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13 Best Free GoPro Video Editors to Edit & Enhance Action Shots
GoPro and other action camera footage are unique videos that require specialized editing tools that can slow down or speed up footage, stabilize shaky shots, fix lens distortion, create time-lapse videos, support MP4 files, and more.
While there are plenty of video editors on the market, there aren’t many with all the unique features you need in a GoPro video editor. And what’s the point of spending all that money on GoPro camera equipment if you can’t edit videos from the footage for others to see?
GoPro used to offer GoPro Studio and GoPro Quik for Desktop - two options made by GoPro specifically to edit videos from GoPro footage. However, both of these GoPro video editors have been discontinued. So if you are a GoPro user, do not despair. We have reviewed the 13 best free GoPro video editors available today.
- Top 3 GoPro Video Editors Snapshot
- How to Choose the Best GoPro Video Editor
- 13 Best Free GoPro Video Editors to Edit & Enhance Action Shots
- PowerDirector - Best Overall
- Video Proc Vlogger - Best for Speed Adjustment
- DaVinci Resolve - Best for Color Correction
- Adobe Premiere Pro - Best for Professionals
- Final Cut Pro - Best for 360° Editing
- Adobe After Effects - Best for Motion Tracking
- iMovie - Best Automatic Movie Creator
- VideoPad Video Editor - Best for First-Time Editors
- Lightworks - Best for a Wide Range of Users
- Movavi Video Editor - Best for Quick Edits
- Shotcut - Best for Green Screen Effects
- OpenShot - Best for Transitions
- VSDC Free Video Editor - Best for CPU
- Best Free GoPro Video Editor Comparison Chart
- How to Edit GoPro Videos
- Download the Best GoPro Video Editor for Free
- GoPro Video Editor FAQ
Top 3 GoPro Video Editors Snapshot
1. PowerDirector - Best Overall
PowerDirector is the best overall GoPro video editor because it offers tons of action cam-specific editing features and is easy to use. This GoPro editing software also has plenty of other editing tools, from basic to advanced, making it a well-rounded way to edit videos for both beginners and pros. Detailed Review >
2. VideoProc Vlogger: Best for Speed Adjustment
VideoProc Vlogger is a GoPro video editor with excellent speed adjustment features for action camera footage. With this GoPro software, you can edit videos with 20 presets for speed and 28 presets for motion effects.
3. DaVinci Resolve - Best for Color Correction
DaVinci Resolve is an advanced GoPro editing software with professional color correction and video and audio enhancement tools.
How to Choose the Best GoPro Video Editor
We have already narrowed your GoPro software search to the programs with the unique tools needed to edit videos from GoPro footage. But out of 13 viable options, how can you choose the best one for your needs? Below are some things to keep in mind while you scroll through our list of the best GoPro editing software.
Budget
All of the options on our list are either free, have a free version, or have a free trial. If you are only looking for completely free GoPro software, skip the ones that only offer a free trial. If you are looking to try out software before making a monetary commitment, make sure the premium versions of the software are within your budget.
Compatibility
We have options for Windows, Mac, and Linux on our list, but OS is not the only thing to look out for. Some GoPro video editors can work on old computers, and some require new models. Some take up little CPU, and some use up a ton of hard drive space. Check the system requirements of any GoPro software before you download it to your computer.
GoPro software should also have H.265/HEVC codec support so you can edit videos from your GoPro without file conversion.
Ease of Use
Take a realistic look at your skill level before you choose GoPro software. Beginners may think the most advanced GoPro software is the best option to edit videos, but this is a mistake. Professional software could take you months to learn while your footage sits patiently on your GoPro, waiting to be edited. It may be so complicated and time-consuming that you give up on it altogether. Start with beginner-friendly GoPro software. You can always trade up as your skills advance.
On the flip side, if you are an experienced editor you will want to stick with advanced software that has all the tools and features you require.
13 Best Free GoPro Video Editors to Edit & Enhance Action Shots
1. PowerDirector - Best Overall
Compatibility: Windows, Mac
PCMag Rating: 5/5
Action Camera Editing Features: 5/5
Price: Free
*Premium subscription available for $4.33/month
Key Features:
- Video Stabilizer: Helps to stabilize shaky footage to create smooth and steady shots.
