Category: Design and branding

Not sure how to create a website? You’re not alone.
Making a website can be confusing.
When there are thousands of different ways to create a website, how should you do it?
Should you use a website builder? If so, which one? Do you need to learn how to program? Should you pay a web designer to create a website for you?
If you’re not careful, you could easily waste time and money creating the wrong type of website.
Thankfully, creating a website doesn’t have to be complicated or costly.
In this article, you’ll learn about six ways to create a website perfect for your needs. Plus, none of these methods require you to have programming skills or a huge budget.
Sound good? Let’s dive in.

Don’t wait for someone else to do it. Hire yourself and start calling the shots.

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1. How to Build a Website for Ecommerce: Shopify
Best for: Ecommerce businesses that sell or dropship products online.

Shopify is a website builder designed specifically for ecommerce businesses.
The service powers more than 800,000 merchants and has processed more than $82 billion dollars of sales.
Plus, some of the biggest brands in the world use the Shopify ecommerce platform to sell their products, including:

Wateraid
The New York Times
Penguin Books
Redbull
KKW Beauty
Nestle

Here’s an example of a product search page from Shopify user Gymshark:

To see more Shopify store examples, check out: The 60 Most Inspiring and Successful Shopify Stores
Pros of Shopify
Shopify provides everything a store might need to succeed in ecommerce.
To start, Shopify will help you to secure your domain name.
Next, the Shopify dashboard is extremely intuitive and simple to use.
Plus, you can choose one of the many free Shopify themes to customize the look of your store.
It’s easy to customize your product pages, track inventory, and manage your orders from just one dashboard. And you can set detailed shipping costs for different regions and price points.
Shopify also provides detailed analytics and reports to help you optimize your business strategy.

Shopify Payments allows you to accept credit card payments instantly – no third-party accounts required.
And you can even use the Shopify POS system to take card payments in person.
Then there’s the Shopify App Store.
Like WordPress, Shopify provides access to thousands of apps for every imaginable need. You can use these to collect more product reviews, increase sales, and integrate your store with your social media accounts.

What’s more, if you’re just starting out in ecommerce, you can install Oberlo.
This app – okay, it’s actually our app – allows you to choose some products and begin dropshipping them around the world.
When creating a website with Shopify, you never have to worry about coding, either – so you can focus on growing your business. Plus, with the Shopify App, you can manage your business on the go.
Lastly, as your business grows, there’s always more help, features, and functionality available. And when you hit the big time, there’s even Shopify’s enterprise solution, Shopify Plus.
Cons of Shopify
Shopify’s strength lies in its total focus on providing the best platform for commerce. However this is also its key weakness.
Shopify isn’t your best choice if you aren’t building a business.
In other words, if you want to build a portfolio, a blog, or other non-ecommerce assets, then you may want to use a different solution.
Lastly, Shopify’s starting price isn’t as cheap as some other website builders. But then again, other website builders aren’t always designed to make you money.
Shopify Pricing
Shopify provides a free 14-day trial, then the pricing plans are as follows:

14-Day Free Trial
Shopify Lite – $9/month
Basic Shopify – $29/month
Shopify – $79/month
Advanced Shopify – $299/month
Shopify Plus – Custom plans available

Learn more about Shopify’s pricing plans here.
2. How to Make a Website for General Purpose: Wix
Best for: Freelancers, consultants, and personal use.

Wix is one of the most popular website builders available.
With more than 200 million users in 190 countries, the service is a hit among those who want a simple, all-in-one website builder for general purpose.
The service is versatile too, saying, “Wix has something for everyone. So, whether you’re a photographer, musician, small business owner, entrepreneur, bride or student, we provide all the tools and features you need to build an amazing online presence.”
Here’s an example of a Wix website from tattoo illustrator Elebea:

Pros of Wix
Wix is a simple, cloud-based website builder.
This means you don’t need to download any special software or pay a third-party server to host your website – everything is done online in your browser.
The service provides more than 500 free designer-made website templates to help you create a website.
And once you’ve chosen a template, it’s easy to customize it for your own needs using Wix’s intuitive drag and drop editor.

The service also provides access to more than 250 website apps which can help you to create a website.
These apps allow you to add additional features and functionality to your website, such as a forum, gallery, events, live chat, social media widgets, and more.
Plus, Wix’s starting plan is completely free.
Also, the Unlimited and VIP plans are very reasonably priced compared to other options.
Cons of Wix
Compared to other website builders, Wix is short on features and customization options.
For this reason, it’s likely that fast-growing digitally-focused businesses will inevitably outgrow the service.
The free plan also limits your bandwidth and storage.
This isn’t a problem if you plan to create a website with only a few pages. However, if you plan on adding plenty of photos and videos to your website, you may run out of space and need to upgrade to a paid plan.
What’s more, the free and Connect Domain plans will display the Wix ads on your website. To remove these, you must upgrade to the Combo, Unlimited, or VIP plan.
Another drawback is that once you use Wix to create a website, you’re pretty much locked into the service.
If you ever decide to change website providers, it’s quite a complicated process, and will usually involve starting from scratch.
So if you’re not sure about starting a website with Wix, here are 8 best Wix alternatives for you to consider. 
Wix Pricing
Wix provides five different plans to choose from depending on the features you need:

Free
Connect Domain: $3/month
Combo: $6/month
Unlimited: $8/month
VIP: $18/month

Learn more about Wix’s pricing here.

Best for: Photographers, digital artists, and other creative professionals.

