According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2022 estimates, there were more than 32,000 employed video editing professionals in the U.S. But that number pales in comparison to the self-employed social media fanatics, YouTube creators, vloggers, and marketing experts who cut content for a living.If you’re starting your content creation career, beginning your video marketing journey, or are a young intern, you need video editing software for beginners.

There are tons of entry-level video editing applications that make post-production work look easy. You can use them to create high-quality and polished content even if you’ve never spliced footage.

We’ll be covering how to pick the best easy-to-use video editing software, listing the best video editing tools for beginners, and explaining why they made this list.

What to Consider When Choosing Beginner Video Editing Software

Formulating an idea, writing a script, and shooting a video are significant aspects of content creation and filmmaking but not the complete process. Your video editor holds most of the cards for the finishing touch.

Your needs may be different from other post-production experts because of your niche, editing style, preferences, and the kind of videos you shoot. All those factors ultimately dictate the type of tool you’ll use.

Since you’re just starting out, you must also focus on getting a program that suits your skill level. But we’ve already got that part covered for you.

Now, let’s talk about the things you need to assess before going through the list. That way, you can create a picture in your mind and easily identify the right video editor and video maker for your needs.

Define Your Budget

While there are free video editors, most of the ones packed with the features you may need will likely come at a cost. That’s why your budget should be one of the things you decide before looking for a video editor.

You might get excited about a tool that checks all your boxes, only to find that its package is above your price point.

We recommend that you choose a range rather than a fixed price. That way, you’ll have more options and flexibility.

Understand Your Computer’s Limits

Most downloadable video editors have minimum system requirements. You must confirm that your computer can run a tool before choosing and installing it. 

Installing a program that requires a more powerful computer means the user experience will be underwhelming. You’ll also have to deal with time-wasting lags that will affect your work.

So, the best beginner video editing software application for you has to be one that matches your system’s specs.


Also Read: How to Find Your PC’s Windows System Information 


Which Type of Content Are You Creating?

This factor is what will ultimately determine which basic video editing software to choose. The type of content you want to cut helps you put different things in perspective. They include:

  • Content-specific capabilities: Are you creating vlogs, podcasts, how-tos, or ads? This allows you to narrow down your options. For instance, you may want a video editor with screen recording capabilities if you want to do how-to videos.
  • Timeline functionalities and editing tools: Since you’re a beginner, you may only need basic features such as adding transitions, audio files, and effects. Depending on the type of content you’re creating, you may also consider applications with the timeline generator functionality you need, such as multiple tracks and multicam editing.
  • Input formats: You need a tool that can edit HD footage if you’re shooting with DSLR cameras. You may have to reduce your specs if you only work with standard-definition footage.
  • End Product: While almost every video editor supports the common types of video formats, you still have to confirm that the video editor you want to choose exports the format you work with. For example, YouTube supports the MP4 and H264 formats.

Also Read: [SOLVED] YouTube Videos Not Playing


Top Video Editing Software for Beginners [2023]

Now that we have covered all the things you need to consider before getting a video editor, let’s talk about the best applications for beginners.

The videos on this list are selected mainly because they are beginner-friendly. So, they are not necessarily the overall best video editors for pros, even though they can compete.

We’ve provided the most important information about each program to allow you to make a significant first assessment. You’ll find info such as pricing, system requirements, and notable features.

That way, you can easily determine whether the application works with your budget and computer. Then, you can go ahead to do your due diligence by checking out other things like user interface and in-depth application functions.

Glance through the following table to quickly compare the video editors. We have more detailed overviews of each tool after that.

Now, let’s begin.


Also Read: Exploring AV1 Video Extension Benefits and Usage


Wondershare Filmora

Wondershare

Wondershare Filmora is an established and powerful video editor that can also be seen as a work in progress, which is a good thing. Every update is impressive and provides noteworthy improvements. 

The tool’s latest version offers a nifty interface with slick layout options. Its new AI integration allows users access to features such as Smart Cutout. AI also allows the tool to learn usage patterns to provide a more streamlined experience.

The Smart Cutout tool helps with audio denoise, powerful keyframing, mask drawing, audio stretch, and the kind of masking you get from Photoshop.

While you may have to endure some of the interface oddities and lack of advanced controls, it maintains its status as one of the best video editing software for beginners.

Filmora has a beginner-friendly timeline view with animated guides. There is a built-in screen recorder, which is valuable for how-to videos. People who are new to video editing will also find features such as trimming, aspect ratio adjustment, and multi-filter applications handy.

Users also have access to platforms like Giphy, Unsplash, and Pixabay for stock media.

