The Great DVR Debate: TiVo vs Comcast’s Features and Pricing

TiVo vs Comcast, Who Wins the DVR Battle?

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Cable, satellite, over the air broadcast, streaming internet video – never before have we had so many choices of how to receive television programming. DVR, PVR, computer hard drive, external storage device; now we have choices in how to store programs for viewing later to consider as well. So what is true and what is hype when it comes to what’s the best device? Let’s peel back the layers and look at the information.

First, what is a DVR? A DVR, or digital video recorder, is a device that records video from a source for playback at another time. It often comes with a television programming guide included so you can easily locate shows you want to record. Most DVRs come with large capacity hard drives, though some have flash memory cards as their storage medium. There are a variety of types that range from small storage capacity and two tuners, up through several tuners and massive hard drive storage ability. You also can pause and rewind live TV, which is great when you want to create your own sports instant replays. Most DVRs also allow you to watch one program that was previously recorded while two others are recording, though some have greater capacity.

A TiVo is a particular kind of DVR that was first introduced in 1999. It requires a subscription to its own programming guide that can be purchased month to month, or as a “lifetime” subscription (that means the life of the TiVo, not your life, by the way). TiVos, like cable company DVRs, can record just one show or an entire season. TiVos have a smart feature which notices which shows you are watching and recommends similar ones to you based on how you rate current programs. It also uses these ratings to suggest shows to other viewers.

Let’s look at a few of the main features of both so you can do a comparison. We’ll look at five factors.

1. TiVo vs Comcast: Cost and rent versus own

With a Comcast DVR, you are renting it from the cable company at a cost of $10 to $16 a month, depending on your market. There are no upfront costs, and should the device fail, you can swap it at no cost at your local Comcast service center. Some folks have found that the new X1 boxes are prone to crashes, so that free swap is handy.

A TiVo is yours to keep as long as it lasts or as long as you want it, whichever comes first. It has an initial cost of between $200 and $600, depending on the model. Plus, you have the subscription cost on top of the unit price, which is $15 a month or $500 for a “lifetime” subscription, which TiVo may or may not give you partial credit for should your device fail and you need a new one. Like the Comcast DVRs, some TiVo boxes are less than stable. It’s the nature of electronics. TiVos also have advertising on them, which some Comcast channels do also, like MusicChoice, but not on all of them.

2. TiVo vs Comcast: Services available

With a DVR from Comcast, you can only record shows that are broadcast on one of Comcast’s channels or play shows that are loaded into its On Demand section. A TiVo can be connected to a number of sources, including cable via a cable card, and allow you to combine all of your viewing sources into the one box. It even connects to a high definition antenna.

The TiVo with cable card has access to all of the cable On Demand services, so in that sense it can replace all of the Comcast DVRs. However, the cable card is not free. It typically runs $1.50 per card per month, up to $2.50 per card on the Frontier system.

The menus are slightly different, as you can see below.

Comcast interface

TiVo interface

TiVos also recognize SD and HD as just different versions of the same show, instead of different channels like Comcast does, so you can set your DVR to just record HD. This makes it somewhat harder to just record HD on a TiVo.

Down the road, Comcast is planning the X2 system which would have cloud recording capacity, thus ending the need for a box in your house at all. TiVo has not yet announced such a plan.

3. TiVo vs Comcast: Connection to a network

TiVos can be connected to your home computer network, and the newest one, the Roamio, comes with built-in wifi, for total freedom of use. Because it’s on the network, you can stream shows from your computer through the TiVo box for later playback. It supports channels like Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon Instant. You can also stream shows to your Apple portable devices and then take the shows with you on the plane or to the gym, or use the device as a remote control. (Android devices will have the same capacity soon.) The network capacity also means you can use your computer to control the TiVo box and view content wherever you are.

Some reviewers have also noted that the network set up is not as simple as it might be, and it requires some computer knowledge and ability. Unless you have a tech person nearby, novice computer users may not wish to set up the network.

The iPhone app remote screen looks like this:

A TiVo does have limitations of who can access which channels. For instance, it does not stream HBOGo, nor does it interface with Apple’s TV programming. For that you still need an AppleTV device.

Comcast boxes simply do not network well. They are designed to broadcast the cable signals through your TV, but not on a home network. They are often easier to connect, however, just requiring a cable from the box to be plugged into the TV.

4. TiVo vs Comcast: Recording capacity

The new TiVo, the Roamio, has as many as six tuners that can record at the same time with up to 150 hours of high definition programming. You’ll never have another scheduling conflict again!

TiVos have recording capacities that range from 75 to 450 hours, depending on whether it is standard definition or high definition, and which device you are using. You can choose from three models of the Roamio. The base model costs $200 and has 75 hours of capacity. The menu and features are more limited on this one than on the others. There is a middle model priced at $400 that has the same six tuners as the high-end one but can only hold 150 hours of recordings. Then the top tier model costs $600 and has 450 hours of recording capacity, all of it in high definition.

The Comcast X1 DVR has four tuners and it can record them simultaneously. You can watch a prerecorded program while it’s recording, too. It can hold 120 hours of HD or 600 hours of SD programming.

5. TiVo vs Comcast: User interface

The Comcast X1 DVR system has a voice-activated interface and a completely different look and layout than their standard system has.

The basic Comcast remote is a multi-function remote and capable of controlling all functions, but it does not have the ability to connect to a portable device like a tablet or a smartphone to have connectivity that way like a TiVo can through an app. The remote has to be line of sight in order to work.

The TiVo device menu is in standard definition, so for those who have a high definition set up, you may find this a bit distraction or fuzzy. It does come with apps for extending what the box can do, including games for kids.

Many reviewers liked the interface on the TiVo better than the grid used on the Comcast service. The TiVo programming guide allows you to delete channels you don’t watch so you’re only looking at the channels you like. Comcast’s guide covers every channel they offer, even ones that are not available on your tier of service.

With the TiVo Roamio, connecting to a tablet allows you to be in another room and still operate the “remote” for the TiVo DVR. Download the app onto your device and you’re ready to go.

TiVo’s device remote has a sleek layout called the “peanut”.

Summary

What it all comes down to is looking at how you use your TV, where you get your sources from, and what your budget is. Each device has its own set of things that are appealing, and its own drawbacks. For flexibility of being able to use multiple sources and devices, the TiVo is the clear winner. For cost in the long run, it’s almost a draw. For ease of connection to a TV, the Comcast box comes out on top. No matter which one you pick, you’ll never run out of great programs to watch.

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Cable, satellite, over the air broadcast, streaming internet video – never before have we had so many choices of how to receive television programming. DVR, PVR, computer hard drive, external storage device; now we have choices in how to store programs for viewing later to consider as well. So what is true and what is hype when it comes to what’s the best device? Let’s peel back the layers and look at the information.

First, what is a DVR? A DVR, or digital video recorder, is a device that records video from a source for playback at another time. It often comes with a television programming guide included so you can easily locate shows you want to record. Most DVRs come with large capacity hard drives, though some have flash memory cards as their storage medium. There are a variety of types that range from small storage capacity and two tuners, up through several tuners and massive hard drive storage ability. You also can pause and rewind live TV, which is great when you want to create your own sports instant replays. Most DVRs also allow you to watch one program that was previously recorded while two others are recording, though some have greater capacity.

A TiVo is a particular kind of DVR that was first introduced in 1999. It requires a subscription to its own programming guide that can be purchased month to month, or as a “lifetime” subscription (that means the life of the TiVo, not your life, by the way). TiVos, like cable company DVRs, can record just one show or an entire season. TiVos have a smart feature which notices which shows you are watching and recommends similar ones to you based on how you rate current programs. It also uses these ratings to suggest shows to other viewers.

Let’s look at a few of the main features of both so you can do a comparison. We’ll look at five factors.

1. TiVo vs Comcast: Cost and rent versus own

With a Comcast DVR, you are renting it from the cable company at a cost of $10 to $16 a month, depending on your market. There are no upfront costs, and should the device fail, you can swap it at no cost at your local Comcast service center. Some folks have found that the new X1 boxes are prone to crashes, so that free swap is handy.

A TiVo is yours to keep as long as it lasts or as long as you want it, whichever comes first. It has an initial cost of between $200 and $600, depending on the model. Plus, you have the subscription cost on top of the unit price, which is $15 a month or $500 for a “lifetime” subscription, which TiVo may or may not give you partial credit for should your device fail and you need a new one. Like the Comcast DVRs, some TiVo boxes are less than stable. It’s the nature of electronics. TiVos also have advertising on them, which some Comcast channels do also, like MusicChoice, but not on all of them.

2. TiVo vs Comcast: Services available

With a DVR from Comcast, you can only record shows that are broadcast on one of Comcast’s channels or play shows that are loaded into its On Demand section. A TiVo can be connected to a number of sources, including cable via a cable card, and allow you to combine all of your viewing sources into the one box. It even connects to a high definition antenna.

The TiVo with cable card has access to all of the cable On Demand services, so in that sense it can replace all of the Comcast DVRs. However, the cable card is not free. It typically runs $1.50 per card per month, up to $2.50 per card on the Frontier system.

The menus are slightly different, as you can see below.

Comcast interface

TiVo interface

TiVos also recognize SD and HD as just different versions of the same show, instead of different channels like Comcast does, so you can set your DVR to just record HD. This makes it somewhat harder to just record HD on a TiVo.

Down the road, Comcast is planning the X2 system which would have cloud recording capacity, thus ending the need for a box in your house at all. TiVo has not yet announced such a plan.

3. TiVo vs Comcast: Connection to a network

TiVos can be connected to your home computer network, and the newest one, the Roamio, comes with built-in wifi, for total freedom of use. Because it’s on the network, you can stream shows from your computer through the TiVo box for later playback. It supports channels like Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon Instant. You can also stream shows to your Apple portable devices and then take the shows with you on the plane or to the gym, or use the device as a remote control. (Android devices will have the same capacity soon.) The network capacity also means you can use your computer to control the TiVo box and view content wherever you are.

Some reviewers have also noted that the network set up is not as simple as it might be, and it requires some computer knowledge and ability. Unless you have a tech person nearby, novice computer users may not wish to set up the network.

The iPhone app remote screen looks like this:

A TiVo does have limitations of who can access which channels. For instance, it does not stream HBOGo, nor does it interface with Apple’s TV programming. For that you still need an AppleTV device.

Comcast boxes simply do not network well. They are designed to broadcast the cable signals through your TV, but not on a home network. They are often easier to connect, however, just requiring a cable from the box to be plugged into the TV.

4. TiVo vs Comcast: Recording capacity

The new TiVo, the Roamio, has as many as six tuners that can record at the same time with up to 150 hours of high definition programming. You’ll never have another scheduling conflict again!

TiVos have recording capacities that range from 75 to 450 hours, depending on whether it is standard definition or high definition, and which device you are using. You can choose from three models of the Roamio. The base model costs $200 and has 75 hours of capacity. The menu and features are more limited on this one than on the others. There is a middle model priced at $400 that has the same six tuners as the high-end one but can only hold 150 hours of recordings. Then the top tier model costs $600 and has 450 hours of recording capacity, all of it in high definition.

The Comcast X1 DVR has four tuners and it can record them simultaneously. You can watch a prerecorded program while it’s recording, too. It can hold 120 hours of HD or 600 hours of SD programming.

5. TiVo vs Comcast: User interface

The Comcast X1 DVR system has a voice-activated interface and a completely different look and layout than their standard system has.

The basic Comcast remote is a multi-function remote and capable of controlling all functions, but it does not have the ability to connect to a portable device like a tablet or a smartphone to have connectivity that way like a TiVo can through an app. The remote has to be line of sight in order to work.

The TiVo device menu is in standard definition, so for those who have a high definition set up, you may find this a bit distraction or fuzzy. It does come with apps for extending what the box can do, including games for kids.

Many reviewers liked the interface on the TiVo better than the grid used on the Comcast service. The TiVo programming guide allows you to delete channels you don’t watch so you’re only looking at the channels you like. Comcast’s guide covers every channel they offer, even ones that are not available on your tier of service.

With the TiVo Roamio, connecting to a tablet allows you to be in another room and still operate the “remote” for the TiVo DVR. Download the app onto your device and you’re ready to go.

TiVo’s device remote has a sleek layout called the “peanut”.

Summary

What it all comes down to is looking at how you use your TV, where you get your sources from, and what your budget is. Each device has its own set of things that are appealing, and its own drawbacks. For flexibility of being able to use multiple sources and devices, the TiVo is the clear winner. For cost in the long run, it’s almost a draw. For ease of connection to a TV, the Comcast box comes out on top. No matter which one you pick, you’ll never run out of great programs to watch.

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Cable, satellite, over the air broadcast, streaming internet video – never before have we had so many choices of how to receive television programming. DVR, PVR, computer hard drive, external storage device; now we have choices in how to store programs for viewing later to consider as well. So what is true and what is hype when it comes to what’s the best device? Let’s peel back the layers and look at the information.

First, what is a DVR? A DVR, or digital video recorder, is a device that records video from a source for playback at another time. It often comes with a television programming guide included so you can easily locate shows you want to record. Most DVRs come with large capacity hard drives, though some have flash memory cards as their storage medium. There are a variety of types that range from small storage capacity and two tuners, up through several tuners and massive hard drive storage ability. You also can pause and rewind live TV, which is great when you want to create your own sports instant replays. Most DVRs also allow you to watch one program that was previously recorded while two others are recording, though some have greater capacity.

A TiVo is a particular kind of DVR that was first introduced in 1999. It requires a subscription to its own programming guide that can be purchased month to month, or as a “lifetime” subscription (that means the life of the TiVo, not your life, by the way). TiVos, like cable company DVRs, can record just one show or an entire season. TiVos have a smart feature which notices which shows you are watching and recommends similar ones to you based on how you rate current programs. It also uses these ratings to suggest shows to other viewers.

Let’s look at a few of the main features of both so you can do a comparison. We’ll look at five factors.

1. TiVo vs Comcast: Cost and rent versus own

With a Comcast DVR, you are renting it from the cable company at a cost of $10 to $16 a month, depending on your market. There are no upfront costs, and should the device fail, you can swap it at no cost at your local Comcast service center. Some folks have found that the new X1 boxes are prone to crashes, so that free swap is handy.

A TiVo is yours to keep as long as it lasts or as long as you want it, whichever comes first. It has an initial cost of between $200 and $600, depending on the model. Plus, you have the subscription cost on top of the unit price, which is $15 a month or $500 for a “lifetime” subscription, which TiVo may or may not give you partial credit for should your device fail and you need a new one. Like the Comcast DVRs, some TiVo boxes are less than stable. It’s the nature of electronics. TiVos also have advertising on them, which some Comcast channels do also, like MusicChoice, but not on all of them.

2. TiVo vs Comcast: Services available

With a DVR from Comcast, you can only record shows that are broadcast on one of Comcast’s channels or play shows that are loaded into its On Demand section. A TiVo can be connected to a number of sources, including cable via a cable card, and allow you to combine all of your viewing sources into the one box. It even connects to a high definition antenna.

The TiVo with cable card has access to all of the cable On Demand services, so in that sense it can replace all of the Comcast DVRs. However, the cable card is not free. It typically runs $1.50 per card per month, up to $2.50 per card on the Frontier system.

The menus are slightly different, as you can see below.

Comcast interface

TiVo interface

TiVos also recognize SD and HD as just different versions of the same show, instead of different channels like Comcast does, so you can set your DVR to just record HD. This makes it somewhat harder to just record HD on a TiVo.

Down the road, Comcast is planning the X2 system which would have cloud recording capacity, thus ending the need for a box in your house at all. TiVo has not yet announced such a plan.

3. TiVo vs Comcast: Connection to a network

TiVos can be connected to your home computer network, and the newest one, the Roamio, comes with built-in wifi, for total freedom of use. Because it’s on the network, you can stream shows from your computer through the TiVo box for later playback. It supports channels like Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon Instant. You can also stream shows to your Apple portable devices and then take the shows with you on the plane or to the gym, or use the device as a remote control. (Android devices will have the same capacity soon.) The network capacity also means you can use your computer to control the TiVo box and view content wherever you are.

Some reviewers have also noted that the network set up is not as simple as it might be, and it requires some computer knowledge and ability. Unless you have a tech person nearby, novice computer users may not wish to set up the network.

The iPhone app remote screen looks like this:

A TiVo does have limitations of who can access which channels. For instance, it does not stream HBOGo, nor does it interface with Apple’s TV programming. For that you still need an AppleTV device.

Comcast boxes simply do not network well. They are designed to broadcast the cable signals through your TV, but not on a home network. They are often easier to connect, however, just requiring a cable from the box to be plugged into the TV.

4. TiVo vs Comcast: Recording capacity

The new TiVo, the Roamio, has as many as six tuners that can record at the same time with up to 150 hours of high definition programming. You’ll never have another scheduling conflict again!

TiVos have recording capacities that range from 75 to 450 hours, depending on whether it is standard definition or high definition, and which device you are using. You can choose from three models of the Roamio. The base model costs $200 and has 75 hours of capacity. The menu and features are more limited on this one than on the others. There is a middle model priced at $400 that has the same six tuners as the high-end one but can only hold 150 hours of recordings. Then the top tier model costs $600 and has 450 hours of recording capacity, all of it in high definition.

The Comcast X1 DVR has four tuners and it can record them simultaneously. You can watch a prerecorded program while it’s recording, too. It can hold 120 hours of HD or 600 hours of SD programming.

5. TiVo vs Comcast: User interface

The Comcast X1 DVR system has a voice-activated interface and a completely different look and layout than their standard system has.

The basic Comcast remote is a multi-function remote and capable of controlling all functions, but it does not have the ability to connect to a portable device like a tablet or a smartphone to have connectivity that way like a TiVo can through an app. The remote has to be line of sight in order to work.

