The best video editing software can create rough cuts from raw footage. Given these commodities’ high prices and comprehensive feature sets, allocating resources may need to be revised. This buying guide is for that.
Most experts choose expensive, cutting-edge software (Premiere Pro, for instance). A cheaper, more straightforward, and the easier-to-use program would be preferable for the typical individual editing vacation film or making social media clips.
Today’s top commercial video editors are listed here (if you have no budget, head to our best free video editing software guide). Whatever your background, you should find everything you need here. Macs, PCs, iPods, iPhones, and Androids have cross-compatible tools. You’ll need our suggested applications if you want to use just your phone.
We’ve tested every video editing program. However, only some tools meet all user demands. We’ve listed each program’s pros and cons to help you decide. The most significant facts are at the top of each entry to help you compare.
We edited our projects for hours to test the programs’ ease of use, responsiveness, modification capability, blending and transition capabilities, and video and audio effects. For total reviews, click below. Software testing explains our evaluation procedure.
Premiere Pro is the only high-end video editor.
Filmmakers, YouTubers, and editors use Premiere Pro. Windows and macOS users can try the standard-setting app for seven days.
Two, CyberLink Power Director 365 is the most excellent beginner video editor.
CyberLink Power Director 365 is a low-cost subscription for novices with video editing knowledge. Its simplicity and Shutterstock library access are appealing.
Third, Adobe Premiere Elements is excellent for novices.
Adobe Premiere Pro isn’t for novices. Start with Adobe Premiere Elements, a cheaper, subscription-free program with a 30-day free trial.
Premiere Pro creates everything from YouTube viral videos to Oscar-nominated films like Mank (2021). Our testing shows why animators, designers, and VFX professionals use it. The program’s flexibility to divide editing, effects, and audio workspaces boosted our productivity. Each workplace is designed to minimize disturbances and promote job management. Testing on a Mac and PC confirmed this.
Our video stood out because we could fine-tune automatic sync with many camera perspectives. Modifiable hotkeys and better collaboration apps were the cherries on top. The program’s cutting and editing features provide precise 4K, 8K, and VR editing. Import limitless video tracks from practically any source for editing (in our testing, we fired up four 4K movies).
Like the other Creative Cloud products, Premiere Pro is regularly updated for free. In June 2022, 22.5 added support for the RED V-RAPTOR camera, additional vertical video workspaces, and gradient strokes and shadows for titles and graphics. We propose Adobe Premiere Pro, one of the best video editing tools. Final Cut Pro, sadly Mac-only, is number 5. Premiere Pro is the most excellent video editing program since it’s cross-platform.
See our Adobe Premiere Pro vs Premiere Rush and Premiere Elements reviews for additional information.
Premiere Pro may be overkill for casual video editors (as a YouTuber, for instance, or as part of your marketing or graphic design job). Thus, a middle-weight device with less complexity and expense may be selected. CyberLink Power Director 365 is the finest video editing program for beginners. If you’re new to video editing, we prefer Premiere Elements (see below), although Shortcut is straightforward for experienced editors.
It has one of the most excellent video editing interfaces we’ve used. We also discovered that easy-to-use features like automated gap filling and an overlay channel that appears beneath the main video on the timeline sped things up. We were thrilled when Shutterstock gave us unrestricted access to their vast royalty-free picture collection. We liked how easy it was to export our demo by picking Produce.
CyberLink Power Director 365 for Windows and Mac offers a 100-track timeline, robust stabilization and video correction capabilities, intense effects, multi-camera editing, motion tracking, and startling simple cutting. 360-degree video editing is supported. Slideshows, screen captures, DVD menus, object designs, and more are available. It’s also cheaper than Premiere Pro whether you pay monthly, yearly, or upfront.