Wondershare System Requirements

Operating System: 64-bit Windows 7 and up; macOS v10.14 (Mojave) and up

CPU: 2GHz multicore processor or better (6th Gen Intel processors and better are recommended for 4k and HD videos)

Graphics Card: Intel HD Graphics 5000 or better; AMD Radeon R% or better; Nvidia GeForce GTX 700 or better. 2 GB Video RAM. 4 GB VRAM required for 4k and HD videos

RAM: 8 GB. 16 GB required for 4k and HD videos

Pricing

Filmora has different plans:

  • Per Quarter: $29.99
  • Per Year: $49.99 
  • Perpetual: $79.99

Wondershare Filmora Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • AI Features
  • Ideal for beginners
  • Available on Windows and Mac
  • Lightening-fast rendering
  • An impressive suite of editing tools
  • Budget-friendly

Cons:

  • Underwhelming stabilizer
  • Lacks a preview feature for effects
  • It can be hard to tell clips apart
  • No VR capabilities or multicam editing

Microsoft Clipchamp

Microsoft Clipchamp

Clipchamp is specifically created for people making their foray into video editing. It has a plethora of social media, video games, sales, ads, YouTube, and marketing templates suitable for different sites and purposes. 

These templates make it a handy utility for content creators, video marketers, gaming enthusiasts, and small business owners who want to create quick movies.

Clipchamp is a web application that requires an Internet connection to work. But that doesn’t make it less useful than applications that can run offline. 

It has a lot of advanced video editing features, such as transitions, effects, filters, and trimming. You can also rotate, flip, and resize using the transform tool.

There is access to stock media sites, you can collect videos and other media from cloud platforms like OneDrive, Google Drive, and Dropbox, and you can import videos from your webcam. You can also use an AI feature to automatically create movies.

That said, its creative transitions are not as expansive as other advanced tools, and don’t expect seamless and 3D transitions.

Clipchamp is now a Microsoft platform and comes preinstalled with Windows 11. Your projects can show up on different devices once you log in with your account.

Microsoft may sell the tool as a free video editor but its most impressive features are stuck behind a paywall.

Clipchamp System Requirements

  • 64-bit operating system and 64-bit version of Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge.
  • 8 GB of RAM (16 GB or more is recommended)
  • Internet connection

Pricing

Users can access basic features, such as access to video, audio, and image stock, filters and effects, and up-to 1080p export resolutions for free.

That said, they need to pay for a yearly ($99) or monthly ($11.99) subscription to access the tool’s advanced features.

Clipchamp’s Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Slick user interface and simple editing experience for beginners
  • Preinstalled in Windows 11
  • No watermarks on videos created in the free version
  • Great soundtrack and text options
  • Stylish transitions and effects
  • Cross-platform

Cons:

  • Advanced features require a subscription
  • Its most advanced features are not adequate for professional editing
  • Slow rendering 
  • Effects controls are limited

Apple iMovie

iMovie

Image: Apple

As far as learning curves go, Apple iMovie has close to none. People who have never seen a video editor before can launch the app and immediately create a cool movie. That’s how intuitive the program is designed to be.

While you may not enjoy the most recent features and support for new formats, you can do a lot as a beginner with what’s in front of you. 

The tool is free and comparable to Microsoft’s Clipchamp. But it knocks the Windows utility out of the park with its outstanding offerings. Too bad it’s only available on Apple devices.

The program includes remarkable tools for color-grading, media organization, soundtrack, green-screen effects, and narration that help you create impressive digital movies.

It’s also a great springboard to professional and advanced video editing. 

You can graduate to the more complex Final Cut Pro tool – another Apple exclusive – which will look familiar once you’ve got used to iMovie. It features greater editing power that allows you to cut content like a pro.

System Requirements for iMovie

For Macbooks: macOS 13.4 (Ventura) or later

For iPhone: iOS 16.0 or later 

For iPad: iPadOS 16.0 or later

Pricing

Apple iMovie is free.

Apple iMovie Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Very beginner-friendly
  • Slick and stylish user interface
  • Sophisticated themes
  • Free
  • Great selection of movie templates

Cons:

  • Not available on non-apple devices
  • No motion tracking and multi-camera editing
  • Lacks support for tagging
  • Only two video tracks
  • It is rarely updated

Corel VideoStudio

Corel VideoStudio

Corel VideoStudio Ultimate is beginner- and user-friendly, very reasonably priced, and comfortably adequate for advanced users. It has one of the best feature sets at its price point, with an option to buy it outright. 

It packs a lot of advanced tools and modern video editing features and delivers them in a simple-to-use and straightforward interface to carry novices along. 

That way, you can graduate into a pro content creator without having to leave the tool in search of more advanced footage-splicing capabilities.

Even if you do move on to something else in the future, you’ll have a lot of gratitude for VideoStudio.

Corel VideoStudio features include provisional support for HEVC-rendered files and non-linear keyframing for custom speed manipulations. 

