As a beginner video blogger posting on various platforms, I need a video cropping tool to trim and adjust the video frame that would let me remove unwanted parts, focus on specific subjects, or fit the video to different aspect ratios (for insta reels or youtube shorts, etc.).
I prefer free options because I don't need the professional editing features from paid software, just cropping and basic improvements. Here is a list of my favorite tools.
When selecting video cropping software, I focused on ease of use, format compatibility, AI tools (that is a hot topic nowadays), and quality preservation. Users should prioritize intuitive interfaces, format support, and quality maintenance for an efficient and effective editing experience.
Key features:
Adobe Express is a free tool that offers a wide range of features, many of which are usually found in paid software. The drag-and-drop feature makes it simple to trim and adjust video clips. Real-time preview lets you see changes immediately, ensuring the final product is just as you want.
Adobe Express has a lot of ready-made video cuts and pictures to choose from, making it way better than most free cropping tools. But some advanced tools, like high-quality exports and realistic effects, only come with paying, which might be a problem for people who want to do more complicated editing.
Other video editors like iMovie and Filmora can also crop videos just fine, but Adobe Express is smoother and easier to use. Plus, it works well with other Adobe programs, making cropping videos faster and the final product look even better, making Adobe Express the best choice for both beginners and professionals.
Key features:
Filmora 12 particularly impressed me with its "Smart Fit" function. This feature automatically resizes the cropped area to keep the original proportions, which is very helpful when creating content for various platforms.
The software also offers pre-set sizing options, like 16:9, 4:3, and 1:1. This makes it simple to crop videos specifically for YouTube and Instagram.
What I liked the most about Filmora 12 was the access to advanced "keyframe" controls in the free version, which makes it easy to add dynamic cropping effects where the focus can change as the video plays. However, more advanced editing tools, such as motion tracking, are only available with a paid subscription.
While other programs like DaVinci Resolve offer advanced features, they can often be quite difficult to learn, which can be discouraging for beginners. Filmora 12, on the other hand, provides a professional experience to all new users without being overwhelming.
Key features:
Movavi lets you crop videos easily with just a few clicks, which makes it a great program for both beginners and people who already know how to edit videos. One of the best things about Movavi is that even the free version has a lot of editing tools.
The only slightly annoying thing is that Movavi sometimes shows you pop-ups asking you to buy the paid version while you're editing.
But overall, the free version is still very good and has everything you need to do basic video editing. You can cut videos, shorten them, spin them around, and change how bright or dark they are. Other free programs might make you pay extra to do these things!
Unlike some other free programs that are either too limited or hard to learn, Movavi is easy to use but still has tons of tools. For example, Adobe Express is a powerful video cropping software, but it can be confusing because of its many features and complicated interface. Movavi keeps things simple to use without taking away the essential editing tools.
Key features:
Kdenlive is a free and open-source video editor that offers excellent tools for cropping videos. Unlike other video cropping software like Adobe Express or Movavi, Kdenlive has no subscription fees. I found its user interface easy to navigate, making it simple to trim and adjust video frames.
Kdenlive provides a lot of control over the cropping process. It also has a wide range of export options, making sure the final cropped video can be adapted for various platforms and formats. However, I noticed some occasional slowdowns, especially when working with high-resolution footage on older or less powerful computers.
Despite these issues, Kdenlive's range of editing tools makes it a great choice for anyone who needs precise video cropping. The ability to preview changes in real time was especially useful, making it easy to make adjustments without any trouble.
Key features:
Cropping videos in iMovie was simple – I just needed to adjust the edges of the frame to select the part of the video I wanted. This straightforward process is a big plus, especially compared to other software that can be more complicated. One drawback is that iMovie is only for macOS users, so it's not accessible to people using other systems.
One thing I liked about iMovie was how precise its cropping tool is. It made it easy to adjust the crop exactly how I wanted it, and the video quality stayed great even after cropping.
Compared to other free video cropping software, iMovie stands out for how well it works with Apple products. For example, if we compare iMovie vs Adobe Express, we can see that while Adobe Express works on different systems, iMovie is smoother and more streamlined for Apple users.
Key features:
While my previous recommendation was specific to Apple devices, DaVinci Resolve is a well-known video editing software for Windows. While many free tools offer basic editing features, DaVinci Resolve is different. It has a full set of tools that handle everything from simple edits to advanced effects. It's more than just a cropping tool; it's a complete video editing software.
What impressed me most about DaVinci Resolve was how it integrates Fusion visual effects and motion graphics. The ability to crop and add advanced effects at the same time was a big plus. This feature lets me create professional-looking videos without needing to use other programs.
However, learning DaVinci Resolve can be a bit challenging at first. There are so many features that it might feel overwhelming for new users, and it takes some time to learn how to use them all. Still, the many features make it a strong tool for both beginners and experienced editors.
Key features:
One of the things I liked about Lightworks was its advanced timeline editing feature. It made it easy for me to make detailed edits to my videos. Also, this free video cropping software supports many different file types, so I didn't have to worry about compatibility problems when working with my videos.
What makes Lightworks different from other similar tools is its real-time collaboration feature. This lets me work with other editors at the same time on the same project, which is rare for free software. However, the free version only lets you export videos in 720p resolution, which might be a limitation if you need higher quality.
Compared to other programs like Kdenlive or DaVinci Resolve, Lightworks has some really good color correction tools even in the free version. These tools let me adjust the look of my videos with a lot of precision, which I haven't seen in other free video editing software.
Key features:
PowerDirector stands out from other software because it offers a wide range of editing tools, not just cropping. It is great for people who want to do more with their videos. One thing I really liked was its AI-powered tools, which are rare in free software.
The AI cropping feature was especially helpful, as it could figure out the best crop for my videos, which saved me a lot of time and effort. Plus, the interface was easy to use, even for beginners.
However, there are some downsides. The free version of PowerDirector has limitations, and sometimes pop-ups are asking you to upgrade to the paid version, which can be annoying. Despite this, the free version has plenty of tools for basic cropping.
Key features:
Cropping videos with Easy Video Maker is simple. I could easily choose the area I wanted to crop and see the changes right away. The drag-and-drop feature made everything smooth and saved me a lot of time.
What I liked most about Easy Video Maker was how easy it was to use. I could make my videos look professional without needing a lot of experience. Adding text, filters, and music was a nice touch that made my videos stand out. The only downside was the watermark in the free version, but for basic editing, it's not a big deal.
Easy Video Maker has many other editing tools. Besides cropping, I could split, trim, and combine video clips, making it a great all-in-one tool for basic editing. Plus, it's lightweight and fast.
Key features:
Clideo stands out with its cloud-based processing, meaning all the work is done online, not on my device. This saves space and keeps the software running smoothly, even on weaker computers, which is particularly beneficial for users with less powerful computers like me.
It also integrates seamlessly with Google Drive and Dropbox, making it easy to directly import and edit videos and then save the cropped video to the cloud, saving me loads of time.
While Clideo may not have as many advanced features as some desktop editors, it's great for basic cropping tasks. Plus, it offers presets for different aspect ratios, making it a popular free video editor for YouTube.
Key features:
With VEED, editing my videos became super easy. I could trim and adjust them with just a few clicks, which made the whole process smooth and quick. Plus, I could customize the aspect ratios and cropping options to fit my videos perfectly.
What makes VEED stand out is that it offers more than just cropping – it also has features like adding text, and filters or improving audio. It's like having all the editing tools I need in one place, saving me time and making my workflow smoother.
One downside, though, is that there aren't many choices for exporting video formats. It would be better to have more options to suit different project needs. Despite this, VEED performs well and has a user-friendly interface.
