Every video editor knows that selecting the right software is the first step in making a great video. Good video editing software has an easy-to-use and intuitive user interface. It also comes with the right features for creating a great video.
If you have been searching for safe and legit video editing software, you probably have heard of HitFilm Express. You may wonder if it is the right software for you.
HitFilm Express is a video editing software created by FXhome, a company that is part of Artlist. The company made the software to provide artists with a free and comprehensive storytelling tool kit.
In this article, I will review HitFilm Express. I will share details about the software, what you can expect, and more importantly, answer the big question, is HitFilm Express safe?
Let’s dive in.
What is HitFilm Express?
HitFilm Express is a video editing and effects software. The developers built the software for creators at all levels. If you are a beginner looking to create a video for your social media page or a creator looking to make a movie production, then HitFilm Express is a software you can use.
The video editing software has an easy-to-use interface that lets you edit images and videos and even add visual and sound effects. If you still find it challenging to use, you can access the built-in tutorials that will guide you through creating amazing content.
With HitFilm Express, you will access ultra-fast technology that will let you edit your videos at lightning speed. The software comes with two times faster exporting and eight times faster playback.
HitFilm Express has a free version that you can use on Windows and Mac. The free version includes scenes and effects from Hollywood films like Portal Combat, 310 to Yuma, Star Wars-The Force Awakening, and Westworld.
You can use these scenes to create your video or combine two sets to create an iconic title and realistic shotgun effects.
HitFilm Express User Interface
Once you open HitFilm Express on your device, the home screen will load. On the screen, you will see a welcome message with your name. On the welcome screen, you can choose to create a new project or open a previous one.
On the top right corner of the screen, you will see a banner that asks you whether you want to upgrade your version.
If you choose to start a new project, you will have to configure the settings and select a template. When you press ‘OK,’ you will see containers and house panels.
The panel contains workspaces. On this, you will see features like colorist, audio, editing, organizing, save workspace, and 360 video editing, which helps you to choose the layout to work on quickly.
You will use the dragging and clicking features to move the panels if you want to customize your experience. The user interface has an intuitive design that will guide you on how to move and place panels.
When selecting a function from the main interface, you will see a floating panel.
HitFilm Express Features
Here are some HitFilm Express features that help you to create quality content faster:
Editing basics – HitFilm Express comes with essential tools to edit your content. With these tools, you can cut, paste, trim, slice, crop, and flip, creating dynamic edits.
Transitions – The transitions are ready to use and professional, and they will help you develop videos with seamless shifts between scenes.
Presets – The customizable presets will develop videos with the perfect color grades, transitions, and texts.
Built-in assets – Some built-in assets include sound effects, music, templates, and professional stock footage, which you can access after downloading the software.
Audio sync – The audio sync feature will automatically line the audio with your video to achieve a smooth workflow.
Text tools – The tools will add subtitles to the video, which will be 2D or 3D hence eye-catching.
Lighting – The lighting will help you create videos with cinematic aesthetics, including 3D light leaks, glows, and high-quality light leaks.
Color grading – You will achieve amazing color grading using the 100s of filters and professional presets.
Advanced motion tracking function – With motion tracking, you can easily attach objects or texts to specific points in your video.
Keying – You can easily clean up your edges or change the background of your video with this feature.
Cinematic outlook – The Cine-effects of this video editing software will let you select preferred effects, including Three-Strip color, Day For Night, and Film Grain, that will give you an edge.
Adjustable trimmer – You can activate the trimmer panel once you double-click the video and make the necessary adjustment. Even after adding clips to the timeline while editing the video, you can still trim them with a flexible trimmer.
Numerous streams – You can import files with multiple audio streams to provide your users with an amazing experience when watching the video. This feature gives you flexibility during editing.
Smart search – The feature lets you search using keywords to find different timelines, media, and effects. The tool’s algorithm also lets you search from other software systems.
Customized playbacks – You can select your preferred playback. For example, you can choose the nonstop playback to make edits easier and prevent lagging. You can also use this feature to make hasty edits and control quality.
Integrated timelines – This feature allows you to switch from one tab to another easily. Also, you can edit one while comparing it with another without the need to minimize one.
Commentator recorder – If you wish to add voice-overs to your video, the commentator recorder will come in handy. With this feature, you will easily add voiceovers without needing to leave HitFilm Express.
Professional project quality – You will not lose the quality of your videos when editing using HitFilm Express because this feature will help retain quality. The software has a RAM preview and UHD support, giving you excellent formatting.
Is HitFilm Express Safe?
HitFilm Express has over 6.4 million users in more than 160 countries, which indicates that the software is loved and trusted by many people across the globe.
The software was developed by a company called FXhome which is a legitimate company that has produced other reputable software like Action Pro and Imerge.
Also, according to a software analysis that LO4D.com conducted on April 15, 2022, using 16 different antivirus software, the results established that HitFilm Express was free of spyware, malware, worms, trojans, or any type of virus.
The analysis by LO4D.com included the following virus and malware scans to evaluate the safety of HitFilm Express, and the software came out clean.
- Avira Antivirus
- Avast Antivirus
- BitDefender
- Malwarebytes
- Emsisoft Anti-Malware
- Panda
- Norton
- TrendMicro
- SUPERAntiSpyware
In addition, the online scanning services that LO4D.com used to analyze the software included:
- Zvelo
- Yandex
- VX Vault
- Phishtank
- MalwareDomainlist
- Google Safebrowsing
- G-Data
With all this, it’s safe to conclude that HitFilm Express is not only safe but also legit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does HitFilm Express Have a Watermark?
