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"2024 Approved Top 10 Video-Making Apps IPhone, Android Edition"
Top 10 Video-Making Apps: IPhone, Android Edition
FREE 10 Best Intro Maker Apps for iPhone and Android
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
For Win 7 or later (64-bit)
Secure Download
For macOS 10.14 or later
Secure Download
Click here to get Filmora for PC by email
or Try Filmora App for mobile >>>
download filmora app for ios ](https://app.adjust.com/b0k9hf2%5F4bsu85t ) download filmora app for android ](https://app.adjust.com/b0k9hf2%5F4bsu85t )
Smartphone cameras can capture footage in high resolutions, but that doesn’t mean that your videos are going to become an instant hit on social media just because they are recorded in 4K or HD resolution. The opening of a video requires special attention because you only have a short period of time to capture the viewer’s attention.
An intro maker app can help you create perfect openings for the videos you shoot with your iPhone or Android phone. So in this article, we are going to take you through some of the best intro maker apps for iPhones and Androids that may help you improve the quality of the video content you’re sharing on social media.
- Part 1: 5 Best Intro Maker Apps for Android Phones
- Part 2: 5 Apps for Making Intros for YouTube Videos on iPhone
- Part 3: How to Make Intros with iMovie
Part 1: 5 Best Intro Maker Apps for Android Phones
The Google Play Store offers a diverse selection of intro maker apps that are equipped with a broad range of tools you can use to create eye-catching intros. What’s more, you don’t need to have advanced video editing skills in order to use any of the intro maker apps we included in this article. Let’s take a look at what the best intro maker apps for Android phones have to offer.
1. Intro Maker – Outro Maker – Video Ad Creator
Price: Free, but offers in-app purchases
Rating: 4.1
Making an intro for a YouTube video with this app won’t take more than 5 minutes of your time. This intro maker features a huge collection of fully customizable intro templates, while it also allows you to make a new intro from scratch.
All you need to do in order to start making an intro is pick a template, then upload the video and audio footage as well as logos or other images you want to use and then export your project. The app has powerful social sharing capabilities, which enables you to post the intros you create to the social network you choose directly from the app. However, the free version of this intro and outro maker gives you access to a limited selection of templates and it displays ads.
Pros
- Creating an intro doesn’t take a lot of time
- Equipped with a huge template library
- Allows users to add images and audio files to intros
- Excellent social media sharing capabilities
Cons
- You must upgrade to the pro version to remove ads
- A limited selection of video editing tools
2. Legend – Text Animated Maker
Price: Free, but contains ads
Rating: 4.1
If you are looking for a simple way of adding text to a video , then Legend Text Animated Maker may be the right choice for you. This app is designed to help users create awesome text animations and turn them into GIFs or videos.
Making a text animation with Legend is a straightforward process that can be completed in just a few easy steps. You just have to create an editor page, insert the text or pick one of the quotes the app offers, and then select the style of the animation, font, text color, or the background. When done you can proceed to save your creation as a video or GIF file before sharing it on social media or sending it to a friend. The only downside is that the Legend app doesn’t have any video intro or outro options.
Pros
- Offers more than 25 styles of text animations
- Great selection of built-in quotes
- Text animations can be saved as GIF or video files
- No previous experience with animation is required
Cons
- Prone to crashes
- No video editing options
3. Into Maker – Music Intro Video Editor
Price: Free, but offers in-app purchases
Rating: 4.6
With the selection of more than 4000 fully customizable templates, Intro Maker- Music Intro Video Editor is easily one of the best intro makers for Android devices. Themes are organized into categories like Timelapse, Nature, or Love, while you can also choose from a broad range of visual styles including glitch, cartoon, or 3D.
In addition, Intro Maker – Music Intro Video Editor has an audio library that contains hundreds of royalty-free songs and sound effects that can be easily added to all projects you’re working on. Animating text or choosing a font, text color, and adding shadows to the text are just a few among numerous text editing options this app provides.
What’s more, you can choose from more than 140 stickers and emojis that can be added to the intro you’re working on with a single tap.
Pros
- All intro templates are easily customizable
- The Lower Thirds feature makes it easier to add titles and logos to intros
- Rich audio library
- Excellent text animation features
Cons
- All intros produced with the free version of the app are watermarked
- Finding intro templates can be difficult
4. Quik – Free Video Editor for Photos, Clips, Music
Price: Free
Rating: 4.7
Despite being primarily a video editing app for videos recorded with GoPro cameras , Quik also lets you edit videos you recorded with your Android phone. The app is equipped with 23 customizable templates that can also be used to create intros for videos you share on social media.
Moreover, the app lets you arrange video clips in any way you like, while the Smart Cuts feature makes cuts between shots automatically. Quik switches on the audio after it detects a voice and it lets you use songs from its royalty-free music library or upload songs from your collection to create a soundtrack. All videos you edit with this app can be exported in 1080p or 720p resolution and shared to social media directly from Quik.
Pros
- Syncs transitions to the beat automatically
- Offers a wide variety of video templates
- Support nearly all common audio and video file formats
- Videos edited with Quik can be exported in Full HD resolution
Cons
- The app can be too complex to use for inexperienced video editors
5. Videoshop
Price: Free, but offers in-app purchases
Rating: 4.7
Creating an intro or editing an entire video with Videoshop is a fun process that is not going to take much more than a few moments of your time. This video editing app lets you remove all parts of videos you don’t want to include in the project you are working on, while you can also control the playback speed of all videos you edit and create slow-motion or fast-forward videos with ease.
Moreover, you can merge multiple clips into a single video and adjust their brightness, contrast, or saturation. The app also lets you record voiceovers and combine them with the songs or sound effects from the stock library. Videoshop also offers a great selection of animated titles that can make your intros more dynamic and entertaining.
Pros
- No previous video editing experience required
- Excellent audio and video editing options
- A wide selection of animated titles
- Great file-sharing capabilities
Cons
- No automatic editing features
- The app crashes easily
Below is a simple comparison table about the intro make apps for Android mentioned above.
| No. | Intro Maker App | User Rating | Links on Google Play |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Intro Maker - Outro Maker, Video Ad Creator | 4.1 | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.oneintro.intromaker&hl=en |
| 2 | Legend - Text Animated Maker | 4.1 | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.textonvideo.animated.animatedtext&hl=en |
| 3 | Intro Maker - music intro video editor | 4.6 | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ryzenrise.intromaker&hl=en |
| 4 | Quik - Free Video Editor for photos, clips, music | 4.7 | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.stupeflix.replay |
| 5 | Videoshop - Video Editor | 4.7 | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.videoshop.app |
Part 2: Apps for Making Intros for YouTube Videos You Should Try on iPhone
The videos your record with your iPhone can be turned into impressive intros for the videos you share on YouTube and other social networks with the help of an intro maker app. We’ve shortlisted some of the best iPhone apps you can use to create an intro, so let’s take a closer look at their features.
1. Intro Maker for YouTube Studio
Price: Free, but offers in-app purchases
Rating: 4.0
YouTubers who want to produce intros at a professional level from their iPhones can benefit from installing the Intro Maker for YouTube Studio. The app offers thousands of customizable intro templates that fit a broad range of video styles.
You can also add text to each template and select the font, size or adjust its position with ease. In addition, the app offers a variety of visual effects you can use to enhance the footage you included in an intro. The audio library offers a rich selection of royalty-free music you can use for the soundtrack, but you can also import your audio files and use them as a soundtrack for your intro. All videos you create with the free version of this app are going to be watermarked, while the number of intros you can create on a monthly level is going to be limited unless you purchase a monthly or annual subscription.
Pros
- The simple intro creation process
- Excellent text customization capabilities
- Short audio and video upload times
- A rich selection of intro templates
Cons
- The free version of the app watermarks intros
- Limited file sharing options
2. Intro Music Video Movie Maker
Price: Free, but offers in-app purchases
Rating: 4.1
This intro maker grants you access to all tools you are going to need to create a stunning intro that will grab the viewer’s attention. You can choose if you want to create an intro from scratch or customize one of the available intro templates.
Furthermore, the app lets you apply transitions between shots and add text layers to each video clip you want to include in your intro. Creating a soundtrack from the music you import to a project or from the songs featured in the app’s sound library is easy, and it won’t take more than a few minutes of your time. However, you must purchase the annual subscription if you want to create intros with this app on a constant basis.
Pros
- Users can create intros from scratch
- Good audio editing options
- Intro templates can be customized
- Easy to use
Cons
- More expensive than most intro makers
- Limited video editing options
3. Intro Designer Lite – Create Videos for iMovie
Price: Free
Rating: 4.5
Anyone, regardless of how much video editing experience they have can create an intro with Intro Designer Lite. The app works best when used with a video editing app like iMovie since it doesn’t offer any video editing features.
All you need to do in order to make an intro with this app is to select one of the eight available templates, add the footage, customize the text, and export the video. The app lets you export intros in HD quality and share them to Facebook, Instagram, and other popular online destinations or send them via email. Furthermore, you can save all projects you created in Intro Designer Lite and use them to create intros for different videos. The tutorial mode provides support throughout the intro creation process to users who don’t have a lot of video editing experience.
Pros
- All templates are fully customizable
- Equipped with the vector technology that eliminates pixelation of text animations
- Real-time preview
- Intros can be exported in HD resolution
Cons
- No audio editing options
- There are only 8 intro templates to choose from
4. Intro Tube: Vlog Video Maker
Price: Free, but offers in-app purchases
Rating: 4.5
In case you are looking for an app that enables you to create professionally-looking intros in minutes, then Intro Tube: Vlog Video Maker may be the right choice for you. There are more than a thousand intro templates to choose from so that you can create intros that match the style of your vlogs or videos perfectly.
What’s more, the app features an impressive collection of over 700 motion stickers that can be added to your intro with a single tap. The huge selection of titles makes creating text layers easy and you can customize their duration or even apply transitions between two titles. All intros you create with this app can be saved on your iPhone’s camera roll and imported in the video editing app you’re using to create your blog. However, you won’t have access to all of the app’s features if you decide to use its free version.
Pros
- Grants users access to more than a thousand intro templates
- Unlimited title selection
- Offers voiceover recording features
- All templates can be exported in high resolution
Cons
- No social media sharing options
- Accessing all of the app’s features is only possible if you purchase the monthly subscription
5. T-Jam Live Intro Movie Maker
Price: Free, but offers in-app purchases
Rating: 4.5
All you need to do to start making an intro with T-Jam Live is to select a template and insert the text, and the app will do all the heavy lifting for you. The best part is that you can upload your music so that you can match the intro’s soundtrack with the rest of the video.
The app’s Layouter makes customizing the text a simple task since it allows you to choose the font or the size of the text or change its on-screen position. All intros you create with T-Jam can be exported in HD resolution and imported in iMovie or any other video editing app you’re using to edit videos from your iPhone. However, you must upgrade to T-Jam Pro if you want to have access to all features this app has to offer.
Pros
- Powerful 3D text motion graphics
- Offers a wide range of gestures
- The video files you create with T-Jam can be imported in any iOS-based video editing app
- Quick intro template customization process
Cons
- Upgrading to the pro version is necessary if you want to create videos with this app on a regular basis
- Audio editing options can be better
Below is a simple comparison table about the intro make apps for iPhones.
| No. | Intro Maker App | User Rating | Links on App Store |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Intro Designer Lite - Create Intros for iMovie | 4.5 | https://apps.apple.com/us/app/intro-designer-lite-create-intros-for-imovie/id488748114 |
| 2 | Intro Tube: Vlog Video Maker | 4.5 | https://apps.apple.com/us/app/intro-tube-vlog-video-maker/id1358216337 |
| 3 | Intro Music Video, Movie Maker | 4.1 | https://apps.apple.com/us/app/intro-music-video-movie-maker/id1187893193 |
| 4 | Intro Maker For Youtube Studio | 4 | https://apps.apple.com/us/app/intro-maker-for-youtube-studio/id1434300554 |
| 5 | T-Jam Live Intro Movie Maker | 4.5 | https://apps.apple.com/us/app/t-jam-live-intro-movie-maker/id1348641765 |
Part 3: How to Make Intros with iMovie on iPhone
YouTubers who don’t want to install any third-party intro maker on their iPhones can create an intro for their video with iMovie. However, the process can be a bit technical while the results you are going to get may not be visually impressive.
The first thing you will need to do is create a new project, and select a photo you are going to use as a background. Once you place the photo onto the timeline and set its duration you can proceed to export it as a video.
You can skip this step if you want to use a video file you recorded with on your own as the background for the intro. In either case, you will have to import the video files you want to use to make an intro into a project you’re working on and place them on the timeline.
You can then proceed to create a text box and insert the text you want to appear in the intro. Optionally you can apply transitions between the video clips you included in your intro or add music that matches the intro’s style. Preview the intro to make sure that you like the final result and continue working on other parts of your video.
You can also check the guide to know how to create video trailers in iMovie .
Conclusion
An intro can slowly introduce the topic the video covers and it can spark the viewer’s attention. Fortunately, there are so many different intro makers you can use to create awesome action-packed intros that are fun to watch.
Moreover, you don’t need to be a seasoned video editor in order to use any of the intro maker apps we mentioned in this article since they offer easily customizable templates that enable you to create intros in minutes. Which of the intro maker apps for iPhones and Androids are you going to choose? Leave a comment and let us know.
For Win 7 or later (64-bit)
Secure Download
For macOS 10.14 or later
Secure Download
Click here to get Filmora for PC by email
or Try Filmora App for mobile >>>
download filmora app for ios ](https://app.adjust.com/b0k9hf2%5F4bsu85t ) download filmora app for android ](https://app.adjust.com/b0k9hf2%5F4bsu85t )
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
For Win 7 or later (64-bit)
Secure Download
For macOS 10.14 or later
Secure Download
Click here to get Filmora for PC by email
or Try Filmora App for mobile >>>
download filmora app for ios ](https://app.adjust.com/b0k9hf2%5F4bsu85t ) download filmora app for android ](https://app.adjust.com/b0k9hf2%5F4bsu85t )
Smartphone cameras can capture footage in high resolutions, but that doesn’t mean that your videos are going to become an instant hit on social media just because they are recorded in 4K or HD resolution. The opening of a video requires special attention because you only have a short period of time to capture the viewer’s attention.
