10 Best Windows 10 Video Editors You Should Use
Jul. 20, 2019Before putting your money on a video editor and spending hours on learning it to edit your videos, there are a few crucial things you need to keep in mind so that you don’t end up with the app that is not in line with your expectations. So take a quick glance at all the apps and learn what kind of video editors would be the best for you.
It’s always good to be very clear of what your need demands. For instance, if you are looking for Windows 10 video editors to just create fun-loving videos for sharing on social sites like Facebook and Instagram, then you don’t need to go for a powerful software with tons of pro tools. A simple video editor can live up to your task without costing an arm and a leg. And oh, there are also some pretty good free apps that are designed to get the job done elegantly.
Likewise, if your demand calls for an advanced editor, go through all the top-of-the-line Windows 10 video editors and choose the one that ticks off most boxes as per your needs. That said, let’s find out what the top video editors for Windows 10 have in store for you!
Windows 10 Video Editors for Amateurs and Pro Users
No roundup of the best Windows 10 video editors would be complete without Adobe Premiere Pro as it’s always been a powerhouse. Whether you are a filmmaker, YouTuber, or videographer, you will find Premiere Pro a solid option. Apart from boastinghigh-end tools, the app sports an interface that is easy to navigate. Packed with some reallyhandy automated tools, it ensures your workflow remains smooth.
Another area where it excels is the ability toedit footage in many modern formatslike 8K and virtual reality. With the support for several formats, Premiere Pro offers you the liberty to take control of any video at your own pace. It brings theLumetri color toolsto enhance selective color grading elegantly. Also, of all the video editors that I have tried, I have found Premiere Pro to be better at the ability to get rid of background noise. It offers some really crisp built-in tools that make it easier to deal with unwanted noise.
It also brings the support for VR 180and allows you to create videos in Google VR180 format. As a YouTuber, you would find this feature immensely helpful. Besides, the library ofover 130 desktop fontsandmore than 800 web fontsadd more wings to your creativity. However, what has made me use Premiere Pro is the seamless integration with other popular apps such as “After Effects” (free trial) and “Audition” (free trial). To say the least, it will be super handy for your productivity and workflow.
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Supported Input Formats:MP4, MPEG, MPE, MPG (MPEG-1, MPEG-2), M2V (DVD-compliant MPEG-2), MTS (avchd), MOV, FLV, AVI
Supported Output Formats:H.264: AAC, 3GP, MP4, M4V, HEVC (H.265), MPEG-2 and MPEG-4, among others
Install:One-week free trial, the premium version starts at $20.99/month
If there is a Windows 10 video editing software that can give Adobe Premiere Pro a run for its money, it has to be the Avid Media Composer. For those unfamiliar with its rich legacy, this app played amajor role in editing movies and TV show like Captain Marvel, Bohemian Rhapsody, and Game of Thrones.As compared to Premiere Pro, Avid’s interface looks a bit more inviting. On the editing front, it has got a plethora of professional tools that let you edit videos immaculately.
Many a time, it becomes a bit tricky toget rid of the unwanted parts like camera shake and even remove redundant dialogue.But with Avid, you won’t have any problem in tracking down the errors that are threatening to spoil your creativity and remove them straight away. You can easily remove the awkward camera shake and also adjust exposure.
Thanks to impressive audio effects, it will also let you create unique sound effects and dialogue. With the virtual recording studio at your disposal, you can effortlessly create voice-overs and edit audio. There are alsodozens of effects and presetswhich can endow visual appeal to your movie instantly.
Besides, you can take advantage of transitions and filters to ramp up scenes. Another great feature of this app is the massive community of professional and creative people. You can explore the creative videos and also interact with like-minded people to share thoughts.
One important thing worth mentioning is that Avid offers this video editing software in four versions:Media Composer First, Media Composer, Media Composer Ultimate, and Media Composer Enterprise. Should your need demands a good Windows 10 video editing app without burning a hole in your pocket at all, Media Composer First would be a smart pick for you.
But if you are a pro user who has to deal with large video files and always like to have the luxury of plenty of high-end editing tools to make your creativity standout, then Media Composer/Ultimate would be the better way to go. As for Enterprise variant, it’s self-explanatory and specifically developed to suffice high-end enterprise demand.
