10 Best Green Screen Software for Video Editing

As anyone in the film or video industry will tell you, green screen technology is essential for various special effects. This type of software allows you to superimpose one image or video over another, which opens up a world of possibilities for your projects.

So are you looking for the best green screen video editing software? Whether you want to remove the background from a video or add some special effects, a green screen can be a helpful tool. This article will examine the ten best green screen video editing software options.

Some of the programs on our list are free, while others are paid. We’ve also included a mix of both Windows and Mac-compatible software. So without further ado, let’s jump in and look at the best green screen video editing software currently available.

What Is a Green Screen and How Does It Work?

A green screen is a special effects/post-production technique to combine two images or video streams.

In film and video production, a green screen is commonly used to block out a specific color so that it can be replaced with another color or image. 

This allows for more seamless integration of the two images and makes adding special effects like compositing, keying, and rotoscoping easier.

How does a green screen work?

A green screen works by using chroma key compositing to remove the background from the footage that is being filmed. Chroma key compositing is a process that uses color information to create masks that can be used to select or delete specific colors from an image.

In the case of a green screen, the color information is used to create a mask that can be used to select or delete the green pixels from an image. This allows the background to be replaced with another image or video stream.

Reviews of the Best Green Screen Software From Our Research

VSDC Free Video Editor

Overall Best Green Screen Software

VSDC Free Video Editor is the best green screen software for those on a budget. The powerful and user-friendly program makes it easy to put a video together. With VSDC, you can edit video, improve audio, record voice overs, and capture desktop screens. Over 5 million users worldwide have chosen VSDC for their video editing needs.

Features

• All the popular video/audio formats and codecs supported
• Powerful chroma key tool to remove green background
• An extensive set of trendy video effects, filters, and transitions
• Essential tools like zoom, charts, 360 video editing, and color correction
• Convenient export profiles that make saving videos for various devices a snap
• Lowest system requirements possible – VSDC works even on outdated PCs!

Pricing

• Free plan
• Pro edition: $19.99

Pros

• Picture in picture
• Side-by-side and split-screen videos
• Video in text effect

Cons

• The interface can be confusing and hard to navigate for beginners

Adobe Premiere Pro

Best for Professional Video Editors

Adobe Premiere Pro is a cloud-based video editing solution that provides businesses with tools to create, edit and share videos on a centralized platform. Professionals can use the Essentials Graphics panel to access motion templates, create transitions or sequences using a drag-and-drop interface, and design various other visual treatments. 

Adobe Premiere Pro integrates with other Creative Cloud solutions, allowing businesses to share assets and workflows across teams.

Features

• 3D Video Editing
• Animations & Transitions
• Audio Capture
• Audio Editor
• Content Library
• Content Management
• Filtering
• Image Editing

Pricing

• Free trial
• Subscription: $20.99/month

Pros

• Great control and tools
• Integrates well with the Adobe ecosystem
• Lots of filters and image editing tools
• Animations are easy to work with

Cons

• Rendering quality is slow
• Not as compatible with Macs
• Software crashes when the project gets heavier

iMovie

Best for UI/UX Edits

iMovie is a video-making software that helps businesses of all sizes turn photos and videos into storytelling movies. Administrators can create shareable videos to commemorate moments, memories, and sceneries. 

You can easily add effects, music, and more to make your video stand out from the rest. iMovie makes it easy to create beautiful and professional-looking videos without spending hours in front of a computer.

Features

• Easy-to-use interface
• Wide range of video and audio editing features
• Can stabilize shaky videos
• Adds professional touches as transitions and audio fades

Pricing

• Free plan

Pros

• iMovie is a production-grade video editor that is easy to use
• Supports a wide range of file formats
• Exports movies in up to 8K resolution

Cons

• Consumes huge disk space
• It needs high processing power and RAM storage
• Lacks animation features
• For Apple devices only 

Wondershare Filmora

Best for Beginners

With a drag-and-drop interface, Wondershare Filmora makes it easy for even beginners to create professional-looking videos. You can add text overlays, transitions, and effects. The software also integrates with third-party platforms like Adobe Creative Cloud and Google Drive, making starting easier. Marketing professionals can use the software to create white-labeled marketing videos.

