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What is a Video Essay? The Art of the Video Analysis Essay

I n the era of the internet and Youtube, the video essay has become an increasingly popular means of expressing ideas and concepts. However, there is a bit of an enigma behind the construction of the video essay largely due to the vagueness of the term.

What defines a video analysis essay? What is a video essay supposed to be about? In this article, we’ll take a look at the foundation of these videos and the various ways writers and editors use them creatively. Let’s dive in.

Watch: Our Best Film Video Essays of the Year

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What is a video essay?

First, let’s define video essay.

There is narrative film, documentary film, short films, and then there is the video essay. What is its role within the realm of visual media? Let’s begin with the video essay definition. 

VIDEO ESSAY DEFINITION

A video essay is a video that analyzes a specific topic, theme, person or thesis. Because video essays are a rather new form, they can be difficult to define, but recognizable nonetheless. To put it simply, they are essays in video form that aim to persuade, educate, or critique. 

These essays have become increasingly popular within the era of Youtube and with many creatives writing video essays on topics such as politics, music, film, and pop culture. 

What is a video essay used for?

• To persuade an audience of a thesis
• To educate on a specific subject
• To analyze and/or critique 

What is a video essay based on?

Establish a thesis.

Video analysis essays lack distinguished boundaries since there are countless topics a video essayist can tackle. Most essays, however, begin with a thesis. 

How Christopher Nolan Elevates the Movie Montage  •  Video Analysis Essays

Good essays often have a point to make. This point, or thesis, should be at the heart of every video analysis essay and is what binds the video together. 

Related Posts

• Stanley Kubrick Directing Style Explained →
• A Filmmaker’s Guide to Nolan’s Directing Style →
• How to Write a Voice Over Montage in a Script →

interviews in video essay

Utilize interviews.

A key determinant for the structure of an essay is the source of the ideas. A common source for this are interviews from experts in the field. These interviews can be cut and rearranged to support a thesis. 

Roger Deakins on "Learning to Light"  •  Video Analysis Essays

Utilizing first hand interviews is a great way to utilize ethos into the rhetoric of a video. However, it can be limiting since you are given a limited amount to work with. Voice over scripts, however, can give you the room to say anything. 

How to create the best video essays on Youtube

Write voice over scripts.

Voice over (VO) scripts allow video essayists to write out exactly what they want to say. This is one of the most common ways to structure a video analysis essay since it gives more freedom to the writer. It is also a great technique to use when taking on large topics.

In this video, it would have been difficult to explain every type of camera lens by cutting sound bites from interviews of filmmakers. A voice over script, on the other hand, allowed us to communicate information directly when and where we wanted to.

Ultimate Guide to Camera Lenses  •  Video essay examples

Some of the most famous video essayists like Every Frame a Painting and Nerdwriter1 utilize voice over to capitalize on their strength in writing video analysis essays. However, if you’re more of an editor than a writer, the next type of essay will be more up your alley. 

Video analysis essay without a script

Edit a supercut.

Rather than leaning on interview sound bites or voice over, the supercut video depends more on editing. You might be thinking “What is a video essay without writing?” The beauty of the video essay is that the writing can be done throughout the editing. Supercuts create arguments or themes visually through specific sequences. 

Another one of the great video essay channels, Screen Junkies, put together a supercut of the last decade in cinema. The video could be called a portrait of the last decade in cinema.

2010 - 2019: A Decade In Film  •  Best videos on Youtube

This video is rather general as it visually establishes the theme of art during a general time period. Other essays can be much more specific. 

Critical essays

Video essays are a uniquely effective means of creating an argument. This is especially true in critical essays. This type of video critiques the facets of a specific topic. 

In this video, by one of the best video essay channels, Every Frame a Painting, the topic of the film score is analyzed and critiqued — specifically temp film score.

Every Frame a Painting Marvel Symphonic Universe  •  Essay examples

Of course, not all essays critique the work of artists. Persuasion of an opinion is only one way to use the video form. Another popular use is to educate. 

• The Different Types of Camera Lenses →
• Write and Create Professionally Formatted Screenplays →
• How to Create Unforgettable Film Moments with Music →

Video analysis essay

Visual analysis.

One of the biggest advantages that video analysis essays have over traditional, written essays is the use of visuals. The use of visuals has allowed video essayists to display the subject or work that they are analyzing. It has also allowed them to be more specific with what they are analyzing. Writing video essays entails structuring both words and visuals. 

Take this video on There Will Be Blood for example. In a traditional, written essay, the writer would have had to first explain what occurs in the film then make their analysis and repeat.

This can be extremely inefficient and redundant. By analyzing the scene through a video, the points and lessons are much more clear and efficient. 

There Will Be Blood  •   Subscribe on YouTube

Through these video analysis essays, the scene of a film becomes support for a claim rather than the topic of the essay. 

Dissect an artist

Essays that focus on analysis do not always focus on a work of art. Oftentimes, they focus on the artist themself. In this type of essay, a thesis is typically made about an artist’s style or approach. The work of that artist is then used to support this thesis.

Nerdwriter1, one of the best video essays on Youtube, creates this type to analyze filmmakers, actors, photographers or in this case, iconic painters. 

Caravaggio: Master Of Light  •  Best video essays on YouTube

In the world of film, the artist video analysis essay tends to cover auteur filmmakers. Auteur filmmakers tend to have distinct styles and repetitive techniques that many filmmakers learn from and use in their own work. 

Stanley Kubrick is perhaps the most notable example. In this video, we analyze Kubrick’s best films and the techniques he uses that make so many of us drawn to his films. 

Why We're Obsessed with Stanley Kubrick Movies  •  Video essay examples

Critical essays and analytical essays choose to focus on a piece of work or an artist. Essays that aim to educate, however, draw on various sources to teach technique and the purpose behind those techniques. 

What is a video essay written about?

Historical analysis.

Another popular type of essay is historical analysis. Video analysis essays are a great medium to analyze the history of a specific topic. They are an opportunity for essayists to share their research as well as their opinion on history. 

Our video on aspect ratio , for example, analyzes how aspect ratios began in cinema and how they continue to evolve. We also make and support the claim that the 2:1 aspect ratio is becoming increasingly popular among filmmakers. 

Why More Directors are Switching to 18:9  •  Video analysis essay

Analyzing the work of great artists inherently yields a lesson to be learned. Some essays teach more directly.

• Types of Camera Movements in Film Explained →
• What is Aspect Ratio? A Formula for Framing Success →
• Visualize your scenes with intuitive online shotlist software →

Writing video essays about technique

Teach technique.

Educational essays designed to teach are typically more direct. They tend to be more valuable for those looking to create art rather than solely analyze it.

In this video, we explain every type of camera movement and the storytelling value of each. Educational essays must be based on research, evidence, and facts rather than opinion.

Ultimate Guide to Camera Movement  •  Best video essays on YouTube

As you can see, there are many reasons why the video essay has become an increasingly popular means of communicating information. Its ability to use both sound and picture makes it efficient and effective. It also draws on the language of filmmaking to express ideas through editing. But it also gives writers the creative freedom they love. 

Writing video essays is a new art form that many channels have set high standards for. What is a video essay supposed to be about? That’s up to you. 

Organize Post Production Workflow

The quality of an essay largely depends on the quality of the edit. If editing is not your strong suit, check out our next article. We dive into tips and techniques that will help you organize your Post-Production workflow to edit like a pro. 

Up Next: Post Production →

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• 5 Easy Steps to Create an Eye-Catching Video Essay
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Unlike traditional essays, video essays combine visuals, audio, text to analyze or explain a certain topic. Educators use it to break down complex subjects so that students can perform better in classes. Students use it to apply for college. Content creators use this type of video to influence public opinion or raise awareness about important issues.

Video essays are more common than you thought. Also, you don’t even need fancy video editing software or invest a large sum of money to create one. In the following parts, we will be showing you one easiest and most effective ways to a satisfying video essay.

Video Essay Examples

Part 1. The Video Essay Maker We Need

AI tools are changing the way we live, and AI video editors are making video essay creation easier than ever! FlexClip is one of them. It can automatically generate a video essay based on the prompt or essay text you enter.

FlexClip Text to Video Overview

Here are more FlexClip can help out:

• Generate excellent text essays with ChatGPT. Tell FlexClip the theme of the video essay, you will get the best-ever AI essay script perfect for video creation.

FlexClip Script Writer Overview

• Farewell to robotic AI voiceover. FlexClip’s AI text-to-speech tool reads out anything for you in a natural, melodious voice. 140+ language support, and 400 voices will certainly meet all your needs.

FlexClip Text to Speech Overview

• Authentically translate your video subtitle or voiceover into 60+ languages. Make your video go global and reach more audiences!

FlexClip Video Translate Overview

• Tons of video essay templates designed by professionals are ready to be edited and personalized. Go to FlexClip’s template page and get more inspiration.

5 Easy Steps to Make a Video Essay

If you are at FlexClip’s editing page, you are only 5 steps away from a satisfying video essay. Let’s get started now!

Step 1. Preparation

Getting organized always makes you more effective, the same applies to video essay creation. You need to put all media resources like music, photos, video clips in one folder.

Do remember to summarize your text essay into a bullet list. Anyway, video essays are not all about details, but about making ideas more digestible.

Next up, visit FlexClip’s media section, click on the Upload files button, and follow the prompt to upload all photos, videos, music from a local folder, cloud services, and mobile device needed for video essay creation.

Upload Resources to FlexClip

Step 2. Generate a Video Essay Draft

Once you input your text essay, FlexClip can understand the content, match the content with resources from the stock library, and then use them to create a slideshow. AI will add transitions and filters to those media resources to make everything go smoothly.

Go to Tools > AI Video Generator. Here you can enter a prompt to generate a video, or generate videos from an article or URL. Copy the article content or blog URL to FlexClip, select the subtitle style and hit Generate.

Generate a Video with Text

FlexClip will automatically find the key sentences from the article and match them with media resources. You can deselect or re-select the key sentences, replace the resources, adjust the duration, even manually edit the subtitle content. Hit Add to Timeline to confirm all changes.

Finish Video Essay Draft

Step 3. Edit the Video Essay

As we mentioned earlier, the AI text-to-video tool only creates a draft video essay. To make your video essay outstanding, you have to make some manual edits. Here are some ideas to edit your video essay.

Click on any item on the scene, all available editing tools will pop up above the preview window. The most frequently used tools include cropping, speed changer, filters, chroma key.

Instead, move to the text section to add more information, find the right background music to replace, or go to the Elements section to enrich your video essay with stickers, interesting GIFs, widgets, etc. All resources are listed on the left-side panel. Feel free to explore.

Edit Video Essay

Step 4. Add More AI Touches

Voiceover is an essential part of the video essay. You can record your own voice, but why not grab a cup of coffee and let AI do the job? Select the language, choose a voice, and the voice style you love, set up the speed and pitch, you will soon get a natural AI voiceover.

Generate AI Voiceover

Make your video essay go global with authentic translation! FlexClip can help you translate video essay subtitles, translate video audio to audio, and even project text into 60 more languages. Select the target language and let translation begin.

Generate AI Translation

Step 5. Export & Share

Enjoy the ultimate freedom of sharing your video essay at FlexClip. Besides directly downloading to your computer, you can also save the video to cloud services, share the video via a short link, or one-click post to YouTube, TikTok.

Tips for Creating an Excellent Video Essay

Never created one video essay before? Following are 3 must-read tips for making excellent video essays.

• Write Eye-Catching & Strong Video Script

The script is the backbone of your video essay. You should pick a nice topic to make sure you have enough potential viewers, and do thorough research so that your script is trustworthy.

