Best Editing Software For Windows

• Best Editing Software For Windows 10 Laptop
• Best Editing Software For Windows 10 No Watermark
• Best Editing Software For Youtube
• Best Editing Software For Windows 10 Pc

Audio production is one of the most important parts of media production. And in this age of multimedia, users don't just seek a basic application to record and edit audio, but complete solutions that pack in the latest technologies, format support, filters and effects, ease of use, and speed.

It may not sound like that (pun always intended), but finding the best audio editing software for Windows 10 is easier said than done. Tens of programs are available, both free and paid, that can help you edit your audio, but only a few of them strike that perfect balance of features and freedom, creativity and control.

Feb 25, 2021 Windows Movie Maker was once the most popular free video editing tool for Windows, and users can make home movies by simple drag-and-drop. It contains features such as video effects, video transitions, adding titles/credits, audio track, timeline narration, and Auto Movie. The Best Video Editing Software for 2021. Whether you're a weekend GoPro shooter or a full-time video professional, you need editing software that's powerful and easy to use.

We take a look at the best of the bunch, in this group test, and filter out the most capable audio editing software programs available on Microsoft's latest operating system.

Worth a mention that there is a marked difference between audio editors and digital audio workstations. DAWs are expensive solution, often costing around $500, and can record from an unlimited number of audio sources, while also providing effects and virtual instruments to help with the production of music.

Audio editors, on the other hand, can be had for $50, and several free ones are available that offer professional-level audio editing capabilities on computers. Most of these programs work perfectly fine on lower-end systems and offer a lot of power to edit and export audio.

With this distinction made, let's get down to the business of comparing the best audio editing editors.

7 Best Audio Editing Software for Windows 10

Let's look at detailed explanations of the features and specifications of these editors.

Audacity

Let's start with the elephant in the room. Audacity. This is by far the most popular software on this list, and its fame is well earned. Finding life as a small project back in 1997, this program has now become the go-to solution for many that want a simple software to edit, record and mix audio. Countless users use Audacity to prepare their podcasts, convert old tapes into digital recordings, and record audio for their video productions.

And this open-source program owes this success to its simplicity.

It has a very simple user interface that anyone can learn, and be up to speed in a few minutes. It provides access to a range of tools and effects. Recording audio is easy, editing clips is easier. Removing noise is a breeze, volume automation couldn't be more straightforward, and correcting the pitch of a track is effortless.

Audacity also works nicely with extensible plugins that extend the functionality of this program. Support for a wide range of file formats, and the ability to record live audio through a microphone, capture streaming audio and digitize recordings from other media simply sweetens the deal.

The program does have its drawbacks, though. Like most free and open-source software, Audacity is high on features, but its UI is not particularly appealing. A lot of features clutter the toolbar that most people will rarely use. In fact, the whole interface is ancient and is long overdue an overhaul.

The fact is that this reliable program may be a great starting point for users new to audio editing, but experienced and power users will want to look at other solutions that offer more creative features, and better support for multiple tracks than Audacity.

For everyone else, this is about as good as it gets for free audio editing software.

Free Audio Editor

When you name your product Free Audio Editor, you just have to get everything else right. Luckily, this program does. This powerful tool is light on system requirements but high on features and other necessary bells and whistles.

You get both the traditional Waveform View or the frequency-based Spectral Display to edit your audio files, and either of these can be used to easily isolate and remove unwanted noise. A standard range of selection tools is available that can help you edit your recordings with milliseconds of precision.

Actions like cutting, copying, pasting, trimming, and muting are a click away.

The program also delivers when it comes to audio effects and filters, thanks to its inclusion of more than 30 native signal and effects processing engines. Need equalizations? Fade ins and outs? Delays, chorus, or reverbs? Time stretching and pitch shifting? All here.

Free Audio Editor also delivers when it comes to formatting support, and it can work with an almost overwhelming variety of source formats — 25 in total. These range from the most popular ones like MP3, WAV, AAC and FLAC, to a bunch of obscure proprietary ones like RA, RAM, AIF, and TTA.

And if you plan to use this program to digitize your audio, then the built-in audio recorder is up to the task of recording from practically anywhere. Mic, online streaming, web radio, internet telephone, cassette tapes, you name it.