- Motion blur effect: Adds a natural-looking blur to objects in motion.
- Multicam editing: Enables the editing of multiple camera angles in real-time.
- 360° editing: Supports editing of 360° videos for an immersive viewing experience.
Who It’s For
PowerDirector is the best overall GoPro video editor on our list because it is a robust video editing product with a wide range of action-cam features, including an Action Camera Center. GoPro Video editors in a hurry will love that the Action Camera Center has all the specialized features in one place, with one-click corrections and easy-to-use features. In addition, PowerDirector has tons of cool effects, templates, titles, filters, and more to explore if you want to spend more time making your action camera masterpiece.
Why We Picked It
Available in the Action Camera Center are specifically designed editing tools and effects to improve your action camera footage. Stabilize your shaky action videos, correct fish-eye distortion in the footage, and apply cool speed effects in minutes. We love being able to quickly apply slow motion, freeze frame & zoom action highlights. In addition, color problems from filming in snow or underwater can be fixed in one single, intuitive module. This GoPro software offers everything you need to cut, enhance, and produce awesome action camera videos.
Bottom Line
The noise correction and video denoise in this GoPro software will help make your footage crystal clear so all the action can be seen. There's also a tool to remove unwanted audio noise from outdoor footage. With the motion tracking feature, you can track an object's movement within a clip, collect the track data, and apply it to another object. PowerDirector comes with millions of royalty-free stock assets, including background music and sound effects, and you can automatically fit background music to the length of your finished video.
This GoPro software offers the best value for action footage editing. To start editing your action camera footage today, download PowerDirector for free by clicking the link below.
2. Video Proc Vlogger - Best for Speed Adjustment
Image from ghacks.net
Compatibility: Windows, Mac
KommandoTech Rating: 4/5
Action Camera Editing Features: 5/5
Price: Free
*VideoProc Converter available for $38.90/year
Key Features:
- Fix grainy video: Removes grain from video footage for improved clarity.
- Remove fisheye: Corrects distorted footage caused by fisheye lenses.
- Audio extractor: Allows for extraction of audio from video files.
- Time-Lapse tool: Creates time-lapse videos from a series of still images.
Who It’s For
Based on our testing, VideoProc Vlogger is the best GoPro software to edit videos with speed adjustments. The GoPro software uses visualized speed ramping to change the speed constantly or variably throughout a clip. VideoProc Vlogger contains over 20 speed presets, so you can easily alter the tone and tempo of your GoPro footage. In addition, this beginner-friendly program has some advanced features like flexible Bezier curves and automatic keyframes to slow only parts of a video without splitting it.
Why We Picked It
With VideoProc Vlogger, you can edit videos to simulate motion with tilt, roll, dolly, and truck effects. Quickly push in and out and stylize your video clips with shakes, fast zooms, and rotation. This GoPro video editor can create new motion trails, apply motion crops or use one of 28 motion presets to change the action of the video in post.
Bottom Line
VideoProc Vlogger is freeware but without watermarks or annoying ads. It is aimed at beginners, hobbyists, and content creators and lacks some advanced features professionals would want. The all-important video stabilization tool is only available with a subscription to VideoProc Converter. We placed it at #2 on our list of GoPro software because PowerDirector allows you to edit videos with more advanced tools.
3. DaVinci Resolve - Best for Color Correction
Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux
PCMag Rating: 4/5
Action Camera Editing Features: 5/5
Price: Free
*DaVinci Resolve Studio is available for $295
Key Features:
- Object tracker: Tracks objects in video footage for precise editing.
- Temporal and spatial noise reduction: Reduces noise in video for improved image quality.
- Motion blur effects: Adds motion blur for a more professional look.
- Multicam editing: Supports editing footage from multiple cameras.
Who It’s For
DaVinci Resolve is one of the best GoPro video editors for color correction. Filming outside in natural light means your clips can look completely different depending on the time of day. With this GoPro editing software, you can choose “Shot Match to This Clip” and it will automatically match the brightness, color, and contrast of the clip you choose. In our test, we were able to choose only a specific area to color correct (such as a shirt or the sky), without changing the rest of the shot. These highly advanced color tools make this GoPro software a good option for professionals or very experienced hobbyists.