The TiVo device menu is in standard definition, so for those who have a high definition set up, you may find this a bit distraction or fuzzy. It does come with apps for extending what the box can do, including games for kids.

Many reviewers liked the interface on the TiVo better than the grid used on the Comcast service. The TiVo programming guide allows you to delete channels you don’t watch so you’re only looking at the channels you like. Comcast’s guide covers every channel they offer, even ones that are not available on your tier of service.

With the TiVo Roamio, connecting to a tablet allows you to be in another room and still operate the “remote” for the TiVo DVR. Download the app onto your device and you’re ready to go.

TiVo’s device remote has a sleek layout called the “peanut”.

Summary

What it all comes down to is looking at how you use your TV, where you get your sources from, and what your budget is. Each device has its own set of things that are appealing, and its own drawbacks. For flexibility of being able to use multiple sources and devices, the TiVo is the clear winner. For cost in the long run, it’s almost a draw. For ease of connection to a TV, the Comcast box comes out on top. No matter which one you pick, you’ll never run out of great programs to watch.

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Cable, satellite, over the air broadcast, streaming internet video – never before have we had so many choices of how to receive television programming. DVR, PVR, computer hard drive, external storage device; now we have choices in how to store programs for viewing later to consider as well. So what is true and what is hype when it comes to what’s the best device? Let’s peel back the layers and look at the information.

First, what is a DVR? A DVR, or digital video recorder, is a device that records video from a source for playback at another time. It often comes with a television programming guide included so you can easily locate shows you want to record. Most DVRs come with large capacity hard drives, though some have flash memory cards as their storage medium. There are a variety of types that range from small storage capacity and two tuners, up through several tuners and massive hard drive storage ability. You also can pause and rewind live TV, which is great when you want to create your own sports instant replays. Most DVRs also allow you to watch one program that was previously recorded while two others are recording, though some have greater capacity.

A TiVo is a particular kind of DVR that was first introduced in 1999. It requires a subscription to its own programming guide that can be purchased month to month, or as a “lifetime” subscription (that means the life of the TiVo, not your life, by the way). TiVos, like cable company DVRs, can record just one show or an entire season. TiVos have a smart feature which notices which shows you are watching and recommends similar ones to you based on how you rate current programs. It also uses these ratings to suggest shows to other viewers.

Let’s look at a few of the main features of both so you can do a comparison. We’ll look at five factors.

1. TiVo vs Comcast: Cost and rent versus own

With a Comcast DVR, you are renting it from the cable company at a cost of $10 to $16 a month, depending on your market. There are no upfront costs, and should the device fail, you can swap it at no cost at your local Comcast service center. Some folks have found that the new X1 boxes are prone to crashes, so that free swap is handy.

A TiVo is yours to keep as long as it lasts or as long as you want it, whichever comes first. It has an initial cost of between $200 and $600, depending on the model. Plus, you have the subscription cost on top of the unit price, which is $15 a month or $500 for a “lifetime” subscription, which TiVo may or may not give you partial credit for should your device fail and you need a new one. Like the Comcast DVRs, some TiVo boxes are less than stable. It’s the nature of electronics. TiVos also have advertising on them, which some Comcast channels do also, like MusicChoice, but not on all of them.

2. TiVo vs Comcast: Services available

With a DVR from Comcast, you can only record shows that are broadcast on one of Comcast’s channels or play shows that are loaded into its On Demand section. A TiVo can be connected to a number of sources, including cable via a cable card, and allow you to combine all of your viewing sources into the one box. It even connects to a high definition antenna.

The TiVo with cable card has access to all of the cable On Demand services, so in that sense it can replace all of the Comcast DVRs. However, the cable card is not free. It typically runs $1.50 per card per month, up to $2.50 per card on the Frontier system.

The menus are slightly different, as you can see below.

Comcast interface

TiVo interface

TiVos also recognize SD and HD as just different versions of the same show, instead of different channels like Comcast does, so you can set your DVR to just record HD. This makes it somewhat harder to just record HD on a TiVo.

Down the road, Comcast is planning the X2 system which would have cloud recording capacity, thus ending the need for a box in your house at all. TiVo has not yet announced such a plan.

3. TiVo vs Comcast: Connection to a network

TiVos can be connected to your home computer network, and the newest one, the Roamio, comes with built-in wifi, for total freedom of use. Because it’s on the network, you can stream shows from your computer through the TiVo box for later playback. It supports channels like Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon Instant. You can also stream shows to your Apple portable devices and then take the shows with you on the plane or to the gym, or use the device as a remote control. (Android devices will have the same capacity soon.) The network capacity also means you can use your computer to control the TiVo box and view content wherever you are.

Some reviewers have also noted that the network set up is not as simple as it might be, and it requires some computer knowledge and ability. Unless you have a tech person nearby, novice computer users may not wish to set up the network.

The iPhone app remote screen looks like this:

A TiVo does have limitations of who can access which channels. For instance, it does not stream HBOGo, nor does it interface with Apple’s TV programming. For that you still need an AppleTV device.

Comcast boxes simply do not network well. They are designed to broadcast the cable signals through your TV, but not on a home network. They are often easier to connect, however, just requiring a cable from the box to be plugged into the TV.

4. TiVo vs Comcast: Recording capacity

The new TiVo, the Roamio, has as many as six tuners that can record at the same time with up to 150 hours of high definition programming. You’ll never have another scheduling conflict again!

TiVos have recording capacities that range from 75 to 450 hours, depending on whether it is standard definition or high definition, and which device you are using. You can choose from three models of the Roamio. The base model costs $200 and has 75 hours of capacity. The menu and features are more limited on this one than on the others. There is a middle model priced at $400 that has the same six tuners as the high-end one but can only hold 150 hours of recordings. Then the top tier model costs $600 and has 450 hours of recording capacity, all of it in high definition.

The Comcast X1 DVR has four tuners and it can record them simultaneously. You can watch a prerecorded program while it’s recording, too. It can hold 120 hours of HD or 600 hours of SD programming.

5. TiVo vs Comcast: User interface

The Comcast X1 DVR system has a voice-activated interface and a completely different look and layout than their standard system has.

The basic Comcast remote is a multi-function remote and capable of controlling all functions, but it does not have the ability to connect to a portable device like a tablet or a smartphone to have connectivity that way like a TiVo can through an app. The remote has to be line of sight in order to work.

The TiVo device menu is in standard definition, so for those who have a high definition set up, you may find this a bit distraction or fuzzy. It does come with apps for extending what the box can do, including games for kids.

Many reviewers liked the interface on the TiVo better than the grid used on the Comcast service. The TiVo programming guide allows you to delete channels you don’t watch so you’re only looking at the channels you like. Comcast’s guide covers every channel they offer, even ones that are not available on your tier of service.

With the TiVo Roamio, connecting to a tablet allows you to be in another room and still operate the “remote” for the TiVo DVR. Download the app onto your device and you’re ready to go.

TiVo’s device remote has a sleek layout called the “peanut”.

Summary

What it all comes down to is looking at how you use your TV, where you get your sources from, and what your budget is. Each device has its own set of things that are appealing, and its own drawbacks. For flexibility of being able to use multiple sources and devices, the TiVo is the clear winner. For cost in the long run, it’s almost a draw. For ease of connection to a TV, the Comcast box comes out on top. No matter which one you pick, you’ll never run out of great programs to watch.

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Public Domain Perfection: Top 10 Image Websites

10 Best Public Domain Image Websites

Liza Brown

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Finding an image you like on the Internet doesn’t take long, since almost every website you can stumble upon, contains at least one picture. This doesn’t mean that you can just download any photo and use it in your blog, online marketing campaign or for any other purpose. Moreover, stock image websites like Getty Images or iStock let you purchase the right to use a photo commercially. As a reaction to an expanding stock image industry, many photographers, museums and cultural institutions are choosing to forfeit their rights and to publish public domain images. So, in this article, we are going to take you through the ten best public domain image websites where you can download pictures for free.

What Are Public Domain Images?

By definition, public domain images are photos, vectors or clip art that are available to anyone because their copyright has either expired or they never had a copyright owner. Consequently, anyone can use these images for both commercial or private projects without having to purchase the rights to do so. An image can enter a public domain under the following circumstances:

• Scientists, educators or artists can use the Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license to dedicate their images to the public domain
• A picture’s copyright is no longer in effect
• A photo was never the subject to copyright

It is of utmost importance to check if an image is within the public domain before you use it publicly in order to avoid potential legal complications.

How and Where to Find Public Domain Images?

A simple google search will reveal hundreds of websites that let you download public domain and royalty-free images. Which source you’re going to use depends on the type of image you’re looking for, since some websites are dedicated only to photography, while others feature impressive collections of public domain images of artworks. In addition, you’ll only want to download public domain images from the websites that offer information about the author because using a public domain image without crediting its author is strictly prohibited.

Best Websites for Downloading Public Domain Images

We’ve searched the Internet and we utilized our results to compile a collection of the most reliable websites that grant its users access to vast numbers of public domain images. Let’s take a look at some of the best websites that let you download public domain images.

1. Pexels

Graphic designers and all other creatives in constant need of a fresh supply of public domain images don’t need a special introduction to Pexels. The stock image platform is dedicated to photography and video, so you can’t use it to search for vectors or clip art. Even so, you can use Pexles to search for public domain images based on a particular keyword or browse through its collection of free images and discover photos spontaneously. Clicking on the Popular Searches tab will enable you to see the images from Light, Nature or Animals and it will shorten the amount of time you have to spend looking for a photo you want to download.

Pros:

• Neatly organized website
• Free and easy sign-up
• Offers a huge selection of free public domain images and videos according to the CC0 license
• Hand-picked High quality Images

Cons:

• Some categories should contain more images
• Optimizing the search terms can be difficult

2. Pixabay

Besides offering an impressive collection of royalty-free photos, Pixabay also lets you search for public domain vectors, illustrations, and videos. The website hosts more than a million high-resolution photos and videos you can download for free. To make things even better, becoming a member of the Pixabay’s community and creating an account on this platform won’t take more than a few minutes of your time. Pixabay also offers advanced search tools that enable you to combine searches, search for the author of an image or group search terms. In addition, you can also browse through the photographers that contribute their images to the platform on a regular basis.

Pros:

• Powerful search tools and various filters
• Huge collection of public domain images

Cons

• Customer support could be better

3. Wikimedia Commons

This is probably the largest website on the Internet where you can download public domain images. There are more than 49 million images, illustrations, vector graphics and videos available that can be downloaded for free. Some media files on Wikimedia Commons have certain restrictions, but these restrictions are mostly related to image citations, which means that you can use them only if you credit the author. Such a huge selection of media files can be overwhelming for the newcomers to the Wikimedia Commons platform, but once you grow accustomed to the website’s interface discovering images becomes a straightforward process.

Pros:

• All images are available in high resolution
• Nearly all images can be used without any restrictions

Cons:

• Getting used to the website’s interface takes time
• The number of search results can be overwhelming

4. Flickr Commons

For more than a decade Flickr has been a popular online destination for photographers in need of a platform that enables them to present their work. The Flickr Commons is a project that unites more than a hundred institutions in an effort to create a library of public domain images. The project makes available a stunning amount of historical photographs and it grants you access to highly esteemed collections of photographs. Flick Commons is perfectly suited for researchers and scholars in need of public domain photos, they can use in their essays or research papers.

Pros:

• Unlimited access to historical photos
• Extends the knowledge available to the general public

Cons:

• Doesn’t offer videos or illustrations
• Search results are poorly organized

5. Unsplash

With a library that contains over 800,000 photos, Unsplash is easily one of the largest websites that offer public domain images. All pictures on this platform are organized into different categories, which makes finding a photo you want to use in a commercial or non-commercial project a relatively simple process. Alternatively, you can insert a keyword into a search bar and Unsplash will show you the results within seconds. However, the images you can find on this platform are similar to those you can purchase on stock photography websites, although some of them have an artistic touch that is hard to find on the majority of stock photos.

Pros:

• Excellent source of high-resolution photos
• Quick and easy search

Cons:

• Unsplash is dedicated solely to photography
• Limited amount of available public domain images

6. From Old Books

In case you are searching for images from old books you should look no further. This is a private collection of 2,600 images that are hard to find anywhere else on the Internet. You can browse through woodcuts, old texts or old holiday images, which makes this platform an excellent choice for anyone interested in rare images that were featured in old books. All pictures you can find on the From Old Books website are free to use on non-commercial projects, but you must pay a small fee if you want to download a high-resolution image you can use on a commercial project.

• Images are organized into categories
• Access to rare images

Cons

• Some images are not free
• Rudimentary website design

7. Morguefile

Morguefile is a website that offers stock footage to its users, but some of the images can’t be downloaded for free. That’s why you must click on the Free Photos tab before you start searching for public domain images on this website. The website hosts nearly 400.000 photos, videos, and vector graphics, but you must make sure that a file you want to download is within the public domain before you download it. The only downside is that the images aren’t organized into categories which can make finding the images you’re searching for more difficult than it needs to be.

Pros:

• Creating an account on Morguefile is free
• All free photos can be used on commercial projects

Cons:

• Images can be organized better
• Fewer free images than on other public domain image websites

8. Public Domain Archive

As the website’s name indicates, this is an archive of public domain images you can download for free and use in commercial contexts. All photos are organized into categories like abstract, free stock photos, people or wood which makes the search simpler. However, these categories don’t contain more than a few hundred photos and some of them offer as few as five pictures you can download. All photos are in high resolution and ready for professional use. The download process can be completed effortlessly in just a few quick steps. New images are added on a weekly basis.

Pros:

• Professional quality of images
• All images are free

Cons:

• A limited selection of photos
• Doesn’t offer vector graphics

9. NYPL Digital Gallery

NYPL Digital Gallery is an excellent resource for anyone who is not interested in stock photography. The New Your Public Library has made hundreds of thousands of historical images available to the public and you can use it to browse through items, collections or divisions. Before you enter a keyword you should click on the search only public domain materials tick box to ensure that the search results are going to display only images that can be used without restrictions. Additionally, the NYPL Digital Gallery lets you browse through its collection of digital books while its collections of photographs include the work of some of the highly esteemed American photographers.

Pros

• Public domain images are available in different resolutions
• Offers valuable research materials

Cons

• Some images are subject to copyright
• Only aimed at scholars and researchers

10. Viintage

Viintage is a gold mine for graphic designers as it grants them access to hundreds of vintage posters, book covers, and images. However, the amount of public domain images this website offers is limited and if you want to download the images from the collections of works created by famous artists from the late 19th and early 20th centuries you must purchase the premium version of Viintage. The website lacks some basic search options as it only allows you to type in the search term into the search bar. The images are not organized into categories which further complicates the process of finding a public domain image you’re looking for.

Pros:

• Offers a collection of rare vintage public domain images
• A great resource for graphic designers

Cons:

• Most images on Viintage can’t be downloaded for free
• Search tools are far from perfect

You may also like: Best Image Hosting Sites >>

How to Cite Public Domain Images Properly?

If you’re planning on using a public domain image in a blog or on your website, you must cite the source from which you acquired a particular image. The image citations should include the following information:

• The title of the image
• Author’s name
• Information about the institution at which an image is kept
• The source from which you acquired an image

In case you don’t have access to all of these information or if the information is simply not available you should include all details about a public domain image you have the access to. Furthermore, there are several styles of image citations that depend on the source from which an image was acquired.

Conclusion

Spending large sums of money on images you can use in commercial or private projects is not always necessary. The public domain images are widely available and they can be used in a broad range of contexts. Which website that lets you download public domain images do you like to use the most? Leave a comment and share your opinions with us.

Dont worry when you forget the syntax of an HTML element, like and iframe, a link, a table, an image or anything else. Visit HTML CheatSheet and generate the code you need.

Liza Brown

Liza Brown is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Liza Brown

Liza Brown

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Finding an image you like on the Internet doesn’t take long, since almost every website you can stumble upon, contains at least one picture. This doesn’t mean that you can just download any photo and use it in your blog, online marketing campaign or for any other purpose. Moreover, stock image websites like Getty Images or iStock let you purchase the right to use a photo commercially. As a reaction to an expanding stock image industry, many photographers, museums and cultural institutions are choosing to forfeit their rights and to publish public domain images. So, in this article, we are going to take you through the ten best public domain image websites where you can download pictures for free.

What Are Public Domain Images?

By definition, public domain images are photos, vectors or clip art that are available to anyone because their copyright has either expired or they never had a copyright owner. Consequently, anyone can use these images for both commercial or private projects without having to purchase the rights to do so. An image can enter a public domain under the following circumstances:

• Scientists, educators or artists can use the Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license to dedicate their images to the public domain
• A picture’s copyright is no longer in effect
• A photo was never the subject to copyright

It is of utmost importance to check if an image is within the public domain before you use it publicly in order to avoid potential legal complications.

How and Where to Find Public Domain Images?

A simple google search will reveal hundreds of websites that let you download public domain and royalty-free images. Which source you’re going to use depends on the type of image you’re looking for, since some websites are dedicated only to photography, while others feature impressive collections of public domain images of artworks. In addition, you’ll only want to download public domain images from the websites that offer information about the author because using a public domain image without crediting its author is strictly prohibited.

Best Websites for Downloading Public Domain Images

We’ve searched the Internet and we utilized our results to compile a collection of the most reliable websites that grant its users access to vast numbers of public domain images. Let’s take a look at some of the best websites that let you download public domain images.

1. Pexels

Graphic designers and all other creatives in constant need of a fresh supply of public domain images don’t need a special introduction to Pexels. The stock image platform is dedicated to photography and video, so you can’t use it to search for vectors or clip art. Even so, you can use Pexles to search for public domain images based on a particular keyword or browse through its collection of free images and discover photos spontaneously. Clicking on the Popular Searches tab will enable you to see the images from Light, Nature or Animals and it will shorten the amount of time you have to spend looking for a photo you want to download.

