Why Filmora?
Before I get into the WonderShare Filmora review proper the first thing that needs to be addressed is why Filmora has a place in the world.
So here’s the deal.
Over the past few years the average consumer level video editor has become more and more feature rich which is a bit of a “good news – bad news” type of thing.
On the upside this kind of “feature race” has resulted in the main software companies improving their products at a furious pace to at least, “keep up with the Jones'” or at best to edge ahead of the pack.
The downside is that every time they add some new feature they also have to add access to that feature and access to the settings of that feature. (Not to mention I have to do a new review!)
This invariably leads to a complication of the user interface resulting in software that is more like the control console of a space shuttle!
Another downside and one that nobody really wants to discuss, is that in many cases the added new features are not necessarily things that everyone wants or needs.
Because of this I have noticed more and more people searching for something simpler and easier to use.
What Does Wondershare Filmora Do?
The key to Wondershare Filmora is that it has quite successfully managed to strike a balance between maintaining simplicity whilst at the same time providing ample tools and features that the average person would actually use.
They have kept the user interface clean, modern and uncluttered yet at the same time offering easy access to the features and functionality of the program.
Wondershare Filmora comes in versions for both Windows and Mac and is my top choice for an easy or simple video editing software.
To get an idea of how it looks and behaves take a look at the video below before you continue with the rest of this Wondershare Filmora review.
Getting Started
When you open the program each time you are first presented with the simple splash screen below.
Here you can make a few choices as to what you want to do exactly and to set the program to suit your needs for that project.
1. Choose the aspect ratio of the project you want to make based on the aspect ratio of the video you will be working with.
Most modern devices will be 16:9.
2. Full Feature Mode
Takes you into the full editing interface.
3. Action Cam Tool
Takes you into a separate module with tools specifically designed for dealing with action cam footage and the kind of “action” project this type of footage is used for.
4. Instant Cutter
A tool for loading footage and as it suggests offers the ability to instantly isolate segments of that footage and render immediately to a new file.
5. Easy Mode
Easy mode launches the program into a semi-automatic mode which makes use of style templates that you add your video, images and audio to.
You then follow a step-by-step- process through to a final video.
The User Interface
As you can see from the image below the Filmora interface is very simple with no hidden menus or endless menu trees of features.
Quite literally what you see on the screen is what you get.
Access to everything is represented by a simple icon that indicates what it is used for whether it be video, audio, effects transitions or whatever.
Just don’t be fooled by the simplicity of it.
Hiding behind there are over 300 special effects, objects, overlays, sound effects, music tracks and transitions you can use.
Editing is a simple drag and drop process to add things to the timeline with the timeline itself running on a “magnetic” system which causes assets to automatically stay together.
This means that you are not endlessly repositioning clips and audio tracks and images every time you change something.
It has an advanced color tuning feature to allow great control over video and images that you want to give a certain “look” to or to correct video that is not quite right.
On top of that there are 45 color presets to further enhance your footage and the program even supports loading 3D LUTs (Lookup table files) for tuning the color of videos and images.
There is a dedicated Pan and Zoom feature for adding and customizing animations for still images as well as being able to customize and animate text.
It has motion elements so you can drag and drop moving graphics on to your video and a seprate motion tracking module as well.
You really only have to look at the buttons to understand what it is for and that intuitive nature carries on throughout the entire program.
You can cut in the middle of a file by placing the playhead at that point and (obviously!) clicking the little scissors icon.
You can lengthen or shorten a file by placing your cursor at the end, clicking and dragging.
Click and drag items on to the timeline, select and hit delete to get rid of them.
If you are just a beginner or get stuck somewhere just hit the help button and another separate module will open up as below.
In this module you have access to 11 specific videos that will play inside the module explaining step-by-step how to learn and use the program.
If you are already up to speed with it but come across something you are not sure of you can just scroll through the video thumbnails, find the one you need and watch it.
All the videos are very well put together, easy to understand and very straightforward.
Video Creation
By hitting the Export Button a new module opens offering 12 different formats in which you can export your project.
