People want the best video editing software more than ever in this digital world. Generative AI can make beautiful paintings, drawings, and photos, but video is still hard for this new technology to master. Tools like Sora are making progress in turning easy word prompts into videos, but the technology won’t be fully developed for another few years.

While that was going on, our team of experts reviewed and tested a lot of different good video editing software. With this wealth of knowledge, we’ve put together a complete guide to the best video editing tools on the market right now, perfect for both newbies and experts.

This guide is mostly about desktop-based software solutions. Check out our list of the best apps for editing videos on your phone or tablet if you’d rather do it that way. Check out our tips on the best TVs for video editing and the best video editing software to improve your editing setup even more.

 

The best video editing software overall

01. Adobe Premiere Pro

Adobe Premiere Pro is one of the most popular tools for editing videos. It’s used to make everything from YouTube videos to Hollywood movies and ads for big brands. It is used by designers, animators, and VFX artists all the time because it is powerful and flexible. We now know why it’s so famous after trying it a lot ourselves.

 

Features

Premiere Pro has accurate tools for changing timelines, an infinite number of tracks, and the ability to work with many file types. Adobe’s Creative Cloud contract comes with regular changes that make sure users always have the newest features. With the 2024 update, AI audio editing tools were added that can automatically clean up and lower the noise in speech records. AI marking makes it faster to find clips, and Adobe has hinted that text-to-video, object addition and removal, and AI clip extension are some of the new creative AI tools that will be available soon.

 

Versatility

You can import 4K, 8K, and VR files from almost any source into the program. Premiere Pro easily handled four 4K movies during our tests. It’s great for editing audio because it has many meters, mixers, and effects that can be used to improve and clean up sound. It’s easy to add fade-ins and fade-outs with interactive fade wheels. The software also lets users sample and download high-quality, royalty-free stock audio. Users can sort the audio by genre, mood, and speed, which saves time when looking for the right tracks. If you want to do advanced color edits and effects, Adobe After Effects isn’t as good as DaVinci Resolve, but if you subscribe to Adobe’s full Creative Cloud program, you can use it.

 

Performance

Premiere Pro works well most of the time, but importing can be slow sometimes. But it works better with multiple cameras and is easier to use than many other apps. Automatic sync works great with shots taken from different angles, and the editing tools are top-notch. Keyboard options that can be changed, as well as better cooperation tools, make the user experience better. Teams will love the Productions tool because it lets everyone work on the same project and share assets without having to duplicate files or media, which saves room.

 

Usability

The software has different areas for editing, effects, and music. Each one is designed to help you focus on your chores and avoid distractions. It’s easy to switch between areas, and the design is one of the most flexible we’ve seen, so it can be changed to fit each person’s needs. Some people may find Premiere Pro’s more complex features too much to handle. The Learning area, on the other hand, offers beginner-friendly guides on a variety of tasks.

 

Pricing

The main problem with Premiere Pro is that you have to pay for a membership to use it. The price is fair for workers who have been using Adobe tools like Photoshop and After Effects for a while. With the membership plan, you can get the beta program’s newest features right away. For newbies and fans, though, the monthly or yearly fee is a big commitment.

 

The best free video editing software

02. DaVinci Resolve 19

Blackmagic Design’s DaVinci Resolve Studio is one of the best video editing suites because it lets you do everything from changing the timeline to adding effects, color grading, and working with audio. Many people say that the free video editor version, which is just called DaVinci Resolve, is the best free program for editing videos. The paid version, which isn’t too expensive, works better on big projects, has more tools for color grading, like Magic Mask and depth maps, and can handle 8K footage, while the free version can only handle 4K.

 

Features:

DaVinci Resolve is a very powerful video editing program that has all the tools you need for professional work in one place, from changing the timeline to color grading and VFX. In an Adobe process, you might switch between Premiere Pro and After Effects. With DaVinci Resolve, everything is in one place. The free version has a lot of features and is more than enough for most fans. The paid version has more features, tools for working together, and more power for big projects for pros. The most recent update (May 2024) added the option to view HDR video on the Windows UI. It also sped up UltraNR noise reduction, made node graph levels easier to use, and improved repeat functions.

