Top 11 Best MP4 Editors for PC
In the fast-paced world of content creation, having the reliable MP4 editor is key to making your videos stand out. Whether you're a pro or just starting, a good video editing tool can make a world of difference in engaging your audience.
This article is your go-to resource for discovering the best MP4 video editors in the market. We'll break down the features of various video editing software for PC, from beginner-friendly options to advanced suites, helping you choose the one that suits your skills and editing needs.
How we chose MP4 editors
Selecting the right program is a critical in the video editing process. Our process of picking MP4 editing software revolved around evaluating these essential elements:
- User-friendliness. We prioritize editors that offer a user-friendly interface, catering to both beginners and experienced users.
- Feature set. We considered the range and depth of features offered by each MP4 editor - from basic functionalities, like cutting and trimming videos, to advanced options.
- Performance. We evaluated the performance of each MP4 video editing application to ensure smooth operation and minimal lag, especially when dealing with large video files.
- Cost and value. We checked the price of each video editor in relation to the features offered and tried to find absolutely free services.
Taking the aforementioned criteria into account, we've formulated a guide to assist you in selecting the optimal MP4 editor tailored to your requirements.
| Application | Feature set | Performance | Free version | PRO version |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Icecream Video Editor |
Advanced
|
Smooth
|
Yes
|
$49.95 for lifetime
|
| Movavi Video Editor |
Advanced
|
Smooth, but resource consuming
|
7-day trial
|
$99.95 for subscription
|
| EaseUS Video Editor |
Advanced
|
Has problems with import on Windows 10
|
Free trial
|
$29.95 - $79.95 for subscription
|
| VSDC Video Editor |
Advanced
|
Stability issues
|
Yes
|
$19.99 for year subscription
|
| Adobe Express |
Basic
|
Smooth
|
Yes
|
$9.99 monthly
|
| Power Director |
Professional
|
Smooth
|
Yes
|
from $99.99 per month
|
| Clipchamp |
Advanced
|
Rendering time is slow
|
Yes
|
$119.99/yr - $11.99/mo
|
| Windows Movie Maker |
Basic
|
Frequent disruptions
|
Yes
|
Starts at $14.99
|
| Avidemux |
Basic
|
Frequent disruptions
|
Yes
|
N/A
|
| VideoPad |
Basic
|
Choppy playback
|
Yes
|
Starts from $7.72/mo
|
| OpenShot |
Basic
|
Frequent lags
|
Yes
|
N/A
|
1. Icecream Video Editor
Icecream Video Editor serves as an easy-to-use, intuitive MP4 video editing software for Windows OS. This makes it straightforward to craft remarkable videos in no time. The editor supports a variety of formats, from MKV, WAV, MP4 to MOV.
The MP4 video editor is equipped with an extensive selection of features to help you maximize your footage. You can cut and trim clips, adjust brightness, contrast, saturation, hue, add filters, and more. There's also a built-in audio mixer for incorporating music or sounds into your video.
The main interface is simple and straightforward, with all the tools clearly labeled. The preview window allows you to see how the video will look before applying changes. You can also preview the output in full-screen mode.
In general, Icecream Video Editor is a perfect choice for those longing for an uncomplicated method to alter MP4 videos. Utilizing its user-friendly interface and advanced features, you can produce professional-grade videos quickly!
Pros:
- User-friendly design. The interface is intuitive, making video editing a seamless and swift process.
- Feature-rich. This video editing software boasts a wide array of tools, including trimming, cutting, cropping, merging, and watermark addition.
- Platform support. Compatible with Windows 11, 10, 8, and earlier versions.
- Effortless subtitle integration. Adding subtitles to your videos is a breeze, enhancing the accessibility and engagement of your content.
- High-quality output. The free MP4 editor delivers a level of quality suitable for online publishing or television broadcasting, ensuring your videos meet professional standards.
- Voiceover capabilities. Beyond music insertion, users can record their own voiceovers to personalize their creations.
2. Movavi Video Editor
Taking advantage of Movavi Video Editor is an outstanding approach to smoothly modify clips in MP4 format. It has a user-friendly interface and features that make crafting impressive videos effortless.
The video editor is furnished with various tools for editing videos, including trimming, merging, and rotating videos. It also features effects and filters that can be applied to edit your MP4 video. You can also add music and text to your video, as well as animated titles and transitions between scenes.
The MP4 video editing software also includes state-of-the-art features like chroma key effects, color correction, and motion tracking.
Pros:
- Variety of customization options. Offers a diverse selection of transitions, and special effects to improve the visual appeal of videos and add creative elements.
- Multi-platform support. Compatible with both Windows and macOS, providing flexibility for users across different operating systems.
Cons:
- Watermark in trial version. The trial version of video editor includes a watermark on exported videos, which can be removed by purchasing the full version.
