New In 2024, Free and Fantastic The Best FLV Video Editors

New In 2024, Free and Fantastic The Best FLV Video Editors

Charlotte Lv12

Free and Fantastic: The Best FLV Video Editors

Top 5 Best Free FLV Video Editors

author avatar

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Video edition is necessary to make your FLV files into what you would like them to be. The good news is that there are a number of these editors that you can get for free. Below are some of the top five FLV editors available for use. The one you choose will depend on the kind of editing you have in mind.


If you need a more professional MP4 video joiner, Wondershare Filmora is highly recommended. It supports a wide range of video formats including MP4, FLV, MOV, AVI, WMV and more. With it, you can not only join different videos together, but also add transitions and other effects as you like.

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )


Top 5 Best Free FLV Video Editors

1. Movica

Movica is a graphic or movie editor for Windows Media (.wmv), MPEG files and FLV movies with the ability to select or delete multiple portions from a video file. It enables users to cop, paste, join, split and fine tune the videos. Very fast and easy to use.

free flv editor

Pros:

  • Keyboard shortcuts;
  • Enables you to save parts of a video split to be edited.

Cons:

  • Some status messages can be hard to understand;
  • Doesn’t support 64-bit computer.

2. Free Video Dub

This freeware is lightweight and user-friendly. It allows you to easily edit your video files by simply deleting off the unwanted sections. As a matter of fact, it supports a number of video formats. The best part about the process is that Free Video Dub doesn’t need to re-encode anything, which keeps the original quality of your video.

free flv editor

Pros:

  • Multi-lingual interface which makes it easy to use;
  • Several video formats supported.

Cons:

  • May be difficult to add visual effects.

3. Video Toolbox

Video Toolbox is an efficient and user-friendly online video editor that allows you to cut, crop, merge, preview and play the video. It supports various video formats like 3GP, AMV, ASF, AVI, FLV, MKV, MOV, M4V, MP4, MPEG, MPG, RM, VOB, WMV and more. It also features an Advanced File Manager which makes it easy for you to upload the videos and download files from other sites on the Web.

free flv editor

Pros:

  • Supports different video formats;
  • Different video editing options.

Cons:

  • Restricts your file sizes to 560MB.

4. Any Video Converter

This is not only a converter but a player and editor as well. It offers you a means to convert files into appropriate formats for loading to the web and also for use in mobile devices. The tools necessary for editing are easily available and you do not have to go through another download procedure to get them.

free flv editor

Pros:

  • Supports many video formats;
  • Easy to use interface.

Cons:

  • Can’t convert audio files.

You may also like: How to Convert FLV to MP4 [Best FLV to MP4 Converters Provided] >>

5. VSDC Video Editor

You can perform several video edit functions with this free video editing program. These include watermark, trim, crop, merge as well as special effects. You have the advantage of multiple output formats and this only means that in your edition, you do not have to end with FLV files. Indeed, it has numerous video file edit options to meet your needs.

free flv editor

Pros:

  • Many useful options provided;
  • Can also be used as a video converter.

Cons:

  • Computer resources (CPU and RAM) are required at a high level.

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version

author avatar

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Video edition is necessary to make your FLV files into what you would like them to be. The good news is that there are a number of these editors that you can get for free. Below are some of the top five FLV editors available for use. The one you choose will depend on the kind of editing you have in mind.


If you need a more professional MP4 video joiner, Wondershare Filmora is highly recommended. It supports a wide range of video formats including MP4, FLV, MOV, AVI, WMV and more. With it, you can not only join different videos together, but also add transitions and other effects as you like.

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )


Top 5 Best Free FLV Video Editors

1. Movica

Movica is a graphic or movie editor for Windows Media (.wmv), MPEG files and FLV movies with the ability to select or delete multiple portions from a video file. It enables users to cop, paste, join, split and fine tune the videos. Very fast and easy to use.

free flv editor

Pros:

  • Keyboard shortcuts;
  • Enables you to save parts of a video split to be edited.

Cons:

  • Some status messages can be hard to understand;
  • Doesn’t support 64-bit computer.

2. Free Video Dub

This freeware is lightweight and user-friendly. It allows you to easily edit your video files by simply deleting off the unwanted sections. As a matter of fact, it supports a number of video formats. The best part about the process is that Free Video Dub doesn’t need to re-encode anything, which keeps the original quality of your video.

free flv editor

Pros:

  • Multi-lingual interface which makes it easy to use;
  • Several video formats supported.

Cons:

  • May be difficult to add visual effects.

3. Video Toolbox

Video Toolbox is an efficient and user-friendly online video editor that allows you to cut, crop, merge, preview and play the video. It supports various video formats like 3GP, AMV, ASF, AVI, FLV, MKV, MOV, M4V, MP4, MPEG, MPG, RM, VOB, WMV and more. It also features an Advanced File Manager which makes it easy for you to upload the videos and download files from other sites on the Web.

free flv editor

Pros:

  • Supports different video formats;
  • Different video editing options.

Cons:

  • Restricts your file sizes to 560MB.

4. Any Video Converter

This is not only a converter but a player and editor as well. It offers you a means to convert files into appropriate formats for loading to the web and also for use in mobile devices. The tools necessary for editing are easily available and you do not have to go through another download procedure to get them.

free flv editor

Pros:

  • Supports many video formats;
  • Easy to use interface.

Cons:

  • Can’t convert audio files.

You may also like: How to Convert FLV to MP4 [Best FLV to MP4 Converters Provided] >>

5. VSDC Video Editor

You can perform several video edit functions with this free video editing program. These include watermark, trim, crop, merge as well as special effects. You have the advantage of multiple output formats and this only means that in your edition, you do not have to end with FLV files. Indeed, it has numerous video file edit options to meet your needs.

free flv editor

Pros:

  • Many useful options provided;
  • Can also be used as a video converter.

Cons:

  • Computer resources (CPU and RAM) are required at a high level.

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version

author avatar

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Video edition is necessary to make your FLV files into what you would like them to be. The good news is that there are a number of these editors that you can get for free. Below are some of the top five FLV editors available for use. The one you choose will depend on the kind of editing you have in mind.


If you need a more professional MP4 video joiner, Wondershare Filmora is highly recommended. It supports a wide range of video formats including MP4, FLV, MOV, AVI, WMV and more. With it, you can not only join different videos together, but also add transitions and other effects as you like.

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )


Top 5 Best Free FLV Video Editors

1. Movica

Movica is a graphic or movie editor for Windows Media (.wmv), MPEG files and FLV movies with the ability to select or delete multiple portions from a video file. It enables users to cop, paste, join, split and fine tune the videos. Very fast and easy to use.

free flv editor

Pros:

  • Keyboard shortcuts;
  • Enables you to save parts of a video split to be edited.

Cons:

  • Some status messages can be hard to understand;
  • Doesn’t support 64-bit computer.

2. Free Video Dub

This freeware is lightweight and user-friendly. It allows you to easily edit your video files by simply deleting off the unwanted sections. As a matter of fact, it supports a number of video formats. The best part about the process is that Free Video Dub doesn’t need to re-encode anything, which keeps the original quality of your video.

free flv editor

Pros:

  • Multi-lingual interface which makes it easy to use;
  • Several video formats supported.

Cons:

  • May be difficult to add visual effects.

3. Video Toolbox

Video Toolbox is an efficient and user-friendly online video editor that allows you to cut, crop, merge, preview and play the video. It supports various video formats like 3GP, AMV, ASF, AVI, FLV, MKV, MOV, M4V, MP4, MPEG, MPG, RM, VOB, WMV and more. It also features an Advanced File Manager which makes it easy for you to upload the videos and download files from other sites on the Web.

free flv editor

Pros:

  • Supports different video formats;
  • Different video editing options.

Cons:

  • Restricts your file sizes to 560MB.

4. Any Video Converter

This is not only a converter but a player and editor as well. It offers you a means to convert files into appropriate formats for loading to the web and also for use in mobile devices. The tools necessary for editing are easily available and you do not have to go through another download procedure to get them.

free flv editor

Pros:

  • Supports many video formats;
  • Easy to use interface.

Cons:

  • Can’t convert audio files.

You may also like: How to Convert FLV to MP4 [Best FLV to MP4 Converters Provided] >>

5. VSDC Video Editor

You can perform several video edit functions with this free video editing program. These include watermark, trim, crop, merge as well as special effects. You have the advantage of multiple output formats and this only means that in your edition, you do not have to end with FLV files. Indeed, it has numerous video file edit options to meet your needs.

free flv editor

Pros:

  • Many useful options provided;
  • Can also be used as a video converter.

Cons:

  • Computer resources (CPU and RAM) are required at a high level.

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version

author avatar

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Video edition is necessary to make your FLV files into what you would like them to be. The good news is that there are a number of these editors that you can get for free. Below are some of the top five FLV editors available for use. The one you choose will depend on the kind of editing you have in mind.


If you need a more professional MP4 video joiner, Wondershare Filmora is highly recommended. It supports a wide range of video formats including MP4, FLV, MOV, AVI, WMV and more. With it, you can not only join different videos together, but also add transitions and other effects as you like.

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )


Top 5 Best Free FLV Video Editors

1. Movica

Movica is a graphic or movie editor for Windows Media (.wmv), MPEG files and FLV movies with the ability to select or delete multiple portions from a video file. It enables users to cop, paste, join, split and fine tune the videos. Very fast and easy to use.

free flv editor

Pros:

  • Keyboard shortcuts;
  • Enables you to save parts of a video split to be edited.

Cons:

  • Some status messages can be hard to understand;
  • Doesn’t support 64-bit computer.

2. Free Video Dub

This freeware is lightweight and user-friendly. It allows you to easily edit your video files by simply deleting off the unwanted sections. As a matter of fact, it supports a number of video formats. The best part about the process is that Free Video Dub doesn’t need to re-encode anything, which keeps the original quality of your video.

free flv editor

Pros:

  • Multi-lingual interface which makes it easy to use;
  • Several video formats supported.

Cons:

  • May be difficult to add visual effects.

3. Video Toolbox

Video Toolbox is an efficient and user-friendly online video editor that allows you to cut, crop, merge, preview and play the video. It supports various video formats like 3GP, AMV, ASF, AVI, FLV, MKV, MOV, M4V, MP4, MPEG, MPG, RM, VOB, WMV and more. It also features an Advanced File Manager which makes it easy for you to upload the videos and download files from other sites on the Web.

free flv editor

Pros:

  • Supports different video formats;
  • Different video editing options.

Cons:

  • Restricts your file sizes to 560MB.

4. Any Video Converter

This is not only a converter but a player and editor as well. It offers you a means to convert files into appropriate formats for loading to the web and also for use in mobile devices. The tools necessary for editing are easily available and you do not have to go through another download procedure to get them.

free flv editor

Pros:

  • Supports many video formats;
  • Easy to use interface.

Cons:

  • Can’t convert audio files.

You may also like: How to Convert FLV to MP4 [Best FLV to MP4 Converters Provided] >>

5. VSDC Video Editor

You can perform several video edit functions with this free video editing program. These include watermark, trim, crop, merge as well as special effects. You have the advantage of multiple output formats and this only means that in your edition, you do not have to end with FLV files. Indeed, it has numerous video file edit options to meet your needs.

free flv editor

Pros:

  • Many useful options provided;
  • Can also be used as a video converter.

Cons:

  • Computer resources (CPU and RAM) are required at a high level.

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version

author avatar

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Top 3 MKV Trimmer for Mac 2023

Trim MKV Files with the Best MKV Trimmer on Mac

author avatar

Ollie Mattison

Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions

Sometimes, videos downloaded from the internet can be way too lengthy, with quite a few unwanted parts. These videos often have an MKV file format and need to be trimmed! Editing unnecessary parts within an MKV video will make it more appealing. If you are a MacBook user, you may not find a lot of video trimmers out there that do the job right. To trim MKV mac video, you need intuitive software with a user-friendly interface. A suitable video trimmer with additional editing features is a jackpot for users who create video content often. In this article, we will suggest some easy-to-use video trimmers to make this task simple for you. Keep reading!

In this article

  1. Top 3 MKV Trimmers to Trim MKV Files on Mac
  2. Trim MKV on Mac with Filmora

Part 1: Top 3 MKV Trimmers to Trim MKV Files on Mac

There is not much information available out there about the MKV trimmer for Mac. However, we did some research to find out a few MKV trimmers that work exceptionally well. Here you go:

1. Wondershare Filmora for Mac

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version

Wondershare Filmora for Mac is one of the most used software for MKV trimming as it has a lot of customizable options to cut a video into smaller parts. You can trim video to any length and size according to your preference. Filmora also has an advanced feature through which you can cut out repetition automatically.

Wondershare Filmora has both advanced and basic tools that work exceptionally well to create compelling videos. It has an audio ducking feature that one can use to manage sound within the video. You can use advanced features to make your content unique and of exceptional quality.

Among many unique features, its presets for various parameters make it easy to use even for beginners. With the use of royalty-free visuals, you can enhance the quality of the output file significantly. Filmora is fantastic for MKV trimming and has great editing tools to make videos highly professional.

