The Best Free Video Surveillance Software : A Comprehensive Guide

10 Best Free Security Camera Software

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Figuring out which is the best security camera software is never easy. This is because most of the software you find online says it is free…until you download their software and it tries to charge you.

Here is a review of the best security camera software, and every single one has a free option. Share this article on social media if you find the right camera software for you.

But if you are new in this field, then you might want to know some basic technique terms introduced following, before we jump to choose the best security camera software.

What Is an IP Camera?

When people say, “IP camera,” they usually mean a camera that uses the Internet in some way so that it may do its job. A typical CCTV camera connects a camera to a computer via a wire. An IP camera can connect over the Internet.

Sometimes, the connection is remote. This means that the camera may be in one location and still be connected to another computer that is miles away.

However, many IP cameras are installed in a home and only travel a few feet/meters to the nearest computer. In short, an IP camera doesn’t need a local recording device because the signal can be sent over the Internet or with a Wi-Fi connection.

What Is Camera Software Used for?

Most people and businesses use camera software to connect their cameras to their computers or their Smartphones. This is often cheaper than buying dedicated recording hardware. The camera and its software are usually used to monitor camera feeds that are life, and to records them onto a hard drive or to the Cloud.

How Do You Pick the Best Security Camera Software?

In most cases, the best software is simply the software that works with your cameras, and that offers all the functions you need. Compatibility is the first concern, but you also want it to work well with your device. For example, if your cameras have a zoom function, but your software doesn’t allow zooming, then that piece of software is not the best one for you.

For example, if you are using Linux, then you want Linux security camera software. And, some people insist that their software allows them to monitor their cameras from their Smartphones. The great thing about free security camera software is that you can test it out first without the risk of losing your money.

If You Need to Edit Your Videos , Which Is the Best Video Editor?

Exporting or downloading content from your camera software is a messy job. You often need a good video editor and trimmer to make your video clips usable.

This is especially true when video recordings can go on for as long as 90 days at a time. If you are looking for a high-quality and flexible video editor, then Filmora is your only real and viable choice. Learn more from Wondershare Video Community .

Filmora takes users’ needs into consideration and comes up with a variety of useful features to make editing easy for people of different levels. Let’s have a look at the useful features of Filmora to better understand how powerful Filmora is.

• Auto Synchronization: This allows you to sync video and audio easily.
• Plenty of transitions, effects, elements make your videos more interesting.
• Audio Ducking: Automatically reduce the volume of the background music to make the dialogue stand out.
• Wondershare Drive: Upload video or project to Wondershare Drive and download it to complete anywhere you want.
• Motion Tracking: Attach an element to a moving object in your video easily with auto motion tracking.
• Keyframing: Customize animation by adding keyframes to change the position, rotation, scale, and opacity of a clip.
• Color Match: Match the color of selected clips to another frame from another clip.

10 Best Free Security Camera Software

Now let’s have a look at the 10 best free security camera software with very comprehensive choosing details.

1. NetCam Studio

There is a free version of NetCam Studio, but if you want something more powerful, then you can buy one of their licenses. These licenses allow you to use the software for as long as you like, and they will update the software for up to two years after purchase.

After the two-year period, you can keep the software running as normal, but if you want upgrades, then you will have to buy them. Upgrades shouldn’t be needed unless you buy a new piece of camera hardware and it requires a new type of camera software.

The NetCam Studio Features

If you go for the free version of NetCam Studio, then you get to use a camera feed from two sources. There is a watermark added to the camera images, and you get five-day notifications. There is also community support.

The paid features include up to 64 sources, no watermarks, 250-day notifications, and you get priority support. After the 250 days is up, you may buy upgrades in order to keep the notification system going.

Pros

The free version does not expire in any way besides the notifications

You are able to use this software with a wide variety of camera brands

Updates are frequent enough to tackle most system-breaking bugs

Cons

The interface needs updating to make it more user friendly

They need to better explain the “Add Source” procedure

Troubleshooting audio problems is very difficult

2. Security Eye

The reason Security Eye ranks so highly is that it is a professional piece of software that somebody decided should be free. It is not open source security camera software, but the developers have decided that it should be free. There used to be a free version where you would get 2 hours of free surveillance per day for free, but in 2019 the company removed its payment system. Will they keep it up or go back to paid subscriptions? Who knows, but you should get it while it is still free (if you can).

Security Eye Features

You can use a timer to determine when the video feed should start. You can capture images as JPEGs and then compress them. The system also allows you to receive alerts via a loudspeaker. It works with motion-detection devices too.

Pros

It comes with the Xvid MPEG-4 Codec

The full version has no nag screen or recording limit

The Security Eye interface is pretty modern for what is essentially a free piece of software

Cons

Demands 1GB of RAM and 2GB of HHD space

Requires at least an Intel Pentium 1.8 processor

The icons should be more intuitive

3. Perfect Surveillance

There are three types of free security camera software for you to choose from. There is one for IP cameras, one for web cameras, and there is a piece of viewing software that people may use if they do not have something like VLC video viewer installed.

Perfect Surveillance Features

Simple icons and a clear interface is a great benefits. Determine when the cameras start monitoring and set up your own layouts to suit your viewing style.

Pros

A simple program that works in a very uncomplicated manner

Most of its icons are intuitive to where you can guess what they do

The Perfect Surveillance system has motion detection and allows you to monitor up to 64 devices

Cons

Installing seems overly long and bloated

There are not enough instructions on how to get your cameras connected

They do not explain how to capture and export screenshots

4. iVideon

There are times when a piece of free software simply does its job good enough to warrant no complaints, and that is exactly what iVideon offers. There are plenty of ways it can be improved, but there is nothing about it that demands harsh criticism.

iVideon Features

One of its most advertised features is facial recognition, but it is not very accurate. It does allow for very good mobile usage. You can view live and recorded footage on your desktop or mobile device. It is also available for Mac OS X and Linux.

Pros

Online home use and access is completely full-featured and freeware

It has smart notifications and has its own desktop and mobile apps

it doesn’t take long to learn how to use the iVideon interface

Cons

Seems rather light on features

Installing and connecting cameras requires a better tutorial

Embedding live video on your website is trickier than it first seems

5. Xeoma

This program has plenty of features, but most of them are locked off to free users. It takes over too long to learn how to use the system, but it may be worth it if you have many cameras. The paid version has all sorts of perks from SMS texts to system health monitoring.

Xeoma Features

The lite version is the free version. It allows you to add four cameras with up to six modules in each chain. You can test out and use the lite version as long as you like, or you can get a free trial of the larger fully-featured program.

Pros

Record and monitor from four cameras

Updates are very frequent

This software works with mostly every type of camera

Cons

Around 90% of features are locked off to free users.

Xeoma is difficult to learn and set up

Connecting many cameras is difficult because the system is difficult to learn as a whole

6. Genius Vision

The Genius Vision system is a fairly advanced piece of software that is probably best used for businesses. If used at home, then there are many features that may never be used. It also works on mobile devices too.

Genius Vision Features

There are plenty of features to play with, including a massive array of settings to fit the many types of camera that this program can be used with. You can even support the company through Patreon and get more extensions on the program.

Pros

Works in-depth with many types of camera

The tools are very sophisticated and accurate

The drop-down menus are complicated while also being thoughtfully laid out

Cons

Getting paid upgrades is trickier than just buying on their website

Setting up the remote features is difficult

You have to figure out most of how to use the program based on which camera you have connected

7. Deskshare IP Camera Viewer

The Deskshare IP Camera Viewer company has a great piece of security camera software that they repackage into many different names and then give away on their website. They do this because the software comes with lots of unwanted bloatware that the company is paid to promote. The sad part is that many other websites will replace this bloatware with Trojan viruses, which means it is difficult to get a clean version of this program.

Deskshare IP Camera Viewer Features

Live recording, playback, and split-screen is all available. You can use up to 4 cameras at a time, and it works with 2200 different camera models. If your hardware allows it, then you can pan, tilt and zoom your camera.

Pros

It is compatible with many types of camera brand

You can set up floating surveillance windows if you want

Adjust the properties of each camera individually

Cons

Installing is very difficult to do correctly

Comes with bloatware and/or unwanted content

The IP software has the least features of all the Deskshare camera software

8. Anycam

The Anycam system is a very average piece of software, but it works with most any type of camera. The interface is basic but easy to use and easy to set up. You will discover that the free version is only limited in terms of record time, you can still use all its features.

Anycam Features

Anycam is mostly featureless. It works with motion-detection cameras. It allows for video recording and playback. Plus, you can watch a live feed. Other than that, there is very little you can do with this basic-but-effective piece of software.

Pros

The program seems to work with any type of camera

Anycam has a paid version where you only make a one-time payment and get free lifetime updates

Installing and setup is very easy

Cons

Trying to find specific events on the timeline is very fiddly

The free version only allows two cameras to be linked

The recording is very limited with the free version

9. ContaCam

In the strictest terms, this piece of software is not free. The developers ask you for a donation, but there is nothing forcing you to give them one. Plus, you can try the software, and then if it turns out to be brilliant, then you can always go back and donate to them.

ContaCam Features

Despite seeming very complicated, the interface is actually very self-explanatory. At first glance, it looks overly condensed and full of features, but each explains itself very well. You can configure the cameras very precisely to the point where you can even specify within which seconds it starts and stops.

Pros

A rather advanced piece of software

The interface layout is very condensed without being confusing

You can use web servers, the Internet, or intranet to receive live feeds

Cons

The interface has no aesthetic decoration at all

ContaCam takes a long time to learn through trial and error testing

The developers say this will never work with mobile devices

10. Agent DVR

The great thing about Agent DVR is that it is completely free because it is freeware. The sad part is that it was created by a developer who went on to finer things and left the program lodged on a few high-use servers. It is now being passed around freeware websites, which means it is sometimes difficult to find a clean version. Nevertheless, it is a fine piece of camera software that still works for many types of cameras.

Agent DVR Features

The Agent DVR software allows for video surveillance with a live feed, and for recording. You can use it with motion-detection software, and it still works for many different types of cameras. It uses a reliable SSL algorithm for its signal encryption, and it is very lightweight, which means it is not a big drain on your device’s CPU.

Pros

A very simple and lightweight piece of software

Works all the way back to Windows 7

It still works with motion detection systems

Cons

Agent DVR will become more obsolete as newer cameras appear over the coming years

Updates will never occur beyond Windows 10

The interface looks very dated compared to the modern camera software

Conclusion

As you can tell by this article, getting good security camera software is difficult because there is so much to choose from. Plus, installing is often an issue, as is companies trying to nag-free users into paying. There is also the issue of connecting cameras and the problem with tagged-on viruses and bloatware.

Nevertheless, there is plenty to try without having to pay, so that is a positive. What do you think?

Have any of these worked for you? Ask your friends on social media, start a discussion, and share this article to help others discover the best free security camera software.

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Figuring out which is the best security camera software is never easy. This is because most of the software you find online says it is free…until you download their software and it tries to charge you.

Here is a review of the best security camera software, and every single one has a free option. Share this article on social media if you find the right camera software for you.

But if you are new in this field, then you might want to know some basic technique terms introduced following, before we jump to choose the best security camera software.

What Is an IP Camera?

When people say, “IP camera,” they usually mean a camera that uses the Internet in some way so that it may do its job. A typical CCTV camera connects a camera to a computer via a wire. An IP camera can connect over the Internet.

Sometimes, the connection is remote. This means that the camera may be in one location and still be connected to another computer that is miles away.

However, many IP cameras are installed in a home and only travel a few feet/meters to the nearest computer. In short, an IP camera doesn’t need a local recording device because the signal can be sent over the Internet or with a Wi-Fi connection.

What Is Camera Software Used for?

Most people and businesses use camera software to connect their cameras to their computers or their Smartphones. This is often cheaper than buying dedicated recording hardware. The camera and its software are usually used to monitor camera feeds that are life, and to records them onto a hard drive or to the Cloud.

How Do You Pick the Best Security Camera Software?

In most cases, the best software is simply the software that works with your cameras, and that offers all the functions you need. Compatibility is the first concern, but you also want it to work well with your device. For example, if your cameras have a zoom function, but your software doesn’t allow zooming, then that piece of software is not the best one for you.

For example, if you are using Linux, then you want Linux security camera software. And, some people insist that their software allows them to monitor their cameras from their Smartphones. The great thing about free security camera software is that you can test it out first without the risk of losing your money.

If You Need to Edit Your Videos , Which Is the Best Video Editor?

Exporting or downloading content from your camera software is a messy job. You often need a good video editor and trimmer to make your video clips usable.

This is especially true when video recordings can go on for as long as 90 days at a time. If you are looking for a high-quality and flexible video editor, then Filmora is your only real and viable choice. Learn more from Wondershare Video Community .

Filmora takes users’ needs into consideration and comes up with a variety of useful features to make editing easy for people of different levels. Let’s have a look at the useful features of Filmora to better understand how powerful Filmora is.

• Auto Synchronization: This allows you to sync video and audio easily.
• Plenty of transitions, effects, elements make your videos more interesting.
• Audio Ducking: Automatically reduce the volume of the background music to make the dialogue stand out.
• Wondershare Drive: Upload video or project to Wondershare Drive and download it to complete anywhere you want.
• Motion Tracking: Attach an element to a moving object in your video easily with auto motion tracking.
• Keyframing: Customize animation by adding keyframes to change the position, rotation, scale, and opacity of a clip.
• Color Match: Match the color of selected clips to another frame from another clip.

10 Best Free Security Camera Software

Now let’s have a look at the 10 best free security camera software with very comprehensive choosing details.

1. NetCam Studio

There is a free version of NetCam Studio, but if you want something more powerful, then you can buy one of their licenses. These licenses allow you to use the software for as long as you like, and they will update the software for up to two years after purchase.

After the two-year period, you can keep the software running as normal, but if you want upgrades, then you will have to buy them. Upgrades shouldn’t be needed unless you buy a new piece of camera hardware and it requires a new type of camera software.

The NetCam Studio Features

If you go for the free version of NetCam Studio, then you get to use a camera feed from two sources. There is a watermark added to the camera images, and you get five-day notifications. There is also community support.

The paid features include up to 64 sources, no watermarks, 250-day notifications, and you get priority support. After the 250 days is up, you may buy upgrades in order to keep the notification system going.

Pros

The free version does not expire in any way besides the notifications

You are able to use this software with a wide variety of camera brands

Updates are frequent enough to tackle most system-breaking bugs

Cons

The interface needs updating to make it more user friendly

They need to better explain the “Add Source” procedure

Troubleshooting audio problems is very difficult

2. Security Eye

The reason Security Eye ranks so highly is that it is a professional piece of software that somebody decided should be free. It is not open source security camera software, but the developers have decided that it should be free. There used to be a free version where you would get 2 hours of free surveillance per day for free, but in 2019 the company removed its payment system. Will they keep it up or go back to paid subscriptions? Who knows, but you should get it while it is still free (if you can).

