Professional Results for Free: Top 4K Video Editing Software Choices

The Ultra HD video, also known as 4K video , defines 3840 2160 pixels. It became popular in 2016 and has overtaken both HD and ultra-HD to become the video with the highest resolution. Most videos are shot in HD, but as camera technology improves, 4K video seems to have become increasingly common. Because of the additional level of detail that the camera acquires, 4K videos are large files that allow you more editing possibilities.

Several free 4K video editing software has been developed to make video editing relatively easy in recent times. These free 4K video editors allow you to import, edit, and export videos easily. This article will provide you with some of the best free 4K video editors you should try in 2022.

Part 1: Top 5 Best Free 4K Video Editing Software for Windows and Mac

1. iMovie

Supported OS: iPhone, iPad, and Mac

iMovie is one of the most popular free 4K Video editing software. Using iMovie, you can create a professional-looking video even without any editing experience. You can import 4K images and 4K videos to iMovie, and then trim, split and add titles, transitions, filters or effects to the video by dragging and dropping. What’s more, you can import and export 60 frames per second video in iMovie.

iMovie is a video editing software that imports video footage from digital video cameras that use the MiniDV format. It can play DV, HDV, AVCHD, iFrame, Animation Codec, and other video formats. You can import 4K videos directly to iMovie and export them as 4K videos at 24fps/30fps/60fps. You can also share the 4K video to YouTube from iMovie directly.

Pros:

1. Switching across different devices:

This free 4K video editor is designed to work together using different devices (iPhone, iPad & Mac). You can begin a project on your iPhone, then transfer it to your iPad using AirDrop or iCloud Drive. It allows you to share what you have worked on to different devices, and you can also send projects from your iPad to your MacBook or iMac.

2. Advanced editing features:

What makes this free 4K video editor special is the ability to add some innovative editing functions when creating and editing your videos. Understandably, any video editor should offer basic editing features; however, iMovie allows you to work with more advanced functions like split-screen , picture-in-picture , and green-screen effects .

3. Saving all the original files

An advantage of working with different devices provides an opportunity to save all original files. It saves you time since you can import any media you need to get your project started in the video editor without losing the original files.

Cons:

Distorted files: If you don’t follow the importing and exporting process, the files might get distorted, resulting in fuzzy images.
Only available on iOS/macOS/iPad devices

2. VSDC

Supported OS: Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista/7/8/10

VSDC is a free 4K video editor that allows for beginner-level editing. It supports recording voice-over, capturing the desktop screen, editing the video and audio files. With VSDC, you can blend multiple footage layers into a single composition. You can easily apply a picture-in-picture effect and make things change their appearance or position.

VSDC allows you to import 4K video, audio, and image files. To successfully import these files; Click ‘Shift + I’ to add an image, ‘Shift A’ to add an audio file, and ‘Shift V’ to add a video file. VSDC allows you to export 4K videos to PC or share to web platforms like YouTube. To export these files, go to the export project tab at the top, and then set the profile to the highest quality. Click the Edit profile button and then select the 4K preset from the list. Choose the video and audio quality size, and then save the video as 4K.

Pros:

Every tool for video editing is available
Amazing Visual Effects
Efficient Text Processing
Lots of Blending modes

Cons:

Pro editing features are missing
Available for Windows only
Audio waveform and hardware acceleration features are not available

3. ShotCut

Supported OS: Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Shotcut is another free 4K video editor made for Linux, Macintosh, and Windows gadgets. It has wide arranged support that features its astounding usefulness. This 4K video editing software may not be the most alluring programming you see, yet it can assist with making the process of editing smooth and straightforward.

This professional video editing software support almost all the latest audio and video formats, including ProRes, DNxHD, and 4K, and it allows you to trim, cut, insert, and overwrite the video and audio. With its video effects, you can do color correction and grading, add fade-in and fade-out effects, reverse the clip, and even edit the 360° videos.

Here is a completed video tutorial from YouTuber Kevin Stratvert, which provides almost all information about how to use Shotcut, including how to create a project, add media, edit clips and export.

Pros:

Easy Access: The 4K video editor is open source. Users can easily alter the source codes, enabling the process of editing simple and clear.
Shotcut has every one of the required instruments to give excellent outcomes to clients. It has all elements of good video editing software and a bunch of other supportive and current choices.
Shotcut offers an easy-to-use interface that allows you to finish a project quickly while having it examined by multiple members of your team. Its preview panel gives users access to a quick start menu, and its view menu lets them decide which features appear on the screen. The software’s video and audio filters are the most amazing of all its features. These filters can be customized, and they can be combined and layered in a variety of ways. Adjusting is now easier thanks to the easy checkbox and slider systems. Shotcut is so good that it makes even the most complicated effects understandable to the average user.

Cons:

The platform might be a bit confusing when using the software for the first time because the interface isn’t intuitive.

4. LightWorks

Supported OS: Windows, Linux, and macOS

Lightworks is another video editor that can edit 4K videos from EditShare for people who have video editing experience. It has a simple and intuitive user interface, and you will find LOG, EDIT, VFX, and AUDIO tabs at the top of the interface. It integrates some paid royalty-free audio files, so you don’t need to find the background music from somewhere else. This software has some advanced editing features such as Multicam editing and batch export. It even supports third-party plugins, such as Boris FX, Boris Graffiti, and GenArts Sapphire. It enables its users to freely edit videos, even to the extent of trimming a video down to the size you desire.

However, if you want to export the videos in 4K, you need to pay, since it is limited to Lightworks Pro users.

Pros:

The software allows clips to be easily imported and provides a platform where these clips can be played. This is made possible because this 4K video editor provides an interface made of panels such as bins, timeline, and edit review.
Lightworks provides an easy way of applying varieties of effects from different clips in a coordinated manner. The software utilizes the hub-based framework to put together clips and recordings, which is needed for clips with numerous effects and tracks.
Navigating this software, a right-click menu allows the user to export videos directly to YouTube. Also, the software automatically saves your work, so you don’t lose the files you’ve worked on.

Cons:

Poor quality exporting options when making use of the free version (720p only)
You need to register first to use it

5. Filmora

Supporting OS: Windows and Mac

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

Filmora is one of the best video editors for beginners to create professional-looking videos in a modern way. One of the biggest advantages of using Filmora is its resources. You can now search the resources in the search bar and drag and drop them to the timeline to preview the result without paying first.

Some of you may say, Filmora is not a free video editor since there will be a watermark at the export video. But here, I will introduce the Instant Cutter Tool which is a perfect tool to trim and merge large 4K videos and action camera videos. This free 4k tool provides a proper way of instantly trimming or merging videos without de-coding, which means the video resolution will not be changed. Using the instant cutter tool, you can upload or merge files of huge sizes in different formats, such as MP4/MOV or MTS/M2TS.

Note: You can try some legal ways to remove the Filmora watermark without paying .

Pros:

Clean and Intuitive User Interface
4K Video Support
Trim and merge large videos quickly

Cons:

Limited video formats supported when using Instant Cutter Tool

Part 2: Things You Need to Pay Attention to Run Free 4K Video Editors

While the general features of the best free 4K video editors have been discussed, it’s important you are aware of some specific requirements your system must possess to edit your videos successfully. Irrespective of the kind of device you’re using to edit your videos, you need to pay attention to some features your device must have. However, these requirements depend on the 4K video editing software free.

Central Processing Unit (CPU): The Processor of the software being used must be Intel Core i7, 2.3Ghz four-core; this is applicable if you will be editing your videos offline. Then, Dual Intel Xeon 2Ghz six-core is applicable if you will be editing your videos online.
Random Access Memory (RAM): Preferably an 8GB Memory if you’re editing offline, and 32GB Memory if you’re editing online.
Internal storage: The required storage must be sufficient because 4K videos are huge files.

Note: Offline editing refers to editing a proxy file of the original source material ; online editing is the editing of the original material.

Part 3: Tips for Editing 4K Videos Smoothly

Choose the software based on your hardware: To choose the best 4K video editing software free, you must not opt for an editing software with higher requirements than your hardware; such software won’t work well on your device. You should instead select an editing software with lower requirements.
Split large 4K videos into several parts: It has been reiterated that 4K videos are huge files; to edit your videos smoothly, it is recommended to split up the videos and edit one after the other. This will save you from heavy data loss.
Enable graphics accelerator: A graphic accelerator is used in video editing to turbocharge your video exporting. It’s usually clung to a video board of your system. It makes the editing easier and faster by preventing a heavy workload.