Features

  • Filmora has an audio ducking feature through which audio fades automatically to highlight dialogues.
  • Its ability to cut out repetition is commendable as it makes the editing process faster and more professional.
  • The royalty-free visual effects enhance the video quality and make it stand out amongst other videos.
  • Through color grading, you can correct the video tone and make it even brighter.
  • The speed control helps make the video shorter as you can speed up the time-lapse and slow down unique shots.
  • Filmora also allows you to track moving objects in your video and edit elements to it.

Pros

  • Color grading
  • AI portrait
  • Cloud-based storage
  • Cuts out repetition
  • Audio ducking
  • Green screen effect
  • Royalty-free visual effects

Cons

  • The free version contains the watermark

2. Avidemux

Avidemux - video editor to trim MKV video

Avidemux is known for its simple interface, which contributes to an easy splitting of videos without ruining the quality. With the simple drag and drop motion, you can edit videos without putting in much effort. The editing tools menu on the left side is ideal for selecting tools and applying them to the video.

Avidemux is not only an exceptional software for cropping and trimming videos but also has de-noising filters. The spartan interface has to be one of its unique features as it makes importing videos and photos easier. You can add transitions to the video after cropping to make the video look smooth.

People love to use this software to cut MKV files as it maintains the quality. You can trim the videos with high precision and not lose any significant parts from the actual footage. The software is frequently updated with modern tools to help create aesthetically pleasing videos.

You may also interested in: How to edit with Avidemux

Pros

  • Easy to trim MKV videos
  • Functions with various platforms
  • Automated scripts
  • Different presets

Cons

  • No keyboard shortcuts

3. MKVtools

MKVtools for MKV Video Trim

MKVtools are one of the best cross-platform tools that you can use for both Windows and Mac. Through this software, a user can edit, trim, merge, inspect, and mix videos. It has a user-friendly interface through which you can edit videos to make them smaller in size.

MKVtools is easily a user’s most preferred choice as they have all the tools to make a video appear attractive. You can use it to add subtitles, add slow motion, fasten the video and do so much more using the editing tool. The trim MKV tool on mac supports various kinds of formats and can hold multiple audio and video files. The toolbox has various open-source utilities to make the final output HD-quality. Want to know the best part? The error and repetition detection functions are ideal for editing video without losing quality.

Pros

  • Holds limitless audio and video files
  • Open-Source utilities
  • HD-quality video editing
  • Cross-platform tool

Cons

  • Complicated to use for beginners

Part 2: Trim MKV on Mac with Filmora

Filmora is one of the best and intuitive tools to edit and trim MKV Mac files. The process to cut out unwanted parts is very easy. You can easily trim any MKV file regardless of its size, even if you are a beginner. Here are easy steps to trim the MKV file with Filmora quickly:

Step 1: Import MKV video from your Mac

The first step to edit an MKV video is to import it into the tool for editing. Click on the File option in the toolbar and tap the import button. Select the MKV file from your Mac and click import to upload the file on Filmora.

Import MKV video

Step 2: Trim MKV video

After uploading the video, split it into a few frames and zoom in by moving the slider as much as you want. Left-click on the frame you want to edit and tap on the split option to create further segments.

Trim MKV video

Step 3: Save and edit MKV video

You can also adjust the video size and make it smaller while maintaining the quality. Tap crop and zoom by clicking right to adjust the frame. Click ok when you are done and save the video.

Save MKV video

Trim MKV quickly with touch bar

Spending time editing and trimming MKV files can be annoying, especially if you have to go through extended footage. You can quickly cut video from the touch bar if you have a MacBook pro. Resizing one video multiple times has never been easy, but you can do it quickly with the touch bar function.

Open the video preview by double-clicking on the video in the media archives file. Choose endpoint and source by clicking on the icon. Finally, cut the segment to resize the video and keep repeating the process until you are happy with the size.

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version

Part 3: Final words

MKV files are lengthy and probably have a lot of footage that you should trim. However, the lack of experience and proper knowledge of MKV trimmer mac tools can make this simple task challenging. We have discussed how to trim MKV files with the best MKV trimmer on Mac. The process is quite simple and easy and works well for both professionals and beginners. We hope you find our suggestions easy to follow and use them to optimize your video editing skills.

author avatar

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions

Sometimes, videos downloaded from the internet can be way too lengthy, with quite a few unwanted parts. These videos often have an MKV file format and need to be trimmed! Editing unnecessary parts within an MKV video will make it more appealing. If you are a MacBook user, you may not find a lot of video trimmers out there that do the job right. To trim MKV mac video, you need intuitive software with a user-friendly interface. A suitable video trimmer with additional editing features is a jackpot for users who create video content often. In this article, we will suggest some easy-to-use video trimmers to make this task simple for you. Keep reading!

In this article

  1. Top 3 MKV Trimmers to Trim MKV Files on Mac
  2. Trim MKV on Mac with Filmora

Part 1: Top 3 MKV Trimmers to Trim MKV Files on Mac

There is not much information available out there about the MKV trimmer for Mac. However, we did some research to find out a few MKV trimmers that work exceptionally well. Here you go:

1. Wondershare Filmora for Mac

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version

Wondershare Filmora for Mac is one of the most used software for MKV trimming as it has a lot of customizable options to cut a video into smaller parts. You can trim video to any length and size according to your preference. Filmora also has an advanced feature through which you can cut out repetition automatically.

Wondershare Filmora has both advanced and basic tools that work exceptionally well to create compelling videos. It has an audio ducking feature that one can use to manage sound within the video. You can use advanced features to make your content unique and of exceptional quality.

Among many unique features, its presets for various parameters make it easy to use even for beginners. With the use of royalty-free visuals, you can enhance the quality of the output file significantly. Filmora is fantastic for MKV trimming and has great editing tools to make videos highly professional.

Features

  • Filmora has an audio ducking feature through which audio fades automatically to highlight dialogues.
  • Its ability to cut out repetition is commendable as it makes the editing process faster and more professional.
  • The royalty-free visual effects enhance the video quality and make it stand out amongst other videos.
  • Through color grading, you can correct the video tone and make it even brighter.
  • The speed control helps make the video shorter as you can speed up the time-lapse and slow down unique shots.
  • Filmora also allows you to track moving objects in your video and edit elements to it.

Pros

  • Color grading
  • AI portrait
  • Cloud-based storage
  • Cuts out repetition
  • Audio ducking
  • Green screen effect
  • Royalty-free visual effects

Cons

  • The free version contains the watermark

2. Avidemux

Avidemux - video editor to trim MKV video

Avidemux is known for its simple interface, which contributes to an easy splitting of videos without ruining the quality. With the simple drag and drop motion, you can edit videos without putting in much effort. The editing tools menu on the left side is ideal for selecting tools and applying them to the video.

Avidemux is not only an exceptional software for cropping and trimming videos but also has de-noising filters. The spartan interface has to be one of its unique features as it makes importing videos and photos easier. You can add transitions to the video after cropping to make the video look smooth.

People love to use this software to cut MKV files as it maintains the quality. You can trim the videos with high precision and not lose any significant parts from the actual footage. The software is frequently updated with modern tools to help create aesthetically pleasing videos.

You may also interested in: How to edit with Avidemux

Pros

  • Easy to trim MKV videos
  • Functions with various platforms
  • Automated scripts
  • Different presets

Cons

  • No keyboard shortcuts

3. MKVtools

MKVtools for MKV Video Trim

MKVtools are one of the best cross-platform tools that you can use for both Windows and Mac. Through this software, a user can edit, trim, merge, inspect, and mix videos. It has a user-friendly interface through which you can edit videos to make them smaller in size.

MKVtools is easily a user’s most preferred choice as they have all the tools to make a video appear attractive. You can use it to add subtitles, add slow motion, fasten the video and do so much more using the editing tool. The trim MKV tool on mac supports various kinds of formats and can hold multiple audio and video files. The toolbox has various open-source utilities to make the final output HD-quality. Want to know the best part? The error and repetition detection functions are ideal for editing video without losing quality.

Pros

  • Holds limitless audio and video files
  • Open-Source utilities
  • HD-quality video editing
  • Cross-platform tool

Cons

  • Complicated to use for beginners

Part 2: Trim MKV on Mac with Filmora

Filmora is one of the best and intuitive tools to edit and trim MKV Mac files. The process to cut out unwanted parts is very easy. You can easily trim any MKV file regardless of its size, even if you are a beginner. Here are easy steps to trim the MKV file with Filmora quickly:

Step 1: Import MKV video from your Mac

The first step to edit an MKV video is to import it into the tool for editing. Click on the File option in the toolbar and tap the import button. Select the MKV file from your Mac and click import to upload the file on Filmora.

Import MKV video

Step 2: Trim MKV video

After uploading the video, split it into a few frames and zoom in by moving the slider as much as you want. Left-click on the frame you want to edit and tap on the split option to create further segments.

Trim MKV video

Step 3: Save and edit MKV video

You can also adjust the video size and make it smaller while maintaining the quality. Tap crop and zoom by clicking right to adjust the frame. Click ok when you are done and save the video.

Save MKV video

Trim MKV quickly with touch bar

Spending time editing and trimming MKV files can be annoying, especially if you have to go through extended footage. You can quickly cut video from the touch bar if you have a MacBook pro. Resizing one video multiple times has never been easy, but you can do it quickly with the touch bar function.

Open the video preview by double-clicking on the video in the media archives file. Choose endpoint and source by clicking on the icon. Finally, cut the segment to resize the video and keep repeating the process until you are happy with the size.

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version

Part 3: Final words

MKV files are lengthy and probably have a lot of footage that you should trim. However, the lack of experience and proper knowledge of MKV trimmer mac tools can make this simple task challenging. We have discussed how to trim MKV files with the best MKV trimmer on Mac. The process is quite simple and easy and works well for both professionals and beginners. We hope you find our suggestions easy to follow and use them to optimize your video editing skills.

author avatar

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions

Sometimes, videos downloaded from the internet can be way too lengthy, with quite a few unwanted parts. These videos often have an MKV file format and need to be trimmed! Editing unnecessary parts within an MKV video will make it more appealing. If you are a MacBook user, you may not find a lot of video trimmers out there that do the job right. To trim MKV mac video, you need intuitive software with a user-friendly interface. A suitable video trimmer with additional editing features is a jackpot for users who create video content often. In this article, we will suggest some easy-to-use video trimmers to make this task simple for you. Keep reading!

In this article

  1. Top 3 MKV Trimmers to Trim MKV Files on Mac
  2. Trim MKV on Mac with Filmora

Part 1: Top 3 MKV Trimmers to Trim MKV Files on Mac

There is not much information available out there about the MKV trimmer for Mac. However, we did some research to find out a few MKV trimmers that work exceptionally well. Here you go:

1. Wondershare Filmora for Mac

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version

Wondershare Filmora for Mac is one of the most used software for MKV trimming as it has a lot of customizable options to cut a video into smaller parts. You can trim video to any length and size according to your preference. Filmora also has an advanced feature through which you can cut out repetition automatically.

Wondershare Filmora has both advanced and basic tools that work exceptionally well to create compelling videos. It has an audio ducking feature that one can use to manage sound within the video. You can use advanced features to make your content unique and of exceptional quality.

Among many unique features, its presets for various parameters make it easy to use even for beginners. With the use of royalty-free visuals, you can enhance the quality of the output file significantly. Filmora is fantastic for MKV trimming and has great editing tools to make videos highly professional.

Features

  • Filmora has an audio ducking feature through which audio fades automatically to highlight dialogues.
  • Its ability to cut out repetition is commendable as it makes the editing process faster and more professional.
  • The royalty-free visual effects enhance the video quality and make it stand out amongst other videos.
  • Through color grading, you can correct the video tone and make it even brighter.
  • The speed control helps make the video shorter as you can speed up the time-lapse and slow down unique shots.
  • Filmora also allows you to track moving objects in your video and edit elements to it.

Pros

  • Color grading
  • AI portrait
  • Cloud-based storage
  • Cuts out repetition
  • Audio ducking
  • Green screen effect
  • Royalty-free visual effects

Cons

  • The free version contains the watermark

2. Avidemux

Avidemux - video editor to trim MKV video

Avidemux is known for its simple interface, which contributes to an easy splitting of videos without ruining the quality. With the simple drag and drop motion, you can edit videos without putting in much effort. The editing tools menu on the left side is ideal for selecting tools and applying them to the video.

Avidemux is not only an exceptional software for cropping and trimming videos but also has de-noising filters. The spartan interface has to be one of its unique features as it makes importing videos and photos easier. You can add transitions to the video after cropping to make the video look smooth.

People love to use this software to cut MKV files as it maintains the quality. You can trim the videos with high precision and not lose any significant parts from the actual footage. The software is frequently updated with modern tools to help create aesthetically pleasing videos.

You may also interested in: How to edit with Avidemux

Pros

  • Easy to trim MKV videos
  • Functions with various platforms
  • Automated scripts
  • Different presets

Cons

  • No keyboard shortcuts

3. MKVtools

MKVtools for MKV Video Trim

MKVtools are one of the best cross-platform tools that you can use for both Windows and Mac. Through this software, a user can edit, trim, merge, inspect, and mix videos. It has a user-friendly interface through which you can edit videos to make them smaller in size.