- System resource usage. Users may experience increased resource usage, particularly on less powerful computers.
3. EaseUS Video Editor
EaseUS Video Editor is a powerful yet easy-to-use MP4 video editing tool. It's designed to help you make stunning movies, shows, and other video projects with ease.
The video editing software offers a range of features that maximize the potential of your videos. You can add transitions, effects, music, and text to your creations, as well as adjust video speed and color settings.
The application also provides tools for audio editing, like noise reduction and background music options. You can also record your own voice and sound effects to add further depth to your videos.
Pros:
- Audio detach. Effortlessly eliminate background noise from your videos, ensuring clearer and more polished audio playback.
Cons:
- Customization options. Limited editing features compared to other professional video editors.
- Performance. There have been user complaints regarding bugs specifically when importing files on Windows 10 PCs.
4. VSDC Video Editor
MP4 files can be edited swiftly and simply with VSDC Free Video Editor. It provides users with a variety of features, such as chroma keying, blending modes, animated titles, audio mixing and equalization, and a wide range of virtual special effects.
This MP4 editor includes color correction tools for adjusting hue, saturation, brightness, contrast, and gamma values to achieve a perfect balance of colors in your video. It also has a handy object detector tool that can automatically recognize items in your videos.
Pros:
- Non-linear editing. The video editor supports non-linear editing, providing more flexibility in editing sequences.
- 4K video editing. Handles modifying and exporting of 4K-resolution video.
Cons:
- Interface design. While functional, the interface design might not be as modern or visually appealing as some other video editor for PC.
- Occasional bugs. Some users report occasional stability issues, such as crashes, especially when working on complex projects or with large files.
5. Adobe Express
Adobe Express is a powerful, yet easy to use MP4 editor. It offers basic features without the complexity of its more advanced counterparts. It is the perfect option for users who don't want to dive too deep into video editing but still want to make minor adjustments quickly.
The interface is simple and intuitive. The service comes with an array of tools for making basic adjustments to your clips, such as trimming and adding transitions. It also has options for adjusting brightness, contrast, and saturation levels.
Pros:
- Mobile accessibility. Being a web app, Adobe allows users to edit MP4 videos on the go, providing flexibility and convenience.
- Integration. The platform seamlessly integrates with Adobe Creative Cloud, allowing users to sync and access their edited videos across various devices.
Cons:
- Limited advanced features. The tool is geared more towards quick and basic tasks, lacking some of the advanced features found in professional editing software.
- Subscription model. While the MP4 editor is free to use, some features may require a subscription, potentially making it less appealing.
6. Power Director
Power Director is an intuitive, user-friendly video editor. It's designed to enable you to craft eye-catching MP4 videos in no time. The program comes with a variety of tools for editing, adding effects, transitions, and titles. It's also equipped with a powerful audio recorder and editor.
You can add animated titles and effects, and even create your own 3D animations. The app has a comprehensive library of audio files that you can use for soundtracks. With its built-in chroma key support, you can easily remove the background from any video clip in a single motion.
Pros:
- AI-powered editing. Leveraging artificial intelligence, this program facilitates one-click editing for MP4 videos.
- Professional-grade effects. It contains an extensive set of effects and transitions.
Cons:
- Stock elements are not free. The free version does not provide access to stock videos, photos, and audio files. Subscription is required for using these resources.
7. Clipchamp
Clipchamp stands out as a user-friendly and robust online MP4 editor, offering a seamless video editing experience across various devices. Its intuitive interface facilitates quick video creation and sharing, allowing users to trim, add effects, and customize videos effortlessly.
Compatibility is key, and the app ensures this by enabling video conversion into different formats, making it accessible on any device.
The editing process is made simple with the option to upload MP4 video files directly from your computer or smartphone, supported by convenient drag-and-drop functionality.
Pros:
- Easy-to-use interface. The interface is designed for simplicity, making file navigation and editing a seamless experience.
- AI-powered voiceover. Access a selection of 170 natural-sounding voices in 70 languages, with the ability to fine-tune speed and pitch according to your preferences.
Cons:
- Watermark inclusion. All stock videos come with a watermark, which may impact the overall visual appeal of your content.
- Prolonged rendering time. The rendering process can be notably slow, particularly for larger file sizes.
8. Windows Movie Maker
Movie Maker is a free video editing software from Microsoft. It has a simple and intuitive interface that makes creating videos easy.
You can add photos, video clips, music, and titles to create your own movies. The platform has basic editing features such as trimming, cropping videos, and transitions. You can also incorporate visual effects and rotate the MP4 clip to improve the visuals. Movie Maker allows you to choose frame rate, encoder and bitrate before saving.
The free version provides the necessary tools to begin, while the paid version adds more advanced options such as 4K resolution support and additional effects.
