Cutting Videos: The Best Free Tools for 2021
These are the best free editing programs: Free video editing programs for download
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Cut and edit videos on the computer with our five top tools completely free of charge. We have put together the top 5 programs from our CHIP download archive that make cutting videos child’s play.
Especially the one Windows Movie Maker shines with its simple operation and a clear user interface and is therefore also our user favorite. However, the tool has not been further developed for years and is no longer entirely up-to-date in terms of resolutions, formats and supported platforms.
- advantages
- very easy to use
- still works under Windows 10
- disadvantage
- has not been further developed for many years
- no longer up-to-date format support
1. DaVinci Resolve – our recommendation DaVinci Resolve: Free professional video editing possible.
If you don’t want to spend money on Adobe Premiere or other professional video editing software, you should DaVinci Resolve look at. Professional video editing at a very high level is possible here. Compared to the purchased version, you only have to do without 3D video editing and some effects. Otherwise, you can let off steam in video editing in HD quality on several audio and video tracks and look forward to many supported formats.
- advantages
- Hollywood tool for free
- complete tool collection
- disadvantage
- no 3D processing possible
- Training is time-consuming
2. Shotcut – really good alternative Shotcut: A good video editor with filters and effects.
Also the freeware tool Shotcut we can recommend it for smaller private projects. It copes with modern codecs and HD material and offers editing options with multiple tracks, simple transitions and effects.
- advantages
- Fast and efficient
- wide support of formats
- disadvantage
- no integrated screen recorder
3. VSDC Free Video Editor – Top video editor
Free of charge and yet powerful: The “VSDC Free Video Editor“is a fully equipped video editing and video editing software whose range of functions can certainly be measured with paid tools.
The software can cope with almost any format and offers almost everything you could want from video editing software, from simple editing processes to complex image corrections. If you want to cut several videos one after the other, you will also receive suitable transitions such as cross-fades or transformations. With the “VSDC Free Video Editor”, experienced laypeople can do all video editing basics completely free of charge.
- advantages
- huge range of functions
- disadvantage
- Free version can be used with restrictions
4. Lightworks – Hollywood experience

The professional tool should definitely not be missing from the list of the best video editing programs Lightworks, which is even responsible for some blockbusters like Shutter Island, Pulp Fiction or Mission Impossible. The software is available in a pro version, which costs more than 300 euros. However, the free version also offers all the tools required for professional video editing. This is almost unique in the freeware market. The free version is primarily cropped when exporting the finished video clips, but you can export to Vimeo in full HD – that should be absolutely sufficient for most users.
- advantages
- many formats importable
- great real-time effects
- disadvantage
- Free version clearly limited
5. SimpleVideoCutter
The user-friendly program SimpleVideoCutter helps you with simple video editing tasks. Especially if you want to extract individual scenes from a large collection of videos and save them separately, SimpleVideoCutter is just right for you. Thanks to the clear user interface, you will find your way around straight away and you can get started right away without much prior knowledge.
- advantages
- very user friendly
- easy and fast
- disadvantage
- no German user interface

Top 5 video editing programs for free
Categories: General