Security Eye Features

You can use a timer to determine when the video feed should start. You can capture images as JPEGs and then compress them. The system also allows you to receive alerts via a loudspeaker. It works with motion-detection devices too.

Pros

It comes with the Xvid MPEG-4 Codec

The full version has no nag screen or recording limit

The Security Eye interface is pretty modern for what is essentially a free piece of software

Cons

Demands 1GB of RAM and 2GB of HHD space

Requires at least an Intel Pentium 1.8 processor

The icons should be more intuitive

3. Perfect Surveillance

There are three types of free security camera software for you to choose from. There is one for IP cameras, one for web cameras, and there is a piece of viewing software that people may use if they do not have something like VLC video viewer installed.

Perfect Surveillance Features

Simple icons and a clear interface is a great benefits. Determine when the cameras start monitoring and set up your own layouts to suit your viewing style.

Pros

A simple program that works in a very uncomplicated manner

Most of its icons are intuitive to where you can guess what they do

The Perfect Surveillance system has motion detection and allows you to monitor up to 64 devices

Cons

Installing seems overly long and bloated

There are not enough instructions on how to get your cameras connected

They do not explain how to capture and export screenshots

4. iVideon

There are times when a piece of free software simply does its job good enough to warrant no complaints, and that is exactly what iVideon offers. There are plenty of ways it can be improved, but there is nothing about it that demands harsh criticism.

iVideon Features

One of its most advertised features is facial recognition, but it is not very accurate. It does allow for very good mobile usage. You can view live and recorded footage on your desktop or mobile device. It is also available for Mac OS X and Linux.

Pros

Online home use and access is completely full-featured and freeware

It has smart notifications and has its own desktop and mobile apps

it doesn’t take long to learn how to use the iVideon interface

Cons

Seems rather light on features

Installing and connecting cameras requires a better tutorial

Embedding live video on your website is trickier than it first seems

5. Xeoma

This program has plenty of features, but most of them are locked off to free users. It takes over too long to learn how to use the system, but it may be worth it if you have many cameras. The paid version has all sorts of perks from SMS texts to system health monitoring.

Xeoma Features

The lite version is the free version. It allows you to add four cameras with up to six modules in each chain. You can test out and use the lite version as long as you like, or you can get a free trial of the larger fully-featured program.

Pros

Record and monitor from four cameras

Updates are very frequent

This software works with mostly every type of camera

Cons

Around 90% of features are locked off to free users.

Xeoma is difficult to learn and set up

Connecting many cameras is difficult because the system is difficult to learn as a whole

6. Genius Vision

The Genius Vision system is a fairly advanced piece of software that is probably best used for businesses. If used at home, then there are many features that may never be used. It also works on mobile devices too.

Genius Vision Features

There are plenty of features to play with, including a massive array of settings to fit the many types of camera that this program can be used with. You can even support the company through Patreon and get more extensions on the program.

Pros

Works in-depth with many types of camera

The tools are very sophisticated and accurate

The drop-down menus are complicated while also being thoughtfully laid out

Cons

Getting paid upgrades is trickier than just buying on their website

Setting up the remote features is difficult

You have to figure out most of how to use the program based on which camera you have connected

7. Deskshare IP Camera Viewer

The Deskshare IP Camera Viewer company has a great piece of security camera software that they repackage into many different names and then give away on their website. They do this because the software comes with lots of unwanted bloatware that the company is paid to promote. The sad part is that many other websites will replace this bloatware with Trojan viruses, which means it is difficult to get a clean version of this program.

Deskshare IP Camera Viewer Features

Live recording, playback, and split-screen is all available. You can use up to 4 cameras at a time, and it works with 2200 different camera models. If your hardware allows it, then you can pan, tilt and zoom your camera.

Pros

It is compatible with many types of camera brand

You can set up floating surveillance windows if you want

Adjust the properties of each camera individually

Cons

Installing is very difficult to do correctly

Comes with bloatware and/or unwanted content

The IP software has the least features of all the Deskshare camera software

8. Anycam

The Anycam system is a very average piece of software, but it works with most any type of camera. The interface is basic but easy to use and easy to set up. You will discover that the free version is only limited in terms of record time, you can still use all its features.

Anycam Features

Anycam is mostly featureless. It works with motion-detection cameras. It allows for video recording and playback. Plus, you can watch a live feed. Other than that, there is very little you can do with this basic-but-effective piece of software.

Pros

The program seems to work with any type of camera

Anycam has a paid version where you only make a one-time payment and get free lifetime updates

Installing and setup is very easy

Cons

Trying to find specific events on the timeline is very fiddly

The free version only allows two cameras to be linked

The recording is very limited with the free version

9. ContaCam

In the strictest terms, this piece of software is not free. The developers ask you for a donation, but there is nothing forcing you to give them one. Plus, you can try the software, and then if it turns out to be brilliant, then you can always go back and donate to them.

ContaCam Features

Despite seeming very complicated, the interface is actually very self-explanatory. At first glance, it looks overly condensed and full of features, but each explains itself very well. You can configure the cameras very precisely to the point where you can even specify within which seconds it starts and stops.

Pros

A rather advanced piece of software

The interface layout is very condensed without being confusing

You can use web servers, the Internet, or intranet to receive live feeds

Cons

The interface has no aesthetic decoration at all

ContaCam takes a long time to learn through trial and error testing

The developers say this will never work with mobile devices

10. Agent DVR

The great thing about Agent DVR is that it is completely free because it is freeware. The sad part is that it was created by a developer who went on to finer things and left the program lodged on a few high-use servers. It is now being passed around freeware websites, which means it is sometimes difficult to find a clean version. Nevertheless, it is a fine piece of camera software that still works for many types of cameras.

Agent DVR Features

The Agent DVR software allows for video surveillance with a live feed, and for recording. You can use it with motion-detection software, and it still works for many different types of cameras. It uses a reliable SSL algorithm for its signal encryption, and it is very lightweight, which means it is not a big drain on your device’s CPU.

Pros

A very simple and lightweight piece of software

Works all the way back to Windows 7

It still works with motion detection systems

Cons

Agent DVR will become more obsolete as newer cameras appear over the coming years

Updates will never occur beyond Windows 10

The interface looks very dated compared to the modern camera software

Conclusion

As you can tell by this article, getting good security camera software is difficult because there is so much to choose from. Plus, installing is often an issue, as is companies trying to nag-free users into paying. There is also the issue of connecting cameras and the problem with tagged-on viruses and bloatware.

Nevertheless, there is plenty to try without having to pay, so that is a positive. What do you think?

Have any of these worked for you? Ask your friends on social media, start a discussion, and share this article to help others discover the best free security camera software.

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Figuring out which is the best security camera software is never easy. This is because most of the software you find online says it is free…until you download their software and it tries to charge you.

Here is a review of the best security camera software, and every single one has a free option. Share this article on social media if you find the right camera software for you.

But if you are new in this field, then you might want to know some basic technique terms introduced following, before we jump to choose the best security camera software.

What Is an IP Camera?

When people say, “IP camera,” they usually mean a camera that uses the Internet in some way so that it may do its job. A typical CCTV camera connects a camera to a computer via a wire. An IP camera can connect over the Internet.

Sometimes, the connection is remote. This means that the camera may be in one location and still be connected to another computer that is miles away.

However, many IP cameras are installed in a home and only travel a few feet/meters to the nearest computer. In short, an IP camera doesn’t need a local recording device because the signal can be sent over the Internet or with a Wi-Fi connection.

What Is Camera Software Used for?

Most people and businesses use camera software to connect their cameras to their computers or their Smartphones. This is often cheaper than buying dedicated recording hardware. The camera and its software are usually used to monitor camera feeds that are life, and to records them onto a hard drive or to the Cloud.

How Do You Pick the Best Security Camera Software?

In most cases, the best software is simply the software that works with your cameras, and that offers all the functions you need. Compatibility is the first concern, but you also want it to work well with your device. For example, if your cameras have a zoom function, but your software doesn’t allow zooming, then that piece of software is not the best one for you.

For example, if you are using Linux, then you want Linux security camera software. And, some people insist that their software allows them to monitor their cameras from their Smartphones. The great thing about free security camera software is that you can test it out first without the risk of losing your money.

If You Need to Edit Your Videos , Which Is the Best Video Editor?

Exporting or downloading content from your camera software is a messy job. You often need a good video editor and trimmer to make your video clips usable.

This is especially true when video recordings can go on for as long as 90 days at a time. If you are looking for a high-quality and flexible video editor, then Filmora is your only real and viable choice. Learn more from Wondershare Video Community .

Filmora takes users’ needs into consideration and comes up with a variety of useful features to make editing easy for people of different levels. Let’s have a look at the useful features of Filmora to better understand how powerful Filmora is.

• Auto Synchronization: This allows you to sync video and audio easily.
• Plenty of transitions, effects, elements make your videos more interesting.
• Audio Ducking: Automatically reduce the volume of the background music to make the dialogue stand out.
• Wondershare Drive: Upload video or project to Wondershare Drive and download it to complete anywhere you want.
• Motion Tracking: Attach an element to a moving object in your video easily with auto motion tracking.
• Keyframing: Customize animation by adding keyframes to change the position, rotation, scale, and opacity of a clip.
• Color Match: Match the color of selected clips to another frame from another clip.

10 Best Free Security Camera Software

Now let’s have a look at the 10 best free security camera software with very comprehensive choosing details.

1. NetCam Studio

There is a free version of NetCam Studio, but if you want something more powerful, then you can buy one of their licenses. These licenses allow you to use the software for as long as you like, and they will update the software for up to two years after purchase.

After the two-year period, you can keep the software running as normal, but if you want upgrades, then you will have to buy them. Upgrades shouldn’t be needed unless you buy a new piece of camera hardware and it requires a new type of camera software.

The NetCam Studio Features

If you go for the free version of NetCam Studio, then you get to use a camera feed from two sources. There is a watermark added to the camera images, and you get five-day notifications. There is also community support.

The paid features include up to 64 sources, no watermarks, 250-day notifications, and you get priority support. After the 250 days is up, you may buy upgrades in order to keep the notification system going.

Pros

The free version does not expire in any way besides the notifications

You are able to use this software with a wide variety of camera brands

Updates are frequent enough to tackle most system-breaking bugs

Cons

The interface needs updating to make it more user friendly

They need to better explain the “Add Source” procedure

Troubleshooting audio problems is very difficult

2. Security Eye

The reason Security Eye ranks so highly is that it is a professional piece of software that somebody decided should be free. It is not open source security camera software, but the developers have decided that it should be free. There used to be a free version where you would get 2 hours of free surveillance per day for free, but in 2019 the company removed its payment system. Will they keep it up or go back to paid subscriptions? Who knows, but you should get it while it is still free (if you can).

Security Eye Features

You can use a timer to determine when the video feed should start. You can capture images as JPEGs and then compress them. The system also allows you to receive alerts via a loudspeaker. It works with motion-detection devices too.

Pros

It comes with the Xvid MPEG-4 Codec

The full version has no nag screen or recording limit

The Security Eye interface is pretty modern for what is essentially a free piece of software

Cons

Demands 1GB of RAM and 2GB of HHD space

Requires at least an Intel Pentium 1.8 processor

The icons should be more intuitive

3. Perfect Surveillance

There are three types of free security camera software for you to choose from. There is one for IP cameras, one for web cameras, and there is a piece of viewing software that people may use if they do not have something like VLC video viewer installed.

Perfect Surveillance Features

Simple icons and a clear interface is a great benefits. Determine when the cameras start monitoring and set up your own layouts to suit your viewing style.

Pros

A simple program that works in a very uncomplicated manner

Most of its icons are intuitive to where you can guess what they do

The Perfect Surveillance system has motion detection and allows you to monitor up to 64 devices

Cons

Installing seems overly long and bloated

There are not enough instructions on how to get your cameras connected

They do not explain how to capture and export screenshots

4. iVideon

There are times when a piece of free software simply does its job good enough to warrant no complaints, and that is exactly what iVideon offers. There are plenty of ways it can be improved, but there is nothing about it that demands harsh criticism.

iVideon Features

One of its most advertised features is facial recognition, but it is not very accurate. It does allow for very good mobile usage. You can view live and recorded footage on your desktop or mobile device. It is also available for Mac OS X and Linux.

Pros

Online home use and access is completely full-featured and freeware

It has smart notifications and has its own desktop and mobile apps

it doesn’t take long to learn how to use the iVideon interface

Cons

Seems rather light on features

Installing and connecting cameras requires a better tutorial

Embedding live video on your website is trickier than it first seems

5. Xeoma

This program has plenty of features, but most of them are locked off to free users. It takes over too long to learn how to use the system, but it may be worth it if you have many cameras. The paid version has all sorts of perks from SMS texts to system health monitoring.

Xeoma Features

The lite version is the free version. It allows you to add four cameras with up to six modules in each chain. You can test out and use the lite version as long as you like, or you can get a free trial of the larger fully-featured program.

Pros

Record and monitor from four cameras

Updates are very frequent

This software works with mostly every type of camera

Cons

Around 90% of features are locked off to free users.

Xeoma is difficult to learn and set up

Connecting many cameras is difficult because the system is difficult to learn as a whole

6. Genius Vision

The Genius Vision system is a fairly advanced piece of software that is probably best used for businesses. If used at home, then there are many features that may never be used. It also works on mobile devices too.

Genius Vision Features

There are plenty of features to play with, including a massive array of settings to fit the many types of camera that this program can be used with. You can even support the company through Patreon and get more extensions on the program.

Pros

Works in-depth with many types of camera

The tools are very sophisticated and accurate

The drop-down menus are complicated while also being thoughtfully laid out

Cons

Getting paid upgrades is trickier than just buying on their website

Setting up the remote features is difficult

You have to figure out most of how to use the program based on which camera you have connected

7. Deskshare IP Camera Viewer

The Deskshare IP Camera Viewer company has a great piece of security camera software that they repackage into many different names and then give away on their website. They do this because the software comes with lots of unwanted bloatware that the company is paid to promote. The sad part is that many other websites will replace this bloatware with Trojan viruses, which means it is difficult to get a clean version of this program.

Deskshare IP Camera Viewer Features

Live recording, playback, and split-screen is all available. You can use up to 4 cameras at a time, and it works with 2200 different camera models. If your hardware allows it, then you can pan, tilt and zoom your camera.

Pros

It is compatible with many types of camera brand

You can set up floating surveillance windows if you want

Adjust the properties of each camera individually

Cons

Installing is very difficult to do correctly

Comes with bloatware and/or unwanted content

The IP software has the least features of all the Deskshare camera software

8. Anycam

The Anycam system is a very average piece of software, but it works with most any type of camera. The interface is basic but easy to use and easy to set up. You will discover that the free version is only limited in terms of record time, you can still use all its features.