Pros:

• Neatly organized website
• Free and easy sign-up
• Offers a huge selection of free public domain images and videos according to the CC0 license
• Hand-picked High quality Images

Cons:

• Some categories should contain more images
• Optimizing the search terms can be difficult

2. Pixabay

Besides offering an impressive collection of royalty-free photos, Pixabay also lets you search for public domain vectors, illustrations, and videos. The website hosts more than a million high-resolution photos and videos you can download for free. To make things even better, becoming a member of the Pixabay’s community and creating an account on this platform won’t take more than a few minutes of your time. Pixabay also offers advanced search tools that enable you to combine searches, search for the author of an image or group search terms. In addition, you can also browse through the photographers that contribute their images to the platform on a regular basis.

Pros:

• Powerful search tools and various filters
• Huge collection of public domain images

Cons

• Customer support could be better

3. Wikimedia Commons

This is probably the largest website on the Internet where you can download public domain images. There are more than 49 million images, illustrations, vector graphics and videos available that can be downloaded for free. Some media files on Wikimedia Commons have certain restrictions, but these restrictions are mostly related to image citations, which means that you can use them only if you credit the author. Such a huge selection of media files can be overwhelming for the newcomers to the Wikimedia Commons platform, but once you grow accustomed to the website’s interface discovering images becomes a straightforward process.

Pros:

• All images are available in high resolution
• Nearly all images can be used without any restrictions

Cons:

• Getting used to the website’s interface takes time
• The number of search results can be overwhelming

4. Flickr Commons

For more than a decade Flickr has been a popular online destination for photographers in need of a platform that enables them to present their work. The Flickr Commons is a project that unites more than a hundred institutions in an effort to create a library of public domain images. The project makes available a stunning amount of historical photographs and it grants you access to highly esteemed collections of photographs. Flick Commons is perfectly suited for researchers and scholars in need of public domain photos, they can use in their essays or research papers.

Pros:

• Unlimited access to historical photos
• Extends the knowledge available to the general public

Cons:

• Doesn’t offer videos or illustrations
• Search results are poorly organized

5. Unsplash

With a library that contains over 800,000 photos, Unsplash is easily one of the largest websites that offer public domain images. All pictures on this platform are organized into different categories, which makes finding a photo you want to use in a commercial or non-commercial project a relatively simple process. Alternatively, you can insert a keyword into a search bar and Unsplash will show you the results within seconds. However, the images you can find on this platform are similar to those you can purchase on stock photography websites, although some of them have an artistic touch that is hard to find on the majority of stock photos.

Pros:

• Excellent source of high-resolution photos
• Quick and easy search

Cons:

• Unsplash is dedicated solely to photography
• Limited amount of available public domain images

6. From Old Books

In case you are searching for images from old books you should look no further. This is a private collection of 2,600 images that are hard to find anywhere else on the Internet. You can browse through woodcuts, old texts or old holiday images, which makes this platform an excellent choice for anyone interested in rare images that were featured in old books. All pictures you can find on the From Old Books website are free to use on non-commercial projects, but you must pay a small fee if you want to download a high-resolution image you can use on a commercial project.

• Images are organized into categories
• Access to rare images

Cons

• Some images are not free
• Rudimentary website design

7. Morguefile

Morguefile is a website that offers stock footage to its users, but some of the images can’t be downloaded for free. That’s why you must click on the Free Photos tab before you start searching for public domain images on this website. The website hosts nearly 400.000 photos, videos, and vector graphics, but you must make sure that a file you want to download is within the public domain before you download it. The only downside is that the images aren’t organized into categories which can make finding the images you’re searching for more difficult than it needs to be.

Pros:

• Creating an account on Morguefile is free
• All free photos can be used on commercial projects

Cons:

• Images can be organized better
• Fewer free images than on other public domain image websites

8. Public Domain Archive

As the website’s name indicates, this is an archive of public domain images you can download for free and use in commercial contexts. All photos are organized into categories like abstract, free stock photos, people or wood which makes the search simpler. However, these categories don’t contain more than a few hundred photos and some of them offer as few as five pictures you can download. All photos are in high resolution and ready for professional use. The download process can be completed effortlessly in just a few quick steps. New images are added on a weekly basis.

Pros:

• Professional quality of images
• All images are free

Cons:

• A limited selection of photos
• Doesn’t offer vector graphics

9. NYPL Digital Gallery

NYPL Digital Gallery is an excellent resource for anyone who is not interested in stock photography. The New Your Public Library has made hundreds of thousands of historical images available to the public and you can use it to browse through items, collections or divisions. Before you enter a keyword you should click on the search only public domain materials tick box to ensure that the search results are going to display only images that can be used without restrictions. Additionally, the NYPL Digital Gallery lets you browse through its collection of digital books while its collections of photographs include the work of some of the highly esteemed American photographers.

Pros

• Public domain images are available in different resolutions
• Offers valuable research materials

Cons

• Some images are subject to copyright
• Only aimed at scholars and researchers

10. Viintage

Viintage is a gold mine for graphic designers as it grants them access to hundreds of vintage posters, book covers, and images. However, the amount of public domain images this website offers is limited and if you want to download the images from the collections of works created by famous artists from the late 19th and early 20th centuries you must purchase the premium version of Viintage. The website lacks some basic search options as it only allows you to type in the search term into the search bar. The images are not organized into categories which further complicates the process of finding a public domain image you’re looking for.

Pros:

• Offers a collection of rare vintage public domain images
• A great resource for graphic designers

Cons:

• Most images on Viintage can’t be downloaded for free
• Search tools are far from perfect

You may also like: Best Image Hosting Sites >>

How to Cite Public Domain Images Properly?

If you’re planning on using a public domain image in a blog or on your website, you must cite the source from which you acquired a particular image. The image citations should include the following information:

• The title of the image
• Author’s name
• Information about the institution at which an image is kept
• The source from which you acquired an image

In case you don’t have access to all of these information or if the information is simply not available you should include all details about a public domain image you have the access to. Furthermore, there are several styles of image citations that depend on the source from which an image was acquired.

Conclusion

Spending large sums of money on images you can use in commercial or private projects is not always necessary. The public domain images are widely available and they can be used in a broad range of contexts. Which website that lets you download public domain images do you like to use the most? Leave a comment and share your opinions with us.

Dont worry when you forget the syntax of an HTML element, like and iframe, a link, a table, an image or anything else. Visit HTML CheatSheet and generate the code you need.

Liza Brown

Liza Brown is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Liza Brown

Liza Brown

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Finding an image you like on the Internet doesn’t take long, since almost every website you can stumble upon, contains at least one picture. This doesn’t mean that you can just download any photo and use it in your blog, online marketing campaign or for any other purpose. Moreover, stock image websites like Getty Images or iStock let you purchase the right to use a photo commercially. As a reaction to an expanding stock image industry, many photographers, museums and cultural institutions are choosing to forfeit their rights and to publish public domain images. So, in this article, we are going to take you through the ten best public domain image websites where you can download pictures for free.

What Are Public Domain Images?

By definition, public domain images are photos, vectors or clip art that are available to anyone because their copyright has either expired or they never had a copyright owner. Consequently, anyone can use these images for both commercial or private projects without having to purchase the rights to do so. An image can enter a public domain under the following circumstances:

• Scientists, educators or artists can use the Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license to dedicate their images to the public domain
• A picture’s copyright is no longer in effect
• A photo was never the subject to copyright

It is of utmost importance to check if an image is within the public domain before you use it publicly in order to avoid potential legal complications.

How and Where to Find Public Domain Images?

A simple google search will reveal hundreds of websites that let you download public domain and royalty-free images. Which source you’re going to use depends on the type of image you’re looking for, since some websites are dedicated only to photography, while others feature impressive collections of public domain images of artworks. In addition, you’ll only want to download public domain images from the websites that offer information about the author because using a public domain image without crediting its author is strictly prohibited.

Best Websites for Downloading Public Domain Images

We’ve searched the Internet and we utilized our results to compile a collection of the most reliable websites that grant its users access to vast numbers of public domain images. Let’s take a look at some of the best websites that let you download public domain images.

1. Pexels

Graphic designers and all other creatives in constant need of a fresh supply of public domain images don’t need a special introduction to Pexels. The stock image platform is dedicated to photography and video, so you can’t use it to search for vectors or clip art. Even so, you can use Pexles to search for public domain images based on a particular keyword or browse through its collection of free images and discover photos spontaneously. Clicking on the Popular Searches tab will enable you to see the images from Light, Nature or Animals and it will shorten the amount of time you have to spend looking for a photo you want to download.

Pros:

• Neatly organized website
• Free and easy sign-up
• Offers a huge selection of free public domain images and videos according to the CC0 license
• Hand-picked High quality Images

Cons:

• Some categories should contain more images
• Optimizing the search terms can be difficult

2. Pixabay

Besides offering an impressive collection of royalty-free photos, Pixabay also lets you search for public domain vectors, illustrations, and videos. The website hosts more than a million high-resolution photos and videos you can download for free. To make things even better, becoming a member of the Pixabay’s community and creating an account on this platform won’t take more than a few minutes of your time. Pixabay also offers advanced search tools that enable you to combine searches, search for the author of an image or group search terms. In addition, you can also browse through the photographers that contribute their images to the platform on a regular basis.

Pros:

• Powerful search tools and various filters
• Huge collection of public domain images

Cons

• Customer support could be better

3. Wikimedia Commons

This is probably the largest website on the Internet where you can download public domain images. There are more than 49 million images, illustrations, vector graphics and videos available that can be downloaded for free. Some media files on Wikimedia Commons have certain restrictions, but these restrictions are mostly related to image citations, which means that you can use them only if you credit the author. Such a huge selection of media files can be overwhelming for the newcomers to the Wikimedia Commons platform, but once you grow accustomed to the website’s interface discovering images becomes a straightforward process.

Pros:

• All images are available in high resolution
• Nearly all images can be used without any restrictions

Cons:

• Getting used to the website’s interface takes time
• The number of search results can be overwhelming

4. Flickr Commons

For more than a decade Flickr has been a popular online destination for photographers in need of a platform that enables them to present their work. The Flickr Commons is a project that unites more than a hundred institutions in an effort to create a library of public domain images. The project makes available a stunning amount of historical photographs and it grants you access to highly esteemed collections of photographs. Flick Commons is perfectly suited for researchers and scholars in need of public domain photos, they can use in their essays or research papers.

Pros:

• Unlimited access to historical photos
• Extends the knowledge available to the general public

Cons:

• Doesn’t offer videos or illustrations
• Search results are poorly organized

5. Unsplash

With a library that contains over 800,000 photos, Unsplash is easily one of the largest websites that offer public domain images. All pictures on this platform are organized into different categories, which makes finding a photo you want to use in a commercial or non-commercial project a relatively simple process. Alternatively, you can insert a keyword into a search bar and Unsplash will show you the results within seconds. However, the images you can find on this platform are similar to those you can purchase on stock photography websites, although some of them have an artistic touch that is hard to find on the majority of stock photos.

Pros:

• Excellent source of high-resolution photos
• Quick and easy search

Cons:

• Unsplash is dedicated solely to photography
• Limited amount of available public domain images

6. From Old Books

In case you are searching for images from old books you should look no further. This is a private collection of 2,600 images that are hard to find anywhere else on the Internet. You can browse through woodcuts, old texts or old holiday images, which makes this platform an excellent choice for anyone interested in rare images that were featured in old books. All pictures you can find on the From Old Books website are free to use on non-commercial projects, but you must pay a small fee if you want to download a high-resolution image you can use on a commercial project.

• Images are organized into categories
• Access to rare images

Cons

• Some images are not free
• Rudimentary website design

7. Morguefile

Morguefile is a website that offers stock footage to its users, but some of the images can’t be downloaded for free. That’s why you must click on the Free Photos tab before you start searching for public domain images on this website. The website hosts nearly 400.000 photos, videos, and vector graphics, but you must make sure that a file you want to download is within the public domain before you download it. The only downside is that the images aren’t organized into categories which can make finding the images you’re searching for more difficult than it needs to be.

Pros:

• Creating an account on Morguefile is free
• All free photos can be used on commercial projects

Cons:

• Images can be organized better
• Fewer free images than on other public domain image websites

8. Public Domain Archive

As the website’s name indicates, this is an archive of public domain images you can download for free and use in commercial contexts. All photos are organized into categories like abstract, free stock photos, people or wood which makes the search simpler. However, these categories don’t contain more than a few hundred photos and some of them offer as few as five pictures you can download. All photos are in high resolution and ready for professional use. The download process can be completed effortlessly in just a few quick steps. New images are added on a weekly basis.

Pros:

• Professional quality of images
• All images are free

Cons:

• A limited selection of photos
• Doesn’t offer vector graphics

9. NYPL Digital Gallery

NYPL Digital Gallery is an excellent resource for anyone who is not interested in stock photography. The New Your Public Library has made hundreds of thousands of historical images available to the public and you can use it to browse through items, collections or divisions. Before you enter a keyword you should click on the search only public domain materials tick box to ensure that the search results are going to display only images that can be used without restrictions. Additionally, the NYPL Digital Gallery lets you browse through its collection of digital books while its collections of photographs include the work of some of the highly esteemed American photographers.

Pros

• Public domain images are available in different resolutions
• Offers valuable research materials

Cons

• Some images are subject to copyright
• Only aimed at scholars and researchers

10. Viintage

Viintage is a gold mine for graphic designers as it grants them access to hundreds of vintage posters, book covers, and images. However, the amount of public domain images this website offers is limited and if you want to download the images from the collections of works created by famous artists from the late 19th and early 20th centuries you must purchase the premium version of Viintage. The website lacks some basic search options as it only allows you to type in the search term into the search bar. The images are not organized into categories which further complicates the process of finding a public domain image you’re looking for.

Pros:

• Offers a collection of rare vintage public domain images
• A great resource for graphic designers

Cons:

• Most images on Viintage can’t be downloaded for free
• Search tools are far from perfect

You may also like: Best Image Hosting Sites >>

How to Cite Public Domain Images Properly?

If you’re planning on using a public domain image in a blog or on your website, you must cite the source from which you acquired a particular image. The image citations should include the following information:

• The title of the image
• Author’s name
• Information about the institution at which an image is kept
• The source from which you acquired an image

In case you don’t have access to all of these information or if the information is simply not available you should include all details about a public domain image you have the access to. Furthermore, there are several styles of image citations that depend on the source from which an image was acquired.

Conclusion

Spending large sums of money on images you can use in commercial or private projects is not always necessary. The public domain images are widely available and they can be used in a broad range of contexts. Which website that lets you download public domain images do you like to use the most? Leave a comment and share your opinions with us.

Dont worry when you forget the syntax of an HTML element, like and iframe, a link, a table, an image or anything else. Visit HTML CheatSheet and generate the code you need.

Liza Brown

Liza Brown is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Liza Brown

Liza Brown

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Finding an image you like on the Internet doesn’t take long, since almost every website you can stumble upon, contains at least one picture. This doesn’t mean that you can just download any photo and use it in your blog, online marketing campaign or for any other purpose. Moreover, stock image websites like Getty Images or iStock let you purchase the right to use a photo commercially. As a reaction to an expanding stock image industry, many photographers, museums and cultural institutions are choosing to forfeit their rights and to publish public domain images. So, in this article, we are going to take you through the ten best public domain image websites where you can download pictures for free.

What Are Public Domain Images?

By definition, public domain images are photos, vectors or clip art that are available to anyone because their copyright has either expired or they never had a copyright owner. Consequently, anyone can use these images for both commercial or private projects without having to purchase the rights to do so. An image can enter a public domain under the following circumstances:

• Scientists, educators or artists can use the Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license to dedicate their images to the public domain
• A picture’s copyright is no longer in effect
• A photo was never the subject to copyright

It is of utmost importance to check if an image is within the public domain before you use it publicly in order to avoid potential legal complications.

How and Where to Find Public Domain Images?

A simple google search will reveal hundreds of websites that let you download public domain and royalty-free images. Which source you’re going to use depends on the type of image you’re looking for, since some websites are dedicated only to photography, while others feature impressive collections of public domain images of artworks. In addition, you’ll only want to download public domain images from the websites that offer information about the author because using a public domain image without crediting its author is strictly prohibited.

Best Websites for Downloading Public Domain Images

We’ve searched the Internet and we utilized our results to compile a collection of the most reliable websites that grant its users access to vast numbers of public domain images. Let’s take a look at some of the best websites that let you download public domain images.

1. Pexels

Graphic designers and all other creatives in constant need of a fresh supply of public domain images don’t need a special introduction to Pexels. The stock image platform is dedicated to photography and video, so you can’t use it to search for vectors or clip art. Even so, you can use Pexles to search for public domain images based on a particular keyword or browse through its collection of free images and discover photos spontaneously. Clicking on the Popular Searches tab will enable you to see the images from Light, Nature or Animals and it will shorten the amount of time you have to spend looking for a photo you want to download.

Pros:

• Neatly organized website
• Free and easy sign-up
• Offers a huge selection of free public domain images and videos according to the CC0 license
• Hand-picked High quality Images

Cons:

• Some categories should contain more images
• Optimizing the search terms can be difficult

2. Pixabay

Besides offering an impressive collection of royalty-free photos, Pixabay also lets you search for public domain vectors, illustrations, and videos. The website hosts more than a million high-resolution photos and videos you can download for free. To make things even better, becoming a member of the Pixabay’s community and creating an account on this platform won’t take more than a few minutes of your time. Pixabay also offers advanced search tools that enable you to combine searches, search for the author of an image or group search terms. In addition, you can also browse through the photographers that contribute their images to the platform on a regular basis.