Start with a hook to grab your audience’s attention. Use storytelling techniques and concise sentences to keep them engaged throughout the video.

• High-Quality Footage and Images

Incorporate relevant and high-quality visuals that complement your script. Use original footage, stock footage, and public domain images where applicable at least in 1080P.

Most people will ignore the sound quality. Invest in a quiet environment and a good microphone to minimize background noise. Also, edit your audio to remove any mistakes and pauses.

• Edit for Pacing and Clarity

Edit your video essay to maintain a good pace and ensure clarity. Avoid long, unbroken segments of talking. Instead, use cuts, transitions, and visual changes to keep the audience engaged. You can also edit the video to the music beat.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. what’s the difference between vlog and video essay.

Vlogs are videos showcasing someone’s daily life. Video essays are more like essays in video form. They are used to convey excellent messages and spread information.

2. Can I monetize my video essays?

Yes, you can monetize your video essay through platforms like YouTube by enabling ads, partner programs, offering premium content. Please refer to the social platform’s monetizing policies and guidelines.

3. How do I write a script for a video essay?

Writing a script for a video essay involves extracting the main points from the essay and making it more like spoken sentences. Please keep in mind that the text should accompany the voiceover.

Member of PearlMountain Limited. Has a mania for video editing. Love to share photo/video shooting tips and ideas.

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How to do a Video Essay: The Video Essay Process

• Plan, Prepare & Create

Storyboarding

• Finding, Filming & Editing
• References & Credits
• The Video Essay Process

This section will give an introductory overview of the stages required to create a video essay.  Video essayers advice is to start simple and work through each stage of the video production process. Visit the Resources page of this guide for more.

Identify what is your argument? What is it that you want to communicate to the viewer? Write this down in a few sentences, refer and modify it as required.

Watch Video Essays

Watch a selection of video essays, read blogs and web pages from video essayers and decide what type of video essay you would like to create. Start simple.

A storyboard is a detailed outline (similar to an outline in a written essay) that helps you to organise and visualise the video essay as to what is on the screen, text, media, message and transitions between shots.

Storyboards assist in determining the length, message and meaning of the video essay and help save time with editing and post production processes.

• Free Storyboard Templates

Collect & Edit

Collect video material as downloads, ripping DVDs, screen grabs, mobile phone footage and create voice-overs. Use research skills to find information and statements to support your argument. Maintain a standard of quality and manage your videos by naming conventions and storage.

Use editing software and experiment with available functionality to enhance and support your argument. Add a voice-over, sound effects, music and other aspects of multimodality. Be sure to include references and credits to all sources used in creating the video essay.

Revisit elements of your video essay and modify as required.

Visit the Resources page of this guide for more.

• Where to find video and how to capture it
• Video Editing Basics - iMovie
• Software Guides

References & Credits

References to cite sources used in the Video Essay. Referencing is a formal, systematic way of acknowledging sources that you have used in your video essay. It is imperative that you reference all sources used (including videos, stills, music, sfx) and apply the correct formatting so that references cited can be easily traced. The referencing style used at ECU is the APA style, 6th ed. 2010. Refer to the ECU Referencing Library Guide for accurate citation in APA style.

Production credits Individuals: acknowledgement of individuals and their role in the production. Purpose: A statement for internal use, e.g. “This video was produced for [course name] at [institution’s name] in [semester, year]”

• Referencing Library Guide
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• What is a Video Essay?
• Modes, MultiModality & Multiliteracies
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• Last Updated: Aug 28, 2023 2:57 PM
• URL: https://ecu.au.libguides.com/video-essay

Edith Cowan University acknowledges and respects the Noongar people, who are the traditional custodians of the land upon which its campuses stand and its programs operate. In particular ECU pays its respects to the Elders, past and present, of the Noongar people, and embrace their culture, wisdom and knowledge.

Visual Rhetoric

Video essay resource guide.

PAR 102 (M-Th, 9 AM- 5 PM) Fine Arts Library Media Lab (same hours as FAL) PCL Media Lab (same hours as PCL)

About video essays

What are they.

“The video essay is often described as a form of new media, but the basic principles are as old as rhetoric: the author makes an assertion, then presents evidence to back up his claim. Of course it was always possible for film critics to do this in print, and they’ve been doing it for over 100 years, following more or less the same template that one would use while writing about any art form: state your thesis or opinion, then back it with examples. In college, I was assured that in its heart, all written criticism was essentially the same – that in terms of rhetorical construction, book reviews, music reviews, dance reviews and film reviews were cut from the same cloth, but tailored to suit the specific properties of the medium being described, with greater emphasis given to form or content depending on the author’s goals and the reader’s presumed interest.”

Matt Zoller Seitz on the video essay .

what makes a good video essay? 

Tony Zhou on how to structure a video essay

Kevin B. Lee on what makes a video essay “ great “

why should we use them? what are their limits?

Kevin B. Lee’s  experimental/artistic pitch for video essays

Kevin B. Lee’s mainstream pitch for video essay

“Of all the many developments in the short history of film criticism and scholarship, the video essay has the greatest potential to challenge the now historically located text-based dominance of the appraisal and interpretation of film and its contextual cultures…”

Andrew McWhirter argues that t he video essay has significant academic potential in the Fall 2015 issue of  Screen

“Importantly, the [new] media stylo does not replace traditional scholarship. This is a new practice beyond traditional scholarship. So how does critical media differ from traditional scholarship and what advantages does it offer? First, as you will see with the works in this issue, critical media demonstrates a shift in rhetorical mode. The traditional essay is argumentative-thesis, evidence, conclusion. Traditional scholarship aspires to exhaustion, to be the definitive, end-all-be-all, last word on a particular subject. The media stylo, by contrast, suggests possibilities-it is not the end of scholarly inquiry; it is the beginning. It explores and experiments and is designed just as much to inspire as to convince…”

Eric Fadden’s “ A Manifesto for Critical Media “

Adam Westbrook’s “ The Web-Video Problem: Why It’s Time to Rethinking Visual Storytelling from the Bottom Up “

Video essayists and venues

Matt Zoller Seitz (various venues) A writer and director by trade, Zoller Seitz is nonetheless probably best known as a prominent American cultural critic.  He’s made over 1000 hours of video essays and is generally recognized as a founder of the video essay movement in high-brow periodicals.  A recognized expert on Wes Anderson, Zoller Seitz is also notable because he often mixes other cinematic media (especially television) into his analysis, as in the above example, which doubles as an experiment in the absence of voiceover.

Various contributors, Press Play Co-founded by Matt Zoller Seitz and Ken Cancelosi,  Press Play  (published by Indiewire)   is one of the oldest high-brow venues for video essays about television, cinema, and other aspects of popular culture.

Various contributors, Keyframe   (A Fandor online publication) Fandor’s video essay department publishes work from many editors (what many video essayists call themselves) on and in a range of topics and styles.  Check it out to get an idea of all that things a video essay can do!

Various contributors, Moving Image Source A high-brow publication for video essays.

Tony Zhou, Every Frame a Painting The master of video essays on filmic form, Tony’s arguments are clean, simple, and well-evidenced.  Look to Tony as an example of aggressive and precise editing and arrangement.  He’s also an excellent sound editor–pay attention to his choices and try out some of his sound-mixing techniques in your essay.

Adam Johnston, Your Movie Sucks (YMS) Although an excellent example of epideictic film rhetoric, this channel is a great example of what  not  to do in this assignment (write a movie review, gush about how good/bad you think a movie is, focus on motifs or narrative content instead of  film form  as the center of your argument).  What you  can  learn from Adam is a lot about style.  Adam’s delivery, pacing, and editing all work together to promote a mildly-disinterested-and-therefore-credible ethos through a near-monotone, which I’ll affectionately dub the “Daria” narratorial ethos.

Adam Westbrook, delve.tv Adam Westbrook is part of an emerging group of professional video essayists and delve.tv is his version of a visual podcast.  Using the video essay form, Adam has developed a professional public intellectual ethos for himself through skillful overlay of explanation/interpretation and concept.  Check out Westbrook’s work as a really good example of presenting and representing visual concepts crucial to an argument.  He’s a master at making an argument in the form of storytelling, and he uses the video essay as a vehicle for that enterprise.

:: kogonada (various venues) If you found yourself wondering what the auteur video essay might look like, :: kogonada is it.  I like to call this “expressionist” video essay style.  Kogonada is the ultimate minimalist when it comes to voiceover/text over–its message impossibly and almost excessively efficient.  Half of the videos in his library are simple, expertly-executed supercuts , highlighting how heavily video essays rely on the “supercut” technique to make an argument.  Crafting an essay in this style really limits your audience and may not be a very good fit for the constraints of assignment (very “cutting edge,” as we talked about it in class), but you will probably draw inspiration from ::kogonada’s distinct, recognizable style, as well as an idea of what a video essay can do at the outer limits of its form.

Lewis Bond,  Channel Criswell Narrating in brogue-y Northern English, Bond takes his time, releasing a very carefully-edited, high-production video essay once every couple of months.  He’s a decent editor, but I feel his essays tend to run long, and I feel rushed by his narration at times.  Bond also makes a useful distinction between video essays and analysis/reviews on his channel–and while most of his analysis/reviews focus on film content (what you don’t want to imitate), his video essays stay pretty focused on film technique (what you do).  Hearing the same author consciously engage in two different modes of analysis might help you better understand the distinction between the two, as well.

Jack Nugent,  Now You See It Nugent’s brisk, formal analysis is both insightful and accessible–a good example of what it takes to secure a significant following in the highly-competitive Youtube marketplace.  [That’s my way of slyly calling him commercial.] Nugent is especially good at pairing his narration with his images.  Concentrate and reflect upon his simple pairings as you watch–how does Nugent help you process both sets of information at the pacing he sets?

Evan Puschak, The Nerdwriter Nerdwriter  is a great example the diversity of topics a video essay can be used to craft an argument about.  Every week, Puschak publishes an episode on science, art, and culture.  Look at all the different things Puschak considers visual rhetoric and think about how he’s using the video essay form to make honed, precisely-executed arguments about popular culture.

Dennis Hartwig and John P. Hess,  FilmmakerIQ Hartwig and Hess use video essays to explain filmmaking technique to aspiring filmmakers.  I’ve included the channel here as another example of what  not  to do in your argument, although perhaps some of the technical explanations that Hartwig and Hess have produced might help you as secondary sources.  Your target audience (someone familiar on basic film theory trying to better understand film form) is likely to find the highly technical, prescriptive arguments on FilmIQ boring or alienating. Don’t focus on technical production in your essay (how the film accomplishes a particular visual technique using a camera); rather, focus on how the audience interprets the end result in the film itself; in other words, focus on choices the audience can notice and interpret–how is the audience interpreting the product of production?  How often is the audience thinking about/noticing production in that process?

Kevin B. Lee (various venues) A good example of the older, high-brow generation of video essayists, Kevin’s collection of work hosted on his Vimeo channel offers slow, deliberate, lecture-inspired readings of film techniques and form.  Note the distinct stylistic difference between Kevin’s pacing and someone like Zhou or Lewis.  How does delivery affect reception?

Software Guides

How to access Lynda tutorials (these will change your life)

Handbrake and MakeMKV  (file converters)

Adobe Premiere  (video editing)

Camtasia  (screen capture)

File management

Use your free UTBox account to upload and manage your files.  Make sure you’ve got some sort of system for tracking and assembling everything into your video editing software.   UTBox has a 2 terabyte limit (much higher than Google Drive) and is an excellent file management resource for all sorts of academic work.

