12 Free Video Editing Software for Windows and How to Choose

Quick answer: Good free video editors for Windows in October 2026 include DaVinci Resolve, Shotcut, OpenShot, Blender, VSDC Free Video Editor and Microsoft Clipchamp, which have no watermark on exports. Lightworks, VideoProc Vlogger and VideoPad (for non-commercial use) are also free, while Filmora and Camtasia let you edit free but watermark your exports until you pay. Windows Movie Maker has been discontinued since 2017, so do not download it from third-party sites.

Video editing has become an everyday skill for work presentations, social media and small business marketing. You no longer need expensive software to start: several capable editors cost nothing. The catch is that “free” means different things. Some tools are genuinely free and open source, some are free versions of paid products with limits, and some add a watermark until you upgrade.

We first published this list as “Top 15 Best Free Video Editing Software for Windows” in 2020. When we checked every product again in October 2026, HitFilm Express’s website no longer loaded, Windows Movie Maker had long been discontinued, and Adobe Premiere Pro turned out not to be free at all. The list below has 12 editors you can use on Windows without paying, with each one’s limits stated plainly.

How to choose a free video editor

• Check the “free” limits first. Look for watermarks, export resolution caps (Lightworks Free exports up to 720p), time limits or non-commercial licences (VideoPad’s free version is for home use only).
• Match the tool to your skill. Beginners will be productive fastest with Clipchamp, Filmora or VideoPad. DaVinci Resolve, Blender and Lightworks are professional tools with a steeper learning curve.
• Check your PC. Professional editors, especially DaVinci Resolve, need a capable graphics card and plenty of memory for smooth 4K editing. Read the system requirements before you install.
• Screen recording or filmed footage? For tutorials and software demos, Camtasia or Clipchamp’s built-in recorders save time. For camera footage, choose a timeline editor with good format support, such as Shotcut or Resolve.
• Download only from the official site. Free editors are a common bait for bundled adware and malware. Use the developer’s own website or the Microsoft Store.

Free video editors for Windows compared

The 12 free video editors in detail

1. DaVinci Resolve

DaVinci Resolve, from Blackmagic Design, combines editing, colour correction, visual effects (Fusion) and audio post-production (Fairlight) in one application, and is used on feature films and television. The free version is remarkably complete; DaVinci Resolve Studio, listed at $295 on Blackmagic’s site in October 2026, adds extra effects and features. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. As the original article warned, it needs a powerful computer with a good graphics card.

2. Filmora

Wondershare Filmora (now version 16, rather than the “Filmora9” we listed in 2020) is an easy editor for Windows and macOS with mobile apps. It has a timeline editor, AI features, screen recording, colour correction and a large library of templates, effects, music and stock media. You can try all the editing tools free, but Wondershare’s site says videos exported from the free version include a Filmora watermark; paid plans remove it.

3. Blender

Blender is a free, open-source 3D creation suite with a built-in video sequence editor. Blender’s site says the editor handles basic cuts and splicing as well as more complex tasks such as video masking and colour grading, with live preview, waveform, vectorscope and histogram displays, audio mixing and up to 32 slots for video, images, audio and effects. It is a good choice if you already use Blender for animation; for pure editing, Shotcut or Resolve are easier to learn.

4. Lightworks

Lightworks has a long history in professional editing. Its free plan can be used for an unlimited period and includes timeline editing, automatic saving, transitions and simple effects, but exports only up to 720p, according to the Lightworks pricing page. Paid Create and Pro plans, sold monthly, yearly or as a one-time purchase, unlock 4K export and more tools. Lightworks runs on Windows, macOS and Linux.

5. Camtasia

Camtasia, from TechSmith, is a screen recorder and video editor built for tutorials, training videos, software demos and recorded webinars. TechSmith says you can use all the editing features free, but exported videos carry a watermark until you upgrade to a paid Essentials, Create or Pro plan or a business licence. It runs on Windows and macOS. The original article mentioned a free Camtasia mobile app for Android and iOS; we could not find it on TechSmith’s current site.

6. FlexClip

FlexClip is an online video maker and editor that runs in your browser, so there is nothing to install on Windows. It is built around editable templates for promos, social media, tutorials and events, with stock media, subtitles, text-to-speech and AI tools. FlexClip invites you to try it free; check its pricing page for what the free option includes before you start a big project.

