Australia
When you’re just starting out, the sheer number of options for the best video editing software for beginners can be overwhelming. The big names that usually come up are DaVinci Resolve for its incredibly powerful free version, Filmora for its clean and simple design, and Adobe Premiere Elements for its hand-holding guided edits.
Deciding which one is right for you really comes down to what you value most. Are you looking for a tool that can grow with you into a professional career? Or do you just need something fast and simple to get videos out the door? Maybe you just want all the help you can get.
Top Video Editing Software for Beginners At a Glance
To make things a bit clearer, here’s a quick rundown of our top picks, highlighting what makes each one stand out for someone new to video editing.
| Software | Best For | Starting Price | Key Feature for Beginners |
|---|---|---|---|
| DaVinci Resolve | Aspiring professionals who want a tool to grow with | Free | Professional-grade tools at no cost |
| Filmora | Creators who value speed and a simple interface | $89.99 AUD (one-time) | Intuitive drag-and-drop workflow |
| Adobe Premiere Elements | Absolute beginners who want step-by-step help | $145.19 AUD (one-time) | Guided Edits that teach you as you go |
This table should give you a good starting point. Whether you have zero budget or are willing to invest a little for a smoother experience, there's a solid option waiting for you.
Choosing Your First Video Editing Software
Jumping into video editing for the first time doesn't have to be a massive commitment. Modern tools have made it easier than ever to get started, and you definitely don’t need a complex, Hollywood-grade program to create polished, engaging videos for YouTube, social media, or just for fun.
The key is finding software with an interface that makes sense from the moment you open it. That means clear menus, simple drag-and-drop functions, and maybe some built-in tutorials to show you the ropes. When the basics are easy to grasp, you can spend your time being creative instead of getting bogged down in technical jargon.
This visual chart quickly compares the cost and ideal user for our top beginner picks, making it easy to see where each one fits.
As the chart shows, there are fantastic entry points for every budget and goal, from free, professional-level tools to affordable one-time purchases that won't lock you into a subscription.
Why Simple Editing Tools Are Gaining Popularity
It's no surprise that easy-to-use video editors are becoming more popular. The global video editing software market was valued at a huge USD 2.29 billion in 2024 and is only expected to grow. This boom reflects the massive demand for quality video from creators, small businesses, and hobbyists all over the world, including right here in Australia.
This trend has pushed developers to create powerful yet approachable tools that don’t require a supercomputer to run smoothly.
For new creators, confidence is everything. A simple, well-designed editor removes technical barriers, empowering you to bring your vision to life without needing a technical degree. The focus shifts from "how do I use this?" to "what story do I want to tell?"
Of course, before you install any new creative software, it's a good idea to make sure your computer is ready. For Windows users, ensuring your operating system is up-to-date is a crucial first step. If you're starting fresh with a new machine, our guide on how to install Windows 11 can help get you set up properly. A stable OS ensures your chosen video editor runs without hiccups, making your creative process much smoother from the very beginning.
Comparing The Top Desktop Video Editors
Choosing the right desktop software is a huge decision when you're starting out. This is the program where you'll spend hours upon hours, so the user experience matters far more than a long list of features you might never use. We're going to look at how DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere Elements, and Filmora handle the core tasks any new creator will face.
The editing timeline is the heart and soul of any video editor. If it's confusing, your project can grind to a halt before it even begins. But an intuitive timeline makes the whole creative process feel effortless. Each of these programs takes a different approach to this fundamental tool, which means they cater to slightly different ways of working.
Let's imagine you're putting together your first travel vlog. This is a perfect real-world test, involving simple but essential tasks: trimming clips, adding some background music, and dropping in a few text titles.
The Timeline Experience
Filmora is famous for its incredibly clean, drag-and-drop timeline. For that travel vlog, you’d simply pull your video files onto the timeline and watch them snap into place. It’s a straightforward, what-you-see-is-what-you-get system that cuts out nearly all the confusion for a total beginner.
Adobe Premiere Elements takes a more guided route. Its "Quick" mode strips the timeline down to the bare essentials, making it perfect for assembling a video fast. But its real standout for vloggers is the "Guided Edits" feature. It literally walks you through creating cool effects like a time-lapse or a picture-in-picture shot, teaching you professional techniques as you go.