Pros:

• Powerful search tools and various filters
• Huge collection of public domain images

Cons

• Customer support could be better

3. Wikimedia Commons

This is probably the largest website on the Internet where you can download public domain images. There are more than 49 million images, illustrations, vector graphics and videos available that can be downloaded for free. Some media files on Wikimedia Commons have certain restrictions, but these restrictions are mostly related to image citations, which means that you can use them only if you credit the author. Such a huge selection of media files can be overwhelming for the newcomers to the Wikimedia Commons platform, but once you grow accustomed to the website’s interface discovering images becomes a straightforward process.

Pros:

• All images are available in high resolution
• Nearly all images can be used without any restrictions

Cons:

• Getting used to the website’s interface takes time
• The number of search results can be overwhelming

4. Flickr Commons

For more than a decade Flickr has been a popular online destination for photographers in need of a platform that enables them to present their work. The Flickr Commons is a project that unites more than a hundred institutions in an effort to create a library of public domain images. The project makes available a stunning amount of historical photographs and it grants you access to highly esteemed collections of photographs. Flick Commons is perfectly suited for researchers and scholars in need of public domain photos, they can use in their essays or research papers.

Pros:

• Unlimited access to historical photos
• Extends the knowledge available to the general public

Cons:

• Doesn’t offer videos or illustrations
• Search results are poorly organized

5. Unsplash

With a library that contains over 800,000 photos, Unsplash is easily one of the largest websites that offer public domain images. All pictures on this platform are organized into different categories, which makes finding a photo you want to use in a commercial or non-commercial project a relatively simple process. Alternatively, you can insert a keyword into a search bar and Unsplash will show you the results within seconds. However, the images you can find on this platform are similar to those you can purchase on stock photography websites, although some of them have an artistic touch that is hard to find on the majority of stock photos.

Pros:

• Excellent source of high-resolution photos
• Quick and easy search

Cons:

• Unsplash is dedicated solely to photography
• Limited amount of available public domain images

6. From Old Books

In case you are searching for images from old books you should look no further. This is a private collection of 2,600 images that are hard to find anywhere else on the Internet. You can browse through woodcuts, old texts or old holiday images, which makes this platform an excellent choice for anyone interested in rare images that were featured in old books. All pictures you can find on the From Old Books website are free to use on non-commercial projects, but you must pay a small fee if you want to download a high-resolution image you can use on a commercial project.

• Images are organized into categories
• Access to rare images

Cons

• Some images are not free
• Rudimentary website design

7. Morguefile

Morguefile is a website that offers stock footage to its users, but some of the images can’t be downloaded for free. That’s why you must click on the Free Photos tab before you start searching for public domain images on this website. The website hosts nearly 400.000 photos, videos, and vector graphics, but you must make sure that a file you want to download is within the public domain before you download it. The only downside is that the images aren’t organized into categories which can make finding the images you’re searching for more difficult than it needs to be.

Pros:

• Creating an account on Morguefile is free
• All free photos can be used on commercial projects

Cons:

• Images can be organized better
• Fewer free images than on other public domain image websites

8. Public Domain Archive

As the website’s name indicates, this is an archive of public domain images you can download for free and use in commercial contexts. All photos are organized into categories like abstract, free stock photos, people or wood which makes the search simpler. However, these categories don’t contain more than a few hundred photos and some of them offer as few as five pictures you can download. All photos are in high resolution and ready for professional use. The download process can be completed effortlessly in just a few quick steps. New images are added on a weekly basis.

Pros:

• Professional quality of images
• All images are free

Cons:

• A limited selection of photos
• Doesn’t offer vector graphics

9. NYPL Digital Gallery

NYPL Digital Gallery is an excellent resource for anyone who is not interested in stock photography. The New Your Public Library has made hundreds of thousands of historical images available to the public and you can use it to browse through items, collections or divisions. Before you enter a keyword you should click on the search only public domain materials tick box to ensure that the search results are going to display only images that can be used without restrictions. Additionally, the NYPL Digital Gallery lets you browse through its collection of digital books while its collections of photographs include the work of some of the highly esteemed American photographers.

Pros

• Public domain images are available in different resolutions
• Offers valuable research materials

Cons

• Some images are subject to copyright
• Only aimed at scholars and researchers

10. Viintage

Viintage is a gold mine for graphic designers as it grants them access to hundreds of vintage posters, book covers, and images. However, the amount of public domain images this website offers is limited and if you want to download the images from the collections of works created by famous artists from the late 19th and early 20th centuries you must purchase the premium version of Viintage. The website lacks some basic search options as it only allows you to type in the search term into the search bar. The images are not organized into categories which further complicates the process of finding a public domain image you’re looking for.

Pros:

• Offers a collection of rare vintage public domain images
• A great resource for graphic designers

Cons:

• Most images on Viintage can’t be downloaded for free
• Search tools are far from perfect

You may also like: Best Image Hosting Sites >>

How to Cite Public Domain Images Properly?

If you’re planning on using a public domain image in a blog or on your website, you must cite the source from which you acquired a particular image. The image citations should include the following information:

• The title of the image
• Author’s name
• Information about the institution at which an image is kept
• The source from which you acquired an image

In case you don’t have access to all of these information or if the information is simply not available you should include all details about a public domain image you have the access to. Furthermore, there are several styles of image citations that depend on the source from which an image was acquired.

Conclusion

Spending large sums of money on images you can use in commercial or private projects is not always necessary. The public domain images are widely available and they can be used in a broad range of contexts. Which website that lets you download public domain images do you like to use the most? Leave a comment and share your opinions with us.

Dont worry when you forget the syntax of an HTML element, like and iframe, a link, a table, an image or anything else. Visit HTML CheatSheet and generate the code you need.

Liza Brown

Liza Brown is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Liza Brown

The Top Spots: 10+ Websites to Download Free and Paid Games

Top 10+ Websites to Download Games

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Gaming has been an exciting and addictive way to relax and have fun since forever. It has been an essential part of every culture, and many countries have their national games as well. Gaming enhances not only our physical capabilities but also our mental capabilities since we have to use our imagination and brain to choose every next move. Games are a form of social bonding; our games have evolved with the rest of things as time has passed. The gaming world for humans started with “Knucklebones” and dice games, and now we have reached the era of video games with various types like action games, car games, arcade games, etc. You can get games from CDs, Apple App Stores, or GooglePlay, or you can download them from various websites. In this article, I’ll share with you the best websites to download games on a PC or Mac computer as well as game download sites for Android devices.

• Part 1: Best PC Game Download Sites
• Part 2: Top Android Game Download Sites
• Part 3: FAQs About Game Download Sites

---

You may also like:

• 8 Best Free Video Game Sound Effects You Need to Know
• Difference and Debate Between Roguelite and Roguelike Games
• Best TV for Your PS5 in 2021

---

Bonus: Best Gaming Video Editing Software

For those who are interested in sharing the gameplay experience on YouTube or other video sharing platforms, editing the gameplay video with a reliable video editing software is one of the most important things. Besides the normally trimming and cutting, you may also need some cool visual effects, filters, overlays, and titles as well. Here, we recommend you to try Wondershare Filmora to edit your videos . Remember to join in the Wondershare Video Community to watch more inspirational videos.

---

Part 1: Best PC Game Download Sites [2024 Updates]

Here is a list of top 8 websites to download games on your PC.

1 Steam

This website for downloading games is developed by Valve Corporations and has been functioning for the past thirteen years. Steam is considered to be the largest digital distribution platform for video games up to date. They have over a thousand games, from indie games to action games, they have everything available for their players. Furthermore, Steam operates in 28 languages.

Single Player and Multiplayer

Games at Steam allow single-player gaming as well as multiplayer gaming. You can have fun with friends by challenging them over a game and have fun while relaxing at the same time. You can challenge a local multiplayer as well as challenge someone online.

Video streaming

This gaming platform allows the players to stream videos of games in the form of movies, demos, tutorials, or episodes. The categories include anime, comedy, drama, horror, action, and sci-fi.

Social Networking

The platform offers the players to connect socially, meet millions of new people, form clans, and chat during the game through their community.

Availability

Steam is available on Windows, Linux, and Mac. This gives the players the freedom to buy a game once and play anywhere and at any time.

Create and Share

This digital platform allows you to create new games through the ‘Steam Workshop’. It allows animation and modeling of the game, sound production, photo editing, game development, and various other features. You can also give gifts to your friends and trade items as well.

Pros:

• It has a variety of games and allows early access to some games for a limited time.
• You can play with an automated player, with your friend or with a stranger online, which enhances the fun.
• It is available in 28 languages due to its built-in translator, so it is easier to use and understand by people all over the world.
• It is easily accessible and easy to download.

Cons:

• Some of the games are rather pricey.
• The games available for free lack variety and have very few features to incite excitement in a player.

A cross-platform for making videos anywhere for all creators

Why your video editing isn’t good enough? How about some creative inspo?

• 100 Million+ Users
• 150+ Countries and Regions
• 4 Million+ Social Media Followers
• 5 Million+ Stock Media for Use

Try It Free Try It Free

Try It Free

Try It Free

* Secure Download

2 GOG

GOG.com is operated by GOG Limited. It was formerly known as Good Old Games. GOG.com is a Cypriot digital platform for video games and movies. These movies and games can be downloaded and purchased online.

Install and auto-update

You can install the game with just one click, and you do not have to install a special client to run games or download. The game will always be updated with new features automatically, but if you do not want to update your game, then you can choose to stop the automatic updates.

Cloud Saving

You will never lose your game progress because the game will be saved in the cloud automatically and will stay synced with all of your devices.

Offline Mode

The games installed from this platform do not need an internet connection to run. You can even play offline, and the game will still be backed up.

Rollback the updates

If you do not like the new game update, then you can choose to restore your prior update.

Pros:

• It is easy to use, download, and access.
• The games are not pricey, and GOG.com also puts many games up for occasional sales and accepts gift cards as well.
• It has a large variety of games with excellent features.
• It is compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux.

Cons:

• The games are old, and not many new games are introduced.
• It does not have multiplayer gaming features.

3 G2A

G2A.com is considered to be the fastest-growing global digital marketplace. It has over 12 million customers and 2 million sellers all over the world. G2A.com acts as an intermediary and connects the buyer and the seller. It does not sell or purchase games itself but only delivers different platforms for others to sell and buy digital products.

Variety in platforms

G2A provides all sorts of platforms to its customers like Xbox, Steam, PSN, Origin, Apple, Gameforge, Battlenet, Uplay, GOG, etc.

Variety in genres

This digital marketplace contains various genres like action, arcade, games for children, puzzle, simulation, song games, racing, sport, etc.

Gift cards

Gift cards for different platforms are also sold here.

G2A 3D+

This feature allows the customer to choose their favorite hero or a legendary weapon from their favorite game, and then G2A will print it, color it and ship it to your doorstep.

G2A Goldmine

This feature allows you to earn real money for promoting G2A.com products to other gamers worldwide. No registration fee or investment is required, and you can do this from your home.

Pros:

• G2A.com offers a home-based job with a competitive salary so gamers can earn and play side by side.
• A lot of new projects are introduced, so the excitement never dies.
• The site can be accessed in more than 20 languages.

Cons:

• The site is not very well protected and is exposed to scams.

4 Origin

Origin is a digital distribution software that promotes online gaming. It has been developed by Electronic Arts, a company behind many globally successful games. You can purchases games on your PC as well as on your mobile.

Social Features

Origin provides its users with many social features like profile management, networking with friends through chatting and video streaming via TwitchTV. You can also share your game library and community integration through social media and networking sites like Facebook, Xbox Live, PlayStation Network, and Nintendo Network.

Variety in games

It provides a large variety in games from PC games to Fifa, and even classic games like Plant Vs. Zombies are also available.

Deals

It offers the best and cheapest deals and also puts up a few games for sale occasionally.

Pros:

• It provides great game streaming features.
• It is developed by a renowned and successful company so it can be trusted.
• There ‘on the house specials’ are appreciated by a lot of gamers, which allows them to play a paid game for free every now and then.

Cons:

• It has a lot of updates and takes an unreasonable amount of time to install and update the software.
• Customers have complained that they provide expired discount codes.
• Customer service needs to be improved as it is not very responsive.

5 PC games

PC games is an online gaming site. You can purchase and download various games from this site. It is operated by EA games.

Categories

PC games contain various genres like action, arcade, games for children, puzzle, simulation, song games, racing, sport, etc.

Origin

It allows you to buy the games from origin.com, which is also operated under EA games.

Community forum

It has a community forum that is available to answer your questions 24/7.

Pros:

• It is easy to access and download.
• It contains one of the most interesting and addictive games.

Cons:

• The quantity of games available is very less, so there is not a lot of variety of games.
• Sometimes the site crashes, and the games have to be downloaded from the start.

6 Ocean of Games

It is developed by a British software company Ocean software.

• It has a large variety of games like action games, song games, arcade games, RPG, survival and fantasy games, etc.
• It provides networking features through its community forum where all the players can meet new people and chat even during gaming.
• It allows both single-player and multiplayer gaming.

Pros:

• The player can challenge an automated player, with your friend or with a stranger online, which enhances the fun.
• It provides great game streaming features.
• It is compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux.

Cons:

• It is not very well protected and hence exposed to scams.
• The games are not updated, and old versions are still played.
• Some people use the community forum to harass other players, and no action is taken regarding it.

7 Softpedia

Softpedia is an online gaming site that provides the customers the facility to purchase and download games at a very reasonable price.

• Softpedia contains a large library of games of various categories like action games, song games, arcade games, RPG, survival and fantasy games, etc.
• It offers free game cheats and demos to the players.
• Its game application finder feature allows you to find the exact game that you are looking for.
• The games are available for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and Drivers as well.

Pros:

• The games are not pricey and are available at a very low price.

Cons:

• The community forum is barely used.
• The website is not updated, so there are no new games available.
• The games are not automatically updated.

8 Skidrow reloaded

Skidrow reloaded is an online gaming site from where you can purchase and download games.

• Softpedia contains a large library of games of various categories like action games, song games, arcade games, RPG, survival and fantasy games, etc.
• The website is not updated very well, so this site does not provide its user with enough features.
• The games can be downloaded through torrent, Multilink, KatFile, GO4UP, Hitfile, Turbobit, Jheberg, DownAce, and various other links.
• It provides its customers to request any games to which they need links for downloading.

Pros:

• It allows users to request games.
• It provides a lot of links to download a game.

Cons:

• The website is not properly maintained.
• There is no community forum.
• There is no such variety of games.
• The games are not of high quality.

If you’re looking for some websites to download games for free, you can check our free game download sites list.

---

Part 2: Top Android Game Download Sites

Android is the fastest growing software and is preferred by the majority. Besides the above websites that we picked for downloading games on PC or Mac computer, we’ve done some research and figured out some best sites to download games on android are as follows:

1 Google play

Google play is operated by Google for the Android operating system, and it has been functioning for the past three years. It was formerly known as the android market. Google play contains millions of apps of various categories, so there is something for everyone. Google Play provides a large range of categories of games.

• Every game is easily downloadable, but it depends merely upon your internet connection.
• The purchasing methods are through credit cards, and the procedure is very easy.
• The platform allows everyone and anyone to sell their games.
• Sign up through your Google account is necessary to get access to these features.

Pros:

• It is easy to access.
• It is preinstalled in all android supported devices.
• It contains a huge collection of unique games.

Cons:

• Since everyone and anyone can access it without paying any registration fee, it is exposed to scams and harassment.
• A few games do not function and keep crashing.

2 Android Games Room

It has thousands of free and paid games.

• It has thousands of games in various categories.
• The games are very easily downloaded.
• The games can be even downloaded on your android mobile.
• You can access this site on your mobile by just scanning a QR code.

Pros:

• The site is easily accessible.
• The games are cheap and easily downloadable.

Cons:

• The site does not have a community forum.
• The customer service is not responsive.
• The downloading process is slow.
• No multiplayer gaming.

3 Android Apps

It is an online gaming site where games are handpicked every day, either for free or for a reasonable price.

• It contains a large library of games of various categories.
• You can promote your games also by using the ‘promote your app’ feature.

Pros:

• It is easily accessible and is easy to use.
• The site is updated every day, so new games are available each day.

Cons:

• Multiplayer gaming is not available.
• The customer service is not responsive.
• It has a lot of updates and takes an unreasonable amount of time to install and update the software.

Above are the top websites to download games. I hope you will get interesting games and have fun playing it. For making a great gaming video, you can also add some interesting visual effects and elements to the video.

Part 3: FAQs About Game Download Sites

1. Where can I download PC games for free?

There are plenty of free PC games available in the App Store & Microsoft stores. You can play & download free mini-games from sites like myplaycity.com & miniclip.com. Major game distributing platforms such as Steam, GOG, Uplay, Itch.io, etc. provide numerous free-to-play titles. These sites also frequently hold limited-time giveaways of paid games.

2. What is the safest website to download free games?

Downloading free games puts you at the risk of malware attacks, phishing, spoofing, viruses, and more. Therefore, we highly recommend that you don’t download games from websites without a proper security check. The safest website for downloading free PC games would be Steam. It is a cross-platform game distribution service with thousands of free-to-play games. All the games are vigorously checked and tested for security vulnerabilities. The increasing support for gaming on Linux makes it critical for Linux gamers.

3. Can we download PC games on Android?

There isn’t a straightforward answer to this question. By ‘download,’ if you mean installing or playing, you can only play specific ported titles. GTA San Andreas is one such PC game ported to Android. Some game streaming services like Stadia & Nvidia Geforce Now let you play PC games on Android. However, you can certainly download (not install or play) PC games on Android. There are a few things to keep in mind though. Android internal (& in some cases external) storage does not support single files that are over 4 GB in size. For downloading files greater than 4 GB, you will have to flash your storage in the exFAT or NTFS file system. Moreover, game distributors such as Steam do not allow downloading PC games on Android.