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Supported Input Formats:MPEG, DV, DVPRO, H.264, XDCAM, MPEG-4, AVCHD, and more (clickhereto learn more)
Supported Output Formats:MPEG, DV, DVPRO, H.264, AVC, AVC-Intra, MP4, and more (clickhereto learn more)
Install:Free, the price of the premium version starts at $23.99/month
Lightworks has been around for more than 25 years and it’s beenused on some of the most successful films like The Wolf of Wall Street, LA Confidential, Pulp Fiction, Heatand more. What sets this video editor app apart from many rivals is the simplicity; that too without compromising on the advanced editing tools. The entire interface feels very familiar right from the start. Thus, you won’t have to spend plenty of time to master the editing tools or get a good hold of the software.
Beyond the praiseworthy UI, the support for a number of file formats (including variable frame rate media) makes it pretty much in line with the best in the business. Another thing that I like a lot in it is the ability toedit files without any loss of quality. If you are a purist who never wants to compromise with the quality, it would live up to your expectations admirably.
Withroyalty-free mediaincluding music and videos, you get a bit more liberty to experiment. The app also boasts tons ofstunning effectsthat would not only play a pivotal role in boosting the visual appeal but also hiding errors. One thing worth mentioning is that the free version of the app offers you access to all the tools, however, it has restrictions on output formats. To break this limitation, you will have to get the pro version of Lightworks.
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Supported Input Formats:MPEG-2 I-Frame SD, Apple Pro Res, DVCAM / DVCPRO 25, AVCHD (M2T, M2TS, MPEG4, H.264) and others
Supported Output Formats:Web-compatible file (MPEG4/H.264), WebM, Blu-ray and others
Install:Free, the pro version is available for $24.99/month
Should your priority lies with impressive 8K editing and flawless color correction, try out DaVinci Resolve. The best part about this software is the capability toefficiently combine 8K editing, stunning visual effects, color correction, and audio post-production. As a result, you will be able to amp up your multitasking without any hassle.
Another notable feature of this software is multi-user collaboration. If you often have to collaborate with entire team and want everyone involved to seamlessly work on a project, you would be hard-pressed to find a better alternative to it.
DaVinci Resolve 16 has acut page which comes in handy for speeding up the project.Basically, it’s an alternate edit page featuring a streamlined interface to let you edit, add transitions, titles a lot faster. Depending on your needs, you cancreate multiple timelineswith different resolutions, frame-rates, and even output settings.
Times where you want to work with more flexibility, the custom timeline settings would make your task more convenient. What’s more, it also uses machine learning to quickly recognize people in the video and automatically creates bins. So, getting started with a project doesn’t seem to be time-consuming.
Not to mention the adjustment clips which you can use to easily apply effects and grades to your video. And with the image stabilization tool, it analyzes each shot and enables you to apply accurate stabilization.
To me,GPU acceleration is a must especially when you have to deal with large media files and want the production to proceed with the desired speed.Therefore, you would be really glad to find a full-on GPU acceleration tool that offers you more control and also plays a vital role in accelerating your task.
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Supported Input Formats:QuickTime, AVI, R3D, MXF, Prores, DNxHD, MXF, DPX, CIN, EXR and others
Supported Output Formats:H.264, HDV, MPEG, and others
Install:Free, the full version is available for $299
Whether you are a professional video editor or a beginner who has just taken on video editing, “Sony Vegas” is one of the better options for you. If you are a novice, theguided video creator and model-based workflowcan go a long way in helping you master many tricks of the trade. What puts it at the forefront is the ability tooffer more flexible video production, depending on the type of movie you would like to create.
Sony Vegas excels in optimizing videos. In fact, there are very few Windows 10 video editors that can come close to it as far as the proficiency for video optimization is concerned. If you take special care of quality and also want the process to be done at a rapid speed, Vegas should be an obvious choice for you.
Another highly-appreciable feature of this app is that it lets you access thelatest plug-ins, ensuring you always have the best possible tools to design your films. Again, if you are a fan of innovative plug-ins and depend on them heavily to create awesome videos, you should look no further than this video editor.
