Look for a good video editing software in Windows 11

Hi there!  

It's great that you're venturing into video editing for YouTube! Since you're looking for something user-friendly but feature-rich, I'll share a mix of free and paid options, starting with a suggestion you already have on your system:  

1. Windows Photos App (Free)
You might already have the **Windows Photos App** on Windows 11, which includes a built-in video editor. It’s perfect for beginners and can handle basic edits for YouTube tutorials or short films.  

Key Features:  
- Add transitions, effects, and text overlays.  
- Trim, split, and rearrange clips on a timeline.  
- Add background music or custom audio.  
- Export videos in high quality for YouTube.  
- Extremely user-friendly interface for quick projects.  

If you're new to editing or need a simple tool to get started, this is a great way to dip your toes into video editing without any cost. However, if you need advanced features like keyframing, multicam editing, or motion tracking, you’ll want to check out the next options.  

---

2. Other Free Options  

DaVinci Resolve (Free/Paid)
- A professional-grade tool with powerful features for advanced users.  
- Great for color grading, transitions, effects, and audio editing.  
- It has a steeper learning curve, but the free version is incredibly robust.  

Shotcut (Free)
- Open-source and user-friendly.  
- Offers essential tools like transitions, filters, and multi-track editing.  
- Lacks some polish compared to paid options but gets the job done for most YouTube projects.  

3. Paid Options 

Adobe Premiere Pro (Paid)
- Industry standard for professionals.  
- Advanced features like motion graphics, keyframing, and effects.  
- Seamless integration with Adobe Creative Cloud apps (Photoshop, After Effects).  
- Costs $20.99/month but offers a free trial to test it out.  

Filmora (Paid)
- User-friendly and affordable.  
- Ideal for beginners and intermediate users who want pre-made effects and templates.  
- One-time fee or annual subscription options.  

My Recommendation  
If you're just starting out, try the Windows Photos App to get comfortable with basic editing and explore your creative process. Once you're ready for more advanced tools, Filmora or DaVinci Resolve are excellent choices, depending on your budget and needs.  

Was looking for somewhere to post a review of Clipchamp on Win11. I have used it a few times, actually created a couple of DIY videos that are posted to YouTube with it. But using it recently, I have found it is unreliable! While creating a video - and these are simple DIY vids, using pictures that are stretched along the timeline, and audio voice-overs, I've found that the playback will jump and click the audio, when the video changes pics. And the most annoying thing, is that all audio captured with the app, using the record feature, has a fade-in. Yes, there is a fade-in feature, but it is OFF!  Yet the recorded audio does fade-ins! Uggh.  Now before you ask, my desktop computer meets or beats all the reqmnts for running Clipchamp. But the quirkiness and non-repeatability of this app is making it simply unusable. I just quit it yesterday, and got PowerDirector - for a very low price, and the features in it are a quantum leap in luxury and performance over Clipchamp. PD has much improved audio editing features. Where in Clipchamp, you can't even find where they store the recorded audio files! Total waste of time. Too bad too, I thought MS had it's act together. 

For seasoned editors, the Photos app can feel quite restrictive. You might find yourself annoyed by the clunky interface and the lack of customization options that more advanced programs offer. If you’re planning on creating longer videos or need to manage multiple projects, the Photos app can feel a bit cramped. I’ve tried working on multiple edits at once with it, and it’s not the best environment. A more professional software would provide better project management tools.

You might want to check out some other options that still play nicely with Windows 11. Clipchamp is a solid choice—it's built into Windows now and has a user-friendly interface while offering more features, like transitions and templates. It’s great for beginners and has more flexibility for when you want to step it up.

If you’re looking for a best video editing software in Windows 11, consider Adobe Premiere Pro. They have a bit of a learning curve but are worth it if you want to get serious about video editing. Plus, they support a ton of features that you won’t find in the Photos app.

Avidemux is a best video editing software for Windows 11, especially if you’re comfortable with command-line interfaces (CLI). It's great at things like cutting, trimming, and joining videos without re-encoding them, which means you can do some quick edits without losing quality. Plus, you can use it to apply filters and adjust audio tracks, which is nice.