DaVinci Resolve, on the other hand, gives you its "Cut Page." Think of this as a streamlined, high-speed timeline designed to help you assemble a rough edit very quickly. While its professional "Edit Page" can look intimidating at first glance, the Cut Page is a surprisingly powerful and accessible starting point for newcomers.
For a beginner, the best timeline isn't the one with the most buttons; it's the one that feels the most logical. Filmora prioritises simplicity, Premiere Elements holds your hand, and Resolve offers a professional-feeling but streamlined entry point.
Performance On Everyday Computers
Let's be real—not everyone is starting with a monster editing rig. How well the software performs on a standard laptop or desktop is a critical factor. Choppy playback can turn even simple edits into a frustrating slog, completely killing your creative flow.
Filmora is well-known for being lightweight. It runs smoothly on a massive range of computers, making it a reliable choice if your hardware isn't exactly top-of-the-line. Premiere Elements is also very well-optimised for consumer hardware and will handle HD footage without major hiccups on most modern PCs.
DaVinci Resolve is easily the most demanding of the three. It runs surprisingly well for what it is, but its legendary colour grading and effects modules require a lot more processing power. For simple edits on the Cut Page, a standard computer should be fine, but you might feel it slow down as you start layering on more complex effects.
Before committing, it's wise to make sure your system is ready. Our guide on how to activate Windows 11 can help you ensure your operating system is genuine and running at its best for better software compatibility.
Desktop Software Feature Comparison for Beginners
A feature is only useful if a new editor can actually find and use it without getting lost. To show how these editors stack up in the real world, here’s a quick breakdown of how they handle essential tasks for a simple project like a vlog or a marketing video.
| Feature | DaVinci Resolve (Cut Page) | Adobe Premiere Elements | Filmora |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adding Text/Titles | Has fast title templates, but deep customisation is more complex. | Guided Edits make creating animated titles incredibly simple. | Huge library of stylish, drag-and-drop title templates. |
| Applying Basic Effects | Offers powerful colour tools, but they have a steeper learning curve. | Provides a curated set of effects with simple controls and help. | One-click filters and effects are easy to find and preview. |
| Audio Editing | Includes professional audio tools (Fairlight), but they can be overwhelming. | Gives you simple tools for music and volume adjustments. | Features intuitive audio controls with a royalty-free music library. |
Ultimately, this shows the different philosophies at play. Filmora is about speed and style, Premiere Elements is about guided learning, and Resolve gives you a taste of professional power in a simplified package.
Exploring Browser and Cloud-Based Editors
If the idea of installing huge, resource-hungry software on your computer sounds like a drag, browser-based editors are a fantastic alternative. Tools like Clipchamp and CapCut have completely changed the game by moving the entire editing process online, making them a top choice for beginners who value flexibility and easy access.
The main draw is simple: you can edit from almost any computer with an internet connection. There’s no need for a beast of a machine because all the heavy lifting happens on the company's servers, not your device. This setup is perfect for creators who jump between a desktop at home and a laptop on the go.
The Power of the Cloud
One of the biggest wins for cloud-based editing is the peace of mind it offers. Your projects are automatically saved as you work, which means no more heart-stopping moments when a computer crash or power outage threatens to wipe out hours of progress. This feature alone makes it a strong contender for the best video editing software for beginners.
Collaboration is another key benefit. Sharing a project with a friend or colleague is as simple as sending them a link. This makes getting feedback or working on a video together incredibly straightforward, especially compared to the clumsy process of transferring massive project files with traditional desktop software.
This shift to online tools is happening fast, particularly for beginners in Australia. The cloud-based corner of the video editing market is booming, giving more people access to powerful features without any downloads. With a projected growth of 8.5% CAGR between 2025 and 2030, this trend is making professional-grade tools more accessible than ever. You can find more insights on the video editing market's growth over at Mordor Intelligence.
AI Tools and Potential Downsides
Cloud editors often come packed with clever AI-powered features designed to speed up your workflow. Think of tools that can automatically generate captions for your videos, suggest templates based on your content, or even help you pick the perfect royalty-free music track.
For example, you could knock out a short social media video with on-screen text in just a few minutes:
- Upload your footage straight from your computer or phone.
