Apple debuted its first editing software, Final Cut Pro, in 1999. Final Cut Pro was a game-changer for the industry, with its non-traditional, non-linear editing style. Initially, it was intended for hobbyists and independent filmmakers, but over the next decade, Hollywood took notice. Final Cut Pro was used to edit big-budget films like X-Men Origins: Wolverine, 500 Days of Summer, and The Social Network - which won an Oscar for Best Editing.
Even though Hollywood’s love of Final Cut Pro has had its ups and downs, it has remained a staple for amateur filmmakers and self-employed editors for over two decades.
Although Final Cut Pro is a great choice for both professionals and non-professional editors, it does have some drawbacks, leading many users to seek a Final Cut Pro alternative. You can’t get Final Cut Pro for Windows, and you can’t get Final Cut Pro for free. Also, beginners will find it has a steep learning curve and will take a while to get familiar with the software.
If you want high-quality editing software that suits beginning and professional editors but don’t have a Mac computer or a large budget, look no further. We’ve compiled a list of the 13 best free alternatives to Final Cut Pro for Windows PC.
- Top 3 Free Final Cut Pro Alternatives Snapshot
- What is Final Cut Pro?
- 13 Best Free Final Cut Pro Alternatives for Windows PC in 2022
- PowerDirector Essential - Best Overall Final Cut Pro Alternative
- Blender - Best Final Cut Pro Alternative for Animation
- HitFilm Express - Best Final Cut Pro Alternative for Visual Effects
- Lightworks Free - Best Final Cut Pro Alternative for Control Over Effects
- Avid Media Composer First - Best Final Cut Pro Alternative for Budding Professionals
- DaVinci Resolve - Best Final Cut Pro Alternative for Post-Production
- Shotcut - Best Final Cut Pro Alternative for Format Support
- Magix Movie Studio - Best Final Cut Pro Alternative for Editing Audio
- Movavi Video Editor - Best Final Cut Pro Alternative for Vlogging
- Adobe Premiere Elements - Best Final Cut Pro Alternative for Organizing Media
- OpenShot - Best Final Cut Pro Alternative for Intermediate Users
- VSDC Free Video Editor - Best Final Cut Pro Alternative for Presentations
- VideoPad - Best Final Cut Pro Alternative for Beginners
- Best Free Final Cut Pro Alternatives Comparison Chart
- How to Get Final Cut Pro for Windows PC
- Download the Best Alternative to Final Cut Pro for Free
- Final Cut Pro Alternatives FAQ
Top 3 Free Final Cut Pro Alternatives Snapshot
1. PowerDirector Essential - Best Overall Final Cut Pro Alternative
PowerDirector is the best alternative to Final Cut Pro for Windows. PowerDirector offers even more advanced editing features but is much easier to learn for beginners. Best of all, you can download it for free. Detailed Review >
2. Blender - Best Final Cut Pro Alternative for Animation
An open-source alternative to Final Cut Pro for Windows, Mac, and Linux that specializes in animation tools and motion effects. Detailed Review >
3. HitFilm Express - Best Final Cut Pro Alternative for Visual Effects
If you like to make films with lots of visual effects, this alternative to Final Cut Pro for Windows is for you. It offers so much more VFX tools than Final Cut Pro for free. Detailed Review >
What is Final Cut Pro?
Final Cut Pro is a non-linear video editing software created by Apple for Mac computers. It debuted in April 1999 as an editor primarily for hobbyists, independent filmmakers, and documentarians.
Over the next few years, it started to gain favor with Hollywood and was used to edit some big blockbusters. In June 2011, it was re-released as Final Cut Pro X causing Hollywood to turn its back on the software and the search for Final Cut Pro alternatives began.
For 10 years, Final Cut Pro X tried to regain favor with professional editors, but to no avail. In November 2020, it was released again as Final Cut Pro with a complete redesign.