New York-based Squarespace has been in business as a website building platform since 2004.
Its key selling points include a highly intuitive visual editor, an easy-to-navigate backend, and stunning design templates that look great on both mobile and desktop screens.
Squarespace templates offer a decent amount of white space, making them ideal for showcasing a creative portfolio in an elegant way.
Plus, you can use the drag-and-drop editor to customize them to a finer degree. 
Creatives will love how Squarespace templates really let the content shine. And it’s nice to know that you can upload your work in whatever resolution and size you want – all of Squarespace’s plans include unlimited storage.
Squarespace also has extensions — a range of add-ons that add more functionality to your site. You can find extensions for key apps including Printful and Printique, as well as manage an email list.
Cons of Squarespace
While Squarespace works great for building an elegant website, it’s not the fastest site builder around.
Its templates get low scores when tested for speed, which could possibly result in a poor user experience. 
Additionally, the usability of Squarespace’s site editor isn’t the most pleasurable to use — for example, it’ll ask you to save your work after each change rather than auto saving everything on its own.
What’s more, Squarespace’s layout doesn’t make it suitable for building larger websites with deep menu hierarchy. With just one sub-navigation, you can’t set up a multilingual site on their platform.
Fortunately, you can always use Squarespace alternatives if the platform doesn’t need your website building needs.
Squarespace Pricing
Squarespace provides four plans for you to choose from: 

Personal: $16/month
Business: $26/month
Basic Commerce: $35/month
Advanced Commerce: $54/month 

If you pay for a year in advance, then you’re looking at savings in the range of 25% to 30%. This boils down to $12, $18, $26, and $40 for the above four plans.
4. How to Set Up a Website for Blogging: WordPress.org
Best for: Professional bloggers and medium to large-sized businesses in need of control and flexibility.

WordPress is a giant.
WordPress’s flexibility, ownership, and limitless potential have brought it fame, popularity, and legions of diehard fans.
In fact, according to W3Techs, the service now powers 32.9 percent of all websites on the internet – that’s a lot of websites!
It’s particularly suited to professional bloggers. This is because WordPress allows users to retain complete control over their web presence and digital content.
Still, WordPress confuses a lot of people because there are actually two different types:

WordPress.org is a free, open source website framework.
WordPress.com is a cloud-based website builder.

Both services were created by Automattic and are pretty much the same, apart from a few key differences.
Like Wix, WordPress.com is an all-in-one website builder and hosting service. Simply log in, choose a plan, select a website theme, customize your website, and you’re off to the races.
However, in this section, we’re going to talk about WordPress.org. As mentioned, WordPress.org is a free, open source website builder. For this reason, it’s slightly more complicated to set up than all-in-one solutions like Wix and Shopify.
Here’s how it works:
First, you’ll need to head to a hosting provider like BlueHost or GoDaddy.
In essence, these hosting providers allow you to “rent” space on their servers to host your website. They’ll also help you to secure a domain name.
Once you have your hosting and domain name, you can install WordPress and get to work customizing your website. (Most hosting providers will help you to install WordPress in just one or two clicks.)
At this point, you can log into your self-hosted website and begin customizing it.
Pros of WordPress.org
If you want to maintain complete control over every aspect of your website, you must self-host it. Unlike cloud-based website builder services like Wix, self-hosting provides total freedom, control, and flexibility.
And if you’re going to self-host, WordPress.org is the framework to use.
What’s more, you’re free to access, study, change and redistribute WordPress’s open source code.
But it’s not just a playground for programmers.
Those of us lacking programming skills can use other people’s improvements, additions, and changes  – many of which come in the form of pre-made WordPress themes and plugins.
And there are thousands of them.
So whatever features you want to add to your website, you can bet there are countless themes and plugins to help you.

Plus, there are also legions of third-party designers and programmers to help you get the most out of your WordPress website.
Bottom line, with WordPress, you’re in complete control.
Cons of WordPress.org
The key downside to using WordPress.org can be summed up by Spiderman’s Uncle Ben: “With great power, comes great responsibility.”
In this scenario, you’re responsible for managing your hosting and website maintenance. This includes things like updates, security, and backups.
Plus, the support is hands-off.
Although there is a WordPress forum thread for every imaginable issue, the responsibility falls on you to fix it – or to pay someone else to fix it. In other words, there’s no dedicated support staff on-hand to help you personally.
What’s more, there’s a steep learning curve when it comes to understanding how to get the most out of WordPress.
WordPress Pricing
WordPress software is free – as are many of the themes and plugins.
However, you will need to buy a domain name and website hosting, which typically cost about $15/year and $8/month respectively.
It’s also worth factoring in the price of premium WordPress themes and plugins.
To give you an idea of how much these might cost, you can purchase plenty of great premium themes for around $40 each. A custom WordPress theme with additional features or plugins can cost anywhere between $1,500 and $10,000.
5. How to Create a Website for Personal Branding: About.me
Best for: Professionals in need of a simple one-page website to showcase their personal brand.

About.me is a cloud-based one-page website builder.
It’s simple, minimal, and the easiest way to make a website for personal branding. Here’s an example of an About.me profile:

Pros of About.me
It doesn’t get simpler than this.
Creating a website with About.me is just like setting up a social media profile. It features only the necessary items, including:

Name
Picture
Short description
Short biography
Work
Education
Social media links
A single call-to-action button
Contact form

You can also add testimonials, videos, or a portfolio to showcase your work. Plus, you can allow people to view your calendar and book time with you.
And that’s about it!
Just think of your About.me page as the ultimate digital business card. The service even provides a nifty email signature that you can use to point people to your page.
All in all, About.me is an elegant, quick, and easy solution to personal branding.
Cons of About.me
You’ve probably guessed by now that the features and functionality are extremely limited.
In fact, there are only three basic page layouts:

So if you’re looking to create a visual masterpiece that expresses your unique personality and essence, you may want to look elsewhere.
Plus, these profiles aren’t exactly setup to drive business growth.
For instance, there’s no way to optimize your website for search engines, and the page layout isn’t focused on converting visitors into leads.
About.me Pricing:
About.me provides profiles for free.
However, these are severely lacking in features, promote About.me branding at the top and bottom of the page, and don’t allow you to connect your own domain name.
To access all of the features, remove the About.me branding, and connect your custom domain name, you’ll need to upgrade to About.me Pro. This costs $6.58/month billed annually, or $8/month billed monthly.
You can view the About.me’s full pricing details here.
6. How to Start a Website to Generate Leads or Sell Info Products: ClickFunnels
Best for: Selling information products and creating high converting digital sales funnels.

