I’m a total beginner when it comes to video editing, and I’ve been trying to put together a short family montage for my cousin’s wedding next month. My budget is basically zero right now, so I’m hunting for the best free video editing software for beginners that won’t overwhelm me with a million buttons or force me to upgrade after a week. I just need something simple to cut clips, add a couple of transitions, and maybe overlay some music.
I tried DaVinci Resolve first because everyone says it’s powerful, but even just trimming a clip took me twenty minutes and I still couldn’t figure out how to export without it crashing. Then I messed around with OpenShot, which seemed easier, but the preview kept freezing on my laptop—it’s an older HP from 2017, so maybe that’s on me. I also downloaded CapCut on my phone, but the mobile version drove me crazy trying to align audio on a tiny screen. I’m not looking for anything flashy, just something that runs smoothly and has a clear undo button, or at least a tutorial that doesn’t assume I know what “keyframes” are.
For anyone who started from zero, what free software did you actually stick with for your first few projects, and what was the biggest hurdle you overcame to get a finished video out the door?
I tried DaVinci Resolve first because everyone says it’s powerful, but even just trimming a clip took me twenty minutes and I still couldn’t figure out how to export without it crashing. Then I messed around with OpenShot, which seemed easier, but the preview kept freezing on my laptop—it’s an older HP from 2017, so maybe that’s on me. I also downloaded CapCut on my phone, but the mobile version drove me crazy trying to align audio on a tiny screen. I’m not looking for anything flashy, just something that runs smoothly and has a clear undo button, or at least a tutorial that doesn’t assume I know what “keyframes” are.
For anyone who started from zero, what free software did you actually stick with for your first few projects, and what was the biggest hurdle you overcame to get a finished video out the door?
