Best Free Video Editing Software For Mac 2015

The Mac is hugely popular among creative professionals, so it’s no great surprise that there are lots of video editing tools available for it. Whether you just want to add titles, transitions and a soundtrack, or you want to add Hollywood-style effects and access to professional color correction there’s a Mac application that will do the job.

  1. Best Free Video Editing Software For Mac 2015 Torrent
  2. Best Free Video Editing Software For Mac 2015 Laptop
  3. Free Editing Software For Mac
  4. Free Video Editing Software Mac

The really great news is that many of these programs are free. You might expect that free video editing software would have fewer features or produce less professional results than expensive software, but many of the free tools featured here are more than good enough to produce professional-looking movies. The only downside is that they tend to have a steep learning curve and they don’t walk you through the process of editing. However, there are plenty of video on YouTube to help you get started. Here are the best free and paid-for video editing applications for the Mac.

Read about the best video editing apps for Mac here: Best video editing software for Mac myTuner Radio If you like to listen to radio stations try out the myTuner Radio app. Save your favourite. Another best free video editing software for Windows is the OpenShot. Being compatible with Linux, Mac OS as well as Windows, OpenShot shows excellent support. This free video editor is open-source software and has a clean interface that even newbies can master.

Best free video editing software for Mac

Free Video Converter for Mac is one of the simplest and fastest media converters for OS X. It supports almost all video/audio files, and allow you convert to any format and for any device, even. HitFilm Express is a free video editing software with professional-grade VFX tools and everything you need to make awesome content, films or gaming videos. Perfect for beginners, film students, gamers, YouTubers, or any creative without a budget.

Software

1. iMovie

Apple’s consumer focused video editing tool used to only be free if you bought a new Mac. But now everyone can download it free from the Mac App Store. It’s a brilliantly easy to use application. One of its best features are the movie trailer themes that allow you to create amazing cinema-style trailers in a few minutes.

If you want to create your own movies, there are tons of effects, transitions, sound effects and title styles to help you. And it’s easy to import your own audio tracks and photos and add them to your production. If you’re looking for a free video editor for Mac, iMovie could be the only tool you’ll ever need.

2. DaVinci Resolve

If iMovie isn’t for you, give DaVinci Resolve a try. It’s the free version of DaVinci Resolve Studio, but being free doesn’t mean there aren’t many features. It’s loaded with professional tools like some of the best color correction and image stabilization there is. In the free version, you can work at frame rates up to 60fps and export your movie in SD, HD and Ultra HD.

It has a full digital audio workstation for sound editing, meaning you won’t have to leave the app to get the audio just the way you want it. It’s available on the Mac App Store, but if you want the full features of the free version, download it from the Blackmagic website.

3. Lightworks

While DaVinci Resolve gives away lots of its high end features in the free version, the same can’t be said of Lightworks. There’s still plenty here though, including: effects, multicam editing, titling, and a timeline with multiple layers.

There’s also access to royalty-free video and audio content for you to include in your projects. However, output in the free version is restricted to 1080p on Vimeo and 720p on YouTube. And there are no detailed export options for H.264 or MP4. Also, if you want to use the free version for more than seven days, you’ll have to register.

4. OpenShot

OpenShot is an open source video editor with a user interface that’s much simpler than most. That doesn’t mean it’s short of features, though. It has templates for creating titles, effects, the ability to remove the background from your video, and slow motion and time effects. You can also create 3D animated titles and effects, there’s support for unlimited tracks, and for more than 70 languages. The interface isn’t the slickest you’ll ever use, and there have been question marks over its reliability in the past, but it’s definitely worth trying if you want a free video editor for the Mac.

5. Video Editor MovieMator

Video Editor MovieMator allows you to trim, split, move, and merge clips from a variety of different sources. It handles every consumer file format you’re likely to need and can import directly from your iPhone or GoPro. There are lots of built-in effects and transitions, and, of course, you can add titles too.

