Best Video Editors Free and Paid with AI Features
- Smridhi Malhotra
- Mar 11
- 7 min read
Updated: Mar 12
Online video consumption in the US has reached over three and a half hours daily. Videos are the most popular form of content online. With the rise of video-specific social media platforms like YouTube, TikTok and Instagram Reels, even other platforms that were traditionally text and image platforms have taken the video route. Whether it’s X, Facebook, or Pinterest, you will see a dedicated space for videos. Videos are the new goldmine for content creators and marketers. This means editing has become a crucial skill for content creators, businesses, and social media influencers. And the thing that helps them do top-notch editing is the best video editors.
Whether you're a professional filmmaker or a social media content creator, you need a good free video editor. If your requirements need much more than what a tool will offer in the basic version, then you can choose one of the best paid video editors.
From advanced tools like Adobe Premiere Pro to beginner-friendly options such as CapCut Video Editor, there are many good editors that you can choose from. In this article, we’ll review the best video editing software, both free and paid. It will help you decide about the perfect fit for your video editing needs. A detailed comparison table at the end will summarize everything in detail to make your job even more easy.
1. Clipchamp – online video editor
Clipchamp, also known as Clipchamps, is a popular online video editor. What makes it a top choice for content creators and marketers is its cloud-based video editing with a simple interface. Clipchamp video editor is best suited for beginners and small businesses looking for quick, web-based editing solutions without a paid subscription. However, if you are looking for advanced video editing features, its paid version is available for an affordable price.
Clipchamp key features
Easy drag-and-drop interface – You can upload your files on Clipchamp and start editing without any software installation on your phone or PC.
Stock library – On Clipchamp, you can access free and premium stock footage, music, and graphics.
AI-powered text-to-speech – Besides powerful video editing on Clipchamp, you can convert text into natural voiceovers with multiple accents.
Video cropping and resizing – Adjust aspect ratios for social media platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram Reels.
Multi-layer editing – Add multiple tracks for video, audio, text, and transitions in easy steps.
Clipchamp pricing
Clipchamp free plan: Basic video editing tools with 480p exports.
Creator Plan ($9/month): 720p exports and unlimited cloud storage.
Business plan ($19/month): 1080p exports and premium assets.
2. Adobe Premiere Pro – Professional video editing
Adobe Premiere Pro is one of the most advanced video editing tools used in the film and TV industry. It is a timeline-based non-linear video editor with cutting-edge features for high-quality production. For pro content creators, it is a good choice. Once you have worked with other video editors, you will enjoy much more on Adobe Premiere Pro because of its highly-advanced features that no other video editing tool offers. This ups the level of your video marketing strategy and the quality of content you produce for streaming platforms, film-making and social media promotions.
Adobe Premiere Pro key features
Multi-layer timeline editing – Adobe Premiere Pro supports unlimited video and audio tracks for professional-grade editing.
AI-driven enhancements – Adobe Sensei AI automates audio clean-up, color correction, and smart reframing making your videos look high-class in every sense.
Integration with Adobe Suite – If you love working in the Adobe ecosystem, then you can work seamlessly with Adobe Premiere Pro. It integrates with Photoshop, After Effects, and Audition.
Advanced video cropping – Offers precise aspect ratio control and motion tracking.
Supports 8K and VR editing – Best for high-resolution video production. With this level of video quality, it gives you an edge over other content creators.
Adobe Premiere Pro pricing
Paid only ($20.99/month): Adobe Premiere Pro free is not available. It's paid only and includes full access to Adobe Creative Cloud.
Trending - Latest cool gadgets to gift to your friends
3. CapCut Video Editor – Best for mobile video editing
CapCut Video Editor is a free and user-friendly AI video editor. It is designed for mobile and desktop users who are more into social media content creation. It is widely used for videos on social media platforms like Instagram Reels and TikTok for ads or general content.
CapCut key features
AI video maker tools – CapCut offers automated background removal, video stabilization, and smart color grading to make your social media videos look great.
CapCut editing with preloaded effects – Unique filters, overlays, and transitions for creative videos to give your content a winning edge.
CapCut Pro for advanced editing – The Pro version offers additional effects, cloud storage, and 4K resolution exports.
One-click video cropping – You can resize videos instantly for different platforms. This is one of the top features that makes it a top video editing tool for social media content creators.
Multi-platform support – Available for iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac.
CapCut pricing
Free plan: Basic editing tools with watermark.
CapCut Pro ($7.99/month): In Pro, you can access premium effects and remove the watermark.