While these may sound quite advanced, you can still play with the tool’s basic trimming, transitions, and effects utilities.

The app is not completely perfect though, as features like AR stickers and audio editing still need fine-tuning. That said, its regular updates mean they won’t be so much of an issue for too long.

Corel VideoStudio System Requirements

Operating system: 64-bit Windows 8, Windows 11, and Windows 10

CPU: Core i3, AMD A4 series or better for standard definition videos. Intel Core i7, AMD Athlon A10 or better for UHD and HD videos

RAM: 4 GB or higher, 8 GB or higher recommended for UHD and HD videos

Graphics Card: 1366 x 768 Minimum display resolution; 512 MB VRAM or higher recommended for hardware acceleration

System Storage: Minimum 10 GB for full installation

Registration, installation, and updates require an Internet connection

Pricing

The Ultimate, Pro, and Photo Video Bundles come at different prices:

  • VideoStudio Ultimate: $99.99
  • VideoStudio Pro: $79.99
  • Photo Video Bundle: $129.99

Corel VideoStudio Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Beginner-friendly application with advanced tools and features
  • Budget-friendly
  • Super fast rendering
  • Color grading
  • Multi-cam and motion tracking support
  • 4k UHD, 360-degree VR, and 3D media support

Cons:

  • Only available on Windows 
  • Weak audio editing features
  • Pros may need more features

Pinnacle Studio

Pinnacle Studios

Each version of Pinnacle Studio comes with noteworthy improvement, which has seen the video editor rise to the top of the market through its incremental upgrades. Pinnacle Studio Ultimate targets intermediate professional content creators with its advanced tools and features.

However, the tool’s interface and utilities have a low learning curve that makes it suitable for any beginner. 

Some of its notable features include multicam editing, stop-motion video, motion tracking, and 4k editing. It has a multi-cam capture support that allows to simultaneously record your screen and your webcam footage.

MultiCam Capture

 

Indeed, the Ultimate version is a lot pricier than the entry-level application. We chose to add it because it will aid beginners in catching on with the more professional tools that help them create top-quality videos.

If the price is above your budget, you can still consider using the cheaper Pinnacle Studio app, which packs enough features for entry-level editing.

Pinnacle Studio Ultimate System Requirements

Operating system: 64-bit Windows 8, Windows 11, and Windows 10

CPU: Core i3, AMD A4 series or better 

Intel Core  i7 or Intel Core i5 1.06 GHz or better required for Intel Quick Sync Video and AVCHD support

AMD Athlon A10 or Intel Core i7 (4th gen) or better for Multicam editing

RAM: 4 GB or higher; 8 GB or higher recommended for Multicam editing

Graphics card: Minimum resolution of 1024 x 768; 256MB minimum VGA VRAM; 512MB or higher recommended for hardware decoding acceleration

Recommended DirectX graphics GPUs:

ATI Radeon HD 5XXX series or higher; Intel HD Graphics from Ivy Bridge or higher; NVIDIA GeForce 700 series / Quadro 600 (Fermi-based) or newer (CUDA-enabled required for CUDA support)

DirectX 11 is required for 3D Titler

Storage: 10 GB minimum

Pricing:

The standard editor retails for $49.99, the ultimate pack goes for $99.99, and the advanced bundle costs $129.99.

Pinnacle Studio Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • User-friendly interface
  • Detailed masking utilities
  • Multicam editing
  • Loads of filters and effects

Cons:

  • Motion tracking is limited
  • Only available for Windows

Adobe Premiere Elements

Adobe Video Editor

Adobe’s consumer-focused video-editing application is a sensible choice for the less-experienced video editor. It wraps up a pretty impressive set of tools and features in a beginner-friendly interface and stable program.

Adobe Premiere Elements can claim to be theeasiest video editing software for beginners. That’s because it was deliberately designed to offer beginners a peek into what the much more advanced and industry-leading Adobe Premiere Pro has to offer.

The tool allows you to switch between different interfaces as your skills and experience advance. There are also guides and tutorials that help you to understand and undertake pro-level design tasks.

Users have access to Guided Edits, including Time Lapse, Sky Replacement, Double Exposure, and Animated Mattes. 

Other features include Candid Moments to help users pick good images from videos, Free Frame motion titles, Video Noise reduction, motion tracking, and Animated GIF creation. 

Adobe Premiere Elements System Requirements

Operating System: 64-bit Windows 11 (21H2), Windows 10 (21H1); macOS 11, macOS 12.4 or later.

RAM: 8 GB

Storage: 6 GB to install the program

Display: 1280 x 800 resolution

Pricing

On its own, Premiere Elements costs $99.99. Adobe also sells a Photoshop plus Premiere Elements bundle for $149.