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Gaming has been an exciting and addictive way to relax and have fun since forever. It has been an essential part of every culture, and many countries have their national games as well. Gaming enhances not only our physical capabilities but also our mental capabilities since we have to use our imagination and brain to choose every next move. Games are a form of social bonding; our games have evolved with the rest of things as time has passed. The gaming world for humans started with “Knucklebones” and dice games, and now we have reached the era of video games with various types like action games, car games, arcade games, etc. You can get games from CDs, Apple App Stores, or GooglePlay, or you can download them from various websites. In this article, I’ll share with you the best websites to download games on a PC or Mac computer as well as game download sites for Android devices.

• Part 1: Best PC Game Download Sites
• Part 2: Top Android Game Download Sites
• Part 3: FAQs About Game Download Sites

---

You may also like:

• 8 Best Free Video Game Sound Effects You Need to Know
• Difference and Debate Between Roguelite and Roguelike Games
• Best TV for Your PS5 in 2021

---

Bonus: Best Gaming Video Editing Software

For those who are interested in sharing the gameplay experience on YouTube or other video sharing platforms, editing the gameplay video with a reliable video editing software is one of the most important things. Besides the normally trimming and cutting, you may also need some cool visual effects, filters, overlays, and titles as well. Here, we recommend you to try Wondershare Filmora to edit your videos . Remember to join in the Wondershare Video Community to watch more inspirational videos.

---

Part 1: Best PC Game Download Sites [2024 Updates]

Here is a list of top 8 websites to download games on your PC.

1 Steam

This website for downloading games is developed by Valve Corporations and has been functioning for the past thirteen years. Steam is considered to be the largest digital distribution platform for video games up to date. They have over a thousand games, from indie games to action games, they have everything available for their players. Furthermore, Steam operates in 28 languages.

Single Player and Multiplayer

Games at Steam allow single-player gaming as well as multiplayer gaming. You can have fun with friends by challenging them over a game and have fun while relaxing at the same time. You can challenge a local multiplayer as well as challenge someone online.

Video streaming

This gaming platform allows the players to stream videos of games in the form of movies, demos, tutorials, or episodes. The categories include anime, comedy, drama, horror, action, and sci-fi.

Social Networking

The platform offers the players to connect socially, meet millions of new people, form clans, and chat during the game through their community.

Availability

Steam is available on Windows, Linux, and Mac. This gives the players the freedom to buy a game once and play anywhere and at any time.

Create and Share

This digital platform allows you to create new games through the ‘Steam Workshop’. It allows animation and modeling of the game, sound production, photo editing, game development, and various other features. You can also give gifts to your friends and trade items as well.

Pros:

• It has a variety of games and allows early access to some games for a limited time.
• You can play with an automated player, with your friend or with a stranger online, which enhances the fun.
• It is available in 28 languages due to its built-in translator, so it is easier to use and understand by people all over the world.
• It is easily accessible and easy to download.

Cons:

• Some of the games are rather pricey.
• The games available for free lack variety and have very few features to incite excitement in a player.

A cross-platform for making videos anywhere for all creators

Why your video editing isn’t good enough? How about some creative inspo?

• 100 Million+ Users
• 150+ Countries and Regions
• 4 Million+ Social Media Followers
• 5 Million+ Stock Media for Use

Try It Free Try It Free

Try It Free

Try It Free

* Secure Download

2 GOG

GOG.com is operated by GOG Limited. It was formerly known as Good Old Games. GOG.com is a Cypriot digital platform for video games and movies. These movies and games can be downloaded and purchased online.

Install and auto-update

You can install the game with just one click, and you do not have to install a special client to run games or download. The game will always be updated with new features automatically, but if you do not want to update your game, then you can choose to stop the automatic updates.

Cloud Saving

You will never lose your game progress because the game will be saved in the cloud automatically and will stay synced with all of your devices.

Offline Mode

The games installed from this platform do not need an internet connection to run. You can even play offline, and the game will still be backed up.

Rollback the updates

If you do not like the new game update, then you can choose to restore your prior update.

Pros:

• It is easy to use, download, and access.
• The games are not pricey, and GOG.com also puts many games up for occasional sales and accepts gift cards as well.
• It has a large variety of games with excellent features.
• It is compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux.

Cons:

• The games are old, and not many new games are introduced.
• It does not have multiplayer gaming features.

3 G2A

G2A.com is considered to be the fastest-growing global digital marketplace. It has over 12 million customers and 2 million sellers all over the world. G2A.com acts as an intermediary and connects the buyer and the seller. It does not sell or purchase games itself but only delivers different platforms for others to sell and buy digital products.

Variety in platforms

G2A provides all sorts of platforms to its customers like Xbox, Steam, PSN, Origin, Apple, Gameforge, Battlenet, Uplay, GOG, etc.

Variety in genres

This digital marketplace contains various genres like action, arcade, games for children, puzzle, simulation, song games, racing, sport, etc.

Gift cards

Gift cards for different platforms are also sold here.

G2A 3D+

This feature allows the customer to choose their favorite hero or a legendary weapon from their favorite game, and then G2A will print it, color it and ship it to your doorstep.

G2A Goldmine

This feature allows you to earn real money for promoting G2A.com products to other gamers worldwide. No registration fee or investment is required, and you can do this from your home.

Pros:

• G2A.com offers a home-based job with a competitive salary so gamers can earn and play side by side.
• A lot of new projects are introduced, so the excitement never dies.
• The site can be accessed in more than 20 languages.

Cons:

• The site is not very well protected and is exposed to scams.

4 Origin

Origin is a digital distribution software that promotes online gaming. It has been developed by Electronic Arts, a company behind many globally successful games. You can purchases games on your PC as well as on your mobile.

Social Features

Origin provides its users with many social features like profile management, networking with friends through chatting and video streaming via TwitchTV. You can also share your game library and community integration through social media and networking sites like Facebook, Xbox Live, PlayStation Network, and Nintendo Network.

Variety in games

It provides a large variety in games from PC games to Fifa, and even classic games like Plant Vs. Zombies are also available.

Deals

It offers the best and cheapest deals and also puts up a few games for sale occasionally.

Pros:

• It provides great game streaming features.
• It is developed by a renowned and successful company so it can be trusted.
• There ‘on the house specials’ are appreciated by a lot of gamers, which allows them to play a paid game for free every now and then.

Cons:

• It has a lot of updates and takes an unreasonable amount of time to install and update the software.
• Customers have complained that they provide expired discount codes.
• Customer service needs to be improved as it is not very responsive.

5 PC games

PC games is an online gaming site. You can purchase and download various games from this site. It is operated by EA games.

Categories

PC games contain various genres like action, arcade, games for children, puzzle, simulation, song games, racing, sport, etc.

Origin

It allows you to buy the games from origin.com, which is also operated under EA games.

Community forum

It has a community forum that is available to answer your questions 24/7.

Pros:

• It is easy to access and download.
• It contains one of the most interesting and addictive games.

Cons:

• The quantity of games available is very less, so there is not a lot of variety of games.
• Sometimes the site crashes, and the games have to be downloaded from the start.

6 Ocean of Games

It is developed by a British software company Ocean software.

• It has a large variety of games like action games, song games, arcade games, RPG, survival and fantasy games, etc.
• It provides networking features through its community forum where all the players can meet new people and chat even during gaming.
• It allows both single-player and multiplayer gaming.

Pros:

• The player can challenge an automated player, with your friend or with a stranger online, which enhances the fun.
• It provides great game streaming features.
• It is compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux.

Cons:

• It is not very well protected and hence exposed to scams.
• The games are not updated, and old versions are still played.
• Some people use the community forum to harass other players, and no action is taken regarding it.

7 Softpedia

Softpedia is an online gaming site that provides the customers the facility to purchase and download games at a very reasonable price.

• Softpedia contains a large library of games of various categories like action games, song games, arcade games, RPG, survival and fantasy games, etc.
• It offers free game cheats and demos to the players.
• Its game application finder feature allows you to find the exact game that you are looking for.
• The games are available for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and Drivers as well.

Pros:

• The games are not pricey and are available at a very low price.

Cons:

• The community forum is barely used.
• The website is not updated, so there are no new games available.
• The games are not automatically updated.

8 Skidrow reloaded

Skidrow reloaded is an online gaming site from where you can purchase and download games.

• Softpedia contains a large library of games of various categories like action games, song games, arcade games, RPG, survival and fantasy games, etc.
• The website is not updated very well, so this site does not provide its user with enough features.
• The games can be downloaded through torrent, Multilink, KatFile, GO4UP, Hitfile, Turbobit, Jheberg, DownAce, and various other links.
• It provides its customers to request any games to which they need links for downloading.

Pros:

• It allows users to request games.
• It provides a lot of links to download a game.

Cons:

• The website is not properly maintained.
• There is no community forum.
• There is no such variety of games.
• The games are not of high quality.

If you’re looking for some websites to download games for free, you can check our free game download sites list.

---

Part 2: Top Android Game Download Sites

Android is the fastest growing software and is preferred by the majority. Besides the above websites that we picked for downloading games on PC or Mac computer, we’ve done some research and figured out some best sites to download games on android are as follows:

1 Google play

Google play is operated by Google for the Android operating system, and it has been functioning for the past three years. It was formerly known as the android market. Google play contains millions of apps of various categories, so there is something for everyone. Google Play provides a large range of categories of games.

• Every game is easily downloadable, but it depends merely upon your internet connection.
• The purchasing methods are through credit cards, and the procedure is very easy.
• The platform allows everyone and anyone to sell their games.
• Sign up through your Google account is necessary to get access to these features.

Pros:

• It is easy to access.
• It is preinstalled in all android supported devices.
• It contains a huge collection of unique games.

Cons:

• Since everyone and anyone can access it without paying any registration fee, it is exposed to scams and harassment.
• A few games do not function and keep crashing.

2 Android Games Room

It has thousands of free and paid games.

• It has thousands of games in various categories.
• The games are very easily downloaded.
• The games can be even downloaded on your android mobile.
• You can access this site on your mobile by just scanning a QR code.

Pros:

• The site is easily accessible.
• The games are cheap and easily downloadable.

Cons:

• The site does not have a community forum.
• The customer service is not responsive.
• The downloading process is slow.
• No multiplayer gaming.

3 Android Apps

It is an online gaming site where games are handpicked every day, either for free or for a reasonable price.

• It contains a large library of games of various categories.
• You can promote your games also by using the ‘promote your app’ feature.

Pros:

• It is easily accessible and is easy to use.
• The site is updated every day, so new games are available each day.

Cons:

• Multiplayer gaming is not available.
• The customer service is not responsive.
• It has a lot of updates and takes an unreasonable amount of time to install and update the software.

Above are the top websites to download games. I hope you will get interesting games and have fun playing it. For making a great gaming video, you can also add some interesting visual effects and elements to the video.

Part 3: FAQs About Game Download Sites

1. Where can I download PC games for free?

There are plenty of free PC games available in the App Store & Microsoft stores. You can play & download free mini-games from sites like myplaycity.com & miniclip.com. Major game distributing platforms such as Steam, GOG, Uplay, Itch.io, etc. provide numerous free-to-play titles. These sites also frequently hold limited-time giveaways of paid games.

2. What is the safest website to download free games?

Downloading free games puts you at the risk of malware attacks, phishing, spoofing, viruses, and more. Therefore, we highly recommend that you don’t download games from websites without a proper security check. The safest website for downloading free PC games would be Steam. It is a cross-platform game distribution service with thousands of free-to-play games. All the games are vigorously checked and tested for security vulnerabilities. The increasing support for gaming on Linux makes it critical for Linux gamers.

3. Can we download PC games on Android?

There isn’t a straightforward answer to this question. By ‘download,’ if you mean installing or playing, you can only play specific ported titles. GTA San Andreas is one such PC game ported to Android. Some game streaming services like Stadia & Nvidia Geforce Now let you play PC games on Android. However, you can certainly download (not install or play) PC games on Android. There are a few things to keep in mind though. Android internal (& in some cases external) storage does not support single files that are over 4 GB in size. For downloading files greater than 4 GB, you will have to flash your storage in the exFAT or NTFS file system. Moreover, game distributors such as Steam do not allow downloading PC games on Android.

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Gaming has been an exciting and addictive way to relax and have fun since forever. It has been an essential part of every culture, and many countries have their national games as well. Gaming enhances not only our physical capabilities but also our mental capabilities since we have to use our imagination and brain to choose every next move. Games are a form of social bonding; our games have evolved with the rest of things as time has passed. The gaming world for humans started with “Knucklebones” and dice games, and now we have reached the era of video games with various types like action games, car games, arcade games, etc. You can get games from CDs, Apple App Stores, or GooglePlay, or you can download them from various websites. In this article, I’ll share with you the best websites to download games on a PC or Mac computer as well as game download sites for Android devices.

• Part 1: Best PC Game Download Sites
• Part 2: Top Android Game Download Sites
• Part 3: FAQs About Game Download Sites

---

You may also like:

• 8 Best Free Video Game Sound Effects You Need to Know
• Difference and Debate Between Roguelite and Roguelike Games
• Best TV for Your PS5 in 2021

---

Bonus: Best Gaming Video Editing Software

For those who are interested in sharing the gameplay experience on YouTube or other video sharing platforms, editing the gameplay video with a reliable video editing software is one of the most important things. Besides the normally trimming and cutting, you may also need some cool visual effects, filters, overlays, and titles as well. Here, we recommend you to try Wondershare Filmora to edit your videos . Remember to join in the Wondershare Video Community to watch more inspirational videos.

---

Part 1: Best PC Game Download Sites [2024 Updates]

Here is a list of top 8 websites to download games on your PC.

1 Steam

This website for downloading games is developed by Valve Corporations and has been functioning for the past thirteen years. Steam is considered to be the largest digital distribution platform for video games up to date. They have over a thousand games, from indie games to action games, they have everything available for their players. Furthermore, Steam operates in 28 languages.

Single Player and Multiplayer

Games at Steam allow single-player gaming as well as multiplayer gaming. You can have fun with friends by challenging them over a game and have fun while relaxing at the same time. You can challenge a local multiplayer as well as challenge someone online.

Video streaming

This gaming platform allows the players to stream videos of games in the form of movies, demos, tutorials, or episodes. The categories include anime, comedy, drama, horror, action, and sci-fi.

Social Networking

The platform offers the players to connect socially, meet millions of new people, form clans, and chat during the game through their community.

Availability

Steam is available on Windows, Linux, and Mac. This gives the players the freedom to buy a game once and play anywhere and at any time.

Create and Share

This digital platform allows you to create new games through the ‘Steam Workshop’. It allows animation and modeling of the game, sound production, photo editing, game development, and various other features. You can also give gifts to your friends and trade items as well.

Pros:

• It has a variety of games and allows early access to some games for a limited time.
• You can play with an automated player, with your friend or with a stranger online, which enhances the fun.
• It is available in 28 languages due to its built-in translator, so it is easier to use and understand by people all over the world.
• It is easily accessible and easy to download.

Cons:

• Some of the games are rather pricey.
• The games available for free lack variety and have very few features to incite excitement in a player.

A cross-platform for making videos anywhere for all creators

Why your video editing isn’t good enough? How about some creative inspo?

• 100 Million+ Users
• 150+ Countries and Regions
• 4 Million+ Social Media Followers
• 5 Million+ Stock Media for Use

Try It Free Try It Free

Try It Free

Try It Free

* Secure Download

2 GOG

GOG.com is operated by GOG Limited. It was formerly known as Good Old Games. GOG.com is a Cypriot digital platform for video games and movies. These movies and games can be downloaded and purchased online.

Install and auto-update

You can install the game with just one click, and you do not have to install a special client to run games or download. The game will always be updated with new features automatically, but if you do not want to update your game, then you can choose to stop the automatic updates.

Cloud Saving

You will never lose your game progress because the game will be saved in the cloud automatically and will stay synced with all of your devices.

Offline Mode

The games installed from this platform do not need an internet connection to run. You can even play offline, and the game will still be backed up.

Rollback the updates

If you do not like the new game update, then you can choose to restore your prior update.

Pros:

• It is easy to use, download, and access.
• The games are not pricey, and GOG.com also puts many games up for occasional sales and accepts gift cards as well.
• It has a large variety of games with excellent features.
• It is compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux.

Cons:

• The games are old, and not many new games are introduced.
• It does not have multiplayer gaming features.

3 G2A

G2A.com is considered to be the fastest-growing global digital marketplace. It has over 12 million customers and 2 million sellers all over the world. G2A.com acts as an intermediary and connects the buyer and the seller. It does not sell or purchase games itself but only delivers different platforms for others to sell and buy digital products.

Variety in platforms

G2A provides all sorts of platforms to its customers like Xbox, Steam, PSN, Origin, Apple, Gameforge, Battlenet, Uplay, GOG, etc.

Variety in genres

This digital marketplace contains various genres like action, arcade, games for children, puzzle, simulation, song games, racing, sport, etc.

Gift cards

Gift cards for different platforms are also sold here.

G2A 3D+

This feature allows the customer to choose their favorite hero or a legendary weapon from their favorite game, and then G2A will print it, color it and ship it to your doorstep.

G2A Goldmine

This feature allows you to earn real money for promoting G2A.com products to other gamers worldwide. No registration fee or investment is required, and you can do this from your home.

Pros:

• G2A.com offers a home-based job with a competitive salary so gamers can earn and play side by side.
• A lot of new projects are introduced, so the excitement never dies.
• The site can be accessed in more than 20 languages.

Cons:

• The site is not very well protected and is exposed to scams.

4 Origin

Origin is a digital distribution software that promotes online gaming. It has been developed by Electronic Arts, a company behind many globally successful games. You can purchases games on your PC as well as on your mobile.