An intro maker app can help you create perfect openings for the videos you shoot with your iPhone or Android phone. So in this article, we are going to take you through some of the best intro maker apps for iPhones and Androids that may help you improve the quality of the video content you’re sharing on social media.
- Part 1: 5 Best Intro Maker Apps for Android Phones
- Part 2: 5 Apps for Making Intros for YouTube Videos on iPhone
- Part 3: How to Make Intros with iMovie
Part 1: 5 Best Intro Maker Apps for Android Phones
The Google Play Store offers a diverse selection of intro maker apps that are equipped with a broad range of tools you can use to create eye-catching intros. What’s more, you don’t need to have advanced video editing skills in order to use any of the intro maker apps we included in this article. Let’s take a look at what the best intro maker apps for Android phones have to offer.
1. Intro Maker – Outro Maker – Video Ad Creator
Price: Free, but offers in-app purchases
Rating: 4.1
Making an intro for a YouTube video with this app won’t take more than 5 minutes of your time. This intro maker features a huge collection of fully customizable intro templates, while it also allows you to make a new intro from scratch.
All you need to do in order to start making an intro is pick a template, then upload the video and audio footage as well as logos or other images you want to use and then export your project. The app has powerful social sharing capabilities, which enables you to post the intros you create to the social network you choose directly from the app. However, the free version of this intro and outro maker gives you access to a limited selection of templates and it displays ads.
Pros
- Creating an intro doesn’t take a lot of time
- Equipped with a huge template library
- Allows users to add images and audio files to intros
- Excellent social media sharing capabilities
Cons
- You must upgrade to the pro version to remove ads
- A limited selection of video editing tools
2. Legend – Text Animated Maker
Price: Free, but contains ads
Rating: 4.1
If you are looking for a simple way of adding text to a video , then Legend Text Animated Maker may be the right choice for you. This app is designed to help users create awesome text animations and turn them into GIFs or videos.
Making a text animation with Legend is a straightforward process that can be completed in just a few easy steps. You just have to create an editor page, insert the text or pick one of the quotes the app offers, and then select the style of the animation, font, text color, or the background. When done you can proceed to save your creation as a video or GIF file before sharing it on social media or sending it to a friend. The only downside is that the Legend app doesn’t have any video intro or outro options.
Pros
- Offers more than 25 styles of text animations
- Great selection of built-in quotes
- Text animations can be saved as GIF or video files
- No previous experience with animation is required
Cons
- Prone to crashes
- No video editing options
3. Into Maker – Music Intro Video Editor
Price: Free, but offers in-app purchases
Rating: 4.6
With the selection of more than 4000 fully customizable templates, Intro Maker- Music Intro Video Editor is easily one of the best intro makers for Android devices. Themes are organized into categories like Timelapse, Nature, or Love, while you can also choose from a broad range of visual styles including glitch, cartoon, or 3D.
In addition, Intro Maker – Music Intro Video Editor has an audio library that contains hundreds of royalty-free songs and sound effects that can be easily added to all projects you’re working on. Animating text or choosing a font, text color, and adding shadows to the text are just a few among numerous text editing options this app provides.
What’s more, you can choose from more than 140 stickers and emojis that can be added to the intro you’re working on with a single tap.
Pros
- All intro templates are easily customizable
- The Lower Thirds feature makes it easier to add titles and logos to intros
- Rich audio library
- Excellent text animation features
Cons
- All intros produced with the free version of the app are watermarked
- Finding intro templates can be difficult
4. Quik – Free Video Editor for Photos, Clips, Music
Price: Free
Rating: 4.7
Despite being primarily a video editing app for videos recorded with GoPro cameras , Quik also lets you edit videos you recorded with your Android phone. The app is equipped with 23 customizable templates that can also be used to create intros for videos you share on social media.
Moreover, the app lets you arrange video clips in any way you like, while the Smart Cuts feature makes cuts between shots automatically. Quik switches on the audio after it detects a voice and it lets you use songs from its royalty-free music library or upload songs from your collection to create a soundtrack. All videos you edit with this app can be exported in 1080p or 720p resolution and shared to social media directly from Quik.
Pros
- Syncs transitions to the beat automatically
- Offers a wide variety of video templates
- Support nearly all common audio and video file formats
- Videos edited with Quik can be exported in Full HD resolution
Cons
- The app can be too complex to use for inexperienced video editors
5. Videoshop
Price: Free, but offers in-app purchases
Rating: 4.7
Creating an intro or editing an entire video with Videoshop is a fun process that is not going to take much more than a few moments of your time. This video editing app lets you remove all parts of videos you don’t want to include in the project you are working on, while you can also control the playback speed of all videos you edit and create slow-motion or fast-forward videos with ease.
Moreover, you can merge multiple clips into a single video and adjust their brightness, contrast, or saturation. The app also lets you record voiceovers and combine them with the songs or sound effects from the stock library. Videoshop also offers a great selection of animated titles that can make your intros more dynamic and entertaining.
Pros
- No previous video editing experience required
- Excellent audio and video editing options
- A wide selection of animated titles
- Great file-sharing capabilities
Cons
- No automatic editing features
- The app crashes easily
Below is a simple comparison table about the intro make apps for Android mentioned above.
| No. | Intro Maker App | User Rating | Links on Google Play |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Intro Maker - Outro Maker, Video Ad Creator | 4.1 | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.oneintro.intromaker&hl=en |
| 2 | Legend - Text Animated Maker | 4.1 | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.textonvideo.animated.animatedtext&hl=en |
| 3 | Intro Maker - music intro video editor | 4.6 | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ryzenrise.intromaker&hl=en |
| 4 | Quik - Free Video Editor for photos, clips, music | 4.7 | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.stupeflix.replay |
| 5 | Videoshop - Video Editor | 4.7 | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.videoshop.app |
Part 2: Apps for Making Intros for YouTube Videos You Should Try on iPhone
The videos your record with your iPhone can be turned into impressive intros for the videos you share on YouTube and other social networks with the help of an intro maker app. We’ve shortlisted some of the best iPhone apps you can use to create an intro, so let’s take a closer look at their features.
1. Intro Maker for YouTube Studio
Price: Free, but offers in-app purchases
Rating: 4.0
YouTubers who want to produce intros at a professional level from their iPhones can benefit from installing the Intro Maker for YouTube Studio. The app offers thousands of customizable intro templates that fit a broad range of video styles.
You can also add text to each template and select the font, size or adjust its position with ease. In addition, the app offers a variety of visual effects you can use to enhance the footage you included in an intro. The audio library offers a rich selection of royalty-free music you can use for the soundtrack, but you can also import your audio files and use them as a soundtrack for your intro. All videos you create with the free version of this app are going to be watermarked, while the number of intros you can create on a monthly level is going to be limited unless you purchase a monthly or annual subscription.
Pros
- The simple intro creation process
- Excellent text customization capabilities
- Short audio and video upload times
- A rich selection of intro templates
Cons
- The free version of the app watermarks intros
- Limited file sharing options
2. Intro Music Video Movie Maker
Price: Free, but offers in-app purchases
Rating: 4.1
This intro maker grants you access to all tools you are going to need to create a stunning intro that will grab the viewer’s attention. You can choose if you want to create an intro from scratch or customize one of the available intro templates.
Furthermore, the app lets you apply transitions between shots and add text layers to each video clip you want to include in your intro. Creating a soundtrack from the music you import to a project or from the songs featured in the app’s sound library is easy, and it won’t take more than a few minutes of your time. However, you must purchase the annual subscription if you want to create intros with this app on a constant basis.
Pros
- Users can create intros from scratch
- Good audio editing options
- Intro templates can be customized
- Easy to use
Cons
- More expensive than most intro makers
- Limited video editing options
3. Intro Designer Lite – Create Videos for iMovie
Price: Free
Rating: 4.5
Anyone, regardless of how much video editing experience they have can create an intro with Intro Designer Lite. The app works best when used with a video editing app like iMovie since it doesn’t offer any video editing features.
All you need to do in order to make an intro with this app is to select one of the eight available templates, add the footage, customize the text, and export the video. The app lets you export intros in HD quality and share them to Facebook, Instagram, and other popular online destinations or send them via email. Furthermore, you can save all projects you created in Intro Designer Lite and use them to create intros for different videos. The tutorial mode provides support throughout the intro creation process to users who don’t have a lot of video editing experience.
Pros
- All templates are fully customizable
- Equipped with the vector technology that eliminates pixelation of text animations
- Real-time preview
- Intros can be exported in HD resolution
Cons
- No audio editing options
- There are only 8 intro templates to choose from
4. Intro Tube: Vlog Video Maker
Price: Free, but offers in-app purchases
Rating: 4.5
In case you are looking for an app that enables you to create professionally-looking intros in minutes, then Intro Tube: Vlog Video Maker may be the right choice for you. There are more than a thousand intro templates to choose from so that you can create intros that match the style of your vlogs or videos perfectly.
What’s more, the app features an impressive collection of over 700 motion stickers that can be added to your intro with a single tap. The huge selection of titles makes creating text layers easy and you can customize their duration or even apply transitions between two titles. All intros you create with this app can be saved on your iPhone’s camera roll and imported in the video editing app you’re using to create your blog. However, you won’t have access to all of the app’s features if you decide to use its free version.
Pros
- Grants users access to more than a thousand intro templates
- Unlimited title selection
- Offers voiceover recording features
- All templates can be exported in high resolution
Cons
- No social media sharing options
- Accessing all of the app’s features is only possible if you purchase the monthly subscription
5. T-Jam Live Intro Movie Maker
Price: Free, but offers in-app purchases
Rating: 4.5
All you need to do to start making an intro with T-Jam Live is to select a template and insert the text, and the app will do all the heavy lifting for you. The best part is that you can upload your music so that you can match the intro’s soundtrack with the rest of the video.
The app’s Layouter makes customizing the text a simple task since it allows you to choose the font or the size of the text or change its on-screen position. All intros you create with T-Jam can be exported in HD resolution and imported in iMovie or any other video editing app you’re using to edit videos from your iPhone. However, you must upgrade to T-Jam Pro if you want to have access to all features this app has to offer.
Pros
- Powerful 3D text motion graphics
- Offers a wide range of gestures
- The video files you create with T-Jam can be imported in any iOS-based video editing app
- Quick intro template customization process
Cons
- Upgrading to the pro version is necessary if you want to create videos with this app on a regular basis
- Audio editing options can be better
Below is a simple comparison table about the intro make apps for iPhones.
| No. | Intro Maker App | User Rating | Links on App Store |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Intro Designer Lite - Create Intros for iMovie | 4.5 | https://apps.apple.com/us/app/intro-designer-lite-create-intros-for-imovie/id488748114 |
| 2 | Intro Tube: Vlog Video Maker | 4.5 | https://apps.apple.com/us/app/intro-tube-vlog-video-maker/id1358216337 |
| 3 | Intro Music Video, Movie Maker | 4.1 | https://apps.apple.com/us/app/intro-music-video-movie-maker/id1187893193 |
| 4 | Intro Maker For Youtube Studio | 4 | https://apps.apple.com/us/app/intro-maker-for-youtube-studio/id1434300554 |
| 5 | T-Jam Live Intro Movie Maker | 4.5 | https://apps.apple.com/us/app/t-jam-live-intro-movie-maker/id1348641765 |
Part 3: How to Make Intros with iMovie on iPhone
YouTubers who don’t want to install any third-party intro maker on their iPhones can create an intro for their video with iMovie. However, the process can be a bit technical while the results you are going to get may not be visually impressive.
The first thing you will need to do is create a new project, and select a photo you are going to use as a background. Once you place the photo onto the timeline and set its duration you can proceed to export it as a video.
You can skip this step if you want to use a video file you recorded with on your own as the background for the intro. In either case, you will have to import the video files you want to use to make an intro into a project you’re working on and place them on the timeline.
You can then proceed to create a text box and insert the text you want to appear in the intro. Optionally you can apply transitions between the video clips you included in your intro or add music that matches the intro’s style. Preview the intro to make sure that you like the final result and continue working on other parts of your video.
You can also check the guide to know how to create video trailers in iMovie .
Conclusion
An intro can slowly introduce the topic the video covers and it can spark the viewer’s attention. Fortunately, there are so many different intro makers you can use to create awesome action-packed intros that are fun to watch.
Moreover, you don’t need to be a seasoned video editor in order to use any of the intro maker apps we mentioned in this article since they offer easily customizable templates that enable you to create intros in minutes. Which of the intro maker apps for iPhones and Androids are you going to choose? Leave a comment and let us know.
For Win 7 or later (64-bit)
Secure Download
For macOS 10.14 or later
Secure Download
Click here to get Filmora for PC by email
or Try Filmora App for mobile >>>
download filmora app for ios ](https://app.adjust.com/b0k9hf2%5F4bsu85t ) download filmora app for android ](https://app.adjust.com/b0k9hf2%5F4bsu85t )
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
For Win 7 or later (64-bit)
Secure Download
For macOS 10.14 or later
Secure Download
Click here to get Filmora for PC by email
or Try Filmora App for mobile >>>
download filmora app for ios ](https://app.adjust.com/b0k9hf2%5F4bsu85t ) download filmora app for android ](https://app.adjust.com/b0k9hf2%5F4bsu85t )
Smartphone cameras can capture footage in high resolutions, but that doesn’t mean that your videos are going to become an instant hit on social media just because they are recorded in 4K or HD resolution. The opening of a video requires special attention because you only have a short period of time to capture the viewer’s attention.
An intro maker app can help you create perfect openings for the videos you shoot with your iPhone or Android phone. So in this article, we are going to take you through some of the best intro maker apps for iPhones and Androids that may help you improve the quality of the video content you’re sharing on social media.
- Part 1: 5 Best Intro Maker Apps for Android Phones
- Part 2: 5 Apps for Making Intros for YouTube Videos on iPhone
- Part 3: How to Make Intros with iMovie
Part 1: 5 Best Intro Maker Apps for Android Phones
The Google Play Store offers a diverse selection of intro maker apps that are equipped with a broad range of tools you can use to create eye-catching intros. What’s more, you don’t need to have advanced video editing skills in order to use any of the intro maker apps we included in this article. Let’s take a look at what the best intro maker apps for Android phones have to offer.
