When we have to edit a video we cannot rely on the first program that Google offers us (maybe it’s all automatic or a trial of a much more expensive program) but we will have to use a program that allows us to act on different parameters, so as to improve the quality of a video without having to redo the footage (which is often impossible, especially if we have “caught the moment”).
Among the parameters on which to put your hands certainly stands out the volume (to be optimized), the removal of the blur (to make it more defined), the cutting of some scene too, the addition of additional scenes but also add effects or increase them the resolution of the final video. Some of these jobs can be easy, others rather complicated if we don’t use the right program.
Not wanting to disturb the very expensive and professional level programs, in this guide, we will show you the best free programs to improve video quality that we can download on PC; in addition to the programs in the strict sense we will also show you the web apps, that is video editing programs accessible directly from the browser without installing anything on the computer.
Programs to improve video quality
Here below we have collected only the free programs that we can install on our computer to improve the videos without too much difficulty. Most of the recommended software behaves like linear editors, while some specialize in converting, optimizing and recoding movies (to increase resolution or take them from one format to another).
Kdenlive
The first program we suggest you try is Kdenlive, available for free for Windows, Linux, and Mac.
With it we can modify any video by cutting out superfluous scenes, adding new scenes, applying effects and corrections, adding transitions and titles and operating on audio and video parameters to obtain a high quality modified movie (with a preview window to see immediately all changes in real-time). It has nothing to envy to the most famous and expensive programs, having at its disposal a large collection of filters, titles, transitions and anything else to make the perfect video.
Other similar programs can be viewed in our guide to best programs to edit video on PC.
Avidemux
Another very useful program to improve the quality of a video is Avidemux, available for free for Windows, for Mac and for Linux.
With this program, very simple to use, we will be able to quickly modify any video increasing the quality of the uploaded content, converting from one format to another and choosing from time to time the best effects to apply to the video component or sound component (managed in a strictly separate). At first glance it seems too simple a program, in reality, it hides many tools and many effects worthy of a professional video editing program.
HandBrake
If we need a simple program to increase the resolution of the video and change the file format, we can also rely on HandBrake, available for free for Windows, Mac, and Linux.
With this software, we will be able to modify the codec used for video and audio, make a cut on the video to make it fall within the 16: 9 ratio or choose one of the presets on the side to quickly convert the video and make it compatible with some of the devices most used.
Video editing capabilities are limited compared to previous programs, but nobody can get HandBrake’s conversion speed and quality, in fact, the best program to improve the quality of a video to convert.
If we look for other video conversion programs, we can also read our guide on Best programs to convert video.
Websites to improve video quality
If we do not want or can not use a program, we can always rely on a website to improve the quality of a video, given that many offer free and, in many cases, very advanced video editing tools.
YouTube Studio
One of the simplest sites to improve video quality is definitely YouTube Studio, which offers some tools to improve videos uploaded to its platform.
Once the video to be edited is loaded, we press on it, then we click on the left side of the item Editor to access the actual YouTube editor. From here we will be able to cut the video, add a home screen, add blurs or add/replace the audio track with one of the songs provided for free by the platform (personal audio files cannot be added for copyright issues).
At the end of the work we will be able to share the video on YouTube, make it private (visible only to those who have the link) or download it on the PC, so as to keep a copy of the work done. Video editing is basic from YouTube, but more than enough to make all our personal videos captivating.
ClipChamp
Another good free online tool to improve video quality is ClipChamp.
From this site (after free registration) we will be able to access various tools with which to modify our video: we will be able to crop, adjust the various scenes of the video, divide and combine, flip and finally access various filters, transitions and effects to significantly improve the yield final video. At the end of the work, we can download the modified video on our computer or share it online.
The tools provided have nothing to envy of the actual programs seen in the previous chapter, making this site one of the best for editing online videos.
Kizoa
Another very valid and free site to improve video quality is Kizoa.
After registering with a free account we will have access to numerous video editing tools, with which we will be able to crop each scene, add start and end titles, add music in the background and take advantage of the numerous filters and effects to make our edited videos unique.
This site is an excellent alternative to YouTube and Clipchamp for online editing of our videos; if we look for other similar services we advise you to read our guide to Online video editing to edit video with remixes and special effects.
Conclusions
Instead of spending so much money on programs that we will use once or twice a year, we can improve the quality of a video by using one of the free programs or online sites indicated in the guide, so as to be able to modify most of the fundamental parameters and add titles, effects, and transitions in an easy, fun and fast way.
If we need to modify the photographs, we advise you to read our article at free and easy programs to improve photos.
Have we made a video that’s too rough? We can try to stabilize it by reading our guide on how to Stabilize a blurry video shot with a mobile phone or camera.
If instead, we wanted to improve the quality of a video directly from a mobile phone, we can use the apps recommended in our article at App to edit videos and edit movies (Android and iPhone).