- Use an AI auto-captioning tool to generate subtitles instantly.
- Pick a pre-made template that fits your video's style.
- Export and share directly to your social platforms.
However, the convenience of cloud editing comes with a crucial dependency: your internet connection. A slow or unstable connection can lead to frustrating lag, especially when you're uploading large video files or rendering your final project.
While your computer’s security is always important, working online introduces different things to think about. It’s a good idea to secure your editing account with strong credentials. Our guide on what is two-factor authentication has some valuable tips for protecting your online accounts, which is just as important for your creative projects.
Ultimately, if you have a reliable internet connection and prioritise accessibility, a browser-based editor is an excellent, modern choice.
Evaluating Mobile Apps for Editing on the Go
There’s no denying the sheer convenience of shooting and editing an entire video right from your smartphone. A massive chunk of today's video content is made for platforms like TikTok and Instagram, turning mobile-first apps like CapCut Mobile, Adobe Premiere Rush, and iMovie for iOS into surprisingly powerful tools for newcomers.
These apps were built from the ground up for touchscreens, giving them an intuitive feel that just makes sense on a phone. Instead of fumbling with a mouse through complex menus, you’re pinching to zoom on your timeline, dragging clips with your finger, and applying cool effects with a simple tap. It’s a much more tactile process, making editing feel less like a chore and more like play.
Designed for Social Media Speed
Where mobile editors truly shine is in their speed. They are perfectly geared for the fast-paced world of social media, where being timely and relevant is everything. The entire workflow is built around one idea: get a video from your camera roll onto your feed as quickly as humanly possible, without it looking amateur.
They pull this off with a few clever features designed specifically for social media creators:
- Pre-made Templates: Apps like CapCut are loaded with trending templates. All you have to do is drop your clips in, and the app takes care of the cuts, music, and effects to match a viral style.
- One-Tap Effects: Want to add a filter, a slick transition, or some animated text? It's usually just a button press away. This lets you add a professional polish in seconds.
- Integrated Music Libraries: Having direct access to royalty-free music and sound effects inside the app is a lifesaver. No more hunting around third-party websites for the right audio.
Because of these streamlined features, mobile apps have easily become some of the best video editing software for beginners who live and breathe on social platforms.
The real magic of mobile editing is its immediacy. It closes the gap between capturing a moment and sharing a story, letting you create and publish from literally anywhere, without ever needing to touch a computer.
When to Use a Mobile App vs a Desktop Editor
So, when does a mobile app make the most sense? It's the perfect choice for short-form content, projects with a tight turnaround, and anything that doesn't demand pixel-perfect control. Think TikToks, Instagram Reels, or a quick vlog update you want to post while you're still out and about.
But for longer, more involved projects, you’ll inevitably hit a wall. If you’re creating a detailed YouTube tutorial, a marketing video with precise brand colours, or even a short film, you’ll want the muscle and precision of a desktop editor. The larger screen, finer control over the timeline, and advanced colour grading tools on a desktop offer a level of detail that mobile apps just can't match yet.
What to Prioritize in Beginner Video Software
When you're just starting out, picking the right video editing software isn't about finding the program with a million bells and whistles. It's about matching a tool to your specific goals and, just as importantly, your comfort level. Focusing on a few key areas will help you cut through the noise and choose software that actually helps you create, rather than getting in your way.
The single most important factor is the user interface (UI). A clean, intuitive layout where tools are easy to find is non-negotiable. You're looking for a simple timeline where you can drag and drop clips, menus that make sense, and icons you can understand at a glance. If you open the software and immediately feel lost, it's probably not the right fit for your first steps into editing.
Core Features and Learning Support
Beyond a friendly interface, a few core features are essential for any beginner's project. The software must handle basic timeline editing, letting you easily trim, split, and arrange clips. It should also give you simple controls for adding text titles, applying basic visual effects or filters, and managing audio levels for background music and voiceovers.
Just as crucial are the learning resources available. The best video editing software for beginners often comes with built-in tutorials, guided edits, or a vibrant online community you can turn to. These resources are invaluable for getting over that initial learning curve and finding quick answers when you get stuck. Don't underestimate the power of a good tutorial library.