When it comes to video stabilization functionality, Vegas does an excellent job. As a result, you won’t have to spend much on stabilizing your shots. On the video effects front, it has got both the rich quality and variety. So, when you decide to ramp up the visual appearance of your video, you will have a good many options to try out.
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Supported Input Formats:DV, HDV, AVCHD, NXCAM, MOV, MP4, WMV, MPEG-1/2/4, H.264/AVC, and more.
Supported Output Formats:DVD, Blu-ray Disc, AVCHD Disc, (DV-)AVI, MJPEG, MXF, MOV, WMV, XAVC, XAVC S, MPEG-1/2/4, H.264/AV, and more
Install:Starts at$399
If you are looking for a free video editor on Windows 10 and one that is dead simple to use then OpenShot is your best option. Apart from beingcompletely free, the video editor is also open-sourceand available on multiple platforms, besides Windows 10. It has a quick learning curve and you don’t need to spend hours and learn how to apply some transitions or merge multiple clips. Keep in mind, that does not stop OpenShot to be any less powerful.
You have got a full set of advanced editing tools including trim and slice, 3D animation and keyframes, support forunlimited audio layers, video effects, and more. The best part about OpenShot is that it has a very simple user interface making you feel at home on the very first run. All in all, I would say, OpenShot ticks all the boxes of a friendly video editor and you get everything for free. So go ahead and try OpenShot on Windows 10 to get started.
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Supported Input Formats:FFmpeg, WebM (VP9), AVCHD, HEVC, mp3, aac, MPEG4, ogv, Blu-ray, and DVD video
Supported Output Formats:DVD, Blu-ray Disc, AVCHD Disc, (DV-)AVI, MJPEG, MXF, MOV, WMV, XAVC, XAVC S, MPEG-1/2/4, H.264/AV, and more
Install:Free
HitFilm Express is another powerful video editor for Windows 10 that is well-equipped with all the basic and advanced tools. FXhome is the developer of HitFilm and it offers a paid version (HitFilm Pro) and free version (HitFilm Express). However, theExpress version is not bereft of premium featuresas it offers you professional-grade VFX tools, and also simple tools for beginners and students.
Even if you opt for the paid version which unlocks many advanced tools, it costs you a one-time fee of $349 and you can use it on 3 different machines. That’s awesome, right?
As for the features, it comes with more than400 presets and VFX toolkitunder the free version and support for unlimited tracks and transitions. Among other things, you can also do 2D and 3D compositing. To sum up, HitFilm Express hits a sweet spot for users who want a free video editor for Windows but packed with premium features and is also available for free.
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Supported Input Formats:Quicktime, AVCHD, AVI, M2T, M2TS, MOV, MP4 (AVC/H264 & AAC), MPEG-1 & MPEG-2 (TS, PS, MPE, MPG, MPEG, M2V), MTS, MXF (DVCPro HD), DV, HDV, WMV.
Supported Output Formats:DVD, Blu-ray Disc, AVCHD Disc, (DV-)AVI, MJPEG, MXF, MOV, WMV, XAVC, XAVC S, MPEG-1/2/4, H.264/AV, and more
Install:Free, Pro version starts at $349
VSDC is a Windows 10 video editor that is known for its free offering and simple user interface. Itweighs around 80MBin size which makes it clear that VSDC is not for pro users, but for beginners who want to get started with video editing on Windows 10. That said, lately, the developer has added a wide array of video processing tools to VSDC like Chrome Key, video effects, filters and support for 360-degree video editing.
Not to mention, you have the usual multi-panel timeline, support for various codecs and file formats,stabilization, voiceover, and more. You can also export videos at 4K resolution without paying any charge. To conclude, if you are looking for a free Windows 10 video editor that has ample processing tools then VSDC is a great choice.