 

Versatility:

Color grading is where DaVinci Resolve really shines, but the editing and audio tabs are also very useful and well thought out. The smart video correction tool works really well, and the sound measurement tools that come with Fairlight (the audio section) are great. Even though it doesn’t have as many motion graphics options as After Effects, it still has a lot of tools. Some of the most useful tools are the Magic Mask tool for watching a subject, the depth maps for making small changes in specific areas, and the tools for working with 3D models.

 

Performance:

A lot of the time, DaVinci Resolve is even more stable and effective than Premiere Pro. To get smooth effects and high-resolution film rendering, you will need a good computer with a dedicated GPU.

 

Usability:

A little hard to get used to is the interface, especially the Fusion module for effects work, which is based on nodes. Newcomers might find it hard, but people who know how to edit videos should be able to handle it. There is a big group of users, and there is a lot of help available online in the form of boards and video lessons.

 

Pricing:

One great thing about DaVinci Resolve is that the basic version is totally free, which is amazing when you think about how powerful the tools are. The one-time fee for the full version is $295, which is a great deal for what you get. It’s free to get the latest version as long as you keep your serial number.

 

The best video editing software for enthusiasts

03. CyberLink PowerDirector 365

CyberLink’s PowerDirector 365 is a top choice for the consumer market, catering to non-professional video editors with some experience. It’s reasonably priced and always getting new features added, which makes it a great choice for artists and people who make content.

 

Features:

PowerDirector 365 is the best software for editing videos, but it isn’t made for professionals. It can edit videos from more than one camera, fix colors, make motion graphics, and edit sounds, but more than professional apps can do. It can work with a lot of different video types and sizes, from 360-degree videos to 4K images. CyberLink added a lot of new tools in 2024. These included AI-powered tools for changing voices, getting rid of backgrounds, and tracking objects.

 

Versatility:

PowerDirector 365 works on both Windows and Mac and has a 100-track timeline, powerful stabilization and video correction tools, professional effects, motion tracking, easy cutting, and editing from multiple cameras. Professional software could be better at fine-tuning, but it’s great for making movies for YouTube and posts for social media. Users can also access a huge library of royalty-free images from Shutterstock at any time. Other features include the ability to make slideshows, record their screen, make DVD menus, and use object design tools.

 

Usability:

The layout might be hard for people who have never edited videos before, but it’s easy for people who have done it before. Automatic gap filler and an overflow channel below the main video on the timeline are just a few of the easy-to-use features that make editing faster and easier. The producing button makes it easy to send files abroad.

 

Pricing:

PowerDirector 365 can be bought one time or on a yearly basis. The one-time buy does not, however, give you access to the stock content library or all the newest features. The membership version is a great deal because it’s a lot less expensive than Premiere Pro.

 

The best video editing software for beginners

04. Adobe Premiere Elements 2024

Adobe Premiere Elements 2024 is a form of Adobe’s professional best editing software, Premiere Pro, that is a lot easier to use. It’s the best software for making videos for beginners because it’s easy to use and comes with step-by-step instructions. It also has many features that make you artistic.

 

Features:

Premiere Elements is cheaper and easier to learn than Premiere Pro because it offers fewer features. Even though it looks simple, it has many useful high-end features, such as face recognition, audio effects, and packaged music. The interface is made to be easy to use, and it comes with a lot of video effects and tools, like transitions, chroma-keying, and brightness changes.

 

Versatility:

Premiere Elements is best for people who are just starting to edit videos. It could be better for pros or people who need to make a lot of changes. It gives amateurs enough freedom, while more advanced programs like Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve might need to be easier for them to understand.