ClickFunnels isn’t a website builder per se – it’s a funnel builder.
However, many people use the service to create a website and sales funnel together.
What’s a sales funnel?
In short, a sales funnel is the process of turning a stranger into a customer. The graphic below shows the four key stages a person must go through to become a customer, often referred to as AIDA:

ClickFunnels is a website builder focused on generating leads and converting them into customers.
For this reason, pretty much every business could find a use for ClickFunnels.
Still, it’s particularly good for businesses selling information products such as ebooks, video tutorials, online courses, etc.
This type of business doesn’t need to worry about manufacturing, inventory, shipping, web hosting, etc. As a result, they can scale indefinitely with just a high-converting online sales funnel.
That’s why successful coaches and authors like Tony Robbins have used ClickFunnels to sell their online courses, audio trainings, and books.
Here’s an example of a ClickFunnels landing page promoting a book written by Russell Brunson, the founder of Clickfunnels:

Pros of ClickFunnels
ClickFunnels provides tons of readymade sales funnel templates to help you create a website.
These templates are based on proven sales funnel strategies and tactics. So, with their intuitive drag and drop web page editor, you’re certain to have a high converting funnel up and running in no time.

This is huge.
Creating a funnel from scratch on your own website would take far longer.
And unless you’re a successful digital marketer, it’s likely your own funnel would take a lot of iterations before it converted visitors into customers as well as a standard ClickFunnels template.
These templates are very flexible too. You can customize pretty much everything.
The service also includes vital digital marketing tools, such as email automation, A/B testing, and one-click upsells.
The best part? All of these marketing tools are combined into one cohesive service.
ClickFunnels also allow you to add membership areas to your website – perfect for providing gated access to your online courses.
Plus, if you struggle to create a website with ClickFunnels, the service provides tutorials and courses to help.
Cons of ClickFunnels
The main downside to creating a website with ClickFunnels is the price.
Their starter plan is a whopping $97 per month, so this an expensive way to create a website if you’re just starting out. That said, if you have a great digital product ready to sell, it’s a no brainer.
They also practice what they preach perhaps a little too much.
There’s always an upsell or cross-sell they’re pushing and if you’re not careful, those add-ons will increase your costs significantly.
There’s also a steep learning curve if you’re new to digital marketing.
ClickFunnels comes with a lot of moving parts. With so many things to learn at once, you’ll need to put the time in to learn how to use the service and it may feel overwhelming.
ClickFunnels Pricing:
ClickFunnels provides a free 14-day trial. Their starter plan is $97/month, but puts limits on the number of website visitors, funnels, and web pages you can have.
That said, if you’re maxing those limits out, you should be earning more than enough to happily invest in their Eitson Suite plan. This costs $297/month for unlimited use of ClickFunnels.
Summary: How to Make Your Own Website in 2021
There are countless ways to create a website and some are better than others for particular needs.
In summary, here are six different ways to create a website and our recommended use for each one:

Shopify: Best for ecommerce businesses who sell or dropship products online.
Wix: Best for freelancers, consultants, and personal use.
Squarespace: Best for photographers, designers, and other creatives.
WordPress: Best for professional bloggers in need of true control and flexibility.
About.me: Best for professionals in need of a simple one-page website to showcase their personal brand.
ClickFunnels: Best for selling information products and creating high converting digital sales funnels.

With these services, starting a website doesn’t have to be difficult, costly, or time-consuming.
So how do you plan to create a website? Let us know in the comments below!
Want to Learn More?

In a world dominated by visual content, a captivating video can help drive your brand’s success. But creating stunning video content is only possible with the help of an editing software. Most renowned video editing tools carry a high price tag, but there are some equally good options that don’t cost a penny. That’s great news for the starry-eyed entrepreneur. Whether its Instagram stories, Facebook ads or YouTube product testimonials, using the best free video editing software will make your brand look slick and professional.
With the amount and quality of video editing software available, you don’t have to be Spielberg – or have his budget – to get epic results.
For this article, we compiled the best free video editing software for 2021. Our list focuses on the most versatile editing software for videos which we could find. While each user has different needs, this guide will provide you with a good overview of what you can expect from each movie editor and how to get the best out of it.
We’ve divided our selection into the best free video editing software for PC, mobile video editing apps, and video editors for Instagram. Ready to get started?
Lights, camera, action!

Best Free Video Editing Software for Desktop
The following list of free video editing software for PC contains desktop apps. Desktop applications typically have more editing power than mobile apps. Use these video editors when you need to produce longer-form content for YouTube or your website.
All of these video editors are either entirely free to use or have an excellent free version. And their use ranges from basic to advanced.
1. Blender
Available on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Blender, one of the best free video editing software on the market, is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Blender is an open source program that is entirely free to use. The tool was actually designed as a 3D animation suite, but it does come with a very good video editor app. Blender’s video editor should be enough for most of your video needs.
The editor allows you to perform basic actions like video cuts and splicing. You can also use it to carry out more complex tasks like video masking. This makes it a very flexible video editor that caters to both beginner and advanced users.
The Blender Video Editor includes the following features:

Live preview, luma waveform, chroma vectorscope, and histogram displays.
Audio mixing, syncing, scrubbing, and waveform visualization.
Up to 32 slots for adding video, images, audio, and effects.
Speed control, adjustment layers, transitions, keyframes, filters, and more.

Pros: Perfect for advanced users who are not put off by all the features.
Cons: The sheer array of features make the learning curve a little steeper. Most of the tutorials are focused on the 3D animation/modeling side. The resources to help you with the video editor are very limited.
Best for: More advanced projects that may involve 3D animation.
Blender Reviews: Check out Blender user reviews
2. Lightworks
Available on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Lightworks is another great free video editing software, available on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Lightworks is one of the more powerful video editors on the list. It’s packed with tons of useful features. The free version should be more than enough for most users. 

Lightworks’ free version includes: High precision video trimming.
Multicam support.
Export to 720p for YouTube.
A wide range of video formats supported.