Social Features

Origin provides its users with many social features like profile management, networking with friends through chatting and video streaming via TwitchTV. You can also share your game library and community integration through social media and networking sites like Facebook, Xbox Live, PlayStation Network, and Nintendo Network.

Variety in games

It provides a large variety in games from PC games to Fifa, and even classic games like Plant Vs. Zombies are also available.

Deals

It offers the best and cheapest deals and also puts up a few games for sale occasionally.

Pros:

• It provides great game streaming features.
• It is developed by a renowned and successful company so it can be trusted.
• There ‘on the house specials’ are appreciated by a lot of gamers, which allows them to play a paid game for free every now and then.

Cons:

• It has a lot of updates and takes an unreasonable amount of time to install and update the software.
• Customers have complained that they provide expired discount codes.
• Customer service needs to be improved as it is not very responsive.

5 PC games

PC games is an online gaming site. You can purchase and download various games from this site. It is operated by EA games.

Categories

PC games contain various genres like action, arcade, games for children, puzzle, simulation, song games, racing, sport, etc.

Origin

It allows you to buy the games from origin.com, which is also operated under EA games.

Community forum

It has a community forum that is available to answer your questions 24/7.

Pros:

• It is easy to access and download.
• It contains one of the most interesting and addictive games.

Cons:

• The quantity of games available is very less, so there is not a lot of variety of games.
• Sometimes the site crashes, and the games have to be downloaded from the start.

6 Ocean of Games

It is developed by a British software company Ocean software.

• It has a large variety of games like action games, song games, arcade games, RPG, survival and fantasy games, etc.
• It provides networking features through its community forum where all the players can meet new people and chat even during gaming.
• It allows both single-player and multiplayer gaming.

Pros:

• The player can challenge an automated player, with your friend or with a stranger online, which enhances the fun.
• It provides great game streaming features.
• It is compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux.

Cons:

• It is not very well protected and hence exposed to scams.
• The games are not updated, and old versions are still played.
• Some people use the community forum to harass other players, and no action is taken regarding it.

7 Softpedia

Softpedia is an online gaming site that provides the customers the facility to purchase and download games at a very reasonable price.

• Softpedia contains a large library of games of various categories like action games, song games, arcade games, RPG, survival and fantasy games, etc.
• It offers free game cheats and demos to the players.
• Its game application finder feature allows you to find the exact game that you are looking for.
• The games are available for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and Drivers as well.

Pros:

• The games are not pricey and are available at a very low price.

Cons:

• The community forum is barely used.
• The website is not updated, so there are no new games available.
• The games are not automatically updated.

8 Skidrow reloaded

Skidrow reloaded is an online gaming site from where you can purchase and download games.

• Softpedia contains a large library of games of various categories like action games, song games, arcade games, RPG, survival and fantasy games, etc.
• The website is not updated very well, so this site does not provide its user with enough features.
• The games can be downloaded through torrent, Multilink, KatFile, GO4UP, Hitfile, Turbobit, Jheberg, DownAce, and various other links.
• It provides its customers to request any games to which they need links for downloading.

Pros:

• It allows users to request games.
• It provides a lot of links to download a game.

Cons:

• The website is not properly maintained.
• There is no community forum.
• There is no such variety of games.
• The games are not of high quality.

If you’re looking for some websites to download games for free, you can check our free game download sites list.

---

Part 2: Top Android Game Download Sites

Android is the fastest growing software and is preferred by the majority. Besides the above websites that we picked for downloading games on PC or Mac computer, we’ve done some research and figured out some best sites to download games on android are as follows:

1 Google play

Google play is operated by Google for the Android operating system, and it has been functioning for the past three years. It was formerly known as the android market. Google play contains millions of apps of various categories, so there is something for everyone. Google Play provides a large range of categories of games.

• Every game is easily downloadable, but it depends merely upon your internet connection.
• The purchasing methods are through credit cards, and the procedure is very easy.
• The platform allows everyone and anyone to sell their games.
• Sign up through your Google account is necessary to get access to these features.

Pros:

• It is easy to access.
• It is preinstalled in all android supported devices.
• It contains a huge collection of unique games.

Cons:

• Since everyone and anyone can access it without paying any registration fee, it is exposed to scams and harassment.
• A few games do not function and keep crashing.

2 Android Games Room

It has thousands of free and paid games.

• It has thousands of games in various categories.
• The games are very easily downloaded.
• The games can be even downloaded on your android mobile.
• You can access this site on your mobile by just scanning a QR code.

Pros:

• The site is easily accessible.
• The games are cheap and easily downloadable.

Cons:

• The site does not have a community forum.
• The customer service is not responsive.
• The downloading process is slow.
• No multiplayer gaming.

3 Android Apps

It is an online gaming site where games are handpicked every day, either for free or for a reasonable price.

• It contains a large library of games of various categories.
• You can promote your games also by using the ‘promote your app’ feature.

Pros:

• It is easily accessible and is easy to use.
• The site is updated every day, so new games are available each day.

Cons:

• Multiplayer gaming is not available.
• The customer service is not responsive.
• It has a lot of updates and takes an unreasonable amount of time to install and update the software.

Above are the top websites to download games. I hope you will get interesting games and have fun playing it. For making a great gaming video, you can also add some interesting visual effects and elements to the video.

Part 3: FAQs About Game Download Sites

1. Where can I download PC games for free?

There are plenty of free PC games available in the App Store & Microsoft stores. You can play & download free mini-games from sites like myplaycity.com & miniclip.com. Major game distributing platforms such as Steam, GOG, Uplay, Itch.io, etc. provide numerous free-to-play titles. These sites also frequently hold limited-time giveaways of paid games.

2. What is the safest website to download free games?

Downloading free games puts you at the risk of malware attacks, phishing, spoofing, viruses, and more. Therefore, we highly recommend that you don’t download games from websites without a proper security check. The safest website for downloading free PC games would be Steam. It is a cross-platform game distribution service with thousands of free-to-play games. All the games are vigorously checked and tested for security vulnerabilities. The increasing support for gaming on Linux makes it critical for Linux gamers.

3. Can we download PC games on Android?

There isn’t a straightforward answer to this question. By ‘download,’ if you mean installing or playing, you can only play specific ported titles. GTA San Andreas is one such PC game ported to Android. Some game streaming services like Stadia & Nvidia Geforce Now let you play PC games on Android. However, you can certainly download (not install or play) PC games on Android. There are a few things to keep in mind though. Android internal (& in some cases external) storage does not support single files that are over 4 GB in size. For downloading files greater than 4 GB, you will have to flash your storage in the exFAT or NTFS file system. Moreover, game distributors such as Steam do not allow downloading PC games on Android.

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Gaming has been an exciting and addictive way to relax and have fun since forever. It has been an essential part of every culture, and many countries have their national games as well. Gaming enhances not only our physical capabilities but also our mental capabilities since we have to use our imagination and brain to choose every next move. Games are a form of social bonding; our games have evolved with the rest of things as time has passed. The gaming world for humans started with “Knucklebones” and dice games, and now we have reached the era of video games with various types like action games, car games, arcade games, etc. You can get games from CDs, Apple App Stores, or GooglePlay, or you can download them from various websites. In this article, I’ll share with you the best websites to download games on a PC or Mac computer as well as game download sites for Android devices.

• Part 1: Best PC Game Download Sites
• Part 2: Top Android Game Download Sites
• Part 3: FAQs About Game Download Sites

---

You may also like:

• 8 Best Free Video Game Sound Effects You Need to Know
• Difference and Debate Between Roguelite and Roguelike Games
• Best TV for Your PS5 in 2021

---

Bonus: Best Gaming Video Editing Software

For those who are interested in sharing the gameplay experience on YouTube or other video sharing platforms, editing the gameplay video with a reliable video editing software is one of the most important things. Besides the normally trimming and cutting, you may also need some cool visual effects, filters, overlays, and titles as well. Here, we recommend you to try Wondershare Filmora to edit your videos . Remember to join in the Wondershare Video Community to watch more inspirational videos.

---

Part 1: Best PC Game Download Sites [2024 Updates]

Here is a list of top 8 websites to download games on your PC.

1 Steam

This website for downloading games is developed by Valve Corporations and has been functioning for the past thirteen years. Steam is considered to be the largest digital distribution platform for video games up to date. They have over a thousand games, from indie games to action games, they have everything available for their players. Furthermore, Steam operates in 28 languages.

Single Player and Multiplayer

Games at Steam allow single-player gaming as well as multiplayer gaming. You can have fun with friends by challenging them over a game and have fun while relaxing at the same time. You can challenge a local multiplayer as well as challenge someone online.

Video streaming

This gaming platform allows the players to stream videos of games in the form of movies, demos, tutorials, or episodes. The categories include anime, comedy, drama, horror, action, and sci-fi.

Social Networking

The platform offers the players to connect socially, meet millions of new people, form clans, and chat during the game through their community.

Availability

Steam is available on Windows, Linux, and Mac. This gives the players the freedom to buy a game once and play anywhere and at any time.

Create and Share

This digital platform allows you to create new games through the ‘Steam Workshop’. It allows animation and modeling of the game, sound production, photo editing, game development, and various other features. You can also give gifts to your friends and trade items as well.

Pros:

• It has a variety of games and allows early access to some games for a limited time.
• You can play with an automated player, with your friend or with a stranger online, which enhances the fun.
• It is available in 28 languages due to its built-in translator, so it is easier to use and understand by people all over the world.
• It is easily accessible and easy to download.

Cons:

• Some of the games are rather pricey.
• The games available for free lack variety and have very few features to incite excitement in a player.

A cross-platform for making videos anywhere for all creators

Why your video editing isn’t good enough? How about some creative inspo?

• 100 Million+ Users
• 150+ Countries and Regions
• 4 Million+ Social Media Followers
• 5 Million+ Stock Media for Use

Try It Free Try It Free

Try It Free

Try It Free

* Secure Download

2 GOG

GOG.com is operated by GOG Limited. It was formerly known as Good Old Games. GOG.com is a Cypriot digital platform for video games and movies. These movies and games can be downloaded and purchased online.

Install and auto-update

You can install the game with just one click, and you do not have to install a special client to run games or download. The game will always be updated with new features automatically, but if you do not want to update your game, then you can choose to stop the automatic updates.

Cloud Saving

You will never lose your game progress because the game will be saved in the cloud automatically and will stay synced with all of your devices.

Offline Mode

The games installed from this platform do not need an internet connection to run. You can even play offline, and the game will still be backed up.

Rollback the updates

If you do not like the new game update, then you can choose to restore your prior update.

Pros:

• It is easy to use, download, and access.
• The games are not pricey, and GOG.com also puts many games up for occasional sales and accepts gift cards as well.
• It has a large variety of games with excellent features.
• It is compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux.

Cons:

• The games are old, and not many new games are introduced.
• It does not have multiplayer gaming features.

3 G2A

G2A.com is considered to be the fastest-growing global digital marketplace. It has over 12 million customers and 2 million sellers all over the world. G2A.com acts as an intermediary and connects the buyer and the seller. It does not sell or purchase games itself but only delivers different platforms for others to sell and buy digital products.

Variety in platforms

G2A provides all sorts of platforms to its customers like Xbox, Steam, PSN, Origin, Apple, Gameforge, Battlenet, Uplay, GOG, etc.

Variety in genres

This digital marketplace contains various genres like action, arcade, games for children, puzzle, simulation, song games, racing, sport, etc.

Gift cards

Gift cards for different platforms are also sold here.

G2A 3D+

This feature allows the customer to choose their favorite hero or a legendary weapon from their favorite game, and then G2A will print it, color it and ship it to your doorstep.

G2A Goldmine

This feature allows you to earn real money for promoting G2A.com products to other gamers worldwide. No registration fee or investment is required, and you can do this from your home.

Pros:

• G2A.com offers a home-based job with a competitive salary so gamers can earn and play side by side.
• A lot of new projects are introduced, so the excitement never dies.
• The site can be accessed in more than 20 languages.

Cons:

• The site is not very well protected and is exposed to scams.

4 Origin

Origin is a digital distribution software that promotes online gaming. It has been developed by Electronic Arts, a company behind many globally successful games. You can purchases games on your PC as well as on your mobile.

Social Features

Origin provides its users with many social features like profile management, networking with friends through chatting and video streaming via TwitchTV. You can also share your game library and community integration through social media and networking sites like Facebook, Xbox Live, PlayStation Network, and Nintendo Network.

Variety in games

It provides a large variety in games from PC games to Fifa, and even classic games like Plant Vs. Zombies are also available.

Deals

It offers the best and cheapest deals and also puts up a few games for sale occasionally.

Pros:

• It provides great game streaming features.
• It is developed by a renowned and successful company so it can be trusted.
• There ‘on the house specials’ are appreciated by a lot of gamers, which allows them to play a paid game for free every now and then.

Cons:

• It has a lot of updates and takes an unreasonable amount of time to install and update the software.
• Customers have complained that they provide expired discount codes.
• Customer service needs to be improved as it is not very responsive.

5 PC games

PC games is an online gaming site. You can purchase and download various games from this site. It is operated by EA games.

Categories

PC games contain various genres like action, arcade, games for children, puzzle, simulation, song games, racing, sport, etc.

Origin

It allows you to buy the games from origin.com, which is also operated under EA games.

Community forum

It has a community forum that is available to answer your questions 24/7.

Pros:

• It is easy to access and download.
• It contains one of the most interesting and addictive games.

Cons:

• The quantity of games available is very less, so there is not a lot of variety of games.
• Sometimes the site crashes, and the games have to be downloaded from the start.

6 Ocean of Games

It is developed by a British software company Ocean software.

• It has a large variety of games like action games, song games, arcade games, RPG, survival and fantasy games, etc.
• It provides networking features through its community forum where all the players can meet new people and chat even during gaming.
• It allows both single-player and multiplayer gaming.

Pros:

• The player can challenge an automated player, with your friend or with a stranger online, which enhances the fun.
• It provides great game streaming features.
• It is compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux.

Cons:

• It is not very well protected and hence exposed to scams.
• The games are not updated, and old versions are still played.
• Some people use the community forum to harass other players, and no action is taken regarding it.

7 Softpedia

Softpedia is an online gaming site that provides the customers the facility to purchase and download games at a very reasonable price.

• Softpedia contains a large library of games of various categories like action games, song games, arcade games, RPG, survival and fantasy games, etc.
• It offers free game cheats and demos to the players.
• Its game application finder feature allows you to find the exact game that you are looking for.
• The games are available for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and Drivers as well.

Pros:

• The games are not pricey and are available at a very low price.

Cons:

• The community forum is barely used.
• The website is not updated, so there are no new games available.
• The games are not automatically updated.

8 Skidrow reloaded

Skidrow reloaded is an online gaming site from where you can purchase and download games.

• Softpedia contains a large library of games of various categories like action games, song games, arcade games, RPG, survival and fantasy games, etc.
• The website is not updated very well, so this site does not provide its user with enough features.
• The games can be downloaded through torrent, Multilink, KatFile, GO4UP, Hitfile, Turbobit, Jheberg, DownAce, and various other links.
• It provides its customers to request any games to which they need links for downloading.

Pros:

• It allows users to request games.
• It provides a lot of links to download a game.

Cons:

• The website is not properly maintained.
• There is no community forum.
• There is no such variety of games.
• The games are not of high quality.

If you’re looking for some websites to download games for free, you can check our free game download sites list.

---

Part 2: Top Android Game Download Sites

Android is the fastest growing software and is preferred by the majority. Besides the above websites that we picked for downloading games on PC or Mac computer, we’ve done some research and figured out some best sites to download games on android are as follows:

1 Google play

Google play is operated by Google for the Android operating system, and it has been functioning for the past three years. It was formerly known as the android market. Google play contains millions of apps of various categories, so there is something for everyone. Google Play provides a large range of categories of games.

• Every game is easily downloadable, but it depends merely upon your internet connection.
• The purchasing methods are through credit cards, and the procedure is very easy.
• The platform allows everyone and anyone to sell their games.
• Sign up through your Google account is necessary to get access to these features.

Pros:

• It is easy to access.
• It is preinstalled in all android supported devices.
• It contains a huge collection of unique games.

Cons:

• Since everyone and anyone can access it without paying any registration fee, it is exposed to scams and harassment.
• A few games do not function and keep crashing.

2 Android Games Room

It has thousands of free and paid games.

• It has thousands of games in various categories.
• The games are very easily downloaded.
• The games can be even downloaded on your android mobile.
• You can access this site on your mobile by just scanning a QR code.

Pros:

• The site is easily accessible.
• The games are cheap and easily downloadable.

Cons:

• The site does not have a community forum.
• The customer service is not responsive.
• The downloading process is slow.
• No multiplayer gaming.

3 Android Apps

It is an online gaming site where games are handpicked every day, either for free or for a reasonable price.

• It contains a large library of games of various categories.
• You can promote your games also by using the ‘promote your app’ feature.

Pros:

• It is easily accessible and is easy to use.
• The site is updated every day, so new games are available each day.

Cons:

• Multiplayer gaming is not available.
• The customer service is not responsive.
• It has a lot of updates and takes an unreasonable amount of time to install and update the software.

Above are the top websites to download games. I hope you will get interesting games and have fun playing it. For making a great gaming video, you can also add some interesting visual effects and elements to the video.

Part 3: FAQs About Game Download Sites

1. Where can I download PC games for free?

There are plenty of free PC games available in the App Store & Microsoft stores. You can play & download free mini-games from sites like myplaycity.com & miniclip.com. Major game distributing platforms such as Steam, GOG, Uplay, Itch.io, etc. provide numerous free-to-play titles. These sites also frequently hold limited-time giveaways of paid games.

