In brief
- Completely free PC programmes: Shotcut, OpenShot and Kdenlive — open-source video editors with no hidden subscriptions.
- DaVinci Resolve: The free version allows you to edit video at resolutions up to Ultra HD (3840×2160) at frame rates of up to 60 fps; the Studio version costs a one-off payment of $295.
- Final Cut Pro: Works only on Mac and iPad. For Mac, it costs a one-off payment of $349.99 in the Ukrainian App Store ($299.99 in the US), whilst for iPad it is available via a subscription for $4.99 per month or $49 per year.
- Clipchamp: Exports videos up to 1080p for free without a watermark; 4K export is available with the premium plan.
- On mobile: InShot, CapCut, VN, and on Apple devices — also iMovie. A paid subscription to InShot Pro costs $5.99 per month.
Comparison table of video editing programmes
Prices and limits have been compiled from the developers’ official websites and the Ukrainian App Store.
| Software | Platforms | Pricing model | Export / limits |
| DaVinci Resolve | Windows, Mac, Linux | Free | Up to 3840×2160, up to 60 fps, 8-bit |
| DaVinci Resolve Studio | Windows, Mac, Linux | $295 one-off | 10-bit, up to 120 fps, higher than 4K (8K) |
| Final Cut Pro | Mac, iPad | $349.99 one-off (Mac) / from $4.99/month (iPad) | Up to 8K, HDR, ProRes |
| iMovie | Mac, iPhone, iPad | Free | Up to 4K, 60 fps |
| Shotcut | Windows, Mac, Linux | Free (open source) | Up to 4K, 60 fps |
| OpenShot | Windows, Linux, Mac, Chrome OS | Free (open source) | Up to 4K |
| Kdenlive | Windows, Mac, Linux, BSD | Free (open source) | Up to 4K / unlimited |
| Pinnacle Studio | Windows | From $59.99 one-off payment (demo version available) | Up to 4K / HD depending on version |
| Clipchamp | Web, Windows | Free / Premium in Microsoft 365 | 1080p free, 4K in Premium |
| CapCut | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android | Free (paid Pro features available) | Up to 4K, 60 fps |
| InShot | iOS, Android, Mac (M1+) | Free with adverts / Pro ($5.99/month) | Up to 4K, 60 fps |
| VN Video Editor | iOS, Android, Mac, Windows | Free / VN Pro | Up to 4K, 60 fps, no watermark |
How to choose an app: four questions
Answer these questions one by one to narrow down your search to a few top options:
What platform do you edit on?
Windows: DaVinci Resolve, Shotcut, OpenShot, Kdenlive, CapCut, Clipchamp, Pinnacle Studio.
Mac: All those listed for Windows, plus Final Cut Pro and iMovie.
Smartphone (iOS / Android): InShot, CapCut, VN, iMovie (iOS only).
Linux: DaVinci Resolve, Shotcut, OpenShot, Kdenlive.
Are you willing to pay?
No: Shotcut, OpenShot, Kdenlive, the free versions of DaVinci Resolve, Clipchamp, VN, iMovie.
One-off payment: DaVinci Resolve Studio ($295), Final Cut Pro for Mac ($349.99) or Pinnacle Studio.
Subscription-based: Final Cut Pro for iPad, InShot Pro, Clipchamp Premium (Microsoft 365), Adobe Premiere Pro.
What export resolution do you need?
For 1080p (Full HD): The free versions of Clipchamp, iMovie or any other editor will suffice.
For 4K (Ultra HD): Shotcut, Kdenlive, the free version of DaVinci Resolve (up to 3840×2160), CapCut, InShot, VN or Clipchamp Premium.
Higher than 4K and 10-bit colour: DaVinci Resolve Studio or Final Cut Pro.
Does the watermark bother you?
Clipchamp, Shotcut, OpenShot, Kdenlive, iMovie, VN and the free version of DaVinci Resolve export the finished video without watermarks.
Free video editing software for PC
DaVinci Resolve
A powerful professional editor from Blackmagic Design for Mac, Windows and Linux. The free version supports most 8-bit video formats, frame rates up to 60 fps and resolutions up to Ultra HD (3840×2160). Features include multi-user collaboration and professional HDR colour grading.
Shotcut
A free, cross-platform, open-source editor. Thanks to its integration with the FFmpeg library, it supports hundreds of audio and video formats without the need for prior import (just click and start editing). It supports resolutions up to 4K, as well as screen and webcam recording, which is handy for creating tutorial videos.
OpenShot
A user-friendly open-source editor for Windows, Linux, macOS and Chrome OS. It helps you carry out basic colour correction, work with chroma key, keyframes and masks. It’s well suited to beginners thanks to its simple interface.
Kdenlive
Kdenlive (KDE Non-Linear Video Editor) — a project from the KDE community for Linux, Windows, macOS and BSD. It supports multi-camera editing, nested sequences and creates proxy files (low-quality copies), which allow you to edit heavy 4K videos comfortably even on low-spec PCs.
