Editing videos on a Windows PC? Then you’re going to need some awesome video editing software to help you create your masterpiece! But with so many editing apps and software available, deciding on one isn’t an easy task.
Luckily, we’re here to help you every step of the way with this guide to the best video editing software for Windows PC in 2021.
Important: When available, we use affiliate links and may earn a commission!
Even if you’ve read one of our reviews for Windows-friendly tools in the past, editing software changes so rapidly and new players frequently enter the game so staying up-to-date is important.
This 2021 review focuses on providing you with a complete list of the best software available today so that you can select the right editor for you and the specific Windows device you’re using.
Best Video Editing Software for Windows
Before jumping into the list, it’s important to understand that no editing software is perfect. Video editing software is totally subjective, so what might work well for you, may not be the best option for someone else and vice versa.
The one you end up using ultimately comes down to what works best for you based on things like your budget, editing needs, and current editing skill set. So keep that in mind as you peruse the list of software below.
Out of all the Windows PC video editing software available, our top picks that we’ll be covering in this review will be broken up into 3 different pricing categories: Free, Under $200 and Over $200.
- VSDC (Free)
- HitFilm Express (Free)
- DaVinci Resolve (Free)
- WeVideo (Under $200)
- Filmora (Under $200)
- DaVinci Resolve (Under $200)
- WeVideo (Over $200)
- Filmora (Over $200)
- DaVinci Resolve (Over $200)
- Adobe Premiere Pro (Over $200)
As you can see, some of the options have made the list twice – even three times in the case of DaVinci Resolve!
That’s because many software providers offer varying levels of subscriptions to cater to different budgets and editing skill levels. Plus, there’s nothing to stop the free or low-cost editing options from performing better than the paid ones so we’ll be reviewing them side by side.
Whether you’re a beginner looking for a free editor or you’ve got money to dish out on advanced editing features, this list of the best video editing software for PC covers all the bases.
So if you’re ready to find the right video editor for your PC, let’s get started!
Best Free Video Editing Software for Windows PC
Starting with free software for editing on Windows, there are a lot of great options available right now, but after rigorous testing, these 3 have come out on top:
VSDC
VSDC is a great choice for video editing for beginners. It packs a punch in terms of features, but not to the point of being overwhelming to someone new to editing. The interface is intuitive, making it really easy to get up to speed quickly with the software’s functionality.
VSDC offers a paid version in addition to the free software. While paying for the Pro version does unlock more advanced features, most of the core editing functionality is included with VSDC’s free software.
HitFilm Express
HitFilm Express is another solid choice for editing on a budget. Similar to VSDC, the interface is intuitive and easy to navigate. But this one offers even more features, specifically for working with motion graphics and special effects.
The free version of HitFilm gives users access to a majority of the editing functionality. There’s also the option to upgrade to HitFilm Pro, which unlocks everything within the software. One of the coolest pricing features is that it gives users the option to pay for features separately and unlock functions based on what’s needed.
That means if there’s just one feature missing from the free version, you can pay for that feature alone without having to do a full upgrade to HitFilm Pro.
Top Pick in the Free Category: DaVinci Resolve
DaVinci Resolve is the best video editor for anyone looking for an advanced free editing tool that’s compatible with Windows. This software is hands-down the most professional free software on the list, which is why it rightfully deserves the top spot in this category.
DaVinci Resolve is so powerful that many paid options don’t measure up to what this software can do. It has been used for editing Hollywood movies, professional documentaries, and more. Quite frankly, it’s ridiculous what you can do with this thing, and it won’t cost you a penny.
The one and only drawback to using DaVinci Resolve is that it’s not the most beginner-friendly option in terms of usability. It’s definitely geared towards intermediate and advanced editing, so you can expect there to be a learning curve as you navigate through this software.
If you’re new to editing and want to take advantage of all that DaVinci Resolve can do, by all means, go for it. There might be times where you feel overwhelmed by the software interface, but our video editing tutorial on DaVinci Resolve for beginners can help you out.
One more quick thing to note about Resolve is that it’s not ideal for editing on an older PC. This is a resource-hungry software that requires a fairly powerful computer, so you will need a high-spec PC if you plan to use DaVinci Resolve.
Best Video Editing Software for Windows Under $200
In the next category, we’ll be covering the best video editing software under $200 (that includes free software, too).
When you opt for a paid software, you typically find more features, more functionality, and more control over your video editing. We say TYPICALLY because it’s not always the case; there are some free options that are just as jam-packed with advanced features as paid software, so don’t assume that “Paid” always means better!
While there are plenty of editing tools to choose from in the sub-$200 price point, these are the 3 software options that stand out for us here at Primal Video:
WeVideo
WeVideo is a unique editing tool that doesn’t require you to download the software itself. It runs in your web browser, which means that it’s not necessary to have a powerful computer to use this editor.
Since you don’t need to download WeVideo, this software is an excellent choice for team editing because all you need to do is give users access to your WeVideo uploads, and they’ll be able to work on them from anywhere in the world.
WeVideo is extremely easy to use, but that doesn’t mean it’s lacking in power. It can even smoothly edit high-resolution 4K footage, a task that a lot of editing tools struggle with. You’ll also be able to work on your WeVideo projects as they upload – there’s no need to wait around for the entire video to upload.
WeVideo Pricing Guide
In terms of pricing, WeVideo gives users a few different options.
There’s a $4.99/month option, but most people go with the next tier up and pay $7.99/month for unlimited access to WeVideo. For even more features like stock footage and music files, there’s a Professional WeVideo subscription for $17.99/month.
Filmora
Filmora has come a long way since it was originally released to the world. In the past, this software probably wouldn’t have made our list, but now, it’s one of the top paid editors on the market.
