On this page you’ll find a brief VSDC review based on the most popular queries: feature-set, formats, pricing model, and system requirements. If you’re here to read what bloggers, journalists, and users say about our video editor – keep scrolling down.

“A brilliant free video suite for Windows”
Techradar

VSDC review: feature-set

VSDC is a non-linear video editor for Windows. “Non-linear” (as opposed to “linear” video editing like in Movie Maker) means you can combine video files and images in any sequence and create incredible compositions. If you’ve never heard of non-linear video editing before and still feel confused, think of it as “photoshopping” a video. You’ll be able to create layers, place several objects onto a scene, overlap them, blend fragments and even make them half-transparent if your goal requires that.

Here are some popular features available due to the technology of non-linear video editing:

• Picture in picture
• Side by side and split screen videos
• Video in text effect
• Green screen removal (Chroma Key)
• Double exposure

If this sounds more complicated than you expected, know that VSDC can be used for basic editing operations as well. Cutting, cropping, merging, and rotating videos; adding titles, subtitles, transitions, filters and video effects – all these one-click features and many more are available in this software, and even someone with zero experience will be able to take advantage of them.

There are over 200 video instructions on our YouTube channel. Here you’ll find a playlist with basic video editing tips’n’tricks for beginners. Don’t forget to subscribe!

Like this VSDC Video Editor review? Download the program here

What about formats?

Working with formats flawlessly is VSDC superpower.

“Unlike Lightworks, the free version of VSDC will export to a range of different formats including AVI and MPG. If you’re unsure about formats, you can even tailor the output so that it works well on particular devices for playback”
Creative Bloq

In a nutshell, it will open any video file, no matter what device you used to record the footage. It is technically possible due to a built-in video converter instantly recognizing all the codecs and opening them in the editing mode. You can edit 4K videos recorded on your favorite action camera too!

At the export level you can adjust every parameter of your video, including format, codec, resolution, frame rate, width and height, and quality. You can also upload projects directly to YouTube right from VSDC interface or save them in automatically pre-configured profiles for Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook – if the plan is to publish your masterpiece on social media.

Unconvinced? Check the full list of video and audio formats supported by VSDC here.

VSDC video editor review pricing model: is it really free?

The short answer is yes.

One of the most frequent questions we receive is whether our video editor is truly free. It’s not too surprising given how many companies state their software is absolutely free and then “surprise” you with a watermark, a limited feature-set, a narrow choice of export formats, or even a time-restricted trial period. Our goal is to be transparent and honest with our users. So, if you are wondering (or worrying) how we make money to sustain the development, the technical support, and the marketing teams, here is a very detailed breakdown for you.

"VSDC Free Video Editor is a simple and easy to use video editor featuring a lot of functions even a pro editor wouldn’t be ashamed of"
ZDNet

Fact #1. VSDC is a really, truly, completely free piece of video editing software. There is no better way to put it. Worry not: you can benefit from all the features and export your video in any format without a watermark. If your project comes out larger than average, you’ll see a pop-up window suggesting upgrading to Pro and exporting the video faster, however, if you don’t want to, you can simply click on “Continue” button at the right bottom corner of the pop-up window. That’s it, no surprises.

Fact #2. As you have probably figured out, we are able to support our team by offering VSDC Pro subscriptions. They are available at $19.99 and valid for a year.

How is a Pro subscription different from a free one? It activates hardware acceleration, adds up a multicolor Chroma Key tool, a masking feature, an audio waveform, a video stabilization tool, a voice over function, and few other features professional videographers may make use of. Truth be told, most of our fans are non-professional users and for them, hardware acceleration is the main incentive to upgrade to Pro. It allows for increasing export speed significantly. The impatient ones appreciate this opportunity a lot.

You can learn more about VSDC PRO here or you can drop us a line at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Fact #3. We also accept donations! If you like VSDC and want to support your favorite video editor, you can do so by sending us a bit of love here. If you’re looking for alternative ways to help the project, it will mean the world to us if you review VSDC on any of the following websites: G2Crowd, Capterra, TrustPilot, or CNET. VSDC video editor reviews help us spread the word and who knows – maybe yours will end someone’s tedious search for a free video editor!

“VSDC is really easy to use. It runs really well, you don’t need to have the latest and the greatest system. For someone who is a beginner up to intermediate, this will be perfect”
Justin Brown – Primal Video

VSDC system requirements

We’re proud to make semi-professional level video editing affordable and available to everyone. That’s why our software has very low system requirements. In fact, you won’t find another non-linear video editor requiring as little as RAM 256Mb for the program and just 50 MB of free disk space. At least, we haven’t!