While most features are included, 4K video support for YouTube and Vimeo is only included in the paid version of the software, which costs around $25 a month. 
Compared to Blender, Lightworks has many great video tutorials which can make it quicker to get up and running. Check out this feature comparison to make sure the free version has what you need. If the free version doesn’t meet your requirements, you can consider one of Lightworks’ paid video editor programs.
Pros: Very powerful video editor with many advanced features.
Cons: 4K video support only in paid version. Some users may find Lightworks too advanced.
Best for: All-round desktop video editing.
Lightworks Reviews: Check out Lightworks user reviews
3. Shotcut
Available on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Shotcut is one of the best free video editing software for Windows, and it also works great on Mac and Linux PCs . 
Shotcut, like Blender, is a fully open source program, so you get access to all the features without the need for a paid upgrade.
While this video editing software has great features and tutorial videos, some users may find the interface a little quirky. That’s because Shotcut was originally designed for Linux and it definitely shows. But, under the hood, it’s still a quality video editor.
Two of Shotcut’s most striking features are 4K HD resolution support and its timeline editing. Not many free video editors offer 4K resolution support. Plus, Shotcut doesn’t require you to import your video into the editor: this can be a timesaver if you are dealing with large video files. 
What’s more, Shotcut also caters to those looking for a 1080p video editor. The app supports 1080p videos at 60 FPS (frames per second). Also it offers 3 lossless export formats, allowing you to transfer videos with no loss (the only downside is the huge file sizes).
Pros: Native timeline editing and 4K resolution support.
Cons: The quirky interface may be off-putting for some users.
Best for: 4K, HD and 1080 video projects.
Shotcut Reviews: Check out Shotcut user reviews
4. DaVinci Resolve
Available on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

DaVinci Resolve is arguably the most advanced video editor on the list. While it has many professional video features, its interfaces remain intuitive. Alongside video slicing and trimming, you can master audio and correct color. The app also gives you the option to add 2D and 3D titles to your video. 
If you just want to trim and upload your videos, the rich feature set of DaVinci Resolve may be too extensive. However, if your video project is a little more advanced, the free version of this software is hard to beat.
DiVinci Resolve’s features include:

Advanced trimming
Multicam editing
Color correction
Audio mastering

Pros: Intuitive interfaces and incredible color correction.
Cons: Its wide array of features make it a little overwhelming, and not all tutorials are free.
Best for: More advanced projects where you need to correct colors.
DaVinci Resolve Reviews: Check out DaVinci Resolve user reviews
5. Openshot
Available on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Openshot is entirely open source, which makes it one of the best video editing software that is accessible. 
It may remind some Mac users a little of iMovie with its easy to use drag and drop interface. However, Openshot packs more features than iMovie, including unlimited layers and audio mixing. 
This free editor strikes a nice balance between advanced features and a simple interface. It also allows real-time previews when you create transitions between clips.
Openshot’s features include:

Unlimited tracks/layers
Clip resizing, scaling, trimming, snapping, rotation, and cutting video transitions with real-time previews
Compositing, image overlays, watermarks
Title templates, title creation, subtitles 3D animated titles (and effects)
Advanced Timeline (including drag & drop, scrolling, panning, zooming, and snapping)

Pros: Open source, unlimited layers.
Cons: Not that many video tutorials.
Best for: Great for users just starting out with video editing.
Openshot Reviews: Check out Openshot user reviews
6. Avidemux
Available on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Avidemux’s simple interface makes it one of the best editing software for beginners looking to make enticing video content.. This program can help you to perform basic tasks including:

Simple cutting
Encoding
Filtering

If you are completely new to video editing, this might be a good place to start.
Pros: Very simple software; no need to read technical docs.
Cons: Not as many features as other video editors.
Best for: Basic editing tasks for beginners.
Avidemux Reviews: Check out Avidemux user reviews
7. HitFilm Express
Available for both Mac and Windows.

HitFilm Express is one of the best free 360 video editing software for Mac and PC users . It contains all the features you would expect from a basic editor (splicing, trimming, and audio editing) plus much more. While some users may find HitFilm a little advanced, it’s certainly one of the best all round free video editors out there. The free package includes over 180 special effects.
The tutorials are mainly based on well-known Hollywood movies like Star Wars, but these are very interactive and engaging.
Before you can download this software, Hitfilm asks you to share a status update on social media. However, this is a very small price to pay for such advanced software. Hitfilm’s features include:

Advanced cutting tools
Keying for green screen effects
Audio and video filters
Compositing tools
Layers and masking
3D video support

Pros: Truly professional video editor without the price tag.
Cons: May take some time to learn the interface.
Best for: YouTuber Vlogs – YouTube uploading is built-in.
HitFilm Express Reviews: Check out HitFilm Express user reviews
8. InVideo
Available on Windows and Mac

This online video editing tool is great for marketers, publishers, individuals and agencies alike. With support for intelligent frames, automated voice overs, and much more, this desktop-compatible software is best in class for many different reasons. Users praise this video editing software for it’s amazing customer service, UX, value for money, and of course it’s features. 
With new high-quality video templates added most months, this tool is good for beginner and seasoned video editors alike. It is deceptively simple to use, and has amazing flexibility. 
Invideo’s features include:

Audio Tools
Brand/Text Overlay
Collaboration
Speed Adjustment
Split / Merge
Supports HD Resolution
Video Stabilization

Pros: Awesome for creating quick presentation videos.
Cons: It is not an all-in-one, 360 video editor. You cannot add more than one audio file, etc.
Best for: Creating marketing videos or listicles for your blog.
InVideo Reviews: Check out InVideo user reviews
9. iMovie
Available on Mac

Good old iMovie comes baked into Mac OS. Like most native Mac apps, this video editor is very intuitive to use. 
iMovie’s drag and drop interface makes it quick to move and edit video elements. Mac users can use this editing software as a playground for learning the basics of video editing. iMovie’s features include:

Library of pre-made transitions
Video trimming
Audio editing
Split screen
4K resolution support

Pros: Easy to learn.
Cons: Advanced users may find features a little limited; import and render times can be a little slow.
Best for: Mac users getting started with video editing.
iMovie Reviews: Check out iMovie user reviews
10. VSDC Free Video Editor
Available on Windows.