Why We Picked It
This GoPro software also has excellent tools to clean up audio and video. Remove background noise, eliminate the hum of power lines, and clean up annoying pops and clicks. DaVinci Resolve comes with video stabilization, automatic dirt removal, and advanced noise/grain reduction.
Bottom Line
Professionals on a budget can edit videos with DaVinci Resolve’s highly advanced tools. However, this free GoPro editing software would be too complicated for the casual user, or anyone who wants to create home videos or social media posts from their action camera footage. PowerDirector and VideoProc Vlogger earned higher spots on our list since a broader range of users can enjoy them.
4. Adobe Premiere Pro - Best for Professionals
Compatibility: Windows, Mac
PCMag Rating: 4.5/5
Action Camera Editing Features: 4/5
Price: 7-day free trial, then $20.99/month
Key Features:
- Unlimited video tracks: Ability to add an unlimited number of video tracks to a project.
- Creative Cloud access: Access to Adobe's Creative Cloud library and tools.
- Lens distortion: Correction of lens distortion caused by wide-angle lenses.
- Match video footage to music: Ability to match video footage to music for synced playback.
Who It’s For
Adobe Premiere Pro is the best GoPro video editor for professionals who have experience creating video projects. It has been used to edit Hollywood action films and TV shows and offers a long list of high-end features that are ideal to edit videos with lots of action. Professional features include multicam, 360-degree, and VR editing and exports in up to 8K.
Why We Picked It
The software has sophisticated video stabilization tools, including the Warp Stabilizer effect. If you use your GoPro to capture the world from your dog's POV or record first-person footage from a mountain bike trip, these features go a long way to improve your video quality. The video stabilizer features also reduce camera shake when zooming in.
Bottom Line
Adobe Premiere Pro offers a free trial, but only for 7 days, and is relatively expensive. This GoPro video editor is high-quality and professional but has a steep learning curve and is not appropriate for beginners.
5. Final Cut Pro - Best for 360° Editing
Compatibility: Mac
TechRadar Rating: 4/5
Action Camera Editing Features: 4/5
Price: 90-day free trial, then $299.99
Key Features:
- Object tracker: Keeps track of moving objects in videos for accurate editing.
- Reduce background noise: Removes unwanted background noise from audio.
- Multicam editing: Enables editing of multiple camera angles in one project.
- Advanced color adjustment tools: Offers various tools for adjusting color in videos.
Who It’s For
Apple's signature editing software, Final Cut Pro, is the best GoPro video editor on our list for editing 360⁰ video because it offers all the tools you need to import, edit and deliver both monoscopic and stereoscopic 360⁰ footage. Open the 360⁰ viewer to visualize, change orientation, remove camera rigs, or straighten the horizon. Apply graphics and effects to 360⁰ video with ease. You can even apply 360⁰ video to regular footage using the Tiny Planet effect.
Why We Picked It
Notable GoPro features you get with Final Cut Pro include electronic stabilization and noise removal, so you can clean up your footage and enhance your audience's viewing experience. This GoPro software has a magnetic timeline to eliminate clip collisions and streamline the editing process.
Bottom Line
Final Cut Pro has a generous 90-day free trial but is expensive to purchase. It is not beginner-friendly, requiring time and patience for new GoPro video editors to master.
6. Adobe After Effects - Best for Motion Tracking
Compatibility: Windows, Mac
SourceForge Rating: 4.5/5
Action Camera Editing Features: 4/5
Price: 7-day free trial, then $20.99/month
Key Features:
- 360°, VR, and 3D editing: Supports editing of 360-degree and VR video, as well as 3D content.
- Distortion effects: Includes various distortion effects for creative video editing.
- Transitions: Offers a wide selection of video transitions for seamless video transitions.
- Lens distortion repair: Allows for repair of lens distortion in video footage.
Who It’s For
We found Adobe After Effects to be a great GoPro video editor if you want to add special effects like motion tracking to your action cam footage. After Effects allows you to pin a graphical element to a moving car, person, animal, weather element, or to the camera itself, and seamlessly move with it. Create text, logos, cartoon effects, or stickers to move with the action onscreen.