13 Best Free Final Cut Pro Alternatives for Windows PC in 2022
1. PowerDirector Essential - Best Overall Final Cut Pro Alternative
Compatibility: Windows, Mac
PCMag Rating: 4.5/5
Advanced Features: 5/5
Price: Free
*Premium subscription available for $4.08/month
Key Features:
- Chroma key
- Mask and blending tools
- Sky replacement
- Video stabilization
PowerDirector is the best alternative to Final Cut Pro for Windows PC. Both are PCMag winners for Best Editing Software in 2022 [Final Cut for “Best Professional Editing on Macs,” and PowerDirector “Best for Tons of Tools and Ease of Use”]. But while Final Cut Pro is quite expensive, PowerDirector offers an alternative to Final Cut Pro for free - PowerDirector Essential. It has access to almost all of the amazing features offered in its affordable premium version.
The software offers all the professional editing tools of Final Cut Pro for free, like 360-degree editing, motion tracking, multicam editing, motion graphics, and much more. Because of regular updates, PowerDirector added these effects long before they were adopted by Final Cut Pro.
There is a huge stock library with videos, photos, sound effects, and music, as well as hundreds of transitions, stickers, titles, and effects. PowerDirector is also a much faster Final Cut Pro alternative, rendering video 4 times faster than the Apple software.
PowerDirector has a streamlined user interface that seasoned Final Cut Pro users will find familiar, plus an intuitive workflow and best-in-class editing tools to rival any professional alternative to Final Cut Pro for Windows. The software is beginner-friendly and easy to use. Best yet, you can download it for free.
Pros
- User-Friendly editing interface
- Faster rendering than Final Cut Pro for free
- Same robust editing features you find in Final Cut Pro for free
- Shutterstock and iStock Getty Images stock libraries are unavailable in the free version
Download the #1 alternative to Final Cut Pro for free below.
2. Blender - Best Final Cut Pro Alternative for Animation
Image from Blender Artists.
Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux
G2 Rating: 4.5/5
Advanced Features: 5/5
Price: Free
Key Features:
- Masking tools
- Audio adjustment tools
- 3D painting with textured brushes
- CPU, GPU, and VR rendering
Blender is an open-source Final Cut Pro alternative emphasizing advanced motion graphics and animation. It has even more special effects and compositing tools than Final Cut Pro for free. It has excellent animation support including onion skinning, modeling, and sculpting.
This alternative to Final Cut Pro for Windows has tools for particle simulation, motion tracking, keyframing, and much more. It also has basic editing tools so animators and VFX artists can complete their films without additional software.
Blender is a good tool to have if you find you need some advanced VFX tools, but don’t want to hire outside help. But anyone who doesn’t regularly need animation and visual effects tools probably won’t be using this as their go-to alternative to Final Cut Pro for Windows. While Blender has the same rating as PowerDirector, we ranked it as the second-best alternative to Final Cut Pro for Windows because of its steep learning curve and narrower focus.
Pros
- Customizable interface
- Better pro-level VFX tools than Final Cut Pro for free
- Slow rendering
- Steep learning curve
3. HitFilm Express - Best Final Cut Pro Alternative for Visual Effects
Compatibility: Windows, Mac
G2 Rating: 4.4/5
Advanced Features: 4.9/5
Price: Free
*Premium subscriptions available for $7.50/month for Creator and $12.50/month for Pro
Key Features:
- Particle simulator
- 3D geometry effects
- 360-Degree video support
- Picture-in-Picture
If you love making sci-fi, superhero, and action videos with lots of visual effects but need a version of Final Cut Pro for Windows, HitFilm Express is for you. With the tools that HitFilm Express offers, you can animate images and characters, use waveforms for audio element visualization, import 3D models, and apply behavioral effects to your videos. This alternative to Final Cut Pro for Windows has unlimited audio and video tracks, so you don’t have to put an end to your creativity.
There are distortion effects that come in 4 categories: Heat, Energy, Smoke, and Fluid. HitFilm Express has 3D muzzle flashes for any kind of weapon, and a library of sci-fi effects like lasers and star fields. There is also a puppet tool that adds natural motion to graphics, shapes, and text.
HitFilm Express is packed with effects but requires a lot of hard drive space. And while it is a good alternative to Final Cut Pro for Windows in visual and special effects, HitFilm Express is surprisingly lacking in basic editing tools like transitions and audio tools. If you are looking for a beginner-friendly alternative to Final Cut Pro for Windows to do basic video edits, try PowerDirector Essential or Blender.