One of the best free 360 video editing software only available on Windows is VSDC. The free version has a powerful set of features including color correction and audio editing. Color blending lets you modify the look of the video to suit your brand image. Instagram-like filters are also available to help beginners save time editing. Additionally, VSDC allows you to create varying shaped masks for blurring, hiding, or featuring specific elements in your footage.
If you’re looking for paid video editor recommendations, VSDC has a pro version that costs $19.99. It comes with all of the features that are present in the free version plus image stabilization, voice over support, and visual waveform. If you choose not to update to the pro version, then technical support costs $9.99 for one month, or $14.99 for a year.
Pros: Relatively straightforward to learn with many powerful features.
Cons: Technical support is not free; Windows only.
Best for: Windows-based editing projects
VSDC Reviews: Check out VSDC user reviews
11. Machete Video Editor Lite
Available on Windows.

Machete Lite is the best free video editor for doing quick editing tasks on a Windows computer. In the free version, you cannot edit audio, but you can remove audio tracks. Also, the free version only supports AVI and WMV files. 
Machete Video Editor Lite’s features include:

Copy, cut, paste, and delete video file fragments
Integrate one video into another of the same format
Edit metadata (file tags) for all compatible media formats
Extract video stream as an individual file

The full version costs $19.95, and it allows you to edit audio and supports more file types.
Pros: Super simple to learn and use.
Cons: Windows only; does not support as many file types as other programs; no audio editing.
Best for: Simple video splicing.
Machete Reviews: Check out Machete user reviews
12. VideoPad
Available on Windows

VideoPad is one of the best video editing tools to take your first steps into the world of multimedia video editing. It’s perfect for anyone starting to play around with video compositions as it is simple and easy to use. Advanced video editors may find it too basic though.
VideoPad’s features include:

Library of pre-made transitions
Export Movies In Multiple Resolutions
3D Video Editing
Reduce Camera Shakes
Sound Effects Library

Pros: Robust features for directly exporting to YouTube and other social platforms.
Cons: Too simple for more advanced users.
Best for: Beginners getting started with video editing.
VideoPad Reviews: Check out VideoPad user reviews
13. Freemake Video Converter
Available on Windows

Freemake is a free video converter that can modify and convert videos, extract audio from video clips, and embed videos to websites. Simple and fast, Freemake allows you to convert video clips to be played on various mobile devices and gadgets. 
The software can convert videos between more than 500 video file formats and supports multiple audio and image file formats for creating slideshows and video clips.
Freemake’s features include:

Convert Videos Fast And Simple
Convert Movies With Subtitles
Convert Between 500+ Formats
Cut, Join, And Rotate Clips
4K resolution support

Pros: No specialist knowledge required.
Cons: When you first install some features are locked for three days.
Best for: Converting videos into a myriad to file formats.
Freemake Reviews: Check out Freemake user reviews
14. EaseUS Video Editor
Available on Windows

EaseUS is a simple and effective video editing tool, perfect for beginners and professionals alike.
It comes with features that allow you to make enticing videos to share on digital pages. You can trim MP3s, add effects, and even apply pre-made templates to your videos.
The EaseUS video editor can also be a handy special effects editor, allowing you to quickly add transitions, overlays, and filters to your clips for artistic purposes. 
And because the free video editing software supports most audio, video, and image formats,  you should have no problem importing and exporting files.
You’ll need the premium version of the software to remove the video watermark and access the widest selection of high-quality video services. 
Features include:

Access to various file formats, including MP3 and MP4
Conversion files in the wrong format
Excellent range of trimming, merging, rotating, mixing, and splitting features
Plenty of special effects, filters, and overlays
Templates to assist you in building your own videos from scratch

Pros: Ideal for adding special effects to your videos with minimal background knowledge.
Cons: Doesn’t have as many advanced features as other free video editors.
Best for: Adding filters and effects to your videos.
EaseUS Reviews: Check out EaseUS user reviews
Best Free Video Editing Software for Mobile
These apps are for people who like to capture and share videos from their smartphones and edit videos on the go. While there are many great video editing apps out there, this list covers some of the best, most intuitive, and free to use video software for mobile devices.
15. Quik
Available on iOS and Android

Quik is a free video editing app from the makers of GoPro. This app is similar to the popular mobile video editor Splice, but takes a little editing power away from the user. It has auto trim and edit features that do speed up the editing process, however, you can still manually edit your clips if you want more control.
It’s impressive what Quik can do automatically: it searches your video to find great moments and can even add transitions. If you really need a fast edit, this is the app for you. Also, unlike Splice, it’s available to Android users, too!
Pros: Auto editing features.
Cons: Some users may want more editing control.
Best for: Quick, individual video edits.
Quik Reviews: Check out Quik user reviews
16. Adobe Premiere Rush
Available on iOS and Android

Adobe Premiere Rush is a very popular Android and iPhone movie editor. Add music (your own or from the library included), transitions, auto-correct the color, and you’re ready to share your video.
With its two modes, Freeform and Automatic, you can choose whether you retain editing control, or you let Adobe pick transitions and trim your clip automatically. Adobe users will be happy to know that this app syncs beautifully with other Adobe staples such as Lightroom.
Pros: Simple to use; Adobe Creative Cloud support.
Cons: Lacks a few basic functions like the ability to rotate clips.
Best for: Basic mobile video editing.
Adobe Premiere Rush Reviews: Check out Adobe Premiere Rush user reviews
17. Horizon
Available on iOS and Android.

Horizon is a simple app that enables users to capture videos horizontally no matter the position of their phone. 
When we rush to capture a moment we may forget to tilt the phone and capture the action horizontally. This app can help you solve that problem: all footage shot in the app is captured horizontally no matter how you tilt your phone. Check out this demo to see how it works. 
If you want to avoid vertically captured videos and make something quick, Horizon has you covered.
Pros: Very simple to use; never waste vertical content.
Cons: Android version is not as advanced as iOS version; some in-app purchases may be necessary depending on your needs.
Best for: Always capturing film horizontally.
Horizon Reviews: Check out Horizon user reviews
18. Promo.com
Available on iOS and Android.

Promo.com is a great tool to create gorgeous, professional videos, especially for social media posts and advertising. With a web and mobile version of the program, you can edit videos at your desk or on-the-go easily. 
Features include: 

Audio Tools
Brand/Text Overlay
Social Sharing
Speed Adjustment
Split / Merge
HD Resolution
Video Capture

Pros: Super easy to use, very intuitive UX, and great automation.
Cons: It can be hard to position text and images in the mobile version due to the screen size.
Best for: Quick and simple way to create high-quality ads.
Promo.com Reviews: Check out Promo.com user reviews
19. GoPro
Available on iOS and Android.

