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The best video editing software gives you the tools to create high-quality videos for your audience. Whether you want to sync footage from multiple cameras, add visual effects, insert audio, or spruce up transitions, video editing software makes it possible, regardless of your level of experience.
In this guide, I’ve reviewed the 13 best video editing software for both beginners and professionals, based on editing features, supported video formats, ease of use, and pricing.
13 Best Video Editing Software
Here are my picks for the 13 best video editing software available today:
- VEED
- Clipchamp
- Adobe Premiere Pro
- Wondershare Filmora
- Cyberlink PowerDirector
- HitFilm Express
- Adobe Premiere Elements
- Corel VideoStudio Pro
- HitFilm Pro
- KineMaster
- VideoSoftDev (VSDC)
- DaVinci Resolve 17
- VideoProc
1. VEED
VEED is an online video editor that works with all major platforms such as macOS and Windows. This cloud-based software offers powerful video editing tools, as well as a free plan.
Features
- Intuitive user interface
- Supports tons of advanced editing features
- Cloud-based, so ideal for teams
- Share videos via URL
- Affordable paid plans
- 3D video editing
- Supports HD resolution
- Split and merge videos
- Supports video stabilization
Cons
- Videos created with the free plan have a VEED watermark
- Free plan export quality is limited to 720p
Pricing
VEED has a free plan that you can use to edit videos under 10 minutes with a size of no more than 50MB. The software also has three premium plans: Basic, Pro, and Enterprise, if you want more time, video size, and features.
- Basic plan costs $12 per month
- Professional plan costs $24 per month
- Enterprise plan: Contact Veed’s sales team for the pricing.
Best For
This tool is best suited for making online marketing videos, product demos, HR videos, and how-to videos.
2. Clipchamp
Clipchamp is an online video editor that works best in Google Chrome or the Chromium-based Microsoft Edge. This affordable but powerful software offers advanced editing tools for your video projects.
Features
- Supports multi-layer video editing
- Works with cloud storage
- Works with stock libraries of content
- Has an easy-to-use interface
- Clipchamp Teams feature makes collaboration easy
Cons
- Doesn’t work well with non-Chromium-based browsers
- Free plan export quality has a cap of 480p
Pricing
Clipchamp has a free plan that offers unlimited video exports and three paid plans: Creator, Business, and Business Platinum.
- Creator plan costs $9 per month.
- Business plan costs $19 per month.
- Business Platinum costs $39 per month.
Best For
This tool is best suited for marketers, brands, and content creators.
3. Adobe Premiere Pro
Adobe Premiere Pro sets the industry standard for best all-around video editing software used by professional video creators, but it’s typically best suited to experienced video editors.
Features
- Supports major OS platforms
- Supports the highest video formats such as 4K, 8K, and VR
- Advanced video editing tools
- Unlimited number of video tracks
- Tons of exporting options
Cons
- Lags in lower-end computers
- Not suitable for beginners
Pricing
The pricing plan for Adobe Premiere Pro depends on the users’ specific needs. It’s divided into four categories: Individuals, Business, Student and Teachers, and Schools and Universities.
Users can either pay for all Adobe apps or a single app. For instance, the Premiere Pro license costs $20.99 per month for individuals but $33.99 per month in the Business category.
Best For
Adobe Premiere Pro is ideal for professionals who want to create unique and professional videos with excellent effects.
4. Wondershare Filmora
Wondershare Filmora is a professional video editing tool that’s simple and easy to use.
Features
- Library of built-in titles and visual effects
- Royalty-free music and sound effects
- Free mobile app for editing videos
- Background sound removal feature
Cons
- Videos created on the free version have the company’s watermark
Pricing
Wondershare Filmora tool has a 30-day free trial period for new users and three pricing categories: Individual, Business, and Educational.
The individual category is further subdivided into three plans: Annual, Perpetual, and Bundle Subscription.
- Individual plan costs $61.99 per month.
- Perpetual plan one-time fee is $89.99.
- Bundle plan goes for $109.99 per year.
The annual business plan costs $155.88, while the Student plan starts from $19.99 per month.
Best For
Filmora by Wondershare is one of the best video editing software for beginners.
