© Provided by T3 Video editing software
The best video editing software could be the difference between an enjoyable project and an eye-melting struggle. That's why we've rounded up the best video editing software for Mac, Windows, iOS and Android, among others, so you can find the ultimate tool for you.
IMovie is a free video editing software for Mac, designed exclusively by Apple for MacOS. It is one of the easiest professional video editing apps and hands down the best free video editor. You can use it to make, edit and share videos for your personal as well as professional needs. Filmora has established itself to be a pioneer in the world of video editing & we certainly can't deny the fact that it produces one of the best video editing software for Mac. Being as good as Apple iMovie, Filmora comes along with a simple user interface designed to be accessible to anyone of any age group.
From professional editors to would be filmmaking amateurs, there is something there to suit all levels. There are also, as you'd imagine, a range of prices from pretty pricey premium stuff all the way to totally free video editing software.
If you want easy video editing or simply the best free option, then will be something in this broad list of the best options out there right now.
From trimming clips and applying filters to working with green screens and adjusting playback – there are plenty of features to look out for when deciding which is the best video editing software for you. You might be on team Adobe and simply have to get one of the many options there, or you may be more open to trying some lesser known names that offer a great experience for a lower price.
We've got the best video editing software right here, each organised by what they offer, which stands out, so you should be able to find the right tool to create your next work of art on video, right here.
Best video editing software
© Provided by T3 (Image credit: Adobe)1. Adobe Premiere Pro CC
Platform: Mac/Windows | Free trial: 7 days | 8K support: Yes | Upload to YouTube: Yes | 360 support: Yes | Price: Subscription
The very best video editing software title has got to go to one of the oldest players in the game Adobe, with its latest Premiere Pro CC. As the name suggests this is the do-it-all tool that professionals use to create top-end video. As such this isn't cheap, paid for on a subscription model. But for that cost you get everything you could possibly want from basic trimming and layering right up to 8K and 360-degree video editing support – presuming your machine has the power to run that.
This works on both Mac and Windows and is crammed full of keyboard shortcuts to help make the process easy to use.
There is an option to upload directly to YouTube, making this a one-stop shop for any self publishing social media video makers out there.
© Provided by T3 (Image credit: Future)2. Final Cut Pro X
Platform: Mac | Free trial: 30 days | Video tracks: Unlimited
Final Cut Pro X is simply the best video editing software you can get on Mac. Sure Adobe options are great too but this is built by Apple, for Apple. So, as you'd expect it's super clean, minimal and as such easy to use. But that doesn't mean to say it scrimps on features, far from it.
This software offers lots of features to justify the high price. These include special effects, grouping tools, adding and editing audio plus multi-camera editing and smart colour balancing tools. You also get access to unlimited video tracks so you should never feel constricted. With a 30-day free trial it's definitely worth giving this powerful video editing tool a try.
© Provided by T3 (Image credit: Adobe)3. Adobe Premiere Elements
Platform: Mac/Windows | Free trial: Yes | Video tracks: Unlimited
Best Video Editing Software Macbook Pro
Adobe Premiere Elements is the second Adobe software on the list in just three so far. Yup, Adobe is that good. This video editing suite offers a more affordable and easy to user alternative which is crammed full of useful features like facial recognition, to name but one.
Simple but really effective features we love include video stabilisation, automatic motion tracking, audio effects and a selection of soundtracks included as standard. The fact it's all easy to use is just a great bonus. If you work with a lot of people based videos then the smart toning is a great feature for skin – a bit like how a selfie camera makes you look smoother skinned. This helps give the videos a more professional finish. And for the pros you can enjoy effects like chroma-keying, opacity, transitions and more. Something for everyone then.
© Provided by T3 (Image credit: Lightworks)4. Lightworks
Platform: Mac/Windows/Linux | Free: Yes | Video tracks: Multi support
Lightworks is a stunning video editing tool when you consider that it's absolutely free. This software is good enough to get you professional quality videos without charging you pro-grade prices. The hidden cost? This isn't quite as easy to use as some of the above options, but if you put in the effort to learn, it can be as effective.