MKVtools is easily a user’s most preferred choice as they have all the tools to make a video appear attractive. You can use it to add subtitles, add slow motion, fasten the video and do so much more using the editing tool. The trim MKV tool on mac supports various kinds of formats and can hold multiple audio and video files. The toolbox has various open-source utilities to make the final output HD-quality. Want to know the best part? The error and repetition detection functions are ideal for editing video without losing quality.

Pros

  • Holds limitless audio and video files
  • Open-Source utilities
  • HD-quality video editing
  • Cross-platform tool

Cons

  • Complicated to use for beginners

Part 2: Trim MKV on Mac with Filmora

Filmora is one of the best and intuitive tools to edit and trim MKV Mac files. The process to cut out unwanted parts is very easy. You can easily trim any MKV file regardless of its size, even if you are a beginner. Here are easy steps to trim the MKV file with Filmora quickly:

Step 1: Import MKV video from your Mac

The first step to edit an MKV video is to import it into the tool for editing. Click on the File option in the toolbar and tap the import button. Select the MKV file from your Mac and click import to upload the file on Filmora.

Import MKV video

Step 2: Trim MKV video

After uploading the video, split it into a few frames and zoom in by moving the slider as much as you want. Left-click on the frame you want to edit and tap on the split option to create further segments.

Trim MKV video

Step 3: Save and edit MKV video

You can also adjust the video size and make it smaller while maintaining the quality. Tap crop and zoom by clicking right to adjust the frame. Click ok when you are done and save the video.

Save MKV video

Trim MKV quickly with touch bar

Spending time editing and trimming MKV files can be annoying, especially if you have to go through extended footage. You can quickly cut video from the touch bar if you have a MacBook pro. Resizing one video multiple times has never been easy, but you can do it quickly with the touch bar function.

Open the video preview by double-clicking on the video in the media archives file. Choose endpoint and source by clicking on the icon. Finally, cut the segment to resize the video and keep repeating the process until you are happy with the size.

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version

Part 3: Final words

MKV files are lengthy and probably have a lot of footage that you should trim. However, the lack of experience and proper knowledge of MKV trimmer mac tools can make this simple task challenging. We have discussed how to trim MKV files with the best MKV trimmer on Mac. The process is quite simple and easy and works well for both professionals and beginners. We hope you find our suggestions easy to follow and use them to optimize your video editing skills.

author avatar

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions

Sometimes, videos downloaded from the internet can be way too lengthy, with quite a few unwanted parts. These videos often have an MKV file format and need to be trimmed! Editing unnecessary parts within an MKV video will make it more appealing. If you are a MacBook user, you may not find a lot of video trimmers out there that do the job right. To trim MKV mac video, you need intuitive software with a user-friendly interface. A suitable video trimmer with additional editing features is a jackpot for users who create video content often. In this article, we will suggest some easy-to-use video trimmers to make this task simple for you. Keep reading!

In this article

  1. Top 3 MKV Trimmers to Trim MKV Files on Mac
  2. Trim MKV on Mac with Filmora

Part 1: Top 3 MKV Trimmers to Trim MKV Files on Mac

There is not much information available out there about the MKV trimmer for Mac. However, we did some research to find out a few MKV trimmers that work exceptionally well. Here you go:

1. Wondershare Filmora for Mac

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version

Wondershare Filmora for Mac is one of the most used software for MKV trimming as it has a lot of customizable options to cut a video into smaller parts. You can trim video to any length and size according to your preference. Filmora also has an advanced feature through which you can cut out repetition automatically.

Wondershare Filmora has both advanced and basic tools that work exceptionally well to create compelling videos. It has an audio ducking feature that one can use to manage sound within the video. You can use advanced features to make your content unique and of exceptional quality.

Among many unique features, its presets for various parameters make it easy to use even for beginners. With the use of royalty-free visuals, you can enhance the quality of the output file significantly. Filmora is fantastic for MKV trimming and has great editing tools to make videos highly professional.

Features

  • Filmora has an audio ducking feature through which audio fades automatically to highlight dialogues.
  • Its ability to cut out repetition is commendable as it makes the editing process faster and more professional.
  • The royalty-free visual effects enhance the video quality and make it stand out amongst other videos.
  • Through color grading, you can correct the video tone and make it even brighter.
  • The speed control helps make the video shorter as you can speed up the time-lapse and slow down unique shots.
  • Filmora also allows you to track moving objects in your video and edit elements to it.

Pros

  • Color grading
  • AI portrait
  • Cloud-based storage
  • Cuts out repetition
  • Audio ducking
  • Green screen effect
  • Royalty-free visual effects

Cons

  • The free version contains the watermark

2. Avidemux

Avidemux - video editor to trim MKV video

Avidemux is known for its simple interface, which contributes to an easy splitting of videos without ruining the quality. With the simple drag and drop motion, you can edit videos without putting in much effort. The editing tools menu on the left side is ideal for selecting tools and applying them to the video.

Avidemux is not only an exceptional software for cropping and trimming videos but also has de-noising filters. The spartan interface has to be one of its unique features as it makes importing videos and photos easier. You can add transitions to the video after cropping to make the video look smooth.

People love to use this software to cut MKV files as it maintains the quality. You can trim the videos with high precision and not lose any significant parts from the actual footage. The software is frequently updated with modern tools to help create aesthetically pleasing videos.

You may also interested in: How to edit with Avidemux

Pros

  • Easy to trim MKV videos
  • Functions with various platforms
  • Automated scripts
  • Different presets

Cons

  • No keyboard shortcuts

3. MKVtools

MKVtools for MKV Video Trim

MKVtools are one of the best cross-platform tools that you can use for both Windows and Mac. Through this software, a user can edit, trim, merge, inspect, and mix videos. It has a user-friendly interface through which you can edit videos to make them smaller in size.

MKVtools is easily a user’s most preferred choice as they have all the tools to make a video appear attractive. You can use it to add subtitles, add slow motion, fasten the video and do so much more using the editing tool. The trim MKV tool on mac supports various kinds of formats and can hold multiple audio and video files. The toolbox has various open-source utilities to make the final output HD-quality. Want to know the best part? The error and repetition detection functions are ideal for editing video without losing quality.

Pros

  • Holds limitless audio and video files
  • Open-Source utilities
  • HD-quality video editing
  • Cross-platform tool

Cons

  • Complicated to use for beginners

Part 2: Trim MKV on Mac with Filmora

Filmora is one of the best and intuitive tools to edit and trim MKV Mac files. The process to cut out unwanted parts is very easy. You can easily trim any MKV file regardless of its size, even if you are a beginner. Here are easy steps to trim the MKV file with Filmora quickly:

Step 1: Import MKV video from your Mac

The first step to edit an MKV video is to import it into the tool for editing. Click on the File option in the toolbar and tap the import button. Select the MKV file from your Mac and click import to upload the file on Filmora.

Import MKV video

Step 2: Trim MKV video

After uploading the video, split it into a few frames and zoom in by moving the slider as much as you want. Left-click on the frame you want to edit and tap on the split option to create further segments.

Trim MKV video

Step 3: Save and edit MKV video

You can also adjust the video size and make it smaller while maintaining the quality. Tap crop and zoom by clicking right to adjust the frame. Click ok when you are done and save the video.

Save MKV video

Trim MKV quickly with touch bar

Spending time editing and trimming MKV files can be annoying, especially if you have to go through extended footage. You can quickly cut video from the touch bar if you have a MacBook pro. Resizing one video multiple times has never been easy, but you can do it quickly with the touch bar function.

Open the video preview by double-clicking on the video in the media archives file. Choose endpoint and source by clicking on the icon. Finally, cut the segment to resize the video and keep repeating the process until you are happy with the size.

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version

Part 3: Final words

MKV files are lengthy and probably have a lot of footage that you should trim. However, the lack of experience and proper knowledge of MKV trimmer mac tools can make this simple task challenging. We have discussed how to trim MKV files with the best MKV trimmer on Mac. The process is quite simple and easy and works well for both professionals and beginners. We hope you find our suggestions easy to follow and use them to optimize your video editing skills.

author avatar

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Unleash Your Creativity with Fast Video Editing Tools

If you are new to video editing and you simply want to do basic editing to your video, you need a light video editor. There is no need for a heavyweight video editor that is generally used by professionals. Besides, an industry-grade video editor demands high-end computer as they put pressure on your system resources for video processing and rendering.

Therefore, if you do not have a high-end computer for video editing, a lightweight video editor is perfect for you. There are so many lightweight video editing software applications available to choose from for video editing. We have picked the best light video editing software for smooth and satisfying video editing work.

Part 1. The Features for Light Video Editor

Here are the main features of a good lightweight video editor that you should be aware of.

Small File Size – A light video editor comes in a small size file, and you will understand the file size when you download it on your computer. Ideally, a light video editor should not be above a couple of hundred MBs in size.

Wide OS Compatibility – A good light video editor should not only be compatible with the latest version of computer operating system but also with older versions. This is because older operating systems fail to run a heavyweight video editor smoothly.

Low System Requirements – Every video editor lists out their system requirements starting from processor version to RAM capacity and free disk space. A light video editor should have low system requirements such as 4GB RAM, 5GB free disk space, Intel i3 or likewise.

Low CPU Usage – How much CPU resource a video editor uses determines whether the video editor is truly lightweight. You can monitor how much CPU resource an application is using from Task Manager. For a light video editor, it should never be more than 33% of the total CPU usage at any given time.

Faster Processing – A lightweight video editor is generally faster in processing and rendering videos. They use different techniques such as compression, background processing and proxy workflow to boost processing speed without affecting system performance.

Part 2. Best Light Video Editors

Here is the list of the best light video editing software with complete review so that you can pick the best one for your video editing purposes.

1. Filmora

Best for: beginners as well as advanced users.

System compatibility: Windows and Mac.

Reason to choose:

  • Drag and drop media files from your hard drive.
  • Robust timeline to arrange photos, videos, and audio files.
  • Wide categories of transitions, effects and graphical elements.
  • Take screenshot from videos and instant preview of the changes.
  • Export in different file formats with adjusted video parameters.

Reason to avoid:

  • Video processing slightly on the slower side.

filmora

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

Wondershare Filmora is the best lightweight video editor that is tailor-made for both beginners as well as professionals. It is a premium video editor, and you should opt for it if you regularly edit videos. In fact, it is widely used by YouTubers and social media video creators. The software lets you record your screen and webcam video along with system and external mic sound. You can edit various video parameters such as aspect ratio, resolution, frame rate and likewise.

Coming to its editing features, you get a perfect blend of basic and advanced editing tools. You can trim, crop, split, join video clips as well as make videos from photos. You can import various media files of different formats including audio files. There are loads of transitions, effects, elements, texts, and stock media files. You can opt for greenscreen effect, apply stickers, correct colors, and much more.

2. Studio

Best for: Slightly advanced Windows users for advanced video editing.

System compatibility: Windows 11 and 10 (64 bit)

Reason to choose:

  • Perfect blend of standard and advanced video editing tools.
  • Advanced video masking and color grading options.
  • Tons of effects, filters, transitions, and overlays.
  • Edit multi-cam video and 360-degree video.
  • Advanced audio editing options.

Reason to avoid:

  • Some advanced features are not full-fledged.

pinnacle studio

Studio is a premium but light video editor that has some advanced video editing options. You will get all the basic video editing tools as well. You can publish cinema-grade videos with Studio. You can zoom video clips and edit frames accurately so that the video has no glitches and inconsistency in editing. The software allows you to edit multi-cam videos and make split-screen videos.

You can also record your screen and webcam with Studio. Apart from video editing, you can edit your audio files. There are options for color grading, blend modes and video making. Among the advanced features, you get motion and smart object tracking along with keyframing and editing 360-degree videos. The software comes with hardware acceleration to boost its performance.

3. OpenShot

Best for: those looking for a free light video editor.

System compatibility: Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Reason to choose:

  • Drag and drop media files of different formats.
  • Wide range of video filters and transition effects.
  • 3D objects and animations with Blender plugin.
  • Dedicated audio editor and video templates.

Reason to avoid:

  • Not so suitable for 4K resolution videos.

openshot

OpenShot is an open-source and cross-platform video editor that is compatible across all computer operating systems. It is completely free to use, and it has a good mixture of all basic and some advanced video editing options. You can import photos, video clips, and audio files as per your requirements as it supports a wide range of media file formats.

The user interface is simple, and hence, beginners will find it easy to use. The software has one of the lowest CPU resource usages among the lightweight video editors. You can trim, crop, resize, split and do all such video editing. You can adjust the speed of videos as well as correct video parameters. The software allows you to attach custom watermarks and overlays, and there is the option for time-mapping.

4. ShotCut

Best for: open-source video editor with standard and advanced features.

System compatibility: Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Reason to choose:

  • Import and export different file formats in high-resolution.
  • Chroma key, video stabilization, filters and transitions.
  • Video masking, composting and color correction.
  • Complete audio editor with filters and mixing.
  • Wide range of video editing options and tools.

Reason to avoid:

  • User interface takes time to understand all features.
  • Limited transitions and no stock media files.

shotcut

Shotcut is an open-source and cross-platform video editor. It has support for all the different media file formats, and it supports 4K resolution. You can use the software to capture webcam and screen video as well as audio narration. You can also import different file formats for photos. There are various audio features available starting from audio filters to audio mixing.

