In 2024, 8 Best Free Video Editing Software for YouTube

In 2024, 8 Best Free Video Editing Software for YouTube

Brian Lv12

8 Best Free Video Editing Software for YouTube

The Best Free Video Editing Software for YouTube (Top 8 Reviews)

Richard Bennett

Dec 02, 2022• Proven solutions

0

What makes a YouTube video good? The most important element is obviously you, the creator. Your personality, ideas, and unique viewpoint are what will make your content special and turn viewers into subscribers.

The next most important thing – even more important than the camera you use – is editing.

Editing a YouTube video doesn’t have to be difficult. In fact, it should be simple. Your focus when you’re perfecting your video should be on that ‘most important thing’ we mentioned earlier – your creativity. Editing for a YouTube video should be art, not mechanical engineering.

Below is a list of the top free video editing software ranked according to how appropriate it is for YouTube videos.

Rank Editor Make Cuts Audio Features Multiple Video Tracks Video Effects Intuitive Score (1-5) Compatibility
1. OpenShot Video Editor Yes Fade In/Out, set volume levels Yes Transitions, text, ability to animate. Blur/Saturation/Brightness controls. 5 Windows, Mac, Linux
2. Shotcut Yes Detailed audio editing Yes You can customize color presets and other effects. No animations. 4 Windows, Mac, Linux
3. Hitfilm Express Yes Audio effects and transitioning. Yes Every imaginable picture customization. Some FX (more if you pay). Text tool. 4 Windows, Mac
4. VideoPad Video Editor Yes Noise removal, equalizer, audio effects. Yes Moving text, transitions, filters. 5 Windows
5. Lightworks Yes Detailed audio editing Yes No premade effects, but you can add text/color edit. 3 Windows, Mac, Linux
6. VSDC Video Editor Yes Some audio features blocked in free version Yes Filters, transitions, text, and more. 1 Windows
7. Machete Video Editor Lite Yes None No None 3 Windows
8. Avidemux Yes Some audio features No Some picture adjustments 2 Windows, Mac, Linux, BSD

Ready to upgrade to a simple, powerful, paid software that’s perfect for YouTube? Check out the free trial of Wondershare Filmora . It is an advanced tool that is focused more on newbie editors who are new to the videography world but want to compete with professionals!

1. OpenShot Video Editor – Open Source (Windows, Mac, Linux)

Pros

  1. Easy to use
  2. Includes transitions
  3. Keyframing
  4. Alpha Channel
  5. Unlimited video tracks

OpenShot Video Editor Review

OpenShot completely lives up to the claim that it was designed to be ‘easy to use, quick to learn, and surprisingly powerful’.

The first time you use OpenShot there will be helpful tutorial notes to guide you through the program. The interface is intuitive enough that you may not always need them, but having them should erase any confusion.

All of the basic editing features, like cutting clips up, are easy to access in the timeline. You have unlimited tracks, and it’s easy to drag your clips between them. There’s a helpful magnet feature that fits clips together if you slide them together, but which still allows for blank space if you choose to leave it.

Most other functions – setting volume levels, adjusting the speed, adding movement/zoom effect – are accessible simply by right-clicking on your clip in the timeline and choosing what you want from the menu that pops up.

Is OpenShot Video Editor good for YouTube?

OpenShot is a great, free, choice for YouTubers at any editing skill level.

Beyond simply ordering your clips, OpenShot includes text and transition options within the program. You can even animate the text, and access Animated Titles if you use OpenShot in tandem with a free animation program called Blender. Titles and transitions are vital to a lot of popular YouTube styles.

OpenShot does not provide the same level of detail as the runner up, Shotcut, when it comes to color correction or audio editing. However, the features it does have (volume levels, control of saturation) will satisfy most YouTubers.

2. Shotcut – Open Source (Windows, Mac, Linux)

Pros

  1. Detailed audio editing
  2. Color grading, ability to save presets
  3. Fairly intuitive timeline

Shotcut Review

Shotcut delivers a smooth, detailed, editing experience for free. It is not as easy to jump into as some of the other programs on this list, but it still only takes a half-hour or so of playing around to understand it well enough to make a video. There are also tutorials up on Shotcut’s site that can help you.

You can edit using multiple video tracks in Shotcut, making it easy to combine multiple clips, and basic functions like splitting or copying clips are as easy as clicking the right icon on the toolbar.

All of the video and audio effects, including things like chroma key, you might want to apply to your video are found under the Filters menu. It will look empty when you first open it, and you have to click the plus sign to see what your options are. If you want to create a color tint (like what you might think of as an Instagram filter) then you can do that through the Color Grading option. If you want to do something like invert your colors or add an ‘old film’ look, you’ll find that here as well along with all of the audio editing features (balance, bass and treble, and gain to name just a few).

Is Shotcut good for YouTube?

Shotcut is a great choice for YouTubers. It allows you to do some advanced editing, and it’s easy to learn compared to a program targeted at professional editors.

The only complication with Shotcut for entry-level editors who will primarily use the program for YouTube might be that animations – like moving text – are not available through the program (you can add and customize text, but it just sits there). You can get them from elsewhere and use them in the program (Shotcut has an alpha channel), but it’s a bit more involved a process than simply customizing something that’s already provided.

3. Hitfilm Express – Windows, Mac

Pros

  1. Compositing mode (2D and 3D)
  2. The Most effect customization
  3. Helpful User Guide & tutorials

Cons

  1. Can be overwhelming
  2. Its main strength is FX, but you only get a couple for free. Most have to be bought separately.

Hitfilm Express Review

Hitfilm Express is the best free editor if you want to add special effects to your projects. OpenShot’s alpha channel will be enough for most people, but if you think of yourself as an aspiring filmmaker then it’s hard to beat Hitfilm’s range of functions.

This is an editor designed for people who want to make movies, and it’s a lot more intuitive than most professional-grade software. Film-quality FX (lasers, explosions, etc.) are available through Hitfilm Express for a reasonable price ($10-$50, depending on what you want), and even without paying extra for the packs, there’s a lot you can do to give your video a ‘film look’ using compositing layers and the multitude of customizable effects provided through the program.

Another highlight of Hitfilm Express is the extensive selection of tutorials and helpful information they have available both through YouTube videos and their User Guide. You will need those because this program can be overwhelming. It has so many functions and areas you can customize that it is easy to get lost.

That said, basic editing in Hitfilm Express is not difficult to jump into. It’s only when you start getting fancy that things get dicey.

Is Hitfilm Express good for YouTube?

Yes. It will not be the best option for everyone, but it’s not a bad option for anyone either.

If what you want to make is a vlog where you have a series of clips, and intro, and maybe a couple of title effects, then Hitfilm express might be overkill. You don’t want to have to master compositing just to add some text.

If what you want to make is a vlog that’s interrupted by an alien invasion and turns into an action sequence with lasers and falling debris, it’d be hard to do better than Hitfilm Express.

4. VideoPad Video Editor – Windows

Pros

  1. Easy to jump into
  2. Moving text
  3. Huge audio waveforms
  4. Audio and visual effects
  5. Lossless exports

Cons

  1. No longer updated

VideoPad Video Editor Review

VideoPad Video Editor is an extremely easy to use program. It may be the easiest program on this list to jump into, which you could also realistically create your entire video inside (there are easier programs, but you can only do some of your work in them). Part of its simplicity comes from not being as feature-rich as the programs ranking higher than it on this list, however.

You do not get the same range of functions with VideoPad as you do from the top 3 free editors, but it has enough to satisfy people who are just starting out. Creating moving text effects is easy, you have huge audio waves to work with while you’re syncing, and effects like transitions and filters are easy to find.

VideoPad does suffer a bit from being dated. This program is no longer being worked on, and the interface doesn’t look particularly modern. This is a bit more than a cosmetic issue because some features, while not difficult to find, are placed a bit oddly compared to other editors.

One slightly annoying feature of VideoPad is that it will prompt you to buy the commercial version sometimes (the free version is only for non-commercial use). There have been reports of exports being blocked in the free version, but I exported several times for the sake of this review and the issue never came up.

Is VideoPad Video Editor good for YouTube?

VideoPad makes a decent YouTube editor. You can jump right in and start making cuts, adding filters, and ordering your clips. If you have the kind of channel where voiceovers are important (like in gaming or makeup), then you’ll be happy with the size of the audio waves you have to work with for syncing.

The thing about VideoPad is that you’re probably going to outgrow it quickly as you become a more capable editor.

5. Lightworks – Windows, Mac, Linux

Pros

  1. Detailed color and audio editing
  2. Multicam editing

Cons

  1. Exports limited to 720p for the free version
  2. Difficult to learn compared to other free software

Lightworks Review

On their website, Lightworks claims to have an ‘intuitive interface’ and ‘easy timeline editing’. This is true if you compare it to other professional-level editing suites. Compared to the other programs on this list, Lightworks is complicated.

The first thing I attempt when I review this program is to simply split a clip, and it took me a ridiculous amount of time to figure this feature out in Lightworks (a more advanced editor could have found it faster, but these reviews are meant to help people with less experience). Lightworks does have a whole tutorial series on using the software, so if you are interested in learning to use it there is ample material out there to help you.

Lightworks has a wide range of functions (i.e. detailed audio editing and color correction), and it has been used for big movies like ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’. It is the most professional program on this list, and it’s a great free alternative to something like Adobe Premiere Pro.

Note: there is no time limit on the free version of Lightworks, but it will ask you to renew your free license every 7 days. When it says your license is ‘expired’ it isn’t kicking you off the free version, you just need to renew.

Is Lightworks good for YouTube?

Whether or not Lightworks is right for your YouTube channel depends on your goals as a video editor.

If what you want is to jump in and start making YouTube videos quickly, Lightworks might not be a great choice. It’s not an easy program to just jump into, you’ll have to either take time to learn it or accept that it’ll take some trial and error to get the hang of.

If what you want is to become a professional-level video editor, then Lightworks is a great program to start on (although, Hitfilm Express may still be better). Taking the time to learn it could certainly pay off in the long run.

However, if one of your priorities is for your YouTube channel to come across as professional, then the free version of Lightworks does have some disappointing limitations. You can only export videos in 720p, which is lower quality than viewers on YouTube expect (you probably want at least 1080p). Your output format is limited too. The royalty-free audio and video content Lightworks offers are also not free; you can just buy them through the program.

6. VSDC Video Editor – Windows

Pros

  1. Diagrams and charts
  2. How To Get Started Guide
  3. Lots of features

Cons

  1. Very confusing
  2. Paid features show up in the free version, but they’re blocked

Review of VSDC Video Editor

There’s a lot to like about VSDC Video Editor, but you have to do a lot of work to uncover any of it. Accessing even the most basic features is confusing.

One of the first things I tried to do as I tested the program was make a jump cut (where you cut out part of a video so the playback ‘jumps over’ the deleted segment) and, while I was able to do it, it was not an intuitive process. There is a multitude of toolbars and icons surrounding your preview window in VSDC, and none of those icons was for making cuts to your clips. To make any cuts you have to find the ‘cutting and splitting’ option under the Editor tab at the top of the page, which will open a second window in which you still cannot make any cuts. Instead what you can do is place markers, and when you click ‘apply changes’ to exit the window cuts will be made where you placed markers. There is nothing in the window to explain what the markers are for.

Other basic functions, like adding text, are just as complicated.

Is VSDC Video Editor good for YouTube?

I would not recommend VSDC for YouTube. It ranks higher than two other items on this list because they are, do to functional limitations, unable to create full YouTube videos without the support of other programs (at least realistically). You certainly could create your full YouTube video in VSDC, but it’d be a headache.

7. Machete Video Editor Lite – Windows

Pros

  1. Great for harvesting clips from longer footage
  2. Lossless exports

Cons

  1. Cannot swap or add audio
  2. Only supports two formats (AVI and WMV)
  3. Slightly awkward timeline

Machete Video Editor Lite Review

Machete Lite claims that you’ll be able to edit your videos “within a few minutes after downloading the program, even if you’ve never edited a video before”, and that is true. It might even be better if you haven’t edited a video before because the interface is slightly awkward if you’ve come from a program with a more traditional timeline setup. Machete Lite is easy to use for the most part, but it doesn’t work like most other editors and that can be awkward to navigate around.

