When we say Basic Video Editors, we simply refer to easy video editors such as FlexClip for both beginners and pros alike. These easy video editors provide basic video editing functions like cut, trim, merge, crop, etc. People often choose these programs only for simple video editing and prefer their small sizes for installation and use quickly.
Anyone can use the easy-to-use video editing software because their learning curve is pretty short. So, learning those functions won’t take more than a few minutes. But the biggest problems with some free video editing software are that they aren’t capable of processing large videos.
They seriously lack performance, they don’t have many advanced video editing tools except one or two, and they don’t support in-demand video formats. So, if you are anything serious, you should look for advanced video editing software.
Learn Also: Best Video Editing Apps and Software for YouTube Videos
But, if your video editing demand and environment are basic in nature, you can rely on this software and can save a fortune. Below you can find a well-maintained list of the 10 best basic video editors in 2020 with their pros and cons.
The majority of these software applications are available to download for both Mac and Windows 10. Let’s get started.
1. VideoProc
VideoProc is an all-in-one powerful video editing software from Digiarty. The most astonishing feature of this software is the killer level-3 GPU acceleration which processes 4K/HD videos at fast rates. You can access all kinds of basic video editing tools in VideoProc including the most advanced tools like multi trim, multi-split, advanced crop, merge, rotate, etc. VideoProc has several advanced tools like MKV maker, GIF maker, etc. which can’t be found in most free video editors.
Pros
- Nice UI with powerful video editing tools.
- The advantage of dealing with 4K and HEVC videos, big size videos, high frame rate videos.
- Integrated with video audio DVD conversion, video resizing downloading, recording, etc.
- Powerful performance and GPU acceleration powered by Intel, AMD, and Nvidia.
- Short learning curve.
- Highly reliable.
Cons
- Linear video editing software.
- Cannot add music to the footage.
2. OpenShot
Openshot is an open-source and free video editor which packs several basic and advanced video editing features. It pretty much looks like iMovie but is more versatile than it. You can use OpenShot to resize, crop, cut, trim, scale your videos. It also supports 3D animated subtitles and watermarks.
Pros
- It is open source so it has a good scope for further developments in the future.
- Packs good video editing tools.
Cons
- Beginners need to take a while for getting used to it.
- Not many tutorials are there for the learning.
3. VideoPad
VideoPad is a nice and free video editor for those people who look for visual and transition effects along with footage editing toolkits. It also featured a sound effects library which you can utilize to apply professional sound effects to your recordings. VideoPad also supports 3D video editing.
Pros
- Easy to use UI and beginner-friendly.
- Let’s export videos directly to social platforms.
- Built-in transitions and sound effects library.
Cons
- Advanced features are missing.
4. FreeMake
FreeMake is a professional video converter, but before the conversion, it allows video joining, cutting, and rotating. But it is also one of the most basic video editors for beginners. It comes with a straightforward UI that allows you to find most of the options in a single window. Freemake can be used by beginners for essential video editing projects like adding watermarks, adding subtitles, merging, and clipping footage.
Pros
- Easy to use UI and doesn’t have confusing options.
- Powerful to convert and resize 4K videos.
Cons
- Purchase required for several video editing features.
5. VSDC
VSDC is only available for Windows 10 users. With VSDC you can learn several cool video editing features like editing the audio, adding shapes, animations, images, etc. It can export the edited video to your desired video format.
Pros
- Provides an option to download the screen recorder.
- Built-in wizard which helps in video editing.
Cons
- Not so user-friendly.
- Advanced features are paid.
6. Windows Movie Maker
This was used to be the all-time and the default video editor for Microsoft Windows users. Windows Movie Maker was the best free video editor for Windows until Microsoft pulled it off. You can use it for all types of basic video editing, apply watermarks, create intros and outros for your videos. It was very good for vloggers and tutorial makers. There is no official way left to download the Windows Movie Maker. But some trusted and reliable sources can provide you with the installation files. But make sure not to download any kind of malicious software which may pretend to be Windows Movie Maker.
Pros
- Best free video editor on windows for beginners.
