7 Best Free Movie Maker Software for Windows PC in 2024

Ready to dive into the exciting world of movie-making on your trusty Windows PC? Buckle up, because we've got the ultimate lowdown on the coolest free movie maker software for Windows you need to check out in 2024.

From simple-to-use options that won't have you pulling out your hair to features that will make your friends think you've gone Hollywood, we're about to open up a world of possibilities. 

So, grab your favorite movie snack (extra points for creativity – how about gummy bear popcorn?), kick back, and get ready to explore the best free movie creators that'll have you saying, "Action!" in no time.

Ready? Let's roll!

• Snapshot of Our Top 3 Free Movie Maker Software for Windows PC
• How to Choose a Free Movie Maker Software for Windows PC
• How We Test the Free Movie Maker Software for Windows PC
• Free Movie Maker Software for Windows PC Comparison Chart
• The Best Free Movie Maker Software for Windows PC - Ranked
• What is the Best Free Movie Maker Software for Windows PC?
• Free Movie Maker Software for Windows PC FAQ

Snapshot of Our Top 3 Free Movie Maker Software for Windows PC

How to Choose a Free Movie Maker Software for Windows PC

Gone are the days when crafting a cinematic masterpiece was reserved for big studios with deep pockets. Now, all you need is the right software, a sprinkle of imagination, and a whole lot of passion! Whether you're a total newbie or you've dabbled a bit, we've got your back with this guide that's as easy to understand as putting butter on popcorn.

Skill Level: Are you a newbie, a hobbyist, or a seasoned pro? Different free movie creators cater to different skill levels. If you're just starting out, opt for user-friendly interfaces with helpful tutorials. If you're a pro, look for advanced features that let you dive deep into your edits.

Features Galore: Make a list of the features you absolutely need. Are you keen on stunning transitions, special effects, or color correction? The free movie maker software for Windows on this list offer varying sets of tools, so pick one that aligns with your creative vision.

Compatibility: Ensure the free movie creator is compatible with your Windows PC and any other equipment you plan to use, like cameras or microphones. Compatibility glitches can be major buzzkills.

Performance: No one likes waiting for hours while their software renders a project. Opt for software that's efficient and doesn't turn your PC into a snail.

Community and Support: Is there a strong user community? Are there tutorials, forums, and customer support readily available? Having help on standby can save you from potential headaches.

Reviews and Recommendations: See what other users, especially those with similar goals, are saying. User reviews and recommendations can provide valuable insights.

Future-Proofing: Think about your long-term goals. Will the software grow with you, or will you need to move on to paid software once your skills develop? If you are using a free movie creator with paid versions available, are they affordable and within your budget?

Intuition Factor: Finally, trust your gut. The free movie maker software for Windows should feel comfortable and intuitive to use. You'll be spending a lot of time with it, so it's gotta be a good fit.

How We Test Free Movie Maker Software for Windows PC

We test all the free movie maker software for Windows on this list so you don’t have to. Here's a breakdown of how we effectively test and compare free movie creators:

Choose Software to Test: First, we need to compile a group of free movie creators so we can choose the best of the bunch. To consider software for inclusion in this article, it must be free (or have a free version that doesn’t expire), it must work on a Windows PC, and it needs online review scores of 3/5 or more.

Create a Test Project: We use the same sample footage for each free movie creator so we can do a direct comparison of the results.

Test Core Functionalities: While creating our test film, we record and compare the core functionalities of each software. This includes importing and exporting (Are popular formats supported? Are there good sharing options? Was it easy/fast to import footage?), and editing videos with basic tools, such as cuts, trims, transitions, and adding background music. This is also where we examine the user interface to see how easy it is to navigate.

Explore advanced features (if applicable): Does the software offer advanced features like color correction, green screen editing, or motion effects?

Pay attention to limitations: Free software often has limitations. We look for watermarks on exported videos, restricted export resolutions, or limited features compared to paid versions.

Export and review: Our testing does not end with the export. It’s important to watch our exported video to check for quality and any errors during playback.

AI Replace & Image Inpaint Tool Comparison Chart

Best Free Movie Maker Software for Windows PC - Ranked

• PowerDirector for users of any skill level
• DaVinci Resolve for professionals
• VideoProc Vlogger for action shots
• Lightworks for learning video editing
• OpenShot for multi-layer video editing
• Shotcut for intermediate users
• VideoPad for beginners

Best free movie creator overall for users of any skill level

PowerDirector

PowerDirector caters to a wide audience, from beginners dipping their toes into video editing to more experienced creators looking for powerful yet accessible tools. We think it’s the best free movie maker software for Windows overall, thanks to the perfect blend of user-friendliness and advanced capabilities. PowerDirector balances simplicity and creative potential, offering a smooth editing experience without sacrificing depth. It also has a robust free version, an affordable paid version, regular updates, and some of the fastest rendering speeds in the business, making it the top free movie creator available today.