Adobe Premiere Elements Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Suitable for beginners
  • Clean interface
  • Lots of video effects
  • Guided Edits to help beginners
  • Cross-platform support

Cons:

  • Slow rendering
  • No multi am support
  • Cannot screen-record

PowerDirector is up there with the best easy-to-use video editing software, equipped with the complete suite of advanced features for experienced professionals. Its range of pro features might make it seem a bit too much for beginners. That said, you’ll likely feel comfortable with the app because it also caters to newbies in video editing.

The program’s collection of features and utilities is pretty impressive. Users will get access to an array of blending, keyframing, color, and AI visual effects tools.

The transitions, titling tools, and animation library, templates, and stock image and audio collection also make the application a powerful video editing resource.

PowerDirector also introduced advanced features such as NVIDIA audio/video denoise and room echo removal and AI-powered features such as object selection effects and enhanced sky replacement.

Cyberlink PowerDirector System Requirements

Operating System: 64-bit Windows 10 and Windows 11

CPU: Intel Core i-series, AMD Phenom II and better; Core i7-4770 (Xeon- and core-branded), AMD A8-7670K, and AMD Ryzen™ 3 1200 and better required for AI features.

Graphics Card: 128 MB VRAM or higher for standard videos; DirectX 11 compatible GPU for 360-video; NVIDIA TITAN RTX, Quadro RTX 3000, and GeForce RTX 2060 required for NVIDIA Room Echo Removal and Audio/Video Denoise.

RAM: 6 GB and higher is recommended and 8 GB and higher is required for NVIDIA Room Echo Removal and Audio/Video Denoise.

Pricing

£109.99 will get you PowerDirector perpetually. But you can pay £47.99 for the annual plan.

Cyberlink PowerDirector Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Chic interface
  • Motion tracking and multicam capabilities
  • Assortment of AI tools
  • Screen recording
  • Fast rendering

Cons:

  • Free version is significantly limited

Extra Tips

Now that you know the best video editing tools for beginners, there are things you can do to make your video editing journey smooth and worthwhile.

Leverage Free Trials

While you can only unlock some video editors after payment, some offer free trials. You can use these offers to test out the features and tools that won you over before committing financially. 

Use Other Helpful Tools

You still need other tools alongside your video-editing program to excel. For example, applications like Asana, Trello, Figma, and StudioBinder allow you to organize tasks, collaborate with coworkers, and stay productive.

You may also want to get videos from the Internet to add to your projects from time to time. In most cases, you can’t easily obtain them without video-downloading applications

A good video downloader, such as Auslogics Video Grabber, will help you download videos from popular sites and convert them to formats accepted by your video editor.

You can also use production calendars to make sure your schedule is not a mess and keep up with all your appointments.

Maintain Your PC

You need an efficient computer to avoid annoying interruptions, slow-downs, and bugs that can affect your workflow and impact your productivity. While PCs with powerful specs are quite capable, they can also freeze, hang, and throw up errors if they are not properly maintained.

Also Read: How to Run Hard Drive Diagnostics on Windows PC?

So, ensure you install a powerful antivirus program, regularly declutter your hard drive, and keep your device drivers up to date.


Also Read: How to Remove Virus and Other Malware from Windows


There are utilities that can help you keep malware, junk, and unnecessary glitches away from your PC. You can use Auslogics BoostSpeed to optimize system performance and keep your hard drive clean. Auslogics Driver Updater will ensure you don’t experience driver-related issues. Auslogics Anti-Malware can work with your main antivirus program to fortify your system’s protection against malicious applications.

 

Best Video Editing Software

Conclusion

Remember to balance your need for a powerful tool with the realities of what you can afford and what your computer can handle. Ensure you always confirm your system’s requirements before proceeding to buy a product and see to it that your PC is always in good shape to handle the rigors of video editing.

FAQ

How Much RAM Do I Need for Video Editing?

Video editors have different RAM requirements, with the least starting from 4 GB. However, it’s recommended that you get something higher for access to advanced features and render videos faster.

How Many CPU Cores Do I Need for Video Editing?

The number of CPU cores you need for your video editor also depends on the program. While multiple CPU cores are great, they do not guarantee high performance. You should focus more on your chip’s clock speeds.

Why Does My Video Editor Crash Upon Startup?

The problem could be caused by poor PC hardware and software resources, application conflicts, malware, and other system glitches.

What Should I do if my Video Editing Software won’t Import Files?

Make sure the file you’re trying to import is not corrupt. Try restarting the app, and if nothing works, restart your computer. You can also attempt to repair and reset the video editor to check if it fixes the issue.

How Can I Fix a Video Editor that is not Responding?

Go to the Windows Task manager and force it to shut down, then restart it.