Anycam Features

Anycam is mostly featureless. It works with motion-detection cameras. It allows for video recording and playback. Plus, you can watch a live feed. Other than that, there is very little you can do with this basic-but-effective piece of software.

Pros

The program seems to work with any type of camera

Anycam has a paid version where you only make a one-time payment and get free lifetime updates

Installing and setup is very easy

Cons

Trying to find specific events on the timeline is very fiddly

The free version only allows two cameras to be linked

The recording is very limited with the free version

9. ContaCam

In the strictest terms, this piece of software is not free. The developers ask you for a donation, but there is nothing forcing you to give them one. Plus, you can try the software, and then if it turns out to be brilliant, then you can always go back and donate to them.

ContaCam Features

Despite seeming very complicated, the interface is actually very self-explanatory. At first glance, it looks overly condensed and full of features, but each explains itself very well. You can configure the cameras very precisely to the point where you can even specify within which seconds it starts and stops.

Pros

A rather advanced piece of software

The interface layout is very condensed without being confusing

You can use web servers, the Internet, or intranet to receive live feeds

Cons

The interface has no aesthetic decoration at all

ContaCam takes a long time to learn through trial and error testing

The developers say this will never work with mobile devices

10. Agent DVR

The great thing about Agent DVR is that it is completely free because it is freeware. The sad part is that it was created by a developer who went on to finer things and left the program lodged on a few high-use servers. It is now being passed around freeware websites, which means it is sometimes difficult to find a clean version. Nevertheless, it is a fine piece of camera software that still works for many types of cameras.

Agent DVR Features

The Agent DVR software allows for video surveillance with a live feed, and for recording. You can use it with motion-detection software, and it still works for many different types of cameras. It uses a reliable SSL algorithm for its signal encryption, and it is very lightweight, which means it is not a big drain on your device’s CPU.

Pros

A very simple and lightweight piece of software

Works all the way back to Windows 7

It still works with motion detection systems

Cons

Agent DVR will become more obsolete as newer cameras appear over the coming years

Updates will never occur beyond Windows 10

The interface looks very dated compared to the modern camera software

Conclusion

As you can tell by this article, getting good security camera software is difficult because there is so much to choose from. Plus, installing is often an issue, as is companies trying to nag-free users into paying. There is also the issue of connecting cameras and the problem with tagged-on viruses and bloatware.

Nevertheless, there is plenty to try without having to pay, so that is a positive. What do you think?

Have any of these worked for you? Ask your friends on social media, start a discussion, and share this article to help others discover the best free security camera software.

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Figuring out which is the best security camera software is never easy. This is because most of the software you find online says it is free…until you download their software and it tries to charge you.

Here is a review of the best security camera software, and every single one has a free option. Share this article on social media if you find the right camera software for you.

But if you are new in this field, then you might want to know some basic technique terms introduced following, before we jump to choose the best security camera software.

What Is an IP Camera?

When people say, “IP camera,” they usually mean a camera that uses the Internet in some way so that it may do its job. A typical CCTV camera connects a camera to a computer via a wire. An IP camera can connect over the Internet.

Sometimes, the connection is remote. This means that the camera may be in one location and still be connected to another computer that is miles away.

However, many IP cameras are installed in a home and only travel a few feet/meters to the nearest computer. In short, an IP camera doesn’t need a local recording device because the signal can be sent over the Internet or with a Wi-Fi connection.

What Is Camera Software Used for?

Most people and businesses use camera software to connect their cameras to their computers or their Smartphones. This is often cheaper than buying dedicated recording hardware. The camera and its software are usually used to monitor camera feeds that are life, and to records them onto a hard drive or to the Cloud.

How Do You Pick the Best Security Camera Software?

In most cases, the best software is simply the software that works with your cameras, and that offers all the functions you need. Compatibility is the first concern, but you also want it to work well with your device. For example, if your cameras have a zoom function, but your software doesn’t allow zooming, then that piece of software is not the best one for you.

For example, if you are using Linux, then you want Linux security camera software. And, some people insist that their software allows them to monitor their cameras from their Smartphones. The great thing about free security camera software is that you can test it out first without the risk of losing your money.

If You Need to Edit Your Videos , Which Is the Best Video Editor?

Exporting or downloading content from your camera software is a messy job. You often need a good video editor and trimmer to make your video clips usable.

This is especially true when video recordings can go on for as long as 90 days at a time. If you are looking for a high-quality and flexible video editor, then Filmora is your only real and viable choice. Learn more from Wondershare Video Community .

Filmora takes users’ needs into consideration and comes up with a variety of useful features to make editing easy for people of different levels. Let’s have a look at the useful features of Filmora to better understand how powerful Filmora is.

• Auto Synchronization: This allows you to sync video and audio easily.
• Plenty of transitions, effects, elements make your videos more interesting.
• Audio Ducking: Automatically reduce the volume of the background music to make the dialogue stand out.
• Wondershare Drive: Upload video or project to Wondershare Drive and download it to complete anywhere you want.
• Motion Tracking: Attach an element to a moving object in your video easily with auto motion tracking.
• Keyframing: Customize animation by adding keyframes to change the position, rotation, scale, and opacity of a clip.
• Color Match: Match the color of selected clips to another frame from another clip.

10 Best Free Security Camera Software

Now let’s have a look at the 10 best free security camera software with very comprehensive choosing details.

1. NetCam Studio

There is a free version of NetCam Studio, but if you want something more powerful, then you can buy one of their licenses. These licenses allow you to use the software for as long as you like, and they will update the software for up to two years after purchase.

After the two-year period, you can keep the software running as normal, but if you want upgrades, then you will have to buy them. Upgrades shouldn’t be needed unless you buy a new piece of camera hardware and it requires a new type of camera software.

The NetCam Studio Features

If you go for the free version of NetCam Studio, then you get to use a camera feed from two sources. There is a watermark added to the camera images, and you get five-day notifications. There is also community support.

The paid features include up to 64 sources, no watermarks, 250-day notifications, and you get priority support. After the 250 days is up, you may buy upgrades in order to keep the notification system going.

Pros

The free version does not expire in any way besides the notifications

You are able to use this software with a wide variety of camera brands

Updates are frequent enough to tackle most system-breaking bugs

Cons

The interface needs updating to make it more user friendly

They need to better explain the “Add Source” procedure

Troubleshooting audio problems is very difficult

2. Security Eye

The reason Security Eye ranks so highly is that it is a professional piece of software that somebody decided should be free. It is not open source security camera software, but the developers have decided that it should be free. There used to be a free version where you would get 2 hours of free surveillance per day for free, but in 2019 the company removed its payment system. Will they keep it up or go back to paid subscriptions? Who knows, but you should get it while it is still free (if you can).

Security Eye Features

You can use a timer to determine when the video feed should start. You can capture images as JPEGs and then compress them. The system also allows you to receive alerts via a loudspeaker. It works with motion-detection devices too.

Pros

It comes with the Xvid MPEG-4 Codec

The full version has no nag screen or recording limit

The Security Eye interface is pretty modern for what is essentially a free piece of software

Cons

Demands 1GB of RAM and 2GB of HHD space

Requires at least an Intel Pentium 1.8 processor

The icons should be more intuitive

3. Perfect Surveillance

There are three types of free security camera software for you to choose from. There is one for IP cameras, one for web cameras, and there is a piece of viewing software that people may use if they do not have something like VLC video viewer installed.

Perfect Surveillance Features

Simple icons and a clear interface is a great benefits. Determine when the cameras start monitoring and set up your own layouts to suit your viewing style.

Pros

A simple program that works in a very uncomplicated manner

Most of its icons are intuitive to where you can guess what they do

The Perfect Surveillance system has motion detection and allows you to monitor up to 64 devices

Cons

Installing seems overly long and bloated

There are not enough instructions on how to get your cameras connected

They do not explain how to capture and export screenshots

4. iVideon

There are times when a piece of free software simply does its job good enough to warrant no complaints, and that is exactly what iVideon offers. There are plenty of ways it can be improved, but there is nothing about it that demands harsh criticism.

iVideon Features

One of its most advertised features is facial recognition, but it is not very accurate. It does allow for very good mobile usage. You can view live and recorded footage on your desktop or mobile device. It is also available for Mac OS X and Linux.

Pros

Online home use and access is completely full-featured and freeware

It has smart notifications and has its own desktop and mobile apps

it doesn’t take long to learn how to use the iVideon interface

Cons

Seems rather light on features

Installing and connecting cameras requires a better tutorial

Embedding live video on your website is trickier than it first seems

5. Xeoma

This program has plenty of features, but most of them are locked off to free users. It takes over too long to learn how to use the system, but it may be worth it if you have many cameras. The paid version has all sorts of perks from SMS texts to system health monitoring.

Xeoma Features

The lite version is the free version. It allows you to add four cameras with up to six modules in each chain. You can test out and use the lite version as long as you like, or you can get a free trial of the larger fully-featured program.

Pros

Record and monitor from four cameras

Updates are very frequent

This software works with mostly every type of camera

Cons

Around 90% of features are locked off to free users.

Xeoma is difficult to learn and set up

Connecting many cameras is difficult because the system is difficult to learn as a whole

6. Genius Vision

The Genius Vision system is a fairly advanced piece of software that is probably best used for businesses. If used at home, then there are many features that may never be used. It also works on mobile devices too.

Genius Vision Features

There are plenty of features to play with, including a massive array of settings to fit the many types of camera that this program can be used with. You can even support the company through Patreon and get more extensions on the program.

Pros

Works in-depth with many types of camera

The tools are very sophisticated and accurate

The drop-down menus are complicated while also being thoughtfully laid out

Cons

Getting paid upgrades is trickier than just buying on their website

Setting up the remote features is difficult

You have to figure out most of how to use the program based on which camera you have connected

7. Deskshare IP Camera Viewer

The Deskshare IP Camera Viewer company has a great piece of security camera software that they repackage into many different names and then give away on their website. They do this because the software comes with lots of unwanted bloatware that the company is paid to promote. The sad part is that many other websites will replace this bloatware with Trojan viruses, which means it is difficult to get a clean version of this program.

Deskshare IP Camera Viewer Features

Live recording, playback, and split-screen is all available. You can use up to 4 cameras at a time, and it works with 2200 different camera models. If your hardware allows it, then you can pan, tilt and zoom your camera.

Pros

It is compatible with many types of camera brand

You can set up floating surveillance windows if you want

Adjust the properties of each camera individually

Cons

Installing is very difficult to do correctly

Comes with bloatware and/or unwanted content

The IP software has the least features of all the Deskshare camera software

8. Anycam

The Anycam system is a very average piece of software, but it works with most any type of camera. The interface is basic but easy to use and easy to set up. You will discover that the free version is only limited in terms of record time, you can still use all its features.

Anycam Features

Anycam is mostly featureless. It works with motion-detection cameras. It allows for video recording and playback. Plus, you can watch a live feed. Other than that, there is very little you can do with this basic-but-effective piece of software.

Pros

The program seems to work with any type of camera

Anycam has a paid version where you only make a one-time payment and get free lifetime updates

Installing and setup is very easy

Cons

Trying to find specific events on the timeline is very fiddly

The free version only allows two cameras to be linked

The recording is very limited with the free version

9. ContaCam

In the strictest terms, this piece of software is not free. The developers ask you for a donation, but there is nothing forcing you to give them one. Plus, you can try the software, and then if it turns out to be brilliant, then you can always go back and donate to them.

ContaCam Features

Despite seeming very complicated, the interface is actually very self-explanatory. At first glance, it looks overly condensed and full of features, but each explains itself very well. You can configure the cameras very precisely to the point where you can even specify within which seconds it starts and stops.

Pros

A rather advanced piece of software

The interface layout is very condensed without being confusing

You can use web servers, the Internet, or intranet to receive live feeds

Cons

The interface has no aesthetic decoration at all

ContaCam takes a long time to learn through trial and error testing

The developers say this will never work with mobile devices

10. Agent DVR

The great thing about Agent DVR is that it is completely free because it is freeware. The sad part is that it was created by a developer who went on to finer things and left the program lodged on a few high-use servers. It is now being passed around freeware websites, which means it is sometimes difficult to find a clean version. Nevertheless, it is a fine piece of camera software that still works for many types of cameras.

Agent DVR Features

The Agent DVR software allows for video surveillance with a live feed, and for recording. You can use it with motion-detection software, and it still works for many different types of cameras. It uses a reliable SSL algorithm for its signal encryption, and it is very lightweight, which means it is not a big drain on your device’s CPU.

Pros

A very simple and lightweight piece of software

Works all the way back to Windows 7

It still works with motion detection systems

Cons

Agent DVR will become more obsolete as newer cameras appear over the coming years

Updates will never occur beyond Windows 10

The interface looks very dated compared to the modern camera software

Conclusion

As you can tell by this article, getting good security camera software is difficult because there is so much to choose from. Plus, installing is often an issue, as is companies trying to nag-free users into paying. There is also the issue of connecting cameras and the problem with tagged-on viruses and bloatware.

Nevertheless, there is plenty to try without having to pay, so that is a positive. What do you think?

Have any of these worked for you? Ask your friends on social media, start a discussion, and share this article to help others discover the best free security camera software.

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Edit Videos Like a Pro: Microsoft Video Editor for Windows 10, 8, and 7

Microsoft Video Editor: Easily Edit Videos in Windows 10/8/7

Liza Brown

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

To edit and enhance videos in Windows-based PC, Windows Movie Maker has always been touted as the default Microsoft Video Editor, although it has been discontinued by Microsoft on Janauary 10, 2017 and replaced by Windows Story Remix (only for Windows 8/10) , you can still download it on many platforms. However, you may often fail to import their video clips because it only supports WMV ASF, .MPG (MPEG-1), .AVI (DV-AVI), .WMA, .WAV, and .MP3. Plus, the transitions and effects provided are quite limited, nothing fancy. If this is the case, you’ll find a great microsoft video editing software here.

Wondershare Filmora , designed to be easy to use, needs no any educational or professional background in post-production. The self-explanatory options help you easily make movies in minutes to share everywhere! Just pick it up to edit your own videos quickly and see what this Microsoft video editor can do for you.

Free download the trial version of Microsoft video editor:

Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

Why we recommend Filmora as an easier video editor for Microsoft system? Below are some reasons you can check:

1. Intuitive Interface and Broad Format Support

Wondershare Video Editor (Windows 10/8/7/XP/Vista supported), designs impressive user-friendly interface to make moviemaking a breeze. It supports a wide range of media sources. Downloaded, recorded, shared or converted from DVD, including AVI, FLV, MKV, MKA, MP4, M4V, MOV, M2TS, WMV, ASF, MPG, MPEG, VOB, M4A, PSP, DV, DIF, NUT, H261, NSV, 3GP, DAT, EVO, RM, RMVB, TS, TP, TRP, DVR-MS and more.

