Clipchamp video editor review: Hits the basics, but comes at a price

Clipchamp Lede Source: Windows Primal

When Microsoft acquired Clipchamp, I was immediately intrigued by the video editing app. Microsoft'southward first-party video editing options aren't great on Windows 10, so I was eager to try an alternative. Clipchamp is a spider web-based video editor, allowing you to navigate through a multi-layer video editing timeline within your browser. The actual processing power to edit your videos comes from your PC, but the interface is based on the web.

I spent a week learning the interface of Clipchamp, playing around with features, and creating the highlight reel for an American football team that I coach. I tried out the free version of Clipchamp for a couple of days before Clipchamp ready me up with a trial of its Business organisation Platinum programme.

I would describe myself as an intermediate video editor. I've edited videos for piece of work, just the majority of my edits are light on graphics or more avant-garde features. The bulk of my edits have been news pieces or highlight reels, and so what yous run into beneath is almost the average complexity of my work. For my workflow, Clipchamp held up well and shows a lot of promise.

Clipchamp

Description: Clipchamp is a multi-layer video editor that you tin admission online. Information technology integrates with cloud storage solutions and is designed to help people jump into video editing.

Compatibility: Clipchamp supports Google Chrome and Microsoft Border based on Chromium. It does non work with Mozilla Firefox.

Bottom line: Clipchamp is piece of cake to jump into, works with deject storage, and has a range of pricing options for different workflows. It would do good from moving processing power to the cloud, but as it is, it'southward a solid video editor.

Highlights:

Multi-layer video editing
Integrates with deject storage services, including OneDrive and Dropbox
Works well with Giphy and stock libraries of content
Has an interface that's easy to learn

Clipchamp: Price and availability

Clipchamp Interface Source: Windows Central

Clipchamp is a browser-based video editor. It all the same uses your PC's resources to process videos, but the interface is entirely online. Information technology works with Google Chrome and the version of Microsoft Edge that'southward based on Chromium. Clipchamp does not work with Mozilla Firefox.

At that place are four different plans for Clipchamp. The Basic plan is free only is limited to 480p exports, which is as well low for most people. The Creator plan costs $9 per month. It integrates with cloud storage services like OneDrive, Dropbox, and Google Drive. The Creator plan caps exports at 720p.

The Business plan ($19/month) will exist the sweetness spot for many people. Information technology supports 1080p exports and lets you lot fix up a make kit for your content. The Business Platinum program is pricier at $39 per month. It comes with everything in the lower plans and adds a video stock library.

Clipchamp: What you lot'll like

Clipchamp has a pocket-size learning curve, so people should be able to jump right into editing. While it tin be used for more than advanced multi-layer video projects, yous could also simply clip together a few gaming highlights and call it a day. Clipchamp has a simple elevate-and-drib interface that extends throughout the entire app.

The complimentary version of Clipchamp is quite limited, but I plant the total library of features to be impressive. Information technology's non going to replace Adobe Premiere Pro, but I don't think it's meant to. Clipchamp is circuitous enough to make a professional business video, which I recollect is more of its aim. It supports screen recordings, light-green screens, and video capture, all of which fit correct at domicile in a corporate infinite. Two of the paid plans have business in their proper noun, and information technology's easy to see why.

Clipchamp makes it easy to add content from all over the spider web and your PC.

You tin can add video and audio to Clipchamp from your PC or add footage from cloud storage providers like OneDrive or Dropbox. The video editor as well integrates with stock audio, stock images, and fifty-fifty Giphy. I had some fun playing around with GIFs, including a dancing banana that appears briefly in my team'due south highlight reel. Clipchamp makes it easy to add content from all over the spider web and your PC.

The stock libraries in the Business and Business concern Platinum plans are great additions for creators in the workplace. I found it piece of cake to observe graphics, sounds, and videos to enhance my video. My case in a higher place is light hearted, just there's no shortage of content for more professional presentations and videos.

Clipchamp'south highest plan includes support for a brand kit. This lets you add a color palette to make sure your content looks consequent from video to video.