GoPro is one of the most popular free video editing apps available for iPhone and Android users. This app is simple to learn due to its intuitive interface. 
With GoPro, you can edit and cut videos in just a few taps. Add some transitions and sounds from the large built-in library, and your video is ready to share.
Pros: Simple and very easy to use.
Cons: Can be a bit glitchy.
Best for: When you need to edit a video quickly.
GoPro Reviews: Check out GoPro user reviews
20. Vizmato
Available on iOS and Android

One of the best free Android and iOS video editors, Vizmato makes it easy to create awesome videos and slideshows. The app allows you to clip, trim and edit videos, while also offering HD recording with instant video effects, themes, and filters applied. Built-in speed control allows you to speed up or slow up the effects on your footage. You can also add stickers and text to your video and insert custom background music while editing. 
Another intriguing feature of this mobile editing app is the voice changer effects. With Vizmato’s editor, you can modulate your voice to sound like a ghost, chipmunk, Baby, and more. This is ideal for recording voice overs or telling lighthearted video stories. With one tap export to social networks, you can instantly share videos with your followers on Instagram, Facebook, etc.
Pros: HD recording; instant video effects; voice changer
 Cons: Sometimes slow to render videos
Best for: Creating share-worthy video content 
Vizmato Reviews: Check out Vizmato user reviews
21. AKASO GO
Available on iOS and Android

AKASO GO is a convenient mobile video editing solution designed to give you more flexibility on the move. 
With AKASO, you get a powerful editing suite that allows you to add effects like filters, transitions, and music to your videos. 
You can also cut your clip to get the perfect moments and upload your creations to social media in a matter of seconds. 
Features include:

Comprehensive cutting and trimming features for clips
Remote control video capture for your smartphone
Professional editing with special effects and music
Share your content on social media channels immediately
Hundreds of great-looking stickers, animation, and caption texts

Pros: A fantastic app for editing videos on the go.
Cons: Slight learning curve for those not used to utilizing their smartphone for video capture and editing. 
Best for: Creating action shots with your smartphone.
ASAKO GO Reviews: Check out ASAKO GO user reviews
Best Free Video Editing Apps for Instagram
We all love Instagram. But, as an online entrepreneur, you know the importance of making your brand look professional on the app. So why not take your Instagram Stories to the next level with these video editing apps? By the way, all the mobile video editing apps listed above also work great for Instagram, too. The  video editing apps below, however, have been designed specifically with the Instagram platform in mind.
22. Magisto
Available on iOS and Android.

Magisto is an award-winning AI video editor. Add your photos, video, music, and whatever else you want to include, and it will automatically edit and create your video. And the results are pretty impressive. 
By choosing the type of story you want to tell, Magisto can save you lots of time, using its smart video editor to deliver you a professional video. It’s awesome for making quick Instagram posts. The app makes it look like you spent at least a couple of hours editing your work.
Pros: The AI results are truly impressive.
Cons: You sacrifice some editing control for speed.
Best for: Quick, professional looking video edits.
Magisto Reviews: Check out Magisto user reviews
23. Boomerang
Available on iOS and Android.

Boomerang, available on iOS and Android, is an app created by Instagram. This app helps you use your photos to create more engaging content. Shoot a burst of up to 10 photos, and Boomerang will turn them into a mini video. Thanks to native support, you can post to Instagram straight from the app.
Boomerang’s features include:

Shoot mini videos for Instagram Stories
Smooth out video bumps
Loop videos forth and back
Save footage on camera roll

Pros: Very easy to use and share content.
Cons: This is pretty much a one feature app.
Best for: Turning photos into engaging video content.
Boomerang Reviews: Check out Boomerang user reviews
24. Hyperlapse
Available on iOS only.

Hyperlapse is great for time-lapse videos. This app was created by Instagram, so it really does have that platform in mind. By condensing a lot of time into a short video, Hyperlapse can create interesting videos for your audience. Don’t be surprised if you get a stream of Instagram followers after posting a few time-lapses on your IG page.
This app also does away with the need for tripods due to its impressive stabilization technology. This type of time-lapse video could work great to show how a product is made. When you’re done with your timelapse video, you can share it straight to Instagram. You can also speed up your time-lapse by up to 12x.
Pros: Stabilization technology means you don’t need a tripod.
Cons: iOS only; may take a couple of attempts to get great results.
Best for: Shooting stunning time-lapse.
25. PicPlayPost
Available on iOS and Android.

There are times when you just want to post a video collage without making fancy edits. PicPlayPost is just the app for such moments. With the app, you can put together a collage in seconds, to share travel videos, display how-to’s, and more.
PicPlayPost’s features include:

Choose from 9 frame video collages
Add background soundtracks
Import and add gifs from Giphy
Add watermark with an image logo or text

Pros: Simple video editor without the unnecessary, confusing features.
Cons: Stitching multiple collages together requires an upgrade.
Best for: Creating gorgeous collages of your video footage.
PicPlayPost Reviews: Check out PicPlayPost user reviews
26. Apple Clips
Available on iOS only. 

While some native Apple apps fall short, Apple Clips is one of the good guys. This app covers most of your video editing needs for Instagram. You can stitch clips together, and edit your timeline.
Two of the coolest features are the ability to edit your background and give your content a comic book feel. The next awesome feature is Live Titles: Just record a video, and Apple Clips will add captions automatically while you speak (that are in sync with your voice). After you’re done, just go back and edit the titles to make sure they are correct.
Pros: Quick and easy to use; Live Titles feature.
Cons: iOS only.
Best for: Apple users looking for quick, interactive, Instagram friendly iOS video editors.
Apple Clips Reviews: Check out Apple Clips user reviews
27. FilmoraGo
Available on iOS and Android.