Pros
- Advanced features akin to Final Cut Pro for free
- Various plug-ins available to enhance your projects
- Lacking basic editing tools needed in an alternative to Final Cut Pro for Windows
- Uses a lot of space
4. Lightworks Free - Best Final Cut Pro Alternative for Control Over Effects
Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux
Capterra Rating: 4.3/5
Advanced Features: 5/5
Price: Free
*Premium subscriptions available for $9.90/month for Creator
and $23.99/month for Pro
Key Features:
- Simple and advanced trimming
- Access to stock music library
- Clip-Based audio leveling
- Audio track sync
Lightworks has been used to edit Oscar-winning films for decades. Lightworks Free is the free, beginner-friendly version of the Hollywood classic. Though not as powerful, Lightworks Free comes with plenty of features to make it a good alternative to Final Cut Pro for Windows. The visual effects tools are easy to find and can be edited with precision detail, allowing you to get the same professional results as Final Cut Pro for free.
For those of us in a hurry, Lightworks Free has background processing, so you can import, export, and render complex effects while you work. And you never have to worry about sudden computer failure with Lightworks Free’s instant auto-saving feature. Edit on multiple video, audio, and effects tracks, then add titles, effects, and transitions. With Lightworks, you can get the same advanced transitions library in Final Cut Pro for free, but not the advanced titles.
Lightworks Free supports all popular input formats, but only exports up to 720p. And although the creators intended this version to be beginner-friendly, it still has a steep learning curve. You may notice that Lightworks Free and the next two Final Cut Pro alternatives on our list are all highly professional software with a 5/5 for advanced features. We have placed Lightworks at the top because we found it slightly easier to use than the other 2 Final Cut Pro alternatives.
Pros
- Most features offer a simple and advanced setting
- Good performance
- Steeper learning curve than necessary in beginner software
- Only exports up to 720p
5. Avid Media Composer First - Best Final Cut Pro Alternative for Budding Professionals
Image from Avid.
Compatibility: Windows, Mac
G2 Rating: 4.1/5
Advanced Features: 5/5
Price: Free
*Avid Media Composer available for $23.99/month
Key Features:
- Frame flex
- Time code tool
- Bulk edit
- Video stabilization
Avid Media Composer First is the free version of Avid Media Composer - Hollywood’s most popular film and TV editing program. It is a good alternative to Final Cut Pro for Windows because it is surprisingly robust for a free offering, containing many of the pro-level tools you would find in the paid versions. Avid labeled Composer First ideal for “aspiring video professionals.” It is the perfect learning tool for budding video editors who want to become proficient on Avid.
Edit up to 4 video tracks and 8 audio tracks with 5 bins per project and publish directly to YouTube and Vimeo. Avid Media Composer First offers many of the same tools you’d find in Final Cut Pro for free. It has a large number of color-correcting tools like HSL controls, hue offset, and luma range. It offers audio tools like audio ducking and punch-in, as well as 4-way multicam editing.
Professionals will find the offerings on Avid Media Composer First too limited, and beginners will find it very difficult to learn, which is why we recommend it for future professional editors willing to put in the time to learn. If you don’t fall into that category, try PowerDirector Essential. It is an alternative to Final Cut Pro for free that is robust enough for pros and easy enough for beginners.
Pros
- Offers a lot of pro features available in Final Cut Pro for free
- Support for all mainstream video formats
- Limited to 1080p export
- Extremely steep learning curve
6. DaVinci Resolve - Best Final Cut Pro Alternative for Post-Production
Compatibility: Windows, Mac
PCMag Rating: 4/5
Advanced Features: 5/5
Price: Free
*DaVinci Resolve Studio available for $295
Key Features:
- Multicam editing
- Animated titles
- Object removal
- Video stabilization
DaVinci Resolve feels like paid software because it is packed with the same tools used by colorists, editors, VFX artists, and sound engineers on major studio films and television shows. This is a great alternative to Final Cut Pro for Windows because it offers more post-production solutions.
This video editor has features like motion graphics, advanced audio tools, VFX and title-card building modes, and image restoration. You can edit up to 2,000 tracks at a time, and to keep the interface from becoming overwhelming, DaVinci Resolve is divided into “Pages,” giving you a dedicated workspace for different tasks. DaVinci Resolve doesn’t offer much in terms of transitions and effects options, but the color grading tools are outstanding and better than what you’d find in Final Cut Pro for free.