It means that even if your favorite PC is a bit outdated, has limited amount of memory left, or runs on an old version of Windows (XP SP3 / Vista / Win7 / Win8), you can still enjoy working in VSDC. For your convenience, there are two options available - a 32-bit version of the program and a 64-bit optimized version. The latter is an optimal choice for those typically struggling with software crashes.

You can see the full list of system requirements here.

VSDC reviews by users

Our user family is the best audience we could wish for. And each time we hear from them, it fills our hearts with pure joy. There’s nothing better, really, than knowing our solution has helped someone achieve a business goal, finish a school project, share vacation memories, create a breathtaking drone video, grow a YouTube channel, or just have a lot of fun.

Here are some beautiful messages we received in the past few months. You can find more on our Facebook page.

“VSDC is well-designed and not hard to learn. I used it to create professional-standard training videos for business web-applications. The support team is friendly, responsive and accommodating”.
Pieka Grobbelaar

Finally, iMovie allows you to remove green and blue screens from your footage easily by the same old drag-n-drop movement where you just overlay the green/blue screen video on the video or image that is supposed to replace the background. Overall, there are more than 200 different effects available in this editor including the popular picture-in-picture, slow motion, fast-forward, fade transitions, zoom, freeze frames, and many others.

“I'm still as impressed with VSDC today as when I first tried it years ago. Every one of the videos on my channel (over 900) had been edited through use of VSDC".
Quadcopter 101, YouTuber and drone enthusiast

“I have been using it for a couple of months and I am very impressed. Still lots to learn, it's amazing what it can do”.
Russell Macpherson

“I love it! I've had big trouble finding free video editor for windows until I've found this. After using it for ½ year for youtubing and gaming videos I bought it for ca. 20$. That unlocked few futures like faster rendering and adaptive alfa background remover. They are constantly developing so once in a while there are new options. Last update was 64bit hardware enhancement for faster rendering and editing, previews update gave us 4K videos. Thanks VSDC”.
Zdenek Walker

“Awesome software! I just got my kids some action cameras and the file type used is MOV. I ran into issues with other editors and converters. Go Pro Studios would not recognize the files and this editor is easier to use anyways in my opinion. This software works so good that I even went and got a cheap action camera for myself so I can start recording my kayak fishing trips. Once I start putting out YouTube videos on my fishing channel I will be sure to put out the good word on your product! The editor seems fairly simple to figure out and the converter opinions are outstanding! It’s been fun learning the basics of video editing which I never thought I’d be able to do. Thank you very much for the free version! I am already telling all my friends and family about your awesome free software! As soon as I have the hang of the basics I will be purchasing the pro version for more opinions and effects”!
Derek Perez

“I am a total beginner at editing, but I understand programs quite fast. To make a simple video was no big deal, also the tools like audio capture and screen capture are nice to have and you do not need extra programs for it. As it goes for the free solution it is just great.
I also think the company philosophy for providing a free edition is great in this point”.
Benjamin Georg Berg

“I love VSDC. I've tried a lot of free video programs, but this is my favourite and I've been using it for a long time. Great job, guys”!
Andra Ariadna

VSDC reviews in media

Over the past few years VSDC has been reviewed and evaluated by many industry experts as well. Our video editor has even become an official recommendation of GoPro team for Windows users! Below you’ll find mentions that we think may help you get a better picture of how VSDC stands out among similar solutions.

“VSDC is one of the best free video editor options for Windows users. Free video editing software is hard to find, but VSDC fits the bill for most users who are looking to edit GoPro videos, YouTube videos, family movies, you name it”!
VidProMom, YouTuber and GoPro Enthusiast

“VSDC supports a multitude of file-input and -output formats, and even the new H.265 codec that Adobe Premiere Elements has eschewed thus far”.
Tom’s Guide

“VSDC Free Video Editor has many features one level up in comparison with many free and affordable non-linear video editors. I think it's well worth trying”.
FSToppers

“VSDC Free Video Editor is a feature-packed non-linear video editing suite that can compete with even expensive editing software”.
TechRadar

“VSDC has a lot of features you won’t find in other free video editors, like picture-in-picture, video stabilization, and the ability to upload multiple YouTube videos at once. If you can deal with its quirks, it’s one of the most powerful options available”.
PCWorld

“VSDC Free Video Editor looks and feels just like a professional video editor. If you want to experience that style of in-depth video editing, this program is an epic way to do it for free”.
CNET

“VSDC has been named one of the best software to edit video from drones”.
The Guardian

“The good part is that the intuitive software offers training and tutorials. So, even if you have rudimentary skills, you can learn to use the VSDC quickly and make polished videos”.
The Windows Club

"In experienced hands, the VSDC Free Video Editor сan produce some seriously professional-looking video. And unlike WeVideo, VSDC is truly free. You can use the program’s full feature set without having to deal with pesky watermarks".
HubSpot

"Not only does VSDC Free Video Editor offer powerful video editing capabilities, it is also surprisingly easy to use. Forget video conversion back and forth between different formats - the program fluently reads all of them".
TuCows

"This appropriately titled editor is another solid choice for people who want a semi-professional option without having to pay a professional price tag”.
MakeUseOf

"VSDC Free Video Editor is a surprisingly powerful, if unconventional video editor".
PC Advisor

So, you just bought a new PC or probably upgraded your current one to Windows 10 (it was about time!). And now you’re probably looking for a video editor because Microsoft stopped supporting Movie Maker at the beginning of 2017. Rest assured you're not alone in your search - and welcome to the club of thousands of Windows 10 users worldwide.

