In the recently released Windows 11 preview version Build 22572, Microsoft introduced a video editor, Clipchamp, which is now available on the Microsoft Store. But it’s worth noting that it will be a pre-installed app, which means that when you upgrade from Windows 10 or install Windows 11 cleanly, you will see the app immediately.
Microsoft’s golden age in video editing dates back to Windows Movie Maker, but the latest Clipchamp could be more expensive. In a blog post detailing Windows 11 Build 22572, Microsoft shared details about Clipchamp.
Microsoft acquired Clipchamp in 2021, after which users can download the app through the Microsoft Store and Clipchamp’s official website. Now by making it a pre-installed app, it will undoubtedly drive more users to use it.
Clipchamp is easy to use and offers many of the same features as more professional applications like Adobe Premiere Pro. It comes with different combinations of filters, transitions and templates to use. You’ll also find tons of royalty-free media resources at your disposal. Some of them cost money to use but once purchased, you’ll get a license to use them in your videos. Overall, it’s very user-friendly and feature-rich.
The downside of Microsoft making Clipchamp the default Windows 11 video editor is that it costs money to export your videos every month. If you hoped that Clipchamp would herald a new era of making movies with Windows Movie Maker or just make it easier for you to edit your home-recorded movies, you might be disappointed. While the app is technically free to use, in practice exporting beyond 480P base resolution requires a monthly subscription.
That means you’ll need to shell out some money to export videos in 720P or even 1080P. Considering that many newer phones, like the iPhone 13, offer up to 4K video recording, you’ll obviously need a subscription to edit videos with the app.
People who want to take advantage of these higher-resolution exports will pay $9 to $19 per month for 720P and 1080P, respectively. There are also annual payment options, not just a one-time fee. It’s a little odd to see Microsoft charge for exporting videos from the new default Windows 11 video editor. Especially when you consider that 720P and 1080P have been considered basic video resolutions for years.