Here is a list of the best free face swapping software for Windows. Using this free software, you can replace faces in videos with static images containing other people’s faces.
Basically you need to cover the face that is in the video with a static face image to give a face swap look. To do that, this software uses Keyframe along with image transformation tools like Scale, Move, Rotation, etc. Keyframe tool helps you save image position and size changes made by transform tool in video. After determining the position of the face image above each video frame, you can export the video in formats like MP4, AVI, MOV, etc. Some of these softwares also let you export videos optimized for online platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Vimeo, etc.
The process of swapping faces in the video is quite difficult. To help you out, I have mentioned the important steps for changing faces in videos in the description of each software.
Through this software, you can also do video editing and create beautiful videos because it is a video editing software. They offer handy editing tools like Timeline Editor , Slice Tool , Cut Tool , Trim In , Rotate , Zoom , Resize , Crop , and many more. Apart from that, various inbuilt video filters and effects are also provided by this freeware. Here’s a list of the best software for face swapping in videos:
1. VideoPad
VideoPad is another free face swapping software for Windows, iOS, Android, and MacOS. Through this freeware, you can edit videos as it is a video editing software. Several video editing tools are provided by it like multi-track timeline editor, split selected clips, rewind clips, change clip speed, and much more.
In this software, you can swap the face of the person in the video with the static face image of another person. To swap faces in videos, this freeware offers two main effects, namely Scale and Position. The Scale effect allows you to resize the face image. On the other hand, Position Effect lets you position the face image in each video frame so that the face image moves with the movement of the face present in the video.
How to swap faces in a video using VideoPad:
- Open the interface of this software and click the Add file button to load videos and facial images into this software.
- After that, drop the video from the Video Files section into one of the Timeline Editor tracks.
- Next, place the face image from the Images section onto the track above the video track on the timeline.
- Now, click on the FX button present on the track containing the face image to open the Effects window. In Effect window, you get Add effect button, press it and add Position and Scale effect.
- Next, click the Add Keyframe button present in the Effects window and start using the Effect Position and Scale tools (Base X, Base Y, Horizontal, vertical, etc.) to adjust the size and position of the face image on top of the video.
- Now, slowly move to the next video frame and continue to adjust the position and size of the face image above each video frame.
Once done, you can export the video in MP4, 3GP, AVI, WMV, SWF and other formats.
This video editor software offers all the essential tools for face swapping in videos along with standard video transformation tools and filters. [Download VideoPad].
2. Shortcuts
Shotcut is a free open source video editing software through which you can also swap faces in videos. This video editor works on Windows, MacOS, and Linux operating systems. In this software, you get all the essential tools that can swap faces in videos with static face images.
The main tools that make it possible to swap faces in videos are the Size and Position filter tools. This filter allows you to change the size and position of the face image in each video frame.
How to swap faces in a video in Shotcut:
- Start this software and create a New project and then specify the project parameters i.e. project name, frame rate, etc.
- After that, click on the three bar menu and add two tracks on the timeline.
- Next, import the video and place it on one of the timeline tracks. Similarly, import the face image and place it over the video track.
- Now, add a Size and Position filter by going to the Filters section. A set of Size and Position tools will be added to the filter section such as position, size, size mode, etc.
- After that, click on the keyframe button which is next to the position tool. You can now see a rectangular outline around the face image present in the preview player.
- You can now easily change the position and size of the face image by grabbing the rectangular outline using your mouse.
- Finally, move to the next video frame and adjust the face image according to the changing position of the face in the video.
After swapping faces in the video, you can now use the Export section of this software to export the final video in formats like WMV, WebM, GIF Animation, MPEG-2, etc.
This software has a History feature which allows you to see all the changes you made in the video. Plus, it also lets you skip to the previous step.
This software is relatively easy to use when compared to other software as you can swap faces in the video just by using the single Size and Position filter tool. [Download Shorcut].
3. Lightworks
Lightworks is a free video editing software that can also be used to swap faces in videos. This software works on Windows, Linux, and MacOS.
Through this software, you can apply a static face image of a person on top of someone else’s face in the video. To add and move a static face image over an actual face in the video, this software offers the Image Key Tool.
Apart from swapping faces in videos, you can use this software to edit and create short films, vlogs, video projects, etc. For editing and creating videos, Lightworks offers many tools like Timeline Editor, Delete Segment, Slip, Slide, Trim In, Trim Out, etc.
How to swap faces in a video in Lightworks:
- Launch this software and create a New project in which you need to specify two project parameters i.e. Project name and Frame rate.
- After that, load the video into this software and drop the loaded video into its Timeline by going to the Edit tab.
- Next, switch to the VFX tab and click the Add New effect button to add an Image Key effect.
- Now, open the Settings panel where you can see all the Image key tools like X Scale, Y Scale, X, Y, etc.
- Along with these Image key tools, you also get an image import option in the settings panel. Use the import image option to import an image consisting of faces.
- After that, switch to the keyframe keys that come with all Image key tools(X, Y, X Scale, etc.).
- You have to use Image key tool to move the face image with the facial movements present in the video.
- Once you set the position of the face image in each video frame, you can export the video in Vimeo (MP4) and YouTube (MP4) formats.
In this free version of Lightworks, you will face various limitations like 720p maximum export resolution, limited export format, missing schedule rendering, etc.
It is a good software for face swapping in videos, where you can also blur faces and perform various video editing tasks. [Download Lightworks].
4. DaVinci Resolve
DaVinci Resolve is a free face swapping software for Windows, MacOS, and Linux. It is a good video editing software which offers all the essential and advanced video editing tools as well. Some of the important editing tools it provides are Timeline Editor, Edit Blade, Selection Linked, Lock Position, etc. In it, you also get various sections to perform different types of editing like Edit (for general editing), Fusion (for visual compositing effects and 3D working), Color (for doing color correction and grading), etc.
To swap faces in a video, you just need the Edit section. In this section, you get tools like Timeline editor, Inspector Panel, Video Previewer, etc. The Inspector panel provides you with the necessary tools you need to adjust the size and position of the face image on top of the video.
How to swap faces in a video in DaVinci Resolve:
- Start this video editor and load video and face images using Import File option. The loaded media will appear in the Media Pool tab.
- After that, drag the video from the media pool and drop it over the video track in the Timeline Editor. Similarly, drop the image on the track over the video track.
- Now, select the Face Image track from the timeline and click the Inspector button to open the Inspector panel.
- In the Inspector panel, you can find the face image position and resizing tools like zoom, position, rotation angle, etc.
- Next, press the keyframe (diamond) button located in front of each Inspector tool and start positioning the face image over the face in the video in each frame.
- In the same way, you need to determine the position of the face image along the video timeline,
- Once done, go to the Deliver section and start exporting the video in MOV, AVI, MP4, and other supported formats.
It is a feature-rich video editing software that also offers all the essential tools for swapping faces in videos. [Download DaVinci Resolve].
Those are the 4 best software for face swapping in videos. Hope it is useful and thanks for visiting.