Import and render footage in the background then preview video effects in real-time – some seriously high-end features you might not expect to see in a free tool. Set custom keyboard shortcuts to speed up the working process and enjoy multi-track editing for complex end results.
There is the option to spend a little money and upgrade to Lightworks Pro, which will let you export projects to different formats and enjoy features like 3D modelling and straight to YouTube uploads.
© Provided by T3 (Image credit: Hitfilm Express)5. Hitfilm Express
Platform: Mac/Windows | Free: Yes | Video tracks: Multi support
Hitfilm Express is another really useful free video editing programme which comes with a friendly and easy to use interface. That makes this a great option for anyone new to video editing that wants to give it a try. That said, it does have some decent features for more seasoned users too.
You can enjoy features like 3D composition tools, green screen chroma key setting and create custom video masks. Plus there are more day to day tools like trimming of clips, colour balancing and, of course, exporting to various video formats.
The system is easy enough to use with a traditional interface that's easily recognisable to anyone who's used video editing tools before. Just make sure you have a machine with plenty of power as this makes your hardware work hard to crunch that data.
© Provided by T3 (Image credit: Adobe)6. Adobe Premiere Rush
Platform: Mac/Windows/iOS/Android | Free trial: Yes | Video tracks: Four
Adobe Premiere Rush is the ultimate mobile editing tool, designed specifically for use on smartphones and tablets. That means you can fire up this app on your iOS or Android device and edit a video entirely within that app. Presuming your phone or tablet is new enough, you can even edit high-quality 4K video footage with up to four video and three audio tracks at once.
Since this is on your phone is makes exporting super simple, with specific options to export straight to social media accounts. All that can be enjoyed for free using the Rush Starter Plan, with a three video export limit. Or pay a nominal fee and enjoy the full service right there on your phone or tablet.
© Provided by T3 (Image credit: GoPro)7. GoPro App
Platform: iOS/Android/Windows/Mac | Free trial: Yes | Video tracks: Multi
The GoPro App is a great way to instantly start editing your live action video footage from a GoPro camera, or any other compatible device for that matter. Since this is made to be used quickly, on the move, it's super simple to work. It will automatically import footage and can create videos synced to music right away, without you having to do much at all.
There are more complex options like adding photos or time lapse sequences as well as cool graphs and charts to express speed – ideal for action camera footage. Share the videos on YouTube or Facebook easily with a great option to go through, frame by frame, to find the perfect picture to lead your post.
If you pay and subscribe to the GoPro Plus version you'll have a lot more than the standard 20 soundtracks and can auto upload videos and photos to the cloud for editing from whatever device you want.
© Provided by T3 (Image credit: CyberLink)8. CyberLink PowerDirector
Platform: Windows | Free trial: 30 days | Video tracks: Multi
CyberLink PowerDirector is a great option for anyone relatively new to video editing that fancies a fully fledged and complex tool which is also easy enough to learn to use. That means features like 8K video editing and 360-degree support but also super simplifying tools like a wizard that optimises video in seconds. This is a great tool for a quick edit to bung up on social media in a hurry.
But there are more complex features too with a standard post production interface that includes motion graphic titles, social media friendly 1:1 video ratios and high-quality video editing.
What you'll have to pay extra for, with the Ultimate version, are features like 4K video editing, audio scrubbing and library preview features.
© Provided by T3 (Image credit: KineMaster)9. KineMaster
Platform: ChromeOS/iOS/Android | Free trial: Free app | Video tracks: Multi
KineMaster is a great video editing option for Android, ChromeOS and iOS users with a device new enough to run it. We say that as this has some seriously complex features that make this good enough even for professional editors to use on the move.
You can edit multiple layers with up to four audio tracks in one project. There are also little extras like adding handwriting and text annotations and even editing at the frame and subframe levels. All that is free so even if you're not sure we'd say give this a go as it'll more than likely serve the needs of most, even the more demanding editor.
