Are you looking for the best video editing software?
The software you use for editing has a huge impact on how your video will look like. We have reached out to 35+ experts and asked them: which video editing software would you recommend others to use and why?
Here are the ones they recommend you to use.
Top 10 Video Editing Software 2023
1. Adobe Premiere Pro (15 votes)
Adobe’s Premiere Pro is the industry-leading video editing software for film, TV and the web. Creative tools, integration with other apps and services and the power of Adobe Sensei help you craft footage into polished films and videos.
2. Camtasia (6 votes)
Camtasia is an all-in-one screen recorder and video editor. It allows you to record your screen, add video effects, transitions and more. The software available on Windows and Mac.
3. DaVinci Resolve (5 votes)
DaVinci Resolve 16 is the world’s only solution that combines professional 8K editing, color correction, visual effects and audio post production all in one. It offers free and paid versions for Mac, Windows and Linux.
3. Filmora (5 votes)
Filmora is a simple video editor that empowers your stories, donwload the latest version 9 to transform precious moments into stunning videos for sharing anywhere.
5. Adobe After Effects (3 votes)
Adobe After Effects is a digital visual effects, motion graphics, and compositing application. Among other things, After Effects can be used for keying, tracking, compositing, and animation.
5. Corel VideoStudio (3 votes)
VideoStudio let’s you get creative with new effects and smart video tools, and enhanced color correction, video masking, and more.
5. Final Cut Pro (3 votes)
Apple’s Final Cut Pro X revolutionises post-production with 360° video editing and motion graphics, 4K HDR support and advanced tools for colour correction.
5. iMovie (3 votes)
Apple’s iMovie for iOS and macOS make it easy to turn your photos and video clips into stunning movies or trailers and share them with the world.
5. ScreenFlow (3 votes)
ScreenFlow is an award winning and easy to use video editing, screen recording and sharing tool from Telestream.
10. Avid Media Composer (2 votes)
Avid Media Composer is a film and video editing software application. From first cut to final finishing, get the tools every video editor needs to create compelling stories faster.
Read What The Experts Said
Find out what each expert had to say about their favorite software. Select the software from the list below.
Nidhi Joshi
Muhammad Mateen Khan
✓ Camtasia
The Camtasia video capture interface is straightforward and no-nonsense. You choose your capture area, whether or not to include webcam and microphone inputs, and click Record. Camtasia provides outstanding tutorial videos for anyone that struggles with its editing tools but creating surprisingly professional intro and outro segments
✓ Screencastify
If you need to share lots of short screen recordings but don’t need a bunch of editing bells and whistles, you can’t go wrong with Screencastify. For example, if you provide customer support, you’re probably less interested in polished videos with long production turnarounds than you are in quick and easy screen captures. Screencastify trades in the editing options for an uncluttered desktop recording and video sharing interface.
✓ OBS Studio
What OBS Studio lacks in editing features, it makes up for with streaming and recording options. For starters, the open-source app lets you create customizable “studios,” preset audio and video configurations that you can cycle through during a recording. There are 44 platforms in the live streaming menu, ranging from big-name sites like Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch, to obscure streaming platforms.
Ryan Scribner
✓ Sony Vegas
I’ve been creating video content for my blog and YouTube channel for 4 years now. Personally, my number one pick for video editing is Sony Vegas. For the type of videos I do, which is mostly educational, the editing is very minimal For the most part, I am just trimming out sections, adding some zoom in and out effects as well as adding text. For basic editing, you really can’t go wrong with Sony Vegas. One con here is that they do not offer a free version and it can be quite expensive.
✓ iMovie
A great alternative for Mac users is iMovie, which I use as well.
Jen McKinnon
✓ Adobe Premier Pro
✓ Adobe After Affects
It really depends on what type of video you’re planning on creating, but my go-to is the Adobe Creative Suite software cluster – primarily Premiere Pro and After Effects. With these two programs, the video editing world is pretty much your oyster. Not only do they have cross-platform integrations that enable you to link files that live-update as your working, the wide use of both the Premiere Pro and After Effects platforms means there are millions of templates, scripts and add-ons available to streamline your workflow and make editing much quicker and easier. Adobe has also just released Adobe Rush within their software cohort, which is their mobile version of Premiere Pro, which makes video editing on the go an absolute breeze.
Casey Dehlinger
✓ Adobe Premier Pro
I’ve been working as a video professional at a television shopping channel for over a decade, and I prefer to use Adobe Premiere Pro because it is nimble, and I don’t know what video challenges I’m going to face on a day-to-day basis. I support a live 24/7 operation with video content, and their needs change constantly. Sometimes I’m working on a short documentary about an emerald mine in Brazil, and I need editing software that gives me a lot of control. Other times I’m scrambling to make a 15-second commercial spot that’s due by the end of the hour, and I need my editing software to move quickly without raising a fuss.