Instead of seeing a timeline with all of your individual clips, Machete treats your entire video as one clip. You will only be able to see where you have inserted a separate video clip or cut out a portion of the video by watching the video back or jumping through it (Machete Lite does allow frame-by-frame scrolling). You won’t be able to see this information at a glance, and you won’t be able to adjust the lengths of clips you’ve added separately.

To take out any portion of your overall video you’ll need to find a keyframe at the beginning, set that as the beginning of your selection, then find a key frame at the end and set that as the end of your selection. You will then be able to delete that selection. This will not work if the frames you have set as the beginning and end are not considered keyframes by the program, so it can be difficult to be precise, but since the program allows you to jump through keyframes it’s not difficult to find a point that works.

Is Machete Video Editor Lite good for YouTube?

Machete Lite is not a good choice for YouTubers unless it is used in combination with another program.

It doesn’t work as a YouTube editor because you cannot edit or swap audio, the transition between clips, or create layers of videos and images.

However, the thing Machete Lite is really good at is cutting out clips from longer videos. You can create a selection of a part of your longer clip and then export it (with no quality loss) as its own video file.

This is what the Machete Lite toolbar looks like when you’ve created a selection. Tools like cut and copy which were greyed out before are now available, as is the save icon on the far right. If you click the save icon, you’ll be able to save that selection as its own video.

You can’t create a complete YouTube video in Machete Lite, but you can harvest clips to use in a different program.

8. Avidemux – Windows, Mac, Linux, BSD

Pros

  1. Can add subtitle files

Cons

  1. Not intuitive
  2. Doesn’t support MOV or WMV
  3. The website is not informative, no tutorials

Avidemux Review

Avidemux is not an easy program to jump into. I almost wrote that it couldn’t do anything besides make cuts to a clip before I saw a YouTube tutorial about how to find the contrast and brightness tools. If you decide to try it out, remember that you have to choose your output format before Avidemux will let you access tools like Hue/Saturation and Contrast (click Filters under Video Output to find them).

There are no official tutorials for Avidemux you can access from their site, so you’ll have to rely on the forums and tutorials from users if you want to learn it.

You can import multiple clips into Avidemux, but you have to import them in the order you want because you can’t drag them around the timeline after. Everything becomes one big clip.

Is Avidemux good for YouTube?

No. It has more functionality than Machete, which is ranked higher on this list, but the difference is that Machete is excellent at one thing. They both suffer from the same main weakness – you could not complete your full YouTube video either (at least not without a lot of trouble). Machete could still be useful to a YouTuber, though, because it allows for the lossless exporting of segments of clips. You can use it to harvest clips for your larger project in another program.

In theory, you could do some picture editing and snipping in Avidemux and then put your project together/add titles in another program, but your other program can probably do all that just as well if not better. Avidemux isn’t a bad program, but it doesn’t excel at anything. There are a lot of better options which are also free.

What has your experience with free video editors been like?

author avatar

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

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Richard Bennett

Dec 02, 2022• Proven solutions

0

What makes a YouTube video good? The most important element is obviously you, the creator. Your personality, ideas, and unique viewpoint are what will make your content special and turn viewers into subscribers.

The next most important thing – even more important than the camera you use – is editing.

Editing a YouTube video doesn’t have to be difficult. In fact, it should be simple. Your focus when you’re perfecting your video should be on that ‘most important thing’ we mentioned earlier – your creativity. Editing for a YouTube video should be art, not mechanical engineering.

Below is a list of the top free video editing software ranked according to how appropriate it is for YouTube videos.

Rank Editor Make Cuts Audio Features Multiple Video Tracks Video Effects Intuitive Score (1-5) Compatibility
1. OpenShot Video Editor Yes Fade In/Out, set volume levels Yes Transitions, text, ability to animate. Blur/Saturation/Brightness controls. 5 Windows, Mac, Linux
2. Shotcut Yes Detailed audio editing Yes You can customize color presets and other effects. No animations. 4 Windows, Mac, Linux
3. Hitfilm Express Yes Audio effects and transitioning. Yes Every imaginable picture customization. Some FX (more if you pay). Text tool. 4 Windows, Mac
4. VideoPad Video Editor Yes Noise removal, equalizer, audio effects. Yes Moving text, transitions, filters. 5 Windows
5. Lightworks Yes Detailed audio editing Yes No premade effects, but you can add text/color edit. 3 Windows, Mac, Linux
6. VSDC Video Editor Yes Some audio features blocked in free version Yes Filters, transitions, text, and more. 1 Windows
7. Machete Video Editor Lite Yes None No None 3 Windows
8. Avidemux Yes Some audio features No Some picture adjustments 2 Windows, Mac, Linux, BSD

Ready to upgrade to a simple, powerful, paid software that’s perfect for YouTube? Check out the free trial of Wondershare Filmora . It is an advanced tool that is focused more on newbie editors who are new to the videography world but want to compete with professionals!

1. OpenShot Video Editor – Open Source (Windows, Mac, Linux)

Pros

  1. Easy to use
  2. Includes transitions
  3. Keyframing
  4. Alpha Channel
  5. Unlimited video tracks

OpenShot Video Editor Review

OpenShot completely lives up to the claim that it was designed to be ‘easy to use, quick to learn, and surprisingly powerful’.

The first time you use OpenShot there will be helpful tutorial notes to guide you through the program. The interface is intuitive enough that you may not always need them, but having them should erase any confusion.

All of the basic editing features, like cutting clips up, are easy to access in the timeline. You have unlimited tracks, and it’s easy to drag your clips between them. There’s a helpful magnet feature that fits clips together if you slide them together, but which still allows for blank space if you choose to leave it.

Most other functions – setting volume levels, adjusting the speed, adding movement/zoom effect – are accessible simply by right-clicking on your clip in the timeline and choosing what you want from the menu that pops up.

Is OpenShot Video Editor good for YouTube?

OpenShot is a great, free, choice for YouTubers at any editing skill level.

Beyond simply ordering your clips, OpenShot includes text and transition options within the program. You can even animate the text, and access Animated Titles if you use OpenShot in tandem with a free animation program called Blender. Titles and transitions are vital to a lot of popular YouTube styles.

OpenShot does not provide the same level of detail as the runner up, Shotcut, when it comes to color correction or audio editing. However, the features it does have (volume levels, control of saturation) will satisfy most YouTubers.

2. Shotcut – Open Source (Windows, Mac, Linux)

Pros

  1. Detailed audio editing
  2. Color grading, ability to save presets
  3. Fairly intuitive timeline

Shotcut Review

Shotcut delivers a smooth, detailed, editing experience for free. It is not as easy to jump into as some of the other programs on this list, but it still only takes a half-hour or so of playing around to understand it well enough to make a video. There are also tutorials up on Shotcut’s site that can help you.

You can edit using multiple video tracks in Shotcut, making it easy to combine multiple clips, and basic functions like splitting or copying clips are as easy as clicking the right icon on the toolbar.

All of the video and audio effects, including things like chroma key, you might want to apply to your video are found under the Filters menu. It will look empty when you first open it, and you have to click the plus sign to see what your options are. If you want to create a color tint (like what you might think of as an Instagram filter) then you can do that through the Color Grading option. If you want to do something like invert your colors or add an ‘old film’ look, you’ll find that here as well along with all of the audio editing features (balance, bass and treble, and gain to name just a few).

Is Shotcut good for YouTube?

Shotcut is a great choice for YouTubers. It allows you to do some advanced editing, and it’s easy to learn compared to a program targeted at professional editors.

The only complication with Shotcut for entry-level editors who will primarily use the program for YouTube might be that animations – like moving text – are not available through the program (you can add and customize text, but it just sits there). You can get them from elsewhere and use them in the program (Shotcut has an alpha channel), but it’s a bit more involved a process than simply customizing something that’s already provided.

3. Hitfilm Express – Windows, Mac

Pros

  1. Compositing mode (2D and 3D)
  2. The Most effect customization
  3. Helpful User Guide & tutorials

Cons

  1. Can be overwhelming
  2. Its main strength is FX, but you only get a couple for free. Most have to be bought separately.

Hitfilm Express Review

Hitfilm Express is the best free editor if you want to add special effects to your projects. OpenShot’s alpha channel will be enough for most people, but if you think of yourself as an aspiring filmmaker then it’s hard to beat Hitfilm’s range of functions.

This is an editor designed for people who want to make movies, and it’s a lot more intuitive than most professional-grade software. Film-quality FX (lasers, explosions, etc.) are available through Hitfilm Express for a reasonable price ($10-$50, depending on what you want), and even without paying extra for the packs, there’s a lot you can do to give your video a ‘film look’ using compositing layers and the multitude of customizable effects provided through the program.

Another highlight of Hitfilm Express is the extensive selection of tutorials and helpful information they have available both through YouTube videos and their User Guide. You will need those because this program can be overwhelming. It has so many functions and areas you can customize that it is easy to get lost.

That said, basic editing in Hitfilm Express is not difficult to jump into. It’s only when you start getting fancy that things get dicey.

Is Hitfilm Express good for YouTube?

Yes. It will not be the best option for everyone, but it’s not a bad option for anyone either.

If what you want to make is a vlog where you have a series of clips, and intro, and maybe a couple of title effects, then Hitfilm express might be overkill. You don’t want to have to master compositing just to add some text.

If what you want to make is a vlog that’s interrupted by an alien invasion and turns into an action sequence with lasers and falling debris, it’d be hard to do better than Hitfilm Express.

4. VideoPad Video Editor – Windows

Pros

  1. Easy to jump into
  2. Moving text
  3. Huge audio waveforms
  4. Audio and visual effects
  5. Lossless exports

Cons

  1. No longer updated

VideoPad Video Editor Review

VideoPad Video Editor is an extremely easy to use program. It may be the easiest program on this list to jump into, which you could also realistically create your entire video inside (there are easier programs, but you can only do some of your work in them). Part of its simplicity comes from not being as feature-rich as the programs ranking higher than it on this list, however.

You do not get the same range of functions with VideoPad as you do from the top 3 free editors, but it has enough to satisfy people who are just starting out. Creating moving text effects is easy, you have huge audio waves to work with while you’re syncing, and effects like transitions and filters are easy to find.

VideoPad does suffer a bit from being dated. This program is no longer being worked on, and the interface doesn’t look particularly modern. This is a bit more than a cosmetic issue because some features, while not difficult to find, are placed a bit oddly compared to other editors.

One slightly annoying feature of VideoPad is that it will prompt you to buy the commercial version sometimes (the free version is only for non-commercial use). There have been reports of exports being blocked in the free version, but I exported several times for the sake of this review and the issue never came up.

Is VideoPad Video Editor good for YouTube?

VideoPad makes a decent YouTube editor. You can jump right in and start making cuts, adding filters, and ordering your clips. If you have the kind of channel where voiceovers are important (like in gaming or makeup), then you’ll be happy with the size of the audio waves you have to work with for syncing.

The thing about VideoPad is that you’re probably going to outgrow it quickly as you become a more capable editor.

5. Lightworks – Windows, Mac, Linux

Pros

  1. Detailed color and audio editing
  2. Multicam editing

Cons

  1. Exports limited to 720p for the free version
  2. Difficult to learn compared to other free software

Lightworks Review

On their website, Lightworks claims to have an ‘intuitive interface’ and ‘easy timeline editing’. This is true if you compare it to other professional-level editing suites. Compared to the other programs on this list, Lightworks is complicated.

The first thing I attempt when I review this program is to simply split a clip, and it took me a ridiculous amount of time to figure this feature out in Lightworks (a more advanced editor could have found it faster, but these reviews are meant to help people with less experience). Lightworks does have a whole tutorial series on using the software, so if you are interested in learning to use it there is ample material out there to help you.