2. What is the safest website to download free games?

Downloading free games puts you at the risk of malware attacks, phishing, spoofing, viruses, and more. Therefore, we highly recommend that you don’t download games from websites without a proper security check. The safest website for downloading free PC games would be Steam. It is a cross-platform game distribution service with thousands of free-to-play games. All the games are vigorously checked and tested for security vulnerabilities. The increasing support for gaming on Linux makes it critical for Linux gamers.

3. Can we download PC games on Android?

There isn’t a straightforward answer to this question. By ‘download,’ if you mean installing or playing, you can only play specific ported titles. GTA San Andreas is one such PC game ported to Android. Some game streaming services like Stadia & Nvidia Geforce Now let you play PC games on Android. However, you can certainly download (not install or play) PC games on Android. There are a few things to keep in mind though. Android internal (& in some cases external) storage does not support single files that are over 4 GB in size. For downloading files greater than 4 GB, you will have to flash your storage in the exFAT or NTFS file system. Moreover, game distributors such as Steam do not allow downloading PC games on Android.

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Fast and Furious: Top 8 Lightweight Video Editing Solutions

If you are new to video editing and you simply want to do basic editing to your video, you need a light video editor. There is no need for a heavyweight video editor that is generally used by professionals. Besides, an industry-grade video editor demands high-end computer as they put pressure on your system resources for video processing and rendering.

Therefore, if you do not have a high-end computer for video editing, a lightweight video editor is perfect for you. There are so many lightweight video editing software applications available to choose from for video editing. We have picked the best light video editing software for smooth and satisfying video editing work.

Part 1. The Features for Light Video Editor

Here are the main features of a good lightweight video editor that you should be aware of.

Small File Size – A light video editor comes in a small size file, and you will understand the file size when you download it on your computer. Ideally, a light video editor should not be above a couple of hundred MBs in size.

Wide OS Compatibility – A good light video editor should not only be compatible with the latest version of computer operating system but also with older versions. This is because older operating systems fail to run a heavyweight video editor smoothly.

Low System Requirements – Every video editor lists out their system requirements starting from processor version to RAM capacity and free disk space. A light video editor should have low system requirements such as 4GB RAM, 5GB free disk space, Intel i3 or likewise.

Low CPU Usage – How much CPU resource a video editor uses determines whether the video editor is truly lightweight. You can monitor how much CPU resource an application is using from Task Manager. For a light video editor, it should never be more than 33% of the total CPU usage at any given time.

Faster Processing – A lightweight video editor is generally faster in processing and rendering videos. They use different techniques such as compression, background processing and proxy workflow to boost processing speed without affecting system performance.

Part 2. Best Light Video Editors

Here is the list of the best light video editing software with complete review so that you can pick the best one for your video editing purposes.

1. Filmora

Best for: beginners as well as advanced users.

System compatibility: Windows and Mac.

Reason to choose:

• Drag and drop media files from your hard drive.
• Robust timeline to arrange photos, videos, and audio files.
• Wide categories of transitions, effects and graphical elements.
• Take screenshot from videos and instant preview of the changes.
• Export in different file formats with adjusted video parameters.

Reason to avoid:

• Video processing slightly on the slower side.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

Wondershare Filmora is the best lightweight video editor that is tailor-made for both beginners as well as professionals. It is a premium video editor, and you should opt for it if you regularly edit videos. In fact, it is widely used by YouTubers and social media video creators. The software lets you record your screen and webcam video along with system and external mic sound. You can edit various video parameters such as aspect ratio, resolution, frame rate and likewise.

Coming to its editing features, you get a perfect blend of basic and advanced editing tools. You can trim, crop, split, join video clips as well as make videos from photos. You can import various media files of different formats including audio files. There are loads of transitions, effects, elements, texts, and stock media files. You can opt for greenscreen effect, apply stickers, correct colors, and much more.

2. Studio

Best for: Slightly advanced Windows users for advanced video editing.

System compatibility: Windows 11 and 10 (64 bit)

Reason to choose:

• Perfect blend of standard and advanced video editing tools.
• Advanced video masking and color grading options.
• Tons of effects, filters, transitions, and overlays.
• Edit multi-cam video and 360-degree video.
• Advanced audio editing options.

Reason to avoid:

• Some advanced features are not full-fledged.

Studio is a premium but light video editor that has some advanced video editing options. You will get all the basic video editing tools as well. You can publish cinema-grade videos with Studio. You can zoom video clips and edit frames accurately so that the video has no glitches and inconsistency in editing. The software allows you to edit multi-cam videos and make split-screen videos.

You can also record your screen and webcam with Studio. Apart from video editing, you can edit your audio files. There are options for color grading, blend modes and video making. Among the advanced features, you get motion and smart object tracking along with keyframing and editing 360-degree videos. The software comes with hardware acceleration to boost its performance.

3. OpenShot

Best for: those looking for a free light video editor.

System compatibility: Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Reason to choose:

• Drag and drop media files of different formats.
• Wide range of video filters and transition effects.
• 3D objects and animations with Blender plugin.
• Dedicated audio editor and video templates.

Reason to avoid:

• Not so suitable for 4K resolution videos.

OpenShot is an open-source and cross-platform video editor that is compatible across all computer operating systems. It is completely free to use, and it has a good mixture of all basic and some advanced video editing options. You can import photos, video clips, and audio files as per your requirements as it supports a wide range of media file formats.

The user interface is simple, and hence, beginners will find it easy to use. The software has one of the lowest CPU resource usages among the lightweight video editors. You can trim, crop, resize, split and do all such video editing. You can adjust the speed of videos as well as correct video parameters. The software allows you to attach custom watermarks and overlays, and there is the option for time-mapping.

4. ShotCut

Best for: open-source video editor with standard and advanced features.

System compatibility: Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Reason to choose:

• Import and export different file formats in high-resolution.
• Chroma key, video stabilization, filters and transitions.
• Video masking, composting and color correction.
• Complete audio editor with filters and mixing.
• Wide range of video editing options and tools.

Reason to avoid:

• User interface takes time to understand all features.
• Limited transitions and no stock media files.

Shotcut is an open-source and cross-platform video editor. It has support for all the different media file formats, and it supports 4K resolution. You can use the software to capture webcam and screen video as well as audio narration. You can also import different file formats for photos. There are various audio features available starting from audio filters to audio mixing.

Shotcut comes with a large set of transitions, effects, and filters. It supports video stabilization and deinterlacing as well as blending modes. You can edit video speed, reserve video clips, correct colors, and imperfections easily. There is a multi-track timeline available for easy video making and editing.

5. Adobe Premiere Pro

Best for: premium video editor for advanced Windows users.

System compatibility: Windows 10 and 11.

Reason to choose:

• Wide range of video effects, transitions, and templates.
• Edit 3D, VR, and multicam and 360-dgree videos as well as audio.
• Suitable for collaborative video editing and robust timeline.
• Support for various video and audio formats.

Reason to avoid:

• Reports of lagging in low-end computers.
• Steep learning curve to understand the user interface.

Adobe Premiere Pro is undoubtedly the best lightweight video editor Windows 10 for advanced video editors. Even though it is relatively less lightweight, you can do basic video editing on computers which do not have high-end hardware. Apart from basic editing, you can create industry-grade videos with the editing options available on the software.

You may need some training and lessons could be high useful for smooth editing. The software supports teamwork and collaborative video editing. You can edit VR and 3D videos as well as audio. The user interface is complicated, but it is highly customizable and flexible. The timeline is quite advanced and it is a complete video editor with full-fledged features.

6. VideoPad Video Editor

Best for: those who are looking for a video as well as audio editor.

System compatibility: Windows and Mac.

Reason to choose:

• Perfect combination of standard video and audio editing options.
• Video templates for intro, outro, and themed videos.
• Lossless exporting of videos in different formats.
• Video stabilization, color correction, and plugin support.
• Supports 4K video and share directly on YouTube.

Reason to avoid:

• Limited range of transitions and effects.
• Limited options for 3D video editing.

VideoPad Video Editor from NCH Software comes with a simple user interface, and hence, it is suitable for beginners. There is a wide category of transitions and effects available. It is the perfect combination video and audio editor. The software can process the videos faster, and it supports so many different types of media file formats.

Even though it is a rather simple video editor, it is quite powerful where you can edit 3D and e60-degree videos. Besides, there are options for 3D texts and tiles, chroma key, custom logos, and animations. Moreover, you can choose from different templates for intro and outro part of your videos. The audio editor is quite useful for mixing tracks, adding effects, and record own narration.

7. VSDC Free Video Editor

Best for: those who have very low end and outdated PCs.

System compatibility: Windows XP or above.

Reason to choose:

• Zoom and edit option, 360-degree video editing.
• Large set of video effects, transitions and filters.
• Chroma key option and PiP and split screen effect.
• Color correction and very low system requirements.
• Supports importing and exporting different file formats.

Reason to avoid:

• Advanced features are locked for premium users.

VSDC is a free suite where you get video editor and audio editor for free. Coming specifically to VSDC Free Video Editor, all the features are available for free without any watermark. However, there is a Pro version available with more advance video editing features. The software supports a wide range of media file formats.

You can zoom and edit accurately. You can even edit 360-degree videos without any issue. There are options for color correction, greenscreen effects and visualizations. You can choose from a large set of video effects and filters. The best part is that VSDC Free Video Editor is suitable for very low-end systems.

8. Avidemux

Best for: those looking for a free video editor for basic editing.

System compatibility: Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Reason to choose:

• Standard video options available.
• Advanced video filters and effects.
• Custom scripting and advanced interlacing.
• Super intuitive user interface.
• Supports multiple file formats.

Reason to avoid:

• Not suitable for high-resolution videos.

Avidemux from Sourceforge is a light video editing software free. The software is suitable for basic editing only. It is extremely lightweight, and it supports a limited resolution of videos. You can cut crop, trim videos, add filters to them, and perform encoding tasks. The software supports various import and export file formats.

Avidemux also has basic audio editing options, and you can publish compressed videos in rather small file sizes. There is also option for custom scripting, and you can automate common tasks easily. It belongs to the open-source video editor category, and hence, it is completely free to use for all purposes.

Part 3. FAQs about Light Video Editor

1. What is Light Video Editor?

Light Video Editor is a user-friendly video editing software that allows users to edit and create videos quickly and easily. The software includes features such as trimming, merging, cropping, adding music, and more.

2. what is the best lightweight video editor for windows?

Wondershare Filmora is the best lightweight video editor for Windows as well as Mac users. Even though the software is world-class as a video editing software, it does not demand high CPU usage and does not high system requirements.

3. What is the best free light video editor?

Shotcut is the best free light video editor, and it is available for all computer operating systems. If you have a very low-end computer, VSDC Free Video Editor is the best free light video editor for you.

4. Can I use a light video editor for professional projects?

While a light video editor may not have all the features of a professional video editor, it can still be used for professional projects such as short promotional videos, social media content, or simple marketing videos. It can be a great option for those who need to quickly edit and produce videos without spending a lot of time learning a complex software.

5. What are the benefits of using a light video editor?

One of the main benefits of using a light video editor is its simplicity and ease of use. It can be a great option for beginners or those who need to quickly edit and produce videos without spending a lot of time learning a complex software. It is also usually more affordable than a full-featured video editor and can still produce high-quality videos for personal or professional use.

Reason to avoid:

• Video processing slightly on the slower side.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

Wondershare Filmora is the best lightweight video editor that is tailor-made for both beginners as well as professionals. It is a premium video editor, and you should opt for it if you regularly edit videos. In fact, it is widely used by YouTubers and social media video creators. The software lets you record your screen and webcam video along with system and external mic sound. You can edit various video parameters such as aspect ratio, resolution, frame rate and likewise.

Coming to its editing features, you get a perfect blend of basic and advanced editing tools. You can trim, crop, split, join video clips as well as make videos from photos. You can import various media files of different formats including audio files. There are loads of transitions, effects, elements, texts, and stock media files. You can opt for greenscreen effect, apply stickers, correct colors, and much more.

2. Studio

Best for: Slightly advanced Windows users for advanced video editing.

System compatibility: Windows 11 and 10 (64 bit)

Reason to choose:

• Perfect blend of standard and advanced video editing tools.
• Advanced video masking and color grading options.
• Tons of effects, filters, transitions, and overlays.
• Edit multi-cam video and 360-degree video.
• Advanced audio editing options.

Reason to avoid:

• Some advanced features are not full-fledged.

Studio is a premium but light video editor that has some advanced video editing options. You will get all the basic video editing tools as well. You can publish cinema-grade videos with Studio. You can zoom video clips and edit frames accurately so that the video has no glitches and inconsistency in editing. The software allows you to edit multi-cam videos and make split-screen videos.

You can also record your screen and webcam with Studio. Apart from video editing, you can edit your audio files. There are options for color grading, blend modes and video making. Among the advanced features, you get motion and smart object tracking along with keyframing and editing 360-degree videos. The software comes with hardware acceleration to boost its performance.

3. OpenShot

Best for: those looking for a free light video editor.

System compatibility: Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Reason to choose:

• Drag and drop media files of different formats.
• Wide range of video filters and transition effects.
• 3D objects and animations with Blender plugin.
• Dedicated audio editor and video templates.

Reason to avoid:

• Not so suitable for 4K resolution videos.

OpenShot is an open-source and cross-platform video editor that is compatible across all computer operating systems. It is completely free to use, and it has a good mixture of all basic and some advanced video editing options. You can import photos, video clips, and audio files as per your requirements as it supports a wide range of media file formats.

The user interface is simple, and hence, beginners will find it easy to use. The software has one of the lowest CPU resource usages among the lightweight video editors. You can trim, crop, resize, split and do all such video editing. You can adjust the speed of videos as well as correct video parameters. The software allows you to attach custom watermarks and overlays, and there is the option for time-mapping.

4. ShotCut

Best for: open-source video editor with standard and advanced features.

System compatibility: Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Reason to choose:

• Import and export different file formats in high-resolution.
• Chroma key, video stabilization, filters and transitions.
• Video masking, composting and color correction.
• Complete audio editor with filters and mixing.
• Wide range of video editing options and tools.

Reason to avoid:

• User interface takes time to understand all features.
• Limited transitions and no stock media files.

Shotcut is an open-source and cross-platform video editor. It has support for all the different media file formats, and it supports 4K resolution. You can use the software to capture webcam and screen video as well as audio narration. You can also import different file formats for photos. There are various audio features available starting from audio filters to audio mixing.

Shotcut comes with a large set of transitions, effects, and filters. It supports video stabilization and deinterlacing as well as blending modes. You can edit video speed, reserve video clips, correct colors, and imperfections easily. There is a multi-track timeline available for easy video making and editing.

5. Adobe Premiere Pro

Best for: premium video editor for advanced Windows users.

System compatibility: Windows 10 and 11.

Reason to choose:

• Wide range of video effects, transitions, and templates.
• Edit 3D, VR, and multicam and 360-dgree videos as well as audio.
• Suitable for collaborative video editing and robust timeline.
• Support for various video and audio formats.

Reason to avoid:

• Reports of lagging in low-end computers.
• Steep learning curve to understand the user interface.

Adobe Premiere Pro is undoubtedly the best lightweight video editor Windows 10 for advanced video editors. Even though it is relatively less lightweight, you can do basic video editing on computers which do not have high-end hardware. Apart from basic editing, you can create industry-grade videos with the editing options available on the software.

You may need some training and lessons could be high useful for smooth editing. The software supports teamwork and collaborative video editing. You can edit VR and 3D videos as well as audio. The user interface is complicated, but it is highly customizable and flexible. The timeline is quite advanced and it is a complete video editor with full-fledged features.

6. VideoPad Video Editor

Best for: those who are looking for a video as well as audio editor.

System compatibility: Windows and Mac.

Reason to choose:

• Perfect combination of standard video and audio editing options.
• Video templates for intro, outro, and themed videos.
• Lossless exporting of videos in different formats.
• Video stabilization, color correction, and plugin support.
• Supports 4K video and share directly on YouTube.

Reason to avoid:

• Limited range of transitions and effects.
• Limited options for 3D video editing.

VideoPad Video Editor from NCH Software comes with a simple user interface, and hence, it is suitable for beginners. There is a wide category of transitions and effects available. It is the perfect combination video and audio editor. The software can process the videos faster, and it supports so many different types of media file formats.

Even though it is a rather simple video editor, it is quite powerful where you can edit 3D and e60-degree videos. Besides, there are options for 3D texts and tiles, chroma key, custom logos, and animations. Moreover, you can choose from different templates for intro and outro part of your videos. The audio editor is quite useful for mixing tracks, adding effects, and record own narration.

7. VSDC Free Video Editor

Best for: those who have very low end and outdated PCs.

System compatibility: Windows XP or above.

Reason to choose:

• Zoom and edit option, 360-degree video editing.
• Large set of video effects, transitions and filters.
• Chroma key option and PiP and split screen effect.
• Color correction and very low system requirements.
• Supports importing and exporting different file formats.

Reason to avoid:

• Advanced features are locked for premium users.

VSDC is a free suite where you get video editor and audio editor for free. Coming specifically to VSDC Free Video Editor, all the features are available for free without any watermark. However, there is a Pro version available with more advance video editing features. The software supports a wide range of media file formats.

You can zoom and edit accurately. You can even edit 360-degree videos without any issue. There are options for color correction, greenscreen effects and visualizations. You can choose from a large set of video effects and filters. The best part is that VSDC Free Video Editor is suitable for very low-end systems.

8. Avidemux

Best for: those looking for a free video editor for basic editing.

System compatibility: Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Reason to choose:

• Standard video options available.
• Advanced video filters and effects.
• Custom scripting and advanced interlacing.
• Super intuitive user interface.
• Supports multiple file formats.

Reason to avoid:

• Not suitable for high-resolution videos.

Avidemux from Sourceforge is a light video editing software free. The software is suitable for basic editing only. It is extremely lightweight, and it supports a limited resolution of videos. You can cut crop, trim videos, add filters to them, and perform encoding tasks. The software supports various import and export file formats.