1. Intro Maker – Outro Maker – Video Ad Creator
Price: Free, but offers in-app purchases
Rating: 4.1
Making an intro for a YouTube video with this app won’t take more than 5 minutes of your time. This intro maker features a huge collection of fully customizable intro templates, while it also allows you to make a new intro from scratch.
All you need to do in order to start making an intro is pick a template, then upload the video and audio footage as well as logos or other images you want to use and then export your project. The app has powerful social sharing capabilities, which enables you to post the intros you create to the social network you choose directly from the app. However, the free version of this intro and outro maker gives you access to a limited selection of templates and it displays ads.
Pros
- Creating an intro doesn’t take a lot of time
- Equipped with a huge template library
- Allows users to add images and audio files to intros
- Excellent social media sharing capabilities
Cons
- You must upgrade to the pro version to remove ads
- A limited selection of video editing tools
2. Legend – Text Animated Maker
Price: Free, but contains ads
Rating: 4.1
If you are looking for a simple way of adding text to a video , then Legend Text Animated Maker may be the right choice for you. This app is designed to help users create awesome text animations and turn them into GIFs or videos.
Making a text animation with Legend is a straightforward process that can be completed in just a few easy steps. You just have to create an editor page, insert the text or pick one of the quotes the app offers, and then select the style of the animation, font, text color, or the background. When done you can proceed to save your creation as a video or GIF file before sharing it on social media or sending it to a friend. The only downside is that the Legend app doesn’t have any video intro or outro options.
Pros
- Offers more than 25 styles of text animations
- Great selection of built-in quotes
- Text animations can be saved as GIF or video files
- No previous experience with animation is required
Cons
- Prone to crashes
- No video editing options
3. Into Maker – Music Intro Video Editor
Price: Free, but offers in-app purchases
Rating: 4.6
With the selection of more than 4000 fully customizable templates, Intro Maker- Music Intro Video Editor is easily one of the best intro makers for Android devices. Themes are organized into categories like Timelapse, Nature, or Love, while you can also choose from a broad range of visual styles including glitch, cartoon, or 3D.
In addition, Intro Maker – Music Intro Video Editor has an audio library that contains hundreds of royalty-free songs and sound effects that can be easily added to all projects you’re working on. Animating text or choosing a font, text color, and adding shadows to the text are just a few among numerous text editing options this app provides.
What’s more, you can choose from more than 140 stickers and emojis that can be added to the intro you’re working on with a single tap.
Pros
- All intro templates are easily customizable
- The Lower Thirds feature makes it easier to add titles and logos to intros
- Rich audio library
- Excellent text animation features
Cons
- All intros produced with the free version of the app are watermarked
- Finding intro templates can be difficult
4. Quik – Free Video Editor for Photos, Clips, Music
Price: Free
Rating: 4.7
Despite being primarily a video editing app for videos recorded with GoPro cameras , Quik also lets you edit videos you recorded with your Android phone. The app is equipped with 23 customizable templates that can also be used to create intros for videos you share on social media.
Moreover, the app lets you arrange video clips in any way you like, while the Smart Cuts feature makes cuts between shots automatically. Quik switches on the audio after it detects a voice and it lets you use songs from its royalty-free music library or upload songs from your collection to create a soundtrack. All videos you edit with this app can be exported in 1080p or 720p resolution and shared to social media directly from Quik.
Pros
- Syncs transitions to the beat automatically
- Offers a wide variety of video templates
- Support nearly all common audio and video file formats
- Videos edited with Quik can be exported in Full HD resolution
Cons
- The app can be too complex to use for inexperienced video editors
5. Videoshop
Price: Free, but offers in-app purchases
Rating: 4.7
Creating an intro or editing an entire video with Videoshop is a fun process that is not going to take much more than a few moments of your time. This video editing app lets you remove all parts of videos you don’t want to include in the project you are working on, while you can also control the playback speed of all videos you edit and create slow-motion or fast-forward videos with ease.
Moreover, you can merge multiple clips into a single video and adjust their brightness, contrast, or saturation. The app also lets you record voiceovers and combine them with the songs or sound effects from the stock library. Videoshop also offers a great selection of animated titles that can make your intros more dynamic and entertaining.
Pros
- No previous video editing experience required
- Excellent audio and video editing options
- A wide selection of animated titles
- Great file-sharing capabilities
Cons
- No automatic editing features
- The app crashes easily
Below is a simple comparison table about the intro make apps for Android mentioned above.
| No. | Intro Maker App | User Rating | Links on Google Play |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Intro Maker - Outro Maker, Video Ad Creator | 4.1 | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.oneintro.intromaker&hl=en |
| 2 | Legend - Text Animated Maker | 4.1 | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.textonvideo.animated.animatedtext&hl=en |
| 3 | Intro Maker - music intro video editor | 4.6 | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ryzenrise.intromaker&hl=en |
| 4 | Quik - Free Video Editor for photos, clips, music | 4.7 | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.stupeflix.replay |
| 5 | Videoshop - Video Editor | 4.7 | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.videoshop.app |
Part 2: Apps for Making Intros for YouTube Videos You Should Try on iPhone
The videos your record with your iPhone can be turned into impressive intros for the videos you share on YouTube and other social networks with the help of an intro maker app. We’ve shortlisted some of the best iPhone apps you can use to create an intro, so let’s take a closer look at their features.
1. Intro Maker for YouTube Studio
Price: Free, but offers in-app purchases
Rating: 4.0
YouTubers who want to produce intros at a professional level from their iPhones can benefit from installing the Intro Maker for YouTube Studio. The app offers thousands of customizable intro templates that fit a broad range of video styles.
You can also add text to each template and select the font, size or adjust its position with ease. In addition, the app offers a variety of visual effects you can use to enhance the footage you included in an intro. The audio library offers a rich selection of royalty-free music you can use for the soundtrack, but you can also import your audio files and use them as a soundtrack for your intro. All videos you create with the free version of this app are going to be watermarked, while the number of intros you can create on a monthly level is going to be limited unless you purchase a monthly or annual subscription.
Pros
- The simple intro creation process
- Excellent text customization capabilities
- Short audio and video upload times
- A rich selection of intro templates
Cons
- The free version of the app watermarks intros
- Limited file sharing options
2. Intro Music Video Movie Maker
Price: Free, but offers in-app purchases
Rating: 4.1
This intro maker grants you access to all tools you are going to need to create a stunning intro that will grab the viewer’s attention. You can choose if you want to create an intro from scratch or customize one of the available intro templates.
Furthermore, the app lets you apply transitions between shots and add text layers to each video clip you want to include in your intro. Creating a soundtrack from the music you import to a project or from the songs featured in the app’s sound library is easy, and it won’t take more than a few minutes of your time. However, you must purchase the annual subscription if you want to create intros with this app on a constant basis.
Pros
- Users can create intros from scratch
- Good audio editing options
- Intro templates can be customized
- Easy to use
Cons
- More expensive than most intro makers
- Limited video editing options
3. Intro Designer Lite – Create Videos for iMovie
Price: Free
Rating: 4.5
Anyone, regardless of how much video editing experience they have can create an intro with Intro Designer Lite. The app works best when used with a video editing app like iMovie since it doesn’t offer any video editing features.
All you need to do in order to make an intro with this app is to select one of the eight available templates, add the footage, customize the text, and export the video. The app lets you export intros in HD quality and share them to Facebook, Instagram, and other popular online destinations or send them via email. Furthermore, you can save all projects you created in Intro Designer Lite and use them to create intros for different videos. The tutorial mode provides support throughout the intro creation process to users who don’t have a lot of video editing experience.
Pros
- All templates are fully customizable
- Equipped with the vector technology that eliminates pixelation of text animations
- Real-time preview
- Intros can be exported in HD resolution
Cons
- No audio editing options
- There are only 8 intro templates to choose from
4. Intro Tube: Vlog Video Maker
Price: Free, but offers in-app purchases
Rating: 4.5
In case you are looking for an app that enables you to create professionally-looking intros in minutes, then Intro Tube: Vlog Video Maker may be the right choice for you. There are more than a thousand intro templates to choose from so that you can create intros that match the style of your vlogs or videos perfectly.
What’s more, the app features an impressive collection of over 700 motion stickers that can be added to your intro with a single tap. The huge selection of titles makes creating text layers easy and you can customize their duration or even apply transitions between two titles. All intros you create with this app can be saved on your iPhone’s camera roll and imported in the video editing app you’re using to create your blog. However, you won’t have access to all of the app’s features if you decide to use its free version.
Pros
- Grants users access to more than a thousand intro templates
- Unlimited title selection
- Offers voiceover recording features
- All templates can be exported in high resolution
Cons
- No social media sharing options
- Accessing all of the app’s features is only possible if you purchase the monthly subscription
5. T-Jam Live Intro Movie Maker
Price: Free, but offers in-app purchases
Rating: 4.5
All you need to do to start making an intro with T-Jam Live is to select a template and insert the text, and the app will do all the heavy lifting for you. The best part is that you can upload your music so that you can match the intro’s soundtrack with the rest of the video.
The app’s Layouter makes customizing the text a simple task since it allows you to choose the font or the size of the text or change its on-screen position. All intros you create with T-Jam can be exported in HD resolution and imported in iMovie or any other video editing app you’re using to edit videos from your iPhone. However, you must upgrade to T-Jam Pro if you want to have access to all features this app has to offer.
Pros
- Powerful 3D text motion graphics
- Offers a wide range of gestures
- The video files you create with T-Jam can be imported in any iOS-based video editing app
- Quick intro template customization process
Cons
- Upgrading to the pro version is necessary if you want to create videos with this app on a regular basis
- Audio editing options can be better
Below is a simple comparison table about the intro make apps for iPhones.
| No. | Intro Maker App | User Rating | Links on App Store |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Intro Designer Lite - Create Intros for iMovie | 4.5 | https://apps.apple.com/us/app/intro-designer-lite-create-intros-for-imovie/id488748114 |
| 2 | Intro Tube: Vlog Video Maker | 4.5 | https://apps.apple.com/us/app/intro-tube-vlog-video-maker/id1358216337 |
| 3 | Intro Music Video, Movie Maker | 4.1 | https://apps.apple.com/us/app/intro-music-video-movie-maker/id1187893193 |
| 4 | Intro Maker For Youtube Studio | 4 | https://apps.apple.com/us/app/intro-maker-for-youtube-studio/id1434300554 |
| 5 | T-Jam Live Intro Movie Maker | 4.5 | https://apps.apple.com/us/app/t-jam-live-intro-movie-maker/id1348641765 |
Part 3: How to Make Intros with iMovie on iPhone
YouTubers who don’t want to install any third-party intro maker on their iPhones can create an intro for their video with iMovie. However, the process can be a bit technical while the results you are going to get may not be visually impressive.
The first thing you will need to do is create a new project, and select a photo you are going to use as a background. Once you place the photo onto the timeline and set its duration you can proceed to export it as a video.
You can skip this step if you want to use a video file you recorded with on your own as the background for the intro. In either case, you will have to import the video files you want to use to make an intro into a project you’re working on and place them on the timeline.
You can then proceed to create a text box and insert the text you want to appear in the intro. Optionally you can apply transitions between the video clips you included in your intro or add music that matches the intro’s style. Preview the intro to make sure that you like the final result and continue working on other parts of your video.
You can also check the guide to know how to create video trailers in iMovie .
Conclusion
An intro can slowly introduce the topic the video covers and it can spark the viewer’s attention. Fortunately, there are so many different intro makers you can use to create awesome action-packed intros that are fun to watch.
Moreover, you don’t need to be a seasoned video editor in order to use any of the intro maker apps we mentioned in this article since they offer easily customizable templates that enable you to create intros in minutes. Which of the intro maker apps for iPhones and Androids are you going to choose? Leave a comment and let us know.
For Win 7 or later (64-bit)
Secure Download
For macOS 10.14 or later
Secure Download
Click here to get Filmora for PC by email
or Try Filmora App for mobile >>>
download filmora app for ios ](https://app.adjust.com/b0k9hf2%5F4bsu85t ) download filmora app for android ](https://app.adjust.com/b0k9hf2%5F4bsu85t )
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
For Win 7 or later (64-bit)
Secure Download
For macOS 10.14 or later
Secure Download
Click here to get Filmora for PC by email
or Try Filmora App for mobile >>>
download filmora app for ios ](https://app.adjust.com/b0k9hf2%5F4bsu85t ) download filmora app for android ](https://app.adjust.com/b0k9hf2%5F4bsu85t )
Smartphone cameras can capture footage in high resolutions, but that doesn’t mean that your videos are going to become an instant hit on social media just because they are recorded in 4K or HD resolution. The opening of a video requires special attention because you only have a short period of time to capture the viewer’s attention.
An intro maker app can help you create perfect openings for the videos you shoot with your iPhone or Android phone. So in this article, we are going to take you through some of the best intro maker apps for iPhones and Androids that may help you improve the quality of the video content you’re sharing on social media.
- Part 1: 5 Best Intro Maker Apps for Android Phones
- Part 2: 5 Apps for Making Intros for YouTube Videos on iPhone
- Part 3: How to Make Intros with iMovie
Part 1: 5 Best Intro Maker Apps for Android Phones
The Google Play Store offers a diverse selection of intro maker apps that are equipped with a broad range of tools you can use to create eye-catching intros. What’s more, you don’t need to have advanced video editing skills in order to use any of the intro maker apps we included in this article. Let’s take a look at what the best intro maker apps for Android phones have to offer.
1. Intro Maker – Outro Maker – Video Ad Creator
Price: Free, but offers in-app purchases
Rating: 4.1
Making an intro for a YouTube video with this app won’t take more than 5 minutes of your time. This intro maker features a huge collection of fully customizable intro templates, while it also allows you to make a new intro from scratch.
All you need to do in order to start making an intro is pick a template, then upload the video and audio footage as well as logos or other images you want to use and then export your project. The app has powerful social sharing capabilities, which enables you to post the intros you create to the social network you choose directly from the app. However, the free version of this intro and outro maker gives you access to a limited selection of templates and it displays ads.