Lightworks has a wide range of functions (i.e. detailed audio editing and color correction), and it has been used for big movies like ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’. It is the most professional program on this list, and it’s a great free alternative to something like Adobe Premiere Pro.

Note: there is no time limit on the free version of Lightworks, but it will ask you to renew your free license every 7 days. When it says your license is ‘expired’ it isn’t kicking you off the free version, you just need to renew.

Is Lightworks good for YouTube?

Whether or not Lightworks is right for your YouTube channel depends on your goals as a video editor.

If what you want is to jump in and start making YouTube videos quickly, Lightworks might not be a great choice. It’s not an easy program to just jump into, you’ll have to either take time to learn it or accept that it’ll take some trial and error to get the hang of.

If what you want is to become a professional-level video editor, then Lightworks is a great program to start on (although, Hitfilm Express may still be better). Taking the time to learn it could certainly pay off in the long run.

However, if one of your priorities is for your YouTube channel to come across as professional, then the free version of Lightworks does have some disappointing limitations. You can only export videos in 720p, which is lower quality than viewers on YouTube expect (you probably want at least 1080p). Your output format is limited too. The royalty-free audio and video content Lightworks offers are also not free; you can just buy them through the program.

6. VSDC Video Editor – Windows

Pros

  1. Diagrams and charts
  2. How To Get Started Guide
  3. Lots of features

Cons

  1. Very confusing
  2. Paid features show up in the free version, but they’re blocked

Review of VSDC Video Editor

There’s a lot to like about VSDC Video Editor, but you have to do a lot of work to uncover any of it. Accessing even the most basic features is confusing.

One of the first things I tried to do as I tested the program was make a jump cut (where you cut out part of a video so the playback ‘jumps over’ the deleted segment) and, while I was able to do it, it was not an intuitive process. There is a multitude of toolbars and icons surrounding your preview window in VSDC, and none of those icons was for making cuts to your clips. To make any cuts you have to find the ‘cutting and splitting’ option under the Editor tab at the top of the page, which will open a second window in which you still cannot make any cuts. Instead what you can do is place markers, and when you click ‘apply changes’ to exit the window cuts will be made where you placed markers. There is nothing in the window to explain what the markers are for.

Other basic functions, like adding text, are just as complicated.

Is VSDC Video Editor good for YouTube?

I would not recommend VSDC for YouTube. It ranks higher than two other items on this list because they are, do to functional limitations, unable to create full YouTube videos without the support of other programs (at least realistically). You certainly could create your full YouTube video in VSDC, but it’d be a headache.

7. Machete Video Editor Lite – Windows

Pros

  1. Great for harvesting clips from longer footage
  2. Lossless exports

Cons

  1. Cannot swap or add audio
  2. Only supports two formats (AVI and WMV)
  3. Slightly awkward timeline

Machete Video Editor Lite Review

Machete Lite claims that you’ll be able to edit your videos “within a few minutes after downloading the program, even if you’ve never edited a video before”, and that is true. It might even be better if you haven’t edited a video before because the interface is slightly awkward if you’ve come from a program with a more traditional timeline setup. Machete Lite is easy to use for the most part, but it doesn’t work like most other editors and that can be awkward to navigate around.

Instead of seeing a timeline with all of your individual clips, Machete treats your entire video as one clip. You will only be able to see where you have inserted a separate video clip or cut out a portion of the video by watching the video back or jumping through it (Machete Lite does allow frame-by-frame scrolling). You won’t be able to see this information at a glance, and you won’t be able to adjust the lengths of clips you’ve added separately.

To take out any portion of your overall video you’ll need to find a keyframe at the beginning, set that as the beginning of your selection, then find a key frame at the end and set that as the end of your selection. You will then be able to delete that selection. This will not work if the frames you have set as the beginning and end are not considered keyframes by the program, so it can be difficult to be precise, but since the program allows you to jump through keyframes it’s not difficult to find a point that works.

Is Machete Video Editor Lite good for YouTube?

Machete Lite is not a good choice for YouTubers unless it is used in combination with another program.

It doesn’t work as a YouTube editor because you cannot edit or swap audio, the transition between clips, or create layers of videos and images.

However, the thing Machete Lite is really good at is cutting out clips from longer videos. You can create a selection of a part of your longer clip and then export it (with no quality loss) as its own video file.

This is what the Machete Lite toolbar looks like when you’ve created a selection. Tools like cut and copy which were greyed out before are now available, as is the save icon on the far right. If you click the save icon, you’ll be able to save that selection as its own video.

You can’t create a complete YouTube video in Machete Lite, but you can harvest clips to use in a different program.

8. Avidemux – Windows, Mac, Linux, BSD

Pros

  1. Can add subtitle files

Cons

  1. Not intuitive
  2. Doesn’t support MOV or WMV
  3. The website is not informative, no tutorials

Avidemux Review

Avidemux is not an easy program to jump into. I almost wrote that it couldn’t do anything besides make cuts to a clip before I saw a YouTube tutorial about how to find the contrast and brightness tools. If you decide to try it out, remember that you have to choose your output format before Avidemux will let you access tools like Hue/Saturation and Contrast (click Filters under Video Output to find them).

There are no official tutorials for Avidemux you can access from their site, so you’ll have to rely on the forums and tutorials from users if you want to learn it.

You can import multiple clips into Avidemux, but you have to import them in the order you want because you can’t drag them around the timeline after. Everything becomes one big clip.

Is Avidemux good for YouTube?

No. It has more functionality than Machete, which is ranked higher on this list, but the difference is that Machete is excellent at one thing. They both suffer from the same main weakness – you could not complete your full YouTube video either (at least not without a lot of trouble). Machete could still be useful to a YouTuber, though, because it allows for the lossless exporting of segments of clips. You can use it to harvest clips for your larger project in another program.

In theory, you could do some picture editing and snipping in Avidemux and then put your project together/add titles in another program, but your other program can probably do all that just as well if not better. Avidemux isn’t a bad program, but it doesn’t excel at anything. There are a lot of better options which are also free.

What has your experience with free video editors been like?

author avatar

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Dec 02, 2022• Proven solutions

0

What makes a YouTube video good? The most important element is obviously you, the creator. Your personality, ideas, and unique viewpoint are what will make your content special and turn viewers into subscribers.

The next most important thing – even more important than the camera you use – is editing.

Editing a YouTube video doesn’t have to be difficult. In fact, it should be simple. Your focus when you’re perfecting your video should be on that ‘most important thing’ we mentioned earlier – your creativity. Editing for a YouTube video should be art, not mechanical engineering.

Below is a list of the top free video editing software ranked according to how appropriate it is for YouTube videos.

Rank Editor Make Cuts Audio Features Multiple Video Tracks Video Effects Intuitive Score (1-5) Compatibility
1. OpenShot Video Editor Yes Fade In/Out, set volume levels Yes Transitions, text, ability to animate. Blur/Saturation/Brightness controls. 5 Windows, Mac, Linux
2. Shotcut Yes Detailed audio editing Yes You can customize color presets and other effects. No animations. 4 Windows, Mac, Linux
3. Hitfilm Express Yes Audio effects and transitioning. Yes Every imaginable picture customization. Some FX (more if you pay). Text tool. 4 Windows, Mac
4. VideoPad Video Editor Yes Noise removal, equalizer, audio effects. Yes Moving text, transitions, filters. 5 Windows
5. Lightworks Yes Detailed audio editing Yes No premade effects, but you can add text/color edit. 3 Windows, Mac, Linux
6. VSDC Video Editor Yes Some audio features blocked in free version Yes Filters, transitions, text, and more. 1 Windows
7. Machete Video Editor Lite Yes None No None 3 Windows
8. Avidemux Yes Some audio features No Some picture adjustments 2 Windows, Mac, Linux, BSD

Ready to upgrade to a simple, powerful, paid software that’s perfect for YouTube? Check out the free trial of Wondershare Filmora . It is an advanced tool that is focused more on newbie editors who are new to the videography world but want to compete with professionals!

1. OpenShot Video Editor – Open Source (Windows, Mac, Linux)

Pros

  1. Easy to use
  2. Includes transitions
  3. Keyframing
  4. Alpha Channel
  5. Unlimited video tracks

OpenShot Video Editor Review

OpenShot completely lives up to the claim that it was designed to be ‘easy to use, quick to learn, and surprisingly powerful’.

The first time you use OpenShot there will be helpful tutorial notes to guide you through the program. The interface is intuitive enough that you may not always need them, but having them should erase any confusion.

All of the basic editing features, like cutting clips up, are easy to access in the timeline. You have unlimited tracks, and it’s easy to drag your clips between them. There’s a helpful magnet feature that fits clips together if you slide them together, but which still allows for blank space if you choose to leave it.

Most other functions – setting volume levels, adjusting the speed, adding movement/zoom effect – are accessible simply by right-clicking on your clip in the timeline and choosing what you want from the menu that pops up.

Is OpenShot Video Editor good for YouTube?

OpenShot is a great, free, choice for YouTubers at any editing skill level.

Beyond simply ordering your clips, OpenShot includes text and transition options within the program. You can even animate the text, and access Animated Titles if you use OpenShot in tandem with a free animation program called Blender. Titles and transitions are vital to a lot of popular YouTube styles.

OpenShot does not provide the same level of detail as the runner up, Shotcut, when it comes to color correction or audio editing. However, the features it does have (volume levels, control of saturation) will satisfy most YouTubers.

2. Shotcut – Open Source (Windows, Mac, Linux)

Pros

  1. Detailed audio editing
  2. Color grading, ability to save presets
  3. Fairly intuitive timeline

Shotcut Review

Shotcut delivers a smooth, detailed, editing experience for free. It is not as easy to jump into as some of the other programs on this list, but it still only takes a half-hour or so of playing around to understand it well enough to make a video. There are also tutorials up on Shotcut’s site that can help you.

You can edit using multiple video tracks in Shotcut, making it easy to combine multiple clips, and basic functions like splitting or copying clips are as easy as clicking the right icon on the toolbar.

All of the video and audio effects, including things like chroma key, you might want to apply to your video are found under the Filters menu. It will look empty when you first open it, and you have to click the plus sign to see what your options are. If you want to create a color tint (like what you might think of as an Instagram filter) then you can do that through the Color Grading option. If you want to do something like invert your colors or add an ‘old film’ look, you’ll find that here as well along with all of the audio editing features (balance, bass and treble, and gain to name just a few).

Is Shotcut good for YouTube?

Shotcut is a great choice for YouTubers. It allows you to do some advanced editing, and it’s easy to learn compared to a program targeted at professional editors.

The only complication with Shotcut for entry-level editors who will primarily use the program for YouTube might be that animations – like moving text – are not available through the program (you can add and customize text, but it just sits there). You can get them from elsewhere and use them in the program (Shotcut has an alpha channel), but it’s a bit more involved a process than simply customizing something that’s already provided.

3. Hitfilm Express – Windows, Mac

Pros

  1. Compositing mode (2D and 3D)
  2. The Most effect customization
  3. Helpful User Guide & tutorials

Cons

  1. Can be overwhelming
  2. Its main strength is FX, but you only get a couple for free. Most have to be bought separately.

Hitfilm Express Review

Hitfilm Express is the best free editor if you want to add special effects to your projects. OpenShot’s alpha channel will be enough for most people, but if you think of yourself as an aspiring filmmaker then it’s hard to beat Hitfilm’s range of functions.

This is an editor designed for people who want to make movies, and it’s a lot more intuitive than most professional-grade software. Film-quality FX (lasers, explosions, etc.) are available through Hitfilm Express for a reasonable price ($10-$50, depending on what you want), and even without paying extra for the packs, there’s a lot you can do to give your video a ‘film look’ using compositing layers and the multitude of customizable effects provided through the program.

Another highlight of Hitfilm Express is the extensive selection of tutorials and helpful information they have available both through YouTube videos and their User Guide. You will need those because this program can be overwhelming. It has so many functions and areas you can customize that it is easy to get lost.

That said, basic editing in Hitfilm Express is not difficult to jump into. It’s only when you start getting fancy that things get dicey.

Is Hitfilm Express good for YouTube?

