1. Top 3 video montage makers
2. Best editing software of 2024
3. Software comparison chart
4. Frequently asked questions
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Votes: 2
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5.0
Votes: 2
(Rated: )
Last updated: 19.01.2024
What do you need to make an interesting video montage? Firstly, you should have an idea. To show something more than a series of disjointed images, you need a story to tie them together. Secondly, you require some footage to build a video from. This can be your own or stock footage. And thirdly, you need a video editing program. And that’s where the plot thickens.
The number of montage software available these days is astronomical and keeps growing. On the one hand, it is good to have options. On the other – the chance of picking an unfitting tool is rather high. So, to ease the ordeal of trying a ton of bad and good editors, we have done our homework and compiled a list of the 10 best montage editing software for you to pick from. Let’s grab a magnifying glass and take a closer look at each one.
Top 3 Video Montage Makers for Various Purposes
Clipify – Best for Casual Editing
Clipify is among the best video montage makers for regular users. It includes all the features you might require for fairly complicated montages – cutting and trimming, effects and transitions, and so on. If you want to go one step further, you can use advanced tools, such as RGB Tone Curves, Chroma Key, voice-over recording, and more. Furthermore, an extensive library of 200+ tracks, 50+ footages, and other stock media will help bring any idea to life. Download it for free and try it all yourself!
Download
Fully compatible with Windows 11, 10, 8, 7
DaVinci Resolve – Best for Advanced Users
DaVinci Resolve is an industry heavy hitter. It includes HDR color grading, AI masking effects, and many other pro-tier functions, easily accessible thanks to a sleek interface. This montage editing software is free for the most part. The paid version is rather pricey, but it is overkill anyway, since the free features of DaVinci Resolve already rival most of the competition. However, be ready to put your back into learning.
Kapwing – Best Online Tool
Kapwing is an online video editing platform, accessible from any device with an Internet connection. It offers all the essential editing tools you need. Kapwing also allows recording footage with sound directly into it, along with erasing background and adding subtitles. Additionally, it supports real-time collaboration and can be used in a group. However, the free plan has limitations such as a duration cap and little stock library.
The Best Montage Editing Software in 2024
Clipify
Clipify is one of the best options for Windows. It is a very accessible program that will work great regardless of your skill level and hardware power. Its basic tools will help throw together a video in a snap. You may save even more time with an automatic Wizard tool that'll do most of the work for you. If you wish to give your montage more flavor, then Chroma Key, voice recording, Tone Curves, and other advanced features are at your service.
Pros:
- 150+ cinematic, vintage, and artistic effects
- 200+ royalty-free music tracks
- Automatic and manual enhancement
- Animated text, images, and transitions
- 400+ emojis, callouts, and stickers
- Customizable title card templates
Cons:
- Limited layer editing
2
DaVinci Resolve
If you want to go pro, DaVinci Resolve is a good place to start. It provides one of the most extensive and effective toolkits in the filmmaking industry, and lets you experience working with Hollywood-tier software firsthand. The best part is that it has a free version that dwarfs most of its paid competitors in terms of available features. However, DaVinci Resolve is not for casual users and requires a sizable amount of time and effort for learning.
Pros:
- Feature-packed free version
- Full HD and Ultra HD export
- Remote real-time collaboration
- Advanced audio processing
- Available for PC, Mac, and Linux
Cons:
- No stock templates
- Not beginner-friendly
3
Kapwing
Kapwing is an online video montage creator and a fitting solution if you have no desire or ability to install any extra software. It provides everything you need to create quite intricate montages – framing, splitting, enhancing, changing its speed, erasing background, and whatnot. The ability to work from any device and record footage directly into the app makes it great for making videos on the go, as long as your Internet connection is stable enough.
Pros:
- Access from any device
- Support of online cooperation
- AI-boosted features for bloggers
- Built-in plug-ins and templates
- Intuitive and clear interface
Cons:
- Limited free version
- Costly subscription
4
Adobe Premiere
Adobe Premiere has a spot in nearly every list of top video editors. It brings top-notch montage quality to everyone, from enthusiasts to high-level professionals. Adobe Premiere offers a vast toolkit that you can expand further with external plugins. Creative Cloud integration lets you use the best photo and video editing software from Adobe in tandem. The greatest drawbacks are a quite pricey subscription and a steep learning curve.
Pros:
- One of the largest toolkits on the market
- Adobe Creative Cloud integration
- Third-party plugins support
- Adjustable interface
Cons:
- Some features require new hardware
- Not user-friendly
- Hefty price tag
5
OpenShot
OpenShot is a sleek Linux, Mac, and Windows video editing software. It is a great option if you want to keep things simple and have no need for lots of bells and whistles. In addition to essential tools, it supports an infinite number of tracks, limiting the complexity of your montages only by the resources of your PC. OpenShot also offers a customizable interface to fine-tune your workflow. On top of that, this video montage maker is free of charge.
Pros:
- 3D animations, effects, and templates
- Timeline with unlimited tracks
- Customizable interface
- Audio extraction support
- Open-source and completely free
Cons:
- Lacks overall polish
- No extensive pro-tier features
6
Shotcut
Shotcut is yet another open-source video editor for you to try. It shares most features with its closest competitor – a customizable interface, a library of effects and filters, and more. Although there’s a limit to the number of tracks in your project, Shotcut makes up for it with great Chroma Key processing, layering, and stable performance. The main issue, that is quite typical among open-source projects, is a general lack of optimization.
