I'm helping some friends who want to start making content but they have very limited technical knowledge and older computers. Looking for recommendations for free video editing for entry-level users that won't require powerful hardware. They need something with a gentle learning curve but still capable of producing decent looking videos. What would you suggest for complete beginners working with minimal system requirements?
For free video editing for entry-level users, I always recommend starting with the simplest tools available. On Windows, that's the built-in Video Editor. On Mac, it's iMovie. These are designed to be extremely easy to use and have minimal system requirements. Once they outgrow those, OpenShot is a great next step - it's more powerful but still has a relatively gentle learning curve.
I'd suggest OpenShot for complete beginners. The interface is clean and not too intimidating, and there are plenty of tutorial videos on YouTube. It runs well on older hardware too, which is important for entry-level users who might not have powerful PCs. The fact that it's completely free makes it accessible for everyone.
For entry-level users, I think it's important to match the software to their actual needs. If they just need to trim clips and add some text, the built-in tools are perfect. If they want to learn more serious editing, OpenShot or Shotcut are good free options that don't require powerful hardware. The key is to start simple and gradually introduce more complex tools as their skills grow.
If your friends are on Macs, iMovie is the obvious choice - it's incredibly beginner-friendly and runs well on older Mac hardware. For Windows users, I'd recommend checking out VSDC Free Video Editor. It has a wizard mode that guides beginners through their first edits, which can be really helpful for people who are completely new to video editing.
Olive Video Editor is worth considering for beginners too. The interface is modern and less cluttered than some other free options, which helps reduce the learning curve. It's still in development so there might be occasional bugs, but for basic editing on older computers, it's a good free option for entry-level users.