Video editing has become a very popular and coveted skill. Since the success of many YouTube entrepreneurs, everyone seems to be trying their hands at it. If you are one of those people or someone who is truly looking to make a career out of it, you will need good video editing software as your companion. So, we have created a list of the absolute best video editing software keeping beginners, professionals, and casual once-in-a-blue-moon users in mind. Let’s take a quick look at the list of best video editing software you should use in 2023.
Best Video Editing Software (Overall)
1. Sony Vegas Pro
Sony Vegas Pro has always been one of the best video editing software in the market. I have always loved Sony Vegas Pro because of its built-in audio editing features. While other editing software like Final Cut and Premiere Pro provides some control over audio editing, Vegas Pro brings a full-fledged audio editor.
It allows you to edit high-res multi-track audio to match with your video quality. Additionally, Sony Vegas Pro 20 brings essential features like AI Smart Mask (Beta), Hue, saturation, luminance curves, and more.
Moreover, I also like the fact that the software comes in 3 different versions with each of them asking for a one-time payment. There’s no subscription-based pricing here and if you have used older versions of the software, say the Vegas Pro 18 or 19, you can upgrade at a discounted price.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| High-end features like 8K file support, planar motion tracking, among others | Could have had a better interface |
| Amazing in-built audio editor | Welcome tutorials would have been handy for beginners |
| Several plugins to make use of | |
| Great rendering speeds | |
| Unified color grading | |
| GPU accelerated decoding for AVC/HEVC | |
| HLG HDR support |
Supported Platforms: Windows, macOS
Price: Starts at $7.99/month
2. Cyberlink Power Director
If you can’t afford to pay for the Sony Vegas Pro, you should look at the Cyberlink Power Director which provides you with a great editing environment at almost 3rd of a price. Despite being cheap, Power Director is no slouch when it comes to video editing. It is regularly updated and adds the newest feature as soon as possible. The latest version of the software, Cyberlink Power Director, brings features like motion graphic titles, nested projects, CPU and GPU performance boost, better multi-screen support, and more.
Apart from these new features, PowerDirector, like DaVinci Resolve, this one also focuses heavily on color correction and provides you with a plethora of tools to get that perfect tint on your videos. Other features include support for a wide variety of audio, video, and image format along with support for multi-cam editing.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Super easy for beginners to use | Audio editing capabilities are average at best |
| Simple interface | Free version does not offer 4K video editing |
| Several features like Nested PIP projects, audio scrubbing, and more |
Supported Platforms: Windows
Price: (Starts at $51.99/year)
3. Pinnacle Studio
It is one of the cheapest full-fledged video editing software out there. The software focuses more on effects, transitions, and color correction. It provides a precise multi-track editing environment with customizable workspaces. It also supports both 4K and multi-cam video editing along with power audio-editing tools with royalty-free music, voice-over effects, and more.
Just like others, it also supports most of the popular video and audio formats, so whatever format your footage is in, you don’t have to worry about compatibility issues. Basically, if you are looking for cheap video editing software with lots of cool features, this one is the one to get.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Very clean interface | Motion tracking feature is not the best |
| Easy to use | |
| Good for title editing | |
| Allows multicam editing |
Supported Platforms: Windows
Price: (Starts at $54.95)
Best Video Editing Software For Beginners
1. iMovie
iMovie is my favorite video editor to recommend to beginners. It’s a shame that the software is exclusive to macOS and hence neither Windows nor Linux users can enjoy this editor. However, If you do own a Mac, you must know that iMovie comes pre-installed with your Mac which essentially makes it free.
But that’s not what makes it best for beginners. The best part about iMovie is its simple and intuitive interface which is really easy to figure out, even without help. Also, Apple’s optimization makes iMovie a really snappy editor which can be used even on older Macs without any problem. As a beginner, iMovie is the best video editor you can use on a Mac.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Helps in getting video editing basics right | Lacks advanced features like motion tracking, mulitcam editing and more |
| As easy to use as it gets | Limited to macOS |
| Great in-built special effects to choose from |
Supported Platforms: macOS
Price: (Free)
2. Adobe Premiere Elements
If you are a Windows user and looking for a good video editing software which is capable yet beginner friendly, Adobe Premiere Elements is to the software to go for. I know at $99.99, it is not exactly cheap. However, I still think that it is good for beginners who are willing to spend a little money. Those looking for a free alternative should go for Shotcut, which I’ll talk about later on.