Features

• Chroma key tool for green screen effects
• An extensive library of audio effects and filters
• Support for importing from PCs, Mac devices, and smartphones
• Ability to quickly fade audio
• Supports 4K video editing and exporting

Pricing

• Annual plan: $49.99 per year
• 2-Year plan: $69.99 per year
• Perpetual plan: $89.99 per year

Pros

• User-friendly UI
• Relatively cheap for a professional-grade software
• Lots of features and effects
• Fast video export speeds

Cons

• The audio editing features are limited
• It is challenging to access media that is uploaded to the cloud
• The software can lag or crash, which can result in lost work

Camtasia

Best for Creating Tutorial Videos (Screen recording)

Camtasia makes it simple to record and create professional-looking videos on Windows and Mac. The intuitive editing tools, animations, and effects help turn your screen recordings into compelling videos. You can use Camtasia to create lessons, tutorials, product demos, or any other type of instructional video. With Camtasia, it’s easy to record your screen or webcam and share your videos with the world.

Features

• Video creation with templates
• Corporate look and feel with themes
• Ability to share templates, libraries, themes, and presets
• 100+ transitions for improved video flow
• Quizzes and interactivity for learning measurement
• Recording straight from PowerPoint or import slides
• Webcam recording for a personal touch

Pricing

• Free trial
• Subscription: $299.99 per user/month

Pros

• Easy to use
• Great for creating eLearning presentations and videos
• Allows you to add and format callouts
• Add animations and control the timing and execution of the animation

Cons

• Crashes and has bugs
• It can take up a lot of storage space
• Slow on low-end PCs

Lightworks

Best Non-linear Video Editor

Lightworks is a powerful film editing solution used by movie industry experts and social media marketers. It supports various formats and benefits from a dedicated web export. Features include Multicam editing, inbuilt presets, text effects, real-time collaboration, and a fully customizable interface. 

Lightworks is an on-premise video editing software that helps businesses create and deliver video content across platforms such as Facebook, Vimeo, or YouTube.

Features

• Import just about any standard type of media file that you can lay your hands on
• Deliver your videos for any social media platform
• The same user interface, experience, and performance regardless of which OS you choose
• Import any frame rate file and play it at its native resolution and shape
• Increased performance with optimized proxy files from HD, 4K, and 8K media
• Lightworks auto-saves every single move, so you don’t have to think about it
• Pre-edit directly inside bins by moving content around and instantly turning it into a new sequence

Pricing

• Free version.
• Lightworks pro: $23.99/user/month, $239.99/user/year, $389.99/user/life
• Lightworks create: $9.99/user/month, $99.9/user/year, $154.99/user/life

Pros

• Non-linear video editing
• Ability to edit videos and movies in several formats
• Friendly and easy-to-use interface

Cons

• Audio only exports through System Sound

Hitfilm Express

Best for Professional Video Editors

Hitfilm Express is an on-premise video editing software that provides businesses with the tools they need to create professional videos. The software includes modules for VFX effects, audio complex limiter effects, composite shot enhancements, particle simulator, compositor’s toolkit, and more. 

Hitfilm Express allows businesses to import and create animated 3D models, handle visual effects, and use the audio mixer tool to add required video tracks. 

Features

• Seamless transitions between scenes
• Ready-to-use professional transitions
• Customizable presets
• Access to a library of professional stock footage, music, sound effects, and templates
• Automatic synchronization of video and audio for a smooth workflow
• Easily add subtitles to your video

Pricing

• Free plan
• Creator plan: $6.25/month
• Pro plan: $9.99/month
• Enterprise plan: Custom pricing

Pros

• Masking tools are incredible
• Drag and drop effects are beneficial
• Software is relatively easy to use and cheap

Cons

• The program may hang up or suddenly shut down if moving too fast
• Features are a bit limited
• Watermarking may occur if too many VFX options or features are used overall

OBS Studio

Best for Video Streaming

OBS Studio is a free video recording and live streaming tool compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux devices. With OBS Studio, users can capture real-time audio and video content and mix specified audio and recordings when working on interactive video projects. 

Additionally, the editing tools allow users to add text annotations, images, and webcam videos to their videos. OBS Studio also provides an audio mixer tool with filters such as noise gates and noise suppression to help users edit audio files.

Features

• Real-time video and audio capturing
• Mixing of multiple sources
• Custom transitions
• Intuitive audio mixer
• Support for VST plugins
• Powerful configuration options

Pricing

• Free 

Pros

• Great configuration
• Advanced tools
• Immense features
• Efficiently optimized
• Available for all major distributions like Windows, Mac, and Linux

Cons

• Sometimes audio lags behind screen capture
• The user interface can be complicated
• The selective part of the screen for stream sometimes just shows up as a black screen

Openshot

Best Open-source Video Editor

OpenShot Video Editor is a cross-platform software that assists businesses with editing and managing audio or videos on a unified platform. It provides an animation framework that creative professionals can utilize to add bouncing, fading, or sliding effects in video projects. 

