Movavi Video Editor is a very effective way to do both the simple tasks such as stitch video files together, but also to do more complex edits involving special effects, for instance. It can be the first step on the road to becoming a great editor, or it can just be the easiest way to merge videos and photos together for someone who wants a simple interface.

Step 1. Open the installation file. Follow the on-screen instructions and in a couple of minutes, the program will be installed on your PC or Mac.

Step 2. Сlick Add Files and select the files you want to join together. The videos will be added to the Media Bin. Drag and drop your videos into the Timeline at the bottom of the program window. You can also simply drag your videos onto the Timeline.

Step 3. Save the video. First, click Export. In the left part of the pop-up window, you will see tabs with different export options to suit the device or video software you want to use to play your creation.

Key features:

• Allows you to add titles and transitions easily
• Free media library included
• Intuitive layout

Microsoft Photos is a simple way to combine videos if you are running the Microsoft operating system. As it comes free with your computer, all you need to do is install the app and start making the edits. You can combine two videos (or more) but you can also work intuitively with photos, as the name of the app would suggest. If you are used to the interface used on a lot of the native Windows apps, then this will all be relatively straightforward and hassle-free.

Step 1. Find and open the Photos app on your Windows computer. If you can’t find it, try the search bar on startup.

Step 2. Click on the New Video option and create a new project for merging multiple videos into one.

Step 3. Now click on the plus icon on your screen’s top left corner and navigate to the video files you want to import.

Step 4. Drag them to the correct size and location on the video’s timeline so they play simultaneously.

Step 5. Click on the Export or Share options and select the video settings, before clicking Export to start the process.

Key features:

• Supports a number of input and output files types
• Integrates with OneDrive easily
• Some transitions and effects

Shotcut is free, open-source software that anyone can download to start editing videos. No need to sign up for a free trial or part with any cash. It’s a little more complex to use than some of the other options on the list, but while it isn’t the best for beginners, it can do some pretty powerful editing when required.

Step 1. Download and install Shotcut on your computer. Launch the software and click on File and then Open File to navigate to your first video clip.

Step 2. Import the second video clip in the same way and drag them both to the desired space on the timeline so they play one after the other.

Step 3. Click on File and Export Video and you will be prompted to provide the video settings you want to export in before creating the final video.

Key features:

• Mac and Windows versions
• Webcam capture
• Audio capture
• Support for 4K resolutions

iMovie comes already installed on most Mac systems and even devices including iPad and iPhones. This means that you can start editing in virtually no time, and merging video clips together that you have taken on your phone or tablet. If you are using iCloud to connect your devices, all the videos you take may be instantly available to edit in iMovie across your devices, too. The layout is simple and there is even a limited free media library.

Step 1. Open iMovie and navigate to File and then click Import Media. Select the videos that you plan to combine and click on Import.

Step 2. Repeat the import process for the second file that you want to stitch together with the first. They will then appear in the My Media section of the interface.

Step 3. Drag the files onto the timeline and position one after the other. You can also add transitions.

Step 4. Export by going to File, then Share, then clicking File and saving as a file of your choice.

Key features:

• Supports audio editing, plus HD and 4K video support.
• Easy to crop and rotate clips
• Basic stabilization
• Supports a number of video file types

Another option to merge videos is to use QuickTime. This isn’t the simplest video combiner in terms of how to use it, and though it doesn’t have much you can add in terms of effects, it does let you do the very basic job of putting two videos together and playing them as one single file.

To combine 2 videos within QuickTime:

Step 1. Open one of the videos in QuickTime.

Step 2. Drag-and-drop the second or any other videos into the QuickTime video player. A window will appear to let you reorganize the videos one after the other.

Step 3. Click the Done button.

Step 4. Go to leave the QuickTime program, it will ask if you want to save the video. You can save in the desired format here.

Key features:

• Capture screen recordings and edit them together
• Import and export a variety of file types
• Installed on Mac computers as standard

This free mobile and desktop video editing app from the giants that are Adobe allows you to combine your videos with ease on both Apple and Android devices. If you don’t have a very large screen, it can feel a bit clunky. However, the features are certainly impressive and it also links very well with the Adobe^® Creative Suite.

Step 1. Create a new project. Click on the Create a New Project button or the small + sign at the bottom.

Step 2. Select videos to open the folder with available video clips. Tap on the videos you want to combine before hitting Create to start.

Step 3. Repeat the process to add more video clips. Hit Create and the app will combine the clips.

Step 4. Tweak different aspects of the video, by dragging along the magnetic slider, and add things like effects and transitions if you wish.