Much like iMovie helps you get the basics right to make your transitioning to Final Cut Pro easier, Adobe Premiere Elements does the same for Premiere Pro. In addition, you get to see a sleek interface alongside a natural and intuitive editing environment. It also comes with all the horsepower that you will need as a beginner. If you are serious about video editing, you should start with this one.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Acts as a great primer to Premiere Pro | Does not offer advanced features like multicam editing |
| A very simple and straightforward interface | Rendering speeds can get frustrating |
| Highly beginner-friendly |
Supported Platforms: macOS, Windows
Price: ($99.99)
3. Movavi
Movavi is one of the most popular paid video editor software available for both Windows and Mac systems. However, you don’t have to jump straight into purchasing it. Once the video editor downloads and installs, it kicks off a free trial of 7 days. So, you can try it out in all its glory for 7 days, after which you will lose access to it unless you pay the premium price. There is also a Lifetime paid plan that can go with if you really liked the free trial.
When it comes to using Movavi, it is pretty simple and straightforward. All you have to do is play with the software around a bit. In no time, you will get used to finding your way to the various features that it has to offer.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Organized and clean interface | Slow rendering |
| Advanced yet not complex to understand | Lacks a lot of advanced features |
| Offers a variety of different features | |
| Supports a whole lot of video and audio formats |
Supported Platforms: Windows, Mac
Price: (Starts at $54.95/year, Lifetime plan costs $79.95)
Best Video Editing Software For Professionals
1. Adobe Premiere Pro
When it comes to video editing software, Adobe Premiere Pro is the first one that you will hear and that too for good reasons. Think of a feature, any feature that you might need in a video software, and I will bet that Premiere Pro has it. The editor is not only powerful but also has a clean and familiar interface. However, the best thing about using Adobe Premiere Pro is the ecosystem that it supports.
Every other tool that Adobe offers you connects seamlessly with Premiere Pro. Whether you are using Photoshop for photos, After Effects for animations, or Adobe Audition for audio editing, everything plays nicely with the Premiere Pro. When you are buying the Premiere Pro, you are not just buying a video editor. Rather, you are entering an ecosystem which gives you access to some of the best creative tools out there. For that reason alone, I recommend Premier Pro over any other video software in the world.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Not that difficult to learn for beginners | Can crash a lot of times |
| Comes with all the advanced features required for professional video editing | |
| Excellent compatibility with other Adobe software |
Supported Platforms: Windows, macOS
Price: $20.99/month (Billed annually), $19.99/month the first year for students
2. Final Cut Pro X
If you are a Mac user, I don’t think you should even consider buying any other editing software other than Final Cut Pro X. The only reason to choose any other software like Premiere Pro over the Final Cut is if you had already invested considerable time in learning some other video editor and just switched to Mac. However, if you are just starting out, Final Cut Pro is the best option for you as it is a beast on a Mac.
Apple’s software are just so in sync with their hardware that you get the best possible performance. However, performance is not only the play here, as Final Cut is as powerful as any other video editor on this list.
Not only that, if you are a beginner and ready to invest time and money in this software, you will find that it is one of the easier video editing software to get used to. As I said, if you are on a Mac and you can afford it, buy this one without hesitation.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Advanced yet easy to use software | Only available for macOS |
| Super speedy and snappy | |
| Offer advanced options like multicam support, 360-degree video among others |
Supported Platforms: macOS
Price: ($299.99)
3. Avid Media Composer
Generally I don’t suggest Avid Media Composer to anyone because it’s such a high-end product, however, recently the company has released a free version of their video editor called the “Avid Media Composer | First” and it’s a great news for all the budding video editors out there.
If you have not heard about Avid before, it’s because it is a software used by professionals taking on big projects. Your favorite movies and tv-shows are edited on Avid. Movies like the Guardian of Galaxy (vol. 2), the Martian, and Baby Driver have been edited using Avid. So, know this, if you are trying to take on a big project, like a feature film or a tv-series Avid is the industry leader here.