Why We Picked It
Have a panoramic shot of a deserted beach with a lone sunbather? Remove the sunbather with pro-level digital rotoscoping tools. You can also use After Effects to add elements that are missing. For example, add a killer shark to your surfing footage or a hot air balloon over an empty field.
Bottom Line
After Effects is a wonderful GoPro software for adding visual effects to action camera footage. However, it is lacking in essential video editing tools. It also has a steep learning curve. If you are a GoPro video editor looking to do basic edits and don’t need Hollywood-level VFX, then After Effects might not be for you.
7. iMovie - Best Automatic Movie Creator
Compatibility: Mac
G2 Rating: 4.3/5
Action Camera Editing Features: 3.5/5
Price: Free
Key Features:
- Real-Time tilting: Allows for real-time adjustment of the tilt of video footage.
- Video stabilization: Reduces shakiness in video footage for improved stability.
- Crop/Rotate: Allows for cropping and rotating of video footage.
- Smart soundtracks: Automatically have music to match your video.
Who It’s For
iMovie comes free on all Mac devices and is our choice for the best GoPro video editor for automatic movie creation. With Magic Movie, you can select video clips, and they will automatically be styled and edited with transitions, titles, and music in just a few taps. After viewing your ready-made movie, you can rearrange, delete, trim, and split clips. iMovie also has tons of presets, templates, and themes to make editing your action cam footage a breeze.
Why We Picked It
Features you get with this GoPro editing software include HD and 4K video support and speed adjustment tools to speed up or slow down your video clips. Also, since GoPro cameras are typically turned on and left alone until the action is done, you probably have random focus changes in your footage. With iMovie, you can modify the depth of field and shift focus after the fact.
Bottom Line
iMovie is completely free and a good option for new GoPro video editors who own a Mac. However, it lacks some of the features you need to edit videos with action footage, such as multicam editing, 360⁰ editing, and motion tracking.
8. VideoPad Video Editor - Best for First-Time Editors
Compatibility: Windows, Mac
G2 Rating: 4.1/5
Action Camera Editing Features: 3.5/5
Price: Free
*Premium versions available for $70 for Home Edition and $129 for Master’s Edition
Key Features:
- 3D and 360-degree editing: Enables the creation of 3D and 360-degree videos.
- Audio effects: Includes a variety of audio effects such as volume control, pitch correction, and equalization.
- 50+ effects and transitions: Offers a wide range of effects and transitions to enhance the look and feel of a video.
- Video overlay: Allows for the overlay of multiple video clips on top of one another.
Who It’s For
VideoPad Video Editor has an intuitive and beginner-friendly user interface that is easy to learn. If you’ve never tried to edit videos before, this GoPro video editor is a good place to start. VideoPad has wide format support and will allow you to edit video from a GoPro, webcam, VHS, DV camcorder, and many more, then upload your finished film directly to YouTube.
Why We Picked It
Even though VideoPad is for beginners, it has a lot to offer as a GoPro software, including camera shake reduction and the ability to slow down, speed up, or reverse video clips. With this GoPro video editor, you can fine-tune color, animate text, and add narration or sound effects to your videos.
Bottom Line
Using VideoPad Video Editor to edit videos will not yield professional results. But as the free version is only available for private use, that might be ok. Our biggest issue was with the annoying notifications you have to deal with when you use the free version of this GoPro software. If you need a GoPro video editor to edit videos for commercial use, or desire more professional tools, try one of the other options on our list, such as PowerDirector or DaVinci Resolve.
9. Lightworks - Best for a Wide Range of Users
Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux
G2 Rating: 3.5/5
Action Camera Editing Features: 4/5
Price: Free
*Premium subscriptions available for $9.99/month for Lightworks Create and $23.99/month for Lightworks Pro
Key Features:
- Motion graphics: Includes tools for creating and adding motion graphics to videos.
- Background processing: Supports background processing for improved productivity.
- Instant autosave: Automatically saves projects in real-time to avoid loss of data.
- Text and titles: Includes tools for adding text and titles to videos.