02 Things You Need to Pay Attention to Run Free 4K Video Editors

03 Tips for Editing 4K Videos Smoothly

Part 1: Top 5 Best Free 4K Video Editing Software for Windows and Mac

1. iMovie

Supported OS: iPhone, iPad, and Mac

Pros:

1. Switching across different devices:

2. Advanced editing features:

3. Saving all the original files

Cons:

Distorted files: If you don’t follow the importing and exporting process, the files might get distorted, resulting in fuzzy images.
Only available on iOS/macOS/iPad devices

2. VSDC

Supported OS: Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista/7/8/10

Pros:

Every tool for video editing is available
Amazing Visual Effects
Efficient Text Processing
Lots of Blending modes

Cons:

Pro editing features are missing
Available for Windows only
Audio waveform and hardware acceleration features are not available

3. ShotCut

Supported OS: Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Here is a completed video tutorial from YouTuber Kevin Stratvert, which provides almost all information about how to use Shotcut, including how to create a project, add media, edit clips and export.

Pros:

Easy Access: The 4K video editor is open source. Users can easily alter the source codes, enabling the process of editing simple and clear.
Shotcut has every one of the required instruments to give excellent outcomes to clients. It has all elements of good video editing software and a bunch of other supportive and current choices.
Shotcut offers an easy-to-use interface that allows you to finish a project quickly while having it examined by multiple members of your team. Its preview panel gives users access to a quick start menu, and its view menu lets them decide which features appear on the screen. The software’s video and audio filters are the most amazing of all its features. These filters can be customized, and they can be combined and layered in a variety of ways. Adjusting is now easier thanks to the easy checkbox and slider systems. Shotcut is so good that it makes even the most complicated effects understandable to the average user.

Cons:

The platform might be a bit confusing when using the software for the first time because the interface isn’t intuitive.

4. LightWorks

Supported OS: Windows, Linux, and macOS

However, if you want to export the videos in 4K, you need to pay, since it is limited to Lightworks Pro users.

Pros:

The software allows clips to be easily imported and provides a platform where these clips can be played. This is made possible because this 4K video editor provides an interface made of panels such as bins, timeline, and edit review.
Lightworks provides an easy way of applying varieties of effects from different clips in a coordinated manner. The software utilizes the hub-based framework to put together clips and recordings, which is needed for clips with numerous effects and tracks.
Navigating this software, a right-click menu allows the user to export videos directly to YouTube. Also, the software automatically saves your work, so you don’t lose the files you’ve worked on.

Cons:

Poor quality exporting options when making use of the free version (720p only)
You need to register first to use it

5. Filmora

Supporting OS: Windows and Mac

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

Note: You can try some legal ways to remove the Filmora watermark without paying .

Pros:

Clean and Intuitive User Interface
4K Video Support
Trim and merge large videos quickly

Cons:

Limited video formats supported when using Instant Cutter Tool

Part 2: Things You Need to Pay Attention to Run Free 4K Video Editors

Central Processing Unit (CPU): The Processor of the software being used must be Intel Core i7, 2.3Ghz four-core; this is applicable if you will be editing your videos offline. Then, Dual Intel Xeon 2Ghz six-core is applicable if you will be editing your videos online.
Random Access Memory (RAM): Preferably an 8GB Memory if you’re editing offline, and 32GB Memory if you’re editing online.
Internal storage: The required storage must be sufficient because 4K videos are huge files.

Note: Offline editing refers to editing a proxy file of the original source material ; online editing is the editing of the original material.

Part 3: Tips for Editing 4K Videos Smoothly

Choose the software based on your hardware: To choose the best 4K video editing software free, you must not opt for an editing software with higher requirements than your hardware; such software won’t work well on your device. You should instead select an editing software with lower requirements.
Split large 4K videos into several parts: It has been reiterated that 4K videos are huge files; to edit your videos smoothly, it is recommended to split up the videos and edit one after the other. This will save you from heavy data loss.
Enable graphics accelerator: A graphic accelerator is used in video editing to turbocharge your video exporting. It’s usually clung to a video board of your system. It makes the editing easier and faster by preventing a heavy workload.

02 Things You Need to Pay Attention to Run Free 4K Video Editors

03 Tips for Editing 4K Videos Smoothly

Part 1: Top 5 Best Free 4K Video Editing Software for Windows and Mac

1. iMovie

Supported OS: iPhone, iPad, and Mac

Pros:

1. Switching across different devices:

2. Advanced editing features:

3. Saving all the original files

Cons:

Distorted files: If you don’t follow the importing and exporting process, the files might get distorted, resulting in fuzzy images.
Only available on iOS/macOS/iPad devices

2. VSDC

Supported OS: Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista/7/8/10

Pros:

Every tool for video editing is available
Amazing Visual Effects
Efficient Text Processing
Lots of Blending modes

Cons:

Pro editing features are missing
Available for Windows only
Audio waveform and hardware acceleration features are not available

3. ShotCut

Supported OS: Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Here is a completed video tutorial from YouTuber Kevin Stratvert, which provides almost all information about how to use Shotcut, including how to create a project, add media, edit clips and export.

Pros:

Easy Access: The 4K video editor is open source. Users can easily alter the source codes, enabling the process of editing simple and clear.
Shotcut has every one of the required instruments to give excellent outcomes to clients. It has all elements of good video editing software and a bunch of other supportive and current choices.
Shotcut offers an easy-to-use interface that allows you to finish a project quickly while having it examined by multiple members of your team. Its preview panel gives users access to a quick start menu, and its view menu lets them decide which features appear on the screen. The software’s video and audio filters are the most amazing of all its features. These filters can be customized, and they can be combined and layered in a variety of ways. Adjusting is now easier thanks to the easy checkbox and slider systems. Shotcut is so good that it makes even the most complicated effects understandable to the average user.

Cons:

The platform might be a bit confusing when using the software for the first time because the interface isn’t intuitive.

4. LightWorks

Supported OS: Windows, Linux, and macOS

However, if you want to export the videos in 4K, you need to pay, since it is limited to Lightworks Pro users.

Pros:

The software allows clips to be easily imported and provides a platform where these clips can be played. This is made possible because this 4K video editor provides an interface made of panels such as bins, timeline, and edit review.
Lightworks provides an easy way of applying varieties of effects from different clips in a coordinated manner. The software utilizes the hub-based framework to put together clips and recordings, which is needed for clips with numerous effects and tracks.
Navigating this software, a right-click menu allows the user to export videos directly to YouTube. Also, the software automatically saves your work, so you don’t lose the files you’ve worked on.

Cons:

Poor quality exporting options when making use of the free version (720p only)
You need to register first to use it

5. Filmora

Supporting OS: Windows and Mac

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

Note: You can try some legal ways to remove the Filmora watermark without paying .

Pros:

Clean and Intuitive User Interface
4K Video Support
Trim and merge large videos quickly

Cons:

Limited video formats supported when using Instant Cutter Tool

Part 2: Things You Need to Pay Attention to Run Free 4K Video Editors

Central Processing Unit (CPU): The Processor of the software being used must be Intel Core i7, 2.3Ghz four-core; this is applicable if you will be editing your videos offline. Then, Dual Intel Xeon 2Ghz six-core is applicable if you will be editing your videos online.
Random Access Memory (RAM): Preferably an 8GB Memory if you’re editing offline, and 32GB Memory if you’re editing online.
Internal storage: The required storage must be sufficient because 4K videos are huge files.

Note: Offline editing refers to editing a proxy file of the original source material ; online editing is the editing of the original material.

Part 3: Tips for Editing 4K Videos Smoothly

Choose the software based on your hardware: To choose the best 4K video editing software free, you must not opt for an editing software with higher requirements than your hardware; such software won’t work well on your device. You should instead select an editing software with lower requirements.
Split large 4K videos into several parts: It has been reiterated that 4K videos are huge files; to edit your videos smoothly, it is recommended to split up the videos and edit one after the other. This will save you from heavy data loss.
Enable graphics accelerator: A graphic accelerator is used in video editing to turbocharge your video exporting. It’s usually clung to a video board of your system. It makes the editing easier and faster by preventing a heavy workload.

02 Things You Need to Pay Attention to Run Free 4K Video Editors

03 Tips for Editing 4K Videos Smoothly

Part 1: Top 5 Best Free 4K Video Editing Software for Windows and Mac

1. iMovie

Supported OS: iPhone, iPad, and Mac

Pros:

1. Switching across different devices:

2. Advanced editing features:

3. Saving all the original files

Cons:

Distorted files: If you don’t follow the importing and exporting process, the files might get distorted, resulting in fuzzy images.
Only available on iOS/macOS/iPad devices

2. VSDC

Supported OS: Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista/7/8/10

Pros:

Every tool for video editing is available
Amazing Visual Effects
Efficient Text Processing
Lots of Blending modes

Cons:

Pro editing features are missing
Available for Windows only
Audio waveform and hardware acceleration features are not available

3. ShotCut

Supported OS: Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Here is a completed video tutorial from YouTuber Kevin Stratvert, which provides almost all information about how to use Shotcut, including how to create a project, add media, edit clips and export.