PowerDirector is well-liked for its many AI-powered editing features. Users can automate repetitive tasks, streamline workflows, and improve video quality through one-click effects and enhancements. These include AI Body Effects, AI Object Detection, AI Sky Replacement, AI Motion Tracking, and AI Speech-to-Text to name a few. It offers precise color correction and grading tools that add a cinematic touch to videos, and a full audio editor with AI restoration tools like Speech Enhancement and Wind Removal. There’s also a royalty-free stock library with millions of background music tracks, videos, sound effects, and images to round out your films.

With its impressive array of features and user-friendly interface, PowerDirector stands as an excellent free movie maker software for Windows and Mac. It is updated monthly with trending and seasonal design packs, new features, and enhanced technology. Every time we review PowerDirector, there are tons of new features to test. Recent additions include generative AI tools, an AI Anime effect, and AI Auto Face Blur. We’ve found that whether you're crafting content for personal enjoyment or professional projects, this software is up to the task.

Key Features:

• Multi-track editing to blend and layer multiple clips and audio tracks
• AI motion tracking to attach text, graphics, or effects to moving objects
• Speech-to-text for automatic captions and text-to-speech for instant VO
• Support for 360° video editing, giving your audience a dynamic, all-encompassing experience

Compatibility: Windows, Mac

PCMag Rating: 5/5

Price: Free
*Premium subscription available for $4.58/month

Download the best free movie creator today by clicking that link and start your filmmaking journey off right.

Best for professionals

DaVinci Resolve

DaVinci Resolve is a free movie maker software for Windows, Mac, and Linux. It is a one-stop-shop for post-production, including separate Pages for editing, color correction, VFX, and audio editing. Each page is filled with advanced tools to meet the needs of professional film projects. It also has excellent collaboration tools, so VFX artists, film editors, and sound designers can work on the same project simultaneously.

This free movie creator has powerful selection tools including intelligent color correction for editing skin tones, eye color, and lip color, AI Magic Mask for accurate object selection, and AI Voice Isolator, which allows you to edit the audio of one speaker. Also notable is DaVinci’s VFX platform, Fusion, which has a node-based 3D workflow that’s been used in major Hollywood blockbusters.

DaVinci Resolve is not for the faint of heart, and only serious editors need apply. It lacks many templates and presets that are available in other pro-level software, which would be a time-saver for busy professionals. However, DaVinci has been adding more AI-powered, one-click options with each new release. The latest version includes AI Speech-to-Text transcription and Text-Based Timeline Editing. It’s also added a few tools for live broadcasts, including Multi-Source (edit live multicam footage), Replay, and Point of Interest (mark and quickly find events for highlight reels). While other professional software come with a hefty price tag, DaVinci is a feature-filled free movie maker software for Windows, making it a good budget-friendly alternative for advanced editors.

Key Features:

• Direct uploads to YouTube, TikTok, Vimeo, and more
• UltraNR engine can drastically reduce digital noise
• VO and multitrack recording

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

G2 Rating: 4.7/5

Price: Free

*Premium version available for $295

Best for action shots

VideoProc Vlogger

VideoProc Vlogger is a free movie maker software for Windows and Mac for vloggers who love using an action cam or GoPro. It is filled with tools to adjust speed and add movement, including visualized speed ramping with 20+ speed presets and automatic keyframes. There’s also a time-lapse creator and 28 motion presets. You can add pan/zoom, change motion paths, and crop/reframe moving footage with ease.

This free movie maker software for Windows is not just for action cameras. It also has audio editing tools including VO recording, a beat analyzer, an equalizer, and a voice changer. There are basic tools for trimming/splitting clips, adding transitions, and 50+ video filters. More advanced users will like the color grading features, green-screen effects, and 20+ blending modes for video composites.

We found VideoProc Vlogger was easy-to-use for beginners, but had some powerful motion tools. It lacks the 3D capability and collaboration tools you’d find in more advanced free movie creators, but it’s the perfect alternative for vloggers and busy creators who need quick results without a learning curve.

Key Features:

• Extract audio tracks from videos
• Fix fish-eye lens distortion and remove digital noise
• Create animated titles

Compatibility: Windows, Mac

Capterra Rating: 4.4/5

Price: Free

Best learning tool for beginners

Lightworks

Lightworks is a free movie maker software for Windows, Mac, and Linux with 3 versions to appeal to users of any skill level or budget. The free version has a pared-down feature set that is a great fit for beginners. The mid-level Create version is an excellent choice for YouTubers and influencers, and the Pro option offers a high level of precision and advanced tools (not to mention a much steeper price tag). All tiers have a versatile timeline, with advanced editing features and drag-and-drop functionality for beginners. If you want to learn video editing with a free movie creator and hope to move up as your skills progress, Lightworks is a great place to start.