That being said, the pro version of Avid costs you $49.99/month and there’s that. However, since they have released a free version with restrictions which will only affect users who want the full power of the editor, it has become accessible to normal customers. So, if you want to experience a true professional grade video editor give Avid Media Composer a try.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Free version is pretty good | Only available for macOS |
| Clean interface | Premium version is expensive |
| Very snappy | Way too high end |
| Features industry-leading advanced video editing tools |
Supported Platforms: Windows, macOS
Price: (Free, $49.99/month)
4. DaVinci Resolve
While all the other video editing software do offer built-in color correction tools, none of them offer as extensive control over color correction as DaVinci Resolve. This video editor started its journey as a color correction tool which slowly evolved into a full-fledged video editor.
Needless to say, color correction still remains its biggest weapon that it can hold over other professional grade video editing software. In fact, its color correction tools are so good that it’s the default choice for film and tv-series makers for color grading purposes.
Apart from its extensive color correction toolset, DaVinci resolve offers a familiar multi-track timeline with quick edit pop-up and customizable keyboard shortcuts. It also offers a plethora of video transitions and effects along with features like multi-cam editing, keyframes, speed effects and more. DaVinci Resolve is a very competent video editing software, with the best color correction tools to go with it.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Free version is pretty good | Only available for macOS |
| Clean interface | Premium version is expensive |
| Very snappy | Way too high end for most users |
| Features industry-leading advanced video editing tools |
Supported Platforms: Windows, macOS
Price: (Free, DaVinci Resolve Studio available for $295)
Best Clip Editing Software for Social Media
Any of the above video editors will work great for budding YouTube and reel creators. However, every one of them will also cost you a lot. That is if you don’t go for the free version of Avid Media Composer. If you are just starting out, you should start with software that is not only fairly cheap but is also easy to learn. Finding good Instagram reel editors for mobile phones is easy. However, finding one for your PC sure isn’t. So, we did some heavy lifting and came up with these:
1. Shotcut
If you are a budding YouTuber and you need software that is not only free but also doesn’t cut down on features, look no further than Shotcut. Shotcut is an open-source and free video editor which provides you with all the editing tools you will ever need. Since the editor is open source and completely free, if you are just starting out, it’s a great place to learn the basics of video editing without investing any money.
Most of the video editors follow the same editing basics, hence once you are ready to move to a professional-grade editing software like Premiere Pro or Final Cut, the switch won’t be that hard. The best part about using Shotcut is that despite being free it doesn’t cut down on too many features.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Comes with support for a wide variety of video and audio formats | Not the most easiest to understand interface |
| Great selection of effects and color correction tools | |
| Good rendering speeds | |
| Completely free to use | |
| Multi-platform support |
Supported Platforms: Windows, macOS, and Linux
Price: (Free)
2. HitFilm Express
If you are looking for a full professional grade video editor which is also free, Hit Film Express is your best bet. On the scale of video editor learning process, this one falls on the harder side. However, if you are ready to invest your time, Hit Film Express can become the only editing software that you are ever going to need. It has everything that you will need to support your expanding editing skills.
Additionally, it offers support for innumerable video and audio formats. You also get a wide variety of visual effects to choose from and use. However, you will need to invest a considerable amount of time in learning this one. Also, the editor is a little heavy on the resources so you will need a good system to run it smoothly.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Supports almost all the video and audio formats out there | Steep learning curve |
| Offers 180 visual effects to make use of | |
| Free tutorials act as great guides | |
| Completely free to use | |
| Multi-platform support |
Supported Platforms: Windows, macOS
Price: (Free – Can add extra functionality at $349)
3. Microsoft Clipchamp
If you are someone who posts short clips on social media a whole lot or requires intros and outros for their YouTube videos, Microsoft’s Clipchamp is probably the best tool out there. What makes this tool so so great is the fact that it is a 100% free in the Microsoft Store. Of course, you would need to be on a Windows-running machine to access it.
There are multiple templates to choose from in the free version as well. However, with the paid version, you get access to a lot more premium content to make use of. Be it social media ads or meme templates, Microsoft Clipchamp offers you templates for pretty much everything. On top of that, it is the easiest to use such software out there. Definitely, one of the best free video editing software to use right now.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Several templates to choose from | Very limited capabilities |
| Easiest to use | Limited to Windows |
| Free tool | |
| Very lightweight |
Supported Platforms: Windows
Price: (Free, Premium at $11.99/month)
Best Software For Motion Graphics and Visual Effects
1. Adobe After Effects
Okay, I know that this is not strictly a video editor, however, I still wanted to include this on the list for people who are mainly looking to create graphics and visual effects for videos. In fact, learning Motion Graphics and Visual Effects has become a required skill set for any video editor.