Pros:

Easy Access: The 4K video editor is open source. Users can easily alter the source codes, enabling the process of editing simple and clear.
Shotcut has every one of the required instruments to give excellent outcomes to clients. It has all elements of good video editing software and a bunch of other supportive and current choices.
Shotcut offers an easy-to-use interface that allows you to finish a project quickly while having it examined by multiple members of your team. Its preview panel gives users access to a quick start menu, and its view menu lets them decide which features appear on the screen. The software’s video and audio filters are the most amazing of all its features. These filters can be customized, and they can be combined and layered in a variety of ways. Adjusting is now easier thanks to the easy checkbox and slider systems. Shotcut is so good that it makes even the most complicated effects understandable to the average user.

Cons:

The platform might be a bit confusing when using the software for the first time because the interface isn’t intuitive.

4. LightWorks

Supported OS: Windows, Linux, and macOS

However, if you want to export the videos in 4K, you need to pay, since it is limited to Lightworks Pro users.

Pros:

The software allows clips to be easily imported and provides a platform where these clips can be played. This is made possible because this 4K video editor provides an interface made of panels such as bins, timeline, and edit review.
Lightworks provides an easy way of applying varieties of effects from different clips in a coordinated manner. The software utilizes the hub-based framework to put together clips and recordings, which is needed for clips with numerous effects and tracks.
Navigating this software, a right-click menu allows the user to export videos directly to YouTube. Also, the software automatically saves your work, so you don’t lose the files you’ve worked on.

Cons:

Poor quality exporting options when making use of the free version (720p only)
You need to register first to use it

5. Filmora

Supporting OS: Windows and Mac

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

Note: You can try some legal ways to remove the Filmora watermark without paying .

Pros:

Clean and Intuitive User Interface
4K Video Support
Trim and merge large videos quickly

Cons:

Limited video formats supported when using Instant Cutter Tool

Part 2: Things You Need to Pay Attention to Run Free 4K Video Editors

Central Processing Unit (CPU): The Processor of the software being used must be Intel Core i7, 2.3Ghz four-core; this is applicable if you will be editing your videos offline. Then, Dual Intel Xeon 2Ghz six-core is applicable if you will be editing your videos online.
Random Access Memory (RAM): Preferably an 8GB Memory if you’re editing offline, and 32GB Memory if you’re editing online.
Internal storage: The required storage must be sufficient because 4K videos are huge files.

Note: Offline editing refers to editing a proxy file of the original source material ; online editing is the editing of the original material.

Part 3: Tips for Editing 4K Videos Smoothly

Choose the software based on your hardware: To choose the best 4K video editing software free, you must not opt for an editing software with higher requirements than your hardware; such software won’t work well on your device. You should instead select an editing software with lower requirements.
Split large 4K videos into several parts: It has been reiterated that 4K videos are huge files; to edit your videos smoothly, it is recommended to split up the videos and edit one after the other. This will save you from heavy data loss.
Enable graphics accelerator: A graphic accelerator is used in video editing to turbocharge your video exporting. It’s usually clung to a video board of your system. It makes the editing easier and faster by preventing a heavy workload.

Windows Movie Maker for Mac: Top Alternative Video Editing Tools

Windows Movie Maker has been an all-time favorite video editing tool for Windows PC users owing to its supported features and ease of use. So, now if you are transitioning from Windows to a Mac system, you would need to say goodbye to your long-trusted Windows Movie Maker as the tool is not compatible with the Mac systems.

But no need to worry as there are several alternative Mac tools available for you to creatively make and edit your videos. If you too have been looking for a such Windows Movie Maker Mac Equivalent, this article will be an excellent read.

iMovie
Wondershare Filmora
Avidemux
Lightworks
WeVideo

Hot FAQs About Windows Movie Maker Mac Equivalent

Part 1: Complete Overview for Windows Movie Maker Mac Equivalents

Multiple tools that work as Windows Movie Maker equivalent for Mac are available. We have shortlisted the best ones and the table below compares them on several parameters.

Tool/Features	Supported OS	Price	Ease of Use (0-10 Ratings)
iMovie	Mac, iPad, iOS	Free	8.3
Wondershare Filmora	Windows and Mac	Annual- $49.99Perpetual- $79.99	8.5
Avidemux	Windows, Mac, and Linux	Free	8.4
LightWorks	Windows, Mac, and Linux.	Available in different monthly and yearly plans.	8.0
WeVideo	Online	Free version as well as paid starting from $4.99 USD.	8.4

Part 2: What Can I Use in Place of Windows Movie Maker? [Free & Paid]

The above-listed table will give you a basic idea about the tools that can be used in place of Windows Movie Maker on your Mac systems. In this part of the topic, we will discuss in detail these programs and their features. We will also list the pros and cons so that you can choose the best Windows Movie Maker alternatives for Mac.

1. iMovie

When it comes to Mac systems, iMovie is the default editing tool that is considered by the users as it is freely available for Mac and other iOS devices. Just like its Windows counterpart- Windows Movie Maker, iMovie is a great software for beginners who wish to start with video editing. The features of the tool are user-friendly and its layout is logical which makes it an apt choice for Mac users.

Key features:

Beginner-friendly Mac tool for video editing requirements.
A simple and logical layout makes file processing easy.
Support to a wide range of video formats and quality including 4K videos.
Option for video editing across Apple devices.
Option for separate video and audio tracks for better organization.

Pros

Free tool for Mac and iOS users
Simple and easy to use
Comes with multiple preset effects
Audio processing capabilities are robust
Allows sharing the processed videos in multiple ways- online, on iTunes, by Email, and more

Cons

Lack of advanced editing features and special effects
Since the software requires a lot of your storage space, crashing issues might be there
Videos are exported at a fixed export ratio-16:9

Price: Free for Mac and other iOS devices

Rating: 8.3 out of 10

Best For: Editing videos and audio using simple features on Mac.

Supported File Export Options: MOV, MP4, YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo, and more.

Recent User Review:

iMovie is a relatively simple and quick tool that offers good value. – Tim Corbett
iMovie is the best UI/UX tool for beginners to get the editing task done. – Marketing Manager

Summary:

iMovie is an apt entry-level video editing solution for macOS that lets you get the work done in a simple yet effective manner. You can interestingly play with the features and the settings of the software. The exporting process can seem to be a little complicated at the start.

2. Wondershare Filmora

If you are looking for a tool that offers advanced features for creating professional-looking videos and that too in a simple quick manner, Wondershare Filmora will work as the best choice. This Windows and Mac-based video editing tool is available for both monthly and annual subscriptions with an option for a free trial version.

Key Features:

Allows quick editing of videos using basic and advanced tool features.
Comes packed with multiple animations, and effects for creating amazing videos.
Support to almost all key video formats and quality including 4K.
Support for SRT files.
Allows aligning the audio and video automatically using Auto Synchronization.

Pros

Simple to use tool with support for a wide range of features
All key formats and video quality are supported
Allows creating as well as sharing the videos quickly
Allows high-quality video export
Comes with tutorials and guides to help you process videos and use the features

Cons

Paid software
Videos processed through the free trial version have a watermark
Might look complicated initially

Free Download For Win 7 or later(64-bit)

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

Price: Annual- $49.99, Perpetual- $79.99

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Supported Platform: Windows and Mac

Best For: Creating professional-looking videos in high quality on your Windows as well as Mac systems.

Supported File Export Options: All key formats and types including MO4, MOV, AVI, and many more.

Recent User Review:

The software is the one-stop solution for all media enhancing needs. This is a simple and multi-functional tool.
It is the best video editing software for beginners. – Shivam Sharma, Video Editor.

Summary:

Whether you are looking for simple video cutting or advanced features like motion tracking, transition, and effects, Wondershare Filmora is one of the best in the category. Available with multiple subscription plans, the tool will let you create and edit videos in no time.

3. Avidemux

This is a simple free video editing tool available for Windows, Mac, and Linux systems that support all key features like cutting, encoding, filtering, and more. All key file formats are supported by the software and an option for automating the tasks is also available.

Key Features:

Free and open-source video editing tool for Windows, Mac, Linux, and BSD.
Support to all key file types and formats including AVI, ASF, MPEG, and more.
Allows file processing without any need for downloading third-party codecs, and drivers.
Editing can be done without recompression with the files having the same output A/V format.

