Final Cut Pro (now the Final Cut Pro X) is a powerful video editing software in post-production for Mac users. It allows you to edit video and audio, do advanced color grading, create and edit closed captions and much more. Typical, Final Cut Pro features all the tools that you need to editing and delivering videos from start to ending.
There are so many free video editing video editing software similar to Final Cut Pro for your Windows PC , you’re in the right place. I've done some research and updated the best alternatives to Final Cut Pro for Windows list below. You can choose the right video editing software alternative to Final Cut Pro based on your editing experience, the Windows system you are running (Windows 10 / Windows 8/ Windows 7) and your budget as well.
- Part 1: 5 Best Free Final Cut Pro X for Windows/Mac/Linux
- Part 2: 5 Video Editing Software Alternatives to Final Cut Pro X
- Part 3: How we choose alternatives to Final Cut Pro X? [5 Factors to Consider]
Part 1: 5 Best Free Final Cut Pro for Windows 7/8/10 & Mac & Linux
Since most people who using Final Cut Pro X may have already known that iMovie is a free video editing app on Mac, iPhone and iPad, I didn’t list it below though I do really think it is a good video editing software for Mac users. Based on my editing experience and research, I’ve found the following free video editing software as alternatives to Final Cut Pro X for beginners and professionals as well.
Note: all the video editing software listed below are not in particular order.
1. Avidemux [ Free & Simple Alternative to Final Cut Pro X]Perfect for Beginners
Platforms: Windows, Mac, and Linux
Key Features for Avidemux
- It supports various video file formats, including AVI, MPEG, MP4, DVD, and ASF.
- Very simple software with no technical complex.
- Easy encoding for video and audio files
The interface of this software is very simple which makes it one of the perfect solutions for the basic video editing tasks such as cutting, trimming, encoding, and a few other basic tasks.
More editing features are hidden under Video Filter Manager in which you can crop, rotate, flip and add borders, logos, or even duplicate frames for a give duration. What’s more, you can add hard code subtitles in SRT, ASS, and SSA to the video or modify saturation, brightness, and color of your edited videos.
On the other hand, the interface is lacking timeline and not intuitive for me, and when preview, you can only preview the selected applied filter but not all filters applied, which isn’t convenient for me.
This tool is perfect for beginners that have very basic needs, and need to learn fast, because it won't allow you to have more controls. A good advantage of this editing tool is that video and audio are saved in one file by using its container format.
2. Shotcut [Best Free Final Cut Pro X for Windows for Beginners]
Perfect for Beginners
Platforms: Windows, Mac, and Linux
Key Features for Shotcut
- It provides great file format support.
- Large selection of audio and video filters.
- Powerful and feature-rich.
- It supports 4K resolution.
If you’ve only used Windows Movie Maker for video editing and want to move to the next level, then this tool is the best solution for you, so we don't recommend this tool for more advanced projects. It is similar to Avidemux that was mentioned in our list, as no need to pay for any upgrade once you downloaded the software. The interface is highly customized, and approachable with dockable and undockable panels.
It supports hundreds of formats, 4K and HD resolutions via the FFmpeg project that eliminates the need for file import. It combines filters and special effects that are easy to manage. It is one of the best free video editors that will help you out in the majority of your projects. Compared to Avidemux, Shotcut features a more intuitive interface, more editing tools, providing you more controls. I highly recommend it as one of the best free video editing software alternative to Final Cut Pro X on Windows, Mac and Linux.
3. Blender
Perfect for Professionals
Platforms: Windows, Mac, and Linux
Key Features for Blender:
- A portion of its remarkable abilities include luma waveform, live review, chroma vectorscope, and histogram showcases.
- It supports audio mixing, waveform visualization, and video scrubbing.
- You can use 32 different slots for adding video, audio, images, scenes, and effects.
- It supports multiple filters, speed controls, key-frames, and transitions.
Blender is an open-source program that is completely free to use. It was designed as 3D animation creation software, yet it comes with an exceptionally valuable video editor. It will meet your basic needs for video editing such as video cuts and video splicing, however it can likewise be used for progressively refined tasks, for like video masking. This makes it a truly adaptable video editor for beginners, with no complex features as in Final Cut Pro X.
4. DaVinci Resolve
Perfect for Beginners and Professionals
Platforms: Windows, Mac, and Linux
Key Features for DaVinci Resolve
- Fully support for 8K videos
- Intuitive interface for most routine functions
- Extraordinary color correction Functionality and Professional audio mastering
DaVinci Resolve is currently one of the best solution for professional 8K video editing at the moment, it has become an all in one professional video editing software with the color correction, visual effects, audio and video editing post editing. Davinci Resolve has many professional video features such as video slicing, video trimming, and creating videos that feature no watermarks. This software allows you to change lip color, skin tone, and eye color so easily. We can say that it is the most advanced free video editing software, and it is used on several TV productions and film productions as well.
As this video software is perfect for professionals, the spontaneous user interface it provides makes it an excellent choice for beginners too. Among its strongest features that many editors are looking for in any software are stunning image quality, professional audio mastering, and color correction. So, if you are looking for high-quality audio and stunning looks, this application is designed for you.