Pros
- Creating an intro doesn’t take a lot of time
- Equipped with a huge template library
- Allows users to add images and audio files to intros
- Excellent social media sharing capabilities
Cons
- You must upgrade to the pro version to remove ads
- A limited selection of video editing tools
2. Legend – Text Animated Maker
Price: Free, but contains ads
Rating: 4.1
If you are looking for a simple way of adding text to a video , then Legend Text Animated Maker may be the right choice for you. This app is designed to help users create awesome text animations and turn them into GIFs or videos.
Making a text animation with Legend is a straightforward process that can be completed in just a few easy steps. You just have to create an editor page, insert the text or pick one of the quotes the app offers, and then select the style of the animation, font, text color, or the background. When done you can proceed to save your creation as a video or GIF file before sharing it on social media or sending it to a friend. The only downside is that the Legend app doesn’t have any video intro or outro options.
Pros
- Offers more than 25 styles of text animations
- Great selection of built-in quotes
- Text animations can be saved as GIF or video files
- No previous experience with animation is required
Cons
- Prone to crashes
- No video editing options
3. Into Maker – Music Intro Video Editor
Price: Free, but offers in-app purchases
Rating: 4.6
With the selection of more than 4000 fully customizable templates, Intro Maker- Music Intro Video Editor is easily one of the best intro makers for Android devices. Themes are organized into categories like Timelapse, Nature, or Love, while you can also choose from a broad range of visual styles including glitch, cartoon, or 3D.
In addition, Intro Maker – Music Intro Video Editor has an audio library that contains hundreds of royalty-free songs and sound effects that can be easily added to all projects you’re working on. Animating text or choosing a font, text color, and adding shadows to the text are just a few among numerous text editing options this app provides.
What’s more, you can choose from more than 140 stickers and emojis that can be added to the intro you’re working on with a single tap.
Pros
- All intro templates are easily customizable
- The Lower Thirds feature makes it easier to add titles and logos to intros
- Rich audio library
- Excellent text animation features
Cons
- All intros produced with the free version of the app are watermarked
- Finding intro templates can be difficult
4. Quik – Free Video Editor for Photos, Clips, Music
Price: Free
Rating: 4.7
Despite being primarily a video editing app for videos recorded with GoPro cameras , Quik also lets you edit videos you recorded with your Android phone. The app is equipped with 23 customizable templates that can also be used to create intros for videos you share on social media.
Moreover, the app lets you arrange video clips in any way you like, while the Smart Cuts feature makes cuts between shots automatically. Quik switches on the audio after it detects a voice and it lets you use songs from its royalty-free music library or upload songs from your collection to create a soundtrack. All videos you edit with this app can be exported in 1080p or 720p resolution and shared to social media directly from Quik.
Pros
- Syncs transitions to the beat automatically
- Offers a wide variety of video templates
- Support nearly all common audio and video file formats
- Videos edited with Quik can be exported in Full HD resolution
Cons
- The app can be too complex to use for inexperienced video editors
5. Videoshop
Price: Free, but offers in-app purchases
Rating: 4.7
Creating an intro or editing an entire video with Videoshop is a fun process that is not going to take much more than a few moments of your time. This video editing app lets you remove all parts of videos you don’t want to include in the project you are working on, while you can also control the playback speed of all videos you edit and create slow-motion or fast-forward videos with ease.
Moreover, you can merge multiple clips into a single video and adjust their brightness, contrast, or saturation. The app also lets you record voiceovers and combine them with the songs or sound effects from the stock library. Videoshop also offers a great selection of animated titles that can make your intros more dynamic and entertaining.
Pros
- No previous video editing experience required
- Excellent audio and video editing options
- A wide selection of animated titles
- Great file-sharing capabilities
Cons
- No automatic editing features
- The app crashes easily
Below is a simple comparison table about the intro make apps for Android mentioned above.
| No. | Intro Maker App | User Rating | Links on Google Play |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Intro Maker - Outro Maker, Video Ad Creator | 4.1 | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.oneintro.intromaker&hl=en |
| 2 | Legend - Text Animated Maker | 4.1 | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.textonvideo.animated.animatedtext&hl=en |
| 3 | Intro Maker - music intro video editor | 4.6 | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ryzenrise.intromaker&hl=en |
| 4 | Quik - Free Video Editor for photos, clips, music | 4.7 | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.stupeflix.replay |
| 5 | Videoshop - Video Editor | 4.7 | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.videoshop.app |
Part 2: Apps for Making Intros for YouTube Videos You Should Try on iPhone
The videos your record with your iPhone can be turned into impressive intros for the videos you share on YouTube and other social networks with the help of an intro maker app. We’ve shortlisted some of the best iPhone apps you can use to create an intro, so let’s take a closer look at their features.
1. Intro Maker for YouTube Studio
Price: Free, but offers in-app purchases
Rating: 4.0
YouTubers who want to produce intros at a professional level from their iPhones can benefit from installing the Intro Maker for YouTube Studio. The app offers thousands of customizable intro templates that fit a broad range of video styles.
You can also add text to each template and select the font, size or adjust its position with ease. In addition, the app offers a variety of visual effects you can use to enhance the footage you included in an intro. The audio library offers a rich selection of royalty-free music you can use for the soundtrack, but you can also import your audio files and use them as a soundtrack for your intro. All videos you create with the free version of this app are going to be watermarked, while the number of intros you can create on a monthly level is going to be limited unless you purchase a monthly or annual subscription.
Pros
- The simple intro creation process
- Excellent text customization capabilities
- Short audio and video upload times
- A rich selection of intro templates
Cons
- The free version of the app watermarks intros
- Limited file sharing options
2. Intro Music Video Movie Maker
Price: Free, but offers in-app purchases
Rating: 4.1
This intro maker grants you access to all tools you are going to need to create a stunning intro that will grab the viewer’s attention. You can choose if you want to create an intro from scratch or customize one of the available intro templates.
Furthermore, the app lets you apply transitions between shots and add text layers to each video clip you want to include in your intro. Creating a soundtrack from the music you import to a project or from the songs featured in the app’s sound library is easy, and it won’t take more than a few minutes of your time. However, you must purchase the annual subscription if you want to create intros with this app on a constant basis.
Pros
- Users can create intros from scratch
- Good audio editing options
- Intro templates can be customized
- Easy to use
Cons
- More expensive than most intro makers
- Limited video editing options
3. Intro Designer Lite – Create Videos for iMovie
Price: Free
Rating: 4.5
Anyone, regardless of how much video editing experience they have can create an intro with Intro Designer Lite. The app works best when used with a video editing app like iMovie since it doesn’t offer any video editing features.
All you need to do in order to make an intro with this app is to select one of the eight available templates, add the footage, customize the text, and export the video. The app lets you export intros in HD quality and share them to Facebook, Instagram, and other popular online destinations or send them via email. Furthermore, you can save all projects you created in Intro Designer Lite and use them to create intros for different videos. The tutorial mode provides support throughout the intro creation process to users who don’t have a lot of video editing experience.
Pros
- All templates are fully customizable
- Equipped with the vector technology that eliminates pixelation of text animations
- Real-time preview
- Intros can be exported in HD resolution
Cons
- No audio editing options
- There are only 8 intro templates to choose from
4. Intro Tube: Vlog Video Maker
Price: Free, but offers in-app purchases
Rating: 4.5
In case you are looking for an app that enables you to create professionally-looking intros in minutes, then Intro Tube: Vlog Video Maker may be the right choice for you. There are more than a thousand intro templates to choose from so that you can create intros that match the style of your vlogs or videos perfectly.
What’s more, the app features an impressive collection of over 700 motion stickers that can be added to your intro with a single tap. The huge selection of titles makes creating text layers easy and you can customize their duration or even apply transitions between two titles. All intros you create with this app can be saved on your iPhone’s camera roll and imported in the video editing app you’re using to create your blog. However, you won’t have access to all of the app’s features if you decide to use its free version.
Pros
- Grants users access to more than a thousand intro templates
- Unlimited title selection
- Offers voiceover recording features
- All templates can be exported in high resolution
Cons
- No social media sharing options
- Accessing all of the app’s features is only possible if you purchase the monthly subscription
5. T-Jam Live Intro Movie Maker
Price: Free, but offers in-app purchases
Rating: 4.5
All you need to do to start making an intro with T-Jam Live is to select a template and insert the text, and the app will do all the heavy lifting for you. The best part is that you can upload your music so that you can match the intro’s soundtrack with the rest of the video.
The app’s Layouter makes customizing the text a simple task since it allows you to choose the font or the size of the text or change its on-screen position. All intros you create with T-Jam can be exported in HD resolution and imported in iMovie or any other video editing app you’re using to edit videos from your iPhone. However, you must upgrade to T-Jam Pro if you want to have access to all features this app has to offer.
Pros
- Powerful 3D text motion graphics
- Offers a wide range of gestures
- The video files you create with T-Jam can be imported in any iOS-based video editing app
- Quick intro template customization process
Cons
- Upgrading to the pro version is necessary if you want to create videos with this app on a regular basis
- Audio editing options can be better
Below is a simple comparison table about the intro make apps for iPhones.
| No. | Intro Maker App | User Rating | Links on App Store |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Intro Designer Lite - Create Intros for iMovie | 4.5 | https://apps.apple.com/us/app/intro-designer-lite-create-intros-for-imovie/id488748114 |
| 2 | Intro Tube: Vlog Video Maker | 4.5 | https://apps.apple.com/us/app/intro-tube-vlog-video-maker/id1358216337 |
| 3 | Intro Music Video, Movie Maker | 4.1 | https://apps.apple.com/us/app/intro-music-video-movie-maker/id1187893193 |
| 4 | Intro Maker For Youtube Studio | 4 | https://apps.apple.com/us/app/intro-maker-for-youtube-studio/id1434300554 |
| 5 | T-Jam Live Intro Movie Maker | 4.5 | https://apps.apple.com/us/app/t-jam-live-intro-movie-maker/id1348641765 |
Part 3: How to Make Intros with iMovie on iPhone
YouTubers who don’t want to install any third-party intro maker on their iPhones can create an intro for their video with iMovie. However, the process can be a bit technical while the results you are going to get may not be visually impressive.
The first thing you will need to do is create a new project, and select a photo you are going to use as a background. Once you place the photo onto the timeline and set its duration you can proceed to export it as a video.
You can skip this step if you want to use a video file you recorded with on your own as the background for the intro. In either case, you will have to import the video files you want to use to make an intro into a project you’re working on and place them on the timeline.
You can then proceed to create a text box and insert the text you want to appear in the intro. Optionally you can apply transitions between the video clips you included in your intro or add music that matches the intro’s style. Preview the intro to make sure that you like the final result and continue working on other parts of your video.
You can also check the guide to know how to create video trailers in iMovie .
Conclusion
An intro can slowly introduce the topic the video covers and it can spark the viewer’s attention. Fortunately, there are so many different intro makers you can use to create awesome action-packed intros that are fun to watch.
Moreover, you don’t need to be a seasoned video editor in order to use any of the intro maker apps we mentioned in this article since they offer easily customizable templates that enable you to create intros in minutes. Which of the intro maker apps for iPhones and Androids are you going to choose? Leave a comment and let us know.
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Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
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Essential Guide: The 8 Best Zero Price Video Cutting Software
The Best Free Video Editing Software for YouTube (Top 8 Reviews)
Richard Bennett
Dec 02, 2022• Proven solutions
What makes a YouTube video good? The most important element is obviously you, the creator. Your personality, ideas, and unique viewpoint are what will make your content special and turn viewers into subscribers.
The next most important thing – even more important than the camera you use – is editing.
Editing a YouTube video doesn’t have to be difficult. In fact, it should be simple. Your focus when you’re perfecting your video should be on that ‘most important thing’ we mentioned earlier – your creativity. Editing for a YouTube video should be art, not mechanical engineering.
Below is a list of the top free video editing software ranked according to how appropriate it is for YouTube videos.
| Rank | Editor | Make Cuts | Audio Features | Multiple Video Tracks | Video Effects | Intuitive Score (1-5) | Compatibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | OpenShot Video Editor | Yes | Fade In/Out, set volume levels | Yes | Transitions, text, ability to animate. Blur/Saturation/Brightness controls. | 5 | Windows, Mac, Linux |
| 2. | Shotcut | Yes | Detailed audio editing | Yes | You can customize color presets and other effects. No animations. | 4 | Windows, Mac, Linux |
| 3. | Hitfilm Express | Yes | Audio effects and transitioning. | Yes | Every imaginable picture customization. Some FX (more if you pay). Text tool. | 4 | Windows, Mac |
| 4. | VideoPad Video Editor | Yes | Noise removal, equalizer, audio effects. | Yes | Moving text, transitions, filters. | 5 | Windows |
| 5. | Lightworks | Yes | Detailed audio editing | Yes | No premade effects, but you can add text/color edit. | 3 | Windows, Mac, Linux |
| 6. | VSDC Video Editor | Yes | Some audio features blocked in free version | Yes | Filters, transitions, text, and more. | 1 | Windows |
| 7. | Machete Video Editor Lite | Yes | None | No | None | 3 | Windows |
| 8. | Avidemux | Yes | Some audio features | No | Some picture adjustments | 2 | Windows, Mac, Linux, BSD |
Ready to upgrade to a simple, powerful, paid software that’s perfect for YouTube? Check out the free trial of Wondershare Filmora . It is an advanced tool that is focused more on newbie editors who are new to the videography world but want to compete with professionals!
1. OpenShot Video Editor – Open Source (Windows, Mac, Linux)
Pros
- Easy to use
- Includes transitions
- Keyframing
- Alpha Channel
- Unlimited video tracks
OpenShot Video Editor Review
OpenShot completely lives up to the claim that it was designed to be ‘easy to use, quick to learn, and surprisingly powerful’.
The first time you use OpenShot there will be helpful tutorial notes to guide you through the program. The interface is intuitive enough that you may not always need them, but having them should erase any confusion.
All of the basic editing features, like cutting clips up, are easy to access in the timeline. You have unlimited tracks, and it’s easy to drag your clips between them. There’s a helpful magnet feature that fits clips together if you slide them together, but which still allows for blank space if you choose to leave it.