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Supported Input Formats:AVI, MP4, MKV, MPG, WMV, 3GP, FLV and others; audio files: MP3, WAV, WMA, FLAC, PCM, OGG, AAC, M4A, AMR
Supported Output Formats:DVD, Blu-ray Disc, AVCHD Disc, (DV-)AVI, MJPEG, MXF, MOV, WMV, XAVC, XAVC S, MPEG-1/2/4, H.264/AV, and more
Install:Free
If you are a budding YouTuber or someone who likes to create awesome videos for sharing on social networking sites, you will love to have Shotcut. One of the biggest highlights of this app is thesupport for hundreds of audio and video formats. As a result, you will be able to edit almost any video file without having to run into an incompatibility issue. Besides, the multi-format timeline, frame-rates, and resolutions would play a decisive role in enhancing your productivity.
Talking about the interface, it appears to be sleek. And if you don’t appreciate heavily-loaded interface, chances are high that you would give a thumbs up to its UI. You cancheck detailed media propertiesand quickly access the recent files.
It also has ahuge collection of video filtersthat can instantly transform the look of your video. With a host of audio filters, you will also be able to easily refine your audio. Talking about color-correction and grading functionality, it comes withthree-way color wheelswhich are up to the mark for refining colors and grading.
When you would want to give scenes a more enchanting look, awide range of transitions like a barn door, clock, and boxwould come into play really well. Plus, the support for resolutions up to 4k makes it more than a safe bet.
That’s not all, Shotcut is also designed to play nicely with capture from SDI, HDMI, webcam, JACK, Pulse audio, IP stream, X11 screen, and Windows DirectShow devices, which further solidifies its reputation as a versatile Windows 10 video editor. Oh, and did I mention that it’s completely free to use?
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Supported Input Formats:Based on FFmpeg hence supports most of the video formats
Supported Output Formats:H.264, WebM, ProRes, MPEG-2, and others
Install:Free
I bet not many of you are aware of the fact that the stock Photos app of Windows 10 has hidden video editing tools. If you are looking for asimple yet highly efficient video editorthat can let you create fun-loving videos to share on social networking sites, it can fit into your needs with ease.
To edit videos using the native Photos app, all you need to do is open the video file in the Photos app. Simplyright-click on the file and choose Open With -> Photos.When your video opens inside the app, click on “Edit & Create”option.
Now, you will have access to plenty of editing tools. For instance, you can trim the video to get rid of the unwanted portions and add a slo-mo effect to make your clip look eye-catching.
If you wish to take your creativity a bit further, you canadd some artistic touch by drawingon the clip. Just be careful not to overdo it otherwise your video won’t look impressive. Not to mention, it also lets you bring in some cool customization byadding awesome 3D effects. I would strictly recommend you to save them for the times when you want your clips to have an extravagant look. And when your video is ready to be unleashed, you can share it right from this app via Skype and Mail. Super handy, isn’t it?
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Comes pre-installed with Windows 10
Yes, you can use the Microsoft Photos app on Windows 10 to edit videos. It comes preinstalled on Windows 10 and works like a charm.
You can either use fully-featured video editors from the list above or use the first-party Microsoft Photo app to edit videos on Windows 10. Just press the Windows key once and search for “photos” and then open it.
If you are not a professional, there is no point getting a paid software that comes with advanced tools. For beginners who want to merge clips and sync audio, free video editors are enough and you can use them comfortably. I have listed top 5 free video editors for Windows 10 above so go through that.
YouTubers generally use Final Cut Pro (Apple users) and Adobe Premiere Pro (Windows users). However, if Adobe Premiere Pro is too complex for you then you can take a shot at OpenShot and HitFilm.
Final Cut Pro, Avid Media, and Adobe Premiere Pro are the three software mainly used by professionals.
Even though I’m not a pro video editor, I’ve always liked editing videos. Mostly, I create videos to share on social sites. And for this purpose, Shotcut video editing software and Photos app are my go-to options as they make the task pretty simple. Even though they appear light on the eyes, they have got plenty of tricks up their sleeve. By the way, which is your favorite video editing software for Windows 10 and what makes it stand out for you? I would indeed be glad to have your valuable feedback in the comments below.
An old school bibliophile who turned a tech nerd out of obsession. When he is not digging into hacks and tracking down stories that are breaking the internet, you may find him reciting poems.