Shotcut comes with a large set of transitions, effects, and filters. It supports video stabilization and deinterlacing as well as blending modes. You can edit video speed, reserve video clips, correct colors, and imperfections easily. There is a multi-track timeline available for easy video making and editing.

5. Adobe Premiere Pro

Best for: premium video editor for advanced Windows users.

System compatibility: Windows 10 and 11.

Reason to choose:

  • Wide range of video effects, transitions, and templates.
  • Edit 3D, VR, and multicam and 360-dgree videos as well as audio.
  • Suitable for collaborative video editing and robust timeline.
  • Support for various video and audio formats.

Reason to avoid:

  • Reports of lagging in low-end computers.
  • Steep learning curve to understand the user interface.

adobe premiere pro

Adobe Premiere Pro is undoubtedly the best lightweight video editor Windows 10 for advanced video editors. Even though it is relatively less lightweight, you can do basic video editing on computers which do not have high-end hardware. Apart from basic editing, you can create industry-grade videos with the editing options available on the software.

You may need some training and lessons could be high useful for smooth editing. The software supports teamwork and collaborative video editing. You can edit VR and 3D videos as well as audio. The user interface is complicated, but it is highly customizable and flexible. The timeline is quite advanced and it is a complete video editor with full-fledged features.

6. VideoPad Video Editor

Best for: those who are looking for a video as well as audio editor.

System compatibility: Windows and Mac.

Reason to choose:

  • Perfect combination of standard video and audio editing options.
  • Video templates for intro, outro, and themed videos.
  • Lossless exporting of videos in different formats.
  • Video stabilization, color correction, and plugin support.
  • Supports 4K video and share directly on YouTube.

Reason to avoid:

  • Limited range of transitions and effects.
  • Limited options for 3D video editing.

videopad video editor

VideoPad Video Editor from NCH Software comes with a simple user interface, and hence, it is suitable for beginners. There is a wide category of transitions and effects available. It is the perfect combination video and audio editor. The software can process the videos faster, and it supports so many different types of media file formats.

Even though it is a rather simple video editor, it is quite powerful where you can edit 3D and e60-degree videos. Besides, there are options for 3D texts and tiles, chroma key, custom logos, and animations. Moreover, you can choose from different templates for intro and outro part of your videos. The audio editor is quite useful for mixing tracks, adding effects, and record own narration.

7. VSDC Free Video Editor

Best for: those who have very low end and outdated PCs.

System compatibility: Windows XP or above.

Reason to choose:

  • Zoom and edit option, 360-degree video editing.
  • Large set of video effects, transitions and filters.
  • Chroma key option and PiP and split screen effect.
  • Color correction and very low system requirements.
  • Supports importing and exporting different file formats.

Reason to avoid:

  • Advanced features are locked for premium users.

vsdc free video editor

VSDC is a free suite where you get video editor and audio editor for free. Coming specifically to VSDC Free Video Editor, all the features are available for free without any watermark. However, there is a Pro version available with more advance video editing features. The software supports a wide range of media file formats.

You can zoom and edit accurately. You can even edit 360-degree videos without any issue. There are options for color correction, greenscreen effects and visualizations. You can choose from a large set of video effects and filters. The best part is that VSDC Free Video Editor is suitable for very low-end systems.

8. Avidemux

Best for: those looking for a free video editor for basic editing.

System compatibility: Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Reason to choose:

  • Standard video options available.
  • Advanced video filters and effects.
  • Custom scripting and advanced interlacing.
  • Super intuitive user interface.
  • Supports multiple file formats.

Reason to avoid:

  • Not suitable for high-resolution videos.

avidemux

Avidemux from Sourceforge is a light video editing software free. The software is suitable for basic editing only. It is extremely lightweight, and it supports a limited resolution of videos. You can cut crop, trim videos, add filters to them, and perform encoding tasks. The software supports various import and export file formats.

Avidemux also has basic audio editing options, and you can publish compressed videos in rather small file sizes. There is also option for custom scripting, and you can automate common tasks easily. It belongs to the open-source video editor category, and hence, it is completely free to use for all purposes.

Part 3. FAQs about Light Video Editor

1. What is Light Video Editor?

Light Video Editor is a user-friendly video editing software that allows users to edit and create videos quickly and easily. The software includes features such as trimming, merging, cropping, adding music, and more.

2. what is the best lightweight video editor for windows?

Wondershare Filmora is the best lightweight video editor for Windows as well as Mac users. Even though the software is world-class as a video editing software, it does not demand high CPU usage and does not high system requirements.

3. What is the best free light video editor?

Shotcut is the best free light video editor, and it is available for all computer operating systems. If you have a very low-end computer, VSDC Free Video Editor is the best free light video editor for you.

4. Can I use a light video editor for professional projects?

While a light video editor may not have all the features of a professional video editor, it can still be used for professional projects such as short promotional videos, social media content, or simple marketing videos. It can be a great option for those who need to quickly edit and produce videos without spending a lot of time learning a complex software.

5. What are the benefits of using a light video editor?

One of the main benefits of using a light video editor is its simplicity and ease of use. It can be a great option for beginners or those who need to quickly edit and produce videos without spending a lot of time learning a complex software. It is also usually more affordable than a full-featured video editor and can still produce high-quality videos for personal or professional use.

Reason to avoid:

  • Video processing slightly on the slower side.

filmora

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

Wondershare Filmora is the best lightweight video editor that is tailor-made for both beginners as well as professionals. It is a premium video editor, and you should opt for it if you regularly edit videos. In fact, it is widely used by YouTubers and social media video creators. The software lets you record your screen and webcam video along with system and external mic sound. You can edit various video parameters such as aspect ratio, resolution, frame rate and likewise.

Coming to its editing features, you get a perfect blend of basic and advanced editing tools. You can trim, crop, split, join video clips as well as make videos from photos. You can import various media files of different formats including audio files. There are loads of transitions, effects, elements, texts, and stock media files. You can opt for greenscreen effect, apply stickers, correct colors, and much more.

2. Studio

Best for: Slightly advanced Windows users for advanced video editing.

System compatibility: Windows 11 and 10 (64 bit)

Reason to choose:

  • Perfect blend of standard and advanced video editing tools.
  • Advanced video masking and color grading options.
  • Tons of effects, filters, transitions, and overlays.
  • Edit multi-cam video and 360-degree video.
  • Advanced audio editing options.

Reason to avoid:

  • Some advanced features are not full-fledged.

pinnacle studio

Studio is a premium but light video editor that has some advanced video editing options. You will get all the basic video editing tools as well. You can publish cinema-grade videos with Studio. You can zoom video clips and edit frames accurately so that the video has no glitches and inconsistency in editing. The software allows you to edit multi-cam videos and make split-screen videos.

You can also record your screen and webcam with Studio. Apart from video editing, you can edit your audio files. There are options for color grading, blend modes and video making. Among the advanced features, you get motion and smart object tracking along with keyframing and editing 360-degree videos. The software comes with hardware acceleration to boost its performance.

3. OpenShot

Best for: those looking for a free light video editor.

System compatibility: Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Reason to choose:

  • Drag and drop media files of different formats.
  • Wide range of video filters and transition effects.
  • 3D objects and animations with Blender plugin.
  • Dedicated audio editor and video templates.

Reason to avoid:

  • Not so suitable for 4K resolution videos.

openshot

OpenShot is an open-source and cross-platform video editor that is compatible across all computer operating systems. It is completely free to use, and it has a good mixture of all basic and some advanced video editing options. You can import photos, video clips, and audio files as per your requirements as it supports a wide range of media file formats.

The user interface is simple, and hence, beginners will find it easy to use. The software has one of the lowest CPU resource usages among the lightweight video editors. You can trim, crop, resize, split and do all such video editing. You can adjust the speed of videos as well as correct video parameters. The software allows you to attach custom watermarks and overlays, and there is the option for time-mapping.

4. ShotCut

Best for: open-source video editor with standard and advanced features.

System compatibility: Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Reason to choose:

  • Import and export different file formats in high-resolution.
  • Chroma key, video stabilization, filters and transitions.
  • Video masking, composting and color correction.
  • Complete audio editor with filters and mixing.
  • Wide range of video editing options and tools.

Reason to avoid:

  • User interface takes time to understand all features.
  • Limited transitions and no stock media files.

shotcut

Shotcut is an open-source and cross-platform video editor. It has support for all the different media file formats, and it supports 4K resolution. You can use the software to capture webcam and screen video as well as audio narration. You can also import different file formats for photos. There are various audio features available starting from audio filters to audio mixing.

Shotcut comes with a large set of transitions, effects, and filters. It supports video stabilization and deinterlacing as well as blending modes. You can edit video speed, reserve video clips, correct colors, and imperfections easily. There is a multi-track timeline available for easy video making and editing.

5. Adobe Premiere Pro

Best for: premium video editor for advanced Windows users.

System compatibility: Windows 10 and 11.

Reason to choose:

  • Wide range of video effects, transitions, and templates.
  • Edit 3D, VR, and multicam and 360-dgree videos as well as audio.
  • Suitable for collaborative video editing and robust timeline.
  • Support for various video and audio formats.

Reason to avoid:

  • Reports of lagging in low-end computers.
  • Steep learning curve to understand the user interface.

adobe premiere pro

Adobe Premiere Pro is undoubtedly the best lightweight video editor Windows 10 for advanced video editors. Even though it is relatively less lightweight, you can do basic video editing on computers which do not have high-end hardware. Apart from basic editing, you can create industry-grade videos with the editing options available on the software.

You may need some training and lessons could be high useful for smooth editing. The software supports teamwork and collaborative video editing. You can edit VR and 3D videos as well as audio. The user interface is complicated, but it is highly customizable and flexible. The timeline is quite advanced and it is a complete video editor with full-fledged features.

6. VideoPad Video Editor

Best for: those who are looking for a video as well as audio editor.

System compatibility: Windows and Mac.

Reason to choose:

  • Perfect combination of standard video and audio editing options.
  • Video templates for intro, outro, and themed videos.
  • Lossless exporting of videos in different formats.
  • Video stabilization, color correction, and plugin support.
  • Supports 4K video and share directly on YouTube.

Reason to avoid:

  • Limited range of transitions and effects.
  • Limited options for 3D video editing.

videopad video editor

VideoPad Video Editor from NCH Software comes with a simple user interface, and hence, it is suitable for beginners. There is a wide category of transitions and effects available. It is the perfect combination video and audio editor. The software can process the videos faster, and it supports so many different types of media file formats.

Even though it is a rather simple video editor, it is quite powerful where you can edit 3D and e60-degree videos. Besides, there are options for 3D texts and tiles, chroma key, custom logos, and animations. Moreover, you can choose from different templates for intro and outro part of your videos. The audio editor is quite useful for mixing tracks, adding effects, and record own narration.

7. VSDC Free Video Editor

Best for: those who have very low end and outdated PCs.

System compatibility: Windows XP or above.

Reason to choose:

  • Zoom and edit option, 360-degree video editing.
  • Large set of video effects, transitions and filters.
  • Chroma key option and PiP and split screen effect.
  • Color correction and very low system requirements.
  • Supports importing and exporting different file formats.

Reason to avoid:

  • Advanced features are locked for premium users.

vsdc free video editor

VSDC is a free suite where you get video editor and audio editor for free. Coming specifically to VSDC Free Video Editor, all the features are available for free without any watermark. However, there is a Pro version available with more advance video editing features. The software supports a wide range of media file formats.

You can zoom and edit accurately. You can even edit 360-degree videos without any issue. There are options for color correction, greenscreen effects and visualizations. You can choose from a large set of video effects and filters. The best part is that VSDC Free Video Editor is suitable for very low-end systems.

8. Avidemux

Best for: those looking for a free video editor for basic editing.

System compatibility: Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Reason to choose:

  • Standard video options available.
  • Advanced video filters and effects.
  • Custom scripting and advanced interlacing.
  • Super intuitive user interface.
  • Supports multiple file formats.

Reason to avoid:

  • Not suitable for high-resolution videos.

avidemux

Avidemux from Sourceforge is a light video editing software free. The software is suitable for basic editing only. It is extremely lightweight, and it supports a limited resolution of videos. You can cut crop, trim videos, add filters to them, and perform encoding tasks. The software supports various import and export file formats.

Avidemux also has basic audio editing options, and you can publish compressed videos in rather small file sizes. There is also option for custom scripting, and you can automate common tasks easily. It belongs to the open-source video editor category, and hence, it is completely free to use for all purposes.

Part 3. FAQs about Light Video Editor

1. What is Light Video Editor?

Light Video Editor is a user-friendly video editing software that allows users to edit and create videos quickly and easily. The software includes features such as trimming, merging, cropping, adding music, and more.

2. what is the best lightweight video editor for windows?

Wondershare Filmora is the best lightweight video editor for Windows as well as Mac users. Even though the software is world-class as a video editing software, it does not demand high CPU usage and does not high system requirements.

3. What is the best free light video editor?

Shotcut is the best free light video editor, and it is available for all computer operating systems. If you have a very low-end computer, VSDC Free Video Editor is the best free light video editor for you.