Yes. It will not be the best option for everyone, but it’s not a bad option for anyone either.

If what you want to make is a vlog where you have a series of clips, and intro, and maybe a couple of title effects, then Hitfilm express might be overkill. You don’t want to have to master compositing just to add some text.

If what you want to make is a vlog that’s interrupted by an alien invasion and turns into an action sequence with lasers and falling debris, it’d be hard to do better than Hitfilm Express.

4. VideoPad Video Editor – Windows

Pros

  1. Easy to jump into
  2. Moving text
  3. Huge audio waveforms
  4. Audio and visual effects
  5. Lossless exports

Cons

  1. No longer updated

VideoPad Video Editor Review

VideoPad Video Editor is an extremely easy to use program. It may be the easiest program on this list to jump into, which you could also realistically create your entire video inside (there are easier programs, but you can only do some of your work in them). Part of its simplicity comes from not being as feature-rich as the programs ranking higher than it on this list, however.

You do not get the same range of functions with VideoPad as you do from the top 3 free editors, but it has enough to satisfy people who are just starting out. Creating moving text effects is easy, you have huge audio waves to work with while you’re syncing, and effects like transitions and filters are easy to find.

VideoPad does suffer a bit from being dated. This program is no longer being worked on, and the interface doesn’t look particularly modern. This is a bit more than a cosmetic issue because some features, while not difficult to find, are placed a bit oddly compared to other editors.

One slightly annoying feature of VideoPad is that it will prompt you to buy the commercial version sometimes (the free version is only for non-commercial use). There have been reports of exports being blocked in the free version, but I exported several times for the sake of this review and the issue never came up.

Is VideoPad Video Editor good for YouTube?

VideoPad makes a decent YouTube editor. You can jump right in and start making cuts, adding filters, and ordering your clips. If you have the kind of channel where voiceovers are important (like in gaming or makeup), then you’ll be happy with the size of the audio waves you have to work with for syncing.

The thing about VideoPad is that you’re probably going to outgrow it quickly as you become a more capable editor.

5. Lightworks – Windows, Mac, Linux

Pros

  1. Detailed color and audio editing
  2. Multicam editing

Cons

  1. Exports limited to 720p for the free version
  2. Difficult to learn compared to other free software

Lightworks Review

On their website, Lightworks claims to have an ‘intuitive interface’ and ‘easy timeline editing’. This is true if you compare it to other professional-level editing suites. Compared to the other programs on this list, Lightworks is complicated.

The first thing I attempt when I review this program is to simply split a clip, and it took me a ridiculous amount of time to figure this feature out in Lightworks (a more advanced editor could have found it faster, but these reviews are meant to help people with less experience). Lightworks does have a whole tutorial series on using the software, so if you are interested in learning to use it there is ample material out there to help you.

Lightworks has a wide range of functions (i.e. detailed audio editing and color correction), and it has been used for big movies like ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’. It is the most professional program on this list, and it’s a great free alternative to something like Adobe Premiere Pro.

Note: there is no time limit on the free version of Lightworks, but it will ask you to renew your free license every 7 days. When it says your license is ‘expired’ it isn’t kicking you off the free version, you just need to renew.

Is Lightworks good for YouTube?

Whether or not Lightworks is right for your YouTube channel depends on your goals as a video editor.

If what you want is to jump in and start making YouTube videos quickly, Lightworks might not be a great choice. It’s not an easy program to just jump into, you’ll have to either take time to learn it or accept that it’ll take some trial and error to get the hang of.

If what you want is to become a professional-level video editor, then Lightworks is a great program to start on (although, Hitfilm Express may still be better). Taking the time to learn it could certainly pay off in the long run.

However, if one of your priorities is for your YouTube channel to come across as professional, then the free version of Lightworks does have some disappointing limitations. You can only export videos in 720p, which is lower quality than viewers on YouTube expect (you probably want at least 1080p). Your output format is limited too. The royalty-free audio and video content Lightworks offers are also not free; you can just buy them through the program.

6. VSDC Video Editor – Windows

Pros

  1. Diagrams and charts
  2. How To Get Started Guide
  3. Lots of features

Cons

  1. Very confusing
  2. Paid features show up in the free version, but they’re blocked

Review of VSDC Video Editor

There’s a lot to like about VSDC Video Editor, but you have to do a lot of work to uncover any of it. Accessing even the most basic features is confusing.

One of the first things I tried to do as I tested the program was make a jump cut (where you cut out part of a video so the playback ‘jumps over’ the deleted segment) and, while I was able to do it, it was not an intuitive process. There is a multitude of toolbars and icons surrounding your preview window in VSDC, and none of those icons was for making cuts to your clips. To make any cuts you have to find the ‘cutting and splitting’ option under the Editor tab at the top of the page, which will open a second window in which you still cannot make any cuts. Instead what you can do is place markers, and when you click ‘apply changes’ to exit the window cuts will be made where you placed markers. There is nothing in the window to explain what the markers are for.

Other basic functions, like adding text, are just as complicated.

Is VSDC Video Editor good for YouTube?

I would not recommend VSDC for YouTube. It ranks higher than two other items on this list because they are, do to functional limitations, unable to create full YouTube videos without the support of other programs (at least realistically). You certainly could create your full YouTube video in VSDC, but it’d be a headache.

7. Machete Video Editor Lite – Windows

Pros

  1. Great for harvesting clips from longer footage
  2. Lossless exports

Cons

  1. Cannot swap or add audio
  2. Only supports two formats (AVI and WMV)
  3. Slightly awkward timeline

Machete Video Editor Lite Review

Machete Lite claims that you’ll be able to edit your videos “within a few minutes after downloading the program, even if you’ve never edited a video before”, and that is true. It might even be better if you haven’t edited a video before because the interface is slightly awkward if you’ve come from a program with a more traditional timeline setup. Machete Lite is easy to use for the most part, but it doesn’t work like most other editors and that can be awkward to navigate around.

Instead of seeing a timeline with all of your individual clips, Machete treats your entire video as one clip. You will only be able to see where you have inserted a separate video clip or cut out a portion of the video by watching the video back or jumping through it (Machete Lite does allow frame-by-frame scrolling). You won’t be able to see this information at a glance, and you won’t be able to adjust the lengths of clips you’ve added separately.

To take out any portion of your overall video you’ll need to find a keyframe at the beginning, set that as the beginning of your selection, then find a key frame at the end and set that as the end of your selection. You will then be able to delete that selection. This will not work if the frames you have set as the beginning and end are not considered keyframes by the program, so it can be difficult to be precise, but since the program allows you to jump through keyframes it’s not difficult to find a point that works.

Is Machete Video Editor Lite good for YouTube?

Machete Lite is not a good choice for YouTubers unless it is used in combination with another program.

It doesn’t work as a YouTube editor because you cannot edit or swap audio, the transition between clips, or create layers of videos and images.

However, the thing Machete Lite is really good at is cutting out clips from longer videos. You can create a selection of a part of your longer clip and then export it (with no quality loss) as its own video file.

This is what the Machete Lite toolbar looks like when you’ve created a selection. Tools like cut and copy which were greyed out before are now available, as is the save icon on the far right. If you click the save icon, you’ll be able to save that selection as its own video.

You can’t create a complete YouTube video in Machete Lite, but you can harvest clips to use in a different program.

8. Avidemux – Windows, Mac, Linux, BSD

Pros

  1. Can add subtitle files

Cons

  1. Not intuitive
  2. Doesn’t support MOV or WMV
  3. The website is not informative, no tutorials

Avidemux Review

Avidemux is not an easy program to jump into. I almost wrote that it couldn’t do anything besides make cuts to a clip before I saw a YouTube tutorial about how to find the contrast and brightness tools. If you decide to try it out, remember that you have to choose your output format before Avidemux will let you access tools like Hue/Saturation and Contrast (click Filters under Video Output to find them).

There are no official tutorials for Avidemux you can access from their site, so you’ll have to rely on the forums and tutorials from users if you want to learn it.

You can import multiple clips into Avidemux, but you have to import them in the order you want because you can’t drag them around the timeline after. Everything becomes one big clip.

Is Avidemux good for YouTube?

No. It has more functionality than Machete, which is ranked higher on this list, but the difference is that Machete is excellent at one thing. They both suffer from the same main weakness – you could not complete your full YouTube video either (at least not without a lot of trouble). Machete could still be useful to a YouTuber, though, because it allows for the lossless exporting of segments of clips. You can use it to harvest clips for your larger project in another program.

In theory, you could do some picture editing and snipping in Avidemux and then put your project together/add titles in another program, but your other program can probably do all that just as well if not better. Avidemux isn’t a bad program, but it doesn’t excel at anything. There are a lot of better options which are also free.

What has your experience with free video editors been like?

author avatar

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Dec 02, 2022• Proven solutions

0

What makes a YouTube video good? The most important element is obviously you, the creator. Your personality, ideas, and unique viewpoint are what will make your content special and turn viewers into subscribers.

The next most important thing – even more important than the camera you use – is editing.

Editing a YouTube video doesn’t have to be difficult. In fact, it should be simple. Your focus when you’re perfecting your video should be on that ‘most important thing’ we mentioned earlier – your creativity. Editing for a YouTube video should be art, not mechanical engineering.

Below is a list of the top free video editing software ranked according to how appropriate it is for YouTube videos.

Rank Editor Make Cuts Audio Features Multiple Video Tracks Video Effects Intuitive Score (1-5) Compatibility
1. OpenShot Video Editor Yes Fade In/Out, set volume levels Yes Transitions, text, ability to animate. Blur/Saturation/Brightness controls. 5 Windows, Mac, Linux
2. Shotcut Yes Detailed audio editing Yes You can customize color presets and other effects. No animations. 4 Windows, Mac, Linux
3. Hitfilm Express Yes Audio effects and transitioning. Yes Every imaginable picture customization. Some FX (more if you pay). Text tool. 4 Windows, Mac
4. VideoPad Video Editor Yes Noise removal, equalizer, audio effects. Yes Moving text, transitions, filters. 5 Windows
5. Lightworks Yes Detailed audio editing Yes No premade effects, but you can add text/color edit. 3 Windows, Mac, Linux
6. VSDC Video Editor Yes Some audio features blocked in free version Yes Filters, transitions, text, and more. 1 Windows
7. Machete Video Editor Lite Yes None No None 3 Windows
8. Avidemux Yes Some audio features No Some picture adjustments 2 Windows, Mac, Linux, BSD

Ready to upgrade to a simple, powerful, paid software that’s perfect for YouTube? Check out the free trial of Wondershare Filmora . It is an advanced tool that is focused more on newbie editors who are new to the videography world but want to compete with professionals!

1. OpenShot Video Editor – Open Source (Windows, Mac, Linux)

Pros

  1. Easy to use
  2. Includes transitions
  3. Keyframing
  4. Alpha Channel
  5. Unlimited video tracks

OpenShot Video Editor Review

OpenShot completely lives up to the claim that it was designed to be ‘easy to use, quick to learn, and surprisingly powerful’.

The first time you use OpenShot there will be helpful tutorial notes to guide you through the program. The interface is intuitive enough that you may not always need them, but having them should erase any confusion.

All of the basic editing features, like cutting clips up, are easy to access in the timeline. You have unlimited tracks, and it’s easy to drag your clips between them. There’s a helpful magnet feature that fits clips together if you slide them together, but which still allows for blank space if you choose to leave it.

Most other functions – setting volume levels, adjusting the speed, adding movement/zoom effect – are accessible simply by right-clicking on your clip in the timeline and choosing what you want from the menu that pops up.

Is OpenShot Video Editor good for YouTube?

OpenShot is a great, free, choice for YouTubers at any editing skill level.

Beyond simply ordering your clips, OpenShot includes text and transition options within the program. You can even animate the text, and access Animated Titles if you use OpenShot in tandem with a free animation program called Blender. Titles and transitions are vital to a lot of popular YouTube styles.

OpenShot does not provide the same level of detail as the runner up, Shotcut, when it comes to color correction or audio editing. However, the features it does have (volume levels, control of saturation) will satisfy most YouTubers.