DaVinci Resolve is a one-stop-shop for post-production, which makes it better for finishing edited projects than starting them. It also requires a powerful computer to operate properly - possibly more than an editing enthusiast would have at home. Like Avid Media Composer First, DaVinci Resolve has a steep learning curve, but amazingly professional tools, and is a great choice for professionals looking for an alternative to Final Cut Pro for free.
Pros
- More advanced post-production tools than Final Cut Pro for free
- Uncluttered and neatly organized
- High CPU
- Steep learning curve
7. Shotcut - Best Final Cut Pro Alternative for Format Support
Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux
TechRadar Rating: 4/5
Advanced Features: 4/5
Price: Free
Key Features:
- Picture-in-Picture
- Batch encoding
- Blending modes
- Audio filters
Shotcut is a free, open-source, cross-platform alternative to Final Cut Pro for Windows. Shotcut uses FFmpeg to support hundreds of audio and video formats. It also has a good selection of device and transport options, including screen and webcam capture.
If you want to try green-screen effects, Shotcut has both simple and advanced chroma key options. There’s even a key spill effect to clean up edges.
Shotcut offers unlimited undo and redo options. It has multi-track audio mixing and color wheels for color correction and grading. Other features include keyframing, transitions, and blur effects. However, none of these features are as intuitive as they are in some of our other alternatives to Final Cut Pro for free, such as PowerDirector or HitFilm Express.
The interface is not as clean and user-friendly as some paid alternatives to Final Cut Pro for Windows, but it is very customizable. Shotcut contains lots of output formats but lacks built-in sharing to popular sites. And although it is primarily for beginners, there is a bit of a learning curve.
Pros
- Customizable
- Open-source with regular updates
- Messy interface
- Beginners looking for Final Cut Pro for Windows will find it too technical
8. Magix Movie Studio - Best Final Cut Pro Alternative for Editing Audio
Image from Magix Tutorials
Compatibility: Windows
TechRadar Rating: 4/5
Advanced Features: 3.5/5
Price: 30-day free trial, then $69.99 for Movie Studio, $99.99 for Platinum, and $278.99 for Suite
Key Features:
- Split-Screen
- Speed adjustment tools
- Image stabilization
- Royalty-Free stock assets
Magix Movie Studio is an alternative to Final Cut Pro for Windows with some fun audio tools. It comes with filters for different environments, a compressor filter, echo effects, and distortions. There’s also a mixer where you can make precise audio edits or use presets for a quicker approach.
The video editor also comes with plenty of tools, and over 900 effects, transitions, and titles. Most features have automatic and manual settings to cover every comfort level. We like that this alternative to Final Cut Pro for Windows recently added social media-friendly templates and auto reframing for videos taken on a smartphone.
This is a worthy alternative to Final Cut Pro for Windows users, especially beginners. There are tools that more seasoned editors will enjoy, however its reverse track order will throw off anyone used to other software. Many of Magix Movie Studio’s tools are reserved for its Platinum and Suite versions, and not the affordable Movie Studio. And unlike our alternatives to Final Cut Pro for free PowerDirector Essential and HitFilm Express, there’s no dedicated free version, only a free trial.
Pros
- Fast rendering
- Customizable workspace
- Frequent crashes
- Many tools only in expensive Suite version
9. Movavi Video Editor Plus - Best Final Cut Pro Alternative for Vlogging
Compatibility: Windows, Mac
PCMag Rating: 4/5
Advanced Features: 3/5
Price: 7-day free trial, then $54.95 for one year, or $74.95 for a lifetime license
Key Features:
- Stylized filters
- Vertical video support
- Background rendering
- Voice over
Movavi Video Editor Plus is a great alternative to Final Cut Pro for Windows users. It is a fun, quick, and easy way to edit videos for YouTube or social media. It has a simple interface and allows users to create a finished product in 20 minutes. Add pizzazz to your videos with ready-made intros, animated titles, thematic stickers, and transitions with sound, then upload to your favorite site with pre-selected aspect ratios.
There are also some advanced video editing tools like chroma key, motion tracking, video stabilization, slow-motion, and reverse. Movavi touts its video editor as having zero learning curve but still offers a built-in training module for support, making this a much easier alternative to Final Cut Pro for Windows.