Pros

Free and open-source tool
Cross-platform support
Support to all basic video editing features
All key file formats and types are supported
The interface is beginner and user-friendly
Native language support for global users

Cons

The design is outdated in comparison to the latest tools
The features are limited in comparison to other professional software
One-frame precision cutting is not supported

Price: Free

Rating: 8.4 out of 10

Best For: Basic video editing on multiple platforms.

Supported File Export Options: Key formats including MP4, ASF, AVI, DVD, MPEG, and more.

Recent User Review:

Fantastic software that is simple to use and supports multiple formats and types. – Swati S
Free and open-source tool that works with all Operating Systems . – Salini K.

Summary:

For performing the most basic needed video editing tasks this is one of the best entry-level tools. Free to use, the software can work on multiple OS and platforms and also support multiple file formats.

4. Lightworks

If you have decent video editing experience and looking for an advanced and professional tool, Lightworks will work as a great choice. With support for Windows, Mac, and Linux, the software comes with multiple editing tools, effects, and other features.

Key features:

Windows, Mac, and Linux-based tool.
Comes with support for basic as well as advanced features.
Support for all popular video formats and types including 4K.
Multiple files exporting options are supported.

Pros

Cross-platform support
Apt for professional and advanced users
Comes with a collection of features and effects
Multiple plans along with a free version with limited features are available

Cons

Not apt for beginners
Steep learning curve
The Pro version of the software will be heavy on pockets

Price: Available in multiple plan options (based on supported features). Check out plans at

the link: https://lwks.com/lightworks/

Rating: 8.0 out of 10

Best For: Professional video editing on multiple platforms and OS.

Supported File Export Options: Key formats and file types including 4K, , MP4,

Recent User Review:

Summary:

If you have earlier worked with iMovie, Windows Movie Maker, and other editing tools, Lightworks will be a good next-level program for advanced and professional editing. Though for beginners, the software is complicated and difficult to use.

5. WeVideo

If you are not very keen to download software on your system, online tools are a good alternative and one such feature-packed program is WeVideo. This cloud-based tool works straight from your browser and is available in a free as well as paid version. There are multiple formats available with the tool that can let you create videos like a pro.

Key features:

A browser-based online tool that works on all platforms including Windows, Mac, Chromebook, and mobile.
Support all key functions needed for creating and editing a video.
Comes with a huge collection of stock media including videos, images as well as music.
Allows creating and editing videos for YouTube, Facebook, and other social media sites.

Pros

An online tool that needs no software download
Compatible with all system platforms as well as mobile devices
Huge collection of stock media
A free version is available for basic editing requirements
Simple and quick to use
Allows publishing content to social media sites

Cons

Advanced features need to upgrade for a paid plan
Dependent on internet connectivity

Price: Available in free as well as paid versions (for the creator, business, and enterprise). Checkout plans at the link: https://www.wevideo.com/plans

Rating: 8.4 out of 10

Best For: Online video editing.

Supported File Export Options: All key formats are supported including 4K.

Recent User Review:

Summary:

For cloud-based video editing on multiple platforms, WeVideo is just an apt tool that supports all basic as well as advanced features for creating videos of your choice. The created videos can also be published directly on social media sites using the tool.

Part 3: Hot FAQs About Windows Movie Maker Mac Equivalent

Above we have talked about several Mac equivalents to Windows Movie Maker in detail. So, now let’s get into some related commonly asked questions and their answers.

1. Is Windows Movie Maker like iMovie?

Yes, broadly Windows Movie Maker can be considered like iMovie as both of these are video creating and editing tools. The major difference between the two lies in the supported platform, Windows Movie Maker is for the Windows system while iMovie comes pre-installed with the Mac systems.

2. Is Video editor better than Movie Maker?

Both Windows Movie Maker and Video Editor can be used for editing videos, images as well as sounds but the major difference between the two lies in their main purpose of use. While the Windows Movie Maker is mainly used for creating new movies, the Windows Video Editor is majorly used for editing and customizing the existing files.

3. Does Windows Movie Maker have a watermark?

No, Windows Movie Maker does not have a watermark.

Final Words

For Windows system users, Windows Movie Maker is the first and default choice when it comes to video editing. So, now if you have switched to a Mac system there are alternatives in fact even better tools available to customize your files. You can make a choice between the above-listed Mac alternatives based on your requirements.

Part 1: Complete Overview for Windows Movie Maker Mac Equivalents

Multiple tools that work as Windows Movie Maker equivalent for Mac are available. We have shortlisted the best ones and the table below compares them on several parameters.

Tool/Features	Supported OS	Price	Ease of Use (0-10 Ratings)
iMovie	Mac, iPad, iOS	Free	8.3
Wondershare Filmora	Windows and Mac	Annual- $49.99Perpetual- $79.99	8.5
Avidemux	Windows, Mac, and Linux	Free	8.4
LightWorks	Windows, Mac, and Linux.	Available in different monthly and yearly plans.	8.0
WeVideo	Online	Free version as well as paid starting from $4.99 USD.	8.4

Part 2: What Can I Use in Place of Windows Movie Maker? [Free & Paid]

1. iMovie

Key features:

Beginner-friendly Mac tool for video editing requirements.
A simple and logical layout makes file processing easy.
Support to a wide range of video formats and quality including 4K videos.
Option for video editing across Apple devices.
Option for separate video and audio tracks for better organization.

Pros

Free tool for Mac and iOS users
Simple and easy to use
Comes with multiple preset effects
Audio processing capabilities are robust
Allows sharing the processed videos in multiple ways- online, on iTunes, by Email, and more

Cons

Lack of advanced editing features and special effects
Since the software requires a lot of your storage space, crashing issues might be there
Videos are exported at a fixed export ratio-16:9

Price: Free for Mac and other iOS devices

Rating: 8.3 out of 10

Best For: Editing videos and audio using simple features on Mac.

Supported File Export Options: MOV, MP4, YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo, and more.

Recent User Review:

iMovie is a relatively simple and quick tool that offers good value. – Tim Corbett
iMovie is the best UI/UX tool for beginners to get the editing task done. – Marketing Manager

Summary:

2. Wondershare Filmora

Key Features:

Allows quick editing of videos using basic and advanced tool features.
Comes packed with multiple animations, and effects for creating amazing videos.
Support to almost all key video formats and quality including 4K.
Support for SRT files.
Allows aligning the audio and video automatically using Auto Synchronization.

Pros

Simple to use tool with support for a wide range of features
All key formats and video quality are supported
Allows creating as well as sharing the videos quickly
Allows high-quality video export
Comes with tutorials and guides to help you process videos and use the features

Cons

Paid software
Videos processed through the free trial version have a watermark
Might look complicated initially

Free Download For Win 7 or later(64-bit)

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

Price: Annual- $49.99, Perpetual- $79.99

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Supported Platform: Windows and Mac

Best For: Creating professional-looking videos in high quality on your Windows as well as Mac systems.

Supported File Export Options: All key formats and types including MO4, MOV, AVI, and many more.

Recent User Review:

The software is the one-stop solution for all media enhancing needs. This is a simple and multi-functional tool.
It is the best video editing software for beginners. – Shivam Sharma, Video Editor.

Summary:

3. Avidemux

Key Features:

Free and open-source video editing tool for Windows, Mac, Linux, and BSD.
Support to all key file types and formats including AVI, ASF, MPEG, and more.
Allows file processing without any need for downloading third-party codecs, and drivers.
Editing can be done without recompression with the files having the same output A/V format.

Pros

Free and open-source tool
Cross-platform support
Support to all basic video editing features
All key file formats and types are supported
The interface is beginner and user-friendly
Native language support for global users

Cons

The design is outdated in comparison to the latest tools
The features are limited in comparison to other professional software
One-frame precision cutting is not supported

Price: Free

Rating: 8.4 out of 10

Best For: Basic video editing on multiple platforms.

Supported File Export Options: Key formats including MP4, ASF, AVI, DVD, MPEG, and more.

Recent User Review:

Fantastic software that is simple to use and supports multiple formats and types. – Swati S
Free and open-source tool that works with all Operating Systems . – Salini K.

Summary:

4. Lightworks

Key features:

Windows, Mac, and Linux-based tool.
Comes with support for basic as well as advanced features.
Support for all popular video formats and types including 4K.
Multiple files exporting options are supported.

Pros

Cross-platform support
Apt for professional and advanced users
Comes with a collection of features and effects
Multiple plans along with a free version with limited features are available

Cons

Not apt for beginners
Steep learning curve
The Pro version of the software will be heavy on pockets

Price: Available in multiple plan options (based on supported features). Check out plans at

the link: https://lwks.com/lightworks/

Rating: 8.0 out of 10

Best For: Professional video editing on multiple platforms and OS.