- Easy to use and learn.
- Good options to add voice-over, external audios.
Cons
- It may be risky to download from an unofficial source as the file may contain malicious codes.
7. GoPro Quik
You might know that GoPro has developed a series of video editing apps for mobiles, but do you notice they also stretch it to desktops? GoPro Quik has a desktop version for users who need to edit videos with templates, transitions, and filters. You can also import photos and music to your video. For basic video editing, it is quite well-designed.
Pros
- It is quite easy to learn.
- Mobile and desktop versions satisfy all your basic editing needs.
- It is free.
Cons
- Users report that it quits randomly when you’re editing large files.
8. Shotcut
Shotcut is another open-source basic video editing software for Mac, Windows, and Linux. It is quite a good option for beginners. Shotcut supports a lot of output video formats, lots of filter effects, and chroma keys. The interface is also very good and not a confusing one. You can use Shotcut if you don’t want to spend a single penny on paid video editors. Tutorial – how to use Shotcut
Pros
- Multiple video format support.
- Video filter effects.
- Supports 3D titles and texts.
Cons
- Less intuitive as compared to paid video editors.
- No 3D video support.
- Transition effects are only a few.
9. Avidemux
Another free and open source basic video editing software for beginners is Avidemux. It is also available for multiple platforms. Avidemux doesn’t have any difficulty working with popular video formats like AVI, MP4, MPEG, etc. It fully supports non-linear video editing and multiple visual effects. Can be used to resize, deinterlace a video along with chroma shifts and the addition of black borders.
Pros
- Has many video editing features.
- Automatically estimates the output file size.
- Clean user interface.
- Most trusted free video editor.
Cons
- Unprofessional user interface.
- Extra codecs are required for non-common video formats.
10. iMovie
iMovie is only available for Mac users. The good thing about iMovie is that it can process 4K videos with ease. Apart from editing videos, you can edit audio too with iMovie. iMovie is pretty portable as you can start editing a video on your iDevice and can choose to finish on your Mac computer.
Pros
- Easy to use interface.
- Has a nice set of audio and video editing tools.
Cons
- Not available for Windows users.
- Lacks performance and advanced features and tools.
Tips for Choosing the Right Basic Video Editors
Want to know how we wrap up such a list of top basic video editing software? And desire to pick out a video editor that suits You most? Now, at the end of this article, we decide to release hints of how to choose the right video editor for your basic video editing needs.
A. Choose the one that is lightweight and safe.
Searching on the Internet, you’ll get millions of results for basic video editors. But among these results, some are not safe to download, and some are downloaded with virus plug-ins. So be cautious when downloading software. And basic video editors come without too many functions, so it is not worth too much computer space.
B. It should be easy to learn.
Basic video editor users tend to simply organize videos by trimming and cutting and then adding some filters and texts. If a video editor makes these operations too complicated, why not turn to advanced editing software in which you can get more features after long-term learning. So choose the basic video editor with an intuitive interface and easy learning curve.
C. Don’t invest too much money in a basic video editor.
Obviously, basic video editors are not as robust as professional video editing software like Premiere Pro, Sony Vegas, or DaVinci Resolve. They are created for quick editing and instant SNS sharing, so packed with fewer features. It is not a wise move to spend much money buying a basic video editor. There are many cheap or even totally free open-source video editors responding to your calls.
D. Take into account your extra editing needs.
Besides basic video editing, like cutting, merging, and rotating, different users have different extra needs. For example, most vloggers prefer video editors with numerous templates and themes so that they can arrange their daily video materials accordingly. For traveling video creators, they want UHD 4K videos to present stunning scenery to their audiences. Now they need a basic video editor that is capable of 4K video processing, like say VideoProc. A special video editing feature is also a crucial standard for basic video editor picking.
Authors Bio:
Cecilia Hwung is the editor-in-chief of the VideoProc team. She pursues common progress with her team and expects to share more creative content and useful information with readers. She has a strong interest in copywriting and rich experience in video editing tips.
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Thank you for sharing such a good information. Very informative and effective post. Keep it up!