Since the moment Windows Essentials suite reached its end of support, we've been relentlessly testing various programs to find the ones we could recommend as Movie Maker alternatives. Today we've got you covered with 7 excellent pieces of software for video editing. Whether you have some experience in clip making or this will be your first masterpiece, you'll certainly find the right solution here.

Oh, did we mention that all the programs on the list are free? Well, consider it a nice bonus.

VSDC - Free Windows 10 video editor of our choice (Download)

If you're searching for a multifunctional solution including a video editor, a slideshow creator, and a screen recorder, look no further. VSDC has it all. Named among the best free video editing software for PC by the GoPro technical support team, TechRadar online magazine, and numerous Youtuber channels, VSDC deserves to hold the top spot of this list.

Let's take a closer look at what the program offers.

VSDC has a wide array of tools for multiple purposes. It will come in handy if you're just planning to give your video a quick touch-up - say, cutting it, adding a soundtrack, fixing the angle, changing the light & color balance - you name it! Yet, it will also cope with a serious project requiring more advanced features.

What else is good: VSDC works surprisingly well even on computers with limited resources. In other words, you'll be able to utilize VSDC even if your PC has as little as 2Gb memory left. This capability makes it a good Windows 10 video editor choice even for low-end machine owners.

Format-wise, VSDC will open any file, no matter which device was used to record the footage. It works with 4K resolution too. At the export level, you'll be able to choose pre-configured profiles for further upload to social networks (YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) or manually set the format, resolution, and quality including HD.

Download the latest version of VSDC

OpenShot - Windows 10 video editor which is open-source

Openshot interface looks much more minimalistic, so does its set of tools. This software, however, gets the job done pretty fast due to the most actions being implemented through a drag'n'drop mouse movement. If you were a fan of that feature in Movie Maker, you'd probably be happy to see the similarity. Unlike Movie Maker though, OpenShot is a non-linear video editor, which instantly makes it twice as powerful.

By the way, first-time users might be also pleasantly surprised by the popping up tutorial windows walking you through the main steps and helping get familiar with the interface.

Openshot has an impressive list of over 300 transitions. Each one can be applied to the required part or the intersection of two media files by the drag'n'drop movement as well. You also get to play with some essential effects, such as blurring, brightness&contrast, Chroma Key, deinterlacing, wipe transitions, negative, and color saturation. The picture-in-picture effect is a bit indirect, but there is a way to perform it by right-mouse clicking on the file and choosing a 1/4 size layout. Right-mouse click will also open the menu for time-related effects: freezing, fast-forwarding, slow-motion, etc.

What else is good: being able to apply actions "in bulk" - for example, copying the effects from a chosen area, or separating audio from a single clip or multiple clips simultaneously.

Where to get it: you can download the 64-bit Windows installer here.

Shotcut - a decent Windows 10 video editor for Chroma keying

There are not so many semi-professional open source video editors out there - Shotcut is one of them. It is available for Windows, MacOS, and Linux users. With its minimalistic interface, Shotcut is capable of all the essential video editing operations, including such challenging ones as film restoration, footage stabilization, and white balancing.

Applying effects is even more convenient because of the real-time preview you get from the left-side filters menu. Simply choose the filters you'd like to try on the footage and go through the checkboxes to see how they look on the picture in the right-side preview window.

What makes Shotcut stand out as a video editor for Windows 10 though, is the Chroma Keying tool. Movie Maker didn't have the feature-set for removing a green background from videos and images - you could only perform the operation through a 3rd-party plugin (quite a painful sequence of actions). Shotcut in its turn allows for applying this advanced effect quickly and easily. Perhaps, that's the reason TechRadar has named it among the software to replace Windows Essentials suite components.

What else is good: the ability to quickly reverse your actions in a non-linear order. As mentioned before, each filter or effect you apply to the footage is eventually listed in the left-side window with a marked checkbox. That means you can uncheck any box at any time without having to start the editing process all over again.

Where to get it: Shotcut official website.