 

Usability:

More advanced video editing software can be hard for beginners to use. Premiere Elements, on the other hand, is made to be as easy to use as possible while still having fun features. With smart search, video stabilization, and automatic features like motion tracking and smart toning, users can set up a quick process. Please don’t worry if these words sound strange to you. Beginners will find the set-up tool and easy-to-use layout helpful. They let users start with simple tasks like loading and editing clips and move on to more difficult tasks as they gain confidence. ‘Guided changes’ in the software take users step-by-step through different jobs.

 

Pricing:

Premiere Elements is an Adobe program, but it’s not part of the Creative Cloud monthly plan. Instead, you can get it for a small, one-time fee. There is also a free trial that lasts for 30 days. This lets potential users try out the design and features before they buy.

 

The best video editing software for Mac and iPad

05. Final Cut Pro

Apple’s Final Cut Pro is a common tool for making movies and TV shows. One big advantage it has over Adobe Premiere Pro is the way it charges: Mac users don’t need a membership to use Final Cut Pro; they only need to buy it once. It’s important to note, though, that the iPad version requires a membership.

 

Features

Final Cut Pro has a huge number of effects and advanced recording tools. High-end features like HDR, 360-degree video, and advanced color adjustment tools can be used with it. When we did our most recent study, we were most pleased by its Magnetic Timeline, which makes updating a lot easier. But compared to Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve, the software has needed to be faster in adding new features. It gets updates less often and adds fewer groundbreaking features. Even so, a big update in May added the ability to work with projects stored on external drives and a new Live Multicam tool for the Final Cut Camera app for iPhone and iPad.

 

Versatility

Additional Apple products, like Photos and iTunes libraries, work with Final Cut Pro without any problems. The new version of the iPad allows users to work together on multiple Apple devices, which makes it more useful for people who are deeply connected to the Apple environment.

 

Performance

Final Cut Pro is built to use all of Apple’s processing power, making it the fastest professional video editing software we’ve tried. It works best on macOS. In November, a major update made it work even better on Apple chips, making edits faster and more efficient.

 

Usability

The software’s planning tools are strong, and the grouping tools make managing projects easier. For people who are used to other writing software, the layout might be scary, but there are a lot of online tools to help new users get used to it.

 

Pricing

Final Cut Pro has a one-time buy model for Mac users, and it costs about the same as DaVinci Resolve Studio. It also comes with a large 90-day free trial, which is a lot longer than Premiere Pro’s seven-day sample. Also, since it was first released, all changes to Final Cut Pro have been free, which makes the purchase even more valuable.

 

The best video editing software for mobile

06. Adobe Premiere Rush

Adobe Premiere Rush is a powerful cross-platform video editor that works on Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and iPad. The layout is made to be easy to use on both desktop computers and mobile phones, which makes changing videos easier. Premiere Rush is a stripped-down form of Adobe Premiere Pro. It has big buttons and panels that are easy to move around. This is so that it can be used on smaller screens.

 

Features:

Premiere Rush has fewer editing tools than Premiere Pro, but it still does the most important things, like letting you edit the timeline, make changes to the audio, and access stock assets. Export settings are designed for popular sites like Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Vimeo, and they are great for making quick, simple changes and posting content on social media. It also has tools for changing video types, which makes it easy to use the same material on multiple devices. Also, Premiere Rush works perfectly with Premiere Pro, so users can make more changes to footage that was first edited in the more complicated software.

 

Versatility:

Premiere Rush is great for quickly making easy, interesting videos, which is why social media makers love it. It’s flexible because movies can be changed to work on different systems and types. Even though it has some problems, the ability to connect to Premiere Pro is helpful for people who need to make changes while they’re on the go.

 

Performance:

Premiere Rush usually works well on all supported systems, but users may sometimes have problems with it, like settings locking up or not being able to pick clips. The problems listed above are pretty small and don’t really affect how well the system works overall.