Yes, HitFilm Express has a watermark. There are two watermarks at the bottom and the other on the video.
The Free and the Creator version of HitFilm Express have watermarks you can only remove by buying the Pro version of the software.
Is HitFilm Express Good for YouTube?
Yes, HitFilm Express is good for YouTube. It is perfect for YouTubers because it is well-suited for both beginners and pros.
YouTubers can access the amazing features of the app, including cinematic coloring, compositing tools, and more than 400 visual effects. With HitFilm Express, they can unlock their creativity and produce amazing videos that will attract their subscribers.
Beginners who do not know how to use the software or pros who want to perfect their videos can always visit the HitFilm Express YouTube channel. The channel has over 70 hours of free tutorials, and new ones are posted weekly.
What Are the System Requirements for HitFilm Express?
Windows and Mac OS X devices support HitFilm Express. To use the devices, you will need a 64-bit operating system.
You will require a minimum Windows 10 operating system and a minimum of version 10.13 for Mac users. Hence, the macOS versions that support HitFilm Express include macOS 10.14 Mojave, macOS 10.15 Catalina, and macOS 11.0 Big Sur.
The processor requirements include AMD Ryzen 5 (2017) and 6th Generation Intel® Core™ i5 (2015). A Random Access Memory (RAM) of 16 GB is recommended. However, 8GB is also sufficient to run HitFilm Express.
Graphics cards should have a minimum video memory of 2GB, and they have to support the driver vendor. However, 8K UHD, AMD card, NVIDIA, or 4GB memory is required.
Other minimum features of the graphic card include:
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 10 series (2016)
- Intel HD Graphics 620 (2016)
- AMD Radeon RX 400 series (2016)
The recommended features to run the software include:
- AMD Radeon RX 5000 series (2019)
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 20 series (2018)
- 8GB dedicated video memory
To activate the software, you will require an internet connection.
Is HitFilm Express Completely Free?
HitFilm Express is advertised as a free video editing software that you can download and use on your device, but is it free?
HitFilm Express is not completely free; there are free and paid versions. The free version has enough features to let you edit your video. Some of the features available in the free version include
- Seamless video editing
- 3D composting
- 400+ effects
Also, the free software version lets you access unlimited HD exports. You also get five templates, 10 songs, and 25 sound effects.
The features that are available on the free version are sufficient to edit a good-quality video. You will get many features compared to other software that lets you edit videos for free.
You will need to create a free account to access the free version. No credit card is required during sign-up. After this, you can download it to your device.
However, you can purchase the Creator, Pro, and Enterprise packages to access more features. We have discussed the paid plans below.
Paid Plans for HitFilm Express
The Creator package comes with HitFiim Creator and Imerge Creator, an imaging editing software version produced by the same company.
The Creator package includes 100 songs, 25 templates, and 100 sound effects. You also get premium support, all for a monthly fee of $7.50.
The Pro package includes HitFilm and Imerge Pro, BorisFX 3D objects, Mocha HitFilm, unlimited 8K exports, and Foundry 3D Camera Tracker. Also, you get access to 50 templates, 200 songs, and 200 sound effects at $12.50.
The Enterprise package is tailored for your needs, and because of this, you will need to contact support for pricing.
The company offers occasional software offers; keep checking their pricing page for discounts on the different packages.
What Are Some Good Alternatives to HitFilm Express?
Filmora
This video editing software will help you quickly create videos on your desktop, iPad, or mobile device. The user-friendly interface and the powerful editing features make it one of the most popular video editing apps, with more than 50 Million downloads on Google Play.
However, Filmora does not have a free version; you only get a seven-day trial. Again, HitFilm Express’s paid versions are cheaper, and the free versions have more features.
Adobe Premiere Pro
Adobe Premiere Pro is a paid software you can use to create videos. It has thousands of graphics, templates, and visual effects to create amazing videos. YouTubers frequently use the software to create videos for their channels.
Adobe Premiere Pro also has built-in tutorials so that you can know how to use it. However, Adobe Premiere Pro does not have a free version, but it has a seven-day free trial to help you decide whether you want to go ahead and buy the software.
VSDC Free Video Editor
If you are looking for a video editor that will not leave a watermark on your edited video, then VSDC is the right HitFilm Express alternative.
Its features allow you to edit videos, add text and soundtracks, and create in-depth montages like blending, color correction, and FX. If you want more features, you can purchase the Pro version of the software.
Is HitFilm Express Worth It?
HitFilm Express is an impressive video editing software that you can use for short or long video projects.
To understand whether it’s worth using video editing software, let’s look at its pros and cons.
Pros
- The software has a free version that has many useful features. With the free version, you can create quality videos.
- It is user-friendly with an easy-to-use interface, so you do not need to be a pro to use it.
- The software has tools, video tutorials, and master classes, making it user-friendly.
- You can download HitFilm Express and use it on both Mac and Windows.
- HitFilm Express comes with excellent community support that lets you share your issues and grievances with more than 200,000 forum users. You can also join their social media platforms to access more help and information.
Cons
- The system requirements are quite heavy, and because of this, not many machines can handle the processes.
- The free software version will produce watermarked videos, compelling you to upgrade.
Final Word
HitFilm Express is the perfect software for anyone looking to edit videos. It doesn’t matter whether you are a pro in video editing or not. The video editing tutorials will guide you to produce professional-level high-quality videos.
I recommend this software to anyone starting on video editing. The interface is user-friendly and the free version has all the basic features you will need to create a video.
Moreover, it is safe and legit software created by a reputable company and free from viruses and malware.