Supported File Export Options: Key formats and file types including 4K, , MP4,

Recent User Review:

Summary:

5. WeVideo

Key features:

A browser-based online tool that works on all platforms including Windows, Mac, Chromebook, and mobile.
Support all key functions needed for creating and editing a video.
Comes with a huge collection of stock media including videos, images as well as music.
Allows creating and editing videos for YouTube, Facebook, and other social media sites.

Pros

An online tool that needs no software download
Compatible with all system platforms as well as mobile devices
Huge collection of stock media
A free version is available for basic editing requirements
Simple and quick to use
Allows publishing content to social media sites

Cons

Advanced features need to upgrade for a paid plan
Dependent on internet connectivity

Price: Available in free as well as paid versions (for the creator, business, and enterprise). Checkout plans at the link: https://www.wevideo.com/plans

Rating: 8.4 out of 10

Best For: Online video editing.

Supported File Export Options: All key formats are supported including 4K.

Recent User Review:

Summary:

Part 3: Hot FAQs About Windows Movie Maker Mac Equivalent

Above we have talked about several Mac equivalents to Windows Movie Maker in detail. So, now let’s get into some related commonly asked questions and their answers.

1. Is Windows Movie Maker like iMovie?

2. Is Video editor better than Movie Maker?

3. Does Windows Movie Maker have a watermark?

No, Windows Movie Maker does not have a watermark.

Final Words

10 Powerful Video Editing Software Alternatives to Final Cut Pro X

Top Best Final Cut Pro X Alternatives on Windows & Mac & Linux [Free & Paid]

Liza Brown

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Back in 1999, Apple launched Final Cut Pro, and the software didn’t take so long to become the first choice for video editors and post-production agencies.

The main feature it has that makes it stands out from any other video-editing software out there is that it is made exclusively to operate on Mac only, and that allowed Apple to make it fully enhanced for speed and efficiency enabling it toedit 4K UHD footage with no rendering issues.

This video editing software will cost you $300 to buy, and as mentioned above it will require you to have a Mac OS, so if you don’t have both or if you are abeginner in video editing we are suggesting a few alternatives for you that you might choose one from to start your video editing journey.

Best Free & Paid Final Cut Pro X Alternatives on Windows/ Mac/ Linux

1. Wondershare Filmora

Filmora made professional video editing easy with its easy professional tools. Besides basic video editing tools, you can now group timeline clips, range markers, or add audio and video to unlimited video tracks. You can perfect your audio with the automatic audio sync, audio compressor, or audio noise reduction, and perform detailed color correction with plentiful presets auto-correction, and color wheels. It also supports animation and motion tracking. It is easy to use and has low system requirements. Download it now to have a try ![Download Win Version](https://images.wondershare.com/filmora/guide/download-btn-win.jpg)

2. Avidemux

Avidemux is a free open-source and cross-platform (Microsoft Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X) video editor designed for quick video joining, trimming, and filtering tasks. It supports different video formats such as MP44, MPG, AVI, OGM, MKV, FLV, and more. Here is also a getting-started tutorial for Avidemux you can refer to.

Pros as an alternative to FCPX for Windows:

Open-source video editing software and free
A simple interface and easy to use

Cons:

May have problems dealing with some types of formats.

3. VirtualDub

VirtualDub is a strong video editing tool on Windows with many useful features that can help you make different kinds of changes to the video but keeping the video’s quality the same as before. It also has batch-processing capabilities for processing large numbers of files and can be extended with third-party video filters.

Pros:

Has video capturing option;
Can be extended with third-party video filters;
Has batch-processing capabilities for processing large numbers of files.

Cons:

Outdated UI design.

4. Video Toolbox

Video Toolbox is afree online video editing tool that has a rich set of video functions. But like many online apps, it imposes a size restriction of 300 MB for your video files. To use it, you have to register first and upload the target files either from the hard disk or online video sites. Then fish the merging task use the command from a drop-down.

Pros:

Supports many video formats;
Different video editing options.

Cons:

Has the size limitation of video (600 MB).

5. Format Factory

Format Factory is a full-featured video and audio converter. It can convert video, audio, picture, and rip CDs, DVDs to other file formats, as well as create ISO image files. On top of that, it provides a subset of tools that handle file splitting and merging. You can also change the format and size of the output file.

Pros:

Supports many video formats;
Basic video editing options.

Cons:

Can’t convert audio files.

6. Movica

This software is, in essence, a user interface for other open-source tools that are somewhat user-unfriendly, enabling an understandable user interface for the best free tools out there. As a software package though, there is nothing wrong with this approach, and the tools available for joining and merging are first-rate, and the software works very fast, whilst offering a wide range of compatible video formats.

The interface is a little clunky, but it does the job and the software has additional tools for other editing work such as cutting and trimming as well, the added functionality in combination with a more basic interface can make some operations a touch confusing though.

Ultimately a little more complicated to use, but very good.

7. Cyberlink PowerDirector 365

PowerDirector 365 is a professional video editor in the Cyberlink family. It is a great Final Cut Pro alternative on Windows . Users can use multiple cameras to make various green-screen effects and make split-screen effects. What’s more, you can control frame-by-frame with its motion tracking. It also supports using plug-ins ranging from animated titles to travel packs. The official recommendation of the operating system is Windows 10/8/7. It works best on 64 bit.

Pros:

10 UI languages are supported including French, Dutch, and Korean.
It supports cloud storage for co-working.

Cons:

It only offers a limited learning course.

8. VEGAS PRO 17

Vegas Pro is a long-standing professional video editing software on Windows. Now, it just released Pro 17 to give it more features, so it is also an excellent Final Cut Pro alternative. At this time, VEGAS PRO 17 features a high-speed video editing experience with GPU acceleration and intuitive design. Those features were not specifically mentioned before. With the new color grading features, VEGAS PRO 17 can compete with Final Cut Pro.

Very fast video editing with the newly released version.

9. Adobe Premiere Pro

Adobe Premiere Pro needs to be mentioned whether you like this software or not. We can’t deny it is a great video editor on Windows. In fact, it has the largest number of users on Windows. With Premiere Rush, Adobe Premiere Pro has had a big update recently. It is the leading product for editing 8K videos. You can also use Rush to edit video on your phone and import it to your PC to have further advanced editing if needed.

After checking so many video editing software, I’ve summarized the main features of each video editor listed above. Hope that will help you pick up the best Final Cut Pro for Windows alternatives.

Supported OS	Supported Format	Video Effects	Share to YouTube	Easy to Use
Filmora	Win/Mac	MPEG-1/2,MPEG-4…	Y	Y	Y
Avidemux	Win/Mac/Linux/PC-BSD	AVI,DVD,MP4,ASF…	N	N	Y
VirtualDub	Win	MPEG-1,AVI…	N	N	Y
Cyberlink PowerDirector 365	Win	AVI,WMV,MOV…	Y	N	N
Video Toolbox	Win	3GP,AMV,ASF,AVI…	N	N	Y
Format Factory	Win	wmv,asf…	N	N	Y
Movica	Win	wmv,MPEG…	N	N	Y
VEGAS PRO 17	Win	WMV,FLV…	Y	N	Y
Adobe Premiere Pro	Win/Mac	AVI,3GP,SWF…	Y	N	N

Final Thoughts

After listing the above alternatives to Final Cut Pro X, and factors to help you make your decision, you can come up with the best common features and benefits you need the most for your video editing projects.

If you are a beginner and looking to use free video editing software, we highly recommend using ShotCut. This tool is very easy to use, and at the same time has been used widely by professionals, you can definitely start with this software.

If you already have experience in video editing and looking for free or low-budget software to finish your projects, then you can get Lightworks or the Pro version. This software is amazing and was used widely in the professional video editing market that is considered one of the most important alternatives to Final Cut Pro X.

Maybe you are a beginner and don’t mind paying a reasonable price to buy video editing software, in this case, Filmora just fits your needs. It won’t cost you much as a beginner and its friendly user interface will let you edit your videos smoothly with no complicated features like those found in other video editing software. Click the links below to have a try ![Download Win Version](https://images.wondershare.com/filmora/guide/download-btn-win.jpg)

Liza Brown

Liza Brown is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Liza Brown

Liza Brown

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Back in 1999, Apple launched Final Cut Pro, and the software didn’t take so long to become the first choice for video editors and post-production agencies.

Best Free & Paid Final Cut Pro X Alternatives on Windows/ Mac/ Linux

1. Wondershare Filmora

2. Avidemux

Pros as an alternative to FCPX for Windows:

Open-source video editing software and free
A simple interface and easy to use

Cons:

May have problems dealing with some types of formats.

3. VirtualDub

Pros:

Has video capturing option;
Can be extended with third-party video filters;
Has batch-processing capabilities for processing large numbers of files.

Cons:

Outdated UI design.