5. Cyberlink PowerDirector
Cyberlink PowerDirector is a high-end video editing software with advanced features, but it has a relatively low price.
Features
- Video correction tools
- Motion tracking
- Multi-cam editing
- Video stabilization
- 360-degree video editing
Cons
- Not beginner-friendly
Pricing
The PowerDirector 365 business video editing tool goes for just $12.50 per month.
Best For
This tool is best for professional video editors who need advanced features on a small budget.
6. HitFilm Express
HitFilm Express is one of the best free video editing software with advanced features.
Features
- 400+ effects
- Comes with animation tools
- Supports masking and matting
- Comes with a training mode for beginners
- Threaded rendering
Cons
- Features are a bit limited compared to the full paid version.
Pricing
HitFilm Express is a free video editing software.
Best For
This tool is best suited for video creators on a low budget.
7. Adobe Premiere Elements
Adobe Premiere Elements is the best alternative to Adobe Premiere Pro because it’s a scaled-down version of the application.
Features
- Comes with a learning mode for beginners
- Has a quick-edit mode for fast video editing
- Incorporates motion titles
- Simple and easy to navigate user interface
- Contains a media library
- Has automated edits
Cons
- Slow rendering speeds
- Limited creative controls
Pricing
This tool has a 30-day free trial for new users and a one-time purchase fee of $99.99.
Best For
Adobe Premiere Elements is best suited for amateur video editors.
8. Corel VideoStudio Pro
Corel VideoStudio Pro is a video editing app that helps you make creative videos and movies. Its features include timeline and storyboard editing and templates to help you speed up your projects.
Features
- Fast rendering
- Instant video and color corrections
- Audio and voiceover editing
- Multi-cam editing so you can sync footage from multiple cameras
- Supports color grading and video masking
Cons
- Occasionally buggy user interface
Pricing
Corel VideoStudio has a free trial for new users for 30 days and a one-time purchase offer that costs $79.99 or $99.99, depending on the plan you choose.
Best For
This tool is best suited for professionals who want a full-featured video editing software at a budget-friendly price.
9. HitFilm Pro
HitFilm Pro is the paid version of the free HitFilm Express video editing tool.
Features
- Supports up to 8K video support
- Fast visual effects
- Threaded rendering
- Powerful tracking technology
- Personalized playback
- Supports mask editing and rendering
Cons
- Lacks phone support
Pricing
HitFilm Pro has three one-time purchase plans: HitFilm Pro, Pro Video Bundle, and Pro Suite.
- HitFilm Pro goes for $349.
- Pro Video bundle costs $583.20.
- Pro Suite goes for $677.60.
Best For
This tool is best for video editors with some experience who want a feature-rich video editing software.
10. KineMaster
KineMaster is a powerful video editing mobile app built for Android, iPhone, and iPad.
Features
- Supports videos up to 60 fps
- Easily share your video on popular social media platforms
- Supports simple compositing
- Has eight blending modes
- Multiple visual effects
Cons
- Videos created with KineMaster’s free app have the company’s watermark
Pricing
This app has a free standard edition, but all edited videos will have the company’s watermark. It also has two paid plans: monthly and annual.
- Monthly plan goes for $4.99.
- Annual plan costs $39.99.
Best For
This app is best for mobile users with basic video editing knowledge who want to edit videos for social media.
11. Videosoftdev (VSDC)
Videosoftdev is a powerful video editing tool used to make simple videos for presentations.
Features
- Free regular updates
- Supports masking and blending
- Great image stabilization
- Has an intuitive user interface
Cons
- The free version of the application has limited features.
Pricing
VSDC has a free version and paid version of the software. The paid version’s lifetime plan costs $19.99.
Best For
VSDC is best used to add charts and annotations to video clips. It’s a solid tool for editing video presentations.
12. DaVinci Resolve 17
DaVinci Resolve 17 is a feature-rich video editor for professional filmmakers.
Features
- Pro-grade audio editor
- Wide-format support
- Over 100 GPU/CPU accelerated effects
- Supports smart reframing
Cons
- Relatively resource-intensive
Pricing
DaVinci Resolve 17 has a free and paid version. The paid version lifetime plan offer goes for $295.