To import videos to this Microsoft video editing software, you can simply choose to capture video from camera, scanner or other device or import existing video files from your computer into the user’s albums.

2. Edit Quickly and Precisely

As a Microsoft video editing software, it extends the power of Windows Movie Maker to a new level. With it, you can do almost everything that you will need out of the actual editing part. After capturing the video, any clip can be dragged and dropped anywhere on the timeline.

Once in the timeline, clips can be duplicated, trimmed or split, and any of the split sections deleted. Right-clicking any clip brings up a wide range of editing options: Crop, Rotate (Flip), Adjust and Speed (Fast and Slow Motion). Audio editing options include Volume, Fade in/out, and Effect (Voice change). Very powerful tool for fast spinning your videos.

3. Special Effects and Transitions

50+ ready-to-use filter effects are offered. These effects are applied by using a drag and drop interface from the effects or transitions folders. Besides, Titles, Intro/Credits, PIPs can be added as standalone ones or overlaying them on the clip by adding them onto the selected clip. For advanced users, you can also achieve picture-in-picture (image/video overlay) tracks and customize with motion, effects and mask. Very charming features to take your movie to the next level instantly.

4. Share with the Worldwide

Wondershare Filmora make all things easier to share videos instantly with family and friends. You can directly publish your movie project to YouTube or export to DVD, portable devices, HTML 5 and almost any video format of your choice.

Learn more about what Filmora can do within a few minutes.

Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

Liza Brown

Liza Brown is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Liza Brown

Liza Brown

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

To edit and enhance videos in Windows-based PC, Windows Movie Maker has always been touted as the default Microsoft Video Editor, although it has been discontinued by Microsoft on Janauary 10, 2017 and replaced by Windows Story Remix (only for Windows 8/10) , you can still download it on many platforms. However, you may often fail to import their video clips because it only supports WMV ASF, .MPG (MPEG-1), .AVI (DV-AVI), .WMA, .WAV, and .MP3. Plus, the transitions and effects provided are quite limited, nothing fancy. If this is the case, you’ll find a great microsoft video editing software here.

Wondershare Filmora , designed to be easy to use, needs no any educational or professional background in post-production. The self-explanatory options help you easily make movies in minutes to share everywhere! Just pick it up to edit your own videos quickly and see what this Microsoft video editor can do for you.

Free download the trial version of Microsoft video editor:

Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

Why we recommend Filmora as an easier video editor for Microsoft system? Below are some reasons you can check:

1. Intuitive Interface and Broad Format Support

Wondershare Video Editor (Windows 10/8/7/XP/Vista supported), designs impressive user-friendly interface to make moviemaking a breeze. It supports a wide range of media sources. Downloaded, recorded, shared or converted from DVD, including AVI, FLV, MKV, MKA, MP4, M4V, MOV, M2TS, WMV, ASF, MPG, MPEG, VOB, M4A, PSP, DV, DIF, NUT, H261, NSV, 3GP, DAT, EVO, RM, RMVB, TS, TP, TRP, DVR-MS and more.

To import videos to this Microsoft video editing software, you can simply choose to capture video from camera, scanner or other device or import existing video files from your computer into the user’s albums.

2. Edit Quickly and Precisely

As a Microsoft video editing software, it extends the power of Windows Movie Maker to a new level. With it, you can do almost everything that you will need out of the actual editing part. After capturing the video, any clip can be dragged and dropped anywhere on the timeline.

Once in the timeline, clips can be duplicated, trimmed or split, and any of the split sections deleted. Right-clicking any clip brings up a wide range of editing options: Crop, Rotate (Flip), Adjust and Speed (Fast and Slow Motion). Audio editing options include Volume, Fade in/out, and Effect (Voice change). Very powerful tool for fast spinning your videos.

3. Special Effects and Transitions

50+ ready-to-use filter effects are offered. These effects are applied by using a drag and drop interface from the effects or transitions folders. Besides, Titles, Intro/Credits, PIPs can be added as standalone ones or overlaying them on the clip by adding them onto the selected clip. For advanced users, you can also achieve picture-in-picture (image/video overlay) tracks and customize with motion, effects and mask. Very charming features to take your movie to the next level instantly.

4. Share with the Worldwide

Wondershare Filmora make all things easier to share videos instantly with family and friends. You can directly publish your movie project to YouTube or export to DVD, portable devices, HTML 5 and almost any video format of your choice.

Learn more about what Filmora can do within a few minutes.

Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

Liza Brown

Liza Brown is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Liza Brown

Liza Brown

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

To edit and enhance videos in Windows-based PC, Windows Movie Maker has always been touted as the default Microsoft Video Editor, although it has been discontinued by Microsoft on Janauary 10, 2017 and replaced by Windows Story Remix (only for Windows 8/10) , you can still download it on many platforms. However, you may often fail to import their video clips because it only supports WMV ASF, .MPG (MPEG-1), .AVI (DV-AVI), .WMA, .WAV, and .MP3. Plus, the transitions and effects provided are quite limited, nothing fancy. If this is the case, you’ll find a great microsoft video editing software here.

Wondershare Filmora , designed to be easy to use, needs no any educational or professional background in post-production. The self-explanatory options help you easily make movies in minutes to share everywhere! Just pick it up to edit your own videos quickly and see what this Microsoft video editor can do for you.

Free download the trial version of Microsoft video editor:

Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

Why we recommend Filmora as an easier video editor for Microsoft system? Below are some reasons you can check:

1. Intuitive Interface and Broad Format Support

Wondershare Video Editor (Windows 10/8/7/XP/Vista supported), designs impressive user-friendly interface to make moviemaking a breeze. It supports a wide range of media sources. Downloaded, recorded, shared or converted from DVD, including AVI, FLV, MKV, MKA, MP4, M4V, MOV, M2TS, WMV, ASF, MPG, MPEG, VOB, M4A, PSP, DV, DIF, NUT, H261, NSV, 3GP, DAT, EVO, RM, RMVB, TS, TP, TRP, DVR-MS and more.

To import videos to this Microsoft video editing software, you can simply choose to capture video from camera, scanner or other device or import existing video files from your computer into the user’s albums.

2. Edit Quickly and Precisely

As a Microsoft video editing software, it extends the power of Windows Movie Maker to a new level. With it, you can do almost everything that you will need out of the actual editing part. After capturing the video, any clip can be dragged and dropped anywhere on the timeline.

Once in the timeline, clips can be duplicated, trimmed or split, and any of the split sections deleted. Right-clicking any clip brings up a wide range of editing options: Crop, Rotate (Flip), Adjust and Speed (Fast and Slow Motion). Audio editing options include Volume, Fade in/out, and Effect (Voice change). Very powerful tool for fast spinning your videos.

3. Special Effects and Transitions

50+ ready-to-use filter effects are offered. These effects are applied by using a drag and drop interface from the effects or transitions folders. Besides, Titles, Intro/Credits, PIPs can be added as standalone ones or overlaying them on the clip by adding them onto the selected clip. For advanced users, you can also achieve picture-in-picture (image/video overlay) tracks and customize with motion, effects and mask. Very charming features to take your movie to the next level instantly.

4. Share with the Worldwide

Wondershare Filmora make all things easier to share videos instantly with family and friends. You can directly publish your movie project to YouTube or export to DVD, portable devices, HTML 5 and almost any video format of your choice.

Learn more about what Filmora can do within a few minutes.

Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

Liza Brown

Liza Brown is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Liza Brown

Liza Brown

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

To edit and enhance videos in Windows-based PC, Windows Movie Maker has always been touted as the default Microsoft Video Editor, although it has been discontinued by Microsoft on Janauary 10, 2017 and replaced by Windows Story Remix (only for Windows 8/10) , you can still download it on many platforms. However, you may often fail to import their video clips because it only supports WMV ASF, .MPG (MPEG-1), .AVI (DV-AVI), .WMA, .WAV, and .MP3. Plus, the transitions and effects provided are quite limited, nothing fancy. If this is the case, you’ll find a great microsoft video editing software here.

Wondershare Filmora , designed to be easy to use, needs no any educational or professional background in post-production. The self-explanatory options help you easily make movies in minutes to share everywhere! Just pick it up to edit your own videos quickly and see what this Microsoft video editor can do for you.

Free download the trial version of Microsoft video editor:

Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

Why we recommend Filmora as an easier video editor for Microsoft system? Below are some reasons you can check:

1. Intuitive Interface and Broad Format Support

Wondershare Video Editor (Windows 10/8/7/XP/Vista supported), designs impressive user-friendly interface to make moviemaking a breeze. It supports a wide range of media sources. Downloaded, recorded, shared or converted from DVD, including AVI, FLV, MKV, MKA, MP4, M4V, MOV, M2TS, WMV, ASF, MPG, MPEG, VOB, M4A, PSP, DV, DIF, NUT, H261, NSV, 3GP, DAT, EVO, RM, RMVB, TS, TP, TRP, DVR-MS and more.

To import videos to this Microsoft video editing software, you can simply choose to capture video from camera, scanner or other device or import existing video files from your computer into the user’s albums.

2. Edit Quickly and Precisely

As a Microsoft video editing software, it extends the power of Windows Movie Maker to a new level. With it, you can do almost everything that you will need out of the actual editing part. After capturing the video, any clip can be dragged and dropped anywhere on the timeline.

Once in the timeline, clips can be duplicated, trimmed or split, and any of the split sections deleted. Right-clicking any clip brings up a wide range of editing options: Crop, Rotate (Flip), Adjust and Speed (Fast and Slow Motion). Audio editing options include Volume, Fade in/out, and Effect (Voice change). Very powerful tool for fast spinning your videos.

3. Special Effects and Transitions

50+ ready-to-use filter effects are offered. These effects are applied by using a drag and drop interface from the effects or transitions folders. Besides, Titles, Intro/Credits, PIPs can be added as standalone ones or overlaying them on the clip by adding them onto the selected clip. For advanced users, you can also achieve picture-in-picture (image/video overlay) tracks and customize with motion, effects and mask. Very charming features to take your movie to the next level instantly.

4. Share with the Worldwide

Wondershare Filmora make all things easier to share videos instantly with family and friends. You can directly publish your movie project to YouTube or export to DVD, portable devices, HTML 5 and almost any video format of your choice.

Learn more about what Filmora can do within a few minutes.

Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

Liza Brown

Liza Brown is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Liza Brown

Mastering Titles in FCPX: A Step-by-Step Guide

How to Add Titles in Final Cut Pro X

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

We add text titles to our projects to tell the audience something they can’t figure out on their own, such as the title of our program, the name of the person speaking, or technical details about a subject.

---

This is a basic tutorial about Apple Final Cut Pro X, professional video editing software. However, if video editing is new to you, consider Wondershare Filmora for Mac . This is a powerful but easy-to-use tool for users just starting out. Download the free trial version below.

Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

---

Final Cut Pro X has almost 200 different text effects that we can add, but the process of adding titles is essentially the same. Adding titles is what this article is about.

DEFINITIONS

Just to keep us all on the same page, here are my definitions of key terms related to text:

• Text or titles. Words placed on the screen. I use these terms interchangeably.
• Superimpose. Text displayed on the the screen with other video below it. These are also called “supers” or “keys.”
• Full-screen. Text which occupies the entire screen.
• Lower-third. Text which fits below a person talking; in the “lower-third” of the screen.
• Info-graphics. Full-screen text which is superimposed on a graphic, generally used to convey technical information. Typical uses are sports statistics or other information which is easier to convey using text than having someone read the words.

JUST THE BASICS

I’d like to introduce “Yertle,” he’s a sea turtle and the star of this article. (Footage courtesy of Jim Walker and Lobsters Gone Wild Productions.)

At its simplest, we use titles to display his (its?) name.

In the Timeline, put the playhead where you want a title to appear and type Shift+Control+T. This inserts the default lower-third title at the position of the playhead. The title, like almost all titles, has a default duration of 10:00 seconds.

Look at the Browser and see the results of your work. A lower-third title is superimposed over the video in the lower left corner. (I’ll talk about formatting the text in a few paragraphs.)

NOTE: The big limitation of this lower-third title is that it can only be positioned in the left corner. Moving it to the center or right corner requires manual adjustment.

You position or trim a title the same as any video clip: drag the clip to a different location, or drag an edge to change its duration.

Select that title and delete it by pressing the Delete key.

This time, type Control+T and the default full-screen title appears in the center of the screen. Again, this has a default duration of 10 seconds.

If you look right in the center of the screen, you’ll see the word “Title.” Yes, its darn near invisible. And, yes, it looks, um, ugly. However, we have a TON of formatting control to make this look however we want.

Select and delete that full-screen title.

There’s one more way to apply a title: dragging from the Titles Browser.

Click the Title icon in the Toolbar. This displays the contents of the Title Browser. The column on the left displays title categories, the icons on the right indicate individual titles, the search box at the bottom allows you to search for specific titles by name, while the number in the lower right indicates the number of titles currently displayed. (Your number may not match mine because I’ve added a few custom titles to my system.)

Let’s add a totally ridiculous title to our turtle - drag Clouds from the Title Browser and place it above the clip at the point where you want a title to appear.

NOTE: I’m using a marker in the Timeline to help me find the same place in a clip so my screen shots are consistent. Markers are not needed in any way for titles.

Um, yeah. So, some titles look more professional than others… You can delete this title now.

So, we:

• Add titles using keyboard shortcuts
• Drag titles from the Title Browser
• Change position by dragging the title
• Change duration by dragging the edge of the clip
• Delete a title by selecting it and pressing the Delete key

CHANGING TEXT

Add a new full-screen title (type Control+T) to the Timeline. To change the text in a title, double-click it in the Viewer. Here, I’ve changed my title to “An Undersea Adventure.”

NOTE: We can also change the text using the Inspector. I’ll show you how in a few paragraphs. Pick whichever method is easiest for you.

All text, in any title, can be changed by double-clicking it in the Viewer to select it, then typing the new text you want to use.

FORMATTING TEXT

You can format any text that you can select. This means that you can format entire phrases, words, or individual letters differently. For this article, I will format everything the same, because once you know how this works, you can experiment on your own.

Here, I selected my entire title and opened the Inspector (shortcut Cmd+4). Click the Text tab at the top. This section of the Inspector allows you to format the text.

NOTE: The text box near the top of the panel is the second place you can select text for formatting.

If you want a fast way to format text, click the word “Normal” at the top. This displays a menu filled with different text formats. Some of these formats look pretty dreadful; the rest look worse.

NOTE: You can create your own text styles. Refer to the Help for information on how.

The Basic section of the Inspector allows you to change fonts, size, alignment… all the standard font settings we see in other programs. Here, I’ve changed the font to Hobo Std, at 167 points.