4. Video Toolbox

Pros:

Supports many video formats;
Different video editing options.

Cons:

Has the size limitation of video (600 MB).

5. Format Factory

Pros:

Supports many video formats;
Basic video editing options.

Cons:

Can’t convert audio files.

6. Movica

Ultimately a little more complicated to use, but very good.

7. Cyberlink PowerDirector 365

Pros:

10 UI languages are supported including French, Dutch, and Korean.
It supports cloud storage for co-working.

Cons:

It only offers a limited learning course.

8. VEGAS PRO 17

Very fast video editing with the newly released version.

9. Adobe Premiere Pro

After checking so many video editing software, I’ve summarized the main features of each video editor listed above. Hope that will help you pick up the best Final Cut Pro for Windows alternatives.

Supported OS	Supported Format	Video Effects	Share to YouTube	Easy to Use
Filmora	Win/Mac	MPEG-1/2,MPEG-4…	Y	Y	Y
Avidemux	Win/Mac/Linux/PC-BSD	AVI,DVD,MP4,ASF…	N	N	Y
VirtualDub	Win	MPEG-1,AVI…	N	N	Y
Cyberlink PowerDirector 365	Win	AVI,WMV,MOV…	Y	N	N
Video Toolbox	Win	3GP,AMV,ASF,AVI…	N	N	Y
Format Factory	Win	wmv,asf…	N	N	Y
Movica	Win	wmv,MPEG…	N	N	Y
VEGAS PRO 17	Win	WMV,FLV…	Y	N	Y
Adobe Premiere Pro	Win/Mac	AVI,3GP,SWF…	Y	N	N

Final Thoughts

Liza Brown

Liza Brown is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Liza Brown

Liza Brown

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Back in 1999, Apple launched Final Cut Pro, and the software didn’t take so long to become the first choice for video editors and post-production agencies.

Best Free & Paid Final Cut Pro X Alternatives on Windows/ Mac/ Linux

1. Wondershare Filmora

2. Avidemux

Pros as an alternative to FCPX for Windows:

Open-source video editing software and free
A simple interface and easy to use

Cons:

May have problems dealing with some types of formats.

3. VirtualDub

Pros:

Has video capturing option;
Can be extended with third-party video filters;
Has batch-processing capabilities for processing large numbers of files.

Cons:

Outdated UI design.

4. Video Toolbox

Pros:

Supports many video formats;
Different video editing options.

Cons:

Has the size limitation of video (600 MB).

5. Format Factory

Pros:

Supports many video formats;
Basic video editing options.

Cons:

Can’t convert audio files.

6. Movica

Ultimately a little more complicated to use, but very good.

7. Cyberlink PowerDirector 365

Pros:

10 UI languages are supported including French, Dutch, and Korean.
It supports cloud storage for co-working.

Cons:

It only offers a limited learning course.

8. VEGAS PRO 17

Very fast video editing with the newly released version.

9. Adobe Premiere Pro

After checking so many video editing software, I’ve summarized the main features of each video editor listed above. Hope that will help you pick up the best Final Cut Pro for Windows alternatives.

Supported OS	Supported Format	Video Effects	Share to YouTube	Easy to Use
Filmora	Win/Mac	MPEG-1/2,MPEG-4…	Y	Y	Y
Avidemux	Win/Mac/Linux/PC-BSD	AVI,DVD,MP4,ASF…	N	N	Y
VirtualDub	Win	MPEG-1,AVI…	N	N	Y
Cyberlink PowerDirector 365	Win	AVI,WMV,MOV…	Y	N	N
Video Toolbox	Win	3GP,AMV,ASF,AVI…	N	N	Y
Format Factory	Win	wmv,asf…	N	N	Y
Movica	Win	wmv,MPEG…	N	N	Y
VEGAS PRO 17	Win	WMV,FLV…	Y	N	Y
Adobe Premiere Pro	Win/Mac	AVI,3GP,SWF…	Y	N	N

Final Thoughts

Liza Brown

Liza Brown is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Liza Brown

Liza Brown

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Back in 1999, Apple launched Final Cut Pro, and the software didn’t take so long to become the first choice for video editors and post-production agencies.

Best Free & Paid Final Cut Pro X Alternatives on Windows/ Mac/ Linux

1. Wondershare Filmora

2. Avidemux

Pros as an alternative to FCPX for Windows:

Open-source video editing software and free
A simple interface and easy to use

Cons:

May have problems dealing with some types of formats.

3. VirtualDub

Pros:

Has video capturing option;
Can be extended with third-party video filters;
Has batch-processing capabilities for processing large numbers of files.

Cons:

Outdated UI design.

4. Video Toolbox

Pros:

Supports many video formats;
Different video editing options.

Cons:

Has the size limitation of video (600 MB).

5. Format Factory

Pros:

Supports many video formats;
Basic video editing options.

Cons:

Can’t convert audio files.

6. Movica

Ultimately a little more complicated to use, but very good.

7. Cyberlink PowerDirector 365

Pros:

10 UI languages are supported including French, Dutch, and Korean.
It supports cloud storage for co-working.

Cons:

It only offers a limited learning course.

8. VEGAS PRO 17

Very fast video editing with the newly released version.

9. Adobe Premiere Pro

After checking so many video editing software, I’ve summarized the main features of each video editor listed above. Hope that will help you pick up the best Final Cut Pro for Windows alternatives.

Supported OS	Supported Format	Video Effects	Share to YouTube	Easy to Use
Filmora	Win/Mac	MPEG-1/2,MPEG-4…	Y	Y	Y
Avidemux	Win/Mac/Linux/PC-BSD	AVI,DVD,MP4,ASF…	N	N	Y
VirtualDub	Win	MPEG-1,AVI…	N	N	Y
Cyberlink PowerDirector 365	Win	AVI,WMV,MOV…	Y	N	N
Video Toolbox	Win	3GP,AMV,ASF,AVI…	N	N	Y
Format Factory	Win	wmv,asf…	N	N	Y
Movica	Win	wmv,MPEG…	N	N	Y
VEGAS PRO 17	Win	WMV,FLV…	Y	N	Y
Adobe Premiere Pro	Win/Mac	AVI,3GP,SWF…	Y	N	N

Final Thoughts

Liza Brown

Liza Brown is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Liza Brown

Top-Rated Motion Graphics Software for Text Tracking

Best Text Motion Tracking Software

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Have you ever been mesmerized by a video with text or emoji’s moving together with objects? That effect is produced using motion tracking and isn’t very complicated. Today, we will introduce some text motion tracking software (free & paid) tools that allow you to pin text to video with minimum effort. There will also be detailed tutorials on how to utilize each tool. Let’s get started.

Best Text Motion Tracking Software [+Howtos]

Note: The list below is in no particular order.

1. Filmora

Pricing: Free (watermark) /starts at $49.99/year

Operating System: Windows & Mac

The newly released Wondershare Filmora X version has added the motion tracking features, which allows you to track moving objects in a video clip, and attach images, texts, elements and videos to follow the movement path.

How to Use Filmora Video Editor To Do Text Motion Tracking?

Import the video footage to the timeline and then click the Motion Track icon in the tool bar to enable the Motion Tracking option.

In the preview window, drag and adjust the tracking box to select a moving object as the target.

Click the Start Tracking menu to start the moton tracking render, and Filmora video editor will compute the moving path automatically
Now, go to the Titles tab and drag a subtitle, titles, lower 3rd, or callout to the track just above the motion-tracked video. Customize your texts, adjust its size, position, etc. in the preview window.

Next, double click the video footage to enter the Motion Track option. Select the title as a follower. Playback the video, and you will see the text will move accordingly.

Below is a step by step video tutorial about how to use the motion tracking feature in Filmora. Keep watching.

2. Premiere Pro CC

Pricing: 14-day trial, minimum $20.99/month

Operating System: Windows, Mac

Adobe Premiere Pro is an industry-leading video editor. Premiere Pro CC has all the editing tools a pro video editor needs.

There is no automatic tracking feature in Premiere Pro to pin text to video. Therefore, you need to manually position your text and add keyframes frame by frame. But the overall effort required and the final result isn’t much different from traditional editors.

How To Do Text Motion Tracking In Premiere Pro CC? [Main Steps]

Import your video to the timeline
Add text by Pressing ‘T’ on your keyboard and clicking on the preview window (your footage)
Change the position & duration of the text layer on the timeline according to the position & duration of motion tracking
Make sure you’re on the frame you want to start tracking from
Click on your text layer → then go to effects controls
Change the position of the text to the point you want to track → click on the stopwatch icon to add a keyframe
Move a few frames forward → adjust the position again → add another keyframe
Don’t put the keyframes too close or too farther apart
Play through to check it out → adjust the position and number of keyframes if any issues arise

The whole process is relatively easy, although tedious. But the process becomes very complicated when you have more dynamic motion in your clip

3. After Effects

Pricing: 7-day trial, $20.99/month (individual)

Operating System: Windows & Mac

Adobe After Effects is an editor that focuses on animation & creative composition. This app has been developed as a companion to Premiere Pro for creating short & flashy motion graphics and visual effects for projects.