Avidemux also has basic audio editing options, and you can publish compressed videos in rather small file sizes. There is also option for custom scripting, and you can automate common tasks easily. It belongs to the open-source video editor category, and hence, it is completely free to use for all purposes.

Part 3. FAQs about Light Video Editor

1. What is Light Video Editor?

Light Video Editor is a user-friendly video editing software that allows users to edit and create videos quickly and easily. The software includes features such as trimming, merging, cropping, adding music, and more.

2. what is the best lightweight video editor for windows?

Wondershare Filmora is the best lightweight video editor for Windows as well as Mac users. Even though the software is world-class as a video editing software, it does not demand high CPU usage and does not high system requirements.

3. What is the best free light video editor?

Shotcut is the best free light video editor, and it is available for all computer operating systems. If you have a very low-end computer, VSDC Free Video Editor is the best free light video editor for you.

4. Can I use a light video editor for professional projects?

While a light video editor may not have all the features of a professional video editor, it can still be used for professional projects such as short promotional videos, social media content, or simple marketing videos. It can be a great option for those who need to quickly edit and produce videos without spending a lot of time learning a complex software.

5. What are the benefits of using a light video editor?

One of the main benefits of using a light video editor is its simplicity and ease of use. It can be a great option for beginners or those who need to quickly edit and produce videos without spending a lot of time learning a complex software. It is also usually more affordable than a full-featured video editor and can still produce high-quality videos for personal or professional use.

Reason to avoid:

• Video processing slightly on the slower side.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

Wondershare Filmora is the best lightweight video editor that is tailor-made for both beginners as well as professionals. It is a premium video editor, and you should opt for it if you regularly edit videos. In fact, it is widely used by YouTubers and social media video creators. The software lets you record your screen and webcam video along with system and external mic sound. You can edit various video parameters such as aspect ratio, resolution, frame rate and likewise.

Coming to its editing features, you get a perfect blend of basic and advanced editing tools. You can trim, crop, split, join video clips as well as make videos from photos. You can import various media files of different formats including audio files. There are loads of transitions, effects, elements, texts, and stock media files. You can opt for greenscreen effect, apply stickers, correct colors, and much more.

2. Studio

Best for: Slightly advanced Windows users for advanced video editing.

System compatibility: Windows 11 and 10 (64 bit)

Reason to choose:

• Perfect blend of standard and advanced video editing tools.
• Advanced video masking and color grading options.
• Tons of effects, filters, transitions, and overlays.
• Edit multi-cam video and 360-degree video.
• Advanced audio editing options.

Reason to avoid:

• Some advanced features are not full-fledged.

Studio is a premium but light video editor that has some advanced video editing options. You will get all the basic video editing tools as well. You can publish cinema-grade videos with Studio. You can zoom video clips and edit frames accurately so that the video has no glitches and inconsistency in editing. The software allows you to edit multi-cam videos and make split-screen videos.

You can also record your screen and webcam with Studio. Apart from video editing, you can edit your audio files. There are options for color grading, blend modes and video making. Among the advanced features, you get motion and smart object tracking along with keyframing and editing 360-degree videos. The software comes with hardware acceleration to boost its performance.

3. OpenShot

Best for: those looking for a free light video editor.

System compatibility: Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Reason to choose:

• Drag and drop media files of different formats.
• Wide range of video filters and transition effects.
• 3D objects and animations with Blender plugin.
• Dedicated audio editor and video templates.

Reason to avoid:

• Not so suitable for 4K resolution videos.

OpenShot is an open-source and cross-platform video editor that is compatible across all computer operating systems. It is completely free to use, and it has a good mixture of all basic and some advanced video editing options. You can import photos, video clips, and audio files as per your requirements as it supports a wide range of media file formats.

The user interface is simple, and hence, beginners will find it easy to use. The software has one of the lowest CPU resource usages among the lightweight video editors. You can trim, crop, resize, split and do all such video editing. You can adjust the speed of videos as well as correct video parameters. The software allows you to attach custom watermarks and overlays, and there is the option for time-mapping.

4. ShotCut

Best for: open-source video editor with standard and advanced features.

System compatibility: Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Reason to choose:

• Import and export different file formats in high-resolution.
• Chroma key, video stabilization, filters and transitions.
• Video masking, composting and color correction.
• Complete audio editor with filters and mixing.
• Wide range of video editing options and tools.

Reason to avoid:

• User interface takes time to understand all features.
• Limited transitions and no stock media files.

Shotcut is an open-source and cross-platform video editor. It has support for all the different media file formats, and it supports 4K resolution. You can use the software to capture webcam and screen video as well as audio narration. You can also import different file formats for photos. There are various audio features available starting from audio filters to audio mixing.

Shotcut comes with a large set of transitions, effects, and filters. It supports video stabilization and deinterlacing as well as blending modes. You can edit video speed, reserve video clips, correct colors, and imperfections easily. There is a multi-track timeline available for easy video making and editing.

5. Adobe Premiere Pro

Best for: premium video editor for advanced Windows users.

System compatibility: Windows 10 and 11.

Reason to choose:

• Wide range of video effects, transitions, and templates.
• Edit 3D, VR, and multicam and 360-dgree videos as well as audio.
• Suitable for collaborative video editing and robust timeline.
• Support for various video and audio formats.

Reason to avoid:

• Reports of lagging in low-end computers.
• Steep learning curve to understand the user interface.

Adobe Premiere Pro is undoubtedly the best lightweight video editor Windows 10 for advanced video editors. Even though it is relatively less lightweight, you can do basic video editing on computers which do not have high-end hardware. Apart from basic editing, you can create industry-grade videos with the editing options available on the software.

You may need some training and lessons could be high useful for smooth editing. The software supports teamwork and collaborative video editing. You can edit VR and 3D videos as well as audio. The user interface is complicated, but it is highly customizable and flexible. The timeline is quite advanced and it is a complete video editor with full-fledged features.

6. VideoPad Video Editor

Best for: those who are looking for a video as well as audio editor.

System compatibility: Windows and Mac.

Reason to choose:

• Perfect combination of standard video and audio editing options.
• Video templates for intro, outro, and themed videos.
• Lossless exporting of videos in different formats.
• Video stabilization, color correction, and plugin support.
• Supports 4K video and share directly on YouTube.

Reason to avoid:

• Limited range of transitions and effects.
• Limited options for 3D video editing.

VideoPad Video Editor from NCH Software comes with a simple user interface, and hence, it is suitable for beginners. There is a wide category of transitions and effects available. It is the perfect combination video and audio editor. The software can process the videos faster, and it supports so many different types of media file formats.

Even though it is a rather simple video editor, it is quite powerful where you can edit 3D and e60-degree videos. Besides, there are options for 3D texts and tiles, chroma key, custom logos, and animations. Moreover, you can choose from different templates for intro and outro part of your videos. The audio editor is quite useful for mixing tracks, adding effects, and record own narration.

7. VSDC Free Video Editor

Best for: those who have very low end and outdated PCs.

System compatibility: Windows XP or above.

Reason to choose:

• Zoom and edit option, 360-degree video editing.
• Large set of video effects, transitions and filters.
• Chroma key option and PiP and split screen effect.
• Color correction and very low system requirements.
• Supports importing and exporting different file formats.

Reason to avoid:

• Advanced features are locked for premium users.

VSDC is a free suite where you get video editor and audio editor for free. Coming specifically to VSDC Free Video Editor, all the features are available for free without any watermark. However, there is a Pro version available with more advance video editing features. The software supports a wide range of media file formats.

You can zoom and edit accurately. You can even edit 360-degree videos without any issue. There are options for color correction, greenscreen effects and visualizations. You can choose from a large set of video effects and filters. The best part is that VSDC Free Video Editor is suitable for very low-end systems.

8. Avidemux

Best for: those looking for a free video editor for basic editing.

System compatibility: Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Reason to choose:

• Standard video options available.
• Advanced video filters and effects.
• Custom scripting and advanced interlacing.
• Super intuitive user interface.
• Supports multiple file formats.

Reason to avoid:

• Not suitable for high-resolution videos.

Avidemux from Sourceforge is a light video editing software free. The software is suitable for basic editing only. It is extremely lightweight, and it supports a limited resolution of videos. You can cut crop, trim videos, add filters to them, and perform encoding tasks. The software supports various import and export file formats.

Avidemux also has basic audio editing options, and you can publish compressed videos in rather small file sizes. There is also option for custom scripting, and you can automate common tasks easily. It belongs to the open-source video editor category, and hence, it is completely free to use for all purposes.

Part 3. FAQs about Light Video Editor

1. What is Light Video Editor?

Light Video Editor is a user-friendly video editing software that allows users to edit and create videos quickly and easily. The software includes features such as trimming, merging, cropping, adding music, and more.

2. what is the best lightweight video editor for windows?

Wondershare Filmora is the best lightweight video editor for Windows as well as Mac users. Even though the software is world-class as a video editing software, it does not demand high CPU usage and does not high system requirements.

3. What is the best free light video editor?

Shotcut is the best free light video editor, and it is available for all computer operating systems. If you have a very low-end computer, VSDC Free Video Editor is the best free light video editor for you.

4. Can I use a light video editor for professional projects?

While a light video editor may not have all the features of a professional video editor, it can still be used for professional projects such as short promotional videos, social media content, or simple marketing videos. It can be a great option for those who need to quickly edit and produce videos without spending a lot of time learning a complex software.

5. What are the benefits of using a light video editor?

One of the main benefits of using a light video editor is its simplicity and ease of use. It can be a great option for beginners or those who need to quickly edit and produce videos without spending a lot of time learning a complex software. It is also usually more affordable than a full-featured video editor and can still produce high-quality videos for personal or professional use.

Reason to avoid:

• Video processing slightly on the slower side.

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Wondershare Filmora is the best lightweight video editor that is tailor-made for both beginners as well as professionals. It is a premium video editor, and you should opt for it if you regularly edit videos. In fact, it is widely used by YouTubers and social media video creators. The software lets you record your screen and webcam video along with system and external mic sound. You can edit various video parameters such as aspect ratio, resolution, frame rate and likewise.

Coming to its editing features, you get a perfect blend of basic and advanced editing tools. You can trim, crop, split, join video clips as well as make videos from photos. You can import various media files of different formats including audio files. There are loads of transitions, effects, elements, texts, and stock media files. You can opt for greenscreen effect, apply stickers, correct colors, and much more.

2. Studio

Best for: Slightly advanced Windows users for advanced video editing.

System compatibility: Windows 11 and 10 (64 bit)

Reason to choose:

• Perfect blend of standard and advanced video editing tools.
• Advanced video masking and color grading options.
• Tons of effects, filters, transitions, and overlays.
• Edit multi-cam video and 360-degree video.
• Advanced audio editing options.

Reason to avoid:

• Some advanced features are not full-fledged.

Studio is a premium but light video editor that has some advanced video editing options. You will get all the basic video editing tools as well. You can publish cinema-grade videos with Studio. You can zoom video clips and edit frames accurately so that the video has no glitches and inconsistency in editing. The software allows you to edit multi-cam videos and make split-screen videos.

You can also record your screen and webcam with Studio. Apart from video editing, you can edit your audio files. There are options for color grading, blend modes and video making. Among the advanced features, you get motion and smart object tracking along with keyframing and editing 360-degree videos. The software comes with hardware acceleration to boost its performance.

3. OpenShot

Best for: those looking for a free light video editor.

System compatibility: Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Reason to choose:

• Drag and drop media files of different formats.
• Wide range of video filters and transition effects.
• 3D objects and animations with Blender plugin.
• Dedicated audio editor and video templates.

Reason to avoid:

• Not so suitable for 4K resolution videos.

OpenShot is an open-source and cross-platform video editor that is compatible across all computer operating systems. It is completely free to use, and it has a good mixture of all basic and some advanced video editing options. You can import photos, video clips, and audio files as per your requirements as it supports a wide range of media file formats.

The user interface is simple, and hence, beginners will find it easy to use. The software has one of the lowest CPU resource usages among the lightweight video editors. You can trim, crop, resize, split and do all such video editing. You can adjust the speed of videos as well as correct video parameters. The software allows you to attach custom watermarks and overlays, and there is the option for time-mapping.

4. ShotCut

Best for: open-source video editor with standard and advanced features.

System compatibility: Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Reason to choose:

• Import and export different file formats in high-resolution.
• Chroma key, video stabilization, filters and transitions.
• Video masking, composting and color correction.
• Complete audio editor with filters and mixing.
• Wide range of video editing options and tools.

Reason to avoid:

• User interface takes time to understand all features.
• Limited transitions and no stock media files.

Shotcut is an open-source and cross-platform video editor. It has support for all the different media file formats, and it supports 4K resolution. You can use the software to capture webcam and screen video as well as audio narration. You can also import different file formats for photos. There are various audio features available starting from audio filters to audio mixing.

Shotcut comes with a large set of transitions, effects, and filters. It supports video stabilization and deinterlacing as well as blending modes. You can edit video speed, reserve video clips, correct colors, and imperfections easily. There is a multi-track timeline available for easy video making and editing.

5. Adobe Premiere Pro

Best for: premium video editor for advanced Windows users.

System compatibility: Windows 10 and 11.

Reason to choose:

• Wide range of video effects, transitions, and templates.
• Edit 3D, VR, and multicam and 360-dgree videos as well as audio.
• Suitable for collaborative video editing and robust timeline.
• Support for various video and audio formats.

Reason to avoid:

• Reports of lagging in low-end computers.
• Steep learning curve to understand the user interface.

Adobe Premiere Pro is undoubtedly the best lightweight video editor Windows 10 for advanced video editors. Even though it is relatively less lightweight, you can do basic video editing on computers which do not have high-end hardware. Apart from basic editing, you can create industry-grade videos with the editing options available on the software.

You may need some training and lessons could be high useful for smooth editing. The software supports teamwork and collaborative video editing. You can edit VR and 3D videos as well as audio. The user interface is complicated, but it is highly customizable and flexible. The timeline is quite advanced and it is a complete video editor with full-fledged features.

6. VideoPad Video Editor

Best for: those who are looking for a video as well as audio editor.

System compatibility: Windows and Mac.

Reason to choose:

• Perfect combination of standard video and audio editing options.
• Video templates for intro, outro, and themed videos.
• Lossless exporting of videos in different formats.
• Video stabilization, color correction, and plugin support.
• Supports 4K video and share directly on YouTube.

Reason to avoid:

• Limited range of transitions and effects.
• Limited options for 3D video editing.

VideoPad Video Editor from NCH Software comes with a simple user interface, and hence, it is suitable for beginners. There is a wide category of transitions and effects available. It is the perfect combination video and audio editor. The software can process the videos faster, and it supports so many different types of media file formats.

Even though it is a rather simple video editor, it is quite powerful where you can edit 3D and e60-degree videos. Besides, there are options for 3D texts and tiles, chroma key, custom logos, and animations. Moreover, you can choose from different templates for intro and outro part of your videos. The audio editor is quite useful for mixing tracks, adding effects, and record own narration.

7. VSDC Free Video Editor

Best for: those who have very low end and outdated PCs.

System compatibility: Windows XP or above.

Reason to choose:

• Zoom and edit option, 360-degree video editing.
• Large set of video effects, transitions and filters.
• Chroma key option and PiP and split screen effect.
• Color correction and very low system requirements.
• Supports importing and exporting different file formats.

Reason to avoid:

• Advanced features are locked for premium users.

VSDC is a free suite where you get video editor and audio editor for free. Coming specifically to VSDC Free Video Editor, all the features are available for free without any watermark. However, there is a Pro version available with more advance video editing features. The software supports a wide range of media file formats.

You can zoom and edit accurately. You can even edit 360-degree videos without any issue. There are options for color correction, greenscreen effects and visualizations. You can choose from a large set of video effects and filters. The best part is that VSDC Free Video Editor is suitable for very low-end systems.

8. Avidemux

Best for: those looking for a free video editor for basic editing.

System compatibility: Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Reason to choose:

• Standard video options available.
• Advanced video filters and effects.
• Custom scripting and advanced interlacing.
• Super intuitive user interface.
• Supports multiple file formats.

Reason to avoid:

• Not suitable for high-resolution videos.

Avidemux from Sourceforge is a light video editing software free. The software is suitable for basic editing only. It is extremely lightweight, and it supports a limited resolution of videos. You can cut crop, trim videos, add filters to them, and perform encoding tasks. The software supports various import and export file formats.

Avidemux also has basic audio editing options, and you can publish compressed videos in rather small file sizes. There is also option for custom scripting, and you can automate common tasks easily. It belongs to the open-source video editor category, and hence, it is completely free to use for all purposes.

Part 3. FAQs about Light Video Editor

1. What is Light Video Editor?

Light Video Editor is a user-friendly video editing software that allows users to edit and create videos quickly and easily. The software includes features such as trimming, merging, cropping, adding music, and more.

2. what is the best lightweight video editor for windows?

Wondershare Filmora is the best lightweight video editor for Windows as well as Mac users. Even though the software is world-class as a video editing software, it does not demand high CPU usage and does not high system requirements.

3. What is the best free light video editor?

Shotcut is the best free light video editor, and it is available for all computer operating systems. If you have a very low-end computer, VSDC Free Video Editor is the best free light video editor for you.

4. Can I use a light video editor for professional projects?

While a light video editor may not have all the features of a professional video editor, it can still be used for professional projects such as short promotional videos, social media content, or simple marketing videos. It can be a great option for those who need to quickly edit and produce videos without spending a lot of time learning a complex software.

5. What are the benefits of using a light video editor?

One of the main benefits of using a light video editor is its simplicity and ease of use. It can be a great option for beginners or those who need to quickly edit and produce videos without spending a lot of time learning a complex software. It is also usually more affordable than a full-featured video editor and can still produce high-quality videos for personal or professional use.

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