Adobe Premiere saves versions with links to your video files, so it’s imperative that you keep your video files folder in the same place on every machine you open it up on.  That’s why I keep all my video files in a big folder on box that I drop on the desktop of any machine I’m working on before I open my premiere files.  The Adobe Premiere project walkthrough  has more details on this.

Where to find video and how to capture it

About fair use . Make sure your composition complies with the Fair Use doctrine and familiarize yourself with the four criteria.

The best place to capture images is always from a high-resolution DVD or video file .  The first place you should go to get the film is the library– see instructions for searching here .

To import the video and audio from your DVD or video file into your video editing software (like Premiere), you will first need to use a software to convert it to an .mkv.  See instructions on how to do that here .

Camtasia tutorials .  Camtasia is a program that allows you to capture anything that’s going on on your screen .  This is a critical tool for this assignment as you decide what kind of interface you want to present to your reader in your video essay.  Camtasia also allows you to capture any high-quality video playing on your desktop without licensing restrictions.

You can also use Clip Converter to capture images and sound from pre-existing YouTube videos , and it may be a little faster and easier than Camtasia.   I suggest converting things into .mkv before putting them into your video editor, regardless of where you get the material from.

Film theory and criticism

• /r/truefilm’s reading and viewing guide

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The Audiovisual Essay

Practice and Theory in Videographic Film and Moving Image Studies

HOW-TO VIDEO ESSAYS by Greer Fyfe and Miriam Ross

HOW-TO VIDEO ESSAYS

By Greer Fyfe and Miriam Ross

If you have never done any video work before it may seem intimidating at first but you will find it easier than you think if you work through the following steps. Seek help if you get stuck (Google is often a quick solution).

Getting started

• Ideally just one sentence;
• Write this down, keep referring to it and don’t be afraid of modifying it as you go through the whole process.
• voice-over ( https://vimeo.com/96558506 )?
• text+image ( http://vimeo.com/28201216 )?
• supercut ( https://vimeo.com/88077122 )?
• Don’t try to create something too complicated. Start with simple ideas and gather limited material at the beginning until you are confident that you can add more.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o47Lr9GXEnI
• https://vimeo.com/album/3198467
• http://vimeo.com/groups/essay
• http://framescinemajournal.com/article/video-essays-in-the-cinema-history-classroom/
• http://festivalists.com/post/110533801961/videoessay
• http://mediacommons.futureofthebook.org/intransition/
• https://reframe.sussex.ac.uk/audiovisualessay/

Collecting material

• Remember not to go overboard at the beginning as it is easy to download multiple files. Think about what you need to start the project and add more later.
• There are some online guides to ripping DVDs using readily available software: http://lifehacker.com/380702/five-best-dvd-ripping-tools ; http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/2696/how-to-rip-dvds-with-vlc/
• This can be a tricky area, particularly as some DVDs with greater level of encryption might be harder to rip than others. If you are not confident in this area stick to the other options for gathering material.
• Try to cut down ripped files into sections that you will need. If not you will be working with very big files that may overload your editing software.
• If you can play a film on your computer then you can grab still images from it.
• On a PC. Press PrtScn and then find somewhere you want to paste the image (ie. image editing software). Press Ctrl+V. If you have captured the whole computer screen you may need to crop the image.
• On a Mac. Press Command+Shift+3. This will save the image to your desktop. If you have captured the whole computer screen you may need to crop the image.
• If you don’t have a microphone available, look at your phones and your computer to see if they have a voice/sound recording option.
• Think about who will provide the voice. Make sure whoever does so is comfortable with their voice being used in this way.
• One DIY solution is to use your phone to film material when it plays on a TV or other device. This will create low quality images but is an option if all else fails.
• Use your academic skills to find quotes, factual statements and citations you might incorporate
• Although the footage and images you are working with don’t have to be HD, they should be clearly visible when blown up to full screen size
• When working in groups decide who is gathering what material and make sure this workload is distributed evenly.
• Some of this material will take up a lot of space. Make sure you have designated folders available, that you label your material carefully so you know what it is and that you have a plan for backing-up this work.

Editing material

• If you have not used this editing software before, familiarise yourself with it and do a short practice run.
• If you are familiar with other editing software you can use it.
• Feel free to experiment with split screens, diagrams and text but don’t over do it.
• If you are including a voice over you will need to decide if you do the voice over first and edit the visual material to match the voice over or if you organise the visual material first and then create a voice-over to match it. Neither way is better than the other and there will be some to and fro between the two options.
• Include a bibliography/filmography of sources used at the end of the video
• If this is an academic piece that will be assessed in an academic context aim for a formal rather than colloquial/funny style.

Post-first draft

• Add colour filters
• Swap a voice-over for text screens and vice-versa
• Return to your original argument. Have you made a clear and obvious argument in the video essay?
• Test playback. Check the video will play okay on different computers/television screens.

The How-to Guides as PDFs

• GUIDE A: Downloading Audiovisual Content
• GUIDE B: Editing your Own Content
• GUIDE C: Creating a Mash Up
• GUIDE D: Sharing your Work
• GUIDE E: Extra Software
• How-to Video Essays [as PDF]

Copyright information

The above and linked to information, where it pertains to the use of copyright material, is shared under the understanding that  Fair Use or Fair Dealing  legal exceptions are generally established—for educational, critical and private research purposes—in many, if not all, national jurisdictions. These exceptions have also been supported and successfully defended by a number of prominent professional academic associations including the Society for Cinema and Media Studies . Readers or users of this information will need to ensure for themselves that they obey the laws of the legal territories in which they live. Neither the authors nor REFRAME , University of Sussex, will accept any liability for actions readers or users freely choose to take.

The authors and copyright holders of the above text and linked PDFs— Greer Fyfe and Miriam Ross —have shared their work under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike licence.  CC BY-SA. February 2015.

• TEXT: Greer Fyfe and Miriam Ross
• GUIDE Design: Greer Fyfe

Biographical Note

Miriam Ross is Senior Lecturer in the Film Programme at Victoria University of Wellington. She is the author of South American Cinematic Culture: Policy, Production, Distribution and Exhibition (2010) and 3D Cinema: Optical Illusions and Tactile Experiences (2015).

Greer Fyfe is a Research Assistant at Victoria University of Wellington.

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Video essays and digital storytelling

• Video essays
• Digital storytelling
• 1. Planning and storyboarding
• 2. Gathering images/video/audio

New to video editing?

Powtoon (free), animoto (free or fee), masher (free), windows movie maker (free), imovie (free).

• 4. Creating credits

Editing Basics

For an overview of what you can do in a standard editing program, check out this short, informative video from Vimeo's video school

Video 101: Editing Basics from Vimeo Video School on Vimeo .

Like this?  More lessons can be found here .

Powtoon is a free tool for creating animated videos and presentations. A variety of tutorials for getting started with Powtoon are available.  Here's a one-minute walkthrough of how it works:

Animoto can be used for free, as long as your video is not longer than 30 seconds .  If this is too short for your project, then you may want to avail of some of the other freely available video editors listed on this page.

Masher is another free software that allows you to create a video mash-up in minutes. It has a built-in library of footage and music.

Windows Movie Maker

Windows Movie Make r is a free software download for PC users. It allows you to import movies, video, photos, and audio, choose a theme, and share on the web.  Support for using this tool is available here .

iMovie is for Mac and iOS device users. If you're used to working in the Mac environment, you may prefer to use this tool. There is also an iMovie app for iOS which is free in the App Store.

• << Previous: 2. Gathering images/video/audio
• Next: 4. Creating credits >>
• Last Updated: Aug 18, 2023 1:01 PM
• URL: https://libguides.royalroads.ca/videoessayhowto

12 best video editing software picks to enhance your videos

What type of content do you primarily create?

Whether you're creating a documentary film or crafting marketing content, video editing software is your secret weapon. And there are a lot of options out there, ranging from intuitive tools for complete beginners to full-featured workstations for seasoned filmmakers.

To help you navigate through the myriad of options available, this guide reviews the 12 best video editing solutions for every skill level. 

And for beginners, we’ll also go through the key principles of video editing and offer insights on enhancing your content.

Best video editing software: 12 top picks 

1. Descript

• Compatibility: Mac and Windows.
• Price: Free account available. The Creator plan starts at $12 per month and unlocks unlimited projects, ten hours of transcription, and no-watermark video export. 
• Key features: Multi-track audio editing, transcription-based editing, remote recording for crystal clear audio and video, screen recording , Studio Sound , and Overdub .
• Who it's best for: Ideal for video creators and podcasters who need efficient and straightforward editing tools in one dashboard.
• Pros: User-friendly, feature-rich, and collaborative docs and slides-style editing.
• Cons: May not offer some of the advanced features found in professional-grade software.

Reasons to buy

Descript is an all-in-one video editor but that doesn’t mean you’ll login to an overwhelming dashboard. Its unique UX virtually eliminates the learning curve and friction video creators often face when trying to learn video editing solutions to quicken their workflow. It also serves as video recording software if you want to capture video directly from your screen, camera, or a remote interview, and audio recording software for recording voiceovers and podcasts. 

The best part: If you know how to edit a doc, you’ll intuitively pick up video editing with Descript. Editing the transcript edits the underlying audio and video, so you can cut and rearrange scenes easily. Descript also makes it easy to add transitions and create templates so you don’t have to start your next video from scratch. You can even create an engaging video with pictures , music, and text without any actual video footage. 

With these features, Descript goes beyond the basics of video editing: 

• Smooth out your audio and video effortlessly: Descript's 'Word Gaps' search function spots all the pauses in your content, enabling you to quickly tighten them up for a seamless listening experience.
• Enhance your videos with effects: With Descript, adding text overlays or other special effects is simple. Just insert them into the script, and they'll be impeccably timed during your video editing process.
• Collaborate in real time: Whether you're part of a team or recording a video podcast with a remote guest, Descript's collaboration features are essential. Share video files, add comments, and work on projects together in real time—no more sending bulky video files or worrying about sound quality.
• Green screen video editor: Descript makes it easy to add quality green screen effects to any project with a built-in feature powered by artificial intelligence making it easy to remove video backgrounds. 

Get full-featured video editing with the power of AI. Try Descript today.

2. Adobe Premiere Pro

• Compatibility: macOS 10.15 (or later) and Windows 10.
• Price: Only available by subscription. You can get it for $20.99 per month with an annual commitment or $239.88 if you pay for a year upfront (that works out to $19.99 per month)
• Features: Timeline-based editing, Lumetri color tools, VR support, integration with Adobe Creative Cloud, proxy workflow. 
• Who it’s best for: Professional-level video editors.
• Pros: Nonlinear editing interface, flexible dashboard, good organization and collaboration tools, fast speed and rendering, unlimited multicam angles.
• Cons: Interface may be intimidating for beginners, additional applications may be needed for some techniques, no sound effect samples included.

Adobe Premiere Pro is the go-to choice for serious video editing at a decent price point. As part of Adobe Creative Cloud, it pairs seamlessly with other Adobe tools like Photoshop and Lightroom. With Adobe Premiere Pro, you're investing in speedy rendering, top-notch stabilization, and unlimited multicam angles, perfect for advanced editors.

Be aware, this isn't casual software. Its extensive features may overwhelm you if you’re a beginner. However, if you're a pro looking for advanced editing capabilities, Adobe Premiere Pro delivers. Plus, it’s a subscription-based product, so you reap the benefits of regular updates and improvements without a heavy upfront cost.