© Provided by T3 (Image credit: Corel)10. Corel VideoStudio Ultimate
Platform: Windows | Free trial: 30 days | Video tracks: Multi
Corel VideoStudio Ultimate is a really great video editing option for anyone new to splice and hacking clips together. While it might be a bit basic for professionals, this has a lot of features despite how easy it is to pick up and use. That includes high-end extras like 4K, multi-cam editing and 360-degree VR video editing.
The interface is easy to pick up and features a music library as well as a whole host of effects that can be added to your video project. The key here is that the software is intuitive enough to make it easy but also – crucially – fun, so you can actually enjoy the process of creating the final cut of your video edit. And with over 2,000 customisable filters to pick from this gives you a great opportunity to really personalise your footage to offer something uniquely fun.
What should you look for in video editing software for Mac? That is a question you may ask when looking for an application to edit your videos. But the better question is–where do you plan to use your videos? The answer can help you choose, as some solutions are simpler than others, allowing for the quick creation of professional-quality presentation or tutorial videos. Other platforms are the more advanced types, with an array of high-tech tools suitable for use by commercial video/film producers and editors.
You'll be surprised at the diverse range of video editing software for Mac in the market today. If you research all of them, you'll need to take a few days of leave from work. Don't worry; we have done the heavy lifting for you and came up with a lineup of the 12 best video editing software for Mac. These best video editing tools are either intuitive to casual users or powerful for pros, while some are scalable so that they can be used by both types of users. We also highlight the key features of each software to make it easier to compare them.
What are the best 12 video editing software solutions for Mac?
Employees prefer Mac for work because it increases productivity, a survey found. Also, workers believe that Mac computers boosted their creativity and collaboration. What's more, they say that Mac enables them to be self-sufficient.
Workers choose Mac for better productivity
Source: Apple Insider
Designed bySince workers across a broad stream of departments prefer to use Mac, it is a natural course for software vendors like video editing software companies and developers to take their product right at Mac's doorstep. As one of the 100 million Mac and MacBook users worldwide, you're on the right track upping the ante of your video quality (our apologies, PC users), not just with the right machine, but with any of the software on our list. If your requirement is not Mac-specific, you can read our 20 best video editing tools for more options.
12 Best Video Editing Software for Mac
1. Camtasia
Camtasia is both a video editing software and a screen recording solution. Because it incorporates the two, users can create content that integrates video captured from cameras and screen records. Moreover, the platform is equipped with features that optimize the creation of eLearning materials such as quizzes and surveys that can be embedded in your videos. This is especially beneficial to educators or users who produce tutorial videos. Mac users can also look forward to Camtasia running smoothly on their machines. It can operate without trouble even when video editors only meet the minimum specifications.
If you are interested in checking what Camtasia has to offer, the software has a free trial. When that period expires, you need to sign up for a license, which starts at $249.99. This can already unlock the full feature set of Camtasia. But if you prefer an all-around solution, you can look at digital asset management software instead.
- Screen recording with audio
- Video templates
- Music and audio library
2. InVideo
InVideo is ideal for brands, publishers, and marketing agencies that need an affordable and easy-to-use video editing platform. The software is known for its wide selection of video templates that are suited for various promotional content, such as Facebook videos, invitation videos, campaigns, and even real estate ads. You can then customize these templates, add additional scenes, text, and audio, and repurpose them for different channels.
Moreover, InVideo comes with powerful video editing features to help you create attention-grabbing videos in a breeze. It includes basic features found in most video editing software, such as scene trimming, resizing, transitions, animations, and audio, as well as an automated speech-to-text option. Plus, you can use different text styles to keep your viewers hooked and engaged with your promotional videos.
- Extensive media library
- User-friendly features
- Fun, engaging stickers and text style options
3. Movavi Video Editor
Movavi Video Editor is an easy-to-use powerful video editor for both Windows and Mac users. It is packed with features that allow users to make their home video, presentation, or indie film look professional. Movavi Video Editor includes presets for filters, adding titles, transitions, and ready-made intros. Also, the platform is really easy to use. For people who have experience using video editing software, they can just jump right in and do work using Movavi.