While many of these settings you already know there are a few you may not:

• Line spacing. Adjusts the vertical distance between lines within the same paragraph.
• Tracking. Adjusts the horizontal spacing between letters.
• Baseline. Adjusts the vertical spacing of text compared to the horizontal line running thru the center of the white circle in the Viewer.

The Face section allows us to change font color, opacity and blue. Outline and Glow allows us to add, not surprisingly, outlines and glows. You can adjust these as you see fit - I tend not to add outlines or glows.

However, I STRONGLY recommend adding drop shadows to all text that you want viewers to read. Video, even HD video, is low resolution compared to print. Drop shadows make your text much easier to read. These are the settings I recommend for drop shadows.

After making a few changes in the Inspector, here’s the final result. Very cool - and very different from where we started!

ACTION SAFE/TITLE SAFE ZONES

Since television was first invented, we needed to compensate for the differences in TV sets by designing graphics to stay within Action Safe and Title Safe boundaries.

While much of today’s video is designed for the web, your titles will look the best if you follow the same guidelines.

Titles015

Go to the Switch in the Viewer and select “Show Action Safe/Title Safe Zones.”

This displays two pale rectangles in the frame. The outer rectangle is called “Action Safe,” the inner one is called “Title Safe.” Action Safe is 5% in from all edges; Title Safe is 10% in from all edges.

When designing text and graphics for the web, keep all essential elements inside the outer rectangle. When designing graphics and text for broadcast or cable, keep all essential elements inside the inner rectangle.

Here, for example, notice that my title is fully contained within Action Safe.

SUMMARY

Titles give our programs character and personality, plus they explain what’s going on to the audience. Final Cut Pro X provides a wealth of formatting options to make our text look great.

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

We add text titles to our projects to tell the audience something they can’t figure out on their own, such as the title of our program, the name of the person speaking, or technical details about a subject.

---

This is a basic tutorial about Apple Final Cut Pro X, professional video editing software. However, if video editing is new to you, consider Wondershare Filmora for Mac . This is a powerful but easy-to-use tool for users just starting out. Download the free trial version below.

Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

---

Final Cut Pro X has almost 200 different text effects that we can add, but the process of adding titles is essentially the same. Adding titles is what this article is about.

DEFINITIONS

Just to keep us all on the same page, here are my definitions of key terms related to text:

• Text or titles. Words placed on the screen. I use these terms interchangeably.
• Superimpose. Text displayed on the the screen with other video below it. These are also called “supers” or “keys.”
• Full-screen. Text which occupies the entire screen.
• Lower-third. Text which fits below a person talking; in the “lower-third” of the screen.
• Info-graphics. Full-screen text which is superimposed on a graphic, generally used to convey technical information. Typical uses are sports statistics or other information which is easier to convey using text than having someone read the words.

JUST THE BASICS

I’d like to introduce “Yertle,” he’s a sea turtle and the star of this article. (Footage courtesy of Jim Walker and Lobsters Gone Wild Productions.)

At its simplest, we use titles to display his (its?) name.

In the Timeline, put the playhead where you want a title to appear and type Shift+Control+T. This inserts the default lower-third title at the position of the playhead. The title, like almost all titles, has a default duration of 10:00 seconds.

Look at the Browser and see the results of your work. A lower-third title is superimposed over the video in the lower left corner. (I’ll talk about formatting the text in a few paragraphs.)

NOTE: The big limitation of this lower-third title is that it can only be positioned in the left corner. Moving it to the center or right corner requires manual adjustment.

You position or trim a title the same as any video clip: drag the clip to a different location, or drag an edge to change its duration.

Select that title and delete it by pressing the Delete key.

This time, type Control+T and the default full-screen title appears in the center of the screen. Again, this has a default duration of 10 seconds.

If you look right in the center of the screen, you’ll see the word “Title.” Yes, its darn near invisible. And, yes, it looks, um, ugly. However, we have a TON of formatting control to make this look however we want.

Select and delete that full-screen title.

There’s one more way to apply a title: dragging from the Titles Browser.

Click the Title icon in the Toolbar. This displays the contents of the Title Browser. The column on the left displays title categories, the icons on the right indicate individual titles, the search box at the bottom allows you to search for specific titles by name, while the number in the lower right indicates the number of titles currently displayed. (Your number may not match mine because I’ve added a few custom titles to my system.)

Let’s add a totally ridiculous title to our turtle - drag Clouds from the Title Browser and place it above the clip at the point where you want a title to appear.

NOTE: I’m using a marker in the Timeline to help me find the same place in a clip so my screen shots are consistent. Markers are not needed in any way for titles.

Um, yeah. So, some titles look more professional than others… You can delete this title now.

So, we:

• Add titles using keyboard shortcuts
• Drag titles from the Title Browser
• Change position by dragging the title
• Change duration by dragging the edge of the clip
• Delete a title by selecting it and pressing the Delete key

CHANGING TEXT

Add a new full-screen title (type Control+T) to the Timeline. To change the text in a title, double-click it in the Viewer. Here, I’ve changed my title to “An Undersea Adventure.”

NOTE: We can also change the text using the Inspector. I’ll show you how in a few paragraphs. Pick whichever method is easiest for you.

All text, in any title, can be changed by double-clicking it in the Viewer to select it, then typing the new text you want to use.

FORMATTING TEXT

You can format any text that you can select. This means that you can format entire phrases, words, or individual letters differently. For this article, I will format everything the same, because once you know how this works, you can experiment on your own.

Here, I selected my entire title and opened the Inspector (shortcut Cmd+4). Click the Text tab at the top. This section of the Inspector allows you to format the text.

NOTE: The text box near the top of the panel is the second place you can select text for formatting.

If you want a fast way to format text, click the word “Normal” at the top. This displays a menu filled with different text formats. Some of these formats look pretty dreadful; the rest look worse.

NOTE: You can create your own text styles. Refer to the Help for information on how.

The Basic section of the Inspector allows you to change fonts, size, alignment… all the standard font settings we see in other programs. Here, I’ve changed the font to Hobo Std, at 167 points.

While many of these settings you already know there are a few you may not:

• Line spacing. Adjusts the vertical distance between lines within the same paragraph.
• Tracking. Adjusts the horizontal spacing between letters.
• Baseline. Adjusts the vertical spacing of text compared to the horizontal line running thru the center of the white circle in the Viewer.

The Face section allows us to change font color, opacity and blue. Outline and Glow allows us to add, not surprisingly, outlines and glows. You can adjust these as you see fit - I tend not to add outlines or glows.

However, I STRONGLY recommend adding drop shadows to all text that you want viewers to read. Video, even HD video, is low resolution compared to print. Drop shadows make your text much easier to read. These are the settings I recommend for drop shadows.

After making a few changes in the Inspector, here’s the final result. Very cool - and very different from where we started!

ACTION SAFE/TITLE SAFE ZONES

Since television was first invented, we needed to compensate for the differences in TV sets by designing graphics to stay within Action Safe and Title Safe boundaries.

While much of today’s video is designed for the web, your titles will look the best if you follow the same guidelines.

Titles015

Go to the Switch in the Viewer and select “Show Action Safe/Title Safe Zones.”

This displays two pale rectangles in the frame. The outer rectangle is called “Action Safe,” the inner one is called “Title Safe.” Action Safe is 5% in from all edges; Title Safe is 10% in from all edges.

When designing text and graphics for the web, keep all essential elements inside the outer rectangle. When designing graphics and text for broadcast or cable, keep all essential elements inside the inner rectangle.

Here, for example, notice that my title is fully contained within Action Safe.

SUMMARY

Titles give our programs character and personality, plus they explain what’s going on to the audience. Final Cut Pro X provides a wealth of formatting options to make our text look great.

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

We add text titles to our projects to tell the audience something they can’t figure out on their own, such as the title of our program, the name of the person speaking, or technical details about a subject.

---

This is a basic tutorial about Apple Final Cut Pro X, professional video editing software. However, if video editing is new to you, consider Wondershare Filmora for Mac . This is a powerful but easy-to-use tool for users just starting out. Download the free trial version below.

Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

---

Final Cut Pro X has almost 200 different text effects that we can add, but the process of adding titles is essentially the same. Adding titles is what this article is about.

DEFINITIONS

Just to keep us all on the same page, here are my definitions of key terms related to text:

• Text or titles. Words placed on the screen. I use these terms interchangeably.
• Superimpose. Text displayed on the the screen with other video below it. These are also called “supers” or “keys.”
• Full-screen. Text which occupies the entire screen.
• Lower-third. Text which fits below a person talking; in the “lower-third” of the screen.
• Info-graphics. Full-screen text which is superimposed on a graphic, generally used to convey technical information. Typical uses are sports statistics or other information which is easier to convey using text than having someone read the words.

JUST THE BASICS

I’d like to introduce “Yertle,” he’s a sea turtle and the star of this article. (Footage courtesy of Jim Walker and Lobsters Gone Wild Productions.)

At its simplest, we use titles to display his (its?) name.

In the Timeline, put the playhead where you want a title to appear and type Shift+Control+T. This inserts the default lower-third title at the position of the playhead. The title, like almost all titles, has a default duration of 10:00 seconds.

Look at the Browser and see the results of your work. A lower-third title is superimposed over the video in the lower left corner. (I’ll talk about formatting the text in a few paragraphs.)

NOTE: The big limitation of this lower-third title is that it can only be positioned in the left corner. Moving it to the center or right corner requires manual adjustment.

You position or trim a title the same as any video clip: drag the clip to a different location, or drag an edge to change its duration.

Select that title and delete it by pressing the Delete key.

This time, type Control+T and the default full-screen title appears in the center of the screen. Again, this has a default duration of 10 seconds.

If you look right in the center of the screen, you’ll see the word “Title.” Yes, its darn near invisible. And, yes, it looks, um, ugly. However, we have a TON of formatting control to make this look however we want.

Select and delete that full-screen title.

There’s one more way to apply a title: dragging from the Titles Browser.

Click the Title icon in the Toolbar. This displays the contents of the Title Browser. The column on the left displays title categories, the icons on the right indicate individual titles, the search box at the bottom allows you to search for specific titles by name, while the number in the lower right indicates the number of titles currently displayed. (Your number may not match mine because I’ve added a few custom titles to my system.)

Let’s add a totally ridiculous title to our turtle - drag Clouds from the Title Browser and place it above the clip at the point where you want a title to appear.

NOTE: I’m using a marker in the Timeline to help me find the same place in a clip so my screen shots are consistent. Markers are not needed in any way for titles.

Um, yeah. So, some titles look more professional than others… You can delete this title now.

So, we:

• Add titles using keyboard shortcuts
• Drag titles from the Title Browser
• Change position by dragging the title
• Change duration by dragging the edge of the clip
• Delete a title by selecting it and pressing the Delete key

CHANGING TEXT

Add a new full-screen title (type Control+T) to the Timeline. To change the text in a title, double-click it in the Viewer. Here, I’ve changed my title to “An Undersea Adventure.”

NOTE: We can also change the text using the Inspector. I’ll show you how in a few paragraphs. Pick whichever method is easiest for you.

All text, in any title, can be changed by double-clicking it in the Viewer to select it, then typing the new text you want to use.

FORMATTING TEXT

You can format any text that you can select. This means that you can format entire phrases, words, or individual letters differently. For this article, I will format everything the same, because once you know how this works, you can experiment on your own.

Here, I selected my entire title and opened the Inspector (shortcut Cmd+4). Click the Text tab at the top. This section of the Inspector allows you to format the text.

NOTE: The text box near the top of the panel is the second place you can select text for formatting.

If you want a fast way to format text, click the word “Normal” at the top. This displays a menu filled with different text formats. Some of these formats look pretty dreadful; the rest look worse.

NOTE: You can create your own text styles. Refer to the Help for information on how.

The Basic section of the Inspector allows you to change fonts, size, alignment… all the standard font settings we see in other programs. Here, I’ve changed the font to Hobo Std, at 167 points.

While many of these settings you already know there are a few you may not:

• Line spacing. Adjusts the vertical distance between lines within the same paragraph.
• Tracking. Adjusts the horizontal spacing between letters.
• Baseline. Adjusts the vertical spacing of text compared to the horizontal line running thru the center of the white circle in the Viewer.

The Face section allows us to change font color, opacity and blue. Outline and Glow allows us to add, not surprisingly, outlines and glows. You can adjust these as you see fit - I tend not to add outlines or glows.

However, I STRONGLY recommend adding drop shadows to all text that you want viewers to read. Video, even HD video, is low resolution compared to print. Drop shadows make your text much easier to read. These are the settings I recommend for drop shadows.

After making a few changes in the Inspector, here’s the final result. Very cool - and very different from where we started!

ACTION SAFE/TITLE SAFE ZONES

Since television was first invented, we needed to compensate for the differences in TV sets by designing graphics to stay within Action Safe and Title Safe boundaries.

While much of today’s video is designed for the web, your titles will look the best if you follow the same guidelines.

Titles015

Go to the Switch in the Viewer and select “Show Action Safe/Title Safe Zones.”

This displays two pale rectangles in the frame. The outer rectangle is called “Action Safe,” the inner one is called “Title Safe.” Action Safe is 5% in from all edges; Title Safe is 10% in from all edges.

When designing text and graphics for the web, keep all essential elements inside the outer rectangle. When designing graphics and text for broadcast or cable, keep all essential elements inside the inner rectangle.

Here, for example, notice that my title is fully contained within Action Safe.

SUMMARY

Titles give our programs character and personality, plus they explain what’s going on to the audience. Final Cut Pro X provides a wealth of formatting options to make our text look great.

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

We add text titles to our projects to tell the audience something they can’t figure out on their own, such as the title of our program, the name of the person speaking, or technical details about a subject.

---

This is a basic tutorial about Apple Final Cut Pro X, professional video editing software. However, if video editing is new to you, consider Wondershare Filmora for Mac . This is a powerful but easy-to-use tool for users just starting out. Download the free trial version below.

Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

---

Final Cut Pro X has almost 200 different text effects that we can add, but the process of adding titles is essentially the same. Adding titles is what this article is about.

DEFINITIONS

Just to keep us all on the same page, here are my definitions of key terms related to text:

• Text or titles. Words placed on the screen. I use these terms interchangeably.
• Superimpose. Text displayed on the the screen with other video below it. These are also called “supers” or “keys.”
• Full-screen. Text which occupies the entire screen.
• Lower-third. Text which fits below a person talking; in the “lower-third” of the screen.
• Info-graphics. Full-screen text which is superimposed on a graphic, generally used to convey technical information. Typical uses are sports statistics or other information which is easier to convey using text than having someone read the words.

JUST THE BASICS

I’d like to introduce “Yertle,” he’s a sea turtle and the star of this article. (Footage courtesy of Jim Walker and Lobsters Gone Wild Productions.)

At its simplest, we use titles to display his (its?) name.