2. Shotcut – Open Source (Windows, Mac, Linux)

Pros

  1. Detailed audio editing
  2. Color grading, ability to save presets
  3. Fairly intuitive timeline

Shotcut Review

Shotcut delivers a smooth, detailed, editing experience for free. It is not as easy to jump into as some of the other programs on this list, but it still only takes a half-hour or so of playing around to understand it well enough to make a video. There are also tutorials up on Shotcut’s site that can help you.

You can edit using multiple video tracks in Shotcut, making it easy to combine multiple clips, and basic functions like splitting or copying clips are as easy as clicking the right icon on the toolbar.

All of the video and audio effects, including things like chroma key, you might want to apply to your video are found under the Filters menu. It will look empty when you first open it, and you have to click the plus sign to see what your options are. If you want to create a color tint (like what you might think of as an Instagram filter) then you can do that through the Color Grading option. If you want to do something like invert your colors or add an ‘old film’ look, you’ll find that here as well along with all of the audio editing features (balance, bass and treble, and gain to name just a few).

Is Shotcut good for YouTube?

Shotcut is a great choice for YouTubers. It allows you to do some advanced editing, and it’s easy to learn compared to a program targeted at professional editors.

The only complication with Shotcut for entry-level editors who will primarily use the program for YouTube might be that animations – like moving text – are not available through the program (you can add and customize text, but it just sits there). You can get them from elsewhere and use them in the program (Shotcut has an alpha channel), but it’s a bit more involved a process than simply customizing something that’s already provided.

3. Hitfilm Express – Windows, Mac

Pros

  1. Compositing mode (2D and 3D)
  2. The Most effect customization
  3. Helpful User Guide & tutorials

Cons

  1. Can be overwhelming
  2. Its main strength is FX, but you only get a couple for free. Most have to be bought separately.

Hitfilm Express Review

Hitfilm Express is the best free editor if you want to add special effects to your projects. OpenShot’s alpha channel will be enough for most people, but if you think of yourself as an aspiring filmmaker then it’s hard to beat Hitfilm’s range of functions.

This is an editor designed for people who want to make movies, and it’s a lot more intuitive than most professional-grade software. Film-quality FX (lasers, explosions, etc.) are available through Hitfilm Express for a reasonable price ($10-$50, depending on what you want), and even without paying extra for the packs, there’s a lot you can do to give your video a ‘film look’ using compositing layers and the multitude of customizable effects provided through the program.

Another highlight of Hitfilm Express is the extensive selection of tutorials and helpful information they have available both through YouTube videos and their User Guide. You will need those because this program can be overwhelming. It has so many functions and areas you can customize that it is easy to get lost.

That said, basic editing in Hitfilm Express is not difficult to jump into. It’s only when you start getting fancy that things get dicey.

Is Hitfilm Express good for YouTube?

Yes. It will not be the best option for everyone, but it’s not a bad option for anyone either.

If what you want to make is a vlog where you have a series of clips, and intro, and maybe a couple of title effects, then Hitfilm express might be overkill. You don’t want to have to master compositing just to add some text.

If what you want to make is a vlog that’s interrupted by an alien invasion and turns into an action sequence with lasers and falling debris, it’d be hard to do better than Hitfilm Express.

4. VideoPad Video Editor – Windows

Pros

  1. Easy to jump into
  2. Moving text
  3. Huge audio waveforms
  4. Audio and visual effects
  5. Lossless exports

Cons

  1. No longer updated

VideoPad Video Editor Review

VideoPad Video Editor is an extremely easy to use program. It may be the easiest program on this list to jump into, which you could also realistically create your entire video inside (there are easier programs, but you can only do some of your work in them). Part of its simplicity comes from not being as feature-rich as the programs ranking higher than it on this list, however.

You do not get the same range of functions with VideoPad as you do from the top 3 free editors, but it has enough to satisfy people who are just starting out. Creating moving text effects is easy, you have huge audio waves to work with while you’re syncing, and effects like transitions and filters are easy to find.

VideoPad does suffer a bit from being dated. This program is no longer being worked on, and the interface doesn’t look particularly modern. This is a bit more than a cosmetic issue because some features, while not difficult to find, are placed a bit oddly compared to other editors.

One slightly annoying feature of VideoPad is that it will prompt you to buy the commercial version sometimes (the free version is only for non-commercial use). There have been reports of exports being blocked in the free version, but I exported several times for the sake of this review and the issue never came up.

Is VideoPad Video Editor good for YouTube?

VideoPad makes a decent YouTube editor. You can jump right in and start making cuts, adding filters, and ordering your clips. If you have the kind of channel where voiceovers are important (like in gaming or makeup), then you’ll be happy with the size of the audio waves you have to work with for syncing.

The thing about VideoPad is that you’re probably going to outgrow it quickly as you become a more capable editor.

5. Lightworks – Windows, Mac, Linux

Pros

  1. Detailed color and audio editing
  2. Multicam editing

Cons

  1. Exports limited to 720p for the free version
  2. Difficult to learn compared to other free software

Lightworks Review

On their website, Lightworks claims to have an ‘intuitive interface’ and ‘easy timeline editing’. This is true if you compare it to other professional-level editing suites. Compared to the other programs on this list, Lightworks is complicated.

The first thing I attempt when I review this program is to simply split a clip, and it took me a ridiculous amount of time to figure this feature out in Lightworks (a more advanced editor could have found it faster, but these reviews are meant to help people with less experience). Lightworks does have a whole tutorial series on using the software, so if you are interested in learning to use it there is ample material out there to help you.

Lightworks has a wide range of functions (i.e. detailed audio editing and color correction), and it has been used for big movies like ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’. It is the most professional program on this list, and it’s a great free alternative to something like Adobe Premiere Pro.

Note: there is no time limit on the free version of Lightworks, but it will ask you to renew your free license every 7 days. When it says your license is ‘expired’ it isn’t kicking you off the free version, you just need to renew.

Is Lightworks good for YouTube?

Whether or not Lightworks is right for your YouTube channel depends on your goals as a video editor.

If what you want is to jump in and start making YouTube videos quickly, Lightworks might not be a great choice. It’s not an easy program to just jump into, you’ll have to either take time to learn it or accept that it’ll take some trial and error to get the hang of.

If what you want is to become a professional-level video editor, then Lightworks is a great program to start on (although, Hitfilm Express may still be better). Taking the time to learn it could certainly pay off in the long run.

However, if one of your priorities is for your YouTube channel to come across as professional, then the free version of Lightworks does have some disappointing limitations. You can only export videos in 720p, which is lower quality than viewers on YouTube expect (you probably want at least 1080p). Your output format is limited too. The royalty-free audio and video content Lightworks offers are also not free; you can just buy them through the program.

6. VSDC Video Editor – Windows

Pros

  1. Diagrams and charts
  2. How To Get Started Guide
  3. Lots of features

Cons

  1. Very confusing
  2. Paid features show up in the free version, but they’re blocked

Review of VSDC Video Editor

There’s a lot to like about VSDC Video Editor, but you have to do a lot of work to uncover any of it. Accessing even the most basic features is confusing.

One of the first things I tried to do as I tested the program was make a jump cut (where you cut out part of a video so the playback ‘jumps over’ the deleted segment) and, while I was able to do it, it was not an intuitive process. There is a multitude of toolbars and icons surrounding your preview window in VSDC, and none of those icons was for making cuts to your clips. To make any cuts you have to find the ‘cutting and splitting’ option under the Editor tab at the top of the page, which will open a second window in which you still cannot make any cuts. Instead what you can do is place markers, and when you click ‘apply changes’ to exit the window cuts will be made where you placed markers. There is nothing in the window to explain what the markers are for.

Other basic functions, like adding text, are just as complicated.

Is VSDC Video Editor good for YouTube?

I would not recommend VSDC for YouTube. It ranks higher than two other items on this list because they are, do to functional limitations, unable to create full YouTube videos without the support of other programs (at least realistically). You certainly could create your full YouTube video in VSDC, but it’d be a headache.

7. Machete Video Editor Lite – Windows

Pros

  1. Great for harvesting clips from longer footage
  2. Lossless exports

Cons

  1. Cannot swap or add audio
  2. Only supports two formats (AVI and WMV)
  3. Slightly awkward timeline

Machete Video Editor Lite Review

Machete Lite claims that you’ll be able to edit your videos “within a few minutes after downloading the program, even if you’ve never edited a video before”, and that is true. It might even be better if you haven’t edited a video before because the interface is slightly awkward if you’ve come from a program with a more traditional timeline setup. Machete Lite is easy to use for the most part, but it doesn’t work like most other editors and that can be awkward to navigate around.

Instead of seeing a timeline with all of your individual clips, Machete treats your entire video as one clip. You will only be able to see where you have inserted a separate video clip or cut out a portion of the video by watching the video back or jumping through it (Machete Lite does allow frame-by-frame scrolling). You won’t be able to see this information at a glance, and you won’t be able to adjust the lengths of clips you’ve added separately.

To take out any portion of your overall video you’ll need to find a keyframe at the beginning, set that as the beginning of your selection, then find a key frame at the end and set that as the end of your selection. You will then be able to delete that selection. This will not work if the frames you have set as the beginning and end are not considered keyframes by the program, so it can be difficult to be precise, but since the program allows you to jump through keyframes it’s not difficult to find a point that works.

Is Machete Video Editor Lite good for YouTube?

Machete Lite is not a good choice for YouTubers unless it is used in combination with another program.

It doesn’t work as a YouTube editor because you cannot edit or swap audio, the transition between clips, or create layers of videos and images.

However, the thing Machete Lite is really good at is cutting out clips from longer videos. You can create a selection of a part of your longer clip and then export it (with no quality loss) as its own video file.

This is what the Machete Lite toolbar looks like when you’ve created a selection. Tools like cut and copy which were greyed out before are now available, as is the save icon on the far right. If you click the save icon, you’ll be able to save that selection as its own video.

You can’t create a complete YouTube video in Machete Lite, but you can harvest clips to use in a different program.

8. Avidemux – Windows, Mac, Linux, BSD

Pros

  1. Can add subtitle files

Cons

  1. Not intuitive
  2. Doesn’t support MOV or WMV
  3. The website is not informative, no tutorials

Avidemux Review

Avidemux is not an easy program to jump into. I almost wrote that it couldn’t do anything besides make cuts to a clip before I saw a YouTube tutorial about how to find the contrast and brightness tools. If you decide to try it out, remember that you have to choose your output format before Avidemux will let you access tools like Hue/Saturation and Contrast (click Filters under Video Output to find them).

There are no official tutorials for Avidemux you can access from their site, so you’ll have to rely on the forums and tutorials from users if you want to learn it.

You can import multiple clips into Avidemux, but you have to import them in the order you want because you can’t drag them around the timeline after. Everything becomes one big clip.

Is Avidemux good for YouTube?

No. It has more functionality than Machete, which is ranked higher on this list, but the difference is that Machete is excellent at one thing. They both suffer from the same main weakness – you could not complete your full YouTube video either (at least not without a lot of trouble). Machete could still be useful to a YouTuber, though, because it allows for the lossless exporting of segments of clips. You can use it to harvest clips for your larger project in another program.

In theory, you could do some picture editing and snipping in Avidemux and then put your project together/add titles in another program, but your other program can probably do all that just as well if not better. Avidemux isn’t a bad program, but it doesn’t excel at anything. There are a lot of better options which are also free.

What has your experience with free video editors been like?

author avatar

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

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Top-Rated Free Movies on YouTube – A Must-Watch List Unveiled

Create High-Quality Video - Wondershare Filmora

An easy and powerful YouTube video editor

Numerous video and audio effects to choose from

Detailed tutorials provided by the official channel

Try It Free Try It Free

Have you seen everything on Netflix? Does nothing pique your interest in Hulu or Amazon Prime Video? Can I entice you with a free YouTube movie?

To watch full-length movies for free, you don’t need to rent a movie or sign up for a YouTube Premium subscription. Hundreds of movies are accessible for free on YouTube if you don’t mind having your movie-watching pleasure interrupted by the occasional ad.