If you can hear it, Free Audio Editor can capture it.

The UI may be a little old school now, but it is perfectly functional, and more importantly, familiar.

Available as a free version, a deluxe edition, and part of a suite of 8 tools, Free Audio Editor is one of the easiest ways to record, edit and enhance your sound, with several advanced features not found in other free or open source solutions. Well worth a try.

Adobe Audition

The design giant may be more known for its photo editing, illustration, page layout, document management, and video editing solutions, but Adobe also offers a powerful audio editor that goes by the name of Adobe Audition.

This is the tool you need if you want professional-level editing capabilities.

And thanks to the brand strength of Adobe, a whole bunch of written and video tutorials are available for Audition that will help you to quickly get started with the program and understand what its powerful features can do.

As for usage, Adobe Audition, just like other software from the company, is easy to learn but hard to master. For example, you can remove unwanted noise from your audio tracks simply by using the paintbrush tool to select it, while the healing option automatically removes background noise. But more advanced tools and options will demand an investment of time and practice before you get comfortable with them.

The latest 2017 version comes with a bevvy of new features, including automatic loudness correction, timed recordings, support for Dolby Digital, custom channelization, smart track colors, frequency band splitter, to go with faster, more precise editing.

Even the user interface finally got refinements for high-resolution screens.

These are all improvements that only a company like Adobe can roll out on regular basis, and this makes the program well worth the asking price for power users, professional audio editors, and people that do serious work with audio for their organization or businesses.

And since Adobe Audition is part of the company's Creative Cloud suite of applications, it plays nicely with other programs that carry the Adobe logo. For example, the ability to export directly from Audition with Media Encoder, or do automatic backups to the Adobe Creative Cloud service.

Adobe calls this the industry's best solution for audio cleanup, restoration and precision editing, and while these are lofty claims, Audition is not far off.

The other free programs listed here will be more than enough for casual users, and people that just want to quickly edit an audio out. But pro and power users would do well to invest in a solution like this, and bring it to their video production or audio editing workflows.

Sign up for the free trial and see whether Adobe Audition is for you.

Ocenaudio

Ocenaudio is a program that knows exactly what it is doing, and this impressive audio editor for Windows is perfect for users that want to analyze and edit their audio files without complications. This shows in the minimalistic and fairly modern user interface of this program, and its basic feature set.

That is, nevertheless, more than enough for both novices and intermediate audio editors.

Things start with a real-time preview that allows you to hear the processed signals, while you adjust the controls. This majorly speeds up the editing process. You can also select different portions of an audio file, listen or apply effects as needed.

And best of all, Ocenaudio keeps things light and snappy. It does not require large drive space while exporting the finished files, and it also does the job quickly, requiring notably less time than some other programs to complete the task — signs that the program is properly optimized.

Although Ocenaudio does not vary too much in capabilities that other free audio editors in this list offer, it does have its own unique and simplified interface. Which may well end up being a deciding factor for users that give this program a try.

Wavosaur

Things continue to get simple and simpler in this list, with Wavosaur a neat little basic application that comes straight to the point. At just a 1.3 MB download, this is one of the lightest programs around to get going with, which is good for people rocking older hardware.

Speaking of older things, well, the name Wavosaur has now become a veiled reference to the word dinosaur, considering the fact that this program has not been updated in a while. The latest version was released last year, but the one before that came out all the way back in 2013. Facts that nudges this program towards classic Windows software territory.

The territories notion doesn't end here, though.

Wavosaur lies somewhere between a basic audio editor and a Digital Audio Workstation, albeit a rather basic one, but that's what makes it unique. It lies at the cusp of both worlds, so to say.

For example, it supports VST, the Virtual Studio Technology, but does not come bundled with any effects. Meaning, if you want to get a little creative with your audio, you will need to bring your own goodies and add the necessary plugins yourself.

But the program is up to the task when it comes to audio analysis and volume automation, and you will be able to edit and manage different kinds of voice and music tracks with ease. Batch processing and the ability to export files through third-party software make it a handy choice for those that work regularly with audio.

A range of skins are also available that let you customize the look and feel according to your tastes.