There are two main versions of Movavi Video Editor for Mac and PC.
First is the basic Movavi Video Editor 2020 targeted at beginners. It has all the basic features including some built-in intros, backgrounds, music, and sounds. It also has a few filters and transitions available. The edition is great for hobbyists creating home videos for family and friends. And, it is free.
Secondly, the Movavi Video Editor Plus 2020, is packed with more features for advanced video editing. It is perfect for prosumers and professionals whose jobs require them to create fast and engaging video presentations. Additional Plus features include a media bin for quick access of project files, adjustable filter intensity, and keyframe animation of video stickers and titles among others. Moreover, it trumps the basic version when it comes to the complexity of editing allowed. This is because unlike the basic edition that only allows six tracks on the Timeline, the Plus version allows 99. The Movavi Video Editor Plus 2020 is priced at $59.95.
There are also other Movavi offerings like the Movavi Video Suite 2020 which comes with a series of nifty video features like an editor, converter, and screen recorder, among others.
- Automatic video creator for a quick and easy content fix
- Fast processing of HD and 4K videos
- Built-in intros, backgrounds, videos, sound, and music
4. Final Cut Pro
Next on our list of 12 best video editing software for Mac is Final Cut Pro. It is Apple's premier professional video editing software for macOS users. The application is built to tap into the robust processing core, graphics card, and VRAM that power the latest Mac machines. With the software harnessing multi-core and multi-thread hardware capabilities of Macs, together with a huge set of cutting-edge editing tools, the result is smooth and accelerated post-production work from start to finish.
Final Cut Pro gives you the ability to import, share, and edit videos from a variety of cameras and devices with support for multiple formats. It has numerous tools for editing and timeline, trimming, effects, audio enhancement, color correction, closed captions, multimedia management, and project workflow. It can handle VR headset playback and 360-degree video editing, as well as HDR and ProResRAW sources. The software allows you to integrate dozens of third-party tools, devices, content, and plug-ins to give you an extendable platform.
The software is a standalone, on-premise solution priced at $299 (one-time payment). While it is locally deployed, the software allows you to upload, organize, and download files from online storage and stock media sites for project collaboration and sharing. It is designed for iMac and MacBook computers with macOS 10.13.6 or later versions of the operating system.
- Advanced tools for video/audio editing, motion graphics, and delivery
- Built on 64-bit architecture for handling complex projects and effects
- Extendable workflow via integration with dozens of external tools
5. Adobe Premiere Pro
Adobe Premiere Pro is a video editing software for professionals and enthusiasts. Its claim of being 'a cut above the rest' has an element of truth about it. That's because it has become a popular tool for filmmakers, videographers, TV editors, and YouTube content creators. It has evolved into an industry-standard not only in video editing but also in workflow automation and media asset management. It supports all kinds of cameras, all types of formats, and any platform, including Mac and PC. This would make an excellent platform to use in conjunction with content marketing software, which could assist you in reaching out to your audience.
From its extensive R&D and the suggestions of its horde of users, Adobe Premiere Pro is a continually improving product with new features rolled out for every new release. It offers a new Freeform view for organizing and viewing storyboard and media files; rulers and guides for the precise layout of clips, text, and graphics; auto-Ducking for adding ambient sounds into your audio mix; faster mask tracking; and a dozen other enhancements on audio and video.
Best Movie Editing Software Mac
Of course, all the other features Adobe Premiere is known for are still there, including precise color grading, motion graphics, and animation, instant audio improvement, and integration with hundreds of partner technologies. The software also works seamlessly with its sibling Adobe products like After Effects, Audition, Photoshop, InDesign, and others. The software is part of Adobe's Creative Cloud, which means it is accessible online from any connected device. It has several packages for business, students, and schools. For individuals, the plan is pegged at $29.99/month or $239.88/year.
