10 Best FREE Tools/Resources for Making YouTube Videos
Discover the 10 best free tools and resources for making YouTube videos. Find top software for video editing, stock footage, royalty-free music, and more.
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I'll take you through 10 of the absolute BEST FREE tools and resources for making YouTube videos. Get an overview of everything you'll need to create amazing looking (and sounding) videos for YouTube!
(Save this video for later so you'll always have these resources handy)
Video Ideas Cheat Sheet - https://jaymayor.com/go/video-ideas-cheat-sheet
All tools & resources mentioned:
👉 1. Stock Photography
Unsplash - https://unsplash.com/
Pexels - https://www.pexels.com/
Pixabay - https://pixabay.com/
👉 2. Icons
Flaticon - https://www.flaticon.com/
Game-Icons.net - https://game-icons.net/
👉 3. Stock Video
Pexels Videos - https://www.pexels.com/videos/
Pixabay Videos - https://pixabay.com/videos
👉 4. Music
NoCopyrightSounds - https://ncs.io/
YouTube Audio Library - https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary
Also check out: Pixabay Music - https://pixabay.com/music
👉 5. Sound Effects
freeSFX - https://www.freesfx.co.uk/
Freesound - https://freesound.org/
OpenGameArt.org - https://opengameart.org/
👉 6. Computer Screen Recording
OBS Studio - https://obsproject.com/
👉 7. Phone & Tablet Screen Recording
iOS: Go Record - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/screen-recorder-go-record/id1345200849
Android: AZ Screen Recorder - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hecorat.screenrecorder.free
👉 8. Image Editing
Photopea - https://www.photopea.com/
GIMP - https://www.gimp.org/
👉 9. Graphic Design
Canva - https://www.canva.com/
👉 10. Video Editing
Shotcut - https://shotcut.org/
DaVinci Resolve - https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve
Kdenlive - https://kdenlive.org/
👉 11. Bonus: Video Ideas Cheat Sheet
Video Ideas Cheat Sheet - https://jaymayor.com/go/video-ideas-cheat-sheet
🎬 Curious about my studio gear/equipment? Check out my budget studio spreadsheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/11PLFsWyL6aau3HFUx6aQqwa9CqnO39ZWl-TeJwI7dKE
Affiliate notice: Some links may earn a commission. Thanks for your support.
- Source free, high-quality visual assets like photos and b-roll from Unsplash and Pexels, and utilize Flaticon for clean, scalable icons.
- Prevent channel copyright strikes by utilizing NoCopyrightSounds (NCS) for radio-quality background music and freeSFX for professional sound effects.
- Record desktop tutorials and gameplay using OBS Studio, or use watermark-free mobile apps like Go Record (iOS) and AZ Screen Recorder (Android) for phones and tablets.
- Design eye-catching YouTube thumbnails directly in your web browser using Photopea (a robust Photoshop alternative) and Canva.
- Edit your final project using fully-featured, free video editing software like the beginner-friendly Shotcut or the professional-grade DaVinci Resolve.
Creating amazing YouTube videos doesn’t have to break the bank. Whether you are on a tight budget, overwhelmed by the sheer number of options available, or simply looking for a high-level overview of everything you need to get started, you are in the right place.
Below is a curated list of the 10 absolute best free tools and resources for making YouTube videos. From stock footage and copyright-free music to screen recorders and video editors, this guide provides everything you need to create professional-looking and sounding content entirely for free.
1. Free Stock Photography
Using high-quality images is a great way to reinforce a talking point in your video or design eye-catching YouTube thumbnails.
FAQ
Quick answers to the questions people usually ask about this topic.
Do I need to give credit or attribution when using these free tools in my YouTube videos?
Do I need to give credit or attribution when using these free tools in my YouTube videos?
It depends on the platform's specific license. For instance, Flaticon and NoCopyrightSounds (NCS) generally require you to provide a link or artist credit in your video description for commercial use. Always check the licensing terms of each resource before publishing to ensure you are compliant and avoiding copyright claims.
Are there free mobile screen recorders that do not leave a watermark on the footage?
Are there free mobile screen recorders that do not leave a watermark on the footage?
Yes! While many free apps stamp an unprofessional watermark on your video, there are pristine alternatives. Go Record (for iOS) and AZ Screen Recorder (for Android) allow you to capture high-quality tutorial or b-roll footage directly from your device without invasive watermarks.
What are the best free alternatives to Adobe Photoshop for creating YouTube thumbnails?
What are the best free alternatives to Adobe Photoshop for creating YouTube thumbnails?
Photopea is essentially a fully-featured, free version of Photoshop that runs entirely in your web browser. It allows you to open, edit, and save PSD documents. If you prefer a simpler, drag-and-drop approach without a steep learning curve, Canva is a fantastic one-stop shop for thumbnails, offering thousands of templates.
How can I avoid YouTube copyright strikes when adding background music to my videos?
How can I avoid YouTube copyright strikes when adding background music to my videos?
The safest method is to use music specifically cleared for creators. The YouTube Audio Library is built directly into YouTube, ensuring your channel is protected from strikes. Alternatively, you can use high-quality, royalty-free external libraries like NoCopyrightSounds (NCS) or Pixabay Music, provided you follow their attribution rules.
Do I have to download software to my computer to use these video creation resources?
Do I have to download software to my computer to use these video creation resources?
Not all of them. While screen recording (OBS Studio) and traditional video editing (Shotcut) require you to download software, many of the visual design tools operate in the cloud. You can create thumbnails and edit graphics using browser-based tools like Photopea and Canva without downloading anything.
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