Last but not least we come to FilmoraGo. FilmoraGo is a solid video editing app without any watermarks or paid subscriptions. Add music, transitions, and trim video clips all from within the app. 
You can easily add themes, text, and titles to your videos. There is a desktop version starting at $44.99 a year, but you can still get a lot of editing joy from the free mobile app.
Pros: Great for basic mobile video editing.
Cons: Not quite as good as the desktop version.
Best for: Adding text, themes, and overlays to customize your videos.
FilmoraGo Reviews: Check out FilmoraGo user reviews
Conclusion: Best Free Video Editing Software
Use the free video editing software in this list to start creating stunning videos today. Boost your ROI and maximize your ad spend by creating product videos and ads that present your brand in a visually appealing way.
So, let’s summarize and take a look at the video editing software that best suits your needs.
What video editing software is the best for beginners?
Avidemux, Openshot, VideoPad
What video editing software to use for advanced projects with 3D animation?Blender
What video editing software to use for 4K, HD video projects?Shotcut
What video editing software is best for Windows-based editing projects?VSDC
What video editing software is best for Mac users getting started with video editing?iMovie
What video editing software is best for video splicing?Machete Lite
What video editing software is best for uploading vlogs to YouTube?HitFilm Express
What video editing software is best if you need to correct colors?DaVinci Resolve
What video editing software is the best to modify and convert videos, extract audio from video clips, and embed videos to websites?Freemake
What mobile app to use when you need to edit a video quickly?Splice, Quik, Adobe Premiere Rush
What mobile app is best for capturing videos horizontally?Horizon
What Instagram video editing apps are the best for quick video edits?Magisto, Apple Clips
What Instagram app is best for turning photos into video content? Boomerang, available on iOS and Android
What Instagram video editing app is best for turning audio files into social shares?Anchor Video Maker, available on iOS and Android
What Instagram video app is the best for shooting time-lapse?Hyperlapse
What Instagram video app is the best for adding text, themes, and overlays to customize videos?
FilmoraGo
Summary: 25 Best Free Video Editing Software in 2021

Blender
Lightworks
Shotcut
DaVinci Resolve
Openshot
Avidemux
HitFilm Express
InVideo
iMovie
VSDC Free Video Editor
Machete Video Editor Lite
VideoPad
Freemake Video Converter
EaseUS Video Editor
Quik
Adobe Premiere Rush
Horizon
Promo.com
GoPro
Vizmato
AKASO GO
Magisto
Boomerang
Hyperlapse
PicPlayPost
Apple Clips
FilmoraGo

Take your desktop, mobile, and Instagram videos to the next level by using these video editors to quickly achieve professional results.
Happy editing!
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Square is a great point of sale (POS) system that allows you to collect payments in-person and online — but it’s far from the only option available. Today, there are plenty of fantastic Square alternatives out there worth considering.
But with so many to choose from, which Square competitor should you use?
In this article, you’ll get a straightforward guide to 10 top Square alternatives to help you choose the best option for your business.
(Disclosure: This website is a part of Shopify inc. media properties. Although we strive to publish objective, accurate, and factual content, this article may contain biased opinions.)
10 Best Square Competitors in 2021
Want to cut to the chase? Here are our favorite alternatives to Square in 2021:

Shopify Point of Sale
Stripe Terminal
PayPal Here
QuickBooks Point of Sale
Toast
Lightspeed
Clover
Epos Now

3 Things to Consider When Choosing a Square Alternative
Before we explore 10 of the best services like Square, let’s take a quick look at 3 things to consider when choosing a POS for your business.
1. Better Pricing
Services like Square typically charge businesses in 3 ways:

A monthly fee to use the service
Transaction fees applied to every sale
Hardware costs to get set up

That said, all of Square’s entry-level plans are free of monthly fees. Here’s how Square’s transaction fees are structured:

In-person card and contactless payments: 2.6% + 10¢ per transaction
Online payments: 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction

In general, these transaction fees are inline with most POS solutions. But it’s worth paying attention to slight differences in fees as they can quickly rack up — especially if your business processes many small payments.
Also, Square provides a free magstripe reader that you can use to swipe credit cards with your smartphone. But to process chip and contactless payments, you’ll need to purchase a Square Reader for $49.
Keep these costs in mind when evaluating other apps like Square.
2. Ecommerce Integration
Just a few years ago, companies had to integrate many different services to manage the business effectively.
For example, businesses needed a POS system for in-store sales, separate inventory management software, an ecommerce website provider, and an online payment gateway. To make things even more hectic, if a business wanted to sell via online platforms like eBay and Etsy, they’d have to manually track and manage inventory to maintain accuracy across each sales channel.
That’s just exhausting!
In short, trying to integrate different services can be inefficient and time-consuming. And to add insult to injury, each service would charge fees that would quickly add up to a significant chunk of change each month.
These days, small businesses can’t afford to waste time or money patching together different services. To avoid that, it’s worth choosing a service that fulfills all of your business’s needs.
So, how do you want to do business? For example, you might want to sell in-person, via your website, and through online marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, Facebook, and eBay. 
Whichever POS you select, make sure it allows you to sell via your chosen channels easily. This way, you can keep everything under one roof, which will help you reduce costs and administrative tasks so you can focus on growing your business.
3. Scalability
You may not need an ecommerce website or advanced business analytics right now. But as your business grows, you’ll likely need access to more features and tools.
As a result, it’s a good idea to choose a Square alternative that provides opportunities to scale.
So, it’s best to choose a square competitor that offers a few different plans and price points. Look for features like advanced reporting, tracking, and analytics. Also, check to see if higher plans offer reduced transaction fees.
10 Best POS Square Alternatives to Consider for Your Business in 2021
Now that you know what to look for in a Square alternative let’s check out the best options available. Here are 10 of our favorite POS Square competitors to consider.
1. Shopify Point of Sale

Shopify is the complete business solution — this ecommerce platform has everything you need to run your business online and offline. For example, the Basic Shopify plan gives you a ton of features for just $29 per month, including:

A versatile POS system that unifies your in-store and online sales.
Feature-packed yet simple-to-use inventory management and tracking software
An ecommerce website with free themes that you can customize
Access to more than 6,000 Shopify apps to add virtually every feature imaginable
Built-in reporting and analytics tools
Integrations with tons of online sales channels, such as Amazon, Facebook, etc.

Plus, Shopify provides 24/7 support via chat and email.