It also offers 12 preset formats that are arranged by device so if you really have no idea what format you should be creating but you do know the device it will be played on, you are covered.
You can also automatically upload your final video to FaceBook, YouTube or Vimeo and all of these have presets to make sure your video gets online at the highest possible quality.
The same goes for DVD with a simple pre-set system for directly burning to DVD or to an image file and burned later.
Stuff Even I was Surprised to Find!
I have already mentioned that everything in Filmora is tucked neatly away so that the interface stays clean and uncomplicated however there are few little secrets tucked away as well and it wasn’t until I had been using it for a while that I found them!
A Screen Recorder!
Yes, just like most of the $130 to $400 video editing software programs, Filmora actually has a screen recorder built into it!
You can launch it from inside the program and start recording whatever you are doing on your screen to make demonstration videos.
Green Screen
Filmora also has the ability to handle green screen or chroma-key footage in your video projects.
Motion Paths
It comes with face detection technology so you can automatically attach objects like speech bubbles to a face or to an object that is moving and have it follow along.
Video Stabilization
It has quite an effective stabilization filter that offers auto setting that you can also adjust to get your videos as stable as possible.
Audio Equalizer
You can use this to fine tune your audio tracks prior to export to get your soundtracks polished.
Summary
Probably the word that best describes Wondershare Filmora is intuitive.
It doesn’t really seem to matter what it is you want to do with the program, all you need do is look at the interface and pretty soon it seems obvious what it is.
The real problem in writing this review is trying to communicate the simplicity of the program without making it sound as though it is somehow crippled or lacking in features which is simply not true.
Filmora is ideal for the person who wants to quickly and easily edit their videos without all the bells and whistles they will probably never use.
i was wondering if there was a quick like click and open desktop shortcut instead of having to click setup and install every time i want to use this? I have been using it the past couple of days and love it and was thinking of buying it but having to install it ever time seems like a hassle.
Hi Victoria,
Generally what happens is that when you install the program it creates a quick launch Icon on the desktop so you just click that and the program opens up.
Bear in mind that all video editing software takes a few seconds to load up because they are all kind of complex BUT!
You should not have to install it every time!
Check to see if there is a shortcut icon on your desktop that you may have missed.
If not then go to the Start Menu (the Windows symbol bottom left on your screen.
Click that then scroll all the way down to the WonderShare folder and click it to expand it.
Then, RIGHT CLICK the entry for Filmora, choose MORE then click on Open File Location.
When that folder opens find the filmora.exe file and RIGHT CLICK again!
Still with me?
OK! Now choose to Create a Shortcut.
Windows will tell you that it cannot create a shortcut in that location BUT it can create one on the Desktop.
Choose yes and there will be a new shortcut there for you.
Thank you very much that fixed it!
Lance: Can Filmora apply luts in a chain? Using GH4 Vlog 4k mp4 video, I can apply a vlog to Rec 709 lut. I’d like to then apply a second 709 lut for the final look. Is there a way to do that without having to render out the first vlog to 709 lut and then start over to apply the other lut, one lut at a time?
Hi Bruce,
Well first of all whoa there tiger, let’s get real here!
Filmora is most decidedly entry level and aimed at the beginner so the fact that it handles LUTs at all is a bit amazing.
As far as chaining them goes I think we are kind of over-reaching a bit.
For that kind of control especially in the color grading/correction area you would have to go further up the food chain to somewhere like CyberLink Color Director.
Sorry.
Lance
Lance: Thanks. Love the simplicity of Filmora; wasn’t trying to “over-reach” – Just thought that I might have missed something while getting familiar with a new program. Now that I’ve retired, I’m trying to leave the eye wateringly expensive upgrade cycles of some other programs behind.
Hi Bruce,
Well let’s call it “aspirational!”
As a side note I just noticed on one of Filmora’s message boards someone asked for the to add the ability to adjust the intensity of LUTs. i.e Increase or decrease the intensity at which the LUT is being applied
The Filmora guys answered that they were adding that to the development path log on the spot.