The interface is simple enough for most people to get to grips with quickly and the real-time preview makes it easy to see exactly how your video is coming along. There is a significant limitation on the free version of the app — exports are listed to videos that are up to five minutes long. Also, there is only one transition and a handful of effects in the free version.

Best paid-for video editors for Mac

1. Final Cut Pro X

Final Cut Pro has come a long way since it was overhauled a few years ago and lost several features that caused lots of criticism to be directed at Apple. The fact that it’s designed by Apple means that it takes full advantage of hardware on the Mac, particularly the Mac Pro and iMac Pro. It pushes their multi-core CPU and GPUs to the maximum.

Features like the Magnetic Timeline 2 and Enhanced Timeline Index may be beyond the needs of most of us, but if you edit videos for a living, you’ll appreciate them. Support for up to 64 camera angles with automatic audio syncing is another feature that makes video professionals lives much easier. And of course, it supports the formats you would expect of a serious video editor including ProRes, RED, and XAVC, as well as H.264 from digital SLR cameras. When it comes to Mac video editing, Final Cut Pro X has all the bases covered.

2. Adobe Premiere Pro CC

Like all of Adobe’s professional products, Premiere Pro is only available as a subscription package and subscribing for a year will cost you almost as much as buying Final Cut Pro X outright. However, if you prefer your video organisation tools and especially the timeline to look and work like a traditional non-linear video editor, you may prefer Premiere Pro over Final Cut’s Magnetic Timeline.

In other respects, Premiere Pro is very similar to its Apple rival, offering a full range of audio editing and color correction tools, as well as effects, support for multiple formats (including Apple’s ProRes) and all the output options you’re likely to need.

One area where Mac users will notice a difference is in rendering performance, particularly on a high-end Mac like a Mac Pro or iMac Pro. Adobe’s application is designed for Mac and PC and so optimized or for the Mac’s multi-core CPU and GPU the way that Final Cut Pro is.

3. Adobe Premiere Elements 2018

The simplest way to describe Premiere Elements is that it is to Premiere Pro what iMovie is to Final Cut Pro. But Elements and iMovie are two very different apps. For a start, while iMovie is free, Elements costs $100. The other main difference is that Elements is set up to automate much of the process of creating your movie masterpieces. So, for example, Quick mode takes the clips and other media you’ve imported and throws them together on the timeline, you can then re-order them, trim them and add transitions and other effects. Even here, however, the emphasis is on letting Elements do the hard work for you. So, press the Fix button and it will apply image stabilization and other ‘fixes.’ If you want to be more involved, a guided mode prompts you with onscreen tips. Of course, if you’d rather work completely manually, you can. Elements doesn’t make it as easy to import media as iMovie does, and you’ll have to download much of its additional content, like music scores, individually.

4. Filmora

FIlmora allows you to import clips from your Mac’s hard drive, a camera, and even from social media accounts. It has a somewhat quirky interface, that may take some getting used to if you’ve used other video editors. But it has plenty to commend it including lots of effects, titling options, and audio controls. It’s neatest feature could be the lighting preset options that allows you to emulate the look of Game of Thrones, Star Wars, or House of Cards at the click of a button.

How to make space for video on your Mac

Working with video editing software means you need lots of free space on your Mac’s main drive — video clips use several gigabytes of space for every hour of content, and that’s before you export the final version. You should also make sure your Mac is running at its optimal speed, you’ll need every ounce of power to render video.

One quick and easy way to both improve your Mac’s performance and clear space on its hard drive is to use CleanMyMac X. CleanMyMac identifies “junk” files that sit on your Mac’s drive, taking up space and slowing it down. It makes removing the files very easy and could claw back tens of gigabytes of space. You can download it free here.

The best video editing software for Mac is, ultimately, the one that does what you need to do in a way that you enjoy working. There’s lots of Mac video editing software, and much of it is free. Take time, try out as many applications as you can and choose the best one for you.