4. Can I use a light video editor for professional projects?

While a light video editor may not have all the features of a professional video editor, it can still be used for professional projects such as short promotional videos, social media content, or simple marketing videos. It can be a great option for those who need to quickly edit and produce videos without spending a lot of time learning a complex software.

5. What are the benefits of using a light video editor?

One of the main benefits of using a light video editor is its simplicity and ease of use. It can be a great option for beginners or those who need to quickly edit and produce videos without spending a lot of time learning a complex software. It is also usually more affordable than a full-featured video editor and can still produce high-quality videos for personal or professional use.

Reason to avoid:

  • Video processing slightly on the slower side.

filmora

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

Wondershare Filmora is the best lightweight video editor that is tailor-made for both beginners as well as professionals. It is a premium video editor, and you should opt for it if you regularly edit videos. In fact, it is widely used by YouTubers and social media video creators. The software lets you record your screen and webcam video along with system and external mic sound. You can edit various video parameters such as aspect ratio, resolution, frame rate and likewise.

Coming to its editing features, you get a perfect blend of basic and advanced editing tools. You can trim, crop, split, join video clips as well as make videos from photos. You can import various media files of different formats including audio files. There are loads of transitions, effects, elements, texts, and stock media files. You can opt for greenscreen effect, apply stickers, correct colors, and much more.

2. Studio

Best for: Slightly advanced Windows users for advanced video editing.

System compatibility: Windows 11 and 10 (64 bit)

Reason to choose:

  • Perfect blend of standard and advanced video editing tools.
  • Advanced video masking and color grading options.
  • Tons of effects, filters, transitions, and overlays.
  • Edit multi-cam video and 360-degree video.
  • Advanced audio editing options.

Reason to avoid:

  • Some advanced features are not full-fledged.

pinnacle studio

Studio is a premium but light video editor that has some advanced video editing options. You will get all the basic video editing tools as well. You can publish cinema-grade videos with Studio. You can zoom video clips and edit frames accurately so that the video has no glitches and inconsistency in editing. The software allows you to edit multi-cam videos and make split-screen videos.

You can also record your screen and webcam with Studio. Apart from video editing, you can edit your audio files. There are options for color grading, blend modes and video making. Among the advanced features, you get motion and smart object tracking along with keyframing and editing 360-degree videos. The software comes with hardware acceleration to boost its performance.

3. OpenShot

Best for: those looking for a free light video editor.

System compatibility: Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Reason to choose:

  • Drag and drop media files of different formats.
  • Wide range of video filters and transition effects.
  • 3D objects and animations with Blender plugin.
  • Dedicated audio editor and video templates.

Reason to avoid:

  • Not so suitable for 4K resolution videos.

openshot

OpenShot is an open-source and cross-platform video editor that is compatible across all computer operating systems. It is completely free to use, and it has a good mixture of all basic and some advanced video editing options. You can import photos, video clips, and audio files as per your requirements as it supports a wide range of media file formats.

The user interface is simple, and hence, beginners will find it easy to use. The software has one of the lowest CPU resource usages among the lightweight video editors. You can trim, crop, resize, split and do all such video editing. You can adjust the speed of videos as well as correct video parameters. The software allows you to attach custom watermarks and overlays, and there is the option for time-mapping.

4. ShotCut

Best for: open-source video editor with standard and advanced features.

System compatibility: Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Reason to choose:

  • Import and export different file formats in high-resolution.
  • Chroma key, video stabilization, filters and transitions.
  • Video masking, composting and color correction.
  • Complete audio editor with filters and mixing.
  • Wide range of video editing options and tools.

Reason to avoid:

  • User interface takes time to understand all features.
  • Limited transitions and no stock media files.

shotcut

Shotcut is an open-source and cross-platform video editor. It has support for all the different media file formats, and it supports 4K resolution. You can use the software to capture webcam and screen video as well as audio narration. You can also import different file formats for photos. There are various audio features available starting from audio filters to audio mixing.

Shotcut comes with a large set of transitions, effects, and filters. It supports video stabilization and deinterlacing as well as blending modes. You can edit video speed, reserve video clips, correct colors, and imperfections easily. There is a multi-track timeline available for easy video making and editing.

5. Adobe Premiere Pro

Best for: premium video editor for advanced Windows users.

System compatibility: Windows 10 and 11.

Reason to choose:

  • Wide range of video effects, transitions, and templates.
  • Edit 3D, VR, and multicam and 360-dgree videos as well as audio.
  • Suitable for collaborative video editing and robust timeline.
  • Support for various video and audio formats.

Reason to avoid:

  • Reports of lagging in low-end computers.
  • Steep learning curve to understand the user interface.

adobe premiere pro

Adobe Premiere Pro is undoubtedly the best lightweight video editor Windows 10 for advanced video editors. Even though it is relatively less lightweight, you can do basic video editing on computers which do not have high-end hardware. Apart from basic editing, you can create industry-grade videos with the editing options available on the software.

You may need some training and lessons could be high useful for smooth editing. The software supports teamwork and collaborative video editing. You can edit VR and 3D videos as well as audio. The user interface is complicated, but it is highly customizable and flexible. The timeline is quite advanced and it is a complete video editor with full-fledged features.

6. VideoPad Video Editor

Best for: those who are looking for a video as well as audio editor.

System compatibility: Windows and Mac.

Reason to choose:

  • Perfect combination of standard video and audio editing options.
  • Video templates for intro, outro, and themed videos.
  • Lossless exporting of videos in different formats.
  • Video stabilization, color correction, and plugin support.
  • Supports 4K video and share directly on YouTube.

Reason to avoid:

  • Limited range of transitions and effects.
  • Limited options for 3D video editing.

videopad video editor

VideoPad Video Editor from NCH Software comes with a simple user interface, and hence, it is suitable for beginners. There is a wide category of transitions and effects available. It is the perfect combination video and audio editor. The software can process the videos faster, and it supports so many different types of media file formats.

Even though it is a rather simple video editor, it is quite powerful where you can edit 3D and e60-degree videos. Besides, there are options for 3D texts and tiles, chroma key, custom logos, and animations. Moreover, you can choose from different templates for intro and outro part of your videos. The audio editor is quite useful for mixing tracks, adding effects, and record own narration.

7. VSDC Free Video Editor

Best for: those who have very low end and outdated PCs.

System compatibility: Windows XP or above.

Reason to choose:

  • Zoom and edit option, 360-degree video editing.
  • Large set of video effects, transitions and filters.
  • Chroma key option and PiP and split screen effect.
  • Color correction and very low system requirements.
  • Supports importing and exporting different file formats.

Reason to avoid:

  • Advanced features are locked for premium users.

vsdc free video editor

VSDC is a free suite where you get video editor and audio editor for free. Coming specifically to VSDC Free Video Editor, all the features are available for free without any watermark. However, there is a Pro version available with more advance video editing features. The software supports a wide range of media file formats.

You can zoom and edit accurately. You can even edit 360-degree videos without any issue. There are options for color correction, greenscreen effects and visualizations. You can choose from a large set of video effects and filters. The best part is that VSDC Free Video Editor is suitable for very low-end systems.

8. Avidemux

Best for: those looking for a free video editor for basic editing.

System compatibility: Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Reason to choose:

  • Standard video options available.
  • Advanced video filters and effects.
  • Custom scripting and advanced interlacing.
  • Super intuitive user interface.
  • Supports multiple file formats.

Reason to avoid:

  • Not suitable for high-resolution videos.

avidemux

Avidemux from Sourceforge is a light video editing software free. The software is suitable for basic editing only. It is extremely lightweight, and it supports a limited resolution of videos. You can cut crop, trim videos, add filters to them, and perform encoding tasks. The software supports various import and export file formats.

Avidemux also has basic audio editing options, and you can publish compressed videos in rather small file sizes. There is also option for custom scripting, and you can automate common tasks easily. It belongs to the open-source video editor category, and hence, it is completely free to use for all purposes.

Part 3. FAQs about Light Video Editor

1. What is Light Video Editor?

Light Video Editor is a user-friendly video editing software that allows users to edit and create videos quickly and easily. The software includes features such as trimming, merging, cropping, adding music, and more.

2. what is the best lightweight video editor for windows?

Wondershare Filmora is the best lightweight video editor for Windows as well as Mac users. Even though the software is world-class as a video editing software, it does not demand high CPU usage and does not high system requirements.

3. What is the best free light video editor?

Shotcut is the best free light video editor, and it is available for all computer operating systems. If you have a very low-end computer, VSDC Free Video Editor is the best free light video editor for you.

4. Can I use a light video editor for professional projects?

While a light video editor may not have all the features of a professional video editor, it can still be used for professional projects such as short promotional videos, social media content, or simple marketing videos. It can be a great option for those who need to quickly edit and produce videos without spending a lot of time learning a complex software.

5. What are the benefits of using a light video editor?

One of the main benefits of using a light video editor is its simplicity and ease of use. It can be a great option for beginners or those who need to quickly edit and produce videos without spending a lot of time learning a complex software. It is also usually more affordable than a full-featured video editor and can still produce high-quality videos for personal or professional use.

Reason to avoid:

  • Video processing slightly on the slower side.

filmora

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

Wondershare Filmora is the best lightweight video editor that is tailor-made for both beginners as well as professionals. It is a premium video editor, and you should opt for it if you regularly edit videos. In fact, it is widely used by YouTubers and social media video creators. The software lets you record your screen and webcam video along with system and external mic sound. You can edit various video parameters such as aspect ratio, resolution, frame rate and likewise.

Coming to its editing features, you get a perfect blend of basic and advanced editing tools. You can trim, crop, split, join video clips as well as make videos from photos. You can import various media files of different formats including audio files. There are loads of transitions, effects, elements, texts, and stock media files. You can opt for greenscreen effect, apply stickers, correct colors, and much more.

2. Studio

Best for: Slightly advanced Windows users for advanced video editing.

System compatibility: Windows 11 and 10 (64 bit)

Reason to choose:

  • Perfect blend of standard and advanced video editing tools.
  • Advanced video masking and color grading options.
  • Tons of effects, filters, transitions, and overlays.
  • Edit multi-cam video and 360-degree video.
  • Advanced audio editing options.

Reason to avoid:

  • Some advanced features are not full-fledged.

pinnacle studio

Studio is a premium but light video editor that has some advanced video editing options. You will get all the basic video editing tools as well. You can publish cinema-grade videos with Studio. You can zoom video clips and edit frames accurately so that the video has no glitches and inconsistency in editing. The software allows you to edit multi-cam videos and make split-screen videos.

You can also record your screen and webcam with Studio. Apart from video editing, you can edit your audio files. There are options for color grading, blend modes and video making. Among the advanced features, you get motion and smart object tracking along with keyframing and editing 360-degree videos. The software comes with hardware acceleration to boost its performance.

3. OpenShot

Best for: those looking for a free light video editor.

System compatibility: Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Reason to choose:

  • Drag and drop media files of different formats.
  • Wide range of video filters and transition effects.
  • 3D objects and animations with Blender plugin.
  • Dedicated audio editor and video templates.

Reason to avoid:

  • Not so suitable for 4K resolution videos.

openshot

OpenShot is an open-source and cross-platform video editor that is compatible across all computer operating systems. It is completely free to use, and it has a good mixture of all basic and some advanced video editing options. You can import photos, video clips, and audio files as per your requirements as it supports a wide range of media file formats.

The user interface is simple, and hence, beginners will find it easy to use. The software has one of the lowest CPU resource usages among the lightweight video editors. You can trim, crop, resize, split and do all such video editing. You can adjust the speed of videos as well as correct video parameters. The software allows you to attach custom watermarks and overlays, and there is the option for time-mapping.

4. ShotCut

Best for: open-source video editor with standard and advanced features.

System compatibility: Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Reason to choose:

  • Import and export different file formats in high-resolution.
  • Chroma key, video stabilization, filters and transitions.
  • Video masking, composting and color correction.
  • Complete audio editor with filters and mixing.
  • Wide range of video editing options and tools.

Reason to avoid:

  • User interface takes time to understand all features.
  • Limited transitions and no stock media files.

shotcut

Shotcut is an open-source and cross-platform video editor. It has support for all the different media file formats, and it supports 4K resolution. You can use the software to capture webcam and screen video as well as audio narration. You can also import different file formats for photos. There are various audio features available starting from audio filters to audio mixing.

Shotcut comes with a large set of transitions, effects, and filters. It supports video stabilization and deinterlacing as well as blending modes. You can edit video speed, reserve video clips, correct colors, and imperfections easily. There is a multi-track timeline available for easy video making and editing.

5. Adobe Premiere Pro

Best for: premium video editor for advanced Windows users.

System compatibility: Windows 10 and 11.

Reason to choose:

  • Wide range of video effects, transitions, and templates.
  • Edit 3D, VR, and multicam and 360-dgree videos as well as audio.
  • Suitable for collaborative video editing and robust timeline.
  • Support for various video and audio formats.

Reason to avoid:

  • Reports of lagging in low-end computers.
  • Steep learning curve to understand the user interface.

adobe premiere pro

Adobe Premiere Pro is undoubtedly the best lightweight video editor Windows 10 for advanced video editors. Even though it is relatively less lightweight, you can do basic video editing on computers which do not have high-end hardware. Apart from basic editing, you can create industry-grade videos with the editing options available on the software.