If you’re willing to pay to stream, YouTube boasts as large a collection of new movies as anyone. However, the video streaming site features a large, though difficult-to-find, a library of legal free movies. Not talking about strangely uploaded, blurry, shaky movies. Along with viral stars and adorable animal montages, genuine, 100 percent free (and good) movies are available.

1. SUNRISE

Sunrise is one of the best free movies on YouTube, containing aspects of Silent, Romance, and Thriller. The film was directed by F.W. Murnau and was released in 1927. The cast also includes Janet Gaynor, George O’Brien, and Margaret Livingston. The film is rated 8.1/10 on IMDB.

The plot of the movie

A farmer (George O’Brien) is bored with his wife (Janet Gaynor), their baby, and the monotony of farm life when he falls under the spell of a flirty city lady (Margaret Livingston), who persuades him to drown his wife so they can flee together. When his wife suspects his plot and flees to the city, the farmer pursues her, gradually recovering her trust as the two rediscover their love for each other in this award-winning silent classic.

best free movies on youtube - sunrise

2. THE GENERAL

The General is one of the top free YouTube movies of the year 2021, combining Silent, Comedy, and Romance elements. The film was initially shown in 1926. Buster Keaton and Clyde Bruckham directed the picture. Starring are Joseph Keaton, Marion Mack, and Glen Cavender. In addition, the IMDB rating is 8.1/10.

The plot of the movie

One of the most revered silent-era comedies, this picture depicts hapless Southern railroad engineer Johnny Gray (Buster Keaton) going up against Union forces during the American Civil War. When Annabelle Lee (Marion Mack), Johnny’s fiancée, is kidnapped while aboard a train taken by Northern forces, Gray follows the soldiers using various modes of transportation in entertaining action that showcases Keaton’s inexhaustible wit and ability.

best free movies on youtube - The General

3. SAFETY LAST

On April 1, 1923, one of the best free movies on YouTube, safety last, was launched. The filmmakers of this picture are Sam Taylor and Fred C. Newmeyer. Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis, and Bill Strother are among the cast members. It’s a comedy/adventure silent film. The film is rated 8.1/10 on IMDb.

The plot of the movie

Safety Last! is a meditation on time and money, fame and misfortune that mirrors its creator’s life. A young man (Harold Lloyd) arrives at New York Metropolis to support his adoring lover (Mildred Davis). Still, he rapidly learns that surviving in a large city is more difficult than surviving in a small town.

When he learns that a store manager is willing to give $1,000 to anyone who can get consumers into his store, he convinces his acquaintance, the “human fly” (Bill Strother), to help him climb the building and divide the profit with him. But when his friend gets into problems with the cops, he is forced to accomplish the insane stunt on his own.

best free movies on youtube - Safety Last

4. NOSFERATU

Nosferatu is the best free movie on YouTube; 1929 was the year of publication. F. W. Murnau directed the film, Max Schreck, Alexander Granach, and Gustav von Wangenheim are among the cast members. This film is placed in the genres of silent and horror. The IMDb RATING is 7.9/10.

The plot of the movie

In this immensely famous silent horror film, the intriguing Count Orlok (Max Schreck) sends Thomas Hutter (Gustav von Wangenheim) to his lonely Transylvanian castle in the mountains. Orlok, the creepy, aspires to purchase a home near Hutter and his wife, Ellen (Greta Schroeder). Hutter struggles to escape the castle after Orlok reveals his vampire nature, knowing that Ellen is in severe danger. Knock (Alexander Granach), Orlok’s servant, is preparing for his master’s arrival at his new residence.

best free movies on youtube - nosferatu

5. THE NAVIGATOR

The Navigator is one of the top free movies on YouTube for time killing 2021; the year of publication is 1924. Buster Keaton and Donald Crisp are the directors. Moreover, Buster Keaton, Kathryn McGuire, and Fred Vroom are among the cast members. It is the best Silent and Comedy movie of 2021. The IMDb RATING is 7.9/10.

The plot of the movie

David (Joey Cramer), 12, and his family live in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in this 1978 Disney adventure. When he recovers after being knocked out in the jungle near his home, he discovers that eight years have gone by. His family is happy to see him back, but they are as mystified as he is that he hasn’t aged. When a NASA scientist (Howard Hesseman) detects a UFO nearby, David is allowed to solve the riddle and reclaim his life.

best free movies on youtube - The navigator

6. THE SCARECROW

The Scarecrow is one of the best YouTube movies. The year of publishing is 1920, and the film’s directors are Buster Keaton and Eddie Cline. Among the actors in this film are Buster Keaton, Joe Roberts, and Joe Keaton. This is a silent and funny film. On IMDb, the film has a 7.3/10 rating.

The plot of the movie

Two creative farmhands battle for the same girl’s hand in marriage. She, on the other hand, is unimpressed with both of them. Farmhands Keaton and Roberts inhabit a cottage filled with mechanical equipment designed to make life easier. They’re competing for the farmer’s daughter. Disguised as a scarecrow, Keaton wreaks havoc on his adversary and the farmer. When Keaton stoops to tie his shoe, the girl accepts his kneeling proposition.

best free movies on youtube - The Scarecrow

7. THE KID

The best YouTube movie is The Kid. The movie was first published in 1921and the film was directed by Charlie Chaplin. It is a classic silent and comedy film starring Charlie Chaplin, Jackie Coogan, and Edna Purviance. The rating on IMDb is 5.9/10.

The plot of the movie

Chaplin’s first full-length film is a silent classic about a tiny tramp who discovers and raises a small orphan but is abandoned when the orphanage reclaims him. Chaplin wrote, directed, and performed in the film and provided the score.

best free movies on youtube - The Kid

8. NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD

The best movie to watch on YouTube to pass the time is Night of the Living Dead. It was first published in 1968. George A. Romero directed the picture. The cast includes Judith O’Dea, Russell Streiner, and Duane Jones. Horror is a subgenre of filmmaking, and this film has a 7.9/10 rating on IMDb.

The plot of the movie

Of course, Night of the Living Dead is a horror film designed to frighten viewers. On the other hand, Fear serves as an essential lesson for viewers, demonstrating that if you do not act solely on impulse, you are more likely to survive a tragic circumstance like the one depicted onscreen. The movie’s plot is when corpses begin to leave the graveyard in quest of new human remains to consume, a diverse group of people seeks safety in an abandoned mansion.

best free movies on youtube - Night of the Living Dead

9. ZODIAC

Zodiac is the best film, and it was released on February 28, 2007. David Fincher is the film’s director. The cast includes Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr., Brian Cox, and John Carroll Lynch. It is a thriller, horror, and mystery movie. The IMDb rating is 7.7/10.

The plot of the movie

Zodiac is a film about the allure of investigation and passion, as well as the terror of unpredictability. The movie’s plot is, Fear pervades San Francisco in the late 1960s and early 1970s as a serial killer known as Zodiac pursues its residents. Detectives (Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Edwards) and reporters (Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr.) become obsessed with locating and prosecuting the perpetrator. Meanwhile, Zodiac continues to murder individuals while taunting cops with cryptic letters, cyphers, and threatening phone calls.

best free movies on youtube - Zodiac

10. THE LADY VANISHES

The Lady Vanishes is both comically dated and a by-the-numbers primer on constructing a near-perfect thriller. Alfred Hitchcock directed the film, which was released in 1938. Margaret Lockwood, Michael Redgrave, and Paul Lukas are among the stars. The IMDb rating is 7.8/10.

The plot of the movie

Here’s a film’s plot. An avalanche delays a party of travelers on a train bound for England. Young Iris (Margaret Lockwood) befriends elderly Miss Froy while holed up in a hotel in a fictitious European country (Dame May Whitty). When the train resumes, Iris falls unconscious and awakens to find the older woman has vanished. When the other passengers ominously deny Miss Froy’s existence, Iris goes on to investigate with another traveler (Michael Redgrave), and romantic sparks fly between the two sleuths.

best free movies on youtube - The Lady Vanishes

Edit your YouTube video with Filmora

Furthermore, Filmora is excellent for editing short videos and making short video advertisements. When you require more functionality than the original Windows Movie Maker, Filmora is a perfect choice. However, the procedure of importing (paying) templates from the library is time-consuming, and the software alternates between local and online installation.

Wondershare Filmora’s primary features include 4K editing support, GIF compatibility, noise removal, color tuning, a powerful text editor, an audio mixer, video stabilization, scene identification, and audio equalization. Users can edit and export videos with a resolution of up to 4K, thanks to the 4K editing support function.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

Conclusion

● While you may rent or buy movies on YouTube, you can also watch a lot of them for free. The films listed above are some of the suggestions for you. You will appreciate these films and have a good time.

Try It Free Try It Free

Have you seen everything on Netflix? Does nothing pique your interest in Hulu or Amazon Prime Video? Can I entice you with a free YouTube movie?

To watch full-length movies for free, you don’t need to rent a movie or sign up for a YouTube Premium subscription. Hundreds of movies are accessible for free on YouTube if you don’t mind having your movie-watching pleasure interrupted by the occasional ad.

If you’re willing to pay to stream, YouTube boasts as large a collection of new movies as anyone. However, the video streaming site features a large, though difficult-to-find, a library of legal free movies. Not talking about strangely uploaded, blurry, shaky movies. Along with viral stars and adorable animal montages, genuine, 100 percent free (and good) movies are available.

1. SUNRISE

Sunrise is one of the best free movies on YouTube, containing aspects of Silent, Romance, and Thriller. The film was directed by F.W. Murnau and was released in 1927. The cast also includes Janet Gaynor, George O’Brien, and Margaret Livingston. The film is rated 8.1/10 on IMDB.

The plot of the movie

A farmer (George O’Brien) is bored with his wife (Janet Gaynor), their baby, and the monotony of farm life when he falls under the spell of a flirty city lady (Margaret Livingston), who persuades him to drown his wife so they can flee together. When his wife suspects his plot and flees to the city, the farmer pursues her, gradually recovering her trust as the two rediscover their love for each other in this award-winning silent classic.

best free movies on youtube - sunrise

2. THE GENERAL

The General is one of the top free YouTube movies of the year 2021, combining Silent, Comedy, and Romance elements. The film was initially shown in 1926. Buster Keaton and Clyde Bruckham directed the picture. Starring are Joseph Keaton, Marion Mack, and Glen Cavender. In addition, the IMDB rating is 8.1/10.

The plot of the movie

One of the most revered silent-era comedies, this picture depicts hapless Southern railroad engineer Johnny Gray (Buster Keaton) going up against Union forces during the American Civil War. When Annabelle Lee (Marion Mack), Johnny’s fiancée, is kidnapped while aboard a train taken by Northern forces, Gray follows the soldiers using various modes of transportation in entertaining action that showcases Keaton’s inexhaustible wit and ability.

best free movies on youtube - The General

3. SAFETY LAST

On April 1, 1923, one of the best free movies on YouTube, safety last, was launched. The filmmakers of this picture are Sam Taylor and Fred C. Newmeyer. Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis, and Bill Strother are among the cast members. It’s a comedy/adventure silent film. The film is rated 8.1/10 on IMDb.

The plot of the movie

Safety Last! is a meditation on time and money, fame and misfortune that mirrors its creator’s life. A young man (Harold Lloyd) arrives at New York Metropolis to support his adoring lover (Mildred Davis). Still, he rapidly learns that surviving in a large city is more difficult than surviving in a small town.

When he learns that a store manager is willing to give $1,000 to anyone who can get consumers into his store, he convinces his acquaintance, the “human fly” (Bill Strother), to help him climb the building and divide the profit with him. But when his friend gets into problems with the cops, he is forced to accomplish the insane stunt on his own.

best free movies on youtube - Safety Last

4. NOSFERATU

Nosferatu is the best free movie on YouTube; 1929 was the year of publication. F. W. Murnau directed the film, Max Schreck, Alexander Granach, and Gustav von Wangenheim are among the cast members. This film is placed in the genres of silent and horror. The IMDb RATING is 7.9/10.