A great beginner editor doesn't just give you tools; it teaches you how to use them. The goal is to spend more time creating and less time searching for the "how-to" button.
Understanding Pricing Models
Finally, you need to think about the cost and how it lines up with your level of commitment. Software pricing generally falls into three camps, and each has its own pros and cons for newcomers.
- Free Software: This is perfect for testing the waters without any financial risk. Many free options are surprisingly capable, but be aware they might place a watermark on your final videos.
- One-Time Purchase: You pay once and own the software forever. This is a great model for budget-conscious users who aren't fans of recurring fees. If you're looking for an operating system, you can learn more about a smart Windows 10 purchase, which follows a similar principle.
- Subscription (Monthly/Yearly): This approach gives you continuous updates and support but requires an ongoing payment. It’s the best choice for anyone who always wants the latest features.
As you're choosing, also think about how easy it is to export and optimise your final video. To make sure your creations look professional even after shrinking the file size, check out this Ultimate Guide to Compress Video Without Losing Quality.
So, Which Editor Should You Choose?
Picking your first video editor really boils down to what you want to achieve. After digging into the features, workflows, and learning curves of each, we can confidently point you in the right direction to find the best video editing software for beginners that fits your specific goals.
Don't fall into the trap of just grabbing the one with the most bells and whistles. The best tool is the one that gets out of your way and lets you create.
Our Recommendations for Different Creators
To keep it simple, here are our top picks based on three common scenarios we see all the time:
-
For the Aspiring YouTuber: DaVinci Resolve
If you're serious about content creation and want to build skills for the long haul, start here. The free version is packed with professional-grade colour correction and effects, giving you a powerful platform you'll never outgrow. Yes, there's a learning curve, but the time you invest will pay off massively. -
For the Small Business Owner: Filmora
When you need marketing videos that look polished and you need them done yesterday, Filmora is your best bet. Its huge library of templates, titles, and effects lets you produce slick, professional-looking content in a fraction of the time, without getting lost in technical settings. -
For the Casual Hobbyist: CapCut (Desktop or Mobile)
If you're just editing family videos, holiday clips, or creating content for fun, you can't beat CapCut for sheer simplicity. Its design is so intuitive, and the AI-powered features make editing feel more like a creative outlet and less like a chore.
Your first editor should empower, not overwhelm. The right software is the one that gets you from raw footage to a finished video you're proud of with the least amount of frustration.
Of course, your final decision also depends a bit on your computer's setup. The operating system you're running can affect how well certain software performs. For a bit of background, our guide on the difference between Windows 11 Home and Pro offers some useful context.
As you make your final choice, it never hurts to see what else is out there. You might want to check out some additional recommendations for the best video editing software for beginners to see if another tool is a better match for your unique style.
Got Questions? Let's Get Them Answered
Diving into video editing for the first time is exciting, but it’s natural to have a few questions pop up. Getting these sorted out early will help you pick the right software and dodge some of those common beginner frustrations.
Can I Really Just Start with Free Software?
Absolutely. You don’t need to spend a cent to get started. Free tools like the base version of DaVinci Resolve or CapCut are incredibly capable and give you more than enough power to learn the ropes. They're a brilliant way to get a feel for editing without any financial pressure.
The main trade-offs you’ll run into are things like watermarks on your final videos, or having the most advanced features locked behind a paywall. But for learning the fundamentals, they provide a fantastic, solid foundation.
What Kind of Computer Do I Actually Need?
You'll be relieved to know you don't need a beast of a machine for basic editing. A good starting point is a computer with at least 8GB of RAM (though 16GB makes things much smoother), a multi-core processor like an Intel i5 or AMD Ryzen 5, and a dedicated graphics card.
The big exception here is cloud-based editors like Clipchamp. Since they do most of the heavy lifting online, they can run surprisingly well even on less powerful computers. It's always a good idea to check the minimum system requirements on the software's website before you commit.
How Long Does It Really Take to Learn This Stuff?
You can genuinely learn the basics—like cutting clips together, adding some background music, and dropping in simple text—in just a few hours with a user-friendly program. Getting good, of course, comes with practice.
Set aside a weekend to get comfortable with the interface and try to finish one small project. You'll be surprised how much your skills grow with every new video you put together.