Step 5. To export, tap on the Share button at the top of the screen. You will then be met with Video Quality Settings on a screen. Select Export to save the video clip, now combined, as MP4 or other file types.

Key features:

• Multiple graphics templates

• Easy snap with the magnetic timeline
• The option to add audio and multi-track

Movavi Clips can be used on either iOS and Android and lets you combine your clips, mash up videos and create excellent results for either your own personal use, or to easily put on social media in the correct aspect ratio. The software has a number of presets and free music you can add, too.

Step 1. Download and launch the app. Tap the plus icon to choose media to add. Choose Video to start editing. Select videos you want to merge.

Step 2. All selected videos will now load. Tap Transitions and choose if you want to add transitions or effects to your video.

Step 3. Tap the Save button on the top right to bring up the save screen. Tap Save once more and the video will export to your library.

Key features:

• Add transitions and effects

• Suitable for iOS or Android
• Stabilize and reverse videos, equalize sound

Quik is mainly designed for use with GoPro footage, but it doesn’t exclusively have to be used for that, and it does come with the option to import footage from elsewhere and compile clips you’ve created or downloaded. Even DSLR footage is relatively simple to import and use an iPad or Android tablet using Quik.

Step 1. Install and open the app. It will prompt you to connect to a GoPro, but there is a Skip option if you are not a GoPro user.

Step 2. Click on the button to select media from your phone, device, or the cloud. The chosen videos appear on a timeline.

Step 3. Click and drag to rearrange the videos on the timeline.

Step 4. Click on Export to save your video and set the file type. It will also be backed up on the cloud if you create an account.

Key features:

• Free cloud backups

• Unlimited import and export
• Intuitive for GoPro users

CapCut is a free editor that works on your mobile device and can create videos that merge clips together easily. It’s got a real Instagram sort of feel to it. You can share the videos straight to your favorite social media channels, and there are also some of the other cool features you expect from video and photo social networks. For example, you can add text and stickers directly to the videos.

To join videos in CapCut:

Step 1. Install and open the app before clicking on New Project.

Step 2. Click on the Add button to add videos, and repeat until all the videos you want to clip together are in the project.

Step 3. All of the videos will now appear simultaneously on the timeline. Click to delete any part, trim to size, or add transitions.

Step 4. Click Share to export the video or share directly on a variety of social networks or YouTube.

Key features:

• Cut, reverse, and change the speed of videos

• Add stickers and easily integrate with social media

A lot of video editors that allow you to merge videos online don’t have many advanced features, but Fastreel manages to incorporate some simple methods of enhancing your videos, such as transitions and even free media from a library to add to the video. There are limits to the size or the file types, but that’s pretty standard for browser editing.

Step 1. Open the website and click Add Your Files or drag and drop the files to upload the videos you want to join together. Note that files must be in MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI, and WMV formats and under 500 MB in total size.

Step 2. Merge videos. If you want to add transitions, choose a style from the drop-down menu.

Step 3. Export the result. Select the download option to get the right file type for you.

Key features:

• Simple drag-and-drop interface

• Transition effects
• Excellent security
• Free music included

Adobe^® Spark^® is the browser-based offering from Adobe. It links well with the rest of their software and has some very good templates and options for people to merge videos together and create a quick and simple video for social media or any other use. The editor has a downside as it does put a watermark on all the free videos, so when you upload to social media or YouTube you will have to include the Adobe logo.

How to merge videos using Adobe^® Spark^®:

Step 1. Open up the site and click on the Create New button on the top of the screen.

Step 2. Select the Video option and then Start from Scratch. This will take you to the editor. Once in the editor, click on Video to upload the video file.

Step 3. You can access the video on the timeline screen that now appears. You can repeat the import process to introduce more than one video and simply click and drag them to rearrange.

Step 4. When you’re happy, click Download to use the main editor and download the file to your hard drive.

Key features:

• Options to make different types of media and graphics

• Lots of templates to choose from

VEED does a brilliant job of letting you choose from a variety of different sources for video. You can load into your project using a device, Dropbox, your hard drive, Google Drive, or even just the URL of a video. It imports into a simple timeline and trimming and altering the videos is pretty easy. There’s also an option to add images or titles over the top of your video.

Step 1. Open the VEED.io editor, and then click Upload to choose the source of your files, either online or on your computer.

Step 2. Arrange the files by clicking and dragging or use the splitter tool to adjust each clip.

Step 3. Choose edit features such as adding a background color or adding separate audio files.

Step 4. Click the export button to render your video in a variety of file formats.

Key features:

• Auto subtitle feature

• Option to use audio visualizers
• Inbuilt screen recorder
• Excellent cloud storage solutions