Motion tracking in After Effects can be done using the Point Tracker, which has one-point and up to four-point tracking. Other tracking options include the built-in 3D Camera Tracker that lets you reverse engineer a scene and the spline tracker that enables you to track masks on an object. There is also Mocha AE, a planar tracker from BorisFX. The Point Tracker is the most flexible and versatile in After Effects. We’ll use it to pin text to video.

How To Do Text Motion Tracking In After Effects? [Main Steps]

Create a new composition/open an old one and make sure your clip is imported
Create a null object by right-clicking on the window (screenshot below)
Select your clip → click on tracker → click on track motion
Two square boxes will appear
Move the squares to the point you want to track (make sure to select an object with relatively high contrast for easier tracking)
Position the smaller square on the object you want to track
Make the second box is big enough (not too big) so that the tracked object stays within this square in the next frame
Click on the analyze forward button (screenshot above)
If the square box fails to track the object at any frame, reposition it and move on
Make sure motion target is set to null object (e.g., Null 1)
Now add the text
While clicking on the pick whip tool of the text layer, drag it to the null object
Play through to check the result
You can manually change the position of the text in any frame by adjusting its position and adding a keyframe

We’re done. As we stated above, other types of trackers are also available for you to experiment with. The overall tracking functionality is much better than Premiere Pro.

4. Sony Vegas Pro

Pricing: 30-day trial, minimum $19.99/month

Operating System: Windows

Sony Vegas Pro is a non-linear video editor with the so-called “power of Artificial Intelligence.” It is one of the few editors out there that has acquired popularity among professionals and amateurs alike.

Text motion tracking in Vegas Pro is done using Bézier Masking FX (new update introduces a separate tab for motion tracking). The tracking process is automatic. Keyframes are created automatically frame by frame. It isn’t perfect, but it gets the job done in most cases. When it fails to track objects correctly, you can manually edit the keyframes.

How To Do Text Motion Tracking In Sony Vegas Pro? [Main Steps]

Import your video
Click on your video → go to the starting point of text motion tracking
Click on Bézier Masking → drag the default one to your video
A new options tab will appear & a square box with a circle (tracking box) will appear in the preview window
Go to General options → set blend to 1,000
Go to Mask 1 → Tracking → options → set the precision to high → set keyframe interval between 1 & 5
Position the black dot of the tracking box to the point you want to track
Click on start below the keyframe interval option
After processing is complete → go to tools → extensions → add text to motion track → click on ok in the text position tab
Enter your text, edit it if you want
Play through to check the result

Conclusion:

As we’ve seen above, all the editors have some kind of automatic tracking feature, Premiere Pro being the only manual exception. All of them do a reasonably good job when it comes to pinning text to video. Professionals would be more satisfied with the added versatility and control in After Effects. Filmora, Filmora, Vegas Pro and Premiere Pro, on the other hand, are better suited for amateurs.

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Best Text Motion Tracking Software [+Howtos]

Note: The list below is in no particular order.

1. Filmora

Pricing: Free (watermark) /starts at $49.99/year

Operating System: Windows & Mac

How to Use Filmora Video Editor To Do Text Motion Tracking?

Import the video footage to the timeline and then click the Motion Track icon in the tool bar to enable the Motion Tracking option.

In the preview window, drag and adjust the tracking box to select a moving object as the target.

Click the Start Tracking menu to start the moton tracking render, and Filmora video editor will compute the moving path automatically
Now, go to the Titles tab and drag a subtitle, titles, lower 3rd, or callout to the track just above the motion-tracked video. Customize your texts, adjust its size, position, etc. in the preview window.

Next, double click the video footage to enter the Motion Track option. Select the title as a follower. Playback the video, and you will see the text will move accordingly.

Below is a step by step video tutorial about how to use the motion tracking feature in Filmora. Keep watching.

2. Premiere Pro CC

Pricing: 14-day trial, minimum $20.99/month

Operating System: Windows, Mac

Adobe Premiere Pro is an industry-leading video editor. Premiere Pro CC has all the editing tools a pro video editor needs.

How To Do Text Motion Tracking In Premiere Pro CC? [Main Steps]

Import your video to the timeline
Add text by Pressing ‘T’ on your keyboard and clicking on the preview window (your footage)
Change the position & duration of the text layer on the timeline according to the position & duration of motion tracking
Make sure you’re on the frame you want to start tracking from
Click on your text layer → then go to effects controls
Change the position of the text to the point you want to track → click on the stopwatch icon to add a keyframe
Move a few frames forward → adjust the position again → add another keyframe
Don’t put the keyframes too close or too farther apart
Play through to check it out → adjust the position and number of keyframes if any issues arise

The whole process is relatively easy, although tedious. But the process becomes very complicated when you have more dynamic motion in your clip

3. After Effects

Pricing: 7-day trial, $20.99/month (individual)

Operating System: Windows & Mac

How To Do Text Motion Tracking In After Effects? [Main Steps]

Create a new composition/open an old one and make sure your clip is imported
Create a null object by right-clicking on the window (screenshot below)
Select your clip → click on tracker → click on track motion
Two square boxes will appear
Move the squares to the point you want to track (make sure to select an object with relatively high contrast for easier tracking)
Position the smaller square on the object you want to track
Make the second box is big enough (not too big) so that the tracked object stays within this square in the next frame
Click on the analyze forward button (screenshot above)
If the square box fails to track the object at any frame, reposition it and move on
Make sure motion target is set to null object (e.g., Null 1)
Now add the text
While clicking on the pick whip tool of the text layer, drag it to the null object
Play through to check the result
You can manually change the position of the text in any frame by adjusting its position and adding a keyframe

We’re done. As we stated above, other types of trackers are also available for you to experiment with. The overall tracking functionality is much better than Premiere Pro.

4. Sony Vegas Pro

Pricing: 30-day trial, minimum $19.99/month

Operating System: Windows

How To Do Text Motion Tracking In Sony Vegas Pro? [Main Steps]

Import your video
Click on your video → go to the starting point of text motion tracking
Click on Bézier Masking → drag the default one to your video
A new options tab will appear & a square box with a circle (tracking box) will appear in the preview window
Go to General options → set blend to 1,000
Go to Mask 1 → Tracking → options → set the precision to high → set keyframe interval between 1 & 5
Position the black dot of the tracking box to the point you want to track
Click on start below the keyframe interval option
After processing is complete → go to tools → extensions → add text to motion track → click on ok in the text position tab
Enter your text, edit it if you want
Play through to check the result

Conclusion:

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Best Text Motion Tracking Software [+Howtos]

Note: The list below is in no particular order.

1. Filmora

Pricing: Free (watermark) /starts at $49.99/year

Operating System: Windows & Mac

How to Use Filmora Video Editor To Do Text Motion Tracking?

Import the video footage to the timeline and then click the Motion Track icon in the tool bar to enable the Motion Tracking option.

In the preview window, drag and adjust the tracking box to select a moving object as the target.

Click the Start Tracking menu to start the moton tracking render, and Filmora video editor will compute the moving path automatically
Now, go to the Titles tab and drag a subtitle, titles, lower 3rd, or callout to the track just above the motion-tracked video. Customize your texts, adjust its size, position, etc. in the preview window.

Next, double click the video footage to enter the Motion Track option. Select the title as a follower. Playback the video, and you will see the text will move accordingly.

Below is a step by step video tutorial about how to use the motion tracking feature in Filmora. Keep watching.

2. Premiere Pro CC

Pricing: 14-day trial, minimum $20.99/month

Operating System: Windows, Mac

Adobe Premiere Pro is an industry-leading video editor. Premiere Pro CC has all the editing tools a pro video editor needs.