Key features include audio waveforms, title editing, 3D animations, slow-motion effect, and multi-lingual and desktop integration. The application lets users read or write videos or images in any FFmpeg format and add layers, including watermarks, audio tracks, and more videos.

Features

• Cross-platform video editing software (Linux, Mac, and Windows) Support for many videos, audio, and image formats
• Powerful curve-based Key frame animations
• Desktop integration (drag and drop support)
• Video transitions with real-time previews
• Compositing, image overlays, watermarks
• Title templates, title creation, sub-titles
• 3D animated titles (and effects)

Pricing

• Free 

Pros

• Ease of use interface allows new users to utilize it to its full potential
• It is open-source software and is completely free to use yet.
• It is compatible with all major audio and video formats
• It can give output anywhere in the range from 360p to 4k video quality
• Supported by all computer operating systems

Cons

• Does not have the option to download the effect online
• There is no direct YouTube video upload option
• Lacks presets for more background animation options

DaVinci Resolve

Best for Speedy Videographers

DaVinci Resolve is a video editing software that combines editing, color correction, visual effects, motion graphics, and audio post-production into one software tool. Its modern interface is easy to learn and use yet powerful for professionals. DaVinci Resolve lets you work faster and at a higher quality because you don’t have to learn multiple apps or switch software for different tasks. 

Features

• The source tape tool lets editors review, select, and add shots from multiple clips into a single tape, which helps save time in the editing process.
• DaVinci Resolve offers 8K editing capabilities, ideal for feature films and television shows requiring high-quality visuals.
• The software also includes color correction and audio editing features, making it a complete post-production solution for filmmakers and video editors.

Pricing

• Free plan
• DaVinci Resolve Studio: it is available at $357.01.

Pros

• Color manipulation and correction algorithms are unrivaled
• Offers a wide variety of features and tools
• Updates are released frequently
• Suitable for professional usage

Cons

• The price tag may be prohibitive for some users
• It is not as user-friendly as some other editing options available
• Does not have many features geared toward amateur editors

Buyer’s Guide For the Best Green Screen Software

When it comes to finding the best green screen software, there are a few key factors you need to keep in mind.

Ease of Use

One of the most important factors to consider when choosing green screen software is the ease of use. If you’re unfamiliar with video editing or green screen technology, you’ll want to select software that is easy to understand and use. Look for software with a user-friendly interface and clear instructions on using the green screen effect, like VSDC Free Video Editor, our overall best green screen software.

Features

Another essential factor to consider is the features offered by the software. Some software packages are more comprehensive than others, offering a wider range of features. For example, Adobe Premiere Pro offers an extensive set of features for video editing, while Wondershare Filmora is a more basic package.

Compatibility

You’ll also need to ensure that the green screen software you choose is compatible with your computer and video editing software. Most green screen software is compatible with both Windows and Mac computers, but there are a few exceptions. Be sure to check the system requirements before you buy to avoid any compatibility issues.

Price

Of course, price is always a factor to consider when choosing software. Green screen software ranges in price from around $50 or lesser than that to over $200. If you’re just starting with green screen technology, you may want to choose a less expensive or totally free option to get started, like iMovie. But if you’re looking for more advanced features, you’ll need to be willing to pay more to have access to tools like Camtasia.

Customer Support

Finally, it’s crucial to consider customer support when choosing green screen software. Look for a company that offers free technical support if you have any questions or problems. It’s also a good idea to read online reviews to see what other users think of the software before you buy.

FAQs For Best Green Screen Software

Wrap Up

Green Screen Software provides several benefits for videographers and photographers. It allows for greater creativity and control over the final product. It also can save time and money by eliminating the need for expensive location shoots. The software is easy to use and provides a wide range of features.

We recommend Wondershare Filmora for those just getting started with green screen software. It’s a great way to get a feel for how the software works and what it can do. For more experienced users, Adobe Premiere Pro is a powerful option with many features. 

For budget-conscious users, we recommend Hitfilm Express. You will surely be pleased with the results no matter which green screen software you choose. So go ahead and give it a try!