Leapic Audio Editor

Fancy name, but the audio editor itself is actually one of the simpler ones on the market. From its workman-like user interface to the features this program provides, the developer has opted to keep things simple and straightforward.

And this gives Leapic Audio Editor massive amounts of both charm and utility.

Its UI is something that will not most people long to grasp — you can be up and running in minutes. All the features and options are neatly tucked away in toolbars up top, the menus are properly planned, and the overall look and feel is something that should be familiar to most PC users.

This simplicity also extends to the included voice recording tool, and the small, but useful, selection of effects and filters that can easily be applied to audio tracks. Basic functions like the ability to remove noise or insert silence make it a good no-frills choice for podcast creators.

Lexis Audio Editor

While Windows 10 apps are still a country mile behind the traditional desktop software program, every now and then you do find a gem in the Windows Store. There is no shortage of audio and voice recorders on the platform — even Microsoft packs one by default in its new operating system — but bona fide audio editors are few and far between.

Enter Lexis Audio Editor.

This is, without a doubt, one of the most user-friendly audio editors that the Windows Storehouses, and though its interface borrows a lot from the base design language of Windows 10, it does offer a touch-optimized experience for tablet users of the platform.

The black background is easy on the eye for a long audio editing session, while a range of buttons are available at the bottom that help accomplishes basic tasks like importing, trimming, normalizing, editing or adding effects to audio files.

You can create new audio records or edit audio files that you already have available, and these files can then be saved in any of the 4 audio formats that this app supports. These include MP3, WAV, WMA, and M4A formats.

Lexis Audio Editor may not be the most feature-packed or impressive audio editor that Windows 10 users have access to if they looked beyond the Windows Store. But for an app, it does the trick. The trial version includes all the features of the paid version, except the possibility of saving audio files in the MP3 format. For that privilege, you will have to buy it from the Windows Store for a small fee.

• January 16, 2020
• 33 min to read

Top 10 Shortlist:

1. Luminar (7 days full free version)
2. Adobe Lightroom (7 days trial)
3. Paint.NET (Free)
4. Adobe Photoshop Elements (7 days trial)
5. Gimp (Free)
6. Aurora HDR (7 days full free version)
7. Photolemur 3 (Free with watermark)
8. Fotor (Free basic plan)
9. Fhotoroom (Free + Offers in-app purchases)
   
10. AirMagic (Free with watermark)

Tired of looking for the free feature-rich photo editor? Want to try out something new? Or just need to find your perfect editing software compatible with Windows 10? You've come to the right place.

Be my guest and learn about the top-ranking photo editing programs for Windows 10 on the market. Knock yourself out!

Apart from being one of the best international editors (it's translated into 10 languages so far), Luminar 4 is also a top plugin for Adobe products such as Photoshop and Lightroom.

The program is very snappy, user-friendly, and easy-to-use. The design is super simple and minimalistic. Nothing distracts you from the editing process. Besides, Luminar 4 team have recently updated a few super useful features you should try:

- AI Sky Replacement (changes the sky, matches the colors of other objects with the sky, fixes poor lighting, and removes unnecessary objects);

- AI Skin Enhancer & Portrait Enhancer (smooths the skin, gets rid of pimples and blemishes without obliterating the skin texture, enhances skin color and adds natural shadows);

- AI Structure (face detection, emphasizes the details, gives a photo a natural-beauty look);

- Sunrays (adds realistic-looking sunbeams between hard-to-reach objects like twigs, trees, and bushes);

- AI Enhance (enhances the overall look of the photo, adjusts the colors to create a more realistic effect);

- Smart Contrast (makes a realistic contrast, emphasizes texture).

✅ Pros

• Boasts of a wide range of video guides;
• Offers non-destructive editing;
• Easy to use;
• A perfect plugin for Lightroom, Photoshop or Photos for macOS;
• Has a free 7-day trial;
• Has pleasant discounts for upgraded plans

✖️ Cons

• A little bit slower than Lightroom and Photoshop;
• Limited exporting options;
• Luminnar's Library loses to Lightroom's DAM.

2. Adobe Lightroom (7 days trial)

If you're savvy in photo editing and need your editor to have all the best features on the market, go for Lightroom. Many professional photographers say that no editing software can ever fill in for Lightroom.