Most other functions – setting volume levels, adjusting the speed, adding movement/zoom effect – are accessible simply by right-clicking on your clip in the timeline and choosing what you want from the menu that pops up.
Is OpenShot Video Editor good for YouTube?
OpenShot is a great, free, choice for YouTubers at any editing skill level.
Beyond simply ordering your clips, OpenShot includes text and transition options within the program. You can even animate the text, and access Animated Titles if you use OpenShot in tandem with a free animation program called Blender. Titles and transitions are vital to a lot of popular YouTube styles.
OpenShot does not provide the same level of detail as the runner up, Shotcut, when it comes to color correction or audio editing. However, the features it does have (volume levels, control of saturation) will satisfy most YouTubers.
2. Shotcut – Open Source (Windows, Mac, Linux)
Pros
- Detailed audio editing
- Color grading, ability to save presets
- Fairly intuitive timeline
Shotcut Review
Shotcut delivers a smooth, detailed, editing experience for free. It is not as easy to jump into as some of the other programs on this list, but it still only takes a half-hour or so of playing around to understand it well enough to make a video. There are also tutorials up on Shotcut’s site that can help you.
You can edit using multiple video tracks in Shotcut, making it easy to combine multiple clips, and basic functions like splitting or copying clips are as easy as clicking the right icon on the toolbar.
All of the video and audio effects, including things like chroma key, you might want to apply to your video are found under the Filters menu. It will look empty when you first open it, and you have to click the plus sign to see what your options are. If you want to create a color tint (like what you might think of as an Instagram filter) then you can do that through the Color Grading option. If you want to do something like invert your colors or add an ‘old film’ look, you’ll find that here as well along with all of the audio editing features (balance, bass and treble, and gain to name just a few).
Is Shotcut good for YouTube?
Shotcut is a great choice for YouTubers. It allows you to do some advanced editing, and it’s easy to learn compared to a program targeted at professional editors.
The only complication with Shotcut for entry-level editors who will primarily use the program for YouTube might be that animations – like moving text – are not available through the program (you can add and customize text, but it just sits there). You can get them from elsewhere and use them in the program (Shotcut has an alpha channel), but it’s a bit more involved a process than simply customizing something that’s already provided.
3. Hitfilm Express – Windows, Mac
Pros
- Compositing mode (2D and 3D)
- The Most effect customization
- Helpful User Guide & tutorials
Cons
- Can be overwhelming
- Its main strength is FX, but you only get a couple for free. Most have to be bought separately.
Hitfilm Express Review
Hitfilm Express is the best free editor if you want to add special effects to your projects. OpenShot’s alpha channel will be enough for most people, but if you think of yourself as an aspiring filmmaker then it’s hard to beat Hitfilm’s range of functions.
This is an editor designed for people who want to make movies, and it’s a lot more intuitive than most professional-grade software. Film-quality FX (lasers, explosions, etc.) are available through Hitfilm Express for a reasonable price ($10-$50, depending on what you want), and even without paying extra for the packs, there’s a lot you can do to give your video a ‘film look’ using compositing layers and the multitude of customizable effects provided through the program.
Another highlight of Hitfilm Express is the extensive selection of tutorials and helpful information they have available both through YouTube videos and their User Guide. You will need those because this program can be overwhelming. It has so many functions and areas you can customize that it is easy to get lost.
That said, basic editing in Hitfilm Express is not difficult to jump into. It’s only when you start getting fancy that things get dicey.
Is Hitfilm Express good for YouTube?
Yes. It will not be the best option for everyone, but it’s not a bad option for anyone either.
If what you want to make is a vlog where you have a series of clips, and intro, and maybe a couple of title effects, then Hitfilm express might be overkill. You don’t want to have to master compositing just to add some text.
If what you want to make is a vlog that’s interrupted by an alien invasion and turns into an action sequence with lasers and falling debris, it’d be hard to do better than Hitfilm Express.
4. VideoPad Video Editor – Windows
Pros
- Easy to jump into
- Moving text
- Huge audio waveforms
- Audio and visual effects
- Lossless exports
Cons
- No longer updated
VideoPad Video Editor Review
VideoPad Video Editor is an extremely easy to use program. It may be the easiest program on this list to jump into, which you could also realistically create your entire video inside (there are easier programs, but you can only do some of your work in them). Part of its simplicity comes from not being as feature-rich as the programs ranking higher than it on this list, however.
You do not get the same range of functions with VideoPad as you do from the top 3 free editors, but it has enough to satisfy people who are just starting out. Creating moving text effects is easy, you have huge audio waves to work with while you’re syncing, and effects like transitions and filters are easy to find.
VideoPad does suffer a bit from being dated. This program is no longer being worked on, and the interface doesn’t look particularly modern. This is a bit more than a cosmetic issue because some features, while not difficult to find, are placed a bit oddly compared to other editors.
One slightly annoying feature of VideoPad is that it will prompt you to buy the commercial version sometimes (the free version is only for non-commercial use). There have been reports of exports being blocked in the free version, but I exported several times for the sake of this review and the issue never came up.
Is VideoPad Video Editor good for YouTube?
VideoPad makes a decent YouTube editor. You can jump right in and start making cuts, adding filters, and ordering your clips. If you have the kind of channel where voiceovers are important (like in gaming or makeup), then you’ll be happy with the size of the audio waves you have to work with for syncing.
The thing about VideoPad is that you’re probably going to outgrow it quickly as you become a more capable editor.
5. Lightworks – Windows, Mac, Linux
Pros
- Detailed color and audio editing
- Multicam editing
Cons
- Exports limited to 720p for the free version
- Difficult to learn compared to other free software
Lightworks Review
On their website, Lightworks claims to have an ‘intuitive interface’ and ‘easy timeline editing’. This is true if you compare it to other professional-level editing suites. Compared to the other programs on this list, Lightworks is complicated.
The first thing I attempt when I review this program is to simply split a clip, and it took me a ridiculous amount of time to figure this feature out in Lightworks (a more advanced editor could have found it faster, but these reviews are meant to help people with less experience). Lightworks does have a whole tutorial series on using the software, so if you are interested in learning to use it there is ample material out there to help you.
Lightworks has a wide range of functions (i.e. detailed audio editing and color correction), and it has been used for big movies like ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’. It is the most professional program on this list, and it’s a great free alternative to something like Adobe Premiere Pro.
Note: there is no time limit on the free version of Lightworks, but it will ask you to renew your free license every 7 days. When it says your license is ‘expired’ it isn’t kicking you off the free version, you just need to renew.
Is Lightworks good for YouTube?
Whether or not Lightworks is right for your YouTube channel depends on your goals as a video editor.
If what you want is to jump in and start making YouTube videos quickly, Lightworks might not be a great choice. It’s not an easy program to just jump into, you’ll have to either take time to learn it or accept that it’ll take some trial and error to get the hang of.
If what you want is to become a professional-level video editor, then Lightworks is a great program to start on (although, Hitfilm Express may still be better). Taking the time to learn it could certainly pay off in the long run.
However, if one of your priorities is for your YouTube channel to come across as professional, then the free version of Lightworks does have some disappointing limitations. You can only export videos in 720p, which is lower quality than viewers on YouTube expect (you probably want at least 1080p). Your output format is limited too. The royalty-free audio and video content Lightworks offers are also not free; you can just buy them through the program.
6. VSDC Video Editor – Windows
Pros
- Diagrams and charts
- How To Get Started Guide
- Lots of features
Cons
- Very confusing
- Paid features show up in the free version, but they’re blocked
Review of VSDC Video Editor
There’s a lot to like about VSDC Video Editor, but you have to do a lot of work to uncover any of it. Accessing even the most basic features is confusing.
One of the first things I tried to do as I tested the program was make a jump cut (where you cut out part of a video so the playback ‘jumps over’ the deleted segment) and, while I was able to do it, it was not an intuitive process. There is a multitude of toolbars and icons surrounding your preview window in VSDC, and none of those icons was for making cuts to your clips. To make any cuts you have to find the ‘cutting and splitting’ option under the Editor tab at the top of the page, which will open a second window in which you still cannot make any cuts. Instead what you can do is place markers, and when you click ‘apply changes’ to exit the window cuts will be made where you placed markers. There is nothing in the window to explain what the markers are for.
Other basic functions, like adding text, are just as complicated.
Is VSDC Video Editor good for YouTube?
I would not recommend VSDC for YouTube. It ranks higher than two other items on this list because they are, do to functional limitations, unable to create full YouTube videos without the support of other programs (at least realistically). You certainly could create your full YouTube video in VSDC, but it’d be a headache.
7. Machete Video Editor Lite – Windows
Pros
- Great for harvesting clips from longer footage
- Lossless exports
Cons
- Cannot swap or add audio
- Only supports two formats (AVI and WMV)
- Slightly awkward timeline
Machete Video Editor Lite Review
Machete Lite claims that you’ll be able to edit your videos “within a few minutes after downloading the program, even if you’ve never edited a video before”, and that is true. It might even be better if you haven’t edited a video before because the interface is slightly awkward if you’ve come from a program with a more traditional timeline setup. Machete Lite is easy to use for the most part, but it doesn’t work like most other editors and that can be awkward to navigate around.
Instead of seeing a timeline with all of your individual clips, Machete treats your entire video as one clip. You will only be able to see where you have inserted a separate video clip or cut out a portion of the video by watching the video back or jumping through it (Machete Lite does allow frame-by-frame scrolling). You won’t be able to see this information at a glance, and you won’t be able to adjust the lengths of clips you’ve added separately.
To take out any portion of your overall video you’ll need to find a keyframe at the beginning, set that as the beginning of your selection, then find a key frame at the end and set that as the end of your selection. You will then be able to delete that selection. This will not work if the frames you have set as the beginning and end are not considered keyframes by the program, so it can be difficult to be precise, but since the program allows you to jump through keyframes it’s not difficult to find a point that works.
Is Machete Video Editor Lite good for YouTube?
Machete Lite is not a good choice for YouTubers unless it is used in combination with another program.
It doesn’t work as a YouTube editor because you cannot edit or swap audio, the transition between clips, or create layers of videos and images.
However, the thing Machete Lite is really good at is cutting out clips from longer videos. You can create a selection of a part of your longer clip and then export it (with no quality loss) as its own video file.
This is what the Machete Lite toolbar looks like when you’ve created a selection. Tools like cut and copy which were greyed out before are now available, as is the save icon on the far right. If you click the save icon, you’ll be able to save that selection as its own video.
You can’t create a complete YouTube video in Machete Lite, but you can harvest clips to use in a different program.
8. Avidemux – Windows, Mac, Linux, BSD
Pros
- Can add subtitle files
Cons
- Not intuitive
- Doesn’t support MOV or WMV
- The website is not informative, no tutorials
Avidemux Review
Avidemux is not an easy program to jump into. I almost wrote that it couldn’t do anything besides make cuts to a clip before I saw a YouTube tutorial about how to find the contrast and brightness tools. If you decide to try it out, remember that you have to choose your output format before Avidemux will let you access tools like Hue/Saturation and Contrast (click Filters under Video Output to find them).
There are no official tutorials for Avidemux you can access from their site, so you’ll have to rely on the forums and tutorials from users if you want to learn it.
You can import multiple clips into Avidemux, but you have to import them in the order you want because you can’t drag them around the timeline after. Everything becomes one big clip.
Is Avidemux good for YouTube?
No. It has more functionality than Machete, which is ranked higher on this list, but the difference is that Machete is excellent at one thing. They both suffer from the same main weakness – you could not complete your full YouTube video either (at least not without a lot of trouble). Machete could still be useful to a YouTuber, though, because it allows for the lossless exporting of segments of clips. You can use it to harvest clips for your larger project in another program.
In theory, you could do some picture editing and snipping in Avidemux and then put your project together/add titles in another program, but your other program can probably do all that just as well if not better. Avidemux isn’t a bad program, but it doesn’t excel at anything. There are a lot of better options which are also free.
What has your experience with free video editors been like?
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett
Dec 02, 2022• Proven solutions
What makes a YouTube video good? The most important element is obviously you, the creator. Your personality, ideas, and unique viewpoint are what will make your content special and turn viewers into subscribers.
The next most important thing – even more important than the camera you use – is editing.
Editing a YouTube video doesn’t have to be difficult. In fact, it should be simple. Your focus when you’re perfecting your video should be on that ‘most important thing’ we mentioned earlier – your creativity. Editing for a YouTube video should be art, not mechanical engineering.
Below is a list of the top free video editing software ranked according to how appropriate it is for YouTube videos.
| Rank | Editor | Make Cuts | Audio Features | Multiple Video Tracks | Video Effects | Intuitive Score (1-5) | Compatibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | OpenShot Video Editor | Yes | Fade In/Out, set volume levels | Yes | Transitions, text, ability to animate. Blur/Saturation/Brightness controls. | 5 | Windows, Mac, Linux |
| 2. | Shotcut | Yes | Detailed audio editing | Yes | You can customize color presets and other effects. No animations. | 4 | Windows, Mac, Linux |
| 3. | Hitfilm Express | Yes | Audio effects and transitioning. | Yes | Every imaginable picture customization. Some FX (more if you pay). Text tool. | 4 | Windows, Mac |
| 4. | VideoPad Video Editor | Yes | Noise removal, equalizer, audio effects. | Yes | Moving text, transitions, filters. | 5 | Windows |
| 5. | Lightworks | Yes | Detailed audio editing | Yes | No premade effects, but you can add text/color edit. | 3 | Windows, Mac, Linux |
| 6. | VSDC Video Editor | Yes | Some audio features blocked in free version | Yes | Filters, transitions, text, and more. | 1 | Windows |
| 7. | Machete Video Editor Lite | Yes | None | No | None | 3 | Windows |
| 8. | Avidemux | Yes | Some audio features | No | Some picture adjustments | 2 | Windows, Mac, Linux, BSD |
Ready to upgrade to a simple, powerful, paid software that’s perfect for YouTube? Check out the free trial of Wondershare Filmora . It is an advanced tool that is focused more on newbie editors who are new to the videography world but want to compete with professionals!
