The 5 Best Free Video Editing Software for PC and Mac in 2026
You have the footage, the music and a rough idea. What you don't have is a monthly fee you're happy to pay just to hit export.
The short answer
DaVinci Resolve Best overallThe best free video editing software for most people is DaVinci Resolve. Its free version puts pro editing, color, effects and audio in one app on Windows, Mac and Linux, with no subscription. For quick social clips with auto captions, use CapCut. Blender is fully free and open source, and Canva suits simple template videos.
We checked every app's store page, prices and privacy label in October 2026, then scored each on 5 things. How we rank
Which one is for you?
Best overallDaVinci ResolveYouTubers and filmmakers who want pro tools without a monthly bill
2
Best for social clipsCapCutCreators posting TikToks, Reels and Shorts who care about speed
3
Best open sourceBlenderAnimators and indie filmmakers who mix animation into their videos
4
Best for quick templatesCanvaNon-editors making slideshows, promos and social videos from templates
5
Best one-time purchaseLumaFusionTablet and Mac editors who'd rather pay once than rent an editor
- DaVinci Resolve is the top pick: editing, color, effects and audio, free on Windows, Mac and Linux.
- CapCut is fastest for social clips. Blender is free and open source, even for paid work.
- LumaFusion isn't free, but one purchase gets you a pro timeline on Mac, iPad and Android.
Search for the best free video editing software, and lots of results turn out to be trials in disguise. The good news: a few truly free editors are strong enough for real projects. The trick is matching one to what you make, from a short documentary to a quick Reel.
Keep reading
All five picks run on a Mac, and all but LumaFusion run on Windows too. LumaFusion is the one paid app here. It's for tablet editors who'd rather pay once than subscribe.
No pick ticks every box.
-
Best overall
1. DaVinci Resolve
1Editing, color, effects and sound in one free app, and most creators never need to pay.
- Free + paid plans
- Mac · Windows · Linux +1
- No subscription
9.3Your travel footage was shot at noon, at dusk and on a gray ferry. None of it matches. Cut the story on DaVinci Resolve's edit page. Then give every clip one look on the color page, all in the same free app.
More about DaVinci Resolve
Fusion handles visual effects, and Fairlight cleans up audio. Its App Store listings say it collects no data. Studio is a one-time upgrade, never a subscription, though most new AI tools live there. The catch: it's hard to learn and wants a powerful computer.
Great forYouTubers and filmmakers who want pro tools without a monthly bill
The catchHard to learn, and it wants a powerful computer
Source: blackmagicdesign.com -
Best for social clips
2. CapCut
0Templates and auto captions turn a pile of clips into a Reel before lunch is over.
- Free + paid plans
- iPhone · Android · Mac +2
8.1The launch clip needs to be on TikTok by five. CapCut was built for that. Start from a trending template, and auto captions type out every word. Remove a messy background without a green screen. Projects sync between the Mac and Windows apps and your phone.
More about CapCut
The free plan covers templates and basic editing, but many popular tools now need a paid plan. Making AI videos uses credits. Its App Store label says identifiers may be used to track you, and it shows ads. Great for quick posts, not for private footage.
Great forCreators posting TikToks, Reels and Shorts who care about speed
The catchPopular tools need a paid plan, and its privacy label lists tracking
Source: App Store -
Best open source
3. Blender
0A full modeling and animation studio with a video editor tucked inside, free for any use.
- Free
- Mac · Windows · Linux
- No subscription
9.1Your short film needs a spinning title, an animated logo and a final cut. You don't want three apps or three bills. Blender's video editor sits next to its modeling and animation tools, so you build the effect and cut the film in one place. Free for any use, even paid work.
More about Blender
There's no account, and online access stays off until you allow it, so it works fully offline. Its Video Sequencer got a big update last year. The catch: it's built for animation first, the screen is crowded, and Macs need Apple silicon.
Great forAnimators and indie filmmakers who mix animation into their videos
The catchAn animation app first, crowded and hard to learn
Source: blender.org -
Best for quick templates
4. Canva
0For the party slideshow or promo clip you need tonight, not a feature film.
- Free + paid plans
- Web · iPhone · Android +2
- No ads
8.5Your sister's engagement party needs a slideshow by Saturday, and you've never opened an editor. Start from a Canva template and drag in photos and clips. Its AI helper can even draft a design. It runs in a browser, so any Windows PC or Mac works.
More about Canva
The free plan covers most everyday projects, and designs open on your phone too. The catch: it's a design tool with video on the side, not a real timeline. Its App Store label lists tracking identifiers, and it can train AI on your content unless you opt out.
Great forNon-editors making slideshows, promos and social videos from templates
The catchNot a real editing timeline, and AI training is on until you opt out
Source: canva.com -
Best one-time purchase
5. LumaFusion
0Not free, and not sorry about it: pay once and a real multitrack timeline is yours.
- Paid
- iPhone · Android · Mac
- No subscription
8.7Half your editing happens on the couch with a tablet. The other half never happens. LumaFusion gives you stacked video and audio tracks, keyframes, color correction and titles on a touch screen. It edits on your device with no account, and you can plug into a bigger screen.
More about LumaFusion
It's the one paid pick, but you buy the core editor once. Multicam, speed ramping and stock media cost extra as add-ons or a Creator Pass. The catch here: no Windows version, and template apps are quicker to learn.
Great forTablet and Mac editors who'd rather pay once than rent an editor
The catchNot free, no Windows version, and multicam costs extra
Source: App Store
Side by side
| # | App | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
DaVinci Resolve |
Best overall |
| 2 |
CapCut |
Best for social clips |
| 3 |
Blender |
Best open source |
| 4 |
Canva |
Best for quick templates |
| 5 |
LumaFusion |
Best one-time purchase |
How to choose
What makes the best free video editing software?
First, check what free really means. DaVinci Resolve and Blender are free to keep, with no subscription. CapCut and Canva are free plans with paid tiers on top. Then check the timeline. You want separate tracks for video, music and titles, not just a trim button.
Then check your computer. DaVinci Resolve and Blender like a powerful machine, and Blender on a Mac needs Apple silicon. CapCut and Canva also run in a browser, which helps on an older laptop.
Is DaVinci Resolve really free, or will you need Studio?
Free is enough for most creators. It edits Ultra HD video, with color, effects and audio and no ads. Studio is a one-time purchase, never a subscription, and adds most new AI tools like IntelliSearch and CineFocus. Upgrade only when you hit one of those limits.
Download DaVinci Resolve if you want one free editor that grows with you, from vlogs to short films. Need a captioned TikTok out the door in ten minutes? CapCut is quicker.
See why DaVinci Resolve is #1Compare the top picks
Questions people ask
What is the best free video editing software for Windows?
DaVinci Resolve is the best free video editing software for Windows, with editing, color, effects and audio in one app. CapCut is faster for short social videos, and Blender is free and open source.
What is the best free video editing software for Mac?
DaVinci Resolve also leads on Mac, and its App Store listing says it collects no data. If you also edit on an iPad, LumaFusion is a one-time purchase that runs on both.
Which free video editor has no watermark?
DaVinci Resolve and Blender are full editors, not trials, and neither stamps a logo on your videos. In Resolve, stick to free-version tools, since Studio-only effects are the exception.
Is DaVinci Resolve or CapCut better?
DaVinci Resolve is better for longer videos and careful color and audio work, and its free version is a complete editor. CapCut is better for speed, with templates and auto captions, but many tools need a paid plan.