Who It’s For
Lightworks is one of the most versatile GoPro video editors on our list, covering a wide range of users and editing needs. This free GoPro software is a pared-back version of the pro video editor used to edit videos for Hollywood. It is filled with advanced features, but easy enough for beginners. It has a slight learning curve but offers tooltips that pop up for every component, explaining what it is and how to use it (you can turn these off as you get familiar with the program). It also has wide format support and is available on Windows, Mac, and Linux, making it a good fit for just about anyone.
Why We Picked It
In our test, we were most impressed with the audio editing tools this GoPro editing software had to offer. It has sound controls that can be precisely adjusted, a wide range of audio filters, and EQ to clean up background noise. You can also apply color corrections and LUTs with this GoPro video editor.
Bottom Line
Although Lightworks has a completely free version, it will only export up to 720p, making it more of a “try before you buy” version instead of something you can seriously use to edit videos. If you desire a GoPro video editor to support both beginners and advanced users, but don’t want to lose video definition during export, try PowerDirector.
10. Movavi Video Editor - Best for Quick Edits
Compatibility: Windows, Mac
PCMag Rating: 4/5
Action Camera Editing Features: 3.5/5
Price: 7-day free trial, then $74.95
Key Features:
- Rotate/Crop: Allows for rotating or cropping of video footage.
- Record VO: Ability to record a voice-over for the video.
- Object animation: Allows for animation of objects within the video.
- Reverse video: Ability to play videos in reverse.
Who It’s For
We found Movavi Video Editor to be the best GoPro video editor for quick edits because it is ideal for beginners and content creators who need to make videos in a hurry. It comes with lots of templates, titles, filters, effects, and transitions that can be applied with the touch of a button. For action cam fans, it offers automatic video stabilization and color correction. This GoPro software also has a built-in soundtrack library so you can quickly choose music and get on with uploading your project.
Why We Picked It
This GoPro video editor has slow-mo and fast video effects, chroma key, and stickers to add a unique spin to your GoPro videos. In addition, it offers vertical video support for easy social media posting and a sound equalizer to fix noisy outdoor shots.
Bottom Line
This GoPro software is a good option for content creators and beginners who want a quick and easy way to upload content to social media and YouTube. However, Movavi Video Editor won't grow with you, so you'll have to scrap the program altogether if you start to require more advanced features.
11. Shotcut - Best for Green Screen Effects
Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux
Trustpilot Rating: 3.8/5
Action Camera Editing Features: 3.5/5
Price: Free
Key Features:
- 360-degree video filters: Apply special filters and effects to 360-degree video footage for a unique look.
- Reverse clips: Play video clips in reverse for creative and interesting effects.
- Audio filters: Apply audio filters and effects to improve or enhance the sound of your videos.
- Picture-in-Picture: Overlay multiple videos in a single frame to create picture-in-picture effects.
Who It’s For
Shotcut is a great free GoPro software if you need to incorporate green screen effects into your action camera footage. We love that it gives you both beginner and advanced chroma key options to cover users of any skill level. With this GoPro video editor, you can use any color background (not just green), and there’s even a spill effect to clean up the edges after you remove the background.
Why We Picked It
This GoPro editing software supports the latest audio and video formats thanks to FFmpeg. You can edit videos in 8K quality, and keep the resolution upon export. And native timeline editing means you can start editing right away - no import required. When we tested slow motion and fast motion effects, we were pleased to see Shotcut offered pitch compensation so our soundtrack stayed level no matter how much we manipulated the footage.
Bottom Line
Shotcut has wide format support and is compatible with every major platform. This GoPro video editor is open-source and updated regularly, so even though a couple of features failed during our test, bugs are typically fixed quickly. The interface is clean, but a little too clean for the number of features. Most features are hidden, so even if you are an experienced GoPro video editor, you will have to spend significant time finding the tools you need.
12. OpenShot - Best for Transitions
Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux
TechRadar Rating: 3/5
Action Camera Editing Features: 4/5
Price: Free
Key Features:
- Chroma key effects: Allows for the replacement of the background of a video with a green screen background.
- Color adjustment tools: A variety of tools to adjust the color and tone of a video.
- Quadratic bezier curves: A tool for creating and editing precise curves and shapes in a video.
- Background removal: The ability to remove the background of a video to replace it with another image or video.