1. OpenShot Video Editor – Open Source (Windows, Mac, Linux)
Pros
- Easy to use
- Includes transitions
- Keyframing
- Alpha Channel
- Unlimited video tracks
OpenShot Video Editor Review
OpenShot completely lives up to the claim that it was designed to be ‘easy to use, quick to learn, and surprisingly powerful’.
The first time you use OpenShot there will be helpful tutorial notes to guide you through the program. The interface is intuitive enough that you may not always need them, but having them should erase any confusion.
All of the basic editing features, like cutting clips up, are easy to access in the timeline. You have unlimited tracks, and it’s easy to drag your clips between them. There’s a helpful magnet feature that fits clips together if you slide them together, but which still allows for blank space if you choose to leave it.
Most other functions – setting volume levels, adjusting the speed, adding movement/zoom effect – are accessible simply by right-clicking on your clip in the timeline and choosing what you want from the menu that pops up.
Is OpenShot Video Editor good for YouTube?
OpenShot is a great, free, choice for YouTubers at any editing skill level.
Beyond simply ordering your clips, OpenShot includes text and transition options within the program. You can even animate the text, and access Animated Titles if you use OpenShot in tandem with a free animation program called Blender. Titles and transitions are vital to a lot of popular YouTube styles.
OpenShot does not provide the same level of detail as the runner up, Shotcut, when it comes to color correction or audio editing. However, the features it does have (volume levels, control of saturation) will satisfy most YouTubers.
2. Shotcut – Open Source (Windows, Mac, Linux)
Pros
- Detailed audio editing
- Color grading, ability to save presets
- Fairly intuitive timeline
Shotcut Review
Shotcut delivers a smooth, detailed, editing experience for free. It is not as easy to jump into as some of the other programs on this list, but it still only takes a half-hour or so of playing around to understand it well enough to make a video. There are also tutorials up on Shotcut’s site that can help you.
You can edit using multiple video tracks in Shotcut, making it easy to combine multiple clips, and basic functions like splitting or copying clips are as easy as clicking the right icon on the toolbar.
All of the video and audio effects, including things like chroma key, you might want to apply to your video are found under the Filters menu. It will look empty when you first open it, and you have to click the plus sign to see what your options are. If you want to create a color tint (like what you might think of as an Instagram filter) then you can do that through the Color Grading option. If you want to do something like invert your colors or add an ‘old film’ look, you’ll find that here as well along with all of the audio editing features (balance, bass and treble, and gain to name just a few).
Is Shotcut good for YouTube?
Shotcut is a great choice for YouTubers. It allows you to do some advanced editing, and it’s easy to learn compared to a program targeted at professional editors.
The only complication with Shotcut for entry-level editors who will primarily use the program for YouTube might be that animations – like moving text – are not available through the program (you can add and customize text, but it just sits there). You can get them from elsewhere and use them in the program (Shotcut has an alpha channel), but it’s a bit more involved a process than simply customizing something that’s already provided.
3. Hitfilm Express – Windows, Mac
Pros
- Compositing mode (2D and 3D)
- The Most effect customization
- Helpful User Guide & tutorials
Cons
- Can be overwhelming
- Its main strength is FX, but you only get a couple for free. Most have to be bought separately.
Hitfilm Express Review
Hitfilm Express is the best free editor if you want to add special effects to your projects. OpenShot’s alpha channel will be enough for most people, but if you think of yourself as an aspiring filmmaker then it’s hard to beat Hitfilm’s range of functions.
This is an editor designed for people who want to make movies, and it’s a lot more intuitive than most professional-grade software. Film-quality FX (lasers, explosions, etc.) are available through Hitfilm Express for a reasonable price ($10-$50, depending on what you want), and even without paying extra for the packs, there’s a lot you can do to give your video a ‘film look’ using compositing layers and the multitude of customizable effects provided through the program.
Another highlight of Hitfilm Express is the extensive selection of tutorials and helpful information they have available both through YouTube videos and their User Guide. You will need those because this program can be overwhelming. It has so many functions and areas you can customize that it is easy to get lost.
That said, basic editing in Hitfilm Express is not difficult to jump into. It’s only when you start getting fancy that things get dicey.
Is Hitfilm Express good for YouTube?
Yes. It will not be the best option for everyone, but it’s not a bad option for anyone either.
If what you want to make is a vlog where you have a series of clips, and intro, and maybe a couple of title effects, then Hitfilm express might be overkill. You don’t want to have to master compositing just to add some text.
If what you want to make is a vlog that’s interrupted by an alien invasion and turns into an action sequence with lasers and falling debris, it’d be hard to do better than Hitfilm Express.
4. VideoPad Video Editor – Windows
Pros
- Easy to jump into
- Moving text
- Huge audio waveforms
- Audio and visual effects
- Lossless exports
Cons
- No longer updated
VideoPad Video Editor Review
VideoPad Video Editor is an extremely easy to use program. It may be the easiest program on this list to jump into, which you could also realistically create your entire video inside (there are easier programs, but you can only do some of your work in them). Part of its simplicity comes from not being as feature-rich as the programs ranking higher than it on this list, however.
You do not get the same range of functions with VideoPad as you do from the top 3 free editors, but it has enough to satisfy people who are just starting out. Creating moving text effects is easy, you have huge audio waves to work with while you’re syncing, and effects like transitions and filters are easy to find.
VideoPad does suffer a bit from being dated. This program is no longer being worked on, and the interface doesn’t look particularly modern. This is a bit more than a cosmetic issue because some features, while not difficult to find, are placed a bit oddly compared to other editors.
One slightly annoying feature of VideoPad is that it will prompt you to buy the commercial version sometimes (the free version is only for non-commercial use). There have been reports of exports being blocked in the free version, but I exported several times for the sake of this review and the issue never came up.
Is VideoPad Video Editor good for YouTube?
VideoPad makes a decent YouTube editor. You can jump right in and start making cuts, adding filters, and ordering your clips. If you have the kind of channel where voiceovers are important (like in gaming or makeup), then you’ll be happy with the size of the audio waves you have to work with for syncing.
The thing about VideoPad is that you’re probably going to outgrow it quickly as you become a more capable editor.
5. Lightworks – Windows, Mac, Linux
Pros
- Detailed color and audio editing
- Multicam editing
Cons
- Exports limited to 720p for the free version
- Difficult to learn compared to other free software
Lightworks Review
On their website, Lightworks claims to have an ‘intuitive interface’ and ‘easy timeline editing’. This is true if you compare it to other professional-level editing suites. Compared to the other programs on this list, Lightworks is complicated.
The first thing I attempt when I review this program is to simply split a clip, and it took me a ridiculous amount of time to figure this feature out in Lightworks (a more advanced editor could have found it faster, but these reviews are meant to help people with less experience). Lightworks does have a whole tutorial series on using the software, so if you are interested in learning to use it there is ample material out there to help you.
Lightworks has a wide range of functions (i.e. detailed audio editing and color correction), and it has been used for big movies like ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’. It is the most professional program on this list, and it’s a great free alternative to something like Adobe Premiere Pro.
Note: there is no time limit on the free version of Lightworks, but it will ask you to renew your free license every 7 days. When it says your license is ‘expired’ it isn’t kicking you off the free version, you just need to renew.
Is Lightworks good for YouTube?
Whether or not Lightworks is right for your YouTube channel depends on your goals as a video editor.
If what you want is to jump in and start making YouTube videos quickly, Lightworks might not be a great choice. It’s not an easy program to just jump into, you’ll have to either take time to learn it or accept that it’ll take some trial and error to get the hang of.
If what you want is to become a professional-level video editor, then Lightworks is a great program to start on (although, Hitfilm Express may still be better). Taking the time to learn it could certainly pay off in the long run.
However, if one of your priorities is for your YouTube channel to come across as professional, then the free version of Lightworks does have some disappointing limitations. You can only export videos in 720p, which is lower quality than viewers on YouTube expect (you probably want at least 1080p). Your output format is limited too. The royalty-free audio and video content Lightworks offers are also not free; you can just buy them through the program.
6. VSDC Video Editor – Windows
Pros
- Diagrams and charts
- How To Get Started Guide
- Lots of features
Cons
- Very confusing
- Paid features show up in the free version, but they’re blocked
Review of VSDC Video Editor
There’s a lot to like about VSDC Video Editor, but you have to do a lot of work to uncover any of it. Accessing even the most basic features is confusing.
One of the first things I tried to do as I tested the program was make a jump cut (where you cut out part of a video so the playback ‘jumps over’ the deleted segment) and, while I was able to do it, it was not an intuitive process. There is a multitude of toolbars and icons surrounding your preview window in VSDC, and none of those icons was for making cuts to your clips. To make any cuts you have to find the ‘cutting and splitting’ option under the Editor tab at the top of the page, which will open a second window in which you still cannot make any cuts. Instead what you can do is place markers, and when you click ‘apply changes’ to exit the window cuts will be made where you placed markers. There is nothing in the window to explain what the markers are for.
Other basic functions, like adding text, are just as complicated.
Is VSDC Video Editor good for YouTube?
I would not recommend VSDC for YouTube. It ranks higher than two other items on this list because they are, do to functional limitations, unable to create full YouTube videos without the support of other programs (at least realistically). You certainly could create your full YouTube video in VSDC, but it’d be a headache.
7. Machete Video Editor Lite – Windows
Pros
- Great for harvesting clips from longer footage
- Lossless exports
Cons
- Cannot swap or add audio
- Only supports two formats (AVI and WMV)
- Slightly awkward timeline
Machete Video Editor Lite Review
Machete Lite claims that you’ll be able to edit your videos “within a few minutes after downloading the program, even if you’ve never edited a video before”, and that is true. It might even be better if you haven’t edited a video before because the interface is slightly awkward if you’ve come from a program with a more traditional timeline setup. Machete Lite is easy to use for the most part, but it doesn’t work like most other editors and that can be awkward to navigate around.
Instead of seeing a timeline with all of your individual clips, Machete treats your entire video as one clip. You will only be able to see where you have inserted a separate video clip or cut out a portion of the video by watching the video back or jumping through it (Machete Lite does allow frame-by-frame scrolling). You won’t be able to see this information at a glance, and you won’t be able to adjust the lengths of clips you’ve added separately.
To take out any portion of your overall video you’ll need to find a keyframe at the beginning, set that as the beginning of your selection, then find a key frame at the end and set that as the end of your selection. You will then be able to delete that selection. This will not work if the frames you have set as the beginning and end are not considered keyframes by the program, so it can be difficult to be precise, but since the program allows you to jump through keyframes it’s not difficult to find a point that works.
Is Machete Video Editor Lite good for YouTube?
Machete Lite is not a good choice for YouTubers unless it is used in combination with another program.
It doesn’t work as a YouTube editor because you cannot edit or swap audio, the transition between clips, or create layers of videos and images.
However, the thing Machete Lite is really good at is cutting out clips from longer videos. You can create a selection of a part of your longer clip and then export it (with no quality loss) as its own video file.
This is what the Machete Lite toolbar looks like when you’ve created a selection. Tools like cut and copy which were greyed out before are now available, as is the save icon on the far right. If you click the save icon, you’ll be able to save that selection as its own video.
You can’t create a complete YouTube video in Machete Lite, but you can harvest clips to use in a different program.
8. Avidemux – Windows, Mac, Linux, BSD
Pros
- Can add subtitle files
Cons
- Not intuitive
- Doesn’t support MOV or WMV
- The website is not informative, no tutorials
Avidemux Review
Avidemux is not an easy program to jump into. I almost wrote that it couldn’t do anything besides make cuts to a clip before I saw a YouTube tutorial about how to find the contrast and brightness tools. If you decide to try it out, remember that you have to choose your output format before Avidemux will let you access tools like Hue/Saturation and Contrast (click Filters under Video Output to find them).
There are no official tutorials for Avidemux you can access from their site, so you’ll have to rely on the forums and tutorials from users if you want to learn it.
You can import multiple clips into Avidemux, but you have to import them in the order you want because you can’t drag them around the timeline after. Everything becomes one big clip.
Is Avidemux good for YouTube?
No. It has more functionality than Machete, which is ranked higher on this list, but the difference is that Machete is excellent at one thing. They both suffer from the same main weakness – you could not complete your full YouTube video either (at least not without a lot of trouble). Machete could still be useful to a YouTuber, though, because it allows for the lossless exporting of segments of clips. You can use it to harvest clips for your larger project in another program.
In theory, you could do some picture editing and snipping in Avidemux and then put your project together/add titles in another program, but your other program can probably do all that just as well if not better. Avidemux isn’t a bad program, but it doesn’t excel at anything. There are a lot of better options which are also free.
What has your experience with free video editors been like?
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett
Dec 02, 2022• Proven solutions
What makes a YouTube video good? The most important element is obviously you, the creator. Your personality, ideas, and unique viewpoint are what will make your content special and turn viewers into subscribers.
The next most important thing – even more important than the camera you use – is editing.
Editing a YouTube video doesn’t have to be difficult. In fact, it should be simple. Your focus when you’re perfecting your video should be on that ‘most important thing’ we mentioned earlier – your creativity. Editing for a YouTube video should be art, not mechanical engineering.
Below is a list of the top free video editing software ranked according to how appropriate it is for YouTube videos.
| Rank | Editor | Make Cuts | Audio Features | Multiple Video Tracks | Video Effects | Intuitive Score (1-5) | Compatibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | OpenShot Video Editor | Yes | Fade In/Out, set volume levels | Yes | Transitions, text, ability to animate. Blur/Saturation/Brightness controls. | 5 | Windows, Mac, Linux |
| 2. | Shotcut | Yes | Detailed audio editing | Yes | You can customize color presets and other effects. No animations. | 4 | Windows, Mac, Linux |
| 3. | Hitfilm Express | Yes | Audio effects and transitioning. | Yes | Every imaginable picture customization. Some FX (more if you pay). Text tool. | 4 | Windows, Mac |
| 4. | VideoPad Video Editor | Yes | Noise removal, equalizer, audio effects. | Yes | Moving text, transitions, filters. | 5 | Windows |
| 5. | Lightworks | Yes | Detailed audio editing | Yes | No premade effects, but you can add text/color edit. | 3 | Windows, Mac, Linux |
| 6. | VSDC Video Editor | Yes | Some audio features blocked in free version | Yes | Filters, transitions, text, and more. | 1 | Windows |
| 7. | Machete Video Editor Lite | Yes | None | No | None | 3 | Windows |
| 8. | Avidemux | Yes | Some audio features | No | Some picture adjustments | 2 | Windows, Mac, Linux, BSD |
Ready to upgrade to a simple, powerful, paid software that’s perfect for YouTube? Check out the free trial of Wondershare Filmora . It is an advanced tool that is focused more on newbie editors who are new to the videography world but want to compete with professionals!