The plot of the movie

In this immensely famous silent horror film, the intriguing Count Orlok (Max Schreck) sends Thomas Hutter (Gustav von Wangenheim) to his lonely Transylvanian castle in the mountains. Orlok, the creepy, aspires to purchase a home near Hutter and his wife, Ellen (Greta Schroeder). Hutter struggles to escape the castle after Orlok reveals his vampire nature, knowing that Ellen is in severe danger. Knock (Alexander Granach), Orlok’s servant, is preparing for his master’s arrival at his new residence.

best free movies on youtube - nosferatu

5. THE NAVIGATOR

The Navigator is one of the top free movies on YouTube for time killing 2021; the year of publication is 1924. Buster Keaton and Donald Crisp are the directors. Moreover, Buster Keaton, Kathryn McGuire, and Fred Vroom are among the cast members. It is the best Silent and Comedy movie of 2021. The IMDb RATING is 7.9/10.

The plot of the movie

David (Joey Cramer), 12, and his family live in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in this 1978 Disney adventure. When he recovers after being knocked out in the jungle near his home, he discovers that eight years have gone by. His family is happy to see him back, but they are as mystified as he is that he hasn’t aged. When a NASA scientist (Howard Hesseman) detects a UFO nearby, David is allowed to solve the riddle and reclaim his life.

best free movies on youtube - The navigator

6. THE SCARECROW

The Scarecrow is one of the best YouTube movies. The year of publishing is 1920, and the film’s directors are Buster Keaton and Eddie Cline. Among the actors in this film are Buster Keaton, Joe Roberts, and Joe Keaton. This is a silent and funny film. On IMDb, the film has a 7.3/10 rating.

The plot of the movie

Two creative farmhands battle for the same girl’s hand in marriage. She, on the other hand, is unimpressed with both of them. Farmhands Keaton and Roberts inhabit a cottage filled with mechanical equipment designed to make life easier. They’re competing for the farmer’s daughter. Disguised as a scarecrow, Keaton wreaks havoc on his adversary and the farmer. When Keaton stoops to tie his shoe, the girl accepts his kneeling proposition.

best free movies on youtube - The Scarecrow

7. THE KID

The best YouTube movie is The Kid. The movie was first published in 1921and the film was directed by Charlie Chaplin. It is a classic silent and comedy film starring Charlie Chaplin, Jackie Coogan, and Edna Purviance. The rating on IMDb is 5.9/10.

The plot of the movie

Chaplin’s first full-length film is a silent classic about a tiny tramp who discovers and raises a small orphan but is abandoned when the orphanage reclaims him. Chaplin wrote, directed, and performed in the film and provided the score.

best free movies on youtube - The Kid

8. NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD

The best movie to watch on YouTube to pass the time is Night of the Living Dead. It was first published in 1968. George A. Romero directed the picture. The cast includes Judith O’Dea, Russell Streiner, and Duane Jones. Horror is a subgenre of filmmaking, and this film has a 7.9/10 rating on IMDb.

The plot of the movie

Of course, Night of the Living Dead is a horror film designed to frighten viewers. On the other hand, Fear serves as an essential lesson for viewers, demonstrating that if you do not act solely on impulse, you are more likely to survive a tragic circumstance like the one depicted onscreen. The movie’s plot is when corpses begin to leave the graveyard in quest of new human remains to consume, a diverse group of people seeks safety in an abandoned mansion.

best free movies on youtube - Night of the Living Dead

9. ZODIAC

Zodiac is the best film, and it was released on February 28, 2007. David Fincher is the film’s director. The cast includes Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr., Brian Cox, and John Carroll Lynch. It is a thriller, horror, and mystery movie. The IMDb rating is 7.7/10.

The plot of the movie

Zodiac is a film about the allure of investigation and passion, as well as the terror of unpredictability. The movie’s plot is, Fear pervades San Francisco in the late 1960s and early 1970s as a serial killer known as Zodiac pursues its residents. Detectives (Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Edwards) and reporters (Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr.) become obsessed with locating and prosecuting the perpetrator. Meanwhile, Zodiac continues to murder individuals while taunting cops with cryptic letters, cyphers, and threatening phone calls.

best free movies on youtube - Zodiac

10. THE LADY VANISHES

The Lady Vanishes is both comically dated and a by-the-numbers primer on constructing a near-perfect thriller. Alfred Hitchcock directed the film, which was released in 1938. Margaret Lockwood, Michael Redgrave, and Paul Lukas are among the stars. The IMDb rating is 7.8/10.

The plot of the movie

Here’s a film’s plot. An avalanche delays a party of travelers on a train bound for England. Young Iris (Margaret Lockwood) befriends elderly Miss Froy while holed up in a hotel in a fictitious European country (Dame May Whitty). When the train resumes, Iris falls unconscious and awakens to find the older woman has vanished. When the other passengers ominously deny Miss Froy’s existence, Iris goes on to investigate with another traveler (Michael Redgrave), and romantic sparks fly between the two sleuths.

best free movies on youtube - The Lady Vanishes

Edit your YouTube video with Filmora

Furthermore, Filmora is excellent for editing short videos and making short video advertisements. When you require more functionality than the original Windows Movie Maker, Filmora is a perfect choice. However, the procedure of importing (paying) templates from the library is time-consuming, and the software alternates between local and online installation.

Wondershare Filmora’s primary features include 4K editing support, GIF compatibility, noise removal, color tuning, a powerful text editor, an audio mixer, video stabilization, scene identification, and audio equalization. Users can edit and export videos with a resolution of up to 4K, thanks to the 4K editing support function.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

Conclusion

● While you may rent or buy movies on YouTube, you can also watch a lot of them for free. The films listed above are some of the suggestions for you. You will appreciate these films and have a good time.

Try It Free Try It Free

Have you seen everything on Netflix? Does nothing pique your interest in Hulu or Amazon Prime Video? Can I entice you with a free YouTube movie?

To watch full-length movies for free, you don’t need to rent a movie or sign up for a YouTube Premium subscription. Hundreds of movies are accessible for free on YouTube if you don’t mind having your movie-watching pleasure interrupted by the occasional ad.

If you’re willing to pay to stream, YouTube boasts as large a collection of new movies as anyone. However, the video streaming site features a large, though difficult-to-find, a library of legal free movies. Not talking about strangely uploaded, blurry, shaky movies. Along with viral stars and adorable animal montages, genuine, 100 percent free (and good) movies are available.

1. SUNRISE

Sunrise is one of the best free movies on YouTube, containing aspects of Silent, Romance, and Thriller. The film was directed by F.W. Murnau and was released in 1927. The cast also includes Janet Gaynor, George O’Brien, and Margaret Livingston. The film is rated 8.1/10 on IMDB.

The plot of the movie

A farmer (George O’Brien) is bored with his wife (Janet Gaynor), their baby, and the monotony of farm life when he falls under the spell of a flirty city lady (Margaret Livingston), who persuades him to drown his wife so they can flee together. When his wife suspects his plot and flees to the city, the farmer pursues her, gradually recovering her trust as the two rediscover their love for each other in this award-winning silent classic.

best free movies on youtube - sunrise

2. THE GENERAL

The General is one of the top free YouTube movies of the year 2021, combining Silent, Comedy, and Romance elements. The film was initially shown in 1926. Buster Keaton and Clyde Bruckham directed the picture. Starring are Joseph Keaton, Marion Mack, and Glen Cavender. In addition, the IMDB rating is 8.1/10.

The plot of the movie

One of the most revered silent-era comedies, this picture depicts hapless Southern railroad engineer Johnny Gray (Buster Keaton) going up against Union forces during the American Civil War. When Annabelle Lee (Marion Mack), Johnny’s fiancée, is kidnapped while aboard a train taken by Northern forces, Gray follows the soldiers using various modes of transportation in entertaining action that showcases Keaton’s inexhaustible wit and ability.

best free movies on youtube - The General

3. SAFETY LAST

On April 1, 1923, one of the best free movies on YouTube, safety last, was launched. The filmmakers of this picture are Sam Taylor and Fred C. Newmeyer. Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis, and Bill Strother are among the cast members. It’s a comedy/adventure silent film. The film is rated 8.1/10 on IMDb.

The plot of the movie

Safety Last! is a meditation on time and money, fame and misfortune that mirrors its creator’s life. A young man (Harold Lloyd) arrives at New York Metropolis to support his adoring lover (Mildred Davis). Still, he rapidly learns that surviving in a large city is more difficult than surviving in a small town.

When he learns that a store manager is willing to give $1,000 to anyone who can get consumers into his store, he convinces his acquaintance, the “human fly” (Bill Strother), to help him climb the building and divide the profit with him. But when his friend gets into problems with the cops, he is forced to accomplish the insane stunt on his own.

best free movies on youtube - Safety Last

4. NOSFERATU

Nosferatu is the best free movie on YouTube; 1929 was the year of publication. F. W. Murnau directed the film, Max Schreck, Alexander Granach, and Gustav von Wangenheim are among the cast members. This film is placed in the genres of silent and horror. The IMDb RATING is 7.9/10.

The plot of the movie

In this immensely famous silent horror film, the intriguing Count Orlok (Max Schreck) sends Thomas Hutter (Gustav von Wangenheim) to his lonely Transylvanian castle in the mountains. Orlok, the creepy, aspires to purchase a home near Hutter and his wife, Ellen (Greta Schroeder). Hutter struggles to escape the castle after Orlok reveals his vampire nature, knowing that Ellen is in severe danger. Knock (Alexander Granach), Orlok’s servant, is preparing for his master’s arrival at his new residence.

best free movies on youtube - nosferatu

5. THE NAVIGATOR

The Navigator is one of the top free movies on YouTube for time killing 2021; the year of publication is 1924. Buster Keaton and Donald Crisp are the directors. Moreover, Buster Keaton, Kathryn McGuire, and Fred Vroom are among the cast members. It is the best Silent and Comedy movie of 2021. The IMDb RATING is 7.9/10.

The plot of the movie

David (Joey Cramer), 12, and his family live in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in this 1978 Disney adventure. When he recovers after being knocked out in the jungle near his home, he discovers that eight years have gone by. His family is happy to see him back, but they are as mystified as he is that he hasn’t aged. When a NASA scientist (Howard Hesseman) detects a UFO nearby, David is allowed to solve the riddle and reclaim his life.

best free movies on youtube - The navigator

6. THE SCARECROW

The Scarecrow is one of the best YouTube movies. The year of publishing is 1920, and the film’s directors are Buster Keaton and Eddie Cline. Among the actors in this film are Buster Keaton, Joe Roberts, and Joe Keaton. This is a silent and funny film. On IMDb, the film has a 7.3/10 rating.

The plot of the movie

Two creative farmhands battle for the same girl’s hand in marriage. She, on the other hand, is unimpressed with both of them. Farmhands Keaton and Roberts inhabit a cottage filled with mechanical equipment designed to make life easier. They’re competing for the farmer’s daughter. Disguised as a scarecrow, Keaton wreaks havoc on his adversary and the farmer. When Keaton stoops to tie his shoe, the girl accepts his kneeling proposition.

best free movies on youtube - The Scarecrow

7. THE KID

The best YouTube movie is The Kid. The movie was first published in 1921and the film was directed by Charlie Chaplin. It is a classic silent and comedy film starring Charlie Chaplin, Jackie Coogan, and Edna Purviance. The rating on IMDb is 5.9/10.

The plot of the movie

Chaplin’s first full-length film is a silent classic about a tiny tramp who discovers and raises a small orphan but is abandoned when the orphanage reclaims him. Chaplin wrote, directed, and performed in the film and provided the score.

best free movies on youtube - The Kid

8. NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD

The best movie to watch on YouTube to pass the time is Night of the Living Dead. It was first published in 1968. George A. Romero directed the picture. The cast includes Judith O’Dea, Russell Streiner, and Duane Jones. Horror is a subgenre of filmmaking, and this film has a 7.9/10 rating on IMDb.