Because Movavi Video Editor is so quick and easy to use, it lacks a lot of features found in other video editing software, such as advanced trim modes and clip pre-trimming that Final Cut Pro users would come to expect in a Final Cut Pro alternative. That’s why it falls behind Davinci Resolve on our list, even though it is more beginner friendly. Also, the free version is only a 7-day trial and offers even fewer features.
Pros
- Simple interface
- No learning curve
- Lack of control over effects
- Slow rendering
10. Adobe Premiere Elements - Best Final Cut Pro Alternative for Organizing Media
Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux
PCMag Rating: 3.5/5
Advanced Features: 3.5/5
Price: 30-day free trial, then $99.99
Key Features:
- Video stabilization
- Video-to-Photo tool
- Time-Lapse
- Double exposure
Adobe Premiere Elements is a pared-down version of Adobe Premiere Pro, and an excellent alternative to Final Cut Pro for Windows. We like this product for users with lots of media they need to organize. Premiere Elements uses facial recognition to automatically tag your clips by the people in them. You can also tag by a chosen subject, event, date, or place.
You can perform all the tasks you’d expect from an alternative to Final Cut Pro for Windows, such as noise reduction, multi-track editing, keyframing, transitions, and titles. Premiere Elements has AI-powered tools, like auto reframing and automatically matching music length to your video.
This alternative to Final Cut Pro for Windows is a more beginner-friendly version of a Hollywood classic, making it akin to Avid Media Composer, Lightworks, and DaVinci Resolve. However, unlike those Final Cut Pro alternatives, Premiere Elements is actually beginner friendly. But what it gains in ease-of-use, it loses in features, missing tools like multi-cam and 360-degree editing. It’s also not completely free like the others but only offers a free trial. A good compromise is PowerDirector Essential - a beginner-friendly, alternative to Final Cut Pro for free, packed with advanced features.
Pros
- A simplistic and intuitive interface
- Lots of guided edits and tutorials
- Uses a lot of computer resources
- Slow rendering speeds
11. OpenShot - Best Final Cut Pro Alternative for Intermediate Users
Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux
Creative Bloq Rating: 3/5
Advanced Features: 4/5
Price: Free
Key Features:
- 3D animations
- Background removal
- 40+ vector title templates
- Audio waveforms
OpenShot is a free and open-source alternative to Final Cut Pro for Windows and Linux. We think it is a good alternative to Final Cut Pro for free, especially for intermediate video editors. Like PowerDirector, it is beginner-friendly yet filled with pro-level tools. It has built-in templates for beginners, and advanced timeline features, time effects, and unlimited layering options for more skilled editors.
If you want advanced features like Final Cut Pro for free, OpenShot will deliver. Features such as Bezier curves, scaling and snapping, and a range of color adjustment tools can be found in this alternative to Final Cut Pro for Windows.
We found some features did not work well, and the software got buggy at times. That’s why we think OpenShot may not be a good fit for professionals working on tight deadlines. But for beginner to intermediate editors who need an alternative to Final Cut Pro for Windows or Linux, OpenShot is a solid fit.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Nice-looking interface
- Very few tutorials
- Freezing, lagging, and sudden crashes
12. VSDC Free Video Editor - Best Final Cut Pro Alternative for Presentations
Compatibility: Windows
PCMag Rating: 3/5
Advanced Features: 4/5
Price: Free
*Premium version is $19.99
Key Features:
- Powerful chroma key tool
- Masking
- Voice over
- Color correction
If you need an alternative to Final Cut Pro for free to create business presentations, then VSDC Free Video Editor could be for you. We found it easy to create charts, remove background, and add split-screen and picture-in-picture effects.
VSDC has a good number of advanced tools for an alternative to Final Cut Pro for free, like motion tracking, video stabilization, and 360-degree editing. It also comes equipped with a screen recorder and project templates for family video greeting cards.
The problems with VSDC stem from its interface and workflow. The interface is cluttered, yet many tools are hidden and hard to find. So although this is meant to be beginner-friendly, it may take some time to get used to the clunky workflow. If you are looking for an alternative to Final Cut Pro for free with a pleasing interface, try Openshot or PowerDirector.