When it comes to video editing software, most people stick with what they’re familiar with and, therefore, comfortable with, so many arguments about editing software are moot. However, because so many people use Premiere—from amateur YouTubers to Hollywood film professionals—there’s a robust community of users that have probably experienced whatever occasional glitch or error you encounter and can help you out. Especially if you’re just getting started in video editing, Premiere makes sense because its basics are easy to learn, but the more robust tools are already in there as you grow as an editor. Plus, relearning new editing software from scratch is always a huge pain. I made the leap from Final Cut to Adobe Premiere 12 years ago, and never looked back.
Ryan Spanger
✓ Adobe Premiere Pro
The video editing software that I recommend is Adobe Premiere Pro.
The main reason that I recommend it is because it is the most widely used video editing tool. So, if you are seeking work in the industry, it is the platform that you will most likely be expected to use. Not having, or knowing how to use, Adobe Premiere Pro, could limit the amount of projects that you can collaborate with others on.
The second reason that I recommend Adobe Premiere Pro is that it is part of the Adobe Creative Cloud suite of software. Which means that it has deep integration with other related applications such as Adobe After Effects, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Media Encoder. When post-producing a video, it’s likely that you will need to use a number of applications. So it’s helpful to use Apps that are deeply integrated.
The third reason that I recommend Adobe Premiere Pro is that it has a traditional User Interface and is intuitive. If you are familiar with other video editing platforms then you will Premiere relatively easy to learn. As opposed to Final Cut Pro which is also a very good editing platform, but is more unconventional.
In summary, as a product owned by a large, successful company, Adobe Premiere Pro is well supported, robust, and is likely to remain the industry-standard editing platform for years to come.
Allison Chaney
✓ Camtasia
My top recommendation for video editing software is Camtasia. It has a lot of features to make your video look more professional.
✓ YouTube Studio
I also recommend YouTube’s Creator as it is a great free option for most small businesses.
Blue LoLan
✓ Adobe Premiere Pro
The leading video editing program is Adobe Premiere Pro. It is the industry standard for clients right now, and the most versatile. It is compatible with all different file formats and can be used on both PC and MAC. I’m also able to do minor color correction, and even choose between two clips and “color match..”
✓ Adobe After Affects
Additionally, Adobe After Effects is great when I have to create more heavy effects, such as creating 3D motion graphics, or compositing. It’s also easier to toggle through keyframes in After Effects.
Christian Antonoff
The one video editing tool that I’ve been enjoying the most is:
✓ DaVinci Resolve 15
DaVinci Resolve 15 is not easy to master. But if you put in enough time and effort, it will make editing your videos a lot easier. A powerful pro-level, cross-platform app, it brings a plethora of functionalities to the table, including enhanced color correction, audio production, and video effects and motion graphics. The interface is intuitive and after a while, you’ll know all the basic stuff. To harness the full power of the tool, you need plenty of hours and a good PC, as DaVinci eats up a lot of resources. Fear not, as every bit of memory is well worth it. DaVinci really knows how to play with colors and delivers an almost seamless editing experience
Noman Nalkhande
✓ Filmora
As a digital marketing agency, we extensively use Filmora by Wondershare and has been our trusted video editing software since many years. The design is intuitive, it is very easy to navigate, the application itself is robust and has served well without any technical hiccups all these years. What makes this software truly helpful is the features that it comes with – add snazzy headlines that makes your videos even better, split screens that are trending right now, upload directly to social networks and more. It comes with many presets to choose from and you can also download additional if need be. There’s little that Filmora can’t do and it deserves to be amongst the top video editing softwares in the market.
Kenny Trinh
✓ VSDC
VSFC is a free video editing software that specializes in presentation. If your company focuses on video presentations in their meeting, then VSDC is the perfect video editing software. The program also allows for advanced features like blurring, color correction, applying effects, and the standard clipping and editing of video files.
✓ Pinnacle Studio 18 Ultimate
Pinnacle Studio 18 Ultimate is an amazing video editing program that has tons of impressive features like editing and importing 3D images, video filtering, color gradient editing, burning and editing DVD discs, audio editing, allows for direct uploading to Youtube, Facebook, and other video streaming sites, as well as basic video editing services. Pinnacle Studio 18 Ultimate is an overall amazing video editing software.
Shelley Stevens
✓ Adobe Premiere
I recommend Adobe Premiere Pro for video editing. Its logical and easy to learn. When you need additional software to complete the job, the Adobe Creative Suite offers nearly anything you would want in terms of complimentary editing capabilities, from sound editing in Adobe Audition to special affects with Adobe After Effects. As a beginner, I was able to install Adobe Premiere Pro and figure out how to use it for simple edits. thanks to the plethora of free tutorial resources available on Youtube and across the web.
