No, HitFilm Express is no longer the best free video editor, and the software as you likely remember it is effectively dead. After its parent company FXHome was acquired by Artlist, the traditional “HitFilm Express” tier was retired and rebranded simply as “HitFilm Free”. Severe feature restrictions, stability issues, aggressive watermarking, and the ultimate discontinuation of the brand have caused the community to heavily abandon it in favour of much better free alternatives like DaVinci Resolve and CapCut. The Downfall of HitFilm Express
HitFilm Express once held a legendary status because it combined an intuitive non-linear editor with powerful After Effects-style 3D compositing tools for $0. However, several major shifts stripped away its title:
The Rebrand & Paid Paywalls: The software moved away from its famous “pay-what-you-want” add-on model to a rigid subscription structure. The free tier became severely limited compared to older versions.
Feature Stripping: Key features that made it famous—such as 4K exporting, advanced color wheels, footage stabilization, and clean chroma keying (green screen)—were stripped out of the free version and locked behind a paywall.
Watermarks: The software began forcing aggressive watermarks on your exports if you tried to use basic pro features or forgot to log into an online account.
Bugs and Abandonment: The community noted a massive spike in software crashes and optimization issues. By late 2025, user reports and official support channels confirmed that the HitFilm ecosystem was being entirely phased out by Artlist. Direct Comparison: HitFilm vs. Modern Free Kings
To understand how far HitFilm has fallen, see how its final iterations compare to the current top free software: HitFilm (Free Tier) DaVinci Resolve (Free) CapCut (Desktop Free) Max Export Resolution Restricted to 1080p Up to 4K Ultra HD Up to 4K Ultra HD Stability & Speed High crash rates, poor optimization Industry-grade stability; highly optimized Incredibly lightweight and fast Visual Effects (VFX) Basic 3D layers, layer-only effects Hollywood-level Fusion node network Massive library of pre-made sticker/AI templates Color Grading Basic brightness/saturation only Best-in-world professional color wheels Simple sliders, mobile-style filters Audio Editing Half-baked equalizer and compressor Fairlight suite (professional audio workspace) Basic audio effects and auto-captions What You Should Use Instead
Depending on your editing style, you should transition to one of these industry favorites:
1. For Aspiring Filmmakers & Advanced Users: DaVinci Resolve
Reviewers on platforms like Reddit’s HitFilm Community overwhelmingly recommend DaVinci Resolve as the true heir to free video editing.
Why it’s better: Its free version completely blows paid editors out of the water. You get Hollywood-standard color correction, a massive suite of free tools, and the built-in node-based Fusion tab for complex visual effects and motion graphics.
The Catch: It has a steep learning curve and requires a modern computer with a decent graphics card to run smoothly. 2. For Social Media Creators & Quick Projects: CapCut
If you find DaVinci Resolve too intimidating, CapCut Desktop has taken over the casual editing market.
Why it’s better: It is incredibly lightweight, runs smoothly on low-end laptops, and includes powerful automated tools like auto-captions, background removal, and instant smooth transitions.
The Catch: It lacks the deep 3D compositing control that HitFilm Express used to offer.
If you are still highly attached to HitFilm’s unique workspace workflow, your best option is to ignore the new versions entirely. Instead, look through legacy archive sites or old community threads to legally download an unchanged installer of HitFilm Express 2021 or older. Hitfilm is a FANTASTIC Video Editor. Don’t use it.
Leave a Reply