In the Timeline, put the playhead where you want a title to appear and type Shift+Control+T. This inserts the default lower-third title at the position of the playhead. The title, like almost all titles, has a default duration of 10:00 seconds.

Look at the Browser and see the results of your work. A lower-third title is superimposed over the video in the lower left corner. (I’ll talk about formatting the text in a few paragraphs.)

NOTE: The big limitation of this lower-third title is that it can only be positioned in the left corner. Moving it to the center or right corner requires manual adjustment.

You position or trim a title the same as any video clip: drag the clip to a different location, or drag an edge to change its duration.

Select that title and delete it by pressing the Delete key.

This time, type Control+T and the default full-screen title appears in the center of the screen. Again, this has a default duration of 10 seconds.

If you look right in the center of the screen, you’ll see the word “Title.” Yes, its darn near invisible. And, yes, it looks, um, ugly. However, we have a TON of formatting control to make this look however we want.

Select and delete that full-screen title.

There’s one more way to apply a title: dragging from the Titles Browser.

Click the Title icon in the Toolbar. This displays the contents of the Title Browser. The column on the left displays title categories, the icons on the right indicate individual titles, the search box at the bottom allows you to search for specific titles by name, while the number in the lower right indicates the number of titles currently displayed. (Your number may not match mine because I’ve added a few custom titles to my system.)

Let’s add a totally ridiculous title to our turtle - drag Clouds from the Title Browser and place it above the clip at the point where you want a title to appear.

NOTE: I’m using a marker in the Timeline to help me find the same place in a clip so my screen shots are consistent. Markers are not needed in any way for titles.

Um, yeah. So, some titles look more professional than others… You can delete this title now.

So, we:

• Add titles using keyboard shortcuts
• Drag titles from the Title Browser
• Change position by dragging the title
• Change duration by dragging the edge of the clip
• Delete a title by selecting it and pressing the Delete key

CHANGING TEXT

Add a new full-screen title (type Control+T) to the Timeline. To change the text in a title, double-click it in the Viewer. Here, I’ve changed my title to “An Undersea Adventure.”

NOTE: We can also change the text using the Inspector. I’ll show you how in a few paragraphs. Pick whichever method is easiest for you.

All text, in any title, can be changed by double-clicking it in the Viewer to select it, then typing the new text you want to use.

FORMATTING TEXT

You can format any text that you can select. This means that you can format entire phrases, words, or individual letters differently. For this article, I will format everything the same, because once you know how this works, you can experiment on your own.

Here, I selected my entire title and opened the Inspector (shortcut Cmd+4). Click the Text tab at the top. This section of the Inspector allows you to format the text.

NOTE: The text box near the top of the panel is the second place you can select text for formatting.

If you want a fast way to format text, click the word “Normal” at the top. This displays a menu filled with different text formats. Some of these formats look pretty dreadful; the rest look worse.

NOTE: You can create your own text styles. Refer to the Help for information on how.

The Basic section of the Inspector allows you to change fonts, size, alignment… all the standard font settings we see in other programs. Here, I’ve changed the font to Hobo Std, at 167 points.

While many of these settings you already know there are a few you may not:

• Line spacing. Adjusts the vertical distance between lines within the same paragraph.
• Tracking. Adjusts the horizontal spacing between letters.
• Baseline. Adjusts the vertical spacing of text compared to the horizontal line running thru the center of the white circle in the Viewer.

The Face section allows us to change font color, opacity and blue. Outline and Glow allows us to add, not surprisingly, outlines and glows. You can adjust these as you see fit - I tend not to add outlines or glows.

However, I STRONGLY recommend adding drop shadows to all text that you want viewers to read. Video, even HD video, is low resolution compared to print. Drop shadows make your text much easier to read. These are the settings I recommend for drop shadows.

After making a few changes in the Inspector, here’s the final result. Very cool - and very different from where we started!

ACTION SAFE/TITLE SAFE ZONES

Since television was first invented, we needed to compensate for the differences in TV sets by designing graphics to stay within Action Safe and Title Safe boundaries.

While much of today’s video is designed for the web, your titles will look the best if you follow the same guidelines.

Titles015

Go to the Switch in the Viewer and select “Show Action Safe/Title Safe Zones.”

This displays two pale rectangles in the frame. The outer rectangle is called “Action Safe,” the inner one is called “Title Safe.” Action Safe is 5% in from all edges; Title Safe is 10% in from all edges.

When designing text and graphics for the web, keep all essential elements inside the outer rectangle. When designing graphics and text for broadcast or cable, keep all essential elements inside the inner rectangle.

Here, for example, notice that my title is fully contained within Action Safe.

SUMMARY

Titles give our programs character and personality, plus they explain what’s going on to the audience. Final Cut Pro X provides a wealth of formatting options to make our text look great.

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Top Video Editing Tools for Young Creators: Free and Paid Options

10+ Best Video Editing Apps for Kids

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Every child is an artist, but parents often don’t support the creativity their children show. A simple thing like a video editing app can inspire your children to make short movies after shooting great footage with cameras .

The videos your children record with their tablets or Smartphones can reveal how talented they are, but if you want them to develop their talents you should ensure that they have a video editing app that enables them to polish videos effortlessly. Read on, if you would like to learn more about some best video editing apps for kids and decide which video editing app is the right choice for your children.

10+ Best Video Editing Apps for Kids – Including the Free Apps

The first thing that comes to mind when editing videos is mentioned is expensive professional video editing software products like Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere Pro. However, most parents don’t know that there are scores of free or inexpensive video editors their children can use to manipulate the footage they recorded, before uploading it to YouTube or sharing it on some other social media network. Let’s take a look at the 10+ best video editing apps for kids.

1. Wondershare Filmora : Best Easy-to-use Video Editor for Kids to make YouTube videos

Price: Freemium, pricing plans start at $49.99/year

Free Download

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Secure Download

Free 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 )

Starting a new project in Filmora, cutting video clips or creating soundtracks for your videos requires a minimum amount of previous video editing experience. If your children are posting their videos to YouTube, then Wondershare Filmora video editor is one of the best options on the market, since this video editor for Mac and PC computers enables them to export videos directly to their channels.

Stabilizing shaky videos captured with GoPro cameras or Smartphones takes just a few clicks, which enables your kids to even use the footage they would otherwise be unwatchable. Filmora supports nearly all video file formats, and your children can import their footage into the Filmora video editor regardless of the device they used to record it. In addition, your kids will be able to export videos that are optimized to be played on a variety of video playback devices if they start editing their videos with Filmora.

Pros

• Simple project setup
• The music library offers a rich selection of royalty-free music
• Powerful image stabilization features
• Equipped with a versatile set of color correction tools

Cons

• Requires at least basic video editing skills
• All videos exported from the free version of Filmora are watermarked

3. The Photos App on Windows 10 : Best free video editor for kids on Windows 10

Price: Free

There is no need to spend money on monthly subscriptions or purchasing licenses to use video editing software, if your kids just want to just perform basic video editing tasks before sharing a video online. The Photos App doesn’t offer the tools that are necessary to edit a full feature film, but your children can utilize this Windows 10-native app to perform basic video editing actions.

Removing unwanted parts of a video, adding a text overlay or applying filters and effects are just a few among numerous options this video editor provides. In addition, the Photos App also enables your children to create slow-motion videos or to choose from a huge selection of 3D effects.

Pros

• Available for free to all PC owners who have Windows 10 installed on their computers
• Excellent as a learning tool for inexperienced video editors
• Organizing photos and videos with the Photos App is easy
• Simplifies the video editing process

Cons

• Offers little room for development for children who want to continue developing their video editing skills
• Supports only a limited number of video file formats

4. iMovie : Best free video editor for kids on Mac, iPhone & iPad

Price: Free

Each video your kids record with their iPhones and iPads can be edited with an iOS version of iMovie for free. Moreover, your children can utilize iMovie to edit videos from their Mac computers and upload them directly to their YouTube or Vimeo channels.

Besides the set of basic video editing tools, iMovie also features a rich selection of preset themes that simplify the video editing process, and enable your kids to create a new video in just a few clicks. Adjusting a video’s aspect ratio is yet another option iMovie provides that will enable your children to adjust their video editing projects to the demands of the social media platform to which they want to upload them.

Pros

• An elegantly designed interface that is easy to get used to
• Provides 4K video editing capabilities
• A rich selection of audio and video effects
• Fully customizable trailer presets

Cons

• Exporting 4K videos requires you to have at least 4GB of RAM
• A limited number of supported output video file formats

5. PowToon : Best Animation Software for Creating Presentation videos for kids

Price: Free, subscription plans start at $19, 00 per month

This web-based video editing platform is primarily aimed at businesses that want to edit their videos online and share them on popular social media platforms. Even so, using PowToon is so easy that even kids that have no video editing experience whatsoever can use this platform to make videos.

Furthermore, the platform’s selection of templates includes the EDU category that contains templates designed specifically for students, faculty members and teachers or and administrative staff. The maximum length of a video your children can export from PowToon depends on the subscription model. So, if your kids need to create videos that last for more than 3 minutes for their school assignments, you must choose a pricing plan that caters to their video editing needs.

Pros

• Features hundreds of video templates
• Powerful social media integration options
• The music library contains royalty-free music
• Great for high-school and university students

Cons

• Offers a very limited scope of video and audio editing tools
• The maximum duration of a video cannot exceed 30 minutes regardless of the subscription model you have

6. Stop Motion Studio

Price: $1, 99 for Windows , free for iOS and Android , $9,99 for macOS

Stop motion animations are famous for their unique visual style, however, creating a stop motion animation is a difficult task even for an experienced professional. The Stop Motion Studio makes creating this type of animation somewhat easier by enabling you to preview the images you’re taking with your Sony, Canon or Nikon DSLR cameras directly from the software.

Even a brief look at the list of this cross-platform app will leave you wondering if there is anything you cannot do. However, Stop Motion Studio is not aimed at children or users that don’t have a considerable amount of experience with this animation technique. Aspiring animation professionals can utilize the Stop Motion Studio to create animations for children.

Pros

• Compatible with a broad range of devices
• Provides powerful stop-animation tools
• Grants users full control over camera settings
• Exports videos in 4K

Cons

• Stop motion tools these app offers are too advanced for children
• The output files can be too large to share on social media

7. The Lego - Movie 2 - Movie Maker App

Price: Free foriOS and Android devices

All children like playing with Lego toys, but if your kids are fans of the Lego Movie and its sequel, then this movie maker app can be a great choice for your kids. The app is designed for children younger than 8 years old, and it enables them to build their own movie scenes, record them and then edit them before showing them to their friends or families.

Kids cannot install this app on their Smartphones without permission from their parents. So, if you want your child to create their own virtual Lego world you will have to provide the information that includes the country you live in, your date of birth and your email address.

Pros

• Free and easy to use
• Nurtures a child’s creativity
• Easily recreates scenes from the Lego Movie 2
• No in-app purchases

Cons

• Limited audio editing options
• Offers only a basic set of video editing tools

8. Filmora : Solution for making videos on iPhone and Android

Price: Free but offers in-app purchases on both iOS and Android devices

Anyone can create a video with Filmora, even if they never created a video before. The app lets you import pictures or videos from your phone or social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook. Each theme Filmora offers is fully customizable which enables kids to apply filters or add transitions between two shots.

In addition, this video editing app allows all of its users to slow down or speed up their footage, animate text or add pre-animated elements to the footage they are editing. Filmora’s file-sharing capabilities are impressive as the video editing app enables children to share all of their creations on WhatsApp, YouTube or Facebook.

Pros

• Offers a broad spectrum of templates
• The short and simple video editing process
• Decent video editing tools
• Excellent video sharing capabilities

Cons

• Offers in-app purchases
• Equipped with only basic color correction tools

10. Kapwing Online

Price: Free

This is a content creation platform that is can be used for free by anyone who has access to an Internet connection. Making memes, GIFs or editing photos and videos with Kapwing Studio is a straightforward process, which makes this online app a perfect choice for kids who want to create new videos quickly.

The maximum size of the video file you can upload to Kapwing is limited to 500 MB, which can make editing videos captured in high-resolution complicated. However, adding audio, text overlays or subtitles to the videos you’re editing with Kapwing still enables kids to make captivating videos they can share on their social media accounts.

Pros

• Free and available to all Internet users
• Quick upload times
• Provides audio editing options
• Equipped with photo editing tools

Cons

• The maximum size of videos you can edit with Kawing is limited
• Offers only basic video editing options

11. OpenShot : Free & Easy Open Source Video Editor for Kids on Chromebook

Price: Free

OpenShot is a free open-source cross-platform video editor that is equipped with advanced video editing features. Besides enabling its users to trim or cut their footage, OpenShot also provides all the tools your children are going to need to create 3D animations, opening titles and end credits or slow-motion videos.

The video editor’s intuitive interface makes it suitable for children who are just learning the basics of the video editing craft and if you are searching for an app your kid can use to create their first videos, OpenShot can be an inexpensive and yet powerful solution. Furthermore, this cross-platform contains a huge library of visual effects that can make any video look cooler.

Pros

• Free and compatible with Linux, Windows or macOS
• Excellent animation features
• Powerful Title Editor
• Offers an unlimited number of audio and video tracks

Cons

• The video editing tools OpenShot provides exceed the demands of most children
• A limited selection of video output file formats

12. VideoScribe : Best 2D whiteboard Animation Software for Kids

Price: Free, pricing plans start at $28,00

This web-based platform enables anyone to create whiteboard animations that can be used in both professional and academic contexts. In fact, anyone can create a compelling white animation with VideoScribe in just three simple steps.

After selecting the images from the platform’s library or uploading your own material and adding text, voiceovers, and music, VideoScribe will generate a whiteboard animation for you. This online platform offers an easy way to introduce your children to the world of animation and enables them to create animations from the images they create. Each whiteboard animation your child makes with VideoScribe can be shared to YouTube or Vimeo, but you should keep in mind that all animations created with the free version of this app are going to be watermarked.

Pros

• The image library contains more than 6000 royalty-free images
• VideoScribe lets its users record voiceovers
• Equipped with a broad range of hand, pens and other pre-animated elements
• Excellent file-sharing capabilities

Cons

• VideoScribe doesn’t offer any video editing tools
• Removing watermark requires you to update to the pro version of the app

Conclusion

Encouraging your children to express their creativity can be beneficial for a variety of reasons. A video editing software like Filmora is one of your best choices if your child wants to create YouTube videos, while iOS and Android-based apps like Filmora or The Lego Movie 2 Movie Maker are well-suited for all children who would like to create videos from their Smartphones. Which of the best video editing apps for kids are you going to get for your child? Leave a comment and let us know.

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Every child is an artist, but parents often don’t support the creativity their children show. A simple thing like a video editing app can inspire your children to make short movies after shooting great footage with cameras .