Not quite the ability to chain LUTs but it does indicate Filmora have not just added LUTs to the mix and walked away.
It seems to still be an active point of development so who knows, you may still get your wish!
Hello,
I have tried the Filmora trial version and it looks quite easy to use (I just need a simple tool to mix clips for YouTube).
The only problem I’m facing is the output quality: my camera records in FULL HD @ 50p, but when I export it I can’t find a way to save it without losing quality. There’s a NOTICEABLE difference.
I’ve tried the MP4 and the best output settings, yet my 180MB test video comes out as a 90MB video with noticeable lower quality.
Recording in 25p reduces this problem but the quality itself is much different, less “smooth”.
How can I fix the problem? I really like the simplicity of this software, but I was also looking at Cyberdirector ans Sony Vegas.
Thanks for your help.
Hi Manuel,
That shouldn’t be a problem.
Just navigate to the video your are editing and right click it.
Note down the frame rate, resolution and the total bitrate.
Then load the video into Filmora, do what you have to do then go to Export.
In the export window choose MP4 and then click the Settings button.
Make sure you have exactly the same frame rate, resolution and bitrate chosen then select OK.
Now output the video and you should be fine.
Hi,
I want to buy filmora video editor from their website.
Is it safe to buy?
what is the return n refund policy?
How will be the support?
could you please revert back.
Thanks in advance.
Hi Anand,
I have been recommending this software on my site for over two years now.
In that time I have never received any compliant about the software, the company or any problem with refunds or customer service.
I’ve had a lot of dealings with the Filmora folk. I use the program both at work and at home. The company is great to deal with in all aspects. The program is pretty easy to use, most of the features at least. Lots of choice of export options.
Is there anyway you can get rid of the auto magnet of the film clips and why can’t you take a clip from the video time line and drop to the pip below there fore removing it from the video timeline ?
Everything you are asking is answered on this page:
https://filmora.wondershare.com/guide/editing-video.html
Hi. I am considering buying Filmora for a video I plan to do for work. Could I use the free, trial version, and if I’m satisfied, upgrade to the paid version so I can download the video without the watermark — without it affecting the video? I’m also still undecided whether to get the one-year or lifetime license or the multi-user. It would depend on how the trial works out for me.
Hi Rachel,
When you have finished all the work you want to do on a project you can take two steps from there.
First, you can just click Save and the entire project gets saved as a project file.
As long as all the assets you used in that file remain in the same place on your computer you can re-open it at any time.
The second thing you can do is create a final video file and you do that by clicking on the Export button.
This renders the entire project to a new video file.
If you have not paid for a licence that final render of the project into a new video file will have a watermark but will IN NO WAY be any different to a file created with a licensed version of the software.
So, yes you can complete you project, create a video file with a watermark using the free version to check if you like it or not… BUT!
If you do like it and want to pay for a licence you will have to re-render the file again using the project file (mentioned at the top) only this time there will be no watermark.
Finally on the question of licensing.
That would depend on a few things that I can’t really help you with especially whether or not you would want a multi-user licence.
Personally I still like perpetual licences but I suspect that’s more an emotional reaction than hard headed thinking!
Thanks, George. This all sounds good. I will definitely give Filmora a try. I’m a Mac user and very familiar with iMovie. How does Filmora compare? Is it a step up from iMovie or down? The reason I ask is because, initially, I had considered getting a used MacBook Pro that I can use for work. (I have a personal one but my husband tends to use it more.) Then I stumbled upon Filmora. I figured, Filmora license is cheaper than a laptop.
Oooops. That was supposed to be, “Thanks, Lance” =)
Hi Rachel,
Filmora is probably a little more feature rich than iMovie in so far as it offers a few more advanced features like screen recording, green screen, the ability to use LUTs in the color grading module etc.
More important to me is the fact that as a paid product there is far more pressure on their development team to keep the software maintained.
By this I don’t mean endlessly adding new features.
I mean keeping the software fully updated to compensate for the ever changing environment of video is general.
Thanks, Lance. I will give it a go.