Who It’s For
If you like to edit videos with unique and exciting transitions, then try OpenShot. OpenShot is a free, open-source GoPro software with over 400 transitions. With this GoPro video editor, you can adjust the sharpness and speed of the transitions using its powerful keyframe framework.
Why We Picked It
Speed up and slow down clips or reverse a video’s direction. You can do this automatically or manually using keyframes. A flexible interface is another example of how this GoPro software is useful for beginners and advanced users, as it offers both simple and advanced view options. Other important features include video stabilization and object tracking.
Bottom Line
Although it has some excellent advanced features, professionals may get frustrated using OpenShot because it can be buggy and sometimes it doesn’t work properly. Both Openshot and Shotcut are open-source GoPro video editors with similar pros and cons. We placed Shotcut higher on our list because it comes more highly rated.
13. VSDC Free Video Editor - Best for CPU
Compatibility: Windows
Trustpilot Rating: 3.9/5
Action Camera Editing Features: 3/5
Price: Free
*Premium version is $19.99
Key Features:
- Voice over: Allows for recording of audio directly within the software.
- Animated text: Tools for creating text animations.
- Screen recording: Ability to capture video of what is happening on a computer screen.
- 360-degree video editing: Tools specifically for editing 360-degree video footage.
Who It’s For
VSDC Free Video Editor is a GoPro video editor for casual users that is very light on your computer’s resources. If you have an old/outdated computer or have run out of available RAM, this is the GoPro editing software for you. VSDC uses hardware acceleration to lower CPU, allowing you to edit videos with increased speed.
Why We Picked It
GoPro video editors will like VSDC Free Video Editor for its color correction features. It also has picture-in-picture, split-screen, masking, and chroma key effects. This GoPro editing software is filled with trending filters, transitions, and effects.
Bottom Line
VSDC Free Video Editor is missing key GoPro software features such as motion tracking and video stabilization. If you want those features, you’ll need to spring for the premium version. Fortunately, the paid version is very affordable. We also felt the user interface was outdated and that too many tools were difficult to find.
Best Free GoPro Video Editor Comparison Chart
| Software | OS | Beginner-Friendly | Video Stabilization | 360° Editing | Multicam Editing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PowerDirector | Windows, Mac | Yes | Video Stabilizer slider to adjust as needed, rotational camera shake, and enhanced stabilizer options | Yes | Yes |
| VideoProc Vlogger | Windows, Mac | Yes | Video Stabilization available in paid version only | No | No |
| DaVinci Resolve | Windows, Mac | No | Video Stabilization | Yes | Yes |
| Adobe Premiere Pro | Windows, Mac | No | Reduce camera shake even while zooming and Warp Stabilizer effect | Yes | Yes |
| Final Cut Pro | Mac | No | Smooth cam and Image stabilization | Yes | Yes |
| Adobe After Effects | Windows, Mac | No | Stabilize Motion and Warp Stabilizer tools | Yes | No |
| iMovie | Mac | Yes | Analyze Shaky Video checkbox | No | No |
| VideoPad Video Editor | Windows, Mac | Yes | Remove camera shake with video stabilizer | Yes | No |
| Lightworks | Windows, Mac, Linux | No | BCC Optical Stabilizer filter | Yes | Yes |
| Movavi Video Editor | Windows, Mac | Yes | One-click button to turn video stabilization on or off | No | No |
| Shotcut | Windows, Mac, Linux | Yes | Stabilizer filter to improve shaky video | No | No |
| OpenShot | Windows, Mac, Linux | Yes | Video Stabilizer to remove camera shake | No | No |
| VSDC Free Video Editor | Windows | Yes | Video Stabilization available in paid version only | Yes | No |
PowerDirector
vs
OS
Windows, Mac
-
Beginner-Friendly
Yes
-
Video Stabilization
Video Stabilizer slider to adjust as needed, rotational camera shake, and enhanced stabilizer options
-
360° Editing
Yes
-
Multicam Editing
Yes
-
How to Edit GoPro Videos
Here is a step-by-step guide for editing videos with PowerDirector, the best overall GoPro video editor.