You may need some training and lessons could be high useful for smooth editing. The software supports teamwork and collaborative video editing. You can edit VR and 3D videos as well as audio. The user interface is complicated, but it is highly customizable and flexible. The timeline is quite advanced and it is a complete video editor with full-fledged features.

6. VideoPad Video Editor

Best for: those who are looking for a video as well as audio editor.

System compatibility: Windows and Mac.

Reason to choose:

  • Perfect combination of standard video and audio editing options.
  • Video templates for intro, outro, and themed videos.
  • Lossless exporting of videos in different formats.
  • Video stabilization, color correction, and plugin support.
  • Supports 4K video and share directly on YouTube.

Reason to avoid:

  • Limited range of transitions and effects.
  • Limited options for 3D video editing.

videopad video editor

VideoPad Video Editor from NCH Software comes with a simple user interface, and hence, it is suitable for beginners. There is a wide category of transitions and effects available. It is the perfect combination video and audio editor. The software can process the videos faster, and it supports so many different types of media file formats.

Even though it is a rather simple video editor, it is quite powerful where you can edit 3D and e60-degree videos. Besides, there are options for 3D texts and tiles, chroma key, custom logos, and animations. Moreover, you can choose from different templates for intro and outro part of your videos. The audio editor is quite useful for mixing tracks, adding effects, and record own narration.

7. VSDC Free Video Editor

Best for: those who have very low end and outdated PCs.

System compatibility: Windows XP or above.

Reason to choose:

  • Zoom and edit option, 360-degree video editing.
  • Large set of video effects, transitions and filters.
  • Chroma key option and PiP and split screen effect.
  • Color correction and very low system requirements.
  • Supports importing and exporting different file formats.

Reason to avoid:

  • Advanced features are locked for premium users.

vsdc free video editor

VSDC is a free suite where you get video editor and audio editor for free. Coming specifically to VSDC Free Video Editor, all the features are available for free without any watermark. However, there is a Pro version available with more advance video editing features. The software supports a wide range of media file formats.

You can zoom and edit accurately. You can even edit 360-degree videos without any issue. There are options for color correction, greenscreen effects and visualizations. You can choose from a large set of video effects and filters. The best part is that VSDC Free Video Editor is suitable for very low-end systems.

8. Avidemux

Best for: those looking for a free video editor for basic editing.

System compatibility: Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Reason to choose:

  • Standard video options available.
  • Advanced video filters and effects.
  • Custom scripting and advanced interlacing.
  • Super intuitive user interface.
  • Supports multiple file formats.

Reason to avoid:

  • Not suitable for high-resolution videos.

avidemux

Avidemux from Sourceforge is a light video editing software free. The software is suitable for basic editing only. It is extremely lightweight, and it supports a limited resolution of videos. You can cut crop, trim videos, add filters to them, and perform encoding tasks. The software supports various import and export file formats.

Avidemux also has basic audio editing options, and you can publish compressed videos in rather small file sizes. There is also option for custom scripting, and you can automate common tasks easily. It belongs to the open-source video editor category, and hence, it is completely free to use for all purposes.

Part 3. FAQs about Light Video Editor

1. What is Light Video Editor?

Light Video Editor is a user-friendly video editing software that allows users to edit and create videos quickly and easily. The software includes features such as trimming, merging, cropping, adding music, and more.

2. what is the best lightweight video editor for windows?

Wondershare Filmora is the best lightweight video editor for Windows as well as Mac users. Even though the software is world-class as a video editing software, it does not demand high CPU usage and does not high system requirements.

3. What is the best free light video editor?

Shotcut is the best free light video editor, and it is available for all computer operating systems. If you have a very low-end computer, VSDC Free Video Editor is the best free light video editor for you.

4. Can I use a light video editor for professional projects?

While a light video editor may not have all the features of a professional video editor, it can still be used for professional projects such as short promotional videos, social media content, or simple marketing videos. It can be a great option for those who need to quickly edit and produce videos without spending a lot of time learning a complex software.

5. What are the benefits of using a light video editor?

One of the main benefits of using a light video editor is its simplicity and ease of use. It can be a great option for beginners or those who need to quickly edit and produce videos without spending a lot of time learning a complex software. It is also usually more affordable than a full-featured video editor and can still produce high-quality videos for personal or professional use.

Top 10 Free Stock Photo Sites

10 Best Public Domain Image Websites

author avatar

Liza Brown

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Finding an image you like on the Internet doesn’t take long, since almost every website you can stumble upon, contains at least one picture. This doesn’t mean that you can just download any photo and use it in your blog, online marketing campaign or for any other purpose. Moreover, stock image websites like Getty Images or iStock let you purchase the right to use a photo commercially. As a reaction to an expanding stock image industry, many photographers, museums and cultural institutions are choosing to forfeit their rights and to publish public domain images. So, in this article, we are going to take you through the ten best public domain image websites where you can download pictures for free.

What Are Public Domain Images?

By definition, public domain images are photos, vectors or clip art that are available to anyone because their copyright has either expired or they never had a copyright owner. Consequently, anyone can use these images for both commercial or private projects without having to purchase the rights to do so. An image can enter a public domain under the following circumstances:

  • Scientists, educators or artists can use the Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license to dedicate their images to the public domain
  • A picture’s copyright is no longer in effect
  • A photo was never the subject to copyright

It is of utmost importance to check if an image is within the public domain before you use it publicly in order to avoid potential legal complications.

How and Where to Find Public Domain Images?

A simple google search will reveal hundreds of websites that let you download public domain and royalty-free images. Which source you’re going to use depends on the type of image you’re looking for, since some websites are dedicated only to photography, while others feature impressive collections of public domain images of artworks. In addition, you’ll only want to download public domain images from the websites that offer information about the author because using a public domain image without crediting its author is strictly prohibited.

Best Websites for Downloading Public Domain Images

We’ve searched the Internet and we utilized our results to compile a collection of the most reliable websites that grant its users access to vast numbers of public domain images. Let’s take a look at some of the best websites that let you download public domain images.

1. Pexels

Public Domain Images from Pexels

Graphic designers and all other creatives in constant need of a fresh supply of public domain images don’t need a special introduction to Pexels. The stock image platform is dedicated to photography and video, so you can’t use it to search for vectors or clip art. Even so, you can use Pexles to search for public domain images based on a particular keyword or browse through its collection of free images and discover photos spontaneously. Clicking on the Popular Searches tab will enable you to see the images from Light, Nature or Animals and it will shorten the amount of time you have to spend looking for a photo you want to download.

Pros:

  • Neatly organized website
  • Free and easy sign-up
  • Offers a huge selection of free public domain images and videos according to the CC0 license
  • Hand-picked High quality Images

Cons:

  • Some categories should contain more images
  • Optimizing the search terms can be difficult

2. Pixabay

Public Domain Images from Plxabay

Besides offering an impressive collection of royalty-free photos, Pixabay also lets you search for public domain vectors, illustrations, and videos. The website hosts more than a million high-resolution photos and videos you can download for free. To make things even better, becoming a member of the Pixabay’s community and creating an account on this platform won’t take more than a few minutes of your time. Pixabay also offers advanced search tools that enable you to combine searches, search for the author of an image or group search terms. In addition, you can also browse through the photographers that contribute their images to the platform on a regular basis.

Pros:

  • Powerful search tools and various filters
  • Huge collection of public domain images

Cons

  • Customer support could be better

3. Wikimedia Commons

wikimedia commons

This is probably the largest website on the Internet where you can download public domain images. There are more than 49 million images, illustrations, vector graphics and videos available that can be downloaded for free. Some media files on Wikimedia Commons have certain restrictions, but these restrictions are mostly related to image citations, which means that you can use them only if you credit the author. Such a huge selection of media files can be overwhelming for the newcomers to the Wikimedia Commons platform, but once you grow accustomed to the website’s interface discovering images becomes a straightforward process.

Pros:

  • All images are available in high resolution
  • Nearly all images can be used without any restrictions

Cons:

  • Getting used to the website’s interface takes time
  • The number of search results can be overwhelming

4. Flickr Commons

Flickr commons

For more than a decade Flickr has been a popular online destination for photographers in need of a platform that enables them to present their work. The Flickr Commons is a project that unites more than a hundred institutions in an effort to create a library of public domain images. The project makes available a stunning amount of historical photographs and it grants you access to highly esteemed collections of photographs. Flick Commons is perfectly suited for researchers and scholars in need of public domain photos, they can use in their essays or research papers.

Pros:

  • Unlimited access to historical photos
  • Extends the knowledge available to the general public

Cons:

  • Doesn’t offer videos or illustrations
  • Search results are poorly organized

5. Unsplash

Unsplash public domain image

With a library that contains over 800,000 photos, Unsplash is easily one of the largest websites that offer public domain images. All pictures on this platform are organized into different categories, which makes finding a photo you want to use in a commercial or non-commercial project a relatively simple process. Alternatively, you can insert a keyword into a search bar and Unsplash will show you the results within seconds. However, the images you can find on this platform are similar to those you can purchase on stock photography websites, although some of them have an artistic touch that is hard to find on the majority of stock photos.

Pros:

  • Excellent source of high-resolution photos
  • Quick and easy search

Cons:

  • Unsplash is dedicated solely to photography
  • Limited amount of available public domain images

6. From Old Books

In case you are searching for images from old books you should look no further. This is a private collection of 2,600 images that are hard to find anywhere else on the Internet. You can browse through woodcuts, old texts or old holiday images, which makes this platform an excellent choice for anyone interested in rare images that were featured in old books. All pictures you can find on the From Old Books website are free to use on non-commercial projects, but you must pay a small fee if you want to download a high-resolution image you can use on a commercial project.

  • Images are organized into categories
  • Access to rare images

Cons

  • Some images are not free
  • Rudimentary website design

7. Morguefile

Morguefile public domain image

Morguefile is a website that offers stock footage to its users, but some of the images can’t be downloaded for free. That’s why you must click on the Free Photos tab before you start searching for public domain images on this website. The website hosts nearly 400.000 photos, videos, and vector graphics, but you must make sure that a file you want to download is within the public domain before you download it. The only downside is that the images aren’t organized into categories which can make finding the images you’re searching for more difficult than it needs to be.

Pros:

  • Creating an account on Morguefile is free
  • All free photos can be used on commercial projects

Cons:

  • Images can be organized better
  • Fewer free images than on other public domain image websites

8. Public Domain Archive

As the website’s name indicates, this is an archive of public domain images you can download for free and use in commercial contexts. All photos are organized into categories like abstract, free stock photos, people or wood which makes the search simpler. However, these categories don’t contain more than a few hundred photos and some of them offer as few as five pictures you can download. All photos are in high resolution and ready for professional use. The download process can be completed effortlessly in just a few quick steps. New images are added on a weekly basis.

Pros:

  • Professional quality of images
  • All images are free

Cons:

  • A limited selection of photos
  • Doesn’t offer vector graphics

NYPL Digital Gallery

NYPL Digital Gallery is an excellent resource for anyone who is not interested in stock photography. The New Your Public Library has made hundreds of thousands of historical images available to the public and you can use it to browse through items, collections or divisions. Before you enter a keyword you should click on the search only public domain materials tick box to ensure that the search results are going to display only images that can be used without restrictions. Additionally, the NYPL Digital Gallery lets you browse through its collection of digital books while its collections of photographs include the work of some of the highly esteemed American photographers.

Pros

  • Public domain images are available in different resolutions
  • Offers valuable research materials

Cons

  • Some images are subject to copyright
  • Only aimed at scholars and researchers

10. Viintage

Viintage is a gold mine for graphic designers as it grants them access to hundreds of vintage posters, book covers, and images. However, the amount of public domain images this website offers is limited and if you want to download the images from the collections of works created by famous artists from the late 19th and early 20th centuries you must purchase the premium version of Viintage. The website lacks some basic search options as it only allows you to type in the search term into the search bar. The images are not organized into categories which further complicates the process of finding a public domain image you’re looking for.

Pros:

  • Offers a collection of rare vintage public domain images
  • A great resource for graphic designers

Cons:

  • Most images on Viintage can’t be downloaded for free
  • Search tools are far from perfect

You may also like: Best Image Hosting Sites >>

How to Cite Public Domain Images Properly?

If you’re planning on using a public domain image in a blog or on your website, you must cite the source from which you acquired a particular image. The image citations should include the following information:

  • The title of the image
  • Author’s name
  • Information about the institution at which an image is kept
  • The source from which you acquired an image

In case you don’t have access to all of these information or if the information is simply not available you should include all details about a public domain image you have the access to. Furthermore, there are several styles of image citations that depend on the source from which an image was acquired.

Conclusion

Spending large sums of money on images you can use in commercial or private projects is not always necessary. The public domain images are widely available and they can be used in a broad range of contexts. Which website that lets you download public domain images do you like to use the most? Leave a comment and share your opinions with us.