If you call yourself a video editor, you need to learn at least the basics of motion graphics, and there is no software better than Adobe After Effects which can help you do that. Whether you use Final Cut or Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects is the go-to tool for editors who want to add motion graphics and visual effects to their videos. If you want to get into things like motion graphics, visual effects, animations, and special effects, this is the software to start off with.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| A great combo to use alongside other Adobe software, like illustrator | Prone to crashing |
| The visual effects and motion graphics library is incredible | Pretty heavy software; requires a lot of power to run seamlessly |
| Being a popular tool, there are several guides to help you out | Requires a lot of time to master |
Supported Platforms: Windows, macOS
Price: ($20.99/month – billed annually)
Best Editing Software For 3D Modelling
1. Blender
Just like After Effects, Blender is also not your normal video editing software, rather it’s a tool for creators who want to get into 3D Modelling Field. Truth be told, Blender does come with a full-fledged built-in video editor and theoretically you can create and produce a full movie just using Blender. So, if you want to get into 3D modeling, Blender is the software to do it with.
The primary reason I suggest Blender over any other 3D Modelling software is that it is open-source software and is totally free. If you have done your research you might know that 3D modeling software along with their various plug-ins doesn’t come cheap, hence, not many of us can afford them.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Open-source and completely free | Takes a whole lot of time to learn and master |
| Cross-platform support | The video editor is pretty basic |
| Several plug-ins | Can get buggy |
| Lots of tutorials and guides to help you out with this software |
Supported Platforms: Windows, macOS, and Linux
Price: (Free)
Best Free Video Editing Software
Of course, the software mentioned above will offer you the best-in-class premium video editing experience. Understandably, it comes to mind that no free tool can match their level. We have some good news for you then. There are two free tools that really do mop the floor with these premium tools. It is rather surprising how good these free tools are. Moreover, the tools mentioned below are Linux compatible as well.
1. Lightworks
If you are looking for professional-grade video editing software for Linux, it doesn’t get better than Lightworks. What is best about Lightworks is that it offers a free version along with its paid version. So, if you are just starting out you can start with the free version and then upgrade to the paid version, once you are comfortable with your video editing skills.
The company also offers a good selection of tutorial videos to get you started on your video editing journey. When it comes to features, Lightworks doesn’t disappoint. The editor natively supports almost all the video formats you can think of. Easily one of the best free video editing software available right now.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| The free version is very good | User interface is bland and outdated |
| Multicam editing support | |
| 4K content support | |
| Export share-ready videos on the go, thanks to MPEG4/H.264 format exports | |
| Lightweight |
Supported Platforms: Linux, Windows, and macOS
Price: (Free, $24.99 to $437.99)
2. OpenShot
The best part about using Linux is that most of the software available for Linux is open-source and free. So, if you are just getting started OpenShot can be a very good option for you. OpenShot is an incredibly good free video editing tool. Its interface is clean and easy to get around and is backed by a great set of professional video editing tools including 3D rendering, video effects, animations, keyframes, and more.
Despite being open source, the software is constantly updated to bring you new features and smooth performance. The software is built on a powerful FFmpeg library hence it can read and write most video and image formats. For a Linux user, OpenShot is a great place to start.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Completely free to use | Buggy and laggy at times |
| No watermark | Not for super advanced video editing |
| Several effects to choose from | |
| Easy to use |
Supported Platforms: Windows, macOS, and Linux
Price: (Free)
Frequently Asked Questions
The best software for video editing would most likely be Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro X, and the lot. However, it all comes down to your personal preference and requirement.
YouTubers either use advanced software like Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro X to edit their videos or free video editing software like Shotcut.
Professionals mostly use either Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro X to edit their videos. They also add software like Adobe After Effects to the mix for better results.
The best free video editing software are Lightworks, Shotcut, OpenShot, and HitFilm Express. There are several other tools and apps, but these stand out from the crowd.