Download for free and follow along:
How to Stabilize Video
- Open PowerDirector and import the video by clicking the Import Media icon, then selecting Import Media Files. Next, select the file you’d like to correct.
- Drag the video you’d like to correct into the timeline. Click Fix/Enhance in the menu above the timeline, then choose Video Stabilizer from the drop-down menu.
- Select Compare in Split Preview. Now you can view before and after videos side by side and make adjustments without going back to the timeline.
- Fine-tune the stabilization level with the slider.
The default stabilization level is 50. Though a higher number will enhance the stabilization, it will result in more cropping, which can compromise the frame and resolution of the video. Remember to compare the before and after side by side to get instant feedback about your results.
How to Slow Down a Video
- Import your clip and drag it to the editing track.
- Click Tools, then Action Camera Center.
- Open the Effect tab at the top of the window and click Create Time Shift.
The time shift border will appear at the beginning of your timeline, and you can drag it to cover the period of the video you would like to slow down. - Once you have adjusted the effect to fit your clip, select Speed on the left-hand side of the screen, then Apply Speed Effect.
- Use the Speed Multiplier slider to adjust the speed during your designated selection.
As you make the pace slower, you will notice that the duration of the overall clip increases. - Select the Ease in and Ease out checkboxes to create a smoother slow-mo effect.
Click here for more information on how to edit videos with speed effects.
How to Apply a Motion Blur Effect
- Drag your video onto the timeline. Click Tools from the menu right above the timeline.
- Choose PiP Designer from the dropdown menu.
- Click Advanced above the preview window to bring up the Motion menu.
- Click the box next to Motion Blur.
For a more in-depth look at how to edit videos with the Motion Blur effect, click here.
Download the Best GoPro Video Editor for Free
Several of the GoPro video editors on our list are packed with action camera features and essential editing tools but were not meant for beginners. There are also beginner-friendly GoPro video editors that lacked various pro features. With PowerDirector, you don’t have to choose between features and ease of use. That’s why we chose PowerDirector as the best overall GoPro editing software.
PowerDirector has a dedicated Action Camera Center to do quick work out of finding the right tools for your GoPro footage. You’ll find speed ramp, video stabilization, time-lapse editing, color correction, and more, all under one tab. With PowerDirector, you can correct the fish-eye distortion caused by the GoPro camera’s wide-angle lens and apply cool motion blur effects to moving objects and people. There’s also motion tracking, multi-cam editing, and 360⁰ editing - everything you could need to make a fantastic action-cam video that looks professionally made.
PowerDirector has an easy-to-use interface and plenty of tutorials, guided edits, and ready-made templates to save you time and effort. It also supports all video formats and devices and is available on Windows and Mac.
Download PowerDirector - the best GoPro video editor - by clicking the link below and start producing engaging GoPro content today.
GoPro Video Editor FAQ
1. What is GoPro?
GoPro is a compact camera made for capturing outdoor and action videos. It was made to withstand extreme weather conditions and even film underwater (its inventor, Nick Woodman, created the GoPro so he could film himself while surfing).
GoPro has a powerful built-in video stabilizer for capturing footage while on the go, and an extremely wide-angle lens, so you can capture more scenery quickly. In addition, there are many different mounts available for purchase to mount your GoPro to your bike, helmet, chest, tripod, surfboard, and even your dog. While there are other action cameras on the market, GoPro is considered the industry standard.
2. What features should I look for in a GoPro video editor?
The top ten features you should look for in a GoPro video editor are
- Video stabilization
- Lens distortion correction
- Audio denoise
- Multicam editing
- 360-degree editing
- Time-lapse editing
- Cut/Trim/Splice tools
- Slo-mo/Speed up tools
- Motion blur tool
- Royalty-Free music library
If you’re looking for a GoPro video editor that checks all of these boxes, we recommend PowerDirector.
3. What is the best free GoPro editing software?
The best free GoPro editing software is PowerDirector Essential. It is the free-forever version of PowerDirector and allows you to edit videos with all of PowerDirector’s premium features for free for 30 days. After that, you can continue using PowerDirector Essential, or download the affordable premium version.
PowerDirector has an entire Action Camera Center, which places its extensive list of GoPro editing features in one place. It is a good fit for both beginners and experienced editors.