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by Kayla Morrison • 2020-10-28 17:50:26 • Proven solutions

Mac is an excellent computer for both novice and pro users. With it, you can do basic tasks like editing videos and watching movies. But although you can edit videos using the native iMovie, you might still need to install a professional video editor on Mac for the best results. So, if you don’t know where to begin your search for the best free video editor for Mac, check out these eleven options.

Part 1. Best Free Video Editing Software for Mac

Wondershare UniConverter is the most straightforward cross-platform video file editor you can find currently. With this lightweight but powerful program, your video editing tasks will be a cakewalk. You can get started on the drag-and-drop platform that offers advanced features to crop, rotate, cut, flip, apply watermarks, add effects, add captions, and many more. Also, Wondershare UniConverter allows you to choose an output format before saving your edited clip. Overall, it’s the best video editing software for Mac in many aspects.

Wondershare UniConverter - All-in-One Video Converter

  • It supports all standard video file formats like MP4, MOV, MKV, VOB, etc.
  • Best free video editor for Mac to crop, rotate, cut, convert, add subtitles, and more.
  • Download videos from popular sites like YouTube, Dailymotion, Vevo, etc.
  • 30X faster conversion speed than any conventional converters.
  • Edit, enhance & personalize your videos file.
  • Download/record videos from YouTube and other 10,000 video sharing sites.
  • Versatile toolbox combines video metadata, GIF maker, video compressor, and screen recorder.
  • Supported OS: Windows 10/8/7, Mac OS 10.15 (Catalina), 10.14, 10.13, 10.12, 10.11, 10.10, 10.9, 10.8, 10.7, 10.6.

Below are the steps to edit videos on Mac with Wondershare UniConverter:

Step 1 Run Wondershare UniConverter.

First of all, install and run Wondershare Video Editor on your Mac and then click the Video Editor tab on the left pane. Now click one of the editing tools. In this case, I chose the Crop function. Note that after clicking an edit function, you’ll need to import a video file firstly to continue.

Step 2 Edit your video.

On the cropping window, you can now rotate your video and flip it either vertically or horizontally. On the same window, click the tabs at the top to apply effects, add captions, apply watermarks, and adjust audio volume. If you’re satisfied, click the OK.

Step 3 Save your video.

Now choose a new file format for your video on the Output Format menu below the screen. From the format window, click the Video and then select a new file format. You can also click the Device tab and choose a device-optimized format. Finally, hit the Start All button to save your new video.

Part 2. Top 9 Free Video Editing Software for Mac You Should Know

If you’re looking to have multiple options, below are nine other free video editing software for Mac to try out:

1. iMovie

URL: https://www.apple.com/imovie/

Apple iMovie is the most accessible video editing software for Mac users primarily because it comes bundled in your computer OS. If you like editing on the go with your iOS device, this free video editing app should also come in handy. However, I recommend this tool for amateur users because it has limited editing capabilities. But that aside, Apple iMovie can edit your videos by merging, applying effects/filters, and converting.

Pros:

  • Free video editor.
  • Support 4K video editing.
  • Straightforward UI.

Cons:

  • Not for pros.
  • Useless Share to YouTube feature.

2. Avidemux

If you’re running Mac OS X 10.9 or newer, you can download this powerful tool to edit videos for free. Its design is simple enough to allow hassle-free non-linear editing tasks such as applying filters, adding effects, and so on. Also, Avidemux is compatible with most standard video file types like MP4, FLV, MKV, AVI, XviD, DV, TS, etc. But despite all the merits, it lacks support for batch processing.

Pros:

  • Simple UI.
  • Supports multiple video formats.
  • Cross-platform app.

Best Free Video Editing Software For Mac 2015 Torrent

Cons:

  • No batch processing.
  • Confusing cut features.

3. OpenShot

OpenShot is a beautiful alternative to the Wondershare UniConverter because of its quick editing options. This software is free and open-source and runs smoothly on Windows, Linux, and Mac operating systems. With OpenShot, users can easily trim videos, add filters, apply effects, and even add title templates to their videos. Even better, OpenShot exports videos with no watermark whatsoever.