3. Final Cut Pro

• Compatibility: macOS.
• Price: Free trial available. You can buy Final Cut Pro for a one-time payment of $299.
• Features: Magnetic timeline, multicam editing, advanced color grading, ProRes Raw , VR editing, HDR support, third-party plug-in support.  
• Who it’s best for: Professionals and serious hobbyists who prefer a one-time payment model and work on Macs.
• Pros: Superior organization tools, multicam support, fast performance.
• Cons: Nontraditional timeline may deter some, import and export not as smooth as in Adobe Premiere Pro.

Final Cut Pro stands out for its magnetic, trackless timeline that offers video editors a highly flexible and easy-to-use interface. If you're big on organization, Final Cut Pro comes with excellent tools for managing libraries, rating content, tagging, and even auto-analysis for faces and scenes. This helps you save a ton of time when you're sifting through footage.

The software also excels in speed and performance, which is ideal for professionals who need to get the job done fast. With support for 360-degree footage and multicam editing, the program gives you all the tools you need in one place. No need to switch between multiple apps.

• Compatibility: Works on all Mac devices. Requires macOS v10.15.6 (Catalina) or later, iOS 16.0 or later, or iPadOS 16.0 or later. 
• Price: Completely free for iMac, Macbook, iPad, and iPhone users. 
• Features: User-friendly, drag-and-drop interface, pre-set themes and templates, 4K resolution support, trailer creation feature.
• Who it’s best for: Beginners and casual users looking for a simple, user-friendly editing process, mostly for personal use.
• Pros: Simple interface, color matching and audio tools, great movie templates.
• Cons: Limited to two video tracks, missing advanced controls, no support for tagging, multicam, or motion tracking.

If you're new to video editing or just want something simple that works, iMovie is for you. The software comes free with most Macs and offers an intuitive user dashboard. Unlike more complex video editing software, iMovie makes the editing process simple without compromising quality features like color matching and great audio tools. 

However, if you're after multiple video tracks or advanced features like motion tracking, you may want to explore more advanced options. iMovie shines for straightforward projects. But for more ambitious editing needs, consider upgrading to tools like Adobe Premiere Pro. 

5. DaVinci Resolve

• Compatibility: Windows, macOS, and Linux.
• Price: The standard version is free. The premium version, DaVinci Resolve Studio 17, has features like Dolby Vision audio tools and neural engine, and costs $295. 
• Features: Advanced color correction and grading, Fairlight audio post-production suite, multi-user collaboration.
• Who it’s best for: Professional editors, colorists, and VFX artists in high-end film and TV production. 
• Pros: Extensive editing tools, clear interface, precise control, includes motion graphics and audio editing.
• Cons: Resource-intensive, steeper learning curve.

DaVinci Resolve is a popular software among professional editors for its advanced color correction and visual effects capabilities. The software also showcases its speed with fast render performance. 

That said, prepare your system to work hard. This tool demands a lot of resources. When you have a computer that can handle it, learning DaVinci Resolve is a worthy time investment if you're looking to create blockbuster movies. For those who don't need the full suite of advanced features, the free version is an exceptionally powerful alternative.

• Compatibility: 64-bit Windows 10–11, Apple macOS 10.14–13.0, or 64-bit Linux.
• Price: Free, open-source video editor. 
• Features: Timeline editing, audio features features like mixing, scrubbing, and waveform visualization , video effects and transitions, cross-platform compatibility.
• Who it’s best for: Hobbyists and beginners who need a free, basic video editing tool with a fair range of features and support for various formats.
• Pros: Powerful for a free program, wide range of output formats, chroma keying and filter effects.
• Cons: Less user-friendly interface, limited transitions, no sharing features to popular sites.

If your budget is tight but you're keen on video editing, Shotcut makes a compelling case. It’s a free open-source tool that comes loaded with a surprising set of features like chroma keying and many different filter effects. While it may lack the finesse of commercial applications, Shotcut still offers a plenty of output formats.

But Shotcut is not for those who want an out-of-the-box easy-to-use solution. You'll need to invest some time to get familiar with its less intuitive editing dashboard. Still, the learning curve is a small price to pay for the kind of power you get without shelling out a dime.

The software runs smoothly on multiple operating systems, from Windows to macOS to Linux. With Shotcut, your budget limitations don’t have to hold back your creativity.

7. Lightworks

• Compatibility: Windows 7/8/10, Mac OS X 10.11 (El Capitan) and higher, Linux (Fedora 30 and higher, Ubuntu/Lubuntu/Xubuntu 18.04 and higher, Mint 17 and higher).
• Price: Free. Paid plans start at $9.99 per month, or a flat $159.99 fee.
• Features: Professional NLE workflow with various trimming options, support for a wide range of codecs, real-time effects and built-in presets, exporting video for YouTube/Vimeo in 720p, 1080p, and 4K.
• Who it's best for: Semi-professionals and professionals in the film industry who need reliable, high-quality editing features.
• Pros: Completely free, offers both basic and advanced features, robust performance, active user forum for support.
• Cons: Steep learning curve for beginners, requires a paid upgrade for certain features.

If you're on a budget but still want powerful video editing capabilities, Lightworks is worth considering. The software brings a blend of basic and advanced features that cater to both newbies and seasoned editors. It's also compatible with multiple operating systems, so you can work on your projects regardless of your device.

While the platform does boast a range of features, it also comes with a steep learning curve. Still, with an active user forum and a history in the movie industry, Lightworks has proven itself to be a capable tool for video editing.

8. Windows Movie Maker

• Compatibility: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10.
• Price: Free.
• Features: Basic drag-and-drop editing, simple transitions and effects, timeline narration, direct upload to YouTube. 
• Who it’s best for: Casual users and beginners who want to make simple videos.
• Pros: Extremely easy to use, video stabilization features, variety of transition options, auto preview for effects.
• Cons: No contrast or saturation adjustments, limited customizability of effects.

Windows Movie Maker is your go-to if you're a Windows user seeking a hassle-free video editing experience. It's beginner-friendly to the core and offers essential features like video stabilization, a variety of transitions, and the ability to add voice overs. You also get auto-preview for effects and convenient sharing options.

However, the software does have its limits. You won’t find advanced features like contrast or saturation adjustments. The effects aren't customizable, so what you see is what you get. Still, if you're new to video editing or simply want to create something presentable without getting bogged down in technicalities, Movie Maker gets the job done. 

While it’s not a heavyweight compared to more advanced software, it’s a perfect starting point for video-editing novices.

• Compatibility: Web-based.
• Price: Free tier available. Paid plans start at $29 per month. 
• Features: AI-driven workflow, transforming articles into videos , pre-built story templates, custom branding options, massive media library with photos, clips, and music. 
• Who it's best for: Marketers, social media managers, and small businesses looking for a simplified process to create engaging video content.
• Pros: Web-based service accessible from any device, large collection of royalty-free media, advanced automatic features for hassle-free video creation.
• Cons: Voiceover feature can be unreliable, lacks in-depth image and sound editing capabilities.

If you're tired of slogging through piles of video clips and want a fresh, automated approach to video editing, Lumen5 is an online video editor that offers a viable solution. Its key selling point is its ability to convert text into engaging video content, which saves would-be video editors a lot of time. This makes it an ideal tool for businesses or individuals who frequently need videos but lack the technical know-how.

The service is web-based, meaning you can access it from virtually any device. Another cool standout feature is its extensive library of royalty-free media and popular themes, which help give you a head start in the video creation process.

10. Animaker

• Price: Starts at $12.50 per month.
• Features: Drag-and-drop interface for creating animated videos, voiceover recording, pre-designed templates and characters, HD and Full HD video support.
• Who it's best for: Content creators, marketers, and educators who want to create animated videos, infographics, and presentations without needing detailed animation skills.
• Pros: Intuitive user interface that's easy to navigate, rich features like animated 2D characters and auto-subtitling, robust customer support for troubleshooting and guidance.
• Cons: Prone to lag due to its online-only nature, occasional playback glitches can disrupt the editing process, voiceover feature needs improvement.

If you're looking for a simple yet powerful video-making tool, Animaker is a top choice. Its user-friendly, web-based platform lets you create unique 2D animated videos without any design expertise. 

While there are some downsides like lag and playback glitches, the pros, including strong customer support, overwhelmingly make it worth your consideration. If animation is your go-to medium, consider using Animaker to make the editing process easier. 

11. InVideo

• Compatibility: Browser-based. 
• Price: Free version available. Paid plans start at $15/month when billed annually.
• Features: Intuitive user interface, text-to-video creation, AI assistance, extensive media library. 
• Who it's best for: Small businesses, marketers, and media agencies needing to transform content into video formats quickly.
• Pros: Quick and straightforward workflow, extensive library of stock music, videos, and images.
• Cons: Pricey subscription plans, some unintuitive editing features, resolution capped at 1080p for paid plans.

Reasons to buy 

In the world of video editing apps , InVideo is a solid tool for those looking to produce eye-catching content, particularly for social media channels like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. It doesn’t matter if you’re a Mac or Windows user, InVideo's browser-based solution works on both. 

It's not just the visual effects that are good. The software comes with real-time audio editing features, and options for transitions, color correction, and overlays. While it may lack the color grading and motion graphics you'd find in Filmora or After Effects, InVideo offers essential editing capabilities that serve most users well.

12. Nero Video

• Compatibility: Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11.
• Price: One time fee of $55.95.
• Features: Video management features, multitrack timeline editing in HD, 4K, and 8K, effect and transition library, disc authoring, support for edge-to-edge video, and PiP effects. 
• Who it’s best for: Home users or beginners wanting to create and manage video projects or slideshows with basic editing and export features.
• Pros: Affordable compared to competitors; supports a wide range of file formats; including H.265 and 8K; burns DVD, Blu-ray, and AVCHD.
• Cons: Slow export rendering, outdated dashboard elements.

Nero Video offers real-time video effects and overlays with a customizable workflow with drag-and-drop capabilities. It also offers tutorials to ease the learning curve, making it accessible for users transitioning from apps like iMovie. 

While it might not offer free versions like some video editing software, its list price packs a punch in terms of value. And unlike other basic video editors, Nero Video even provides advanced features like subtitles, motion graphics, and multicam editing.

If you're looking to produce high-quality video content without the Hollywood budget, Nero Video offers an impressive array of editing capabilities that meet and often exceed those of its pricier competitors.

How to choose video editing software

If you're a beginner, look for software with an intuitive interface, straightforward drag-and-drop features, and basic video editing tools like iMovie or Filmora. These usually come with pre-designed templates and easy-to-follow tutorials that ease the learning curve. 

For those focused on YouTube videos or more advanced projects, software like Descript or Adobe Premiere Pro offers a wider range of high-quality editing tools. It’s important to always check compatibility with your operating system and see if there's a free version you can try before buying. 

Note the range of video formats supported, and if you’re planning on screen recording, make sure that function exists. If you’re interested in making video on the go, ensure that the software has a complementary video editing app for iOS or Android. 

Want to join the thousands of creators already using Descript’s video editing app? Take a tour of the dashboard today.

Video editing software FAQs

What do most youtubers use to edit their youtube videos.

Many YouTubers opt for Descript because of its robust editing features, audio enhancement tools, and advanced video effects, which cater well to both beginner and professional video projects.

What programs are the best for video editing, including beginner options?

For top-of-the-line professional video editing, Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro are hard to beat. They offer a myriad of advanced features, from motion tracking to multicam editing. If you're a creator looking for something more user-friendly that still offers a good range of editing tools, Descript is an excellent choice. 

Is a Mac or PC better for video editing?

This boils down to what you need in terms of software and user interface. Macs are optimized for high-quality video editing software like Final Cut Pro and offer a seamless workflow with other Apple products like iPhone and iPad. PCs, on the other hand, excel in customization and offer a wider range of compatible video editing programs.