- Established industry leader
- Multi-platform, multi-format, compatibility
- Regular roll out or updates and new features
6. Videobolt PRO
Videobolt PRO is a cloud-based video editing platform. It has an easy-to-use interface that allows both novice and seasoned editors to create professional-level videos. Its intuitive interface allows users to quickly create videos for daily social media posts, seasonal marketing campaigns, and even personal video greetings. Its main video editing features include customizable templates designed by professional animators, a project management module, and a media library. Moreover, because of being completely web-based, you can keep your computer free of video rendering load. Your video is rendered on Videobolt's onsite servers. No expensive hardware investment and maintenance required.
Even though the platform is cloud-based, users don't even feel any interface delays as they work on their projects. There are different modules that help users create different types of videos faster as well. There are modules for Facebook and Instagram stories, music visualization, logo intros, and product promos among others. Just click on which type of video you need and multiple template options will appear. Choose the best fit and customize it to match your brand.
There are many professionally-designed templates available especially for business. You can use Videobolt PRO for video campaigns in a wide array of industries. There are templates for gaming campaigns, e-commerce advertising, and even for musicians, labels, and producers. It has a useful music visualization module that allows you to create eye-grabbing visualizations synced with your music. Videobolt PRO pricing starts at $267 monthly billed annually at $3200.
- Easy and powerful cloud rendering to keep your machine free for other activities.
- Built-in easy-to-use templates for various business needs like video intros, Instagram stories, and music visualization.
- The pro version allows for team-level access so the right people can collaborate on the right issues for your video campaign materials.
7. VideoPad
VideoPad is a video editing platform created by NCH Software for Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android. Designed with freelancers, small enterprises, and mid-sized businesses in mind, this platform comes equipped with an extensive set of easy-to-use editing features. From color correcting and video cropping to video transition application and speed adjustments, VideoPad can provide you with all the tools you require. With this at your disposal, you can easily create professional-looking videos for your business.
One of the things that make VideoPad great is that it has a lower learning curve than most professional editing software. It comes with a drag-and-drop interface and straightforward usability, allowing novice users to edit their videos as well as experiment with a wide range of effects, transitions, and other visual elements. It even comes with its own audio-editing tools so you can reduce noise from videos, add sound effects, as well as mix your own musical scores directly on the platform.
These aside, it also comes with advanced functionalities that can provide flexibility for more advanced video editing professionals. These include 3D editing, 360-degree video editing, green screen support, and video stabilization. Last but not least, VideoPad has native integrations with YouTube and Vimeo, making it simpler and faster for users to upload their work on social media.
- 3D and 360-degree video editing support as well as HD resolution options.
- Advanced video editing features on a drag-and-drop interface for faster post-production processes.
- Built-in audio editing tools such as multitrack mixing, narration recording, and sound effect application .
8. BeeCut
BeeCut is a simple video editing solution designed to help SMEs make professional videos with no hassle. Equipped with a WYSIWYG video editor and ready-to-use video transitions, creative masks, and filters, this platform can simplify and expedite the editing process without compromising the quality of output. It not only allows you to trim, cut, and split videos; it also supports the addition of custom video intros, the creation of multiple timeline layers, as well as background audio editing. As such, it will allow you to fine-tune your video however you prefer.
Final Cut Pro
The mentioned features aside, BeeCut also has other features such as speech-to-text conversion, video stabilization, mobile editing, and picture-in-picture video support to further reinforce video editing efforts. It also supports a variety of media types to help you use whatever elements you want for your videos. Last but not least, as it can support multiple aspect ratios, BeeCut will allow you to produce video content for different publishing channels.
- Beginner-friendly WYSIWYG editor with an extensive media library.
- Seamless video optimization through stabilization and multiple video aspect ratio support
- Easy mobile video editing through native Android and iOS applications.
9. Moovly
This web-based video editing platform is ideal for beginners as it offers users with ready-made templates, royalty-free media objects, and a user-friendly, drag-and-drop interface for creating video projects. With Moovly, users can easily customize their videos by adding visual effects and transitions, looping segments, adding overlay audio tracks, adding subtitles, and more. Other features inclue tools for splitting and/or trimming videos, resizing, rotating, cropping, adjusting the audio and playback speed, and enabling text-to-speech functionality.