The CLI doesn’t offer a visual way to see your changes as you make them. You might end up running commands, then having to re-run with adjustments until you get it just right, which can be tedious.

If you need to perform repetitive tasks, you’ll need to create scripts to automate them, which requires an additional layer of complexity. If you’re not into scripting, this can make it feel like you’re wrestling with the software rather than creatively working on a project.

Clipchamp is a good video editing software, and maybe putting a filter here and there—but if you need more advanced features like multi-track editing, advanced effects, or heavy-duty color correction, you might hit a wall. I remember trying to do a simple multi-layer project and feeling quite frustrated with the limitations.

Since Clipchamp is web-based, your experience can heavily depend on your internet connection. If you're on a slow or unstable connection, uploading and exporting videos can be a pain. I’ve had moments where my connection dropped, and I lost my progress. Definitely not fun, especially if you’re working against a deadline.

You can try PowerPoint video editing. It sounds a bit outrageous, but it can actually handle some simple editing. I sometimes use this tool. The steps are not complicated:

1. Open PowerPoint and create a new blank document.
2. Click "Insert", select "Video", and then import your video file.
3. After inserting the video into the slide, you can trim the time, adjust the size, and even add animation effects, such as fade in and fade out.
4. After it's done, click "File" > "Export" > "Create Video", select the resolution, and save it directly as MP4.

Although this is not a serious video editing software for PC, it is still no problem to make a simple short film or tutorial. The disadvantage is that the functions are too basic, and the transitions and special effects are all "made do" with animations. But it's fun to use it occasionally, like using a sledgehammer to hit a nail 😂!

Windows' built-in video editor is actually hidden in the "Photos" app, which is very suitable for beginners! After opening the Photos app, click "Video Editor", then import your footage and you can easily edit it. It supports basic cutting, adding subtitles, adding background music, and adjusting the screen ratio, without any professional skills.

However, as a basic video editor software for PC, it has limited functions and lacks transition effects and advanced special effects. If you just want to simply cut a video or make a short film, it is definitely enough, but more complex needs may require more professional tools.

Haha, speaking of using Windows Photos app to edit videos, that was my "entry-level magic tool" when I first started learning video editing. At that time, I just wanted to simply edit a travel video of my home, but I found that the built-in photo app in the system could also edit!

The steps are very simple:

1. Open your MOV or MP4 file, right-click and select "Open with Photos app".
2. After the video is opened, there will be an "Edit and Create" button in the upper right corner. Click it, and there will be options for "Create video" or "Crop video".
3. Select "Create video", then you can add titles, text effects, and insert music. It is very intuitive to operate, and there is no need to learn extra.

However, to be honest, Windows Photos app is only a very basic video editing software for PC, and it has many shortcomings:

However, the disadvantages of this method are also quite obvious:

1. The functions are too basic: you can only do simple cutting and add some music, and forget about cool transitions and advanced special effects.
2. The interface is stuck: if the video is a little longer or the resolution is a little higher, the application will be a little slow.

Once, I wanted to cut a long video of my trip into segments, and then add some transition effects and subtitles. As a result, the app got stuck while I was cutting, and the video was not saved successfully. I was so angry that I couldn't sleep well all night 😂. But then again, if you just want to simply cut the length or add some music, it is still quite convenient and suitable for beginners.

Choosing the best video editing software depends on your needs, experience level, and budget. Here are the key factors to consider:

Define Your Editing Needs: If you only need simple tasks like trimming, merging, or adding text, free software like Clipchamp, Shotcut, or OpenShot might be sufficient. For professional-grade tools such as color correction, motion graphics, and multi-cam editing, consider software like Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, or Final Cut Pro.

Ease of Use: Look for user-friendly interfaces with drag-and-drop functionality and templates. 

Supported Formats: Ensure the software supports the video formats and resolutions you commonly work with (e.g., MP4, MOV, AVI, 4K, 8K). If you work with specialized formats (e.g., RAW, HEVC), double-check compatibility.

Let me know if you'd like personalized video editor software suggestions based on your specific projects!