Items6The creator’s order
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KdenliveStart here if you want an open-source editor for projects with several tracks. Use proxy clips to edit smaller copies of heavy footage, then render from the originals. It also has nested timelines and subtitle tools. The number of panels takes time to learn, but normal exports carry no editor…0 - 2
ShotcutPick this when your project mixes clips from several cameras and you want to edit them directly. Shotcut supports a broad range of formats, mixes different resolutions and frame rates on one timeline, and supports 4K. It is free and open source, with no paid export tier or editor watermark.0 - 3
DaVinci ResolveChoose Resolve for color grading and audio work inside the same project. The free edition supports most 8-bit video formats up to Ultra HD at 60 fps. Stick to free effects for a clean export, since Studio-only effects can show a watermark. Try a short sample first if your footage uses a 10-bit…0 - 4
Microsoft ClipchampUse Clipchamp for a quick video in the browser or on Windows. With a personal Microsoft account, you can export a clean 1080p MP4 using your footage and free assets. Premium stock or features can block free export until you remove them, and 4K export is a paid feature.0 - 5
IMovieStart with iMovie on a Mac if you want to trim a home video or assemble clips from an iPhone. It exports without an editor watermark. On a compatible Mac, iMovie exports 4K at 30 fps or 1080p at 60 fps. The first clip you add sets the project format.0 - 6
OpenShotUse OpenShot for simple drag-and-drop cuts, titles, and fades on Windows, Mac, or Linux. Its free editor has no export watermark or project limit. It is an easy place to learn how tracks work before moving to a more complex editor for detailed color or audio work.0
