OpenShot

OpenShot is a free, open-source video editor that's been around since 2008 and has been downloaded millions of times. It runs on Linux, Mac, and Windows, making it one of the more accessible options for anyone who doesn't want to pay for software like Filmora or ScreenFlow.

The design goal is simplicity without stripping out capability. You can get started by dragging video, audio, or images directly from your file manager onto the timeline. No complicated import workflows.

Here's what you get out of the box:

• Multi-track timeline – add as many layers as you need for watermarks, background videos, audio tracks, and overlays
• Animation framework – fade, slide, bounce, and animate any element in your project using keyframes
• Video effects engine – remove backgrounds, invert colors, adjust brightness, and apply a range of visual filters
• Time controls – reverse, slow down, or speed up footage, either with presets or animated playback speed
• 3D animated titles – render effects like snow, lens flares, and flying text directly in the editor
• Audio waveform visualization – see your audio as a waveform and optionally include it in the final video export
• Title templates – use built-in templates or build your own from scratch

OpenShot is noticeably different from quick-clip tools like OpenCut or LosslessCut. It's aimed at people who want a full editing environment, not just a trimmer. At the same time, it's less complex than Kdenlive or Shotcut, which makes it a reasonable first stop for beginners.

It's licensed under the GNU GPL v3, so the code is open and the tool stays free.