Once upon a time, Chromebooks were only really designed to serve as portable web browsers and nothing else. This means that everything you need or want to do requires the use of different websites or web applications. However, the continued development on ChromeOS has made the best Chromebooks more useful and competitive with Windows and macOS laptops.
Gone are the days when you needed to reach for another device if you wanted to do something like use a video editor on your Chromebook. While there aren’t as many options as what you’ll find on Windows or macOS, there are a handful of video editing software for Chromebooks that you should check out.
LumaFusion
For years, iPad owners have been able to claim one of the best mobile video editing software on LumaFusion. However, this is no longer the case as LumaFusion is now available on both Android and top-of-the-line Chromebooks. The app was first teased to hit Android along with the release of the Galaxy Tab S8 lineup.
Then, it was confirmed during Google I/O 2022 that LumaFusion will be accessible on Chromebooks and ChromeOS devices. However, it wasn’t until February 2023 that LumaFusion finally made its way to owners of the best Android Chromebooks and tablets.
LumaFusion now gives you the ability to record, edit and publish videos directly from one device without the need to transfer files to different devices. The only “catch” is that you’ll have to fork out some dough if you want to use LumaFusion, because it’s available on the Play Store for $29.99.
Google Images
It probably won’t be long before we move Google Photos to number one on this list, but for now it’s number two. This is because Google is still tossing around the ability to create movies and videos from scratch using the Photos app.
Currently, you can edit any videos you previously recorded and upload to Photos, but an upcoming feature update will expand this even further. Once it’s available, you’ll be able to choose from one of the templates provided, and make as many tweaks and modifications as you see fit.
The best part is that you can easily use the different videos and photos that are already available in your photo library. You can get started by simply searching for “Movie” in the player on your favorite Chromebook.
Microsoft clipchamp
Clipchamp has been around for quite some time but was acquired by Microsoft in May 2022. Naturally, Microsoft made this accessible through Windows 10 and Windows 11, but Clipchamp has another trick up its sleeve.
Instead of needing to download a separate app from the Play Store, you can use Clipchamp to edit videos right from your Chrome tab. And if you want to make it easier to access from your Chromebook, you can install a PWA (web app). This allows you to open the app directly from your launcher, without having to open a new Chrome window or tab.
Unlike Google Photos, there are some costs associated with one of the best video editing software for Chromebooks. The free version offers access to stock audio, image, video, and premium filters and effects, along with the ability to export in 1080p. Otherwise, Clipchamp Essentials is $11.99 per month and adds Branding Suite, Content Backup, and Premium Stock for photos, video, and audio.
PowerDirector – Video Editor
PowerDirector is one of the best video editors for Windows and macOS, but its mobile version has become one of the best video editors for Android. And with the ability to download and install Android apps on Chromebooks, you can use PowerDirector to edit videos.
On the bright side, you don’t have to worry about using the smartphone interface on your Chromebook, as PowerDirector adapts to your screen size. This makes editing videos on ChromeOS much easier, but it doesn’t come for free.
Unlike LumaFusion, which offers a “one-time purchase” method, PowerDirector is based on a subscription model. The app itself is free to download, but when you start the app for the first time, you will be able to sign up for an annual or monthly subscription. The former comes at $27.99 per year, while the latter comes at $6.99 per month.
cdnlife
It wouldn’t be right if we didn’t mention two of the best video editing software for Chromebooks that you can install over Linux. Kdenlive is first among our picks, offering a “free and open source video editor” that’s been around for years.
The app is regularly updated and maintained, offering quite a few more features that you might have expected to see. The thing that makes Kdenlive so unique is that the developers of the app have planned updates that are rolled out monthly. Additionally, you can view the Roadmap to see what new features are set to be implemented.
As mentioned, Kdenlive is free to download and use on any of the best Chromebooks. The only “catch” is that you will first need to enable Linux on ChromeOS before you can install a Linux app.
OpenShot Video Editor
OpenShot falls under the same category as Kdenlive, offering another free and open source video editor for Chromebooks. You won’t be able to find it on the Play Store, but with Linux enabled, OpenShot can be easily installed on your Chromebook or ChromeOS of choice.
OpenShot’s list of supported features continues to grow with each update, offering many of the same features you’ll find with “traditional” video editing software. This includes things like editing clips, “video transitions with real-time previews,” adding and creating models, and much more.
While OpenShot may not see as many updates as Kdenlive or some of the other options on this list, this isn’t really a deal breaker. This video editor is really powerful, OpenShot 3.0 was released in December 2022 with “over 1000 improvements”.
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Many of the best Chromebooks are powerful enough to handle much more than just having a bunch of tabs open at once. You can play some of your favorite Steam games, play around with the Linux app world, and even create or edit videos from your Chromebook.
All the updates in recent years have culminated in Chromebooks being perfectly viable for a multitude of use cases. Now, you won’t need to access another device if you want to do something more process or graphics intensive.