How To Do Text Motion Tracking In Premiere Pro CC? [Main Steps]

Import your video to the timeline
Add text by Pressing ‘T’ on your keyboard and clicking on the preview window (your footage)
Change the position & duration of the text layer on the timeline according to the position & duration of motion tracking
Make sure you’re on the frame you want to start tracking from
Click on your text layer → then go to effects controls
Change the position of the text to the point you want to track → click on the stopwatch icon to add a keyframe
Move a few frames forward → adjust the position again → add another keyframe
Don’t put the keyframes too close or too farther apart
Play through to check it out → adjust the position and number of keyframes if any issues arise

The whole process is relatively easy, although tedious. But the process becomes very complicated when you have more dynamic motion in your clip

3. After Effects

Pricing: 7-day trial, $20.99/month (individual)

Operating System: Windows & Mac

How To Do Text Motion Tracking In After Effects? [Main Steps]

Create a new composition/open an old one and make sure your clip is imported
Create a null object by right-clicking on the window (screenshot below)
Select your clip → click on tracker → click on track motion
Two square boxes will appear
Move the squares to the point you want to track (make sure to select an object with relatively high contrast for easier tracking)
Position the smaller square on the object you want to track
Make the second box is big enough (not too big) so that the tracked object stays within this square in the next frame
Click on the analyze forward button (screenshot above)
If the square box fails to track the object at any frame, reposition it and move on
Make sure motion target is set to null object (e.g., Null 1)
Now add the text
While clicking on the pick whip tool of the text layer, drag it to the null object
Play through to check the result
You can manually change the position of the text in any frame by adjusting its position and adding a keyframe

We’re done. As we stated above, other types of trackers are also available for you to experiment with. The overall tracking functionality is much better than Premiere Pro.

4. Sony Vegas Pro

Pricing: 30-day trial, minimum $19.99/month

Operating System: Windows

How To Do Text Motion Tracking In Sony Vegas Pro? [Main Steps]

Import your video
Click on your video → go to the starting point of text motion tracking
Click on Bézier Masking → drag the default one to your video
A new options tab will appear & a square box with a circle (tracking box) will appear in the preview window
Go to General options → set blend to 1,000
Go to Mask 1 → Tracking → options → set the precision to high → set keyframe interval between 1 & 5
Position the black dot of the tracking box to the point you want to track
Click on start below the keyframe interval option
After processing is complete → go to tools → extensions → add text to motion track → click on ok in the text position tab
Enter your text, edit it if you want
Play through to check the result

Conclusion:

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Best Text Motion Tracking Software [+Howtos]

Note: The list below is in no particular order.

1. Filmora

Pricing: Free (watermark) /starts at $49.99/year

Operating System: Windows & Mac

How to Use Filmora Video Editor To Do Text Motion Tracking?

Import the video footage to the timeline and then click the Motion Track icon in the tool bar to enable the Motion Tracking option.

In the preview window, drag and adjust the tracking box to select a moving object as the target.

Click the Start Tracking menu to start the moton tracking render, and Filmora video editor will compute the moving path automatically
Now, go to the Titles tab and drag a subtitle, titles, lower 3rd, or callout to the track just above the motion-tracked video. Customize your texts, adjust its size, position, etc. in the preview window.

Next, double click the video footage to enter the Motion Track option. Select the title as a follower. Playback the video, and you will see the text will move accordingly.

Below is a step by step video tutorial about how to use the motion tracking feature in Filmora. Keep watching.

2. Premiere Pro CC

Pricing: 14-day trial, minimum $20.99/month

Operating System: Windows, Mac

Adobe Premiere Pro is an industry-leading video editor. Premiere Pro CC has all the editing tools a pro video editor needs.

How To Do Text Motion Tracking In Premiere Pro CC? [Main Steps]

Import your video to the timeline
Add text by Pressing ‘T’ on your keyboard and clicking on the preview window (your footage)
Change the position & duration of the text layer on the timeline according to the position & duration of motion tracking
Make sure you’re on the frame you want to start tracking from
Click on your text layer → then go to effects controls
Change the position of the text to the point you want to track → click on the stopwatch icon to add a keyframe
Move a few frames forward → adjust the position again → add another keyframe
Don’t put the keyframes too close or too farther apart
Play through to check it out → adjust the position and number of keyframes if any issues arise

The whole process is relatively easy, although tedious. But the process becomes very complicated when you have more dynamic motion in your clip

3. After Effects

Pricing: 7-day trial, $20.99/month (individual)

Operating System: Windows & Mac

How To Do Text Motion Tracking In After Effects? [Main Steps]

Create a new composition/open an old one and make sure your clip is imported
Create a null object by right-clicking on the window (screenshot below)
Select your clip → click on tracker → click on track motion
Two square boxes will appear
Move the squares to the point you want to track (make sure to select an object with relatively high contrast for easier tracking)
Position the smaller square on the object you want to track
Make the second box is big enough (not too big) so that the tracked object stays within this square in the next frame
Click on the analyze forward button (screenshot above)
If the square box fails to track the object at any frame, reposition it and move on
Make sure motion target is set to null object (e.g., Null 1)
Now add the text
While clicking on the pick whip tool of the text layer, drag it to the null object
Play through to check the result
You can manually change the position of the text in any frame by adjusting its position and adding a keyframe

We’re done. As we stated above, other types of trackers are also available for you to experiment with. The overall tracking functionality is much better than Premiere Pro.

4. Sony Vegas Pro

Pricing: 30-day trial, minimum $19.99/month

Operating System: Windows

How To Do Text Motion Tracking In Sony Vegas Pro? [Main Steps]

Import your video
Click on your video → go to the starting point of text motion tracking
Click on Bézier Masking → drag the default one to your video
A new options tab will appear & a square box with a circle (tracking box) will appear in the preview window
Go to General options → set blend to 1,000
Go to Mask 1 → Tracking → options → set the precision to high → set keyframe interval between 1 & 5
Position the black dot of the tracking box to the point you want to track
Click on start below the keyframe interval option
After processing is complete → go to tools → extensions → add text to motion track → click on ok in the text position tab
Enter your text, edit it if you want
Play through to check the result

Conclusion:

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ai Driven Video Production

Updated 2024 Approved Professional Results for Free Top 4K Video Editing Software Choices

Professional Results for Free: Top 4K Video Editing Software Choices

In this article

Part 1: Top 5 Best Free 4K Video Editing Software for Windows and Mac

1. iMovie

2. VSDC

3. ShotCut

4. LightWorks

5. Filmora

Part 2: Things You Need to Pay Attention to Run Free 4K Video Editors

Part 3: Tips for Editing 4K Videos Smoothly

Part 1: Top 5 Best Free 4K Video Editing Software for Windows and Mac

1. iMovie

2. VSDC

3. ShotCut

4. LightWorks

5. Filmora

Part 2: Things You Need to Pay Attention to Run Free 4K Video Editors

Part 3: Tips for Editing 4K Videos Smoothly

Part 1: Top 5 Best Free 4K Video Editing Software for Windows and Mac

1. iMovie

2. VSDC

3. ShotCut

4. LightWorks

5. Filmora

Part 2: Things You Need to Pay Attention to Run Free 4K Video Editors

Part 3: Tips for Editing 4K Videos Smoothly

Part 1: Top 5 Best Free 4K Video Editing Software for Windows and Mac

1. iMovie

2. VSDC

3. ShotCut

4. LightWorks

5. Filmora

Part 2: Things You Need to Pay Attention to Run Free 4K Video Editors

Part 3: Tips for Editing 4K Videos Smoothly

Windows Movie Maker for Mac: Top Alternative Video Editing Tools

Part 1: Complete Overview for Windows Movie Maker Mac Equivalents

Part 2: What Can I Use in Place of Windows Movie Maker? [Free & Paid]

1. iMovie

2. Wondershare Filmora

3. Avidemux

4. Lightworks

5. WeVideo

Part 3: Hot FAQs About Windows Movie Maker Mac Equivalent

1. Is Windows Movie Maker like iMovie?

2. Is Video editor better than Movie Maker?

3. Does Windows Movie Maker have a watermark?

Final Words

Part 2: What Can I Use in Place of Windows Movie Maker? [Free & Paid]

1. iMovie

2. Wondershare Filmora

3. Avidemux

4. Lightworks

5. WeVideo

Part 3: Hot FAQs About Windows Movie Maker Mac Equivalent

1. Is Windows Movie Maker like iMovie?

2. Is Video editor better than Movie Maker?

3. Does Windows Movie Maker have a watermark?

Final Words

10 Powerful Video Editing Software Alternatives to Final Cut Pro X

Top Best Final Cut Pro X Alternatives on Windows & Mac & Linux [Free & Paid]

Liza Brown

Best Free & Paid Final Cut Pro X Alternatives on Windows/ Mac/ Linux

1. Wondershare Filmora

2. Avidemux

3. VirtualDub

4. Video Toolbox

5. Format Factory

6. Movica

7. Cyberlink PowerDirector 365

8. VEGAS PRO 17

9. Adobe Premiere Pro

Liza Brown

Best Free & Paid Final Cut Pro X Alternatives on Windows/ Mac/ Linux

1. Wondershare Filmora

2. Avidemux

3. VirtualDub

4. Video Toolbox

5. Format Factory