Pricing
Shopify’s pricing plans are pretty straightforward. There are 5 options available:

Shopify Lite: $9/month, plus 2.4% and 30¢ per transaction. Take payments in-person and online.
Basic Shopify: $29/month, plus 2.9% and 30¢ per transaction. Build an ecommerce website and manage your entire business under one roof.
Shopify: $79/month, plus 2.6% and 30¢ per transaction. Get access to more features and lower transaction fees.
Shopify Advanced: $299/month, plus 2.4% and 30¢ per transaction. Scale your business with advanced features and even lower transaction fees.
Shopify Plus: $2000+/month, plus transaction fees. Shopify’s enterprise offering with custom pricing.

Shopify also offers a range of POS hardware to suit every business need.
2. Stripe Terminal

Stripe is a hugely popular payment solution for online businesses — and Stripe Terminal is the company’s POS offering. 
This Square alternative is flexible and is designed to integrate with pretty much every other software-as-a-service (SaaS) tool you use. As a result, you can use Stripe to control every aspect of the customer experience — for example, you can use it to create a fully customized branded online checkout.
That said, you’ll likely need a team of programmers to handle the various web development tasks needed to build it into your system successfully.
Pricing
Stripe doesn’t charge a monthly fee, and its basic POS transaction fees are attractive — just 2.7% plus 5¢ per payment. However, if you want access to Stripe’s complete payments platform, the Integrated plan charges 2.9% plus 30¢ per card charge.
You’ll also need to purchase Stripe’s basic card reader for $59.
3. PayPal Here

PayPal is another heavy-hitting Square alternative worth considering — PayPal Here is the company’s mobile app and POS solution.
This Square competitor allows you to accept payments via credit and debit cards, PayPal accounts, and Venmo. You can also use the platform to accept payments via your website with a PayPal button.
This POS solution also provides basic inventory tracking, staff management tools, and sales analytics. In addition, there’s an extensive help center, and PayPal offers support via live chat and phone.
Pricing
PayPal’s chip and swipe card reader is free, and you can upgrade to a chip and tap machine for $79.99. This Square alternative charges 2.7% plus 30¢ for card payments and 2.9% plus 30¢ for online transactions.
4. QuickBooks Point of Sale

QuickBooks is a popular accounting software company that also offers a POS solution. 
This Square competitor provides payment processing, customer management, inventory management, and — as expected — comprehensive financial reporting.
However, unlike the other Square alternatives on this list, QuickBooks point of sale isn’t cloud-based. So, you’ll need to download and install the software on each device you want to use.
For these reasons, this Square alternative may be a good choice for brick-and-mortar stores keen to streamline their finances. However, it’s not ideal for businesses with online stores.
Pricing
Designed for traditional retail stores, QuickBooks’ hardware selection includes a robust set of cash registers, barcode scanners, and receipt printers.
QuickBooks charges a one-time payment to use its POS system, with 3 options starting at $720. You can then opt for pay-as-you-go transaction fees or a monthly subscription.
5. Toast

Toast is a POS system similar to Square but designed specifically for restaurants. It provides a comprehensive set of features to help restaurants manage front-of-house and back-of-house tasks, such as payment processing, customer engagement analytics, and sales reports.
It also provides tools to improve staff management as well as pricing and purchasing strategies. Additionally, Toast offers a set of complementary tools, such as Payroll, Team Management, and Toast Delivery Services.
This Square alternative also integrates with top food delivery apps such as GrubHub.
Pricing
Toast POS offers an impressive selection of hardware designed for restaurants. This Square competitor charges $75 per month for one register while transaction fees are determined individually.
6. Lightspeed

Lightspeed POS is a feature-rich solution created for retailers and restaurants. Not only does it provide robust inventory and order management tools, but it also offers specialist features for things like floor plan management, customer loyalty, and marketing campaigns.
You can use this Square alternative to accept credit and debit cards, contactless payments, and even gift cards.
If that’s not enough, all plans include 24/7 support.
Pricing
Lightspeed has five plans ranging from $69 to $229 per month, depending on the features you need. Card-present transactions cost 2.6% plus 10¢ — the card-not-present rate is 2.6% plus 30¢.
For hardware costs you’ll need to contact a sales associate.
7. Clover

Clover is a Square alternative designed for restaurants and retailers. It’s highly customizable and offers a set of advanced features, such as performance analytics and sales reporting.
If you also want to sell online, this Square alternative integrates seamlessly with many top ecommerce platforms.
You can accept payments in a few different ways with a range of hardware options, including registers, mobile handsets, and smartphone accessories.
Clover offers 24/7 customer service via phone and email. 
Pricing
Clover’s hardware is a little pricier than many of the Square alternatives on this list. Along with hardware costs, you’ll need to pay monthly subscription and transaction fees.
Clover’s cheapest plan will cost you $69 for basic hardware, $9.95 per month for the Lite plan, and 2.7% plus 10¢ per in-person transaction.
8. Epos Now

Epos Now is a POS system and Square alternative for businesses in the retail and hospitality industries.
It has plenty of business-specific POS features, too. For example, hospitality businesses will benefit from tools to manage table layouts, split bills, online bookings, and automatic restocking.
There are also comprehensive financial reporting features and 24/7 customer support. This Square alternative also integrates with top online business services, including Shopify and Xero.
Pricing
Epos Now offers 3 types of POS hardware: handheld systems ($189), tablet systems ($599), and complete systems ($499).
Plans start from $39 per month, but you’ll need to contact a sales associate to discuss your specific needs.
Summary: The Best Square Alternatives in 2021
A POS system acts as your business’s mission control, so it pays to consider a few companies like Square and choose the best solution for your needs. 
Remember, if you want to build your business in-store and online, look for a POS with ecommerce integrations and room to grow. Many POS solutions offer a free trial, so be sure to check out your favorites firsthand before investing too heavily.
In summary, here’s a quick rundown of our favorite alternatives to Square:

Shopify Point of Sale
Stripe Terminal
PayPal Here
QuickBooks Point of Sale
Toast
Lightspeed
Clover
Epos Now

If you’re looking for a Square alternative that has everything you need so you can focus your attention on growing your business, sign up for Shopify’s 14-day free trial now.
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