The intuitive interface of Filmora packs in a ton of features but still manages to do so in a way that’s simple to navigate. Many of the advanced features you’ll find here are typically only included in more professional software, so Filmora offers a lot of bang for your buck.
Filmora Pricing Guide
Filmora pricing for individuals is broken down into 3 tiers.
You have the option to pay a one-time fee of $69.99, which is by far the most popular choice. There’s also a subscription plan for Filmora Pro that’s $39.99 per year, and this option will give you complete access to software upgrades as they’re released.
Top Pick Under $200: DaVinci Resolve
Both WeVideo and Filmora are solid options for beginner to intermediate editing. WeVideo is especially useful for team editing or editing on a low-spec PC, and Filmora offers a great set of features that serves a lot of editors really well.
But if you’re looking for a more advanced, more professional editor, then our top pick would be DaVinci Resolve yet again. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, DaVinci Resolve is an amazingly powerful editor, and best of all, it’s completely free to use.
Just remember that the interface isn’t as easy to use as some other software, so if simplicity is your main priority, WeVideo or Filmora might be the better choice.
Best Windows Video Editing Software Over $200
If you’re willing to spend more than $200 on your video editing software, this next category is for you. Once again, we’ve also included free software under this umbrella, mainly because there is one free editor in particular that offers just as much (if not more) as the paid editing tools.
Although some of these options are less than $200, the 4 options covered in this category all match up in terms of features and functionality to the more expensive editing software available.
WeVideo
WeVideo makes the list once again, specifically as the best beginner to intermediate-level editor for anyone looking for a paid subscription.
Consider paying a monthly fee for accessing WeVideo if you’re editing on a low-spec computer or working on team projects.
Filmora
Filmora is another great option in this category for beginner to intermediate editing. It’s also ideal for anyone who just wants a fast and effective tool for editing without having to navigate through too many advanced features.
While paying the one-time fee of about $40 to access Filmora can give you everything you need in terms of editing, paying for the yearly subscription of Filmora Pro is better if you want instant access to software updates.
DaVinci Resolve
We promise this is the last time we’ll sing the praises of DaVinci Resolve!
Even though this is a free-to-use software, Resolve deserves a place in the “Over $200” category thanks to its professional-level editing interface.
Compared to WeVideo and Filmora, this is by far the better choice for intermediate to advanced editing.
Top Pick Over $200: Adobe Premiere Pro
Adobe Premiere Pro regularly ranks as the best video editor for PC and Mac editing. It’s insanely popular and used for editing everything from top-level productions to short YouTube videos.
The features and functionality are what make Adobe Premiere Pro our top pick for this price point. The interface offers tons of professional-grade effects and tools for editing, and the best part is that it is user-friendly and fairly easy to use.
Similar to DaVinci Resolve, Premiere isn’t the most beginner-friendly. However, Premiere’s interface is a bit easier to handle compared to Resolve, so if you’re torn between the two, that’s definitely something to consider.
Adobe Premiere Pro Pricing Guide
Premiere can only be accessed by signing up for a monthly subscription – there’s no one-time payment option with this one.
You can either pay $20.99/month for access to Premiere Pro only, or pay $52.99/month for unlimited access to the entire Adobe suite.
Pro Tip: Grab the Trial Versions
Adobe Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve are both amazing tools for professional-grade editing but deciding between them isn’t easy, especially since DaVinci Resolve is free and Adobe requires a monthly payment. So how can you tell which one is better for you?
We recommend grabbing the trial version of Adobe Premiere Pro, playing around with it for a while, and then doing some editing on DaVinci Resolve’s free platform as well. This will give you a much better idea of the software that’s right for you and ticks more of your boxes.
3 Editing Tips to Level Up Your Editing
Now that we’ve covered all the best software options for every budget, you’re almost ready to start editing on your PC. But first, there are 3 more tips that can speed up the editing process and leave you with quality videos every time.
Our Top 3 Editing Tips:
- Learn the Keyboard Shortcuts: By learning the basic keyboard shortcuts, you’ll be able to speed up your editing dramatically no matter which software you’re using. Find keyboard shortcuts through the ‘Help’ tab on the menu bar, or just do a quick Google search.
- Use Editing Templates: You can save a lot of time by using sites like VideoHive and Placeit for customized graphics, titles, intros, and more.
- Add Effects & Colors Last: Another big time-saver is to wait until the end of the editing process to add filters and effects and adjust colors. Focus on cutting down the content of the video first, then you can focus on making it look good.
If you’d like to learn more about editing on PC, check our Complete Beginner’s Guide to Video Editing on Windows.
Now You’re Ready to Edit on Windows PC Like a Pro!
There you have it – the complete list of best video editing software for Windows PC for all budgets and skill levels. To recap, here are our winners for each category:
- Best Free Video Editor: DaVinci Resolve
- Best Under $200: DaVinci Resolve
- Best Over $200: Adobe Premiere Rush
Just remember that no software can be deemed perfect, and the one you choose ultimately comes down to your specific video editing needs and budget.
If you’d like to see our top recommendations for best video editing software on Mac, you can check them out here.
For more video editing tips and tricks, download the Primal Video guide on the ULTIMATE Process for Editing Videos Faster. With the help of this free guide and the right software, you’ll be editing videos like a pro in no time!
Links
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Recommended Software
Recommended Tutorials:
- DaVinci Resolve for beginners
- Complete Beginner’s Guide to Video Editing on Windows
- Best Video Editing Software for Mac – 2021 Review!
Recommended Gear & Resources
Check out an up-to-date list of all the gear, software & tools we use and recommend right now at Primal Video on our resources page here!
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