Dont worry when you forget the syntax of an HTML element, like and iframe, a link, a table, an image or anything else. Visit HTML CheatSheet and generate the code you need.

author avatar

Liza Brown

Liza Brown is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Liza Brown

Liza Brown

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Finding an image you like on the Internet doesn’t take long, since almost every website you can stumble upon, contains at least one picture. This doesn’t mean that you can just download any photo and use it in your blog, online marketing campaign or for any other purpose. Moreover, stock image websites like Getty Images or iStock let you purchase the right to use a photo commercially. As a reaction to an expanding stock image industry, many photographers, museums and cultural institutions are choosing to forfeit their rights and to publish public domain images. So, in this article, we are going to take you through the ten best public domain image websites where you can download pictures for free.

What Are Public Domain Images?

By definition, public domain images are photos, vectors or clip art that are available to anyone because their copyright has either expired or they never had a copyright owner. Consequently, anyone can use these images for both commercial or private projects without having to purchase the rights to do so. An image can enter a public domain under the following circumstances:

  • Scientists, educators or artists can use the Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license to dedicate their images to the public domain
  • A picture’s copyright is no longer in effect
  • A photo was never the subject to copyright

It is of utmost importance to check if an image is within the public domain before you use it publicly in order to avoid potential legal complications.

How and Where to Find Public Domain Images?

A simple google search will reveal hundreds of websites that let you download public domain and royalty-free images. Which source you’re going to use depends on the type of image you’re looking for, since some websites are dedicated only to photography, while others feature impressive collections of public domain images of artworks. In addition, you’ll only want to download public domain images from the websites that offer information about the author because using a public domain image without crediting its author is strictly prohibited.

Best Websites for Downloading Public Domain Images

We’ve searched the Internet and we utilized our results to compile a collection of the most reliable websites that grant its users access to vast numbers of public domain images. Let’s take a look at some of the best websites that let you download public domain images.

1. Pexels

Public Domain Images from Pexels

Graphic designers and all other creatives in constant need of a fresh supply of public domain images don’t need a special introduction to Pexels. The stock image platform is dedicated to photography and video, so you can’t use it to search for vectors or clip art. Even so, you can use Pexles to search for public domain images based on a particular keyword or browse through its collection of free images and discover photos spontaneously. Clicking on the Popular Searches tab will enable you to see the images from Light, Nature or Animals and it will shorten the amount of time you have to spend looking for a photo you want to download.

Pros:

  • Neatly organized website
  • Free and easy sign-up
  • Offers a huge selection of free public domain images and videos according to the CC0 license
  • Hand-picked High quality Images

Cons:

  • Some categories should contain more images
  • Optimizing the search terms can be difficult

2. Pixabay

Public Domain Images from Plxabay

Besides offering an impressive collection of royalty-free photos, Pixabay also lets you search for public domain vectors, illustrations, and videos. The website hosts more than a million high-resolution photos and videos you can download for free. To make things even better, becoming a member of the Pixabay’s community and creating an account on this platform won’t take more than a few minutes of your time. Pixabay also offers advanced search tools that enable you to combine searches, search for the author of an image or group search terms. In addition, you can also browse through the photographers that contribute their images to the platform on a regular basis.

Pros:

  • Powerful search tools and various filters
  • Huge collection of public domain images

Cons

  • Customer support could be better

3. Wikimedia Commons

wikimedia commons

This is probably the largest website on the Internet where you can download public domain images. There are more than 49 million images, illustrations, vector graphics and videos available that can be downloaded for free. Some media files on Wikimedia Commons have certain restrictions, but these restrictions are mostly related to image citations, which means that you can use them only if you credit the author. Such a huge selection of media files can be overwhelming for the newcomers to the Wikimedia Commons platform, but once you grow accustomed to the website’s interface discovering images becomes a straightforward process.

Pros:

  • All images are available in high resolution
  • Nearly all images can be used without any restrictions

Cons:

  • Getting used to the website’s interface takes time
  • The number of search results can be overwhelming

4. Flickr Commons

Flickr commons

For more than a decade Flickr has been a popular online destination for photographers in need of a platform that enables them to present their work. The Flickr Commons is a project that unites more than a hundred institutions in an effort to create a library of public domain images. The project makes available a stunning amount of historical photographs and it grants you access to highly esteemed collections of photographs. Flick Commons is perfectly suited for researchers and scholars in need of public domain photos, they can use in their essays or research papers.

Pros:

  • Unlimited access to historical photos
  • Extends the knowledge available to the general public

Cons:

  • Doesn’t offer videos or illustrations
  • Search results are poorly organized

5. Unsplash

Unsplash public domain image

With a library that contains over 800,000 photos, Unsplash is easily one of the largest websites that offer public domain images. All pictures on this platform are organized into different categories, which makes finding a photo you want to use in a commercial or non-commercial project a relatively simple process. Alternatively, you can insert a keyword into a search bar and Unsplash will show you the results within seconds. However, the images you can find on this platform are similar to those you can purchase on stock photography websites, although some of them have an artistic touch that is hard to find on the majority of stock photos.

Pros:

  • Excellent source of high-resolution photos
  • Quick and easy search

Cons:

  • Unsplash is dedicated solely to photography
  • Limited amount of available public domain images

6. From Old Books

In case you are searching for images from old books you should look no further. This is a private collection of 2,600 images that are hard to find anywhere else on the Internet. You can browse through woodcuts, old texts or old holiday images, which makes this platform an excellent choice for anyone interested in rare images that were featured in old books. All pictures you can find on the From Old Books website are free to use on non-commercial projects, but you must pay a small fee if you want to download a high-resolution image you can use on a commercial project.

  • Images are organized into categories
  • Access to rare images

Cons

  • Some images are not free
  • Rudimentary website design

7. Morguefile

Morguefile public domain image

Morguefile is a website that offers stock footage to its users, but some of the images can’t be downloaded for free. That’s why you must click on the Free Photos tab before you start searching for public domain images on this website. The website hosts nearly 400.000 photos, videos, and vector graphics, but you must make sure that a file you want to download is within the public domain before you download it. The only downside is that the images aren’t organized into categories which can make finding the images you’re searching for more difficult than it needs to be.

Pros:

  • Creating an account on Morguefile is free
  • All free photos can be used on commercial projects

Cons:

  • Images can be organized better
  • Fewer free images than on other public domain image websites

8. Public Domain Archive

As the website’s name indicates, this is an archive of public domain images you can download for free and use in commercial contexts. All photos are organized into categories like abstract, free stock photos, people or wood which makes the search simpler. However, these categories don’t contain more than a few hundred photos and some of them offer as few as five pictures you can download. All photos are in high resolution and ready for professional use. The download process can be completed effortlessly in just a few quick steps. New images are added on a weekly basis.

Pros:

  • Professional quality of images
  • All images are free

Cons:

  • A limited selection of photos
  • Doesn’t offer vector graphics

NYPL Digital Gallery

NYPL Digital Gallery is an excellent resource for anyone who is not interested in stock photography. The New Your Public Library has made hundreds of thousands of historical images available to the public and you can use it to browse through items, collections or divisions. Before you enter a keyword you should click on the search only public domain materials tick box to ensure that the search results are going to display only images that can be used without restrictions. Additionally, the NYPL Digital Gallery lets you browse through its collection of digital books while its collections of photographs include the work of some of the highly esteemed American photographers.

Pros

  • Public domain images are available in different resolutions
  • Offers valuable research materials

Cons

  • Some images are subject to copyright
  • Only aimed at scholars and researchers

10. Viintage

Viintage is a gold mine for graphic designers as it grants them access to hundreds of vintage posters, book covers, and images. However, the amount of public domain images this website offers is limited and if you want to download the images from the collections of works created by famous artists from the late 19th and early 20th centuries you must purchase the premium version of Viintage. The website lacks some basic search options as it only allows you to type in the search term into the search bar. The images are not organized into categories which further complicates the process of finding a public domain image you’re looking for.

Pros:

  • Offers a collection of rare vintage public domain images
  • A great resource for graphic designers

Cons:

  • Most images on Viintage can’t be downloaded for free
  • Search tools are far from perfect

You may also like: Best Image Hosting Sites >>

How to Cite Public Domain Images Properly?

If you’re planning on using a public domain image in a blog or on your website, you must cite the source from which you acquired a particular image. The image citations should include the following information:

  • The title of the image
  • Author’s name
  • Information about the institution at which an image is kept
  • The source from which you acquired an image

In case you don’t have access to all of these information or if the information is simply not available you should include all details about a public domain image you have the access to. Furthermore, there are several styles of image citations that depend on the source from which an image was acquired.

Conclusion

Spending large sums of money on images you can use in commercial or private projects is not always necessary. The public domain images are widely available and they can be used in a broad range of contexts. Which website that lets you download public domain images do you like to use the most? Leave a comment and share your opinions with us.

Dont worry when you forget the syntax of an HTML element, like and iframe, a link, a table, an image or anything else. Visit HTML CheatSheet and generate the code you need.

author avatar

Liza Brown

Liza Brown is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Liza Brown

Liza Brown

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Finding an image you like on the Internet doesn’t take long, since almost every website you can stumble upon, contains at least one picture. This doesn’t mean that you can just download any photo and use it in your blog, online marketing campaign or for any other purpose. Moreover, stock image websites like Getty Images or iStock let you purchase the right to use a photo commercially. As a reaction to an expanding stock image industry, many photographers, museums and cultural institutions are choosing to forfeit their rights and to publish public domain images. So, in this article, we are going to take you through the ten best public domain image websites where you can download pictures for free.

What Are Public Domain Images?

By definition, public domain images are photos, vectors or clip art that are available to anyone because their copyright has either expired or they never had a copyright owner. Consequently, anyone can use these images for both commercial or private projects without having to purchase the rights to do so. An image can enter a public domain under the following circumstances:

  • Scientists, educators or artists can use the Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license to dedicate their images to the public domain
  • A picture’s copyright is no longer in effect
  • A photo was never the subject to copyright

It is of utmost importance to check if an image is within the public domain before you use it publicly in order to avoid potential legal complications.

How and Where to Find Public Domain Images?

A simple google search will reveal hundreds of websites that let you download public domain and royalty-free images. Which source you’re going to use depends on the type of image you’re looking for, since some websites are dedicated only to photography, while others feature impressive collections of public domain images of artworks. In addition, you’ll only want to download public domain images from the websites that offer information about the author because using a public domain image without crediting its author is strictly prohibited.

Best Websites for Downloading Public Domain Images

We’ve searched the Internet and we utilized our results to compile a collection of the most reliable websites that grant its users access to vast numbers of public domain images. Let’s take a look at some of the best websites that let you download public domain images.

1. Pexels

Public Domain Images from Pexels

Graphic designers and all other creatives in constant need of a fresh supply of public domain images don’t need a special introduction to Pexels. The stock image platform is dedicated to photography and video, so you can’t use it to search for vectors or clip art. Even so, you can use Pexles to search for public domain images based on a particular keyword or browse through its collection of free images and discover photos spontaneously. Clicking on the Popular Searches tab will enable you to see the images from Light, Nature or Animals and it will shorten the amount of time you have to spend looking for a photo you want to download.

Pros:

  • Neatly organized website
  • Free and easy sign-up
  • Offers a huge selection of free public domain images and videos according to the CC0 license
  • Hand-picked High quality Images

Cons:

  • Some categories should contain more images
  • Optimizing the search terms can be difficult

2. Pixabay

Public Domain Images from Plxabay

Besides offering an impressive collection of royalty-free photos, Pixabay also lets you search for public domain vectors, illustrations, and videos. The website hosts more than a million high-resolution photos and videos you can download for free. To make things even better, becoming a member of the Pixabay’s community and creating an account on this platform won’t take more than a few minutes of your time. Pixabay also offers advanced search tools that enable you to combine searches, search for the author of an image or group search terms. In addition, you can also browse through the photographers that contribute their images to the platform on a regular basis.

Pros:

  • Powerful search tools and various filters
  • Huge collection of public domain images

Cons

  • Customer support could be better

3. Wikimedia Commons

wikimedia commons

This is probably the largest website on the Internet where you can download public domain images. There are more than 49 million images, illustrations, vector graphics and videos available that can be downloaded for free. Some media files on Wikimedia Commons have certain restrictions, but these restrictions are mostly related to image citations, which means that you can use them only if you credit the author. Such a huge selection of media files can be overwhelming for the newcomers to the Wikimedia Commons platform, but once you grow accustomed to the website’s interface discovering images becomes a straightforward process.

Pros:

  • All images are available in high resolution
  • Nearly all images can be used without any restrictions

Cons:

  • Getting used to the website’s interface takes time
  • The number of search results can be overwhelming

4. Flickr Commons

Flickr commons

For more than a decade Flickr has been a popular online destination for photographers in need of a platform that enables them to present their work. The Flickr Commons is a project that unites more than a hundred institutions in an effort to create a library of public domain images. The project makes available a stunning amount of historical photographs and it grants you access to highly esteemed collections of photographs. Flick Commons is perfectly suited for researchers and scholars in need of public domain photos, they can use in their essays or research papers.

Pros:

  • Unlimited access to historical photos
  • Extends the knowledge available to the general public

Cons:

  • Doesn’t offer videos or illustrations
  • Search results are poorly organized

5. Unsplash

Unsplash public domain image

With a library that contains over 800,000 photos, Unsplash is easily one of the largest websites that offer public domain images. All pictures on this platform are organized into different categories, which makes finding a photo you want to use in a commercial or non-commercial project a relatively simple process. Alternatively, you can insert a keyword into a search bar and Unsplash will show you the results within seconds. However, the images you can find on this platform are similar to those you can purchase on stock photography websites, although some of them have an artistic touch that is hard to find on the majority of stock photos.