Avidemux - ultra-simplistic Windows 10 video editor and encoder

If the previously mentioned software overwhelmed you a bit with the fancy non-linear video editing technology or the endless lists of features, you'll love Avidemux. There seem to be no creative element involved. You won't find multiple video tracks or file library. In a nutshell, you can only cut, copy, paste and encode. May it not turn you away from Avidemux though.

If you have little to no interest in all those post-production bells and whistles, and only need to quickly cut out a piece of footage, go for it. Download Avidemux and you'll never regret. Not only does it take less than 3 seconds to install this software, it also provides the fastest and probably the clearest way to cut a video file into fragments. Once you've set the markers for the required time frame, simply go to the "Edit" tab in the upper menu and choose what you want to do - cut, copy, or delete the piece.

Once you're done, you can go ahead and choose video and audio output parameters. For such a basic and free tool, Avidemux has a noteworthy set of codecs to choose from. This is why calling it not just a video editor, but also an encoder is more correct. It supports most popular formats including MP4, MPG, WMV, AVI, DVD, and MOV - as well as the latest H.265/HEVC codec for high-quality videos.

Truth be told, there are few filters available at the configuration level - such as interlacing, noise or sharpness - but they seem to be more technically-inclined rather than serve creative purposes.

What else is good: options to add subtitles and a logo on top of video with alpha blending. These features are also available in the video output menu.

Where to get it: Avidemux version of video editor for Windows 10 can be found on Fosshub, but you can also go through the official product page.

Davinci Resolve - professional software for the experienced ones

Most professional video editors (think Adobe Premiere or Sony Vegas) tend to be pricey for an average user who might only utilize them few times a year. However, if when saying "professional" you think of advanced color correction tools, Resolve is a spectacular video editor for your Windows 10 PC available at zero cost.

You may want to check online courses devoted to Davinci Resolve available on Lynda or Udemy because mastering this beast will require a bit of a steep learning curve if you haven't worked with anything like this before. However, Hollywood-level color grading capabilities should be worth it. On top of that, of course, you get to perform basic operations, such as cutting, splitting and sound adjusting.

There are only two downsides worth mentioning and taking into consideration. First, Davinci Resolve will use your PC GPU to the fullest, so make sure to have a powerful graphic card and a good amount of memory available. Second, there are occasional issues with recognizing certain formats of video and audio. The officially recommended format to work with is ProRes, but it also seems to work smoothly with the majority of files in H.264 codec.

Where to get it: on the official product page. Scroll all the way down to find the free version of the software download link.

Videopad - a Windows 10 video editor for personal use

Videopad is another multifunctional piece of software for video editing, screen recording, audio and video recording. Its free version is called demo and restricted to personal use only. The interface will sure remind you of Movie Maker - especially the file library and the upper menu where video effects and transitions can be found.

Videopad is more a robust tool though. There are multiple video and audio tracks available, so you can work with the non-linear sequence. If you're working with text objects, this editor provides a good number of effects. First, there is a way to add subtitles in real-time. In other words, you can manually input the subtitle text with the precision of a second being able to preview their appearance immediately and correct if required. Second, there is over a dozen of text effects and animations to choose from.

However, the most prominent advanced feature available in Videopad is masking. Right-mouse click on the chosen video fragment and proceed to Effects. A separate window will open, where you'll be able to set the masking parameters.

What else is good: a quick access button to create snapshots in multiple resolutions including 4K Ultra HD.

Where to get it: on the official website of the developer company, NHC Software. Scroll down past the red download button to the "Get it free" section.

Hitfilm Express - a video editor for Windows 10 focused on effects

We're finishing this roundup of Windows 10 video editors with yet another powerful solution popular among YouTube bloggers fond of adding special effects to their videos. Hitfilm Express is a cross-platform software and works on Windows as well as on Mac. Its unique feature set is well hidden behind an unconventional interface though. On the basic level, you'll be able to cut and split media files, add text and work with audio.

Once you get the feeling of how the editing process is organized in Hitfilm Express, you'll able to play with the effects. From chroma keying to 3D compositing and many more special effects you've probably seen on TV. Once finished, video projects can be exported in 1080p resolution only, but there are several pre-configured output profiles for further upload to social media.

What else is good: Hollywood movies inspired tutorials on how to apply effects in Hitfilm Express like a pro.

Where to get it: Go to the "Express" page of Hitfilm website to download the free version. You'll be asked to share the page on social networks and leave your email address to get the link.

Wrapping up

Despite the rumors, the long-anticipated Movie Maker successor released by Microsoft hasn’t met users’ expectations. Moreover, the alternative suggested by the company developer allows you to create a beautiful slideshow from photos at best and doesn’t look like a full-featured video editor. So, we hope this list of programs will be of help to those looking for a decent Windows 10 video editor.