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Home » Cinematography » 8 Must-Follow Video Essay Editors

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8 Must-Follow Video Essay Editors

Every filmmaker can learn from these amazing compilations and supercuts. Here are the video essay editors who are creating the best clips.

Becoming a filmmaker requires you to study the work of others. That’s truly the best way to hone your skills. These editors have studied countless films themselves, and have created some absolutely stunning work that is engaging, entertaining, and educational. Let’s take a look at editors who are creating the best video essays for others to study and enjoy.

1.  Tony Zhou (Every Frame a Painting)

The Every Frame a Painting series has only been around for a year, yet it is possibly one of the most popular video essay series out there . That’s because Tony Zhou does a masterful job of editing these pieces and his overall storytelling is phenomenal. Not only does Zhou often narrate his pieces, he often uses incredible archive interviews.

There’s a good chance you have seen many of his video essays , and thanks to those who donate to his Patreon page, he’s able to continue making these great pieces. Some of his best work examines comedy. Here are a few of my favorite comedic video essays from Tony Zhou.

2.  Jacob T. Swinney

Jacob T. Swinney has made quite a name for himself for his video essays and supercuts. He has since become a contributor for several sites, including Slate , IndieWire , and Fandor .

The topics Swinney covers are wide, often focusing on one particular element a director often uses. He often makes supercuts of  Quentin Tarantino and Paul Thomas Anderson’s work. His other video essays focus on singular elements  like  silhouettes , POV shots , lens flares , and fading to white .

3.  kogonada

The video essays of kogonada probably show up in your Vimeo feed often, because plenty of these video essays have gone on to become Vimeo Staff Picks . Kogonada has often contributed to the illustrious  Criterion Collection  as well as sites like  Sight & Sound .

These video essays frequently dive into the works of popular filmmakers like Stanley Kubrick , Wes Anderson , and Quentin Tarantino . What sets kogonada apart from others, are the video essays on foreign filmmakers like Robert Bresson  and  Yasujirô Ozu .

4.  Rishi Kaneria

Rishi Kaneria ‘s video essays stand out from the others because they often focus on color. These pieces are wonderfully edited and heighten your senses by examining how filmmakers use color for contrast to capture your attention. Kaneria recently shifted focus to another filmmaking staple often not featured — props.

Why Props Matter focuses on the objects used to enhance storytelling. Another great addition to these video essays are the incredibly elaborate breakdowns in the descriptions on each video’s page.

5.  Vashi Nedomansky

Vashi Nedomansky is an editor who has worked with with talented filmmakers like  Jerry Bruckheimer , Michel Gondry , and John Landis . He is also a member of Shane Hurlbut ‘s team at the Hurlblog . Nedomansky’s video essays are great at tackling specific techniques, like camera movement, framing, and the use of music.

Vashi also has great pieces on general filmmaking, like the composite of a television script with the final edited sequence.

6.  Leigh Singer

Leigh Singer has made several video essays for  IndieWire’s Press Play , a source for some of the best video essays available. While there aren’t nearly as many video essays on Singer’s page as others on this list, these videos are still very worthwhile. Each video essay  features scenes from tons of different films, so you can easily see how techniques like POV or slow motion have been used over the years.

7.  Andy Schneider & Jonathan Britnell (Burger Fiction)

Unlike the other detailed video essays previously listed, Andy Schneider & Jonathan Britnell of Burger Fiction are going for laughs. This makes their supercuts a whole lot of fun to watch. Not all of their supercuts are specific to film or theory, but they do provide plenty of entertainment. They also have a new video posted every Monday.

8.  Criterion Collection

While not curated by one editor, the Criterion Collection features work made for Criterion. The page contracts many great editors to create video essays on the historical filmmaking icons in the Criterion catalog. The Criterion Collection even features exclusive videos from previously mentioned editors, like kogonada.

Did we leave your favorite supercut editor off the list? Let us know in the comments below.

Free writing software: 24 tools to help you create better content, faster

Find the best brainstorming, researching, writing, and editing tools.

As a freelance writer, I try to keep my app costs lean, so I'm a sucker for free writing tools. But with so many writing apps on the market, it's hard to tell which free options are actually valuable.

I've done some of the legwork for you by bringing together some of the best free writing apps on the internet. All of the options listed here are tools the Zapier team or I have used and enjoyed.

For this roundup, I prioritized completely free tools and freemium apps with a forever free plan that was sufficient for actual regular use. Many of the options have paid plans, but those plans are generally geared toward power users.

The best free writing software at a glance

Free writing tools for brainstorming and organizing your thoughts

Best free writing software for expanding your ideas.

Best free writing software for creating content outlines

Best free writing software for brainstorming together

You can even use Miro with Zapier (also free), so you can automate your brainstorming workflows. Here are a couple of ideas to get you started.

Create Miro widgets with new Trello cards

Add Miro cards from new rows on Google Sheets

Best free writing software for brainstorming topics

Keyword Research Tool pricing: Free

Best free writing software for brainstorming ideas with AI

ChatGPT pricing: Free; ChatGPT Plus is $20/month

Best free writing software for brainstorming out loud

Your computer's dictation software (MacOS, Windows)

If you process your thoughts best through speaking, there's a brainstorming app already on your computer. Boot up Windows 10 Speech Recognition on Windows or Apple Dictation on Mac to record your thoughts as you brainstorm out loud.

Windows 10 Speech Recognition and Apple Dictation pricing: Free

Free writing tools for research and note-taking

Best free writing software for keeping everything in one place.

Save new tasks in Google Tasks in Notion databases

Add new Microsoft Outlook calendar events to Notion databases

Notion pricing: Free plan available; from $8/user/month for team plans

Best free writing software for finding free copies of paywalled research

Unpaywall pricing: Free

Best free writing software for transcribing interview and video content

oTranscribe pricing: Free

Best free writing software for collecting research from other people

Create Trello cards from new Google Forms responses

Share Google Forms responses in a Slack channel

Google Forms pricing: Free

Free writing tools for solo and collaborative writing

Best free writing software for collaborative writing.

Create new Google Docs from text with new rows in Google Sheets

Create new Google Docs when Trint transcripts are ready

Google Docs pricing: Free

Best free writing software for messages and blurbs

WordCounter pricing: Free

Free writing tools for editing

Best free writing software for finding the perfect word.

OneLook Reverse Dictionary and Thesaurus offers all the synonyms you could dream of like a regular thesaurus, but it stands out in its reverse dictionary capabilities. Enter a phrase—or even a full sentence—to get words that match that meaning. This feature comes in handy when you want to write more concisely or find that word that's on the tip of your tongue.

OneLook Reverse Dictionary and Thesaurus pricing: Free

Best free writing software for finding the right word—anywhere

As a freelance writer, I find myself needing to switch up words when I write on various platforms across the internet. Power Thesaurus gives me synonyms, antonyms, definitions, and other forms of word assistance wherever I like to write. It can do the same for you—put it to use on its website, in your browser, on your phone, in Google Docs, in Word, and in Gmail.

Best free writing software for rewording what you write

Best free writing software for clear and concise writing

Best free writing software for creating compelling headlines

CoSchedule Headline Studio pricing: Free for basic features; from $8/month to buy "Premium Headline" credits that give you access to an SEO score, AI writing features, headline suggestions, and word banks for a certain number of headlines

Best free writing software for finding and removing cliches

Cliche Finder pricing: Free

Best free writing software for finding jargon in your text

De-Jargonizer pricing: Free

Best free writing software for varying your wording and sentence length

Expresso pricing: Free

Best free writing software for comparing your writing to AI content

Free writing tools for proofreading

Best free writing software for catching spelling and grammar mistakes.

Best free writing tool for proofreading short-form content

Best free writing tool for making MLA citations

EasyBib pricing: Free

Free writing software FAQ

Here are some questions lots of people have about writing apps and how to choose the right one.

What's a good free writing tool?

Tools like Google Docs and WordCounter are free forever and very functional. Other apps, like Grammarly or ProWritingAid, have free plans that offer basic features, with more advanced features available via a paid plan.

But there are a lot of free writing tools available that perform a wide variety of functions—everything from brainstorming to research and note-taking to writing to editing to proofreading.

What writing tool do most writers use?

There's a wide variety of writing tools out there, and which one a writer uses really comes down to preference. A lot of writers use Google Docs to write because they already use Google for so many other things—but some may prefer a tool like Notion, where they can combine writing with project management.

What makes a good writing tool?

In short, whatever helps you write! If a blank page and no distraction is what helps you actually get words down, then open a new Google Doc and go at it. If you need to organize your thoughts before you even think about writing, consider adding a brainstorming tool to the mix. Each writer's process is different, and it's all about finding tools that enable your writing, not add another roadblock to your process.

Sharpen your craft with your new toolkit

Related reading:

This article was originally published in June 2015 by Jane Callahan and has also had contributions from Jessica Greene. The most recent update was in August 2023.

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Melissa King

Melissa King is a freelance writer who helps B2B SaaS companies spread the word about their products through engaging content. Outside of the content marketing world, she sometimes writes about video games. Check out her work at melissakingfreelance.com.

• Content marketing
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Communications: Video Essay

• Ask for Help
• Find Journals and Articles
• Media Research
• Internet Media Sites
• General works
• Methodologies
• Media analysis
• Visual methods
• Topic-focused resources
• Online resources
• Ecomedia Research
• New York Times
• Find Videos
• Video Essay
• Find Images
• Find Audio Resources
• Comics Research
• Music Web Resources (from the Humanistic Studies Guide)
• CMS/PL 331: Media in the Arab World
• COM 210: Introduction to Cinema
• COM 220: Media, Culture and Society
• COM 221: Writing Across the Media
• DJRN 221: Introduction to News Reporting and Writing
• CMS 333: TV After TV
• CW/DJRN 346: Creative Writing Workshop: Travel Writing

What is a video essay?

A video essay is a short video that illustrates a topic, expresses an opinion and develops a thesis statement based on research through editing video, sound and image.

(Source: Morrissey, K. (2015, September). Stop Teaching Software, Start Teaching Software Literacy. Flowjournal . https://www.flowjournal.org/2015/09/stop-teaching-software-start-teaching-software-literacy/?print=print )

It is made of three main elements:

• Image (filmed footage and found footage)
• Sound (music and audio)
• Words (spoken and written)

All of them are linked to your own voice and argument. It is a way to write with video.

• Guidelines for Video Essay Best Practices Official technical guidelines by Prof. Antonio Lopez.

Video essays about video essays

Why Video Essays are just plain AWESOME by This Guy Edits  on YouTube .

Elements of the Essay Film from Kevin B. Lee on Vimeo .

F for Fake (1973) – How to Structure a Video Essay from Tony Zhou on Vimeo .

Sample Video Essays

• If Educational Videos Were Filmed Like Music Videos by Tom Scott
• How to Use Color in Film A blog post with multiple video essays about the use of color palettes by multiple great directors.
• Seed, Image, Ground by Abelardo Gil-Fournier & Jussi Parikka.
• Every Covid-19 Commercial is Exactly the Same
• Top Video Essayists some videos on this page are set to private
• VideoEssay: A subreddit for analytic videos and supercuts
• ISIL videos imitate Hollywood and video games to win converts
• Best Video Essays of 2023
• Best Video Essays of 2022 by British Film Institute
• Best Video Essays of 2020 by British Film Institute.
• Best Video Essays of 2019 by British Film Institute.
• Best Video Essays of 2018 by British Film Institute.
• Best Video Essays of 2017 by British Film Institute.
• Video Essays (Historical) A YouTube playlist of historically important films that helped define the concept of video essays.
• What Is Neorealism by kogonada.
• Analyzing Isis' propaganda - Mujatweets by Azza el Masri and Catherine Otayek.
• Oh dear! by Adam Curtis.
• Fembot in a Red Dress by Alison De Fren.
• WHY IS CINEMA: Women Filmmakers? NOT SEXIST, BUT LET'S BE REAL??? by Cameron Carpenter.
• Women as Reward - Tropes vs Women in Video Games by feministfrequency.
• Il corpo delle donne (sub eng) by Lorella Zanardo.