We have to mention that the free version of this software doesn't work for multi-camera editing, 3D editing, and spatial noise reduction that you can find only on the paid version DaVinci Resolve Studio. DaVinci Resolve 16 is currently available on the market, and incorporates such new impressive features such as facial acknowledgment, quick export to YouTube, and 3D sound. What's more, you can tranfer FCPX projects to Davinci Resolve or vice versa.
5. Lightworks
Perfect for Professionals
Platforms: Windows, Mac, and Linux
Key Features for Lightworks
- Well designed interface, many advanced features.
- It supports the latest video and audio formats.
- Instant auto-save functionality.
- Export to 720p for YouTube.
We can start by saying that this tool has been used widely in many Hollywood productions that we all know like LA Confidential, Pulp Fiction, Shutter Island, Hugo, and The Wolf of Wall Street. Lightworks video editing software is free but it has extra features included in its upgraded Pro version that costs $25 monthly however, its free version still meets the needs for most professional users.
Lightworks is one of the more powerful video editors, with dignitary features that include professional level color correction, video capture, and extensive format support. You can change its default design and shift to Final Cut Pro or Avid keyboard layouts.
If you are going to use its free version, you have to know that you will only be able to export MPEG-4 files with a resolution of up to 720p. Other great inclusion that is only found in the upgraded version is that you can edit Youtube videos and 4K videos. To get the best results of this tool and its flagship feature, you need to be tech savvy and a professional editor. Briefly, this tool is not for the beginners.
Part 2: 5 Best Paid Final Cut Pro X Alternatives on Windows
Perfect for Beginners and Semi-Pros
Platforms: Windows and Mac
Key Features for Filmora9
- Adaptable specifically for beginners.
- Its design is intuitive and easy to use.
- It is loaded with plentiful filters, transitions, elements and overlays and built in text templates and audio library
Filmora9 is one of the best perfect video editing software for beginners as an alternative to Final Cut Pro X . Its interface is dark which is very similar to Final Cut Pro X, and the editing and trimming process are similar to Final Cut Pro 7 as well.
The interface design is intuitive which makes it so easy to use for video editors, and makes the video editing very interesting and with fun. It can always make your imagination real with its simple features.
You can perform your basic video editing using this simple tool, including but not limited to color tuning, noise removal, video stabilization, and 4K editing support. Apart from your basic video editing needs, you can also change your backgrounds, and use its split screen feature to allow you to edit your video on multiple footages. You can download the trial version for free and have to try to discover more creativities.
Font style and color, has always been a major feature that video editors are keen to find in the software they use, and that's why this tool has its unique text editing function providing a good variety of fonts that you can use in your video editing.
3. Pinnacle Studio
Perfect for Beginners and Semi-Pros
Platforms: Windows
Perfect for Beginners and Semi-Pros
Platforms: Windows
Key Features for Pinnacle Studio
- Packed range of features and support.
- A set of flagship additions.
- Motion-tracked image-blurring filter
Pinnacle Studio has enough tools and features to meet your needs. It has a lot of similar features and functions found in its professional editing partners and can create pretty much similar outcomes in many cases. It gives you the ability to work in full HD as well.
It includes some consistent transform changes to enable you to mix together every one of all the parts of your visual story. This software is tossed in a really one of a kind paintbrush channel impact that will work with shot video, giving you a chance to change raw, live film into living animations.
4. CyberLink PowerDirector 18 Ultra
Perfect for Beginners & Semi-Pros
Platforms: Windows
Key Features for PowerDirector
- Broad suite of effects.
- Beginner and advanced interfaces.
- Easy to learn, regardless of skill level.
PowerDirector features a lot of professional and powerful editing tools which empower you to making stunning videos with ease. You can add creative transition effects, motion graphics, animated text and titles to video with few clicks.
The technology of multi-cam was developed by PowerDirector, and this specified technology was only created by the professional tools like Final Cut Pro X. The interface of this software is pretty straightforward, that make it very easy to use for beginners.
5. Vegas Pro
Perfect for Professionals
Platforms: Windows
Key Features for Vegas Pro
- Multi-track audio capabilities.
- Filter plug-ins and video effects.
- Speed, and flexibility
Vegas Pro is a major tool in the video editing industry, offering professional functions for creating, changing, and enhancing movies, and audio materials. Its powerful features and editing abilities enable you to make videos easily. It can enhance GPU, give instinctive timeline work process, save window formats, and perform video adjustment.
6. Adobe Premiere Pro
Perfect for Professionals
Platforms: Windows and Mac
Key Features for Adobe Premiere Pro
- Has every video editing tool video editors look for.
- Dominant exported video quality.
- Easy integration with Adobe tools; straightforward interface
Adobe Premiere Pro is the ideal software for video editors who have spent a lot of time in shopper video editing software and are prepared to upgrade. It is best alternatives to Final Cut Pro for professionals based on its pricing and features. With Adobe Premiere Pro, you gain access to functions for basic and advanced editing. It allows you to edit many videos together at the same time, and to transfer clips easily from one video to another.
A stunning feature in this tool is the Lumetri Color tool that allows color modification the same as in Photoshop. Adobe products are labeled Creative Cloud which means the platform can be accessed online from any connected device. Additionally, it supports any device, platform, and camera.
Its multi-cam feature allows you to work with unlimited amount of camera angles that most of the other tools don’t offer. It can import and export motion picture from other software such as Final Cut Pro. Finally, this tool can coordinate with other Adobe tools to give you one powerful creative suite.
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