The plot of the movie

Of course, Night of the Living Dead is a horror film designed to frighten viewers. On the other hand, Fear serves as an essential lesson for viewers, demonstrating that if you do not act solely on impulse, you are more likely to survive a tragic circumstance like the one depicted onscreen. The movie’s plot is when corpses begin to leave the graveyard in quest of new human remains to consume, a diverse group of people seeks safety in an abandoned mansion.

best free movies on youtube - Night of the Living Dead

9. ZODIAC

Zodiac is the best film, and it was released on February 28, 2007. David Fincher is the film’s director. The cast includes Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr., Brian Cox, and John Carroll Lynch. It is a thriller, horror, and mystery movie. The IMDb rating is 7.7/10.

The plot of the movie

Zodiac is a film about the allure of investigation and passion, as well as the terror of unpredictability. The movie’s plot is, Fear pervades San Francisco in the late 1960s and early 1970s as a serial killer known as Zodiac pursues its residents. Detectives (Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Edwards) and reporters (Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr.) become obsessed with locating and prosecuting the perpetrator. Meanwhile, Zodiac continues to murder individuals while taunting cops with cryptic letters, cyphers, and threatening phone calls.

best free movies on youtube - Zodiac

10. THE LADY VANISHES

The Lady Vanishes is both comically dated and a by-the-numbers primer on constructing a near-perfect thriller. Alfred Hitchcock directed the film, which was released in 1938. Margaret Lockwood, Michael Redgrave, and Paul Lukas are among the stars. The IMDb rating is 7.8/10.

The plot of the movie

Here’s a film’s plot. An avalanche delays a party of travelers on a train bound for England. Young Iris (Margaret Lockwood) befriends elderly Miss Froy while holed up in a hotel in a fictitious European country (Dame May Whitty). When the train resumes, Iris falls unconscious and awakens to find the older woman has vanished. When the other passengers ominously deny Miss Froy’s existence, Iris goes on to investigate with another traveler (Michael Redgrave), and romantic sparks fly between the two sleuths.

best free movies on youtube - The Lady Vanishes

Edit your YouTube video with Filmora

Furthermore, Filmora is excellent for editing short videos and making short video advertisements. When you require more functionality than the original Windows Movie Maker, Filmora is a perfect choice. However, the procedure of importing (paying) templates from the library is time-consuming, and the software alternates between local and online installation.

Wondershare Filmora’s primary features include 4K editing support, GIF compatibility, noise removal, color tuning, a powerful text editor, an audio mixer, video stabilization, scene identification, and audio equalization. Users can edit and export videos with a resolution of up to 4K, thanks to the 4K editing support function.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

Conclusion

● While you may rent or buy movies on YouTube, you can also watch a lot of them for free. The films listed above are some of the suggestions for you. You will appreciate these films and have a good time.

Try It Free Try It Free

Have you seen everything on Netflix? Does nothing pique your interest in Hulu or Amazon Prime Video? Can I entice you with a free YouTube movie?

To watch full-length movies for free, you don’t need to rent a movie or sign up for a YouTube Premium subscription. Hundreds of movies are accessible for free on YouTube if you don’t mind having your movie-watching pleasure interrupted by the occasional ad.

If you’re willing to pay to stream, YouTube boasts as large a collection of new movies as anyone. However, the video streaming site features a large, though difficult-to-find, a library of legal free movies. Not talking about strangely uploaded, blurry, shaky movies. Along with viral stars and adorable animal montages, genuine, 100 percent free (and good) movies are available.

1. SUNRISE

Sunrise is one of the best free movies on YouTube, containing aspects of Silent, Romance, and Thriller. The film was directed by F.W. Murnau and was released in 1927. The cast also includes Janet Gaynor, George O’Brien, and Margaret Livingston. The film is rated 8.1/10 on IMDB.

The plot of the movie

A farmer (George O’Brien) is bored with his wife (Janet Gaynor), their baby, and the monotony of farm life when he falls under the spell of a flirty city lady (Margaret Livingston), who persuades him to drown his wife so they can flee together. When his wife suspects his plot and flees to the city, the farmer pursues her, gradually recovering her trust as the two rediscover their love for each other in this award-winning silent classic.

best free movies on youtube - sunrise

2. THE GENERAL

The General is one of the top free YouTube movies of the year 2021, combining Silent, Comedy, and Romance elements. The film was initially shown in 1926. Buster Keaton and Clyde Bruckham directed the picture. Starring are Joseph Keaton, Marion Mack, and Glen Cavender. In addition, the IMDB rating is 8.1/10.

The plot of the movie

One of the most revered silent-era comedies, this picture depicts hapless Southern railroad engineer Johnny Gray (Buster Keaton) going up against Union forces during the American Civil War. When Annabelle Lee (Marion Mack), Johnny’s fiancée, is kidnapped while aboard a train taken by Northern forces, Gray follows the soldiers using various modes of transportation in entertaining action that showcases Keaton’s inexhaustible wit and ability.

best free movies on youtube - The General

3. SAFETY LAST

On April 1, 1923, one of the best free movies on YouTube, safety last, was launched. The filmmakers of this picture are Sam Taylor and Fred C. Newmeyer. Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis, and Bill Strother are among the cast members. It’s a comedy/adventure silent film. The film is rated 8.1/10 on IMDb.

The plot of the movie

Safety Last! is a meditation on time and money, fame and misfortune that mirrors its creator’s life. A young man (Harold Lloyd) arrives at New York Metropolis to support his adoring lover (Mildred Davis). Still, he rapidly learns that surviving in a large city is more difficult than surviving in a small town.

When he learns that a store manager is willing to give $1,000 to anyone who can get consumers into his store, he convinces his acquaintance, the “human fly” (Bill Strother), to help him climb the building and divide the profit with him. But when his friend gets into problems with the cops, he is forced to accomplish the insane stunt on his own.

best free movies on youtube - Safety Last

4. NOSFERATU

Nosferatu is the best free movie on YouTube; 1929 was the year of publication. F. W. Murnau directed the film, Max Schreck, Alexander Granach, and Gustav von Wangenheim are among the cast members. This film is placed in the genres of silent and horror. The IMDb RATING is 7.9/10.

The plot of the movie

In this immensely famous silent horror film, the intriguing Count Orlok (Max Schreck) sends Thomas Hutter (Gustav von Wangenheim) to his lonely Transylvanian castle in the mountains. Orlok, the creepy, aspires to purchase a home near Hutter and his wife, Ellen (Greta Schroeder). Hutter struggles to escape the castle after Orlok reveals his vampire nature, knowing that Ellen is in severe danger. Knock (Alexander Granach), Orlok’s servant, is preparing for his master’s arrival at his new residence.

best free movies on youtube - nosferatu

5. THE NAVIGATOR

The Navigator is one of the top free movies on YouTube for time killing 2021; the year of publication is 1924. Buster Keaton and Donald Crisp are the directors. Moreover, Buster Keaton, Kathryn McGuire, and Fred Vroom are among the cast members. It is the best Silent and Comedy movie of 2021. The IMDb RATING is 7.9/10.

The plot of the movie

David (Joey Cramer), 12, and his family live in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in this 1978 Disney adventure. When he recovers after being knocked out in the jungle near his home, he discovers that eight years have gone by. His family is happy to see him back, but they are as mystified as he is that he hasn’t aged. When a NASA scientist (Howard Hesseman) detects a UFO nearby, David is allowed to solve the riddle and reclaim his life.

best free movies on youtube - The navigator

6. THE SCARECROW

The Scarecrow is one of the best YouTube movies. The year of publishing is 1920, and the film’s directors are Buster Keaton and Eddie Cline. Among the actors in this film are Buster Keaton, Joe Roberts, and Joe Keaton. This is a silent and funny film. On IMDb, the film has a 7.3/10 rating.

The plot of the movie

Two creative farmhands battle for the same girl’s hand in marriage. She, on the other hand, is unimpressed with both of them. Farmhands Keaton and Roberts inhabit a cottage filled with mechanical equipment designed to make life easier. They’re competing for the farmer’s daughter. Disguised as a scarecrow, Keaton wreaks havoc on his adversary and the farmer. When Keaton stoops to tie his shoe, the girl accepts his kneeling proposition.

best free movies on youtube - The Scarecrow

7. THE KID

The best YouTube movie is The Kid. The movie was first published in 1921and the film was directed by Charlie Chaplin. It is a classic silent and comedy film starring Charlie Chaplin, Jackie Coogan, and Edna Purviance. The rating on IMDb is 5.9/10.

The plot of the movie

Chaplin’s first full-length film is a silent classic about a tiny tramp who discovers and raises a small orphan but is abandoned when the orphanage reclaims him. Chaplin wrote, directed, and performed in the film and provided the score.

best free movies on youtube - The Kid

8. NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD

The best movie to watch on YouTube to pass the time is Night of the Living Dead. It was first published in 1968. George A. Romero directed the picture. The cast includes Judith O’Dea, Russell Streiner, and Duane Jones. Horror is a subgenre of filmmaking, and this film has a 7.9/10 rating on IMDb.

The plot of the movie

Of course, Night of the Living Dead is a horror film designed to frighten viewers. On the other hand, Fear serves as an essential lesson for viewers, demonstrating that if you do not act solely on impulse, you are more likely to survive a tragic circumstance like the one depicted onscreen. The movie’s plot is when corpses begin to leave the graveyard in quest of new human remains to consume, a diverse group of people seeks safety in an abandoned mansion.

best free movies on youtube - Night of the Living Dead

9. ZODIAC

Zodiac is the best film, and it was released on February 28, 2007. David Fincher is the film’s director. The cast includes Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr., Brian Cox, and John Carroll Lynch. It is a thriller, horror, and mystery movie. The IMDb rating is 7.7/10.

The plot of the movie

Zodiac is a film about the allure of investigation and passion, as well as the terror of unpredictability. The movie’s plot is, Fear pervades San Francisco in the late 1960s and early 1970s as a serial killer known as Zodiac pursues its residents. Detectives (Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Edwards) and reporters (Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr.) become obsessed with locating and prosecuting the perpetrator. Meanwhile, Zodiac continues to murder individuals while taunting cops with cryptic letters, cyphers, and threatening phone calls.

best free movies on youtube - Zodiac

10. THE LADY VANISHES

The Lady Vanishes is both comically dated and a by-the-numbers primer on constructing a near-perfect thriller. Alfred Hitchcock directed the film, which was released in 1938. Margaret Lockwood, Michael Redgrave, and Paul Lukas are among the stars. The IMDb rating is 7.8/10.

The plot of the movie

Here’s a film’s plot. An avalanche delays a party of travelers on a train bound for England. Young Iris (Margaret Lockwood) befriends elderly Miss Froy while holed up in a hotel in a fictitious European country (Dame May Whitty). When the train resumes, Iris falls unconscious and awakens to find the older woman has vanished. When the other passengers ominously deny Miss Froy’s existence, Iris goes on to investigate with another traveler (Michael Redgrave), and romantic sparks fly between the two sleuths.

best free movies on youtube - The Lady Vanishes

Edit your YouTube video with Filmora

Furthermore, Filmora is excellent for editing short videos and making short video advertisements. When you require more functionality than the original Windows Movie Maker, Filmora is a perfect choice. However, the procedure of importing (paying) templates from the library is time-consuming, and the software alternates between local and online installation.

Wondershare Filmora’s primary features include 4K editing support, GIF compatibility, noise removal, color tuning, a powerful text editor, an audio mixer, video stabilization, scene identification, and audio equalization. Users can edit and export videos with a resolution of up to 4K, thanks to the 4K editing support function.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

Conclusion

● While you may rent or buy movies on YouTube, you can also watch a lot of them for free. The films listed above are some of the suggestions for you. You will appreciate these films and have a good time.

Also read:

  • Title: In 2024, 8 Best Free Video Editing Software for YouTube
  • Author: Brian
  • Created at : 2024-05-25 11:59:23
  • Updated at : 2024-05-26 11:59:23
  • Link: https://youtube-video-recordings.techidaily.com/in-2024-8-best-free-video-editing-software-for-youtube/
  • License: This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
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In 2024, 8 Best Free Video Editing Software for YouTube