Video essays beyond COM

Video essays can be a valuable form of academic production, and they can be brilliant and insightful in many other fields apart from Communications and media studies. Here are some examples that cover all the JCU departments:

• Lady of Shalott | Art Analysis A look at John William Waterhouse's Pre-Raphaelite painting "The Lady of Shalott".
• How to ace your MBA video essay The 60-second online video essay is a recent addition to the MBA application process for some business schools.
• The Last Jedi - Forcing Change An analysis of Finn's and Kylo's narrative arc in Episode VIII of the Star Wars franchise.
• How The Economic Machine Works by Ray Dalio A simple but not simplistic and easy to follow 30 minute animated video that answers the question.
• Evolution of the Hero in British Literature This video essay discusses the literary heroes throughout the Anglo-Saxon Period, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance Era in British Literature.
• Fast Math Tricks - How to multiply 2 digit numbers up to 100 - the fast way! An easy video tutorial unveiling some math tricks.
• Here's why we need to rethink veganism A brief climate change video essay on the environmental impacts of veganism, and how we can reframe going vegan less as a lifestyle and more as an aspiration.
• Italy on the edge of crisis: Should Europe be worried? Channel 4 discussing the delicate political juncture in Italy (May 2018).
• International Relations: An Introduction An overview by the London School of Economics and Social Science.

A video is basically a series of still images- each one is called a frame- that play back at a specific  rate . The frame rate (often abbreviated FPS for "frames per second") differs depending on where you are in the world and what you're shooting on.

If you're shooting a movie on celluloid (actual film that needs to be developed) then you are probably shooting at 24fps.

If you are shooting video in Europe then you are probably shooting at 25fps...

...unless you are shooting sports. Then you're probably shooting at 50fps.

If you're shooting video in the US or Canada then you are probably shooting at 30(29.98)fps...

...unless you're shooting sports. Then you're probably shooting at 60(59.98)fps...

...or unless you're shooting "cinematic video" at a frame rate of 23.976fps.

***The weird numbers for shooting in the US and Canada stem from the fact that while Europe's 50Hz electrical system operates at 50Hz, the 60Hz electrical system of the US actually operates at 59.98 Hz.***

If you're shooting at a higher frame rate (like 120fps or 250fps) it is probably because you want to play it back at one of these frame rates in order to achieve a slow motion effect.

Video sizes are measured in pixels. Resolution   refers to Width x Height. Here are some common resolutions:

• FullHD (1080p): 1920 x 1080
• HD (720p): 1280 x 720
• 4K (2160p): 3840 x 2160
• 4K Cinema: 4096 x 2160
• Standard Defintion (NTSC- US/Canada): 720 x 480
• Standard Definition (PAL- Europe): 720 x 576
• VGA: 640 x 360

Types of video essays

1. Supercut

A supercut is a compilation of a large number of (short) film clips, focusing on a common characteristic these clips have. That commonality can be anything: a formal or stylistic aspect, a shared theme or subject matter... 

Supercuts are a staple of fandom, but they can also be used as a form of audiovisual critique: to reveal cinematic tropes, to trace thematic or stylistic constants in a filmmaker’s work and so on.

Examples: ROYGBIV: A Pixar Supercut  or Microsoft Sam's  Every Covid-19 Commercial is Exactly the Same  or Chloé Barreau's  NON UNA DI MENO - l'8 MARZO sta arrivando!

2. Voiceover based

In this form, analysis is done by combining clips and images with a narrator’s voice that guides the process. This could be done for a variety of video essays styles: scene breakdowns, shot analyses, structural analyses, vlogs, etc. What is common is the integral role of the creator’s voice in advancing the argument.

Example: Tony Zhou’s Jackie Chan—How to Do Action Comedy or David Chen’s Edgar Wright and the Art of Close-Ups .

3. Text/Image/Sound-Based

In this form, analysis is done by combining text, images and sounds without a narrator’s voice to guide the process. Again, this could be done for a variety of video essays styles, but relies much more on editing to advance the argument.

Example: Kevin B. Lee’s Elements of the Essay Film or Catherine Grant’s All That Pastiche Allows Redux .

4. Desktop Films

A desktop film uses the screen of a computer or gadget to serve as the camera and canvas for all of the content of an audiovisual narrative. It can include content from videos, apps, and programs that would be viewable on a screen. It is a screen-based experience that uses the desktop as its primary medium.

Example: Katja Jansen’s Desktop Films ; Kevin B. Lee’s Reading // Binging // Benning .

Descriptions adapted from  Filmscalpel

Resources: background and fundamentals

Best Practices

• Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Media Literacy Education Also downloadable as a PDF file
• Streaming: film criticism you can watch by Guy Lodge
• What is a Video Essay? Creators Grapple with a Definition Paula Bernstein from Filmmaker journal .
• The Video Essay As Art: 11 Ways to Make a Video Essay by Norman Bateman.
• Video essay: The essay film – some thoughts of discontent by Kevin B. Lee.
• Deep Focus - The Essay Film by British Film Institute and Sight & Sound .

Scholarly Websites about Video Essays

• The Videographic Essay: Practice and Pedagogy
• Audiovisualcy Video Essays on Vimeo.
• [In]Transition Journal of Videographic Films and Moving Image Studies.
• Introductory guide to video essay From the British Universities and Colleges Film and Video Council.

Resources: software and how-to

• How-to video essays by Greer Fyfe and Miriam Ross.
• Media Production Guide by Tisch Library, Tufts University.
• Video Reactions with OBS (Open Broadcast Software) Part 01 Setting up your scenes
• Video Reactions with OBS (Open Broadcast Software) Part 02 Recording with OBS

Storyboarding

• Planning and Storyboarding from Royal Roads University Library.
• Video Essay Script Template

Screencasting

• Quicktime (cross-platform)
• Screencast-O-Matic
• OBS Studio (open source, cross-platform) Open Broadcaster Software
• Flashback Express (PC only)
• 5 Free Tools for Creating a Screencast from Mashable.

Downloading and ripping

• Pasty Software for downloading.
• Savefrom allows up to 720p downloads of full video, 1080p downloads of video only (no audio). Select “download video in browser” on the site.
• Y2mate allows up to 1080p video downloads.
• Jdownloader Software for downloading
• Handbrake Software for ripping and converting
• DMA Basics: OBS for Video Essays A tutorial on how to use OBS for Netflix.

Note: Try to to ensure that you download in 720p resolution or higher. Your minimum level of quality should be 480p. If searching on YouTube, you can filter the search results to only show HD or 4K results. Check also the  Find Video   tab of this guide.

Free editing software options

• DaVinci Resolve (cross-platform) A color grading and non-linear video editing (NLE) application for macOS, Windows, and Linux, incorporating tools from Fairlight (audio production) and Fusion (motion graphics and visual effects that throw shade on After Effects).
• iMovie (Mac only)
• Videopad (cross-plaftorm)
• OpenShot (open source, cross-platform)
• Shortcut (open source, cross-platform)
• HitFilm Express (cross-platform)
• Free Music Archive An interactive library of high-quality, legal audio downloads directed by the radio station WFMU.
• SoundCloud SoundCloud is one of the world’s largest music and audio platform and you can search for creative commons music.
• YouTube Audio Library A library of free music and sound effects by YouTube. Each track is accompanied by information on the use.
• Sound Image Free music (and more) for your Projects by Eric Matyas. Only requires crediting the author for legal use (see "attribution info" page).
• Audacity A free and open-source digital audio editor and recording application software. Very useful to trim audio, convert a sample rate, apply a little compression, chop & screw, etc.
• REAPER A digital audio workstation and MIDI sequencer software. Technically a paid-for platform, its free-trial never ends.

Check also the  Find  Audio Resources  tab of this guide.

Creating credits, copyright and fair use

• Creating credits for video essays From Digital Design Studio at Tisch Library
• Fair Use Evaluator
• YouTube Fair Use Channel
• Society for Cinema and Media Studies Statement on Fair Use
• Blender A free and open-source 3D computer graphics software toolset used for creating animated films, visual effects, art, 3D printed models, motion graphics, interactive 3D applications, virtual reality, and computer games.
• GIMP A free and open-source raster graphics editor used for image manipulation (retouching) and image editing, free-form drawing, transcoding between different image file formats, and more specialized tasks.
• Inkscape A free and open-source vector graphics editor used to create vector images, primarily in Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) format.
• Krita A free and open-source raster graphics editor designed primarily for digital painting and 2D animation. Good for sketching and conceptual art.

Stock footage

For stock footage, please check under the  Find video tab of this guide.

• Final Cut Pro X Tutorial by JCU Digital Media Lab.
• Final Cut Pro X Tutorial (PDF)
• Final Cut Pro X Full Tutorial by David A. Cox
• Audio Recording Tutorial by JCU Digital Media Lab.
• << Previous: Find Videos
• Next: Find Images >>
• Last Updated: Jun 25, 2024 4:35 PM
• URL: https://johncabot.libguides.com/communications

12 Best Free Video Editing Softwares for Beginners

We've rounded up twelve of the best free video editing softwares of 2023. Check out the list and find the best free video editor for you.

Creating viral videos for TikTok , YouTube, Instagram, or any other popular social media app requires advanced video editing techniques and professional video editing software.

With more people creating videos than ever before, a professional-grade video editor needs to be easy enough to use for beginners but have the functionality that an advanced video editor would use to really take a video to the next level.

In this article, we’re going to share the best free video editing software on the market whether you’re looking for an editor on Windows, Mac, Linux, or your phone.

The 12 best free video editors in 2023:

• DaVinci Resolve
• Apple iMovie
• HitFilm Express
• OpenShot Video Editor
• ClipChamp Windows Video Editor
• VSDC Free Video Editor
• Final Cut Pro (Free Trial)
• Adobe Premiere Pro (Free Trial)

Now, let's dive into the details of each editor and what makes it special.

The 12 Best Free Video Editing Softwares for Professionals

Best free video editor for teams

System Requirements: Browser-based software that works on all devices, no downloads required

Great for: Repurposing longer videos into short clips for social media

Skill Level: Intermediate

Kapwing is the best free video maker for teams. If your team is creating video content for social media , you can use Kapwing to create viral or meme videos for any platform. You’ll also be able to screen record for gaming videos , product demos, and educational content.

You can work collaboratively with other video editors on your team, even on the free version. That means, you and multiple team members can edit the same video at the same time. Plus, you can have multiple collaborators leave comments while you’re editing without any issues.

On the free plan, you’ll have access to several AI-powered smart tools, the complete template library, and even some cloud storage. You’ll be able to create videos up to 4 minutes long with 720p video quality. The best part: Kapwing is a browser-based editor, which means you can use Kapwing on any device. No need to download bulky software that will take up RAM and slow down your computer .

For more functionality and premium features like removing silences automatically , you can upgrade to Pro for $16/month.