If you've been around for the past year and a half, you probably remember YouTube video editor and its power of simplicity. Beginning video bloggers loved it. Nothing could beat the convenience of editing YouTube videos right there... on YouTube. Avoiding the hassle of switching between your browser and the desktop, downloading, converting, processing, saving, and uploading videos again felt great. Yet, starting September 2017 YouTube Video Editor has been gone. So let's take another moment of appreciation and move on to the solutions you can use to edit your clips instead. After all, you were looking for one, weren't you?

In this article, you'll find three pieces of software to help you handle the process of post-production and take your channel game to the next level.

Now, you're probably wondering why there are three products. Truth be told, even professional YouTubers barely stick to one product, so why should you? Some apps are just unparalleled at one particular feature, so you may want to use a couple of them to achieve better results.

VSDC - Free and Powerful Alternative to YouTube Video Editor for Windows (Download)

VSDC interface is slightly more tricky than the original YouTube video editor was. Yet, it offers a much wider feature-set, hence recognized by the community of technology enthusiasts.

Used by: a Drone Expert YouTuber Quadcopter 101.

Recommended by: GoPro official community, gamer YouTubers, Techradar blog.

Received honorable mentions from a video editing expert Justin Brown at Primal video, VidProMom, and Steven Van.

Visit VSDC official page

What makes VSDC a great video editor for YouTube creators

First, it's non-linear. That means you'll be able to easily apply popular effects like picture-in-picture, news-style, split screen, gradual zoom, video-in-text, and many others. There is a decent text editor, so you'll be able to add contour titles and comments to a scene when needed.

Second, it's absolutely free. There is a Pro version you might want to consider to speed up video exporting (it's a $19 annual subscription). It activates hardware acceleration using more additional PC resources, therefore the program might double the rendering rate. Other than that, VSDC free version should be more than sufficient for you.

Third, you can upload videos to YouTube directly from the video editor interface, once you finish the process of montage. And it's a great time-saver, given that otherwise, you would have to export and save the file to your PC first and then publish it online.

If you're into creating reaction videos or tutorials, VSDC might also be a convenient choice for you because of the built-in screen capture and video recorder. You won't have to employ 3-rd party software to fulfill these tasks anymore. Finally, there is a mighty Chroma Key tool available, so if you're shooting with a green screen, you'll be able to easily remove it from the footage using VSDC Video Editor as well.

On top of that, there are over 200 video tutorials about working with this software uploaded to the official company channel on YouTube. So, if you're ready to invest a bit of time into getting familiar with the interface and some basic combinations, using VSDC as a primary video editor for YouTube clips will be a no-brainer.

For example, look how it takes less than a minute to create a beautiful video in text effect that will be an ideal intro for just about any channel. No video editing experience or special knowledge required.

Enhancements feature - consider using what's left after YouTube Video Editor

Although YouTube Video Editor is no longer available, you can still perform a decent number of basic but essential operations in the Creator Studio. Perhaps, it's not the ultimate solution for those having complicated project ideas in mind, but the Enhancements feature does a great job when you quickly need to polish a video, cut out a fragment or add an audio track to the video record.

In fact, among the list of not-so-uncommon filters, color correction tools, and speed settings, YouTube has few tools you won't find in other free video editors. They are: shaky camera motions stabilizer - great for videos recorded on the go without professional equipment, face blurring, and custom blurring - typically performed by means of masking tools in other video editing software. The latter is often used for confidentiality purposes rather than creative goals. You may consider blurring faces, numbers, names, brands, dates, GPS coordinates, car plates - what have you.

If needed, you can download your previously uploaded videos from YouTube in a 720p resolution and even retrieve the original files using Google Takeout.

While this is certainly not an ideal tool for an aspiring video vlogger, it's beneficial for you to know that there is no need to pay for 3rd-party editors if all you want is to fix a shaky footage or to blur a face of someone who wasn't supposed to be caught on camera.

Davinci Resolve - professional color grading video editor for YouTube

This desktop tool is a powerhouse of color correction, and we won't even try to compare it to what YouTube Video Editor used to be, because Resolve represents an entirely different level of post-production.

Recommended by: indie filmmakers, color grading enthusiasts.

Davinci Resolve might be a good choice for those having a more serious approach to video editing - say, this is something you're planning to do for a living, and it's a professional solution you're looking for, not just a cutter and a splicer. Think of it as of Photoshop for videos rather than an average editor. You'll be able to achieve some breathtaking results, but you should have some understanding of color grades and be passionate about it enough to invest time and effort into this software.

Certainly, there will be a steep learning curve even for those with experience because the program interface appears somewhat overwhelming. Luckily, there are dozens of tutorials and even online courses available for those willing to master Davinci Resolve. Before jumping to installation, you should also understand that if you choose such a powerful tool as Resolve, your machine needs to comply with its requirements. The absolute bare minimum is 8GB of system RAM, at least 4GB of graphics RAM and enough storage space. Note, that the installation file alone weighs 780MB.

