinci Neural Engine Massive catalog of video effects and filters Output file formats include AVI, DPX, MTS, MP4, MOV, and more Support for 8K videos
Pros:
Ideal for pro-level video editing Impressive color correction tools Great audio editing features
Cons:
Some features require upgrading to DaVinci Resolve Studio A steep learning curve for beginners The interface seems a bit cluttered
Check out DaVinci Resolve
Lightworks
Lightworks is one of the most reliable free video editing software out there. It comes with a professional toolset to meet your video editing requirements effectively. You also get a huge library of royalty-free video clips and audio files to add to your project. Lightworks even supports working on 4K videos. However, you will need to use a proxy for the best 4K video editing experience. The free version of Lightworks has enough features to perform any video editing job. It has a simple drag-and-drop interface and easy timeline editing options. The color correction, rendering effects, and blend modes are quite stunning. You can even upload finished projects to your YouTube account directly. However, you will need to upgrade to Lightworks Pro to export videos in all formats and resolutions. Key Features:
Free/Premium Easy timeline editing Output file formats include MP4, MXF, AVI, MTS, QuickTime, and more Support for 4K videos Direct upload to YouTube
Pros:
Simple and intuitive interface Includes royalty-free audio and video content Instant auto-save functionality
Cons:
Not that user-friendly for beginners The free video editor can only export MPEG-4 files in 720p Can experience glitches at times
Check out Lightworks
OpenShot
OpenShot is another open-source alternative to using Final Cut Pro for Windows users. It offers basic features for video editing like trimming and slicing. Yet you also get many transitions and audio effects in the free video editing software. You can easily edit and add the effects on unlimited video tracks in the timeline mode. The tile templates and video effect presets make editing very simple for beginners. You can remove the background, invert colors, adjust brightness, and do a lot more. OpenShot also supports using waveforms to visualize audio files and edit it the way you want. The video editor comes with a powerful animation framework too. It allows you to easily slide, bounce, fade, or animate any object in your video project. Key Features:
A robust video effects engine Supports visualizing audio files as waveforms Powerful animation framework Output file formats include MPEG, AVI, FLV, MP4, MOV, and more Unlimited video tracks
Pros:
Simple and polished user interface Background removal tools Ideal for animating objects in the video
Cons:
Limited video effects when compared to other best video editing software Users need to fix bugs and errors manually Can be a little slower at times
Check out OpenShot Also Read: Best Video & Photo Editing Software for Mac
HitFilm Express
HitFilm Express is another free video editing software. Yet it comes with many professional-grade editing tools. You can create awesome video content using the video editor. It even offers impressive visual effect compositing options and VFX tools. You also get advanced animation tools in the software to work on any kind of project. You can add unlimited video and audio tracks to your timeline in HitFilm Express. It has a wide range of transitions and video effects. The video editor also has many specialized effects. This includes hiding or duplicating objects, slow motion, and more. HitFilm Express even allows using add-ons to upgrade its functionalities. Else, you can choose HitFilm Pro for high-end options and editing tools. HitFilm Express comes with a range of free training resources too. Key Features:
Free/Premium Visual effect compositing and VFX tools Output file formats include AVI, QuickTime, MP4, H.264, AVC, and more Free training resources Unlimited number of video and audio tracks
Pros:
A wide range of transitions and video effects Supports all major video and audio file formats Amazing set of specialized effects
Cons:
The interface can be a bit difficult to navigate Most advanced features require add-ons Export performance can be slow
Check out HitFilm Express
VSDC
VSDC is a non-linear free video editing software. It allows you to place objects in any position on the timeline to edit the file. You can also change the shape, position, and other parameters of the objects as needed. VSDC has a massive library of video and audio effects as well. They are split into five categories for easy navigation. The color blending mode in VSDC is also very remarkable. It allows you to adjust the color, brightness, contrast, and saturation of the video easily. There are also many filters and presets in the software for quick results. VSDC also offers tools for masking, hiding, and blurring any specific element in the video. It has a reliable motion tracking tool as well. You can also edit 4K videos in VSDC and export them in the H.265/HEVC codec. Key Features:
Free/Premium Support for 4K videos Non-linear video editing software Output file formats include DVD, WMV, MKV, SWF, AMV, and more Massive catalog of video effects and transitions
Pros:
Easy to use free video editing software Pro-level features for any video editing job Allows exporting 4K videos in H.265/HEVC codec
Cons:
Does not play the video in the main window while editing Some features require upgrading to Pro version Limited technical support
Check out VSDC
VideoPad Video Editor