Free Features Include:

• Intuitive editor that supports a multi-layer timeline
• Real-time collaboration with team mates
• AI functionality that improves editing speed by 10x
• Library of transitions and video effects
• Stock template and assets library
• Video resizing for any social media platform
• Find Scenes tool — helps turn long videos into short social clips
• Auto-level audio across multiple files
• Chroma Key for easy greenscreen editing
• Record screen, camera, and audio
• Automatic Subtitle Generator (10 mins/month)

2. DaVinci Resolve

Best free video editing software for color correction, visual effects, and color grading

System Requirements: macOS 10.15 Catalina, Windows 10 Creators Update, Linux CentOS 7.3

Great for: High-production YouTube videos, short films

Skill Level: Advanced

DaVinci Resolve is surprisingly robust for a free video editor, which means your computer definitely needs to meet system requirements in order for the latest version to run properly. And there's definitely more of a learning curve with this movie maker. But if you're willing to put in the time to learn it, DaVinci Resolve offers great functionality for studio quality films.

The editing process is simplified with various features, such as replacing clips for a set duration, a full suite of special effects plug-ins, advanced audio controls to enhance sound, and more. Those working on feature films, commercials, television shows, documentaries, or other high production video content will love the ease of collaboration among other editors. You’ll also be able to transform video formats into different sizes for social media.

• Multi-user cloud collaboration
• Drag and drop editing
• Ideal for larger projects, such as movies, commercials, shows, streams, documentaries
• Beauty tool
• Vertical resolutions for social media apps
• Timeline locking
• Voice isolation
• 25 Multicam angles
• Chapter markers for social media
• Text and shape acceleration
• Clip replacement
• Special effects library

Best mobile video editing app for iOS and iPad

System Requirements: macOS 11.5.1 (or later), 4 GB RAM, 3.5 GB of available disk space

Great for: Mobile editing, personal projects

Skill Level: Beginner

For beginners who aren't looking to do anything too complicated with their video editing, Apple iMovie is one of the best free video editing apps. iMovie allows you to easily create video clips on iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Unlike many other free video editing software, there are no watermarks when you export videos from iMovie.

You can create a photo slideshow, a social media video, or a simple documentary with iMovie. Easily stabilize shaky cam in this video editor when recording videos with hand. You can also storyboard your video using templates. Plus, sharing your final video on social media, via messages, or over email can easily be done from the iMovie app.

• 29 trailer templates
• Clip shareability
• 4k resolution, 1080p
• Add titles, animations, transitions, and 3D globes and travel maps
• Fast-forward and slow-motion effects
• Advanced picture-in-picture effects
• Video stabilization
• Zoom feature
• Green screen effects
• Built-in music and sound effects
• Custom fonts
• iPhone and iPad screen recording

4. HitFilm Express

Video editing for professional results

System Requirements: macOS 10.14 (or later), Microsoft Windows 10, internet access for online activation, 8GB of RAM (16GB recommended)

Great for: Long-form YouTube videos

Skill Level: Beginners

HitFilm Express is a beginner-friendly free video editor that allows you to create professional looking videos. This video editor is great for those looking to create YouTube videos, gain experience in video editing, or make high-quality videos without any expensive tool.

You can access all the basic editing tools you need for your video from cutting to flipping. You’ll also be able to export in multiple file formats with 2x faster exports. This user-friendly video editing program has hundreds of presets for you to choose from, an extensive asset library, and even has lighting and lens flares.

• Drag-and-drop functionality
• 100s of customizable presets
• Asset library: stock videos, photos, music, templates, sound effects
• Fast workflow
• Text tools to add video subtitles and more
• Color grading and color correction
• Motion tracking
• 8x faster playback

Related Article: The Best Software for Editing YouTube Videos

5. Lightworks Free

Professional video maker for beginners

System Requirements: Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10, Mac OS X 10.11 or higher, Linux Supported Debian Distros

Great for: Multicam editing

Lightworks Free is a free video editor that allows you to save and edit videos in the cloud. Used in popular movies, such as Jerry Maguire, The Wolf of Wall Street, and Pulp Fiction, professional video editors have used this tool to create some of the biggest films of all time.

Despite its Hollywood fame, it’s still user-friendly enough for a beginner editor to use. With the free plan, you’ll be able to edit videos directly inside cloud storage, access editing features such as replace, fit-to-fill, slip, and more, and record voiceovers while playing footage.

• Export video projects in any file format
• 720p Exports
• Multiple frame rates
• Background processor
• Automatic save
• Proxy workflows
• Cloud storage editing capabilities
• 100’s of pre-made graphics
• Custom and pre-built keyboard shortcuts
• Drag and drop functionality
• Hundreds of transitions
• Color correction tools

Best free open-source video editor

System Requirements: Windows 7 to 11, macOS 10.14 to 12, 64-bit Linux

Great for: Projects with multiple scenes/transitions

As an open-source platform, Shotcut provides access all the editing features on the platform for free, making it one of the best video editors online. You’ll be able to do seamless fade ins and outs, wipe transitions, clip reversals, and more.

You’ll also find dozens of video filters, such as blur, fish eye, saturation, gradient, and video editing tools like chroma key, crop , gradient, and many more. All those features gives it a slightly steeper learning curve. From an editing perspective, Shotcut allows you to easily cut and paste clips, separate audio from video, name custom clips, and more.

• Video and track compositing
• Color wheels for color correction
• Countless video filters
• Drag and drop video files
• Easy audio removal
• Unlimited undo and redo with history
• Audio mixing
• 4k resolution

7. OpenShot Video Editor

Powerful open-source video editor for professionals

System Requirements: 64-bit operating systems, such as Linux, OS X, Chrome OS, Windows 7, 8, 10, 11

Great for: Internal communications and trainings

Openshot Video Editor is an open-source tool with a whole suite of free editing features you can access to create stunning videos. You can add unlimited layers to all your videos, such as watermarks, audio tracks, background videos , and more.

Related: What's the Best Video Editor for Chromebook Users?

Choose from over 400 transitions and preview them in real-time to ensure you’ve selected the right one for that clip. Fast-forward or add slow motion effects to any clip. Plus, you can select from 40 different vector title and subtitle templates so people can easily watch your video content without audio.

• Frame animations
• Unlimited layers and tracks
• Easy scaling, rotation, trimming, snapping, alpha, and more
• Real-time previews of over 400 transitions
• Easily add image overlays and watermarks
• 40 vector templates for titles and subtitles
• 20 3D animations
• Frame by frame editing
• Clip speed adjustor
• Separate audio from video
• Visual effects: brightness, gamma, hue, chroma key, greyscale

8. ClipChamp Windows Video Editor

Best free video editor for text-to-speech videos

System Requirements: 64-bit computer with 64-bit Chrome or Edge, 8 GB of RAM

Great for: Organic social media

ClipChamp Windows Video Editor is an extensive tool for editing videos that has sort of replaced Windows Movie Maker. It offers 170 lifelike voices for text-to-speech and AI-powered translation, which allows users to translate videos into multiple languages and record audio without needing a voice actor.

One feature ClipChamp offers that makes it one of the best free video editors for Windows users is a speaker coach. If you’ve just started a YouTube channel, you can improve how you speak with real-time feedback so you can get better at creating engaging videos.

• Speaker coach real-time feedback to improve public speaking skills
• Smart voice technology and auto captions
• Keyboard shortcuts
• Speed adjustor
• Enhanced cropping
• Gap removal
• Video folders
• Over 1,000,000 royalty-free videos, images, templates etc.
• Seamless transitions
• 170 AI voiceover voices in over 70 languages
• Camera and screen recorder
• Green screen functionality

Easiest video editing tool for beginners

System Requirements: Internet access

Great for: Social media ads

Vimeo is the easiest video editing tool for beginners with no editing experience. You can create template-based videos for social media. From 30-second videos to GIFs, you can create any type of video using Vimeo’s video maker.

It’s one of the best free video editing softwares because of the broad range of video templates available. For instance, if you wanted to make a video resume or a product video, you could easily use the drag and drop functionality to quickly complete a polished video without any prior video editing experience.

• Over 2,000 video templates
• Polished videos without editing experience
• Video editing tutorials, blogs, and resources
• Asset library with stock videos, images, and music
• Logos, colors, and fonts customization
• Video resizing tool
• Social media analytics tool for video performance
• Add music, text, stickers, filters, and more

10. VSDC Free Video Editor

Best video editor for older computers

System Requirements: Windows XP SP3/Vista/7/8/10/11, 2 GB of RAM, 500 MB of free disk space

Great for: Organic social, YouTube

VSDC Free Video Editor is one of the best free video editing software for older computer models. Most video editors require newer computer models. However, professionals using older hardware can download this video editor and access useful editing features, like motion tracking, masking, and color blending.

• Chroma key tool for background removal
• Countless video effects, filters, and transitions
• Editing tools, such as zoom, color correction, charts, and more
• Various video and audio file formats
• Works on outdated computer models
• Masking tools to hide or blur elements
• Export to social media
• Various visual and audio effects, such as object transformation

11. Final Cut Pro (Free Trial)

Best video editing software for Mac users

System Requirements: macOS 11.5.1 (or later), 4 GB of RAM or higher, metal-capable graphics card, 1GB of VRAM, internet access for some features

Great for: Long YouTube videos

We've added Final Cut Pro to this list on a technicality: Final Cut Pro offers a generous 90-day free trial, which technically makes it a free video editing software. After the trial is up, though, it costs a hefty $399.99. Still, if you want to try before you buy, Final Cut Pro is widely considered the best video editing software for Mac and is popular among YouTubers.

Whether you shoot Cinematic mode on your iPhone 13 or need to create videos on your Mac, you’ll find various editing features from color correction to enhanced speed. With so many moving parts in video editing, keeping track of everything can be difficult. Final Cut Pro offers duplicate detection to prevent duplicate audio or video from appearing more than intended. You can also compress your content without impacting video quality and stunning High Dynamic Range videos, whether you’re using a studio-grade camera or an iPhone.

Features Include:

• Object tracking to follow movements of objects or people
• Focus point enhancer
• 8k ProRes video
• Magnetic timeline
• Color coding
• Motion graphics in 2D and 3D; filters
• Multicam with up to 16 angles
• Advanced color grading

12. Adobe Premiere Pro (Free Trial)

Best video editing software for making films

System Requirements: macOS 10.15 (or later) on Mac devices from 2016 or later, Windows 10 with 6th generation (or later)

Great for: TV commercials, YouTube videos, short films

Like Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premier Pro has a free trial, but at the time of writing this, there's no forever free plan. If you're looking to test before you invest, Adobe only offers a 7-day trial, which is why we're putting it below Final Cut Pro. That said, Adobe Premiere Pro is one of the most advanced video editing softwares you can find online.

While Adobe has added more beginner-friendly features to appeal to those who edit social media videos, this video editing software is typically used by professional film editors in Hollywood. If you’re looking for a video editing tool to edit films, music videos, or other high value pieces of video content, you might choose Adobe Premiere Pro due to its advanced features, such as visual and sound effects. When it comes to creating videos for YouTube channels or other social media platforms, though, there are other sophisticated tools to use that don't take as long to learn or cost as much.

• Automatic tone mapping
• Offline editing functionality, such as sequence locking
• Speech to text in up to 16 languages
• Music that won’t get flagged
• Custom captions
• 1000s of graphics, stickers, effects
• Built-in tutorials
• Drag and drop video functionality
• Precise trimming tool
• Advanced audio editing
• Stock video and photo library
• Hollywood-level video effects
• Color-adjustment panel

Picking the right video editor for your needs doesn’t need to be complicated. You now have a better understanding of the amazing tools out there and what their key benefits and features are.

