Top 10 Lightweight Video Editors with Low Requirements [2024]

Posted by Paula Pailaga to Edit Video/Audio Mar 20, 2024

If you are only working with a simple video project, you prefer to use a lightweight editor tool with simple features and a tool that doesn’t consume much storage space. However, with lots of them on the market, it is challenging to choose which one you will use. Don’t worry; this post features 10 of the best lightweight video editor tools to help ease your picking process! So, without any further ado, explore them now!

Top 10 Best Lightweight Video Editors on Windows/Mac

Before diving into each of the best lightweight video editor tools’ brief descriptions and their supported features, here is the table for you to see which of the tools stand out from the rest!

If you want to go deeper or want to discover more about the lightweight video editor tool, then here is the lineup containing each of the tool’s brief descriptions and some of their supported video editing features. Explore them now!

1. 4Easysoft Total Video Converter

The first best free lightweight video editor for this lineup is the 4Easysoft Total Video Converter tool. This tool is infused with MV Maker, which supports various video editing features. These editing features include a video Rotator, Cropper, Trimmer, options to add Effects, Filters, edit and Audio, Watermark, etc. Moreover, it is also equipped with a library of Themes that offers various themes with their own clip transitions and graphical animations. Furthermore, it is also infused with an option to add text to your video, whether Subtitle, Caption, Titles, etc.

2. Shotcut

If you are searching for a lightweight open-source video editor, Shotcut is what you are looking for. This tool is also rich in video editing and can easily be accessed and used on various platforms. What makes this tool pave its way to becoming the best editor is its support for 4K editing, meaning you can tweak various aspects of a 4K resolution video. However, compared to the other tools, Shotcut is not intuitive. So, expect a little difficulty in using it.

Features of Shotcut

• Equipped with a library of Filters and Effects.
• Offer various basic editing features such as Resizer, Cropper, Trimmer, etc.
• Real-Time preview to see the changes you’ve made in real time.

3. OpenShot

Apart from Shotcut, OpenShot is also a lightweight open-source video editor that you can use! This tool can also accommodate almost all your editing needs, for it is also rich with editing features. But one of this tool’s highlights is its ability to support 3D animations! This tool lets you render more than 20 types of animated effects on text, audio tracks, graphical images, etc. However, this tool is also not intuitive. You need to invest time to master it.

Features of OpenShot

• Equipped with options to trim and slice videos to cut off unwanted parts.
• Offer the option to tweak your video’s colors using its Color Correction.
• Advanced editing features such as Reverse and Slow Down or Speed Up your video.

4. VideoPad Video Editor

If you don’t want to spend a lot of time learning a tool, you can use the VideoPad Video Editor as your lightweight video editor on Windows/Mac. This tool supports an excellent user-friendly interface. With its drag-and-drop modeled timeline, you can quickly achieve your envisioned video output. Regarding its supported features, this tool has options to speed up, slow down, reverse, and tweak the colors, etc., of your video. But unfortunately, this tool is not stable compared to the tools above.

Features of VideoPad Video Editor

• Infused with a library of Effects and Filters that you can apply to your video.
• Equipped with the option to reduce camera share with the use of its video stabilization.
• Support lossless export for optimal video quality.

5. Vegas Movie Studio

Besides VideoPad Video Editor, another lightweight video editor you can use is the Vegas Movie Studio. This tool also supports an intuitive interface with easy-to-use editing features. This tool’s features include adding text, graphics, transitions, and effects. Now, what makes this tool stand out is that it is integrated with various social media platforms, such as Vimeo, Facebook, and YouTube. However, this tool takes a lot of time to render.

Features of Vegas Movie Studio

• Support with the option to stabilize your video if it is captured in an unstable way.
• Equipped with a library of audio and video effects to apply to your video.
• Video Collage feature with an option to animate it with the Track Motion tool.

6. VSDC Video Editor

Another lightweight video editor tool for this lineup is the VSDC Video Editor. This tool also supports powerful basic and advanced video editing features. Some of its supported basic video editing features include video Cutter, Merger, Speed tweaker, etc. Regarding advanced editing features, it supports Motion Tracker, Synchnize the effects with the music beat, AI Art Generator, etc. However, like the tools earlier, VSDC comes with a steep learning curve.

Features of VSDC Video Editor

• Support option to stabilize a shaky video.
• Equipped with a Multi-color Chroma key that you can use to modify colors.
• Capable of applying picture-in-picture or split-screen effects to your video.

7. iMovie

You should also check iMovie, for it is also one of the best free lightweight video editor tools on the market. This Apple video editor supports powerful video editing features that you can use to produce professional-looking videos. It offers many transitions and filters that can add spice to your video. Like Vegas Movie Studio, iMovie is also integrated with various social media platforms like YouTube. However, unlike other tools above, iMovie only offers a few video editing features.

Features of iMovie

• Infused with basic video editing features, including Cropper, Rotator, Merger, and more.
• Equipped with a library of transitions and filters.
• Support tons of built-in sound effects that you can apply to your video.

8. Blender

If you are working with multiple videos and you need to finish them all at once, then Blender would be the best lightweight video editor for you. This tool lets you work with multiple videos and edit them simultaneously. It can support working on more than 30 tracks at the same time. Now, despite its flexibility, Blender comes with slow rendering times and often crashes while working on complex projects.

Features of Blender

• Support option allows you to cut your video into multiple clips and splice them.
• Infused with the option to speed up or slow down your video clips.
• Equipped with advanced features such as video masking, color grading, 3D creation, etc.

9. Vidiot

Another lightweight video editor tool that also comes with an easy video editing process is the Vidiot. With just drag and drop and a few tweaks, you can quickly acquire your desired editing with your video. This tool mainly supports only those basic video editing features such as modifying your video’s speed, size, volume, etc. Now, although it supports most of the basic editing features, you might find it outdated and a little challenging to use.

Features of Vidiot

• Equipped with basic editing features such as video Trimmer, Cropper, Rotator, etc.
• Offer a Balance feature that enables you to adjust the colors of your video.
• Infused with an option that enables you to tweak your video’s audio; this includes adding fade in and out.

10. Windows Movie Maker

The last lightweight video editor tool for this lineup is Windows Movie Maker. Like Vidiot, Windows Movie Maker also supports the most basic video editing features. These video editing features include audio effects, adding titles, transitions, etc. However, this tool doesn’t support an option to adjust visual effects, which is too annoying.

Features of Windows Movie Maker

• Support option to stabilize shaky footage.
• Offer various Visual Effects to your video to change its look.
• Integrated with various social media platforms for easy video sharing; these include Facebook, YouTube, Vimeo, etc.

FAQs about the Best Lightweight Video Editors

• What are the qualities I should consider in choosing a lightweight video editor tool?

  The qualities you should look for in choosing a lightweight video editor are the tool that offers a budget-friendly price/subscription/license, supports an intuitive interface with easy-to-use video editing features, supports almost all video formats, and has advanced features.

• Does Windows Movie Maker allow its users to export edited video into other formats?

  Yes, you can export your edited video on Windows Movie Maker into a format you like to save/store it. Windows Movie Maker supports MP4, AVI, MOV, MKV, WEBM, etc., and you can export your edited video into one of these formats.

• What will happen if my computer doesn’t meet the required storage requirement of a lightweight video editor tool?

  If your computer doesn’t meet the storage requirement, there’s a chance you won’t be able to get the tool. And if ever you have enough space but don’t reach the required RAM of the tool; you possibly experience a tool crash and freeze.

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