Moovly also encourages collaboration among users through its user groups feature, which allows users to create groups, manage member subscriptions, and provide access to common libraries where they can have access to various media content. Sharing the videos created in Moovly is also easy as they are all ready for publishing and sharing in popular video streaming platforms, such as YouTube, Vimeo, and Facebook.
- It offers ready-made templates.
- It has a library of royalty-free media content.
- User-friendly interface.
10. Lumen5
Lumen5 is a video editing platform with powerful features to help users create videos in minutes. Through its text-to-video capabilities, Lumen5 transforms articles and blog posts into videos, automatically populating storyboards with content. Assisted by AI technology, the system dynamically determines scene length and optimizes text positioning. Additionally, through natural language processing, important keywords are highlighted. Users also have the option to further automate their video marketing workflow by using RSS feeds to automatically create videos every day.
Users can also create videos from scratch using Lumen5's built-in templates, which include templates for YouTube, Instagram stories, and social ads. Color themes, font choices, logos, and watermarks can be further customized to ensure that videos reflect company branding. A searchable media library also gives users access to milliions of free video clips, still images, and audio files.
- AI-powered technology automatically populates storyboards with content and determines scene length and text positioning.
- Automatic video creation from RSS feeds.
- Customizable color themes, font choices, logos, and watermarks.
11. StoryXpress
StoryXpress offers a comprehensive set of features to help users create engaging videos from screen and webcam recordings. The software offers three recording modes—FaceCam + Screen Recording, Screen Only, and Cam Only—for users' convenience and provides annotation and editing tools. This way, users can highlight key elements onscreen and add text if needed. Video editing features such as Trim, Crop, and Blur also ensure that video outputs appear polished and professional. I forgot my administrator password macbook.
Moreover, the platform is designed to support video marketing and e-commerce efforts. Users can create videos simply by uploading images and highlight key product features using pointers. Users can also add custom CTAs including buttons, forms, and banners to every video they create.
The platform also allows users to upload videos in full HD resolution, whether to webpages, Facebook, LinkedIn, or YouTube. Each video can be tracked through UTM tags, making it easier to keep an eye on metrics such as views, average watch time, and play rate.
- Three recording modes to suit video creators' different needs.
- Advanced annotation and video editing tools for professional-looking videos.
- Video analytics and performance tracking through UTM tags.
12. Promo.com
A cloud-based video production and editing service, Promo.com aims to assist small and medium businesses to create videos that catch audiences' eyes. It is a timely service to marketers in any industry, as it allows them to push the enterprise using one of the most popular and effective platforms of the day. Doing the task is seamless as Promo.com has a sufficient set of tools that enable users to design videos that meet their brand specifications and quality standards.
Promo.com is not all about tools, though. If you are lacking content for your marketing videos, then you do not have to look far. The platform has a creative center where users can find more than 23 million premium video clips in high definition. There are also royalty-free audio available as well as costless stock photos that you can adapt to your liking. With the vast collection, making videos becomes an effortless task.
- Cloud-accessible video editing tool
- Creative hub with millions of video and audio clips and stock photos
- Support for any format of video, such as for social media sites, blogs, and websites
Use Free Trials to Find the Best Video Editing Software for You
Reading up on a video editing software and watching demos and tutorials may not be enough. For you to find which application works best for you, you need to have hands-on experience with a platform. But subscribing to each program on your shortlist could be unnecessarily expensive. Fortunately, vendors now offer free trials of their products. You can take advantage of these to test drive tools and features.
Speaking of finances, it is an easy choice to go for the most expensive video editing software from a well-known developer. This is because you can be sure it packs a punch, feature-wise. It may not be suitable for your budget, though. Still, there are other solutions on the list that could serve as an alternative to your first choice. With those, you have the powerful tools you need that will still enable you to create the best videos.