Pros:
- Layering and Chroma Key
- Customizable interface
- Library of filters and effects
- Lots of export options
- Lenient system requirements
Cons:
- May lag while applying changes
- No proper preview
7
HitFilm Express
HitFilm Express is a video editing tool aimed at a more experienced audience looking for movie-like VFX. It includes all the essential features, but focuses on more advanced things, such as green screen processing, 360° video editing, 3D models integration, and, above all, various special effects. As a pro-oriented tool, HitFilm Express has a learning curve, but thanks to a free version you can take your time to figure it out.
Pros:
- Hollywood-like VFX tools
- Extensive free version
- 3D graphics processing
- Pay-What-You-Want pricing model
Cons:
- Has watermarks in the free version
- Requires mid to high-end PC
- Takes time to master
8
VideoPad Video Editor
VideoPad Video Editor is a great option if you have limited budget and skills. Apart from must-have features, such as trimming, cutting, enhancing, and so on, it allows you to easily stabilize, slow down or speed up, color grade, and perform other editing techniques. You can even edit 360-degree footage for viewing on a VR headset. If you wish to have a physical copy of your montage, burning a Blu-ray or DVD disc is also an option.
Pros:
- Feature-rich free version
- Export to DVD and Blu-ray
- Pre-made themed templates
- 360-degree video editing
- Easy subtitling tool
Cons:
- Social media sharing requires subscription
- The interface is confusing at times
9
VSDC Free Video Editor
VSDC Free Video Editor is, well, free. Nevertheless, it has a decent set of editing features to offer. Video and audio effects, a variety of transitions, and a color correction tool are on the table along with standard tools. It also has a convenient YouTube and social media unloader. On the downside, VSDC can’t provide as much creative freedom as its peers, plus you will have to deal with some ads.
Pros:
- A serviceable free tool set
- Built-in effects for sound and video
- Available on all major platforms
- High-quality rendering in many formats
Cons:
- Cluttered interface
- Very few advanced tools
- No stock media or templates
10
Avidemux
Avidemux is an open-source video converter, but it comes equipped with editing functions. With it, you can carry out uncomplicated editing, such as cutting and color profiling. But it also has some unique features for processing old footage, such as deinterlacing. Additionally, it has automation tools, making it a fitting video editor for montages you want to reproduce, such as highlight reels.
Pros:
- Sharpening, denoising, deinterlacing, and more
- Modifiable scripts for automation
- Selection of audio and video filters
- Lots of export options
Cons:
- No proper editing timeline
- No advanced features
- Clunky workflow
Top Software for Montage – Video Makers Comparison
| Features |
Clipify
Download |
DaVinci Resolve
Download
|
Kapwing
Download
|
Adobe Premiere Pro Download |
|
Shotcut Download | HitFilm Express Download | VideoPad Download | VSDC Download | Avidemux Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Fast and easy editing | Pro-level editing | Editing online with a team |
Editing with a high-end PC |
Montages with lots of tracks |
Chroma key processing | Using Hollywood-tier VFX | Editing footage from handheld cams | Learning the basics of editing | Encoding and automation |
| Ease of use | ||||||||||
| Stable performance | ||||||||||
| Automatic tools | ||||||||||
| Price | Free; PRO for $29.40 |
Free; Studio for $295 |
Free; Basic for $6/mo |
Pro for $20.99/mo | Free | Free | Free; Creator plan for $7.99/mo |
Free; Quarterly plan for $3.88/mo |
Free | Free |
| Final score | 9.6 | 9.3 | 9 | 8.6 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8 | 7.6 | 7.5 | 6.5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you make a good video montage?
There’s no all-encompassing way of how to make a video montage. The specifics of your workflow heavily depend on the software you choose and the goals you pursue. You can find some of the best video editing software for Windows 10 and beyond right here, but whichever tool you will roll with, here are some core principles that will help you in the process:
● Structure your ideas to have an intro, a build up, a punchline, and a conclusion.
● If you shoot your own footage, try to bring variety to the camerawork.
● Don’t be afraid to add some stock footage to your project anyway.
● If you work in a group – try collective brainstorming.
● Remember to pay due attention to sound and music.
What do YouTubers use to make montages?
YouTubers use as many tools as there are types of content they produce. Some, for example, create music clips, so they need the best software for music video editing. Others make gaming compilations, and that requires something to quickly process lots and lots of footage. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution. So, the first thing you have to determine is what kind of video you’re going to create – a montage, a video blog, a meme, or anything else. One feature that would be useful in every case is direct sharing to YouTube.
Casual videographers may use one of these tools:
● Clipify
● Kapwing
● Openshot
● Shotcut
And if you're looking at something complex with high production value, chances are it is made with one of those:
● Adobe Premiere
● DaVinci Resolve
● HitFilm Express
You can also broaden your scope by asking questions like “what software do movie editors use?” Maybe there’s really no need for you to replicate the approach of your favorite YouTuber, and drawing inspiration is enough to find your direction.
What app makes a video montage on a phone?
If you're looking for a tool to edit videos on your phone, here are the best video montage apps for mobile devices, in our opinion:
● Adobe Premiere Rush
● InShot
● KineMaster
● iMovie
● Vimeo Create
● FilmoraGo
● Clipchamp
Need a powerful tool for intricate video montage?
Then try Clipify and edit eye-catching clips!
Then try Clipify and edit eye-catching clips!