This free movie maker software for Windows is highly customizable, with adjustable workspace layouts. The free version includes advanced transitions, as well as simple color tools and VFX. The paid options add 700+ customizable motion graphics, advanced titles, and a DAW workstation. In our test, we appreciated the helpful workflow tools, including instant autosave and background processing.

With Lightworks, beginners can learn to edit videos using the same free movie maker software for Windows used on all of Martin Scorcese’s films. It has a 30+ year reputation in the industry. Lightworks has recently rebranded to appeal to not just filmmakers, but also creators and editing enthusiasts. The biggest concern when using LIghtworks’ free movie creator is that it only allows exports up to 720p. While we think this is a good learning tool, we feel most established editors would not be ok with that low level of quality on their finished products.

Key Features:

• In-built effects including scene changes and text overlays
• Audio filters like reverb, chorus, and distortion
• 27 automatic video filters

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Software Advice Rating: 4.2/5

Price: Free

*Premium subscriptions available for $9.99/month for Lightworks Create and $24.99/month for Lightworks Pro

Best for multi-layer video editing

OpenShot

OpenShot is a free movie maker software for Windows, Mac, and Linux with unlimited tracks/layers for videos, images, and audio. You can create watermarks, composites, and overlays with adjustable transparency. You can also move tracks up and down, or lock them into place. Although this may sound intimidating to new users, OpenShot is a beginner-friendly free movie creator, and like Lightworks, it’s a good choice for learning advanced editing techniques.

This free movie maker software for Windows has advanced timeline editing and drag-and-drop functionality. You can adjust the speed of clips using time-mapping, create titles with 40+ vector title templates, and edit/mix audio. It includes a powerful keyframe animation network with unlimited animation possibilities.

Online user reviews match what we found during our testing - that OpenShot has many features for beginners and advanced users, yet struggles with stability and bugs. Professionals on a budget won’t find this the best free movie creator because of long export times, frequent lags, and tools that just won’t work when you need them to. Casual editors may have the patience for these types of issues, but not anyone on a deadline.

Key Features:

• Support for many video, audio, and image files through FFmpeg
• Display/edit audio as a waveform
• 400 video transitions with real-time previews

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Capterra Rating: 4.3/5

Price: Free

Best intermediate video editor

Shotcut

Shotcut is the best free movie maker software for Windows users looking to move up from beginner software. This enthusiast-level program has advanced tools and a bit of a learning curve, but not at the level of professional software. It supports hundreds of formats, including 4K, 8K, and 360-degree editing with ambisonic audio.

This free movie creator has a large library of video filters and blending modes. It includes effects like motion tracking, speed ramping, and picture-in-picture effects. Shotcut has a wide range of audio editing tools, including pitch compensation when adjusting video speed, VO recording, audio filters, and audio mixing.

Shotcut is a great budget-friendly option for mid-level editors. Beginners will find it too difficult and lacking in templates and one-click tools. This free movie maker software for Windows is updated monthly, bringing bug fixes and quality-of-life improvements. There is also plenty of user support including tutorials, forums, a YouTube channel, and even a highly-rated Shotcut class.

Key Features:

• Precise color correction and creative grading
• Filters for 360-degree videos
• Chroma key/green screen effects

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

G2 Rating: 4.2/5

Price: Free

Best learning tool for beginners

VideoPad

VideoPad is easy to use, with a simple user interface, drag-and-drop functionality, and one-click tools. We think it’s one of the best free movie maker software for Windows and Mac users who are new to video editing. It also features a Video Maker Wizard with templates for various video needs.

This free movie creator has a good variety of basic and advanced features that cover audio editing, color corrections, VFX, and more. It has AI speech-to-text for adding automatic subtitles, text-to-speech for automatic VO, and video stabilization for shaky footage.

VideoPad has all the tools most beginners would need in a free movie maker software for Windows, but new users may outgrow it as they get more comfortable with editing. The interface is outdated and we haven’t seen a new release in years, only minor updates, which is why we placed it at the bottom of our list.

Key Features:

• Support for 3D and 360-degree videos
• Various audio effects and filters
• Green screen effects for background removal

Compatibility: Windows, Mac

G2 Rating: 4.1/5

Price: Free

*Premium versions available for $80 for Home Edition and $139 for Master’s Edition

What is the Best Free Movie Maker Software for Windows PC?

Whether you're a beginner aiming to dip your toes into video editing or an advanced hobbyist with dreams of becoming the next big director, there's a perfect free movie maker software for Windows for you.

And for those seeking an all-encompassing solution, PowerDirector takes the spotlight with its perfect blend of user-friendliness and advanced features. So, what are you waiting for?

Download the #1 free movie creator and embark on your cinematic journey today!