Pros:

  • Excellent source of high-resolution photos
  • Quick and easy search

Cons:

  • Unsplash is dedicated solely to photography
  • Limited amount of available public domain images

6. From Old Books

In case you are searching for images from old books you should look no further. This is a private collection of 2,600 images that are hard to find anywhere else on the Internet. You can browse through woodcuts, old texts or old holiday images, which makes this platform an excellent choice for anyone interested in rare images that were featured in old books. All pictures you can find on the From Old Books website are free to use on non-commercial projects, but you must pay a small fee if you want to download a high-resolution image you can use on a commercial project.

  • Images are organized into categories
  • Access to rare images

Cons

  • Some images are not free
  • Rudimentary website design

7. Morguefile

Morguefile public domain image

Morguefile is a website that offers stock footage to its users, but some of the images can’t be downloaded for free. That’s why you must click on the Free Photos tab before you start searching for public domain images on this website. The website hosts nearly 400.000 photos, videos, and vector graphics, but you must make sure that a file you want to download is within the public domain before you download it. The only downside is that the images aren’t organized into categories which can make finding the images you’re searching for more difficult than it needs to be.

Pros:

  • Creating an account on Morguefile is free
  • All free photos can be used on commercial projects

Cons:

  • Images can be organized better
  • Fewer free images than on other public domain image websites

8. Public Domain Archive

As the website’s name indicates, this is an archive of public domain images you can download for free and use in commercial contexts. All photos are organized into categories like abstract, free stock photos, people or wood which makes the search simpler. However, these categories don’t contain more than a few hundred photos and some of them offer as few as five pictures you can download. All photos are in high resolution and ready for professional use. The download process can be completed effortlessly in just a few quick steps. New images are added on a weekly basis.

Pros:

  • Professional quality of images
  • All images are free

Cons:

  • A limited selection of photos
  • Doesn’t offer vector graphics

NYPL Digital Gallery

NYPL Digital Gallery is an excellent resource for anyone who is not interested in stock photography. The New Your Public Library has made hundreds of thousands of historical images available to the public and you can use it to browse through items, collections or divisions. Before you enter a keyword you should click on the search only public domain materials tick box to ensure that the search results are going to display only images that can be used without restrictions. Additionally, the NYPL Digital Gallery lets you browse through its collection of digital books while its collections of photographs include the work of some of the highly esteemed American photographers.

Pros

  • Public domain images are available in different resolutions
  • Offers valuable research materials

Cons

  • Some images are subject to copyright
  • Only aimed at scholars and researchers

10. Viintage

Viintage is a gold mine for graphic designers as it grants them access to hundreds of vintage posters, book covers, and images. However, the amount of public domain images this website offers is limited and if you want to download the images from the collections of works created by famous artists from the late 19th and early 20th centuries you must purchase the premium version of Viintage. The website lacks some basic search options as it only allows you to type in the search term into the search bar. The images are not organized into categories which further complicates the process of finding a public domain image you’re looking for.

Pros:

  • Offers a collection of rare vintage public domain images
  • A great resource for graphic designers

Cons:

  • Most images on Viintage can’t be downloaded for free
  • Search tools are far from perfect

You may also like: Best Image Hosting Sites >>

How to Cite Public Domain Images Properly?

If you’re planning on using a public domain image in a blog or on your website, you must cite the source from which you acquired a particular image. The image citations should include the following information:

  • The title of the image
  • Author’s name
  • Information about the institution at which an image is kept
  • The source from which you acquired an image

In case you don’t have access to all of these information or if the information is simply not available you should include all details about a public domain image you have the access to. Furthermore, there are several styles of image citations that depend on the source from which an image was acquired.

Conclusion

Spending large sums of money on images you can use in commercial or private projects is not always necessary. The public domain images are widely available and they can be used in a broad range of contexts. Which website that lets you download public domain images do you like to use the most? Leave a comment and share your opinions with us.

Dont worry when you forget the syntax of an HTML element, like and iframe, a link, a table, an image or anything else. Visit HTML CheatSheet and generate the code you need.

author avatar

Liza Brown

Liza Brown is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Liza Brown

Liza Brown

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Finding an image you like on the Internet doesn’t take long, since almost every website you can stumble upon, contains at least one picture. This doesn’t mean that you can just download any photo and use it in your blog, online marketing campaign or for any other purpose. Moreover, stock image websites like Getty Images or iStock let you purchase the right to use a photo commercially. As a reaction to an expanding stock image industry, many photographers, museums and cultural institutions are choosing to forfeit their rights and to publish public domain images. So, in this article, we are going to take you through the ten best public domain image websites where you can download pictures for free.

What Are Public Domain Images?

By definition, public domain images are photos, vectors or clip art that are available to anyone because their copyright has either expired or they never had a copyright owner. Consequently, anyone can use these images for both commercial or private projects without having to purchase the rights to do so. An image can enter a public domain under the following circumstances:

  • Scientists, educators or artists can use the Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license to dedicate their images to the public domain
  • A picture’s copyright is no longer in effect
  • A photo was never the subject to copyright

It is of utmost importance to check if an image is within the public domain before you use it publicly in order to avoid potential legal complications.

How and Where to Find Public Domain Images?

A simple google search will reveal hundreds of websites that let you download public domain and royalty-free images. Which source you’re going to use depends on the type of image you’re looking for, since some websites are dedicated only to photography, while others feature impressive collections of public domain images of artworks. In addition, you’ll only want to download public domain images from the websites that offer information about the author because using a public domain image without crediting its author is strictly prohibited.

Best Websites for Downloading Public Domain Images

We’ve searched the Internet and we utilized our results to compile a collection of the most reliable websites that grant its users access to vast numbers of public domain images. Let’s take a look at some of the best websites that let you download public domain images.

1. Pexels

Public Domain Images from Pexels

Graphic designers and all other creatives in constant need of a fresh supply of public domain images don’t need a special introduction to Pexels. The stock image platform is dedicated to photography and video, so you can’t use it to search for vectors or clip art. Even so, you can use Pexles to search for public domain images based on a particular keyword or browse through its collection of free images and discover photos spontaneously. Clicking on the Popular Searches tab will enable you to see the images from Light, Nature or Animals and it will shorten the amount of time you have to spend looking for a photo you want to download.

Pros:

  • Neatly organized website
  • Free and easy sign-up
  • Offers a huge selection of free public domain images and videos according to the CC0 license
  • Hand-picked High quality Images

Cons:

  • Some categories should contain more images
  • Optimizing the search terms can be difficult

2. Pixabay

Public Domain Images from Plxabay

Besides offering an impressive collection of royalty-free photos, Pixabay also lets you search for public domain vectors, illustrations, and videos. The website hosts more than a million high-resolution photos and videos you can download for free. To make things even better, becoming a member of the Pixabay’s community and creating an account on this platform won’t take more than a few minutes of your time. Pixabay also offers advanced search tools that enable you to combine searches, search for the author of an image or group search terms. In addition, you can also browse through the photographers that contribute their images to the platform on a regular basis.

Pros:

  • Powerful search tools and various filters
  • Huge collection of public domain images

Cons

  • Customer support could be better

3. Wikimedia Commons

wikimedia commons

This is probably the largest website on the Internet where you can download public domain images. There are more than 49 million images, illustrations, vector graphics and videos available that can be downloaded for free. Some media files on Wikimedia Commons have certain restrictions, but these restrictions are mostly related to image citations, which means that you can use them only if you credit the author. Such a huge selection of media files can be overwhelming for the newcomers to the Wikimedia Commons platform, but once you grow accustomed to the website’s interface discovering images becomes a straightforward process.

Pros:

  • All images are available in high resolution
  • Nearly all images can be used without any restrictions

Cons:

  • Getting used to the website’s interface takes time
  • The number of search results can be overwhelming

4. Flickr Commons

Flickr commons

For more than a decade Flickr has been a popular online destination for photographers in need of a platform that enables them to present their work. The Flickr Commons is a project that unites more than a hundred institutions in an effort to create a library of public domain images. The project makes available a stunning amount of historical photographs and it grants you access to highly esteemed collections of photographs. Flick Commons is perfectly suited for researchers and scholars in need of public domain photos, they can use in their essays or research papers.

Pros:

  • Unlimited access to historical photos
  • Extends the knowledge available to the general public

Cons:

  • Doesn’t offer videos or illustrations
  • Search results are poorly organized

5. Unsplash

Unsplash public domain image

With a library that contains over 800,000 photos, Unsplash is easily one of the largest websites that offer public domain images. All pictures on this platform are organized into different categories, which makes finding a photo you want to use in a commercial or non-commercial project a relatively simple process. Alternatively, you can insert a keyword into a search bar and Unsplash will show you the results within seconds. However, the images you can find on this platform are similar to those you can purchase on stock photography websites, although some of them have an artistic touch that is hard to find on the majority of stock photos.

Pros:

  • Excellent source of high-resolution photos
  • Quick and easy search

Cons:

  • Unsplash is dedicated solely to photography
  • Limited amount of available public domain images

6. From Old Books

In case you are searching for images from old books you should look no further. This is a private collection of 2,600 images that are hard to find anywhere else on the Internet. You can browse through woodcuts, old texts or old holiday images, which makes this platform an excellent choice for anyone interested in rare images that were featured in old books. All pictures you can find on the From Old Books website are free to use on non-commercial projects, but you must pay a small fee if you want to download a high-resolution image you can use on a commercial project.

  • Images are organized into categories
  • Access to rare images

Cons

  • Some images are not free
  • Rudimentary website design

7. Morguefile

Morguefile public domain image

Morguefile is a website that offers stock footage to its users, but some of the images can’t be downloaded for free. That’s why you must click on the Free Photos tab before you start searching for public domain images on this website. The website hosts nearly 400.000 photos, videos, and vector graphics, but you must make sure that a file you want to download is within the public domain before you download it. The only downside is that the images aren’t organized into categories which can make finding the images you’re searching for more difficult than it needs to be.

Pros:

  • Creating an account on Morguefile is free
  • All free photos can be used on commercial projects

Cons:

  • Images can be organized better
  • Fewer free images than on other public domain image websites

8. Public Domain Archive

As the website’s name indicates, this is an archive of public domain images you can download for free and use in commercial contexts. All photos are organized into categories like abstract, free stock photos, people or wood which makes the search simpler. However, these categories don’t contain more than a few hundred photos and some of them offer as few as five pictures you can download. All photos are in high resolution and ready for professional use. The download process can be completed effortlessly in just a few quick steps. New images are added on a weekly basis.

Pros:

  • Professional quality of images
  • All images are free

Cons:

  • A limited selection of photos
  • Doesn’t offer vector graphics

NYPL Digital Gallery

NYPL Digital Gallery is an excellent resource for anyone who is not interested in stock photography. The New Your Public Library has made hundreds of thousands of historical images available to the public and you can use it to browse through items, collections or divisions. Before you enter a keyword you should click on the search only public domain materials tick box to ensure that the search results are going to display only images that can be used without restrictions. Additionally, the NYPL Digital Gallery lets you browse through its collection of digital books while its collections of photographs include the work of some of the highly esteemed American photographers.

Pros

  • Public domain images are available in different resolutions
  • Offers valuable research materials

Cons

  • Some images are subject to copyright
  • Only aimed at scholars and researchers

10. Viintage

Viintage is a gold mine for graphic designers as it grants them access to hundreds of vintage posters, book covers, and images. However, the amount of public domain images this website offers is limited and if you want to download the images from the collections of works created by famous artists from the late 19th and early 20th centuries you must purchase the premium version of Viintage. The website lacks some basic search options as it only allows you to type in the search term into the search bar. The images are not organized into categories which further complicates the process of finding a public domain image you’re looking for.

Pros:

  • Offers a collection of rare vintage public domain images
  • A great resource for graphic designers

Cons:

  • Most images on Viintage can’t be downloaded for free
  • Search tools are far from perfect

You may also like: Best Image Hosting Sites >>

How to Cite Public Domain Images Properly?

If you’re planning on using a public domain image in a blog or on your website, you must cite the source from which you acquired a particular image. The image citations should include the following information:

  • The title of the image
  • Author’s name
  • Information about the institution at which an image is kept
  • The source from which you acquired an image

In case you don’t have access to all of these information or if the information is simply not available you should include all details about a public domain image you have the access to. Furthermore, there are several styles of image citations that depend on the source from which an image was acquired.

Conclusion

Spending large sums of money on images you can use in commercial or private projects is not always necessary. The public domain images are widely available and they can be used in a broad range of contexts. Which website that lets you download public domain images do you like to use the most? Leave a comment and share your opinions with us.

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Liza Brown

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Also read:

  • Title: New In 2024, Free and Fantastic The Best FLV Video Editors
  • Author: Charlotte
  • Created at : 2024-04-29 06:36:33
  • Updated at : 2024-04-30 06:36:33
  • Link: https://smart-video-creator.techidaily.com/new-in-2024-free-and-fantastic-the-best-flv-video-editors/
  • License: This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
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New In 2024, Free and Fantastic The Best FLV Video Editors