Pros:
- Variety of effects. The MP4 editor provides a plethora of effects, so you can easily enhance your video.
Cons:
- Performance. This editing software has a tendency to freeze and crash.
- No advanced features. While the program is great for basic editing, it does not offer any advanced features like color correction or audio editing.
9. Avidemux
Avidemux is a free, open-source video editor designed for simple cutting, and filtering. The basic editing operations include joining files, applying filters, and encoding into several formats. It can also be used to remove audio from a video.
The MP4 editor includes support for subtitles, as well as audio and video effects such as image rotation, brightness/contrast adjustments, deinterlacing features, and more.
Pros:
- Open-source. The program is freely available, making it accessible to a wide range of users without any cost.
- Batch processing. The app offers batch processing capabilities, enabling users to automate repetitive editing tasks and streamline their workflow.
Cons:
- Slightly dated interface. The interface, while user-friendly, may not have the modern aesthetics found in some other MP4 video editors.
- Not ideal for complex tasks. Designed for basic tasks, it is less suitable for intricate video editing projects.
10. VideoPad
Choosing VideoPad is a good option for MP4 file editing. Utilizing it is a breeze and offers plenty of features, such as the ability to add text, transitions, and effects. You can also convert your video projects to different formats.
The user interface of the MP4 video editing software is intuitive, and there are multiple tools available to maximize your project's potential.
The MP4 video editor also supports drag-and-drop editing so you can quickly move clips around in the timeline. And it includes a range of mixing tools for adding soundtracks, voiceovers, and other audio elements to your video projects.
Pros:
- Audio effects. These include options like choral, echo, and distortion to add creative and distinctive sound enhancements to your audio content.
- Video stabilization. Experience camera-shake reduction specifically designed for action cam footage, ensuring smoother and more professional-looking videos.
Cons:
- Not suitable for complex projects. Not the best choice for constructing more complex projects like 3D animation or special effects.
- Performance. Falls in delivering a seamless experience as users frequently encounter choppy playback.
11. OpenShot
OpenShot is an open source video editor for Linux, macOS, and Windows. With it, you can quickly edit MP4 files and create slideshows using images, video clips, and audio. You can also add titles, transitions, and other advanced effects.
The application is an excellent choice for beginners looking to manipulate MP4 videos. It provides an intuitive user experience that makes it easy to understand the basics of video editing.
Pros:
- User-friendly. Incorporates an easy-to-understand interface, making it convenient for users of all skill levels to learn and use.
- Free and open-source. Video file editor comes without any charge for use and the source code is open to access, granting users the ability to modify it as they desire.
Cons:
- Absence of advanced features. Lacks some of the professional features found in video editors.
- Lags and crashes. Users face ongoing challenges with frequent lags, bugs, and crashes.
FAQ
- What factors should I consider when choosing an MP4 editor?
- When selecting an MP4 editor, think about your editing skill level, desired features (e.g., basic editing, advanced effects), compatibility with your operating system, available support and tutorials, and budget constraints. Assessing these elements will help you find a software that suits your needs and workflow.
- Does the MP4 editor support other audio and video formats?
- A versatile MP4 video editor should support a wide range of audio and video formats beyond just MP4, including popular formats like AVI, MOV, WMV, MP3, AAC, and more. Check the compatibility list provided by the video editor to ensure it meets your specific format requirements.
- Can I import and edit footage from my smartphone or camera with the MP4 editor?
- Yes, you can import and edit clips captured on any smartphones, cameras, and other devices. Some MP4 editors even offer features specifically tailored for mobile footage, such as stabilization and optimization tools.
- Can I edit MP4 files on my phone?
- Yes, apps like iMovie (iOS), Adobe Premiere Rush, and InShot allow you to edit MP4 videos on mobile devices.
- How do I reduce the file size of an MP4?
- You can lower the resolution, decrease the bitrate, or compress the file using tools like HandBrake or Adobe Media Encoder.
- What is keyframe editing?
- It involves setting specific frames (keyframes) in a video to control changes like position, opacity, or scale over time, enabling smooth transitions or animations.
- Why is my MP4 file not importing into my video editor?
- This can happen if the video has unsupported codecs. Try converting it to another format or re-encoding the file with a compatible codec.
Best MP4 video editors: Conclusion
In conclusion, selecting the right MP4 editor can significantly impact your video editing experience, whether you're a beginner or an experienced professional. With a plethora of options available, it's essential to assess your needs, desired features, and budget constraints.
The 11 MP4 editors discussed in this article offer a diverse range of capabilities, from basic editing tools to advanced effects and functionalities. By carefully considering the factors outlined and exploring the features of each program, you can find the perfect fit to unleash your creativity and bring your video projects to life with ease and efficiency.
Expert Tech Writer