Whether you’re a beginner or a long-time video editor, there are various free tools you can use loaded with amazing transitions, drag and drop functionality, templates, and the whole suite of editing features you’d need to create world class videos. If you’re looking for a video editing tool for your company or agency, we recommend trying out Kapwing today where you’ll be able to create social media videos fast.

FAQs About the Best Free Video Software

1. what do most youtubers use to edit videos.

YouTubers and the video editing agencies they hire typically use multi-layer video editing software capable of handling their large roughcut files, like Kapwing, Adobe Premiere Pro, or Final Cut Pro.

2. How do I start video editing?

If you're new to video editing, it's best to get started on a platform for beginners. Many video editors have drag and drop functionality, tutorials, and one-click features to make editing a video user-friendly for beginners. Signing up for a free trial or a free account with a video editing software is the best way to learn.

3. Where can I edit my videos for free?

Kapwing has a free plan that allows you to edit videos for free. You'll have access to many editing features designed to make your workflow faster, like the video resizer, auto subtitler, and chroma key effect.

How to Edit Videos: A Complete Beginner's Guide to Modern Video Editing

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Android Police

12 best video editing apps on android in 2024.

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Popular social media apps like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok feature built-in editing tools. If content creation interests you, our favorite Samsung Galaxy phones have excellent cameras. However, you’ll need a solid video editing app to level up your social media game. Here are the 12 best video editing apps for Android phones and tablets.

How to use your phone's manual camera settings

Got a specific photo look in mind? Manual camera settings might be the way to go

1 Adobe Premiere Rush

Perfect for creative cloud subscribers.

Speaking of top video editing apps on Android, how can we not include an offering from Adobe? Adobe Premiere Rush is a must-have app for Creative Cloud subscribers. Sign in with your Adobe account, import photos and videos from your phone, and check the video editing features. You can adjust video speed, combine several clips, pick from thousands of soundtracks, give color presets a try, and add graphics. You can sync your projects and continue editing on another phone if you have a Premiere Rush Premium or Creative Cloud plan.

2 KineMaster

Make full use of the powerful editing tools for social media.

KineMaster offers ready-to-use templates in categories like Instagram, YouTube intro, vlog, reels, gaming, and more. You can also create a new video from scratch. KineMaster presents the same familiar landscape interface with all the required video editing features. You can apply a voice changer, add stickers, effects, text, reverse video, and remove the background.

KineMaster has introduced KineCloud. Paid subscribers can upload videos at up to 10GB and continue their projects on other devices.

3 PowerDirector

Best for foldables and tablets.

If you prefer working with a traditional video timeline, go with PowerDirector. The app offers a built-in stock library and 4300+ customizable templates to create videos. You can use the video stabilizer to fix your shaky videos, use effects, control color and saturation precisely, and more. The developers recently introduced a portrait editing mode.

PowerDirector Premium subscription unlocks access to a royalty-free photo library from Shutterstock. The app is a joy to use on large-screen devices like foldables or the top Android tablets .

The perfect video editor for social media

Filmora focuses on millennials and Gen Z with portrait video editing, eye-catching stickers, effects, emojis, and more. You can pick from 1000+ sound effects, 5000+ premium stickers, trendy text styles, and reverse playback. You can also add a background to videos and adjust the aspect ratio. It's the perfect video editor app for social media platforms. The watermark and ads can get irritating, though. You'll sign up for one of the paid plans to remove them.

5 GoPro Quik

Add cinematic effects to your videos.

While GoPro Quik doesn't shine with a long list of video editing features, it uses an AI touch. When you select several photos and videos, the app automatically picks your best moments, adds cinematic effects and music, and delivers a sharable video. Automatic edits is one of the best features for beginners looking to create a quick video on the go. You get more video editing features and full media backup by purchasing a membership.

Get professional editing features on your Android phone

Splice offers pro-level desktop video editing features on your Android phone. You can pick your favorite moments from a video, add text, include overlays, add music, and complete the video editing using an intuitive timeline. You can also adjust speed to create breathtaking slow-motion videos on the go. The app lets you export high-quality videos and share your creations on social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

7 VivaVideo

Video editing app for beginners.

VivaVideo is another neat video editing app on Android. Thanks to stickers, unique fonts, FX effects, several background effects, and stylish themes, it's popular among the youth. Instead of pro-level features, VivaVideo focuses on ease of use to make video editing seamless for beginners. The app comes with a free TikTok video maker with songs and lyrics. If you want to create trendy short reels or stories, you can't go wrong with this one.

8 Google Photos

Make use of video-editing add-ons.

You shouldn't dismiss Google Photos as a cloud-enabled gallery app on Android. Aside from the photo editing features , the app includes video editing add-ons. You can use the Markup tools to highlight a specific part, add text, and export a trendy shot from the video. Google Photos packs several filters and powerful tools to adjust brightness, contrast, HDR, white point, saturation, and more. You can even create a movie from your existing photos and videos.

However, you can't import music tracks from your phone storage. Google Photos also lacks integration with YouTube Music.

Use the AI Assistant to edit your videos

Magisto targets social media users with thoughtful video editing tools. The app has an AI assistant to edit your media with beautiful graphics, effects, filters, and audio tracks. With hundreds of colorful stickers available at your fingertips, you can add fun to your video and make a trendy clip. Magisto offers a few premium plans to add premium styles, remove watermarks, increase movie length, and unlock 3+ million stock photos to use in a video.

The app also offers video hosting and sharing tools to create password-protected links. That way, only authorized people can check your edited video.

Perfect for influencers

Most features in InShort are for influencers. It offers basic and advanced video editing tools to create trendy clips. You can trim videos, adjust the speed, rewind videos, create slideshows, and use AI-enabled body effects. It recognizes the body and adds unique AI effects to create professional videos. With 1000+ stickers, funny memes, designer backgrounds, and support for stylish photo collages, you are only a few minutes away from making your video stand out on social media.

11 Funimate

Add transitions and effects to your videos.

Funimate doesn't aim to replace a professional video editor like Premiere Rush. It relies on top video editing features like transitions, keyframes, video masks, AI effects, text effects, and effect mix to attract social media users. The app also comes with a neat social integration. You can shoot videos for weekly challenges, share your creativity with the Funimate community, and take inspiration from others to boost your engagement on social media.

Best video editing app for TikTok

Owned by Bytedance (the parent company of TikTok), CapCut is the official video editor and maker app for TikTok users. Check this one out if you frequently create videos for your TikTok account. You can add slow-motion effects, stabilize the footage, use the chroma key to remove specific colors, and add auto-captions for your global audience.

CapCut regularly adds new filters every week. You should also check trending effects like Blur, Glitch, and 3D. While the video editor is ideal for TikTok, you can adjust the format to ready it for other social media platforms.

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Easily create stunning videos on Android with the help of a few editing apps

You can impress your followers on social media with the help of these video editing apps. Some apps work better on Android tablets due to the extra real estate. Try some of our best photo editing apps if you want something to help you jazz up your social media posts.

• Applications
• Video Editing

The best AI video editing software

Edit videos faster with the latest AI features.

The best AI video editing software can help you edit videos faster, speeding up repetitive processes and allowing for greater precision. Whether it's for editing studio-quality features or personal videos for social media, there's an AI video editing app for you since the different programs suit different needs and expertise levels. 

We've tested a range of AI video editing programs intended for different uses, from professional software like Adobe Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve to browser- and mobile-based apps that allow those without editing skills to create quick videos for social media. Choosing the right software depends on your specific requirements, platform preference, and budget. 

For a more in-depth overview of these and more options, see our full guide to the best video editing software . Note that guide focuses on general video editing software with AI tools rather than AI video generators that create new video from scratch.

Why you can trust Creative Bloq Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test .

01. Adobe Premiere Pro

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

Adobe Premiere Pro is a powerhouse in the video editing world, and its AI-driven features solidify its position at the top. The software's Adobe Sensei technology offers tools such as auto-reframing, which intelligently tracks the action in a video to keep it centered, and scene edit detection, which identifies and marks cuts in pre-edited videos. 

Its intuitive interface and seamless integration with other Adobe Creative Cloud apps make it ideal for professionals seeking robust and flexible editing capabilities. However, its steep learning curve and subscription-based pricing may be a drawback for some users.

See our full Premiere Pro review for more details.

02. Davinci Resolve Studio

DaVinci Resolve by Blackmagic Design is renowned for its professional-grade color correction and grading tools, and the pro Studio version is now augmented with a range of AI capabilities. The DaVinci Neural Engine offers features like facial recognition, speed warp for smooth slow-motion, and auto color and color matching, which streamline the editing process. 

The free version of Davinci is remarkably robust, though the paid Studio version unlocks the more powerful AI tools. The interface may appear daunting to beginners, but its powerful features make it a favorite among experienced editors. There's also the option to use proprietary physical peripherals to deck out a dedicated editing suite. See our full Davinci Resolve 19 review for more details.

03. Final Cut Pro

The latest release of Final Cut Pro, Apple 's flagship video editing software, adds a range of new AI features. For example, Smart Conform can automatically adjusts clips for various aspect ratios, great for content professionals looking to create material tailored to different platforms. The Magnetic Timeline and advanced multicam editing are further enhanced by AI, making complex editing tasks more manageable and AI object removal, shot stability analysis and audio clean up speed up some of the more mundane aspects of getting your project ready for final export.

Of course, as it’s an Apple product, its optimised for Mac systems, and generally it’s easy to ensure a smooth and fast editing processes. However, its exclusivity to macOS can be a limitation for those on other operating systems.

See our full Final Cut 10.5 review .

04. Videoleap

When we reviewed Videoleap, we used the software to create a series of Instagram reels. By using AI, it allows you to upload clips and describe the style you want to quickly generate a video. As well as providing a good degree of automated editing when it comes to social content, there’s also a powerful standard video editor. That means that, unlike with some comparable AI platforms, there’s a good degree of editing options available after the content has been generated, such as changing the pace, style or music.

There are AI filters on offer and tools such as AI background removal, and we liked the fact there are simple AI features like auto captions, which write captions from your voiceover automatically.

See our full Videoleap review .

05. Invideo AI Video Editor

Invideo AI is a very different proposition since it's not really video editing software at all, at least not in the traditional sense. Rather it finds stock video footage for you. You use simple conversational text prompts to ask it to generate a video on the topic you want, and it generates a script, adds an AI-generated voice and slaps it over some stock video footage related to the topic. 

It's worth stressing that this is not an AI video generator like Sora or Runway. It merely uses AI to identify existing stock video footage. The plus side of this is that you avoid those weird AI artifacts, but, unsurprisingly, the results are very hit and miss. Since it relies on rights-free stock footage from the web, much of it is quite generic, and sometimes the video chosen doesn't match the script very well. 

The editing tools do allow you to search for alternative footage and to edit the script and make other tweaks. You can even clone your own voice by uploading a recording of yourself. Invideo does also have a more traditional video editing tool as well, as well as templates to use. The free plan offers allows you to generate up to 10 minutes a week of AI stock video but with watermarks.

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Jacob Little is a freelance writer and photographer and over the past ten years, has written for several national publications and brands. Based near Bristol, technology and the creative industries form the basis of his work, and he also provides content planning and project scoping services for agencies and businesses.

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Want to Start a Video Essay Channel, Suck at Technology

I've wanted to start a film criticism/video essayist channel for a while, I've even written down some potential ideas and research topics. The problem is I don't know how to start because I'm not very tech fluent. Like, at all. I don't know what kind of software I need, how to use said software, or even the basics of how to start a youtube channel. Are there any resources available, like an "Online Editing for Dummies" type of book or website that could help me learn the basics? Or any advice from people on this forum? Anything would be super helpful!