4. What replaces GoPro Studio?
Any of the GoPro editing software on our list can be a replacement for the defunct GoPro video editor, GoPro Studio. However, we recommend PowerDirector as the best option to edit videos because it has all the features found in Studio, plus many more.
5. Is GoPro Studio still available?
GoPro Studio is no longer included in the installation of Quik for Desktop as of version 2.4.
6. What do you use to edit your GoPro videos?
We use PowerDirector to edit our GoPro videos. It is the quickest and easiest way to edit GoPro footage, thanks to a dedicated Action Camera Center, making it easy to find the tools you need. PowerDirector comes with all the necessary features, such as video stabilization, color correction, background noise removal, time-lapse creation, and many more.
7. Can you edit GoPro videos without GoPro studio?
Yes, you can use any of the GoPro video editors found on this list to edit videos from GoPro footage.
8. What is the easiest video editing software for beginners?
The easiest video editing software is PowerDirector. It has an intuitive user interface and is filled with beginner-friendly features, including AI-powered tools that can be applied with one click. It also has guided edits, online tutorials, and how-to blogs with step-by-step instructions for every feature.
9. Do you need a computer to edit GoPro footage?
No, there are many GoPro video editors available on mobile. Our favorite is PowerDirector for iPhone and Android.
10. Can you self-teach video editing?
You can only self-teach video editing if you have the right video editing software. With a beginner-friendly option like PowerDirector, you can explore and practice using tools with little to no learning curve. PowerDirector also comes with guided edits, which hold your hand through more complicated editing techniques.
11. Does GoPro have a video editor?
Yes, GoPro has a video editor called GoPro Quik. GoPro Quik is an easy-to-use video editing software designed to help users quickly create engaging videos from their GoPro footage.
GoPro Quik is available for free download on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS platforms. It offers a range of editing features, including trimming, transitions, adding music, and more. You can use GoPro Quik to edit your GoPro videos without any cost.
For beginners looking to edit GoPro videos, GoPro Quik is a good starting point due to its user-friendly interface and straightforward features. Other beginner-friendly video editing software options include:
PowerDirector: PowerDirector is a versatile and powerful video editing software. Its free version offers a user-friendly interface and a range of basic editing tools, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced users who want to edit GoPro videos.
iMovie (for macOS users): iMovie is a free video editing software available to macOS users that provides a simple interface and basic editing tools, ideal for beginners working with GoPro videos.
DaVinci Resolve: DaVinci Resolve is a professional video editing software that offers a free version with a comprehensive set of features. While it has a steeper learning curve compared to other options, it can be a great choice for beginners who want to learn more advanced video editing techniques and work with GoPro footage.
VideoPad Video Editor: VideoPad is another beginner-friendly video editing software that offers a free version for non-commercial use. It provides a straightforward interface and a range of basic editing tools, making it suitable for editing GoPro videos.
12. How can I edit my GoPro videos for free?
To edit your GoPro videos for free, you can use one of the following free video editing software options:
PowerDirector: PowerDirector is a powerful video editing software with a user-friendly interface. The free version offers basic editing tools, making it suitable for beginners.
GoPro Quik: GoPro Quik is a free video editor developed by GoPro, specifically designed for editing GoPro footage.
OpenShot Video Editor: OpenShot is an open-source video editor that is easy to use and supports a wide range of video formats, making it suitable for editing GoPro videos.
13. Is GoPro Quik video editor free?
Yes, GoPro Quik video editor is free to download and use. It is available for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS platforms.
14. What video editing software should a beginner use for GoPro?
For beginners looking to edit GoPro videos, several video editing software options are suitable:
PowerDirector: As your preferred option, PowerDirector offers a range of basic editing tools in its free version, making it a great choice for beginners.
GoPro Quik: GoPro Quik is designed for editing GoPro footage and has a user-friendly interface, making it a suitable option for beginners.
OpenShot Video Editor: OpenShot is an open-source video editor that is easy to use and supports a wide range of video formats, making it suitable for editing GoPro videos.
iMovie (for macOS users): iMovie is a free video editing software available to macOS users that provides a simple interface and basic editing tools, ideal for beginners.
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