1. OpenShot Video Editor – Open Source (Windows, Mac, Linux)
Pros
- Easy to use
- Includes transitions
- Keyframing
- Alpha Channel
- Unlimited video tracks
OpenShot Video Editor Review
OpenShot completely lives up to the claim that it was designed to be ‘easy to use, quick to learn, and surprisingly powerful’.
The first time you use OpenShot there will be helpful tutorial notes to guide you through the program. The interface is intuitive enough that you may not always need them, but having them should erase any confusion.
All of the basic editing features, like cutting clips up, are easy to access in the timeline. You have unlimited tracks, and it’s easy to drag your clips between them. There’s a helpful magnet feature that fits clips together if you slide them together, but which still allows for blank space if you choose to leave it.
Most other functions – setting volume levels, adjusting the speed, adding movement/zoom effect – are accessible simply by right-clicking on your clip in the timeline and choosing what you want from the menu that pops up.
Is OpenShot Video Editor good for YouTube?
OpenShot is a great, free, choice for YouTubers at any editing skill level.
Beyond simply ordering your clips, OpenShot includes text and transition options within the program. You can even animate the text, and access Animated Titles if you use OpenShot in tandem with a free animation program called Blender. Titles and transitions are vital to a lot of popular YouTube styles.
OpenShot does not provide the same level of detail as the runner up, Shotcut, when it comes to color correction or audio editing. However, the features it does have (volume levels, control of saturation) will satisfy most YouTubers.
2. Shotcut – Open Source (Windows, Mac, Linux)
Pros
- Detailed audio editing
- Color grading, ability to save presets
- Fairly intuitive timeline
Shotcut Review
Shotcut delivers a smooth, detailed, editing experience for free. It is not as easy to jump into as some of the other programs on this list, but it still only takes a half-hour or so of playing around to understand it well enough to make a video. There are also tutorials up on Shotcut’s site that can help you.
You can edit using multiple video tracks in Shotcut, making it easy to combine multiple clips, and basic functions like splitting or copying clips are as easy as clicking the right icon on the toolbar.
All of the video and audio effects, including things like chroma key, you might want to apply to your video are found under the Filters menu. It will look empty when you first open it, and you have to click the plus sign to see what your options are. If you want to create a color tint (like what you might think of as an Instagram filter) then you can do that through the Color Grading option. If you want to do something like invert your colors or add an ‘old film’ look, you’ll find that here as well along with all of the audio editing features (balance, bass and treble, and gain to name just a few).
Is Shotcut good for YouTube?
Shotcut is a great choice for YouTubers. It allows you to do some advanced editing, and it’s easy to learn compared to a program targeted at professional editors.
The only complication with Shotcut for entry-level editors who will primarily use the program for YouTube might be that animations – like moving text – are not available through the program (you can add and customize text, but it just sits there). You can get them from elsewhere and use them in the program (Shotcut has an alpha channel), but it’s a bit more involved a process than simply customizing something that’s already provided.
3. Hitfilm Express – Windows, Mac
Pros
- Compositing mode (2D and 3D)
- The Most effect customization
- Helpful User Guide & tutorials
Cons
- Can be overwhelming
- Its main strength is FX, but you only get a couple for free. Most have to be bought separately.
Hitfilm Express Review
Hitfilm Express is the best free editor if you want to add special effects to your projects. OpenShot’s alpha channel will be enough for most people, but if you think of yourself as an aspiring filmmaker then it’s hard to beat Hitfilm’s range of functions.
This is an editor designed for people who want to make movies, and it’s a lot more intuitive than most professional-grade software. Film-quality FX (lasers, explosions, etc.) are available through Hitfilm Express for a reasonable price ($10-$50, depending on what you want), and even without paying extra for the packs, there’s a lot you can do to give your video a ‘film look’ using compositing layers and the multitude of customizable effects provided through the program.
Another highlight of Hitfilm Express is the extensive selection of tutorials and helpful information they have available both through YouTube videos and their User Guide. You will need those because this program can be overwhelming. It has so many functions and areas you can customize that it is easy to get lost.
That said, basic editing in Hitfilm Express is not difficult to jump into. It’s only when you start getting fancy that things get dicey.
Is Hitfilm Express good for YouTube?
Yes. It will not be the best option for everyone, but it’s not a bad option for anyone either.
If what you want to make is a vlog where you have a series of clips, and intro, and maybe a couple of title effects, then Hitfilm express might be overkill. You don’t want to have to master compositing just to add some text.
If what you want to make is a vlog that’s interrupted by an alien invasion and turns into an action sequence with lasers and falling debris, it’d be hard to do better than Hitfilm Express.
4. VideoPad Video Editor – Windows
Pros
- Easy to jump into
- Moving text
- Huge audio waveforms
- Audio and visual effects
- Lossless exports
Cons
- No longer updated
VideoPad Video Editor Review
VideoPad Video Editor is an extremely easy to use program. It may be the easiest program on this list to jump into, which you could also realistically create your entire video inside (there are easier programs, but you can only do some of your work in them). Part of its simplicity comes from not being as feature-rich as the programs ranking higher than it on this list, however.
You do not get the same range of functions with VideoPad as you do from the top 3 free editors, but it has enough to satisfy people who are just starting out. Creating moving text effects is easy, you have huge audio waves to work with while you’re syncing, and effects like transitions and filters are easy to find.
VideoPad does suffer a bit from being dated. This program is no longer being worked on, and the interface doesn’t look particularly modern. This is a bit more than a cosmetic issue because some features, while not difficult to find, are placed a bit oddly compared to other editors.
One slightly annoying feature of VideoPad is that it will prompt you to buy the commercial version sometimes (the free version is only for non-commercial use). There have been reports of exports being blocked in the free version, but I exported several times for the sake of this review and the issue never came up.
Is VideoPad Video Editor good for YouTube?
VideoPad makes a decent YouTube editor. You can jump right in and start making cuts, adding filters, and ordering your clips. If you have the kind of channel where voiceovers are important (like in gaming or makeup), then you’ll be happy with the size of the audio waves you have to work with for syncing.
The thing about VideoPad is that you’re probably going to outgrow it quickly as you become a more capable editor.
5. Lightworks – Windows, Mac, Linux
Pros
- Detailed color and audio editing
- Multicam editing
Cons
- Exports limited to 720p for the free version
- Difficult to learn compared to other free software
Lightworks Review
On their website, Lightworks claims to have an ‘intuitive interface’ and ‘easy timeline editing’. This is true if you compare it to other professional-level editing suites. Compared to the other programs on this list, Lightworks is complicated.
The first thing I attempt when I review this program is to simply split a clip, and it took me a ridiculous amount of time to figure this feature out in Lightworks (a more advanced editor could have found it faster, but these reviews are meant to help people with less experience). Lightworks does have a whole tutorial series on using the software, so if you are interested in learning to use it there is ample material out there to help you.
Lightworks has a wide range of functions (i.e. detailed audio editing and color correction), and it has been used for big movies like ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’. It is the most professional program on this list, and it’s a great free alternative to something like Adobe Premiere Pro.
Note: there is no time limit on the free version of Lightworks, but it will ask you to renew your free license every 7 days. When it says your license is ‘expired’ it isn’t kicking you off the free version, you just need to renew.
Is Lightworks good for YouTube?
Whether or not Lightworks is right for your YouTube channel depends on your goals as a video editor.
If what you want is to jump in and start making YouTube videos quickly, Lightworks might not be a great choice. It’s not an easy program to just jump into, you’ll have to either take time to learn it or accept that it’ll take some trial and error to get the hang of.
If what you want is to become a professional-level video editor, then Lightworks is a great program to start on (although, Hitfilm Express may still be better). Taking the time to learn it could certainly pay off in the long run.
However, if one of your priorities is for your YouTube channel to come across as professional, then the free version of Lightworks does have some disappointing limitations. You can only export videos in 720p, which is lower quality than viewers on YouTube expect (you probably want at least 1080p). Your output format is limited too. The royalty-free audio and video content Lightworks offers are also not free; you can just buy them through the program.
6. VSDC Video Editor – Windows
Pros
- Diagrams and charts
- How To Get Started Guide
- Lots of features
Cons
- Very confusing
- Paid features show up in the free version, but they’re blocked
Review of VSDC Video Editor
There’s a lot to like about VSDC Video Editor, but you have to do a lot of work to uncover any of it. Accessing even the most basic features is confusing.
One of the first things I tried to do as I tested the program was make a jump cut (where you cut out part of a video so the playback ‘jumps over’ the deleted segment) and, while I was able to do it, it was not an intuitive process. There is a multitude of toolbars and icons surrounding your preview window in VSDC, and none of those icons was for making cuts to your clips. To make any cuts you have to find the ‘cutting and splitting’ option under the Editor tab at the top of the page, which will open a second window in which you still cannot make any cuts. Instead what you can do is place markers, and when you click ‘apply changes’ to exit the window cuts will be made where you placed markers. There is nothing in the window to explain what the markers are for.
Other basic functions, like adding text, are just as complicated.
Is VSDC Video Editor good for YouTube?
I would not recommend VSDC for YouTube. It ranks higher than two other items on this list because they are, do to functional limitations, unable to create full YouTube videos without the support of other programs (at least realistically). You certainly could create your full YouTube video in VSDC, but it’d be a headache.
7. Machete Video Editor Lite – Windows
Pros
- Great for harvesting clips from longer footage
- Lossless exports
Cons
- Cannot swap or add audio
- Only supports two formats (AVI and WMV)
- Slightly awkward timeline
Machete Video Editor Lite Review
Machete Lite claims that you’ll be able to edit your videos “within a few minutes after downloading the program, even if you’ve never edited a video before”, and that is true. It might even be better if you haven’t edited a video before because the interface is slightly awkward if you’ve come from a program with a more traditional timeline setup. Machete Lite is easy to use for the most part, but it doesn’t work like most other editors and that can be awkward to navigate around.
Instead of seeing a timeline with all of your individual clips, Machete treats your entire video as one clip. You will only be able to see where you have inserted a separate video clip or cut out a portion of the video by watching the video back or jumping through it (Machete Lite does allow frame-by-frame scrolling). You won’t be able to see this information at a glance, and you won’t be able to adjust the lengths of clips you’ve added separately.
To take out any portion of your overall video you’ll need to find a keyframe at the beginning, set that as the beginning of your selection, then find a key frame at the end and set that as the end of your selection. You will then be able to delete that selection. This will not work if the frames you have set as the beginning and end are not considered keyframes by the program, so it can be difficult to be precise, but since the program allows you to jump through keyframes it’s not difficult to find a point that works.
Is Machete Video Editor Lite good for YouTube?
Machete Lite is not a good choice for YouTubers unless it is used in combination with another program.
It doesn’t work as a YouTube editor because you cannot edit or swap audio, the transition between clips, or create layers of videos and images.
However, the thing Machete Lite is really good at is cutting out clips from longer videos. You can create a selection of a part of your longer clip and then export it (with no quality loss) as its own video file.
This is what the Machete Lite toolbar looks like when you’ve created a selection. Tools like cut and copy which were greyed out before are now available, as is the save icon on the far right. If you click the save icon, you’ll be able to save that selection as its own video.
You can’t create a complete YouTube video in Machete Lite, but you can harvest clips to use in a different program.
8. Avidemux – Windows, Mac, Linux, BSD
Pros
- Can add subtitle files
Cons
- Not intuitive
- Doesn’t support MOV or WMV
- The website is not informative, no tutorials
Avidemux Review
Avidemux is not an easy program to jump into. I almost wrote that it couldn’t do anything besides make cuts to a clip before I saw a YouTube tutorial about how to find the contrast and brightness tools. If you decide to try it out, remember that you have to choose your output format before Avidemux will let you access tools like Hue/Saturation and Contrast (click Filters under Video Output to find them).
There are no official tutorials for Avidemux you can access from their site, so you’ll have to rely on the forums and tutorials from users if you want to learn it.
You can import multiple clips into Avidemux, but you have to import them in the order you want because you can’t drag them around the timeline after. Everything becomes one big clip.
Is Avidemux good for YouTube?
No. It has more functionality than Machete, which is ranked higher on this list, but the difference is that Machete is excellent at one thing. They both suffer from the same main weakness – you could not complete your full YouTube video either (at least not without a lot of trouble). Machete could still be useful to a YouTuber, though, because it allows for the lossless exporting of segments of clips. You can use it to harvest clips for your larger project in another program.
In theory, you could do some picture editing and snipping in Avidemux and then put your project together/add titles in another program, but your other program can probably do all that just as well if not better. Avidemux isn’t a bad program, but it doesn’t excel at anything. There are a lot of better options which are also free.
What has your experience with free video editors been like?
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett
Dec 02, 2022• Proven solutions
What makes a YouTube video good? The most important element is obviously you, the creator. Your personality, ideas, and unique viewpoint are what will make your content special and turn viewers into subscribers.
The next most important thing – even more important than the camera you use – is editing.
Editing a YouTube video doesn’t have to be difficult. In fact, it should be simple. Your focus when you’re perfecting your video should be on that ‘most important thing’ we mentioned earlier – your creativity. Editing for a YouTube video should be art, not mechanical engineering.