4. Wondershare Filmora video editor – Beginner-friendly editing
Filmora, also known as Wondershare Filmora, is one of the best free video editor options for beginners who want professional-quality videos without a steep learning curve. With a one-click drag-and-drop feature, AI functionalities, and a huge library of custom templates, Filmora has gained popularity among content creators in every domain.
Wondershare Filmora key features
AI smart cutout – Filmora easily removes backgrounds without a green screen to make your video editing process a real breeze.
Motion tracking & keyframing – You can pin text and graphics to moving objects.
Best editing software for effects – Thousands of preloaded templates and transitions.
Fast rendering speeds – The Filmora video editor is optimized for quick exports.
Advanced audio editing – Removes background noise and adjusts audio levels.
Wondershare Filmora pricing
Free plan: With watermarked exports.
Paid plan ($39.99/year): Premium effects and watermark-free video exports.
Must-read - Latest AI SEO tools
5. AI video editors & AI video makers
With huge advancements in artificial intelligence, AI video editors and AI video makers have given a whole new dimension to how videos are made and edited. These AI video editing tools use AI to automate video production. This makes them ideal for beginners and professionals alike as it helps in increasing work productivity, enhancing the quality of videos, and saving costs.
Best AI video editing tools
Runway ML
This VideoGPT tool is AI-powered and offers great color correction, object removal, and motion tracking. With a simple text prompt, you can use the generative video feature to generate hyper-realistic and controllable videos on Runway ML.
Magisto
It’s an AI-based online video-making tool with which you can turn your photos and video clips into video stories. Magisto can automatically select the best clips, transitions, and music for storytelling.
Lumen5
Lumen5 is a free AI video editor and creator. For marketers, publishers, and brands who do not have technical knowledge, Lumen5 is a great option to make superb videos because it’s just so simple.
Synthesia
If you want professional videos without mics, cameras, and actors, choose the Synthesia AI videos tool. It uses AI-generated avatars to narrate scripts in over 140 languages.
6. Best free video editing softwares
If you're looking for the best free editing softwares, here are some great options:
DaVinci Resolve
Professional color grading and editing tools, free video editor version available. It’s a high-end tool to help you create outstanding videos to help you rank on top on YouTube, TikTok or any other platform.
HitFilm Express
Free VFX software with motion graphics capabilities.
Shotcut
Open-source video editor with multi-format video support.
Openshot
Beginner-friendly video editing tool with drag-and-drop features.
Verdict - The best video editing tool free and paid
Choosing the best video editor depends on your needs and budget. There is a video editing tool available for almost every specific requirement. Here is our verdict.
If you're a professional who wants a high-end AI video editor with advanced features, Adobe Premiere Pro is the perfect one. DaVinci Resolve is perfect for high-class editing, color, VFX, motion graphics, and audio. To make things even more exciting, DaVinci Resolve is free.
If you need a powerful online video editor, Clipchamp is a great option. It is best suited for video-specific social media platforms and works tremendously on smartphones.
For mobile users, CapCut Video Editor and CapCut Pro provide powerful video editing tools. Both offer basic free versions so if you are a beginner, start with any one of these.
Wondershare Filmora offers beginner-friendly features with professional quality. Its AI features and drag-and-drop system makes it perfect for both beginner and pro video editors.
Depending on your skills and requirements, choose between a free video editor and a paid one. Whether you want to edit videos or create new ones with AI, the right tool will help you create stunning videos effortlessly and make your content creation bring in ideal results for you.
Comparison Table: Free & Paid Video Editors
Video Editor | Free Version | Paid Version | Best For | AI Features | Platforms |
Clipchamp | Yes | $9+/month | Online editing, beginners | No | Web |
Adobe Premiere Pro | No | $20.99/month | Professionals, advanced users | Yes | Windows, Mac |
CapCut | Yes | CapCut Pro ($7.99/month) | Social media, mobile users | Yes | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android |
Filmora | Yes (Watermarked) | $39.99/year | Beginners, YouTube videos | Yes | Windows, Mac |
DaVinci Resolve | Yes | $295 (one-time) | Professional color grading | Yes | Windows, Mac, Linux |
HitFilm Express | Yes | $7.99/month | VFX & motion graphics | No | Windows, Mac |
Openshot | Yes | No | Open-source editing | No | Windows, Mac, Linux |
Magisto | Yes | $9.99/month | AI-powered automatic editing | Yes | Web, Mobile |
Lumen5 | Yes | $19+/month | AI-powered marketing videos | Yes | Web |