Pros
- Subpixel accuracy
- Low system requirements
- Unpolished interface
- Too many features are hidden in submenus
13. VideoPad - Best Final Cut Pro Alternative for Beginners
Compatibility: Windows, Mac
TopTenReviews Rating: 3/5
Advanced Features: 3/5
Price: Free
*Premium versions available for $70 for Home Edition and $129 for Master’s Edition
Key Features:
- Over 60 supported video formats
- 3D and 360-degree editing
- Audio effects
- Chroma key
VideoPad is a beginner-friendly alternative to Final Cut Pro for Windows. It comes with a Video Maker Wizard with professional templates you can use to make quickly and easily create videos. VideoPad has drag-and-drop tools and effects to streamline the editing process.
Beyond the basics, VideoPad has stereoscopic 2D to 3D conversion, camera shake reduction, voice-over, transitions, and sound effects. We like this alternative to Final Cut Pro for free for its social-media-friendly tools, such as optimization for search engines and direct uploads to YouTube and Facebook.
VideoPad is best used for home videos, as it has very basic tools, and the free version is for non-commercial use only. While it is a good Final Cut Pro alternative for beginners and home users, it lacks advanced features and has an outdated interface. For a beginner-friendly alternative to Final Cut Pro for Windows with more advanced features, try PowerDirector or Magix Movie Studio.
Pros
- Similar social media output options to Final Cut Pro for free
- Easy drag-and-drop templates
- Outdated
- Have to pay for advanced features
Best Free Final Cut Pro Alternatives Comparison Chart
| PowerDirector Essential | Windows, Mac | Yes | All the advanced features of Final Cut Pro for free, with quicker updates and rendering times, and much easier to use and learn | Yes, monthly | Intuitive, streamlined | Free Download |
| Blender | Windows, Mac, Linux | No | More VFX and animation tools than Final Cut Pro for free | Yes, regularly by the community | Customizable | Download |
| HitFilm Express | Windows, Mac | No | Far more visual and special effects than Final Cut Pro for free, but fewer basic editing features. Takes up more room on your computer | Yes | Outdated | Download |
| Lightworks Free | Windows, Mac, Linux | No | Same great features as Final Cut Pro for free, but the same large learning curve. Only outputs to 720p | Minimum | Fixed layout for short projects or fully customizable for bigger projects | Download |
| Avid Media Composer First | Windows, Mac | No | An alternative to Final Cut Pro for Windows with slightly fewer offerings, and just as hard to learn | Minimum | Streamlined, customizable | Download |
| DaVinci Resolve | Windows, Mac | No | More post-production options than Final Cut Pro for free | Annually | Divided into pages | Download |
| Shotcut | Windows, Mac, Linux | No | An alternative to Final Cut Pro for free that is not as robust, but slightly quicker and easier to learn. | Yes, regularly by the community | Messy, customizable | Download |
| Magix Movie Studio | Windows | Yes | An alternative to Final Cut Pro for Windows with a good amount of features for hobbyists and content creators, but not professionals. It’s more beginner-friendly than Final Cut. | Annually | Customizable | Download |
| Movavi Video Editor | Windows, Mac | Yes | An alternative to Final Cut Pro for Windows that lacks some of the features of Final Cut Pro and has slower rendering times, but is easier to use and learn | Annually | Simple, clean | Download |
| Adobe Premiere Elements | Windows, Mac | Yes | An alternative to Final Cut Pro for Windows that is not as feature-rich but easier-to-use. | Annually | Simple, clean | Download |
| OpenShot | Windows, Mac, Linux | Yes | An alternative to Final Cut Pro for Windows with similar features, but buggy and not as reliable | Yes, regularly | Simple, clean | Download |
| VSDC Free Video Editor | Windows | No | An alternative to Final Cut Pro for Windows with lower system requirements. It is more beginner-friendly than Final Cut, but crashes and is not as reliable | Annually | Messy | Download |
| VideoPad | Windows, Mac | Yes | Not as feature-rich, but a beginner-friendly alternative to Final Cut Pro for Windows. | Yes, regularly | Outdated | Download |
Show More
PowerDirector Essential vs
Blender
HitFilm Express
Lightworks Free
Avid Media Composer First
DaVinci Resolve
Shotcut
Magix Movie Studio
Movavi Video Editor
Adobe Premiere Elements
OpenShot
VSDC Free Video Editor
VideoPad
OS
Windows, Mac
-
Beginner-friendly
Yes
-
Comparison to Final Cut Pro
All the advanced features of Final Cut Pro for free, with quicker updates and rendering times, and much easier to use and learn
-
Regular Updates
Yes, monthly
-
User Interface
Intuitive, streamlined
-
How to Get Final Cut Pro for Windows
Since you cannot get Final Cut Pro for Windows, here is a step-by-step guide to downloading PowerDirector Essential - the #1 alternative to Final Cut Pro for free:
- Click here to go to the PowerDirector Essential site.