Pinnacle Studio
An application from Pinnacle Labs / Corel for Windows. A simplified free version is available on the Microsoft Store for basic editing (trimming, transitions, stickers, formats for Instagram and YouTube), whilst the full version of Pinnacle Studio is sold as a separate commercial package with advanced tracking and effects.
Clipchamp
The official video editor from Microsoft, available via a web browser or as a Windows app. The free plan allows you to export an unlimited number of videos in 1080p without a watermark and includes basic AI tools.
Paid video editing software
DaVinci Resolve Studio
Costs $295 one-off. Includes all the features of the free version plus the DaVinci AI Neural Engine, dozens of additional Resolve FX effects, spatial noise reduction, object masking (Magic Mask) and text-based editing. Studio supports 10-bit video, frame rates up to 120 fps and resolutions higher than 4K (up to 8K).
Final Cut Pro
Apple’s professional software, designed specifically for the Mac and iPad ecosystem:
For Mac: One-off purchase ($299.99 in the US, 349.99 USD in the Ukrainian App Store).
For iPad: Subscription for $4.99 per month or $49 per year.
System requirements: macOS (latest versions) and at least 8 GB of RAM (16 GB recommended). For iPad, models with M1, A16, A17 Pro or newer chips are required.
The app allows you to seamlessly import projects from iMovie without losing any edited footage.
Clipchamp Premium
A premium plan included with a Microsoft 365 subscription (Personal or Family) or available for purchase separately. It adds the ability to export in 4K, access to premium video and audio stock libraries, and a brand kit (to save your logos, fonts and corporate colours).
Adobe Premiere Pro
The industry standard from Adobe. Available on subscription:
Premiere Pro standalone: from $22.99/month (or at special regional rates).
Creative Cloud bundle (all apps): from $59.99/month (significant discounts available for students and teachers).
Video editing apps for mobile phones
InShot
A popular mobile editor for iOS and Android. The free version contains adverts and a watermark. A subscription to InShot Pro costs $5.99/month, $19.99/year or a one-off payment of $59.99 (lifetime access). It allows you to save videos in 4K at 60 fps and supports use on iPad tablets and Mac computers with Apple Silicon chips.
CapCut
A feature-rich editor for mobiles and PCs (Windows/Mac). It’s free to download, but some effects and AI features require a CapCut Pro subscription. It’s particularly powerful when it comes to auto-captions, background removal and stylisation.
iMovie
A free, official app for Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac). It offers ready-made Hollywood-style trailer templates, filters and background music. Projects can be easily transferred to Final Cut Pro for professional finishing.
VN Video Editor
One of the best free mobile editors with no watermarks on basic exports. It offers a multi-track timeline, flexible speed adjustment (Speed Curve) and support for colour profiles (LUT). Available on iOS, Android, macOS and Windows.
Comparison of free and paid versions (using two programmes as examples)
| Feature | DaVinci Resolve (free) | DaVinci Resolve Studio ($295) | Final Cut Pro (Mac, one-off purchase) | Final Cut Pro (iPad, subscription) |
| Price | Free | $295 one-off | $349.99 one-off | $4.99/month or $49/year |
| Resolution | Up to 3840×2160 | Over 4K (up to 8K) | Up to 8K | Up to 4K |
| Frame rate | Up to 60 fps | Up to 120 fps | No limits | Up to 60 fps |
| Colour depth | 8-bit | 10-bit and above | 10-bit / HDR | 10-bit / HDR |
| AI features | Basic | Neural Engine, Magic Mask, Voice Isolation | Smart cropping, colour | Smart cropping, touch interface |
What AI features can do in modern video editors
Modern AI tools are designed to speed up routine tasks:
InShot: AI Cut (automatically removes silence and pauses), Auto Captions (subtitle generation), AI Portrait (face retouching and contour selection), Voice Enhance (voice noise reduction).
Clipchamp: Automatically creates a rough cut of a video from selected media files.
CapCut: Automatic translation and subtitle generation, video generation from a text script, automatic background removal.
Adobe Premiere Pro: Generative Extend (frame extension), automatic transcription and editing based on text, Auto Reframe (automatic cropping for 9:16 vertical video).
DaVinci Resolve Studio: Magic Mask (selecting people and objects without a green screen), voice isolation, face tracking, text editing.
Video editing as a career: vacancies on Injobe
There is a vacancy on Injobe ‘Video Editor (Short-form / AI)’ from the company Renocons — offering remote work. The salary is not specified in the advert.
In total, there are currently 38 active vacancies on the site, 16 of which are remote. All offers can be found on the Injobe vacancies page.
What to check before installing
- Compatibility with OS version: Check the minimum requirements (for example, macOS for Final Cut Pro or the Windows version for CapCut).
- RAM: 8 GB is sufficient for basic editing, but for 4K and complex graphics, you’ll need between 16 and 32 GB.
- Free export limits: Check that there are no resolution restrictions (e.g. 1080p in Clipchamp) and that no watermark is applied.
- Official source: Only download apps from developers’ official websites or from trusted stores (App Store, Microsoft Store) to avoid viruses.