You can download the free version of Davinci Resolve from the official website of Blackmagic Design - the developer company.

What makes Davinci Resolve a good YouTube video editor

Although we started complimenting Davinci Resolve for its color grading tools, it actually has the set of basic features as well. Thus, you'll be able to cut, split, trim, and merge video files, work with audio, use Chroma Key (remove green screen from your footage), add titles, create transitions, apply speed effects, composite a split screen effect, and much much more.

When it comes to trimming, Resolve is incomparably convenient because of the real-time timeline zooming feature (for a more precise cut) and a number of hotkey combinations you can use when applying repetitive actions. At the export level, just like VSDC, Davinci Resolve allows you to avoid extra steps and upload your project directly to YouTube (or Vimeo) in 1080p.

On top of that, Resolve is a crossplatform solution, which means it works on Windows, Mac, and Linux as well.

iMovie - probably the most overlooked free video editor for YouTube (Mac)

If you think you must use a fancy expensive piece of video editing software to stand out on YouTube, you're wrong. What really matters is your content quality, determination, and creativity, of course. So, if you're on Mac, your first best choice should be iMovie. In fact, according to the Influencer Equipment database, even after becoming well-known, some YouTubers still use this absolutely free default video editor by Apple. Tana Mongeau, Zane Hijazi, Trisha Paytas, and Brawadis are some of the most famous iMovie advocates.

Recommended by: vloggers

What makes iMovie a great choice

First, it's pre-installed on every new Mac, and even those having old Apple computers can install iMovie for free from the App Store (it used to be impossible previously). Second, it has a minimalistic intuitive interface and most operations are performed via a simple drag-n-drop motion. Third, known for meticulous attention to details and the visual components, Apple video editing software developers have embedded a library of themes and title templates. It comes in especially handy if you're working on a series of videos and willing to apply the same style to every episode.

And because Apple products create such a unified ecosystem, you can benefit from it in many ways too. For example, you can add pre-uploaded royalty-free audio tracks to your movie as well as quickly import songs from your iTunes and anything you have in your iCloud.

Finally, iMovie allows you to remove green and blue screens from your footage easily by the same old drag-n-drop movement where you just overlay the green/blue screen video on the video or image that is supposed to replace the background. Overall, there are more than 200 different effects available in this editor including the popular picture-in-picture, slow motion, fast-forward, fade transitions, zoom, freeze frames, and many others.

Afterword. Why you should consider free video editors for YouTube instead of paid solutions

You may be wondering what most YouTubers use. Truth be told, among the established creators working on their channels full-time, the most frequently mentioned video editing software is Adobe Premiere (cross-platform program, starts at $19.99/mo - if annual subscription purchased). Then comes Final Cut Pro (Mac only, $299) and Sony Vegas (Windows only, starts at $400).

Yet, is there any correlation between video editing software and their achievements? We seriously doubt that. Moreover, if you're following some popular channels, you probably know that quite a few started their blogging career as a hobby using the most primitive free video editors. In fact, it appears that many still use freeware for their channels, and that's noteworthy.

There's no need to break your piggy bank to purchase a video editor for your brand new YouTube channel. Experienced creators often say that it's always wise to focus your effort on the production versus thinking that post-production can turn a poor quality footage into a masterpiece. So if you're willing to invest, consider upgrading your hardware instead. A decent source of light and a microphone are already half a battle, as you probably won't have to sweat the color balance and the audio settings afterward.

What makes a good YouTube video editor anyway?

Great question. It really comes down to your skills and needs. For instance, if you're planning to publish game walkthroughs, obviously, you might need a built-in screen recorder. If reaction videos are your thing, look for an embedded video capture tool. If you are a person typically making a dozen of shots before merging them into one episode, you should certainly make sure the trimming tool is intuitive. Finally, download a free green screen sample stock video and quickly test the Chroma Key tool if this is what you're planning to use in the future.

Here is a checklist you may refer to when choosing a video editor for a YouTube channel:

• It should be a non-linear tool.
• It should comply with your PC or Mac resources and run stably. Check software system requirements before installing it to avoid unexpected crashes.
• It should allow you to export videos in 1080p (720p will do most of the times too, though, but 1080p is definitely a better option), ideally using H.265 codec because it will keep the highest quality with a minimum file size.