 

Usability:

Premiere Rush’s easy-to-use design makes editing faster and easier, making it great for people who are just starting out. The drag-and-drop timeline tool makes it easier to use, and the app is designed to work best on small screens. It’s great for beginners and people who need to make quick changes on the go. However, experienced producers may prefer more powerful PC software like Premiere Elements for a wider range of features and better ways to learn.

 

Pricing:

You can get Premiere Rush as part of Adobe Creative Cloud, which also has Premiere Pro, or as a separate membership. There is also a free plan called “Starter” that lets you use a few tools and share as much as you want from your phone.

 

Best subscription-free software for beginners

07. Pinnacle Studio

Pinnacle Studio is a great choice for people who are new to making videos and have a Windows PC. It’s a good blend of price and features between basic free tools and expensive professional software.

 

Features:

Advanced features in Pinnacle Studio include the ability to load 8K videos, create keyframe groups, and use complicated mix settings. The huge collection of over 1,500 effects, titles, and themes may seem like a lot at first, but it will help people who are just starting. Plus, it lets you edit HD videos on six tracks, has powerful color correction tools, and lets you do stop-motion and time remapping. It’s important to note, though, that we sometimes run into lags and crashes, which could stop you from changing.

 

Versatility:

Premiere Elements and other similar choices are easier for beginners to use. However, Pinnacle Studio stands out because it has more complicated audio tools and masks that let you add effects, shapes, and text to certain parts of a movie.

 

Usability:

The program’s easy-to-use design makes writing faster and easier. Star scores and phrase tagging when you import make it easy to organize material. The search feature also makes it easy to find items quickly by name.

 

Pricing:

You can buy Pinnacle Studio all at once, which is a good deal considering its features. However, if you want the most tools, you might want to spend more money on Pinnacle Studio Plus or Ultimate.

 

How to Choose the Best Video Editing Software?

You need to think about a few important things, like your wants and skill level, in order to choose the right video editing program. Here is a list of things to think about:

• Purpose of Use:First, decide what software will be used most often. Are you creating short videos to share on social media, making a short film, or making movies to share with your friends and family? The type of software you need will depend on what you want to do with it, whether you need a simple tool for quick changes or a more advanced base for complex projects.
• Skill Level:Think about how good you are at editing videos. Beginners may do better with software that is easy to use and has detailed lessons. Users at a moderate level might want extra features like stop-motion or color-fixing tools. Pros, on the other hand, will need more advanced features like motion tracking, multitrack editing, and advanced color mixing.
• AI Integration:A lot of current video makers have AI features that can make the editing process go much faster. But be ready to tweak the results that AI gives you to make sure they meet your needs.
• Platform Compatibility:Figure out if you need browser-based software, software for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, or iOS. Make sure that the program you pick works with your operating system and meets your unique technology needs.
• Export Formats and Resolution:Check to see what export choices the software has. Check to see if the software can handle the types you need for your projects, and decide if you need support for HD, 4K, or even 8K video rates.
• Budget:There are different ways to pay for video editing tools. Free versions usually have restrictions like watermarks or ads that make them less useful. Paid choices usually let you buy something once or sign up for a membership, which gives you access to all of their features without these limits.

 

By considering these things, you can pick the best video editing software for your needs, skill level, and budget.

 

How We Tested the Best Video Editing Software?

It took our team of experienced video makers a lot of time to test each program and decide which was best for this guide. Two of our writers, who are both experienced in editing videos, used each program extensively to rate its performance, features, ease of use, and value for money.

They worked on a range of projects, from short social media clips to longer, more complicated ones, to get a full idea of what each software could do. As part of their review, they tested how well each program works with real writing workflows and how well it lets you share files.

Our main focus was on the people who would be using each piece of software, looking at how well it did its job and how it compared to other options on the market. We also looked at the support and community tools that each program offers and rated how easy it is for users to get help and direction.

Not only did we do in-depth studies of the products ourselves, but we also got comments from people who work in the film and video creation industries. Read the full reviews linked above to get a more in-depth look at how we felt about each product.