Lightroom is a well-known universal program for editing that has a 7-day free trial. The cloud allows you to save, store, and share any of the edited photos. No matter where you edit (phone, laptop, tablet), Lightroom applies the changes everywhere. Besides, the interface of the program is clear. Intuitive thinking is pretty much everything you need to figure out how to use Lightroom.

✅ Pros

• Non-destructive editing;
• A cloud-based system;
• Easy processing of RAW files;
• Incredible presets;
• Unique filters and tools (post-crop vignette, geometry tools, etc.)
  

✖️ Cons

• Has more features in iOS version;
• A little bit expensive;
• Not the best decision for beginners.

Paint.NET is a veteran of photo editing. This editing software offers users to enjoy its elementary and snappy design. Besides, the program is super responsive and has no bugs.

Apple inc software. Paint.NET can't be called a rival to Photoshop or Lightroom. It's not surprising because, otherwise, no one would ever opt for the latter.

✅ Pros

• The FREEST of all free photo editors;
• A simple familiar design;
• Compatible with any OS.
  

Best Editing Software For Windows 10 Laptop

✖️ Cons

• No text correction if you applied a filter;
• No Burn and Dodge filters;
• No mask of layers.

4. Adobe Photoshop Elements (7 days trial)

This program is a brand new product by Adobe featured in 2020. The editor brings the editing experience to another level. You get hooked on handy modes such as Quick Mode, Expert Mode, and Guided Mode.

Whereas other editors like Photoshop take time to adjust, Adobe Photoshop Elements is a no-brainer. A fully optimized interface, simple tools, and step-by-step guidelines will make your editing fast and enjoyable.

✅ Pros

• Perfect for beginners;
• The best object removal feature on the market;
• Adobe Ecosystem

✖️ Cons

• No cloud storage;
• Doesn't process 3D objects;
• No phone app.
  

✅ Pros

• Open to code manipulations;
• A wide range of filters;
• 100% Free;
• Fit for almost any photo manipulation purposes.
  

✖️ Cons

• Could be slower than Photoshop;
• Average score on Trustpilot
• No iOS, Android, and Desktop applications.
  

✅ Pros

• A lovely and simple layout;
• Super speedy and snappy work;
• Never gets buggy;
• Non-destructive editing;
• AI-powered system;
• Good both for newbies in editing and pros.
  

✖️ Cons

• Not that functional as Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom;
• No healing brush in the standalone version;
• Long response when uploading big raw images.
  

✅ Pros

• Instant auto-correction;
• Super speedy;
• Advanced Artificial Intelligence;
• Supports 18 languages.
  

✖️ Cons

• Could be slow while processing RAW files;
• You no longer know what to do with your Photoshop subscription.
  

If you're looking for an app to start your graphic design or photographing career, opt for Fotor. It's a simple and feature-rich photo editor that lets you expose your talent for image manipulation/creating.

It's compatible with all the devices you need. You can use it on your laptop and mobile phone depending on your choice. It's free and has an intuitive interface which is more than enough to make your first dive into the photo-editing world.

✅ Pros

• Some freelance graphic designers say it's the best money-value offer;
• Super user-friendly layout;
• Compatible with PCs, phones (Android and iOs);
• Supports 9 languages.
  

✖️ Cons

• Not fit for professional photographers/designers;
• Gets confused with 800x800-sized photos (last time I checked);
• Sometimes, it's pretty slow.

Fhotoroom is your pick if you're looking for Snapseed or VSCO alternative. The mobile app works flawlessly, especially on Android devices. The desktop app also boasts of cool features such as Text Layer, Highlight Tint, Shadow Tint, etc.

✅ Pros

• Has a phone app, a desktop app, and an app for Mac OS;
• A dedicated photo-sharing community;
• The free version doesn't give way to the premium one;
• 200+ sorting and ordering methods;
• Perfectly compatible with Windows 10.
  

✖️ Cons

• No auto-correction;
• The in-app camera crashes on iOS;
• The app might crash while applying the Ansel filter;
• An outdated interface.
  

The software is perfect for newbies in aerial photography. You just drag the photo you need to edit, wait 5-10 seconds, and receive the 'after' version of your photo. Of course, you can edit your photos by yourself from scratch but even auto-corrections could be a final result.