Let's recap the above said. While there are dozens of free video editors on the Internet, many of them won't make a good choice if you're looking for a YouTube video editor. Some are too primitive and lack crucial features - such as direct YouTube uploader, high resolution export, green screen, and text objects. Others put restrictions on the exported projects, such as a limited choice of format or a watermark. We believe, the editors reviewed in this article are great examples of a rich feature-set available at zero cost with no restrictions whatsoever. Hopefully, the list has been of use. If it hasn't, however, here are few more tools you may check out: ShotCut, Openshot, Videopad, and Hitfilm Express.

For those interested, here is a detailed review of free Windows 10 video editors.

Don't forget to share this article if you've found it helpful, and best of luck.

What if we told you that by the time you finish reading this text you'll learn about one well-kept Hollywood post-production secret? Which is (wait for it) video masking software.

That's right, with this technique alone you'll be able to reproduce some of the most mind-blowing effects, such as making the same person appear in the same frame multiple times. Like in Friends, where Lisa Kudrow played twin sisters - Phoebe and Ursula Buffay; or in Legend, where Tom Hardy played both twin brothers.

And not only that. Video masking is irreplaceable and constantly used for more trivial tasks - such as blurring faces and objects, removing them from the scene entirely, adding reflections, coloring a particular part of the video, creating a "video playing inside of a text" effect, and even creating a "ghost look" - that's when a person looks half-transparent and you can see objects behind. Not too shabby, huh?

In this article we'll talk about the concept of video masking and its most popular use cases beginners will be able to recreate easily.

Looking for a budget-friendly program to perform video masking? Check out VSDC for Windows and iMovie for Mac.

Download VSDC here for free.

Do I need particular video masking software?

While we've used that term a couple of times already, there is no such a thing as "video masking software". Masking is rather a feature most non-linear video editors have.

For screenshots and video tutorials in this particular article we're using VSDC. It is video editing software for Windows, and you can download it here. VSDC is free, however, masking is considered a part of the Pro version available at $19,99 per year. If you're on Mac, the most budget-friendly video editor with masking capabilities will be iMovie. You can download iMovie here.

If you feel confident enough to jumpstart with professional solutions, you should consider breaking the piggy bank for such post-production programs as Adobe Premiere Pro ($239,88 per year) and Pinnacle (starts with $59,95).

So what the heck is video masking?

Technically speaking, the masking feature helps you outline an area in a video you want to hide, reveal, or modify. This particular area will be considered - and hereinafter called - a mask. If you've ever worked with Photoshop or its alternatives, the terminology sure sounds familiar.

Practically speaking, video masking software enables you to manually choose a particular area in a video and work with it as if it was a standalone object. Here are few examples.

• You can copy the outlined fragment and duplicate it in a scene - and create a clone effect or a freeze frame clone effect.
• You can apply a particular filter to the outlined part - and blur faces or car numbers in a video, and keep them covered even if they are moving.
• You can layer that outlined part on another image or video - and create a text mask or recreate the famous annoying orange effect. The eyes and the mouth of the orange are nothing but masks. They were “cut out” from another video and placed over the orange. We won’t be able to explain why it’s so annoying though.

Is it me, or there are different masks available out there?

Once you start digging deeper into the topic, you'll probably notice here and there video editing geeks mentioning clipping masks or inverted masks when talking about video masking software. These terms describe the video mask application technique, not the tool.

Clipping mask

The first video masking technique we’ll review is called clipping mask. To apply a clipping mask means to add an image or a shape through which the video will be visible. That image is typically a .PNG file with a transparent background. It is called either a clipping mask or a clipping path. Once you apply the effect, the visible part of the video will be "clipped" by the borders of the image, and whatever is outside will not be seen.us

Here is an example of how a clipping mask was used in the famous GTA San Andreas video game opening.

Keep reading to find out how to recreate a clipping mask in VSDC within a few clicks.

Inverted mask

Compared to the clipping mask, an inverted mask blends two videos or images in a reversed way. This means if you place an image A on the timeline, then layer an image B over it and apply the inverted mask, the image B will be seen through the "empty" (black) areas of the image A.

A great example of the inverted mask technique is the popular "Video inside text" effect often referred to as a "Text mask".

Amazing video masking software effects you should definitely try

We hope you got the idea of what video masking can help you achieve. Now let's get practical, shall we? We've briefly mentioned some popular tricks - continue reading if you'd like to learn about how to use them in your projects.

Blur a face or any other object you need to hide in the video

Blurring or pixelating something in a piece of footage is arguably the most popular video masking effect, and you have surely seen it a million times. It is often used in movies, in the news, on security camera records, anonymous interviews, on drone-recorded videos to hide the GPS coordinates - you name it.

Technically, you simply choose an area that must be hidden from a viewer's eye and apply masking to it, so that the blurring effect will only appear on that chosen area.