Best For
Professional colorists prefer this video editor because of its top-notch color grading tools.
13. VideoProc
VideoProc is an intuitive video editing software for video creators.
Features
- Supports videos up to 4K or 8K quality
- Built-in media downloader
- Comes with a screen recording tool
- Allows users to add voiceovers and text in their video clips
Cons
- Doesn’t work on Linux
Pricing
This tool has three paid plans: Annual, Family, and Lifetime.
- Annual plan one-time fee is $29.95 for one PC.
- Family plan one-time fee is $57.95 for up to five PCs.
- Lifetime plan one-time fee is $37.95 for one PC.
Best For
VideoProc is Best For editing 4K clips.
Video editing software FAQ: What is video editing?
Now that you have my recommendations for the best video editing software, let’s consider what exactly video editing is. Video editing is the process of manipulating, arranging, and structuring video shots to create a whole new output. It usually involves converting file formats, trimming, cropping footage, adding sound, transitions, special effects, and other post-production tasks.
What is video editing software?
Video editing software offers tools to modify, edit or manipulate videos. These tools help video creators correct video frames and add audio clips, filters, colors, background music, and more.
What should you look for in the best video editing software?
When looking for the best video editing software, consider the following factors:
Cost
There are many free and paid video editing software available today, but it all comes down to your specific needs. Free video editors only offer basic-level features and often impose a company watermark over your final video, while paid software offer professional-level tools and effects.
Ease of Use
If you’re a beginner, you’ll probably want to go for a video editing program that’s easy to use. The last thing you want is to spend a lot of money on paid software and months learning how to use it. If you’re a newbie, opt for video editors that have video editing templates or auto-editing modes.
With video editing templates, you can replace existing media with your content and then edit the video in the shortest time possible. Similarly, in auto mode, you can import a video from your media, then select a preferred style, and the tool will automatically edit the video for you.
Additionally, consider a video editor with lots of tutorials for beginners. If you’re a more advanced user, you might be frustrated with the limitations of beginner-oriented tools. In this case, opt for tools with a greater range of features and functionalities.
Video Format Support
Video cameras have different output options, depending on the users’ needs. Before purchasing an expensive video editing software, make sure it can edit the video output from your camera.
For instance, premium video editing software can deliver high-quality videos and support popular formats. On the other hand, a free video editor may only support a specific video format and might not have the capability to output high-quality videos.
Customer Support
Responsive customer support is always a good thing if you need help using a software. When choosing a video editor, look for customer support options such as product FAQs, email, phone support, live chat, and an active community forum.
Editing Tracks
You’ll also want to consider the number of tracks available to you when editing a video. If your video editor supports infinite tracks, you can place several items on the screen all at once and work on them one by one.
Other factors to consider before selecting a video editor include:
- Availability of a free trial version for testing purposes
- Software stability
- Software updates
- Audio control
- Special effects and filters
- Video transitions
- Video file import methods supported
- Input and file output formats supported
- User interface
- Optimization tools
What is the best video editing software?
Selecting the best video editor depends on your specific needs. For example, Adobe offers Adobe Premiere Elements for beginner editors and Adobe Premiere Pro for professional editors. Check out our list of the best video editing software to see which tool would best support your projects and level of experience.
How can I become a better video editor?
The best way to sharpen your skills as a video editor is by practicing frequently. Choose video editing tools that offer tutorials and also learn how to create different projects on your own. You could also consider taking an online video editing course.
What should you look for in video editing software?
Here are a few essential elements to consider when selecting a video editor:
- File formats and support
- Pricing
- Ease of use
- Easy clip editing
- Smooth video transition.
- Timeline editors
- Audio editing
- Special effects and other perks
- Templates
What are the main steps in the video editing process?
The main steps in video editing include logging, first assembly, rough cut, excellent cut, and final cut. Ultimately, the steps involved in your project will depend on what type of video you’re making and for what platform and audience.
Are you interested in creating an AI video for your audience? Head to this guide to learn more about the game-changing technology of AI video, along with recommendations for the best AI video generators that easily turn text into video.
