What is the best video editing software? (Cheap or free)?

There is Linux you can install on your computer and every video editing program is free on it. It's not gonna be as best as the 500 dollar ones, but it takes some tweaking and figuring out. Linux has KdenLive, Kino, Lives, Openshot, Xjadeo, cinellera and many other free video editors. I think Openshot might be available on windows free. Hollywood uses Linux to edit movies so that's another thing to consider. Try Ubuntu Linux. www.ubuntu.com

Dont listen to the idiot linux fanboy babbling nonscense.... Hollywood does NOT use free linux video editing software. Most of them actually have custom made software, or use adobe premiere/after effects. And most any of the better software available for linux is cross platform.... (as its opensource and is easily ported to other OS) Linux is great for some things, but just like mac fanboys, they are just idiots. they are just like "derpz i dun dont getz nu viruz" Look into -Videopad http://www.nchsoftware.com/videopad/index.html (limited to avi/wmv/asf and DVD. Unlimited audio tracks, text/picture overlay layer, add subtitles easily, 3D support. Not many effects/transitions, but able to import virtualdub effects to be used. Easy to use interface) -Videospin http://videospin.com/Redesign/ (video editing, limited to avi/mpg-1/wmv, 2 extra audio tracks, text/picture overlay layer, title/credits, easy to use interface. No extra effects.) -Lightworks http://www.lightworksbeta.com/ (requires matrox VFM codec + quicktime installed, requires 3gb+ of ram. Lots of video effects. Support for all formats. 3D support. Harder to use interface.) -TrakAxPC http://www.trakax.com/software/pc/download/ (limited to avi/wmv and mp3/wma/wav/oog/flac formats, Lots of effects. Clunky interface) They are all free, and the better of the free video editors i have played with for a little bit. You also may want to look into -Freemake video converter http://freemake.com (easy to use and you can convert videos to the types you need) -Audacity http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/ (audio editor, make sure to get the lame mp3 encoder and the ffmpeg library from http://manual.audacityteam.org/help/manual/man/faq_installation_and_plug_ins.html#lame ) The only effects composition software i have seen is Wax http://www.debugmode.com/wax/download.htm Its used for adding 2d/3d effects to videos. It only works with .avi files and is alittle hard to use. Its also not all that great. Really after effects is the only good option for effects. With a combination of them, you can get free video editing of all aspects. EDIT: lol bobby, just seriously gtfo of here... you use linux... you act like its a fking hard things to do... you and all the other linux fanboys, go find ubuntu and are able to use it and think you are like programming computer gurus... Linux is good and has its uses, i do use it fedora here and there for certain things. But i have no need to use it as my main OS, then all my software (photoshop, illustrator, after effects, audition, ableton live, 3ds max), ya lets see linux run that, or anything that is even close to the power of those pieces software.... Then also entertainment, linux's game selection is horrid, and cant run any title games. Dont you dare fking say wine.... ANYONE who has ever used linux knows how terrible software runs under wine.... So you see i like anime huh? let me guess you looked at my profile, i bet you feel accomplished from doing that, you are like hah i just hacked this guy, cuz im za pro hacker, i use linux... you are so full of yourself lol... One last thing, i have NEVER once gotten a virus, blue screen (that wasnt hardware related), and have never crashed. So you are obviously a fking idiot if you have ever gotten a virus on windows.... EDIT: omg you are dumb i didnt say you were a hacker.... its just i got the impression that was going through your head. You just feel like a computer guru for using linux, when its not even a big deal, so little things like looking at someone's profile would make you think you are some hacker and got all this information. "i have NEVER once gotten a virus, blue screen >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> (that wasnt hardware related) <<<<<<<<<<<< <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<" Windows vs linux out of the box, ya windows is far less secure, but you can change settings and make it more secure. The only reason linux is more secure, is because there are too many distros, that most malicious software just target windows which is the most popular OS.

For basic editing, AVS Video Editor is a great choice: It's also free trial, so that's always nice.

Sony Vegas. simple and has a trial: http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/vegassoftware