The videos your children record with their tablets or Smartphones can reveal how talented they are, but if you want them to develop their talents you should ensure that they have a video editing app that enables them to polish videos effortlessly. Read on, if you would like to learn more about some best video editing apps for kids and decide which video editing app is the right choice for your children.

10+ Best Video Editing Apps for Kids – Including the Free Apps

The first thing that comes to mind when editing videos is mentioned is expensive professional video editing software products like Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere Pro. However, most parents don’t know that there are scores of free or inexpensive video editors their children can use to manipulate the footage they recorded, before uploading it to YouTube or sharing it on some other social media network. Let’s take a look at the 10+ best video editing apps for kids.

1. Wondershare Filmora : Best Easy-to-use Video Editor for Kids to make YouTube videos

Price: Freemium, pricing plans start at $49.99/year

Free Download

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Secure Download

Free 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 )

Starting a new project in Filmora, cutting video clips or creating soundtracks for your videos requires a minimum amount of previous video editing experience. If your children are posting their videos to YouTube, then Wondershare Filmora video editor is one of the best options on the market, since this video editor for Mac and PC computers enables them to export videos directly to their channels.

Stabilizing shaky videos captured with GoPro cameras or Smartphones takes just a few clicks, which enables your kids to even use the footage they would otherwise be unwatchable. Filmora supports nearly all video file formats, and your children can import their footage into the Filmora video editor regardless of the device they used to record it. In addition, your kids will be able to export videos that are optimized to be played on a variety of video playback devices if they start editing their videos with Filmora.

Pros

• Simple project setup
• The music library offers a rich selection of royalty-free music
• Powerful image stabilization features
• Equipped with a versatile set of color correction tools

Cons

• Requires at least basic video editing skills
• All videos exported from the free version of Filmora are watermarked

3. The Photos App on Windows 10 : Best free video editor for kids on Windows 10

Price: Free

There is no need to spend money on monthly subscriptions or purchasing licenses to use video editing software, if your kids just want to just perform basic video editing tasks before sharing a video online. The Photos App doesn’t offer the tools that are necessary to edit a full feature film, but your children can utilize this Windows 10-native app to perform basic video editing actions.

Removing unwanted parts of a video, adding a text overlay or applying filters and effects are just a few among numerous options this video editor provides. In addition, the Photos App also enables your children to create slow-motion videos or to choose from a huge selection of 3D effects.

Pros

• Available for free to all PC owners who have Windows 10 installed on their computers
• Excellent as a learning tool for inexperienced video editors
• Organizing photos and videos with the Photos App is easy
• Simplifies the video editing process

Cons

• Offers little room for development for children who want to continue developing their video editing skills
• Supports only a limited number of video file formats

4. iMovie : Best free video editor for kids on Mac, iPhone & iPad

Price: Free

Each video your kids record with their iPhones and iPads can be edited with an iOS version of iMovie for free. Moreover, your children can utilize iMovie to edit videos from their Mac computers and upload them directly to their YouTube or Vimeo channels.

Besides the set of basic video editing tools, iMovie also features a rich selection of preset themes that simplify the video editing process, and enable your kids to create a new video in just a few clicks. Adjusting a video’s aspect ratio is yet another option iMovie provides that will enable your children to adjust their video editing projects to the demands of the social media platform to which they want to upload them.

Pros

• An elegantly designed interface that is easy to get used to
• Provides 4K video editing capabilities
• A rich selection of audio and video effects
• Fully customizable trailer presets

Cons

• Exporting 4K videos requires you to have at least 4GB of RAM
• A limited number of supported output video file formats

5. PowToon : Best Animation Software for Creating Presentation videos for kids

Price: Free, subscription plans start at $19, 00 per month

This web-based video editing platform is primarily aimed at businesses that want to edit their videos online and share them on popular social media platforms. Even so, using PowToon is so easy that even kids that have no video editing experience whatsoever can use this platform to make videos.

Furthermore, the platform’s selection of templates includes the EDU category that contains templates designed specifically for students, faculty members and teachers or and administrative staff. The maximum length of a video your children can export from PowToon depends on the subscription model. So, if your kids need to create videos that last for more than 3 minutes for their school assignments, you must choose a pricing plan that caters to their video editing needs.

Pros

• Features hundreds of video templates
• Powerful social media integration options
• The music library contains royalty-free music
• Great for high-school and university students

Cons

• Offers a very limited scope of video and audio editing tools
• The maximum duration of a video cannot exceed 30 minutes regardless of the subscription model you have

6. Stop Motion Studio

Price: $1, 99 for Windows , free for iOS and Android , $9,99 for macOS

Stop motion animations are famous for their unique visual style, however, creating a stop motion animation is a difficult task even for an experienced professional. The Stop Motion Studio makes creating this type of animation somewhat easier by enabling you to preview the images you’re taking with your Sony, Canon or Nikon DSLR cameras directly from the software.

Even a brief look at the list of this cross-platform app will leave you wondering if there is anything you cannot do. However, Stop Motion Studio is not aimed at children or users that don’t have a considerable amount of experience with this animation technique. Aspiring animation professionals can utilize the Stop Motion Studio to create animations for children.

Pros

• Compatible with a broad range of devices
• Provides powerful stop-animation tools
• Grants users full control over camera settings
• Exports videos in 4K

Cons

• Stop motion tools these app offers are too advanced for children
• The output files can be too large to share on social media

7. The Lego - Movie 2 - Movie Maker App

Price: Free foriOS and Android devices

All children like playing with Lego toys, but if your kids are fans of the Lego Movie and its sequel, then this movie maker app can be a great choice for your kids. The app is designed for children younger than 8 years old, and it enables them to build their own movie scenes, record them and then edit them before showing them to their friends or families.

Kids cannot install this app on their Smartphones without permission from their parents. So, if you want your child to create their own virtual Lego world you will have to provide the information that includes the country you live in, your date of birth and your email address.

Pros

• Free and easy to use
• Nurtures a child’s creativity
• Easily recreates scenes from the Lego Movie 2
• No in-app purchases

Cons

• Limited audio editing options
• Offers only a basic set of video editing tools

8. Filmora : Solution for making videos on iPhone and Android

Price: Free but offers in-app purchases on both iOS and Android devices

Anyone can create a video with Filmora, even if they never created a video before. The app lets you import pictures or videos from your phone or social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook. Each theme Filmora offers is fully customizable which enables kids to apply filters or add transitions between two shots.

In addition, this video editing app allows all of its users to slow down or speed up their footage, animate text or add pre-animated elements to the footage they are editing. Filmora’s file-sharing capabilities are impressive as the video editing app enables children to share all of their creations on WhatsApp, YouTube or Facebook.

Pros

• Offers a broad spectrum of templates
• The short and simple video editing process
• Decent video editing tools
• Excellent video sharing capabilities

Cons

• Offers in-app purchases
• Equipped with only basic color correction tools

10. Kapwing Online

Price: Free

This is a content creation platform that is can be used for free by anyone who has access to an Internet connection. Making memes, GIFs or editing photos and videos with Kapwing Studio is a straightforward process, which makes this online app a perfect choice for kids who want to create new videos quickly.

The maximum size of the video file you can upload to Kapwing is limited to 500 MB, which can make editing videos captured in high-resolution complicated. However, adding audio, text overlays or subtitles to the videos you’re editing with Kapwing still enables kids to make captivating videos they can share on their social media accounts.

Pros

• Free and available to all Internet users
• Quick upload times
• Provides audio editing options
• Equipped with photo editing tools

Cons

• The maximum size of videos you can edit with Kawing is limited
• Offers only basic video editing options

11. OpenShot : Free & Easy Open Source Video Editor for Kids on Chromebook

Price: Free

OpenShot is a free open-source cross-platform video editor that is equipped with advanced video editing features. Besides enabling its users to trim or cut their footage, OpenShot also provides all the tools your children are going to need to create 3D animations, opening titles and end credits or slow-motion videos.

The video editor’s intuitive interface makes it suitable for children who are just learning the basics of the video editing craft and if you are searching for an app your kid can use to create their first videos, OpenShot can be an inexpensive and yet powerful solution. Furthermore, this cross-platform contains a huge library of visual effects that can make any video look cooler.

Pros

• Free and compatible with Linux, Windows or macOS
• Excellent animation features
• Powerful Title Editor
• Offers an unlimited number of audio and video tracks

Cons

• The video editing tools OpenShot provides exceed the demands of most children
• A limited selection of video output file formats

12. VideoScribe : Best 2D whiteboard Animation Software for Kids

Price: Free, pricing plans start at $28,00

This web-based platform enables anyone to create whiteboard animations that can be used in both professional and academic contexts. In fact, anyone can create a compelling white animation with VideoScribe in just three simple steps.

After selecting the images from the platform’s library or uploading your own material and adding text, voiceovers, and music, VideoScribe will generate a whiteboard animation for you. This online platform offers an easy way to introduce your children to the world of animation and enables them to create animations from the images they create. Each whiteboard animation your child makes with VideoScribe can be shared to YouTube or Vimeo, but you should keep in mind that all animations created with the free version of this app are going to be watermarked.

Pros

• The image library contains more than 6000 royalty-free images
• VideoScribe lets its users record voiceovers
• Equipped with a broad range of hand, pens and other pre-animated elements
• Excellent file-sharing capabilities

Cons

• VideoScribe doesn’t offer any video editing tools
• Removing watermark requires you to update to the pro version of the app

Conclusion

Encouraging your children to express their creativity can be beneficial for a variety of reasons. A video editing software like Filmora is one of your best choices if your child wants to create YouTube videos, while iOS and Android-based apps like Filmora or The Lego Movie 2 Movie Maker are well-suited for all children who would like to create videos from their Smartphones. Which of the best video editing apps for kids are you going to get for your child? Leave a comment and let us know.

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Every child is an artist, but parents often don’t support the creativity their children show. A simple thing like a video editing app can inspire your children to make short movies after shooting great footage with cameras .

The videos your children record with their tablets or Smartphones can reveal how talented they are, but if you want them to develop their talents you should ensure that they have a video editing app that enables them to polish videos effortlessly. Read on, if you would like to learn more about some best video editing apps for kids and decide which video editing app is the right choice for your children.

10+ Best Video Editing Apps for Kids – Including the Free Apps

The first thing that comes to mind when editing videos is mentioned is expensive professional video editing software products like Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere Pro. However, most parents don’t know that there are scores of free or inexpensive video editors their children can use to manipulate the footage they recorded, before uploading it to YouTube or sharing it on some other social media network. Let’s take a look at the 10+ best video editing apps for kids.

1. Wondershare Filmora : Best Easy-to-use Video Editor for Kids to make YouTube videos

Price: Freemium, pricing plans start at $49.99/year

Free Download

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Secure Download

Free 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 )

Starting a new project in Filmora, cutting video clips or creating soundtracks for your videos requires a minimum amount of previous video editing experience. If your children are posting their videos to YouTube, then Wondershare Filmora video editor is one of the best options on the market, since this video editor for Mac and PC computers enables them to export videos directly to their channels.

Stabilizing shaky videos captured with GoPro cameras or Smartphones takes just a few clicks, which enables your kids to even use the footage they would otherwise be unwatchable. Filmora supports nearly all video file formats, and your children can import their footage into the Filmora video editor regardless of the device they used to record it. In addition, your kids will be able to export videos that are optimized to be played on a variety of video playback devices if they start editing their videos with Filmora.

Pros

• Simple project setup
• The music library offers a rich selection of royalty-free music
• Powerful image stabilization features
• Equipped with a versatile set of color correction tools

Cons

• Requires at least basic video editing skills
• All videos exported from the free version of Filmora are watermarked

3. The Photos App on Windows 10 : Best free video editor for kids on Windows 10

Price: Free

There is no need to spend money on monthly subscriptions or purchasing licenses to use video editing software, if your kids just want to just perform basic video editing tasks before sharing a video online. The Photos App doesn’t offer the tools that are necessary to edit a full feature film, but your children can utilize this Windows 10-native app to perform basic video editing actions.

Removing unwanted parts of a video, adding a text overlay or applying filters and effects are just a few among numerous options this video editor provides. In addition, the Photos App also enables your children to create slow-motion videos or to choose from a huge selection of 3D effects.

Pros

• Available for free to all PC owners who have Windows 10 installed on their computers
• Excellent as a learning tool for inexperienced video editors
• Organizing photos and videos with the Photos App is easy
• Simplifies the video editing process

Cons

• Offers little room for development for children who want to continue developing their video editing skills
• Supports only a limited number of video file formats

4. iMovie : Best free video editor for kids on Mac, iPhone & iPad

Price: Free

Each video your kids record with their iPhones and iPads can be edited with an iOS version of iMovie for free. Moreover, your children can utilize iMovie to edit videos from their Mac computers and upload them directly to their YouTube or Vimeo channels.

Besides the set of basic video editing tools, iMovie also features a rich selection of preset themes that simplify the video editing process, and enable your kids to create a new video in just a few clicks. Adjusting a video’s aspect ratio is yet another option iMovie provides that will enable your children to adjust their video editing projects to the demands of the social media platform to which they want to upload them.

Pros

• An elegantly designed interface that is easy to get used to
• Provides 4K video editing capabilities
• A rich selection of audio and video effects
• Fully customizable trailer presets

Cons

• Exporting 4K videos requires you to have at least 4GB of RAM
• A limited number of supported output video file formats

5. PowToon : Best Animation Software for Creating Presentation videos for kids

Price: Free, subscription plans start at $19, 00 per month

This web-based video editing platform is primarily aimed at businesses that want to edit their videos online and share them on popular social media platforms. Even so, using PowToon is so easy that even kids that have no video editing experience whatsoever can use this platform to make videos.

Furthermore, the platform’s selection of templates includes the EDU category that contains templates designed specifically for students, faculty members and teachers or and administrative staff. The maximum length of a video your children can export from PowToon depends on the subscription model. So, if your kids need to create videos that last for more than 3 minutes for their school assignments, you must choose a pricing plan that caters to their video editing needs.

Pros

• Features hundreds of video templates
• Powerful social media integration options
• The music library contains royalty-free music
• Great for high-school and university students

Cons

• Offers a very limited scope of video and audio editing tools
• The maximum duration of a video cannot exceed 30 minutes regardless of the subscription model you have

6. Stop Motion Studio

Price: $1, 99 for Windows , free for iOS and Android , $9,99 for macOS

Stop motion animations are famous for their unique visual style, however, creating a stop motion animation is a difficult task even for an experienced professional. The Stop Motion Studio makes creating this type of animation somewhat easier by enabling you to preview the images you’re taking with your Sony, Canon or Nikon DSLR cameras directly from the software.

Even a brief look at the list of this cross-platform app will leave you wondering if there is anything you cannot do. However, Stop Motion Studio is not aimed at children or users that don’t have a considerable amount of experience with this animation technique. Aspiring animation professionals can utilize the Stop Motion Studio to create animations for children.