Pros:

  • Free and open-source.
  • No watermarks.
  • Supports 3D animations.

Cons:

  • Frequent lagging and freezing.
  • Limited editing features.

4. Kdenlive

Kdenlive is another free, open-source non-linear video editing app for Mac. Users, whether experts or not, can create and edit beautiful videos on the intuitive UI. It supports all types of video and audio formats on its multitrack platform. Also, Kdenlive has a customizable interface with simple keyboard shortcuts. Other features that you’ll enjoy include an audiometer, waveform, histogram, 2D title maker, and more.

Pros:

  • Automatic backup.
  • Timeline preview.
  • 2D title maker.

Cons:

  • Limited output options.
  • Unstable on Windows.

5. Blender

Best Free Video Editing Software For Mac 2015 Laptop

Blender is one of the most popular and open-source 3D modeling software. This toolset is tailor-made for visual effect technicians, animators, video game designers, and graphic designers. On top of 3D modeling, this program can also edit raster image and unwrap UV. Also, Blender has quality skinning, smoke simulation, soft body simulation, and particle simulation features. Not to forget the frequent software updates.

Pros:

  • A free, open-source software.
  • Multiple editing options.
  • Best for pro editors.

Cons:

  • Can be overwhelming for beginners.
  • Cluttered menus.

6. Davinci Resolve 16

Do you know Davinci Resolve? Well, I don’t blame you because this video editing program plays in another league. Davinci Resolve offers professional 8K editing and audio post-production in its intuitive UI. This revolutionary software has a dual timeline for navigating the edit and trim controls effortlessly. After editing your videos, Davinci Resolve allows you to preview clips quickly with a variable speed timeline. Plus, you can retime, stabilize, add background music, and more.

Pros:

  • Perfect for commercial use.
  • 3D sound effects.
  • Fast processing.

Cons:

  • Confusing interface.
  • Unreliable Windows version.

7. Lightworks

Free Editing Software For Mac

Lightworks has been editing videos in the cinema industry for more than two decades now. With this kind of experience, it’s normal to expect a lot from Lightworks. But don’t be intimidated by the hype because Lightworks comes with a simple and intuitive UI. The simple timeline offers easy editing and trimming tools with real-time productivity. Also, you can directly export videos to Vimeo or YouTube and download royalty-free video and audio content.

Pros:

  • Intuitive UI.
  • Easy editing and trimming timeline.
  • Real-time processing.

Cons:

Free Video Editing Software Mac

  • 720p resolution for the free version.
  • No Mac menu options support.

8. HitFilm Express

HitFilm Express is a free Oscar-level video editing program with unique VFX tools to help you make top-quality films and gaming videos. However, what makes HitFilm Express stand out is its 500+ video effects that you can use to make flashes, explosions, etc. These effects are a rare reserve for advanced but costly programs like Adobe Photoshop. However, you might find the learning curve here a little steep. But once you master the software, it’s one of the best.

Pros:

  • 500+ video effects.
  • Free to use.
  • Powerful video editing functions.

Cons:

  • Lengthy initial load time.
  • Not for green hands.

9. Shortcut

Finally, you can use Shortcut to edit videos professionally on your Mac. This free, open-source app supports multiple video file formats and codecs, thanks to FFmpeg. That aside, the multi-format timeline means that you don’t need to convert your videos firstly before editing on Shortcut. It boasts of impressive features like multiple video effects, neatly arranged UI, multiple format support, and more. And lastly, the multi-format timeline allows you to mix resolutions and frames quickly.

Mac

Pros:

  • Excellent format support.
  • Multi-format platform.
  • Multiple video effects.

Cons:

  • Confusing UI for beginners.
  • A bit costly.

Conclusion

Did I leave out anything? Hope not! With iMovie, all Mac users can edit videos for free. However, I recommend a third-party option like Wondershare UniConverter because iMovie lacks many essential video editing features. With the UniConverter, you'll enjoy an open and straightforward platform with a ton of features.