7. VideoProc Vlogger

The original article described VideoProc, which is mainly a video converter and processing tool with GPU acceleration. Its maker’s dedicated editor is VideoProc Vlogger, which the company offers as a free download. It covers merging, trimming, cropping, music, text, transitions and LUTs, plus speed ramping, a motion editor and colour grading. It is a reasonable step up from very basic editors.

8. Shotcut

Shotcut is a free, open-source, cross-platform video editor for Windows, macOS and Linux. It supports hundreds of audio and video formats through FFmpeg, edits files natively without importing them, mixes formats, resolutions and frame rates in one timeline and supports resolutions up to 4K. It also captures from webcams, screens and capture cards. Shotcut’s site has tutorials for beginners, as the original article noted.

9. VSDC Free Video Editor

VSDC Free Video Editor is a Windows editor with more than 200 built-in effects, filters and colour grading tools, including LUT support, HDR editing and a stabilisation tool for shaky footage. Its developer says the free version exports up to 4K without watermarks or time limits. A paid VSDC Pro version adds further features. The original article was confusing about whether VSDC is free; the Free Video Editor is free, and Pro is the paid upgrade.

10. OpenShot

OpenShot is a free, open-source editor for Linux, macOS and Windows, with no subscriptions, watermarks or project limits. It offers precise timeline editing across unlimited tracks, keyframe animation of position, scale, rotation, opacity and volume, interactive video masks and audio visualisation effects. It balances a simple interface with useful advanced features.

11. VideoPad Video Editor

VideoPad, from NCH Software, is an easy drag-and-drop editor for Windows and macOS with effects, transitions, title templates and audio tools. NCH offers a free version for non-commercial use only; if you edit videos for a business, you need to buy a licence. It suits home users making family or holiday videos.

12. Microsoft Clipchamp

Clipchamp is Microsoft’s video editor. Microsoft says you can find it in the Start menu on Windows 11 or download it for Windows 10 from the Microsoft Store, and it also runs in a web browser. The free version exports an unlimited number of videos in HD without watermarks, and includes templates, a screen and camera recorder, AI voiceovers and subtitles. Premium features come with a Microsoft 365 subscription. For most Windows users, Clipchamp is the natural replacement for the old Movie Maker.

Removed since our earlier version

• Windows Movie Maker: discontinued. Microsoft says that as of 10 January 2017, Windows Essentials 2012 (which included Movie Maker) is no longer supported and is unavailable for download. An earlier version of this article suggested downloading Movie Maker “from any third-party”; that was bad advice. Microsoft warns that websites offering free Movie Maker downloads are not offering sanctioned Microsoft products and may contain viruses or hidden costs. Use Clipchamp instead.
• HitFilm Express: its developer’s websites (fxhome.com and hitfilm.com) no longer load, and we could not find an official, current download. Avoid copies offered on unofficial download sites.
• Adobe Premiere Pro: still sold, but it is not free. Adobe says Premiere is available only as a membership with monthly or annual commitment, with a seven-day free trial. Adobe also offers Premiere on mobile, a free standalone social video app for iPhone and Android. Because the desktop editor is paid, it no longer fits this list.

Frequently asked questions

Which free video editor has no watermark?

DaVinci Resolve, Shotcut, OpenShot, Blender, VSDC Free Video Editor and Clipchamp’s free HD exports have no watermark, according to their developers. Filmora and Camtasia add a watermark until you pay.

Does Windows have a built-in video editor?

Yes. On Windows 11, Microsoft Clipchamp is available from the Start menu. On Windows 10, you can download it from the Microsoft Store.

Is DaVinci Resolve really free?

Yes. The free version of DaVinci Resolve covers editing, colour, effects and audio. The paid Studio version adds extra effects and features that most beginners will not need.

What is the easiest free video editor for beginners?

Clipchamp and VideoPad are the gentlest starting points, and Filmora is easy too if you accept a watermark while learning. Shotcut and OpenShot are good free next steps.

Can I use free video editors for business videos?

Most can be used commercially, but check the licence. VideoPad’s free version, for example, is for non-commercial use only.

Editing images as well as video? See our guide to photo editing software for photographers and our Canva review, which covers Canva’s video tools. If you record webinars to edit later, compare web conferencing and webinar tools.

Product details were checked in October 2026 against each developer’s official website and pricing pages, and Microsoft’s support page on Windows Essentials. Free plans change often, so confirm current limits on the developer’s site before you start a project.