- Click on Free Download, and select your Operating System.
- Go to Downloads on
your computer and click on the CL Downloader to start the guided installation process.
PowerDirector Essential will begin downloading automatically. - Once installed, click here to watch a quick and easy guide to get you started.
Download PowerDirector Essential today and start creating videos just like Final Cut Pro for free!
Download the Best Alternative to Final Cut Pro for Free
Final Cut Pro is the software of choice among professional editors who require nonlinear video editing. It offers a wide selection of professional editing tools and effects.
However, it has a complicated interface, there is no version of Final Cut Pro for Windows, and some applications require additional apps, such as After Effects. With Final Cut Pro, you also don't get sound effect samples or searchability in the import dialog. Finally, you can’t get Final Cut Pro for free and it has a steep learning curve.
PowerDirector Essential is the software we recommend as the best alternative to Final Cut Pro for Windows and Mac users. It provides all the features found in Final Cut Pro for free. It is also great for beginners, with plenty of tutorials, guided edits, and a user-friendly interface.
To start creating high-quality, professional video content, download PowerDirector, the best alternative to Final Cut Pro for free.
Final Cut Pro Alternatives FAQ
1. What are the Best Alternatives to Final Cut Pro for Free on Android and iPhone?
- PowerDirector
- iMovie
- Splice
- Quik
- KineMaster
- Filmmaker Pro
- InShot
To learn more about the best free video editing apps for mobile, click here.
2. What Features Should I Look for in a Final Cut Pro Alternative?
The top ten features you should look for in a Final Cut Pro Alternative are:
- Titles and transitions
- Good format support
- Direct uploads to social media
- Fast rendering speeds
- Effects and filters
- New features added regularly
- Chroma key
- Motion tracking
- Multicam editing
- Audio tools
If you’re looking for a free alternative to Final Cut Pro for Windows with all of this and more, try PowerDirector Essential.
3. Can I Get Final Cut Pro for Free?
No, you can’t get Final Cut Pro for free. However, it has a very generous 90-day free trial.
Apple does offer a free video editor, iMovie, that comes installed on macOS and iOS devices.
If you need an alternative to Final Cut Pro for free, we recommend PowerDirector Essential.
4. How Much is Final Cut Pro?
Final Cut Pro costs a one-time fee of $300. You cannot get Final Cut Pro for free.
5. Is Final Cut Pro Worth it?
It depends on your skill level and needs. If you have a Mac and are a professional video editor, then yes, Final Cut Pro might be worth it.
However, consumers and hobbyists have plenty of options for Final Cut Pro alternatives available on both Mac and Windows, and at different price points. If you are editing content for personal use or social media, then you need an alternative to Final Cut Pro for free.
We recommend PowerDirector as the best alternative to Final Cut Pro for Windows and Mac users who don’t want to spend too much on a video editor.
6. Can You Get Final Cut Pro for Windows?
No, you can’t get Final Cut Pro for Windows. See our list above for the 13 best alternatives to Final Cut Pro for Windows. Our top choice is PowerDirector Essential, which is also a completely free Final Cut Pro alternative.
7. What Computer is Best for Final Cut Pro?
The minimum system requirement for Final Cut Pro is macOS 11.5.1 or later. Unlike iMovie, which can be used on Macs, iPads, and iPhones, Final Cut Pro is only available for desktops. You can’t get Final Cut Pro for Windows.
8. How to Get Final Cut Pro for Free?
Since you cannot get Final Cut Pro for free, here is a step-by-step guide to downloading the #1 alternative to Final Cut Pro, PowerDirector Essential:
PowerDirector Essential will begin downloading automatically.