Once upon a time, Chromebooks were designed to serve only as portable web browsers and little else. This meant everything I needed or wanted to do using various websites or web apps. However, continued development of ChromeOS has made the best Chromebooks more useful and more competitive with Windows and macOS laptops.
Gone are the days when you had to reach for another device if you wanted to do something like use a video editor on your Chromebook. While it doesn’t have as many options as Windows or macOS, there are some video editors for Chromebooks to check out.
luma fusion
For years, iPad owners have been able to claim LumaFusion as one of the best video editors for mobile devices. But that’s no longer the case, as LumaFusion is now available on both his Android and best of his Chromebooks. The app was first teased to come to Android alongside the release of the Galaxy Tab S8 lineup.
Later, at Google I/O 2022, LumaFusion was confirmed to be accessible on Chromebooks and ChromeOS. However, it wasn’t until February 2023 that LumaFusion finally made its way to the best of his Android tablet and Chromebook owners.
With LumaFusion, you can now record, edit, and publish videos directly from one device without having to move files to another device. The only “catch” is that if you use LumaFusion, it’s available on the Play Store for $29.99, so you’ll have to pull out some dough.
Google Photos
It won’t be long before Google Photos climbs to number one on this list, but for now it’s number two. That’s because Google continues to roll out the ability to create movies and videos from scratch using the Photos app.
Currently, you can edit videos that you have already recorded and uploaded to Photos, but future feature updates will extend this even further. can be adjusted and edited.
The best part is that you can easily use various videos and images already available within your photo library. Simply search for “movies” in your favorite Chromebook’s launcher to get started.
Microsoft Clipchamp
Clipchamp has been around for quite some time, but was acquired by Microsoft in May 2022. Naturally, Microsoft made this easily accessible within Windows 10 and Windows 11, but Clipchamp has another trick.
Instead of downloading another app from the Play Store, you can use Clipchamp to edit videos directly from within your Chrome tabs. And if you want to have easier access from your Chromebook, you can install a PWA (web app). This allows you to open apps directly from the launcher without opening a new Chrome window or tab.
Unlike Google Photos, there are some costs associated with one of the best video editors for Chromebooks. The free version offers access to audio, image, and video stocks, premium filters and effects, along with the ability to export in 1080p. Otherwise, Clipchamp Essentials is priced at $11.99 per month and adds ‘Brand Kit’, ‘Content Backup’ and ‘Premium Stock’ images, 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. You can download the Android app and install it on your Chromebook so you can use PowerDirector to edit your videos.
On the bright side, you don’t have to worry about using a smartphone interface on your Chromebook. Because PowerDirector adapts to your screen size. This makes video editing on ChromeOS much easier, but it’s not free.
Unlike LumaFusion, which offers a “buy once” approach, PowerDirector relies on a subscription model. The app itself is free to download, but when you launch the app for the first time you can sign up for an annual or monthly subscription. The former is $27.99/year and the latter is $6.99/month.
Kdenlive
We wouldn’t be right if we didn’t show you some of the best video editors for Chromebooks that you can install via Linux. Kdenlive was our first choice, offering a “free open source video editor” that has been around for years.
The app is regularly updated and maintained and offers more features than you might expect. What makes Kdenlive unique is that the app developer plans monthly updates. Additionally, you can view the Roadmap to see which new features are set to be implemented.
As I mentioned earlier, Kdenlive is free to download and use with the best Chromebooks. The only problem is that you have to enable Linux in ChromeOS first before you can install Linux apps.
OpenShot video editor
OpenShot falls into the same category as Kdenlive and offers another free and open source video editor for Chromebooks. Although you can’t find it on the Play Store, OpenShot is easy to install on your Chromebook or ChromeOS device of choice if it’s Linux enabled.
The list of features supported by OpenShot continues to grow with each update and offers many of the same features as “traditional” video editors. This includes editing clips, “video transitions with real-time preview”, adding and creating templates, and more.
OpenShot may not see as many updates as Kdenlive or other options on this list, but it’s not really a deal breaker. It was released in December 2012 and brought “over 1000 improvements.”
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Many of the best Chromebooks are powerful enough to handle a lot more than just dozens of tabs open at once. Play your favorite Steam games, explore a world of Linux apps, and even create and edit videos from your Chromebook.
All the updates in recent years have made Chromebooks very practical for many use cases. Now you don’t have to reach for another device for processing or graphics-intensive work.