A new characteristic called Clipchamp Teams is available in beta. It allows you to collaborate on videos. This will fit right in with Microsoft's other services, and I wouldn't exist shocked to find out information technology was a large reason Microsoft looked into Clipchamp.

Clipchamp: What y'all won't like

Clipchamp Bad Export Source: Windows Fundamental

Clipchamp is a vivid idea that lowers the entry-level for video editing, only it has its flaws. The biggest drawback is its cost. It's overnice that there'southward a free version, merely a cap of 480p makes information technology more than of a trial to run across if yous similar the interface. Having to bump up to a Business plan for $19 per month to export in 1080p is asking a lot when more than established video editors are effectually that price (Adobe Premiere Pro is $21/month).

I ran into several syncing issues during my video editing. Syncing files across devices led to some errors while Clipchamp tried to locate files. Several times when I moved a clip and and then tried to play it back on my timeline, Clipchamp would show the wrong part of my clip. This could be hardware-related, but I ran into the same effect on two unlike PCs.

I was surprised to see that Clipchamp doesn't work with Mozilla Firefox. I use Edge, but I'd prefer to run into the editor have a wider range of support. I'chiliad non maxim Clipchamp should add legacy back up for Cyberspace Explorer, but Firefox and Safari should exist supported. Clipchamp also only has an app for iOS at this time, which is disappointing.

I don't know if the following is a knock on Clipchamp or more just a wishlist item now that it's owned by Microsoft, but I'd honey to see some of the processing within the video editor take place in the cloud. With Windows 365 and Xbox Cloud Gaming gaining popularity, information technology'd exist incredible to utilise like tech for collaborative video editing. Perhaps in the time to come, Microsoft will let people connect with a powerful server to handle demanding video editing from less powerful PCs.

Clipchamp: Alternatives

Source: OpenShot

There's no shortage of video editors on Windows, though Clipchamp has some unique aspects compared to the contest. If you're looking for a free video editor, OpenShot is probably your best bet. It's an open-source video editor with a long feature listing. It has a bit of a learning curve but is merely an incredible value.

On the paid side of things, Adobe Premiere Pro is the best overall video editing app and the industry standard for a reason. It might seem unfair to compare Clipchamp to Premiere Pro since they're targeted at different audiences, just the two video editors are within the aforementioned price range. The Business concern Platinum plan of Clipchamp is more than an Adobe Premiere Pro subscription. If you demand the power of Premiere Pro, it's probably a better option.

OpenShot

OpenShot is a powerful open up-source video. It'due south a free alternative to Clipchamp and worth a look if you don't need to sync your edits across the web.

Clipchamp: Should you lot go it?

Clipchamp Source: Windows Central

Clipchamp is a solid video editor for creators and business professionals who need to make videos. It's basic enough to bound straight into but has enough features to make more than complex videos. Its integration with deject services, stock libraries, and graphics options brand it like shooting fish in a barrel to bring in the content you want for your videos.

If you're looking to stitch together clips or to make a professional video presentation, Clipchamp's features should meet your needs. Beta support for collaborative video editing is excited, but by and large, you should judge apps based on what they do now, not what they could practise in the futurity.

Clipchamp isn't going to stand up against Premiere Pro or other loftier-finish video editors, just that's okay. I think Clipchamp is easier to jump into than more powerful alternatives. I'd say that it's a video editor that doesn't crave you to exist a video editor.

Clipchamp: The bottom line

Clipchamp is a good thought that already delivers a solid video editing experience. Information technology'due south already alee of video editing in Microsoft's Photos app, which I hope is replaced or enhanced now that Microsoft has purchased Clipchamp. I ran into some syncing problems, and Clipchamp struggled to find files a couple of times, but throughout a week of video editing, I'd say issues were exceptional.

Ultimately, I think Clipchamp volition do good from being caused past Microsoft. I hope that Microsoft integrates some of its deject processing tech to allow Clipchamp to handle some video processing through the deject. This would open up doors for video editing on less powerful hardware.

Clipchamp

Lesser line: Clipchamp is a video editor with a low learning curve, but it has plenty features for more complex edits. Its loftier-cease plans are a bit pricey, just they provide unique aspects, such as a good stock library and integration with cloud storage services.

We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Larn more.