To achieve your goal, you want to use the Inverted mask in VSDC:

1. Once you've imported your footage to VSDC, go to Video Effects -> Filters -> Pixelize. The entire video will get pixelated, but don’t get confused - it’s a part of the process. You can also use the Properties window on the right-hand side to tweak the filter settings and make the mask more pixelated.
2. Double-click on the effect on the timeline - the "Pixelize” tab will open.
3. Click on the Add object option at the top and select Ellipse, Rectangle or a Free Shape for your mask. Place the object on the area that will be pixelized.
4. Go to the right-hand side menu and click on the Composition menu to select “Mask”.
5. Then switch the Invert mask mode from No to Yes.

This is how you blur an object! Easy enough, isn't it?

The very same way you can apply any other video filter or effect to a chosen area - and it doesn't have to be simple blurring.

Sometimes you might need a mask to follow a moving object. Say, if it's a person who doesn't stay still in the video and whose face must be hidden at all times. That will require you to use motion tracking along with masking, and we encourage you to watch a detailed how-to tutorial below to see how it works.

Create a video playing in text effect in less than a minute

"Video inside text" or a "Text Mask" is a beautiful eye-catching and a very popular effect. You might have seen it in TV shows and video blogs, because it is a perfect intro for any video project. And the best part is - you'll literally spend less than a minute to create it! Below we'll teach you how to do it. Keep in mind that the "Text mask" works best with short words made of large-size extra-bold letters.

Here is what to do:

1. Add a beautiful video you want to be seen through the letters. Bright multicolor videos will look better than monochrome ones.
2. Double-click on the video on the timeline - you'll be automatically switched to the next tab.
3. Add text to the video. Try to keep it short for a better looking text mask.
4. Use the text editing menu at the top to change the size and style as required for your project.
5. Apply black color to the text.
6. Find the "Composition mode" section in the menu to the left of the timeline. Choose the Inverted mask option as shown on the screenshot below.
7. Drag text or video to adjust accordingly.

Create a beautiful clipping mask

The idea behind clipping masks is similar to the "Text mask" effect, although instead of letters you will be using PNG images with transparent background. Think of those images as windows through which the playing video will be visible.

Clipping mask effect may look very artsy. Here is an incredible example of its usage in the True Detective intro, where Louisiana skyline is shown through a silhouette of Matthew McConaughey.

Here is how to apply a clipping mask in VSDC which we are using as a video masking software for this tutorial:

1. First, add an image that will be surrounding your clipping mask. In case of the above mentioned True Detective intro, it is a one-tone beige background, but you can choose any image or video for your project accordingly.
2. The second step is adding the clipping mask image. Remember, it should be a PNG image with transparent background, otherwise the magic will not happen.
3. As you complete step #2, go to Video Effects -> Transparency -> Clipping.
4. Double-click on the clipping effect on the timeline - you'll be transferred to the next tab.
5. Finally, add a video or an image that should be seen through your clipping mask. Drag it around to adjust the look if necessary.

Although it may sound challenging, applying a clipping mask is easier than you think. Take a minute and watch a detailed video tutorial on how to do it.

Clone yourself in a video

While Hollywood directors use this post-production trick to illustrate twisted storylines, you may want to try it just for fun. Because it is fun indeed!

The concept of the "clone effect" is simpler than you probably think. You just need to blend multiple video records of the same person shot in the same area, but standing/moving in different spots. This way, when you combine two pieces of footage on the timeline using video masking software, it will look as if clones appear in the video simultaneously. If this is your first time trying this slightly complicated composition mode, we recommend shooting in front of an even background - of one color, ideally. Chances are higher, the video will come out more naturally-looking if you do so. Additionally, you'll save time and effort during the editing process if the background is plain and monochrome.

Once you shoot the videos, you'll need to add all of them to the timeline and apply the Inverted mask to the areas where the "clones" are located. Watch the video tutorial below to see how everything works.

Create an object reflection

Finally, if you get really geeky about the details, you can apply video editing magic to create object reflections. Here is how it works. You duplicate an object in the same scene, apply color grading, flip it and set up the right perspective. Below, there is a tutorial about creating a text reflection, but you can certainly use the same approach for creating reflections for other objects as well.

More video masking software effects to try

Once you understand the concept and master the technique, you're only limited by your imagination, because the post-production possibilities are endless. Consider splitting screen in a creative way to show multiple videos playing at the same time. Consider creating a round facecam if you are editing gameplay videos. Or consider blurring your video background by means of the above mentioned Inverted Mask technique.

Masking is indeed one of the most powerful tools a video editing enthusiast may make use of. Not only does it allow to apply color correction to the particular areas of the video, but it is also irreplaceable when it comes to special effects like blurring, adding a reflection or creating an awesome intro - such as the clipping mask or the text mask. Now that you know the secret, we hope you'll be able to benefit from it, and make your clips more eye-catching.

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Happy editing!