Below is a list of the top free video editing software ranked according to how appropriate it is for YouTube videos.
| Rank | Editor | Make Cuts | Audio Features | Multiple Video Tracks | Video Effects | Intuitive Score (1-5) | Compatibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | OpenShot Video Editor | Yes | Fade In/Out, set volume levels | Yes | Transitions, text, ability to animate. Blur/Saturation/Brightness controls. | 5 | Windows, Mac, Linux |
| 2. | Shotcut | Yes | Detailed audio editing | Yes | You can customize color presets and other effects. No animations. | 4 | Windows, Mac, Linux |
| 3. | Hitfilm Express | Yes | Audio effects and transitioning. | Yes | Every imaginable picture customization. Some FX (more if you pay). Text tool. | 4 | Windows, Mac |
| 4. | VideoPad Video Editor | Yes | Noise removal, equalizer, audio effects. | Yes | Moving text, transitions, filters. | 5 | Windows |
| 5. | Lightworks | Yes | Detailed audio editing | Yes | No premade effects, but you can add text/color edit. | 3 | Windows, Mac, Linux |
| 6. | VSDC Video Editor | Yes | Some audio features blocked in free version | Yes | Filters, transitions, text, and more. | 1 | Windows |
| 7. | Machete Video Editor Lite | Yes | None | No | None | 3 | Windows |
| 8. | Avidemux | Yes | Some audio features | No | Some picture adjustments | 2 | Windows, Mac, Linux, BSD |
Ready to upgrade to a simple, powerful, paid software that’s perfect for YouTube? Check out the free trial of Wondershare Filmora . It is an advanced tool that is focused more on newbie editors who are new to the videography world but want to compete with professionals!
1. OpenShot Video Editor – Open Source (Windows, Mac, Linux)
Pros
- Easy to use
- Includes transitions
- Keyframing
- Alpha Channel
- Unlimited video tracks
OpenShot Video Editor Review
OpenShot completely lives up to the claim that it was designed to be ‘easy to use, quick to learn, and surprisingly powerful’.
The first time you use OpenShot there will be helpful tutorial notes to guide you through the program. The interface is intuitive enough that you may not always need them, but having them should erase any confusion.
All of the basic editing features, like cutting clips up, are easy to access in the timeline. You have unlimited tracks, and it’s easy to drag your clips between them. There’s a helpful magnet feature that fits clips together if you slide them together, but which still allows for blank space if you choose to leave it.
Most other functions – setting volume levels, adjusting the speed, adding movement/zoom effect – are accessible simply by right-clicking on your clip in the timeline and choosing what you want from the menu that pops up.
Is OpenShot Video Editor good for YouTube?
OpenShot is a great, free, choice for YouTubers at any editing skill level.
Beyond simply ordering your clips, OpenShot includes text and transition options within the program. You can even animate the text, and access Animated Titles if you use OpenShot in tandem with a free animation program called Blender. Titles and transitions are vital to a lot of popular YouTube styles.
OpenShot does not provide the same level of detail as the runner up, Shotcut, when it comes to color correction or audio editing. However, the features it does have (volume levels, control of saturation) will satisfy most YouTubers.
2. Shotcut – Open Source (Windows, Mac, Linux)
Pros
- Detailed audio editing
- Color grading, ability to save presets
- Fairly intuitive timeline
Shotcut Review
Shotcut delivers a smooth, detailed, editing experience for free. It is not as easy to jump into as some of the other programs on this list, but it still only takes a half-hour or so of playing around to understand it well enough to make a video. There are also tutorials up on Shotcut’s site that can help you.
You can edit using multiple video tracks in Shotcut, making it easy to combine multiple clips, and basic functions like splitting or copying clips are as easy as clicking the right icon on the toolbar.
All of the video and audio effects, including things like chroma key, you might want to apply to your video are found under the Filters menu. It will look empty when you first open it, and you have to click the plus sign to see what your options are. If you want to create a color tint (like what you might think of as an Instagram filter) then you can do that through the Color Grading option. If you want to do something like invert your colors or add an ‘old film’ look, you’ll find that here as well along with all of the audio editing features (balance, bass and treble, and gain to name just a few).
Is Shotcut good for YouTube?
Shotcut is a great choice for YouTubers. It allows you to do some advanced editing, and it’s easy to learn compared to a program targeted at professional editors.
The only complication with Shotcut for entry-level editors who will primarily use the program for YouTube might be that animations – like moving text – are not available through the program (you can add and customize text, but it just sits there). You can get them from elsewhere and use them in the program (Shotcut has an alpha channel), but it’s a bit more involved a process than simply customizing something that’s already provided.
3. Hitfilm Express – Windows, Mac
Pros
- Compositing mode (2D and 3D)
- The Most effect customization
- Helpful User Guide & tutorials
Cons
- Can be overwhelming
- Its main strength is FX, but you only get a couple for free. Most have to be bought separately.
Hitfilm Express Review
Hitfilm Express is the best free editor if you want to add special effects to your projects. OpenShot’s alpha channel will be enough for most people, but if you think of yourself as an aspiring filmmaker then it’s hard to beat Hitfilm’s range of functions.
This is an editor designed for people who want to make movies, and it’s a lot more intuitive than most professional-grade software. Film-quality FX (lasers, explosions, etc.) are available through Hitfilm Express for a reasonable price ($10-$50, depending on what you want), and even without paying extra for the packs, there’s a lot you can do to give your video a ‘film look’ using compositing layers and the multitude of customizable effects provided through the program.
Another highlight of Hitfilm Express is the extensive selection of tutorials and helpful information they have available both through YouTube videos and their User Guide. You will need those because this program can be overwhelming. It has so many functions and areas you can customize that it is easy to get lost.
That said, basic editing in Hitfilm Express is not difficult to jump into. It’s only when you start getting fancy that things get dicey.
Is Hitfilm Express good for YouTube?
Yes. It will not be the best option for everyone, but it’s not a bad option for anyone either.
If what you want to make is a vlog where you have a series of clips, and intro, and maybe a couple of title effects, then Hitfilm express might be overkill. You don’t want to have to master compositing just to add some text.
If what you want to make is a vlog that’s interrupted by an alien invasion and turns into an action sequence with lasers and falling debris, it’d be hard to do better than Hitfilm Express.
4. VideoPad Video Editor – Windows
Pros
- Easy to jump into
- Moving text
- Huge audio waveforms
- Audio and visual effects
- Lossless exports
Cons
- No longer updated
VideoPad Video Editor Review
VideoPad Video Editor is an extremely easy to use program. It may be the easiest program on this list to jump into, which you could also realistically create your entire video inside (there are easier programs, but you can only do some of your work in them). Part of its simplicity comes from not being as feature-rich as the programs ranking higher than it on this list, however.
You do not get the same range of functions with VideoPad as you do from the top 3 free editors, but it has enough to satisfy people who are just starting out. Creating moving text effects is easy, you have huge audio waves to work with while you’re syncing, and effects like transitions and filters are easy to find.
VideoPad does suffer a bit from being dated. This program is no longer being worked on, and the interface doesn’t look particularly modern. This is a bit more than a cosmetic issue because some features, while not difficult to find, are placed a bit oddly compared to other editors.
One slightly annoying feature of VideoPad is that it will prompt you to buy the commercial version sometimes (the free version is only for non-commercial use). There have been reports of exports being blocked in the free version, but I exported several times for the sake of this review and the issue never came up.
Is VideoPad Video Editor good for YouTube?
VideoPad makes a decent YouTube editor. You can jump right in and start making cuts, adding filters, and ordering your clips. If you have the kind of channel where voiceovers are important (like in gaming or makeup), then you’ll be happy with the size of the audio waves you have to work with for syncing.
The thing about VideoPad is that you’re probably going to outgrow it quickly as you become a more capable editor.
5. Lightworks – Windows, Mac, Linux
Pros
- Detailed color and audio editing
- Multicam editing
Cons
- Exports limited to 720p for the free version
- Difficult to learn compared to other free software
Lightworks Review
On their website, Lightworks claims to have an ‘intuitive interface’ and ‘easy timeline editing’. This is true if you compare it to other professional-level editing suites. Compared to the other programs on this list, Lightworks is complicated.
The first thing I attempt when I review this program is to simply split a clip, and it took me a ridiculous amount of time to figure this feature out in Lightworks (a more advanced editor could have found it faster, but these reviews are meant to help people with less experience). Lightworks does have a whole tutorial series on using the software, so if you are interested in learning to use it there is ample material out there to help you.
Lightworks has a wide range of functions (i.e. detailed audio editing and color correction), and it has been used for big movies like ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’. It is the most professional program on this list, and it’s a great free alternative to something like Adobe Premiere Pro.
Note: there is no time limit on the free version of Lightworks, but it will ask you to renew your free license every 7 days. When it says your license is ‘expired’ it isn’t kicking you off the free version, you just need to renew.
Is Lightworks good for YouTube?
Whether or not Lightworks is right for your YouTube channel depends on your goals as a video editor.
If what you want is to jump in and start making YouTube videos quickly, Lightworks might not be a great choice. It’s not an easy program to just jump into, you’ll have to either take time to learn it or accept that it’ll take some trial and error to get the hang of.
If what you want is to become a professional-level video editor, then Lightworks is a great program to start on (although, Hitfilm Express may still be better). Taking the time to learn it could certainly pay off in the long run.
However, if one of your priorities is for your YouTube channel to come across as professional, then the free version of Lightworks does have some disappointing limitations. You can only export videos in 720p, which is lower quality than viewers on YouTube expect (you probably want at least 1080p). Your output format is limited too. The royalty-free audio and video content Lightworks offers are also not free; you can just buy them through the program.
6. VSDC Video Editor – Windows
Pros
- Diagrams and charts
- How To Get Started Guide
- Lots of features
Cons
- Very confusing
- Paid features show up in the free version, but they’re blocked
Review of VSDC Video Editor
There’s a lot to like about VSDC Video Editor, but you have to do a lot of work to uncover any of it. Accessing even the most basic features is confusing.
One of the first things I tried to do as I tested the program was make a jump cut (where you cut out part of a video so the playback ‘jumps over’ the deleted segment) and, while I was able to do it, it was not an intuitive process. There is a multitude of toolbars and icons surrounding your preview window in VSDC, and none of those icons was for making cuts to your clips. To make any cuts you have to find the ‘cutting and splitting’ option under the Editor tab at the top of the page, which will open a second window in which you still cannot make any cuts. Instead what you can do is place markers, and when you click ‘apply changes’ to exit the window cuts will be made where you placed markers. There is nothing in the window to explain what the markers are for.
Other basic functions, like adding text, are just as complicated.
Is VSDC Video Editor good for YouTube?
I would not recommend VSDC for YouTube. It ranks higher than two other items on this list because they are, do to functional limitations, unable to create full YouTube videos without the support of other programs (at least realistically). You certainly could create your full YouTube video in VSDC, but it’d be a headache.
7. Machete Video Editor Lite – Windows
Pros
- Great for harvesting clips from longer footage
- Lossless exports
Cons
- Cannot swap or add audio
- Only supports two formats (AVI and WMV)
- Slightly awkward timeline
Machete Video Editor Lite Review
Machete Lite claims that you’ll be able to edit your videos “within a few minutes after downloading the program, even if you’ve never edited a video before”, and that is true. It might even be better if you haven’t edited a video before because the interface is slightly awkward if you’ve come from a program with a more traditional timeline setup. Machete Lite is easy to use for the most part, but it doesn’t work like most other editors and that can be awkward to navigate around.
Instead of seeing a timeline with all of your individual clips, Machete treats your entire video as one clip. You will only be able to see where you have inserted a separate video clip or cut out a portion of the video by watching the video back or jumping through it (Machete Lite does allow frame-by-frame scrolling). You won’t be able to see this information at a glance, and you won’t be able to adjust the lengths of clips you’ve added separately.
To take out any portion of your overall video you’ll need to find a keyframe at the beginning, set that as the beginning of your selection, then find a key frame at the end and set that as the end of your selection. You will then be able to delete that selection. This will not work if the frames you have set as the beginning and end are not considered keyframes by the program, so it can be difficult to be precise, but since the program allows you to jump through keyframes it’s not difficult to find a point that works.
Is Machete Video Editor Lite good for YouTube?
Machete Lite is not a good choice for YouTubers unless it is used in combination with another program.
It doesn’t work as a YouTube editor because you cannot edit or swap audio, the transition between clips, or create layers of videos and images.
However, the thing Machete Lite is really good at is cutting out clips from longer videos. You can create a selection of a part of your longer clip and then export it (with no quality loss) as its own video file.
This is what the Machete Lite toolbar looks like when you’ve created a selection. Tools like cut and copy which were greyed out before are now available, as is the save icon on the far right. If you click the save icon, you’ll be able to save that selection as its own video.
You can’t create a complete YouTube video in Machete Lite, but you can harvest clips to use in a different program.
8. Avidemux – Windows, Mac, Linux, BSD
Pros
- Can add subtitle files
Cons
- Not intuitive
- Doesn’t support MOV or WMV
- The website is not informative, no tutorials
Avidemux Review
Avidemux is not an easy program to jump into. I almost wrote that it couldn’t do anything besides make cuts to a clip before I saw a YouTube tutorial about how to find the contrast and brightness tools. If you decide to try it out, remember that you have to choose your output format before Avidemux will let you access tools like Hue/Saturation and Contrast (click Filters under Video Output to find them).
There are no official tutorials for Avidemux you can access from their site, so you’ll have to rely on the forums and tutorials from users if you want to learn it.
You can import multiple clips into Avidemux, but you have to import them in the order you want because you can’t drag them around the timeline after. Everything becomes one big clip.
Is Avidemux good for YouTube?
No. It has more functionality than Machete, which is ranked higher on this list, but the difference is that Machete is excellent at one thing. They both suffer from the same main weakness – you could not complete your full YouTube video either (at least not without a lot of trouble). Machete could still be useful to a YouTuber, though, because it allows for the lossless exporting of segments of clips. You can use it to harvest clips for your larger project in another program.
In theory, you could do some picture editing and snipping in Avidemux and then put your project together/add titles in another program, but your other program can probably do all that just as well if not better. Avidemux isn’t a bad program, but it doesn’t excel at anything. There are a lot of better options which are also free.
What has your experience with free video editors been like?
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.
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- Title: "2024 Approved Top 10 Video-Making Apps IPhone, Android Edition"
- Author: Thomas
- Created at : 2024-05-31 12:45:28
- Updated at : 2024-06-01 12:45:28
- Link: https://youtube-help.techidaily.com/2024-approved-top-10-video-making-apps-iphone-android-edition/
- License: This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