VideoPad by NCH Software is an intuitive and fast video stream processor. It comes with over 50 video effects and transitions. This makes video editing much simpler for beginners. There is an option to create visual effects templates as well. That way, you can quickly use the presets on any project later. It is very easy to create title text animations in VideoPad too by using the templates. You can also edit and export 3D and 360-degree video files in VideoPad. It even supports 2D to 3D stereoscopic conversion. The drag-and-drop interface makes it very easy to use the free video editor. You can also upload directly to YouTube or Vimeo after finishing the project. It is also possible to integrate the MixPad multi-track mixing software with VideoPad. This will allow you to make your own custom movie soundtrack. Key Features:
Free/Premium Output file formats include WMV, AVI, MPG, MP4, MOV, and more Drag-and-drop style timeline Supports 2D to 3D stereoscopic conversion Direct upload to YouTube or Vimeo
Pros:
A good collection of video and audio effects Easy-to-use free video editor Can edit 3D and 360-degree video files
Cons:
Some features require purchasing the software or a subscription The user interface feels outdated Limited specialty features as compared to other best video editing software
Check out VideoPad Video Editor Also Read: Best iOS Video Editor Apps for iPhone and iPad
Blender
Blender is a 3D content creation suite, which comes with some robust video editing tools. It has a wide array of modeling tools that help you to create, transform, and edit your models. The built-in free video editor allows you to perform all basic video editing actions. This includes cutting, splicing, adjusting the color, and more. You can also do complex tasks like video masking using the software. There are up to 32 slots to add video, images, audio, scenes, masks, and effects in Blender. You can control speed, modify layers, use transitions and filters, and do much more. The software also has a production-ready camera and object tracking features. This helps you to add the desired VFX effects. Blender has many high-quality rigging and animation tools too. It is a lightweight software and does not consume much RAM, CPU, and GPU resources either. Key Features:
Powerful 3D creation suite with free video editor Great rendering options and support Character animation tools Allows adding VFX effects to videos Output file formats include MP4, AVI, WMV, 3GPP, WebM and more
Pros:
Plenty of tools for design and animation Ideal for 3D video editing A wide selection of stock audio
Cons:
Can be a bit difficult to use for beginners The interface is not that intuitive Does not detect video resolution and frame rates automatically
Check out Blender
Kdenlive
Kdenlive is another good choice for entry-level users. The open-source software comes with many robust tools. It can handle any scale of video editing jobs effectively. You get a multi-track timeline in Kdenlive, which allows you to import video and audio easily. This also makes adding the effects and filters simple. You can also extend the functionalities of Kdenlive by using add-ons. Most of the effects in Kdenlive can be keyframed. This allows you to change the parameters later using linear or smooth curves for the result you want. The free video editing software saves the progress of your work automatically. This can come handy in case of an emergency. Kdenlive is based on FFmpeg and supports all major audio and video file formats. You can also connect with its online user community for clearing your doubts. Key Features:
Multi-track video editing timeline Output file formats include MPEG, AVI, MP4, MOV, FLV, and more Supports using add-ons for extended functionality Saves your projects automatically Effects can be keyframed for later use
Pros:
An ideal option for entry-level video editors Online forum and user community for quick support High compatibility of input media formats
Cons:
No technical support Limited video effects and filters Can be slow at times
Check out Kdenlive
Avidemux
Avidemux is a free video editing software application that works on Windows 7 and above. It features a clean and user-friendly interface with a few practical tools. The encoding is also very reliable in Avidemux, and it supports all major video file formats. However, there is no timeline in the software to allow adding filters and transitions. You can find all the options for basic video editing in Avidemux. This includes tools for cropping, trimming, rotating, and more. It allows you to adjust the color, saturation, brightness, and contrast of your videos as well. You can even add borders, logos, and frames to your videos using the free video editor. Avidemux also supports adding hard-code subtitles to your videos. You can choose either SRT or ASS format for including the subtitles. Key Features:
Output file formats include DIVX, MPEG, XVID, AVI, MP4, and more Basic video editing options Simple encoding for video editing Option to add hard-code subtitles Allows embedding logos and branding
Pros:
Best video editing software for beginners Clean and user-friendly interface Ideal for basic video editing tasks
Cons:
No timeline view The preview shows the selected applied filter only Lacks in video effects and filters
Check out Avidemux Also Read: Best Android Video Editor Apps for Tablets and Phones
Get the Best Video Editing Software
The above are only a few of the substitutes to using Final Cut Pro for Windows. These free video editing software will suit beginners and pro users alike. Yet if you want more features, then you should upgrade to premium best video editing software. A few good options for that would be Adobe Premiere Pro, Wondershare Filmora, and CyberLink PowerDirector. For starters, though, sticking to a free video editor would be better. That way, you can learn using the tools and hone your video editing skills. You can even try all the free choices instead of looking for Final Cut Pro for Windows!
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