Pros

• Compatible with a broad range of devices
• Provides powerful stop-animation tools
• Grants users full control over camera settings
• Exports videos in 4K

Cons

• Stop motion tools these app offers are too advanced for children
• The output files can be too large to share on social media

7. The Lego - Movie 2 - Movie Maker App

Price: Free foriOS and Android devices

All children like playing with Lego toys, but if your kids are fans of the Lego Movie and its sequel, then this movie maker app can be a great choice for your kids. The app is designed for children younger than 8 years old, and it enables them to build their own movie scenes, record them and then edit them before showing them to their friends or families.

Kids cannot install this app on their Smartphones without permission from their parents. So, if you want your child to create their own virtual Lego world you will have to provide the information that includes the country you live in, your date of birth and your email address.

Pros

• Free and easy to use
• Nurtures a child’s creativity
• Easily recreates scenes from the Lego Movie 2
• No in-app purchases

Cons

• Limited audio editing options
• Offers only a basic set of video editing tools

8. Filmora : Solution for making videos on iPhone and Android

Price: Free but offers in-app purchases on both iOS and Android devices

Anyone can create a video with Filmora, even if they never created a video before. The app lets you import pictures or videos from your phone or social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook. Each theme Filmora offers is fully customizable which enables kids to apply filters or add transitions between two shots.

In addition, this video editing app allows all of its users to slow down or speed up their footage, animate text or add pre-animated elements to the footage they are editing. Filmora’s file-sharing capabilities are impressive as the video editing app enables children to share all of their creations on WhatsApp, YouTube or Facebook.

Pros

• Offers a broad spectrum of templates
• The short and simple video editing process
• Decent video editing tools
• Excellent video sharing capabilities

Cons

• Offers in-app purchases
• Equipped with only basic color correction tools

10. Kapwing Online

Price: Free

This is a content creation platform that is can be used for free by anyone who has access to an Internet connection. Making memes, GIFs or editing photos and videos with Kapwing Studio is a straightforward process, which makes this online app a perfect choice for kids who want to create new videos quickly.

The maximum size of the video file you can upload to Kapwing is limited to 500 MB, which can make editing videos captured in high-resolution complicated. However, adding audio, text overlays or subtitles to the videos you’re editing with Kapwing still enables kids to make captivating videos they can share on their social media accounts.

Pros

• Free and available to all Internet users
• Quick upload times
• Provides audio editing options
• Equipped with photo editing tools

Cons

• The maximum size of videos you can edit with Kawing is limited
• Offers only basic video editing options

11. OpenShot : Free & Easy Open Source Video Editor for Kids on Chromebook

Price: Free

OpenShot is a free open-source cross-platform video editor that is equipped with advanced video editing features. Besides enabling its users to trim or cut their footage, OpenShot also provides all the tools your children are going to need to create 3D animations, opening titles and end credits or slow-motion videos.

The video editor’s intuitive interface makes it suitable for children who are just learning the basics of the video editing craft and if you are searching for an app your kid can use to create their first videos, OpenShot can be an inexpensive and yet powerful solution. Furthermore, this cross-platform contains a huge library of visual effects that can make any video look cooler.

Pros

• Free and compatible with Linux, Windows or macOS
• Excellent animation features
• Powerful Title Editor
• Offers an unlimited number of audio and video tracks

Cons

• The video editing tools OpenShot provides exceed the demands of most children
• A limited selection of video output file formats

12. VideoScribe : Best 2D whiteboard Animation Software for Kids

Price: Free, pricing plans start at $28,00

This web-based platform enables anyone to create whiteboard animations that can be used in both professional and academic contexts. In fact, anyone can create a compelling white animation with VideoScribe in just three simple steps.

After selecting the images from the platform’s library or uploading your own material and adding text, voiceovers, and music, VideoScribe will generate a whiteboard animation for you. This online platform offers an easy way to introduce your children to the world of animation and enables them to create animations from the images they create. Each whiteboard animation your child makes with VideoScribe can be shared to YouTube or Vimeo, but you should keep in mind that all animations created with the free version of this app are going to be watermarked.

Pros

• The image library contains more than 6000 royalty-free images
• VideoScribe lets its users record voiceovers
• Equipped with a broad range of hand, pens and other pre-animated elements
• Excellent file-sharing capabilities

Cons

• VideoScribe doesn’t offer any video editing tools
• Removing watermark requires you to update to the pro version of the app

Conclusion

Encouraging your children to express their creativity can be beneficial for a variety of reasons. A video editing software like Filmora is one of your best choices if your child wants to create YouTube videos, while iOS and Android-based apps like Filmora or The Lego Movie 2 Movie Maker are well-suited for all children who would like to create videos from their Smartphones. Which of the best video editing apps for kids are you going to get for your child? Leave a comment and let us know.

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Every child is an artist, but parents often don’t support the creativity their children show. A simple thing like a video editing app can inspire your children to make short movies after shooting great footage with cameras .

The videos your children record with their tablets or Smartphones can reveal how talented they are, but if you want them to develop their talents you should ensure that they have a video editing app that enables them to polish videos effortlessly. Read on, if you would like to learn more about some best video editing apps for kids and decide which video editing app is the right choice for your children.

10+ Best Video Editing Apps for Kids – Including the Free Apps

The first thing that comes to mind when editing videos is mentioned is expensive professional video editing software products like Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere Pro. However, most parents don’t know that there are scores of free or inexpensive video editors their children can use to manipulate the footage they recorded, before uploading it to YouTube or sharing it on some other social media network. Let’s take a look at the 10+ best video editing apps for kids.

1. Wondershare Filmora : Best Easy-to-use Video Editor for Kids to make YouTube videos

Price: Freemium, pricing plans start at $49.99/year

Free Download

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Secure Download

Free Download

For macOS 10.14 or later

Secure Download

Click here to get Filmora for PC by email
or Try Filmora App for mobile >>>

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Starting a new project in Filmora, cutting video clips or creating soundtracks for your videos requires a minimum amount of previous video editing experience. If your children are posting their videos to YouTube, then Wondershare Filmora video editor is one of the best options on the market, since this video editor for Mac and PC computers enables them to export videos directly to their channels.

Stabilizing shaky videos captured with GoPro cameras or Smartphones takes just a few clicks, which enables your kids to even use the footage they would otherwise be unwatchable. Filmora supports nearly all video file formats, and your children can import their footage into the Filmora video editor regardless of the device they used to record it. In addition, your kids will be able to export videos that are optimized to be played on a variety of video playback devices if they start editing their videos with Filmora.

Pros

• Simple project setup
• The music library offers a rich selection of royalty-free music
• Powerful image stabilization features
• Equipped with a versatile set of color correction tools

Cons

• Requires at least basic video editing skills
• All videos exported from the free version of Filmora are watermarked

3. The Photos App on Windows 10 : Best free video editor for kids on Windows 10

Price: Free

There is no need to spend money on monthly subscriptions or purchasing licenses to use video editing software, if your kids just want to just perform basic video editing tasks before sharing a video online. The Photos App doesn’t offer the tools that are necessary to edit a full feature film, but your children can utilize this Windows 10-native app to perform basic video editing actions.

Removing unwanted parts of a video, adding a text overlay or applying filters and effects are just a few among numerous options this video editor provides. In addition, the Photos App also enables your children to create slow-motion videos or to choose from a huge selection of 3D effects.

Pros

• Available for free to all PC owners who have Windows 10 installed on their computers
• Excellent as a learning tool for inexperienced video editors
• Organizing photos and videos with the Photos App is easy
• Simplifies the video editing process

Cons

• Offers little room for development for children who want to continue developing their video editing skills
• Supports only a limited number of video file formats

4. iMovie : Best free video editor for kids on Mac, iPhone & iPad

Price: Free

Each video your kids record with their iPhones and iPads can be edited with an iOS version of iMovie for free. Moreover, your children can utilize iMovie to edit videos from their Mac computers and upload them directly to their YouTube or Vimeo channels.

Besides the set of basic video editing tools, iMovie also features a rich selection of preset themes that simplify the video editing process, and enable your kids to create a new video in just a few clicks. Adjusting a video’s aspect ratio is yet another option iMovie provides that will enable your children to adjust their video editing projects to the demands of the social media platform to which they want to upload them.

Pros

• An elegantly designed interface that is easy to get used to
• Provides 4K video editing capabilities
• A rich selection of audio and video effects
• Fully customizable trailer presets

Cons

• Exporting 4K videos requires you to have at least 4GB of RAM
• A limited number of supported output video file formats

5. PowToon : Best Animation Software for Creating Presentation videos for kids

Price: Free, subscription plans start at $19, 00 per month

This web-based video editing platform is primarily aimed at businesses that want to edit their videos online and share them on popular social media platforms. Even so, using PowToon is so easy that even kids that have no video editing experience whatsoever can use this platform to make videos.

Furthermore, the platform’s selection of templates includes the EDU category that contains templates designed specifically for students, faculty members and teachers or and administrative staff. The maximum length of a video your children can export from PowToon depends on the subscription model. So, if your kids need to create videos that last for more than 3 minutes for their school assignments, you must choose a pricing plan that caters to their video editing needs.

Pros

• Features hundreds of video templates
• Powerful social media integration options
• The music library contains royalty-free music
• Great for high-school and university students

Cons

• Offers a very limited scope of video and audio editing tools
• The maximum duration of a video cannot exceed 30 minutes regardless of the subscription model you have

6. Stop Motion Studio

Price: $1, 99 for Windows , free for iOS and Android , $9,99 for macOS

Stop motion animations are famous for their unique visual style, however, creating a stop motion animation is a difficult task even for an experienced professional. The Stop Motion Studio makes creating this type of animation somewhat easier by enabling you to preview the images you’re taking with your Sony, Canon or Nikon DSLR cameras directly from the software.

Even a brief look at the list of this cross-platform app will leave you wondering if there is anything you cannot do. However, Stop Motion Studio is not aimed at children or users that don’t have a considerable amount of experience with this animation technique. Aspiring animation professionals can utilize the Stop Motion Studio to create animations for children.

Pros

• Compatible with a broad range of devices
• Provides powerful stop-animation tools
• Grants users full control over camera settings
• Exports videos in 4K

Cons

• Stop motion tools these app offers are too advanced for children
• The output files can be too large to share on social media

7. The Lego - Movie 2 - Movie Maker App

Price: Free foriOS and Android devices

All children like playing with Lego toys, but if your kids are fans of the Lego Movie and its sequel, then this movie maker app can be a great choice for your kids. The app is designed for children younger than 8 years old, and it enables them to build their own movie scenes, record them and then edit them before showing them to their friends or families.

Kids cannot install this app on their Smartphones without permission from their parents. So, if you want your child to create their own virtual Lego world you will have to provide the information that includes the country you live in, your date of birth and your email address.

Pros

• Free and easy to use
• Nurtures a child’s creativity
• Easily recreates scenes from the Lego Movie 2
• No in-app purchases

Cons

• Limited audio editing options
• Offers only a basic set of video editing tools

8. Filmora : Solution for making videos on iPhone and Android

Price: Free but offers in-app purchases on both iOS and Android devices

Anyone can create a video with Filmora, even if they never created a video before. The app lets you import pictures or videos from your phone or social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook. Each theme Filmora offers is fully customizable which enables kids to apply filters or add transitions between two shots.

In addition, this video editing app allows all of its users to slow down or speed up their footage, animate text or add pre-animated elements to the footage they are editing. Filmora’s file-sharing capabilities are impressive as the video editing app enables children to share all of their creations on WhatsApp, YouTube or Facebook.

Pros

• Offers a broad spectrum of templates
• The short and simple video editing process
• Decent video editing tools
• Excellent video sharing capabilities

Cons

• Offers in-app purchases
• Equipped with only basic color correction tools

10. Kapwing Online

Price: Free

This is a content creation platform that is can be used for free by anyone who has access to an Internet connection. Making memes, GIFs or editing photos and videos with Kapwing Studio is a straightforward process, which makes this online app a perfect choice for kids who want to create new videos quickly.

The maximum size of the video file you can upload to Kapwing is limited to 500 MB, which can make editing videos captured in high-resolution complicated. However, adding audio, text overlays or subtitles to the videos you’re editing with Kapwing still enables kids to make captivating videos they can share on their social media accounts.

Pros

• Free and available to all Internet users
• Quick upload times
• Provides audio editing options
• Equipped with photo editing tools

Cons

• The maximum size of videos you can edit with Kawing is limited
• Offers only basic video editing options

11. OpenShot : Free & Easy Open Source Video Editor for Kids on Chromebook

Price: Free

OpenShot is a free open-source cross-platform video editor that is equipped with advanced video editing features. Besides enabling its users to trim or cut their footage, OpenShot also provides all the tools your children are going to need to create 3D animations, opening titles and end credits or slow-motion videos.

The video editor’s intuitive interface makes it suitable for children who are just learning the basics of the video editing craft and if you are searching for an app your kid can use to create their first videos, OpenShot can be an inexpensive and yet powerful solution. Furthermore, this cross-platform contains a huge library of visual effects that can make any video look cooler.

Pros

• Free and compatible with Linux, Windows or macOS
• Excellent animation features
• Powerful Title Editor
• Offers an unlimited number of audio and video tracks

Cons

• The video editing tools OpenShot provides exceed the demands of most children
• A limited selection of video output file formats

12. VideoScribe : Best 2D whiteboard Animation Software for Kids

Price: Free, pricing plans start at $28,00

This web-based platform enables anyone to create whiteboard animations that can be used in both professional and academic contexts. In fact, anyone can create a compelling white animation with VideoScribe in just three simple steps.

After selecting the images from the platform’s library or uploading your own material and adding text, voiceovers, and music, VideoScribe will generate a whiteboard animation for you. This online platform offers an easy way to introduce your children to the world of animation and enables them to create animations from the images they create. Each whiteboard animation your child makes with VideoScribe can be shared to YouTube or Vimeo, but you should keep in mind that all animations created with the free version of this app are going to be watermarked.

Pros

• The image library contains more than 6000 royalty-free images
• VideoScribe lets its users record voiceovers
• Equipped with a broad range of hand, pens and other pre-animated elements
• Excellent file-sharing capabilities

Cons

• VideoScribe doesn’t offer any video editing tools
• Removing watermark requires you to update to the pro version of the app

Conclusion

Encouraging your children to express their creativity can be beneficial for a variety of reasons. A video editing software like Filmora is one of your best choices if your child wants to create YouTube videos, while iOS and Android-based apps like Filmora or The Lego Movie 2 Movie Maker are well-suited for all children who would like to create videos from their Smartphones. Which of the best video editing apps for kids are you going to get for your child? Leave a comment and let us know.

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

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