✅ Pros

• Suitable for editing drone photography;
• Drag-and-drop algorithm;
• Useful features like auto-correction, tonal contrast, sky enhancement, haze removal, etc.)
  

✖️ Cons

• No mobile app;
• You can't edit videos;
• No preset descriptions.
  

PicsArt Photo Studio is best suitable for collage making. Although you obviously can edit your photos via PicsArt Photo Studio, that's hands down only ONE out of MANY specializations of the app.

When I first saw the official website of the editor, I thought it was the perfect tool for graphic designers, clipart makers, and abstract art lovers. The coolest things you can get from PicsArt Photo Studio are funny stickers for iMessage (just drag and drop them in your chats), dispersion tool, and Challenges section (here you can find inspiration for your future creations).

✅ Pros

• Awesome filters and effects;
• Simple design;
• Integration with iMessage;
• Completely free;
• A built-in camera;
• The variety of templates.
  

✖️ Cons

• Pop-up ad windows in the free version;
• Available in mobile version only;
• No sync with the cloud;
• The editor gets buggy from time to time;
• It could be a bit difficult to use.
  

Like Aurora HDR, KVADPhoto+ 2 is an updated version of the program. Why you should care?

• They fixed some lags;
• There are over 150 stunning filters right now!!!
• And over 200 special effects! Isn't that awesome?
  

By the way, the guys have released many digital photo frames in case you need to make your design more outstanding. KVADPhoto+ 2 features a wide range of photo manipulation tools like transform tools, adjustment tools, magic tools, and artistic filters.

✅ Pros

• Elementary in usage;
• Many customized features;
• Available on all the devices – from PC to smartphone;
• New Clip Art Stickers;
• You can save Collage and PicFrames as projects which is good for prof graphic designers.
  

✖️ Cons

• Bugs (compared to the old version, they're not that nasty);
• Some effects are outdated.

If you're into simple apps providing basic features, Photoscape is the editing software fit for you. Behind the huge variety of features, most of the users find difficulty in usage. That's certainly not the case with Photoscape.

With the editor, you can do color correction, resizing, cutting, batch editing, screen capturing, tonal contrasting, and RAW editing. That is usually all the average user will look for in the photo editor. Don't worry, your Instagram pictures are sure to be nicely adjusted to your needs with Photoscape!

Besides, for Windows and Mac users, Photoscape offers to use Photoscape X. This one has an updated design and about the same variety of features as its older brother, Check them out!

✅ Pros

• Includes batch editing;
• Allows to make animations;
• A face search feature that allows you to find people looking like you;
• A simple interface.
  

Best Editing Software For Windows 10 No Watermark

✖️ Cons

• A bit outdated interface;
• Not quite snappy;
• Doesn't have an erase tool;
• Sometimes, you have system lags;
• Fit only for beginners.

Pixlr is a trust-worthy editing software that will make it worth your while. The great variety of splendid effects, gorgeous filters, and snappily working interface will make anyone savvy in the world of photo manipulation.

Retouching tools don't obliterate the skin texture and get rid of unwanted objects on the photo in a few seconds. The Pixlr's drawing tools let you add anything you want to make your pictures stand out.

✅ Pros

• Simple design;
• Has Dark and Light Modes;
• Works within Dropbox;
• Over 500 million users.
  

✖️ Cons

• No Desktop version;
• Eats the quality of pictures a bit;
• It doesn't work smoothly with a weak Internet connection.
  

This photo editor is pretty curious due to its primary function. For those of you who didn't know, Lightzone was created as commercial software but, now, it's available for everyone.

Unlike similar photo editing programs, this one doesn't eat the quality of the photos after you saved them. Besides, it easily handles RAW files. Many people consider Lightzone a sibling of Lightroom because of that.

✅ Pros

Best Editing Software For Youtube

• So many unique photo-tweaking tools (Gaussian Blur; Fill Flash, Crisp, etc);
• Non-destructive editing;
• The tools you've used get saved in a stack;
• Shows lens names;
• Fancy design.
  

✖️ Cons

Best Editing Software For Windows 10 Pc

• Support is no longer available;
• No online or email photo sharing;
• Not many formats (the main ones being JPEG and TIFF);
• May seem too basic for pro-photographers.