Philip Weiss
✓ Corel VideoStudio
When it comes to video editing I make no compromises, since I need a powerful suite that can handle my GoPro footage. As a fan of Corel video editing software for over 10 years, their current incarnation is equally top-notch. Corel VideoStudio in 2020 is equipped for professional video editing, including 360-degree VR and 4K resolution support. It also includes all the filters, effects, timecode controls and everything you would expect from a complete video editing software.
The best feature, hands down, is the motion tracking feature, which is one of a kind and unique to Corel’s video editor. Motion tracking is where the magic happens for extreme sports professionals and those of us that like to geek out and spend hours editing our videos. Overall it’s an awesome software suite for professional video editing and it’s available for a one-time fee of $51.99.
Mira Rakicevic
✓ Filmora
Suitable for video editors of all skill levels, Filmora allows you to make professional-looking videos with minimal technical knowledge. With its multifaceted video editing options including filters, overlays and transitions to name a few, Filmora is a robust stand-alone video editing suite.
Filmora supports all types of video, from low-quality phone cam videos to full-blown 4k high-definition GoPro footage. The software interface is intuitive and easy to use, and lets you get started on video-editing right out of the box. In fact, Filmora even includes an aptly titled “Easy Mode”, that allows novice video editors to easily put together videos by just dragging and dropping.
The lifetime license only costs $59.99 or you can choose to pay on a yearly basis for $39.99.
Muhammad Ammar Shahid
✓ Cyberlink PowerDirector
Cyberlink PowerDirector is a great video editing tool that gives you features like 1:1 ratio video resizing that enables you to create videos for perfect social media engagement. It is also a viable tool for amateur filmmakers as it gives sound clips, background, and online storage space of up to 50GB.
✓ Corel VideoStudio Ultimate
As Adobe, Corel improved its products frequently being a consistent competitor. Its VideoStudio Ultimate integrates terrific features that make it user friendly. It offers 2000+ effects, text editing in various ways, 360 video editing as well as lens correction tools. Its feasible features give you quick hands on it to edit more videos in less time.
✓ VideoPad
VideoPad works well on both Macs and PCs. Though it lacks some features like that of Cyberlink PowerDirector and Corel VideoStudioUltimate, nevertheless, its convenient user interface makes it still useful for those who work on Macs and PCs and want a compatible tool.
Sara Santini
✓ Adobe Premiere Pro
I have to say that the video editing software of my choice is always Adobe Premiere Pro. I love the versatility of this program, as it can suit the needs of an absolute beginner and also of a seasoned professional.
As a total newbie, you may feel overwhelmed by the complexity of the options and the interface. But I remember I was 14 when I first started editing in Premiere (and that’s before video tutorials were a thing!) I was so motivated to edit my movie, that I intuitively figured out all the tools and effects I needed using Premiere Pro. And – I learned so much along the way. Even now as a graduated editing professional, it still provides me with everything that I require for editing a fantastic, professional video.
Some say that we’re guided by habit and that whichever software we start out with, we’ll stick with it. Throughout my 10-year work experience in editing, I’ve tried a lot of other pieces of editing software. I was open to finding what suits my creative flow and technical requirements in the best way – and I am still choosing to work in Premiere Pro.
It has served me well on both simple and huge, demanding projects. It offers great features for working in teams, too. You can use it on most operating systems. I also like that with Adobe you have various creative software under one roof. When you start out with editing, and as your projects expand, you may be including more areas into your work, such as color grading, sound editing, graphic design, animation, and motion graphics… Adobe Creative Cloud, a software package that Premiere Pro is a part of, is perfect for this, and you can still keep all your files linked to your Premiere Pro project.
I enjoy the versatility and the possibility to adapt Premiere Pro to all my creative needs. I love the ease it gives me when working on my projects and I’d definitely recommend it to everyone looking for great video editing software.
Madhsudhan Khemchandani
There are more than twenty video editing software in the world. Some are free and some are paid. I have used a few, but my experience with the two software mentioned below have been the best.
✓ HitFilm Express
HitFilm Express is one of the popular software to edit and export videos. The software offers advanced editing tools with add-ons to purchase if you need any. The paid version offers extended tools, but for a newbie, or someone who is not serious, HitFilm Express is a perfect choice. The developers always upload new tutorials on YouTube and on the home tab of the software to help people learn.
Here is the list of some of the tools it offers:
1. Adding videos, images, and audio files
2. Support multiple tracks
3. Basic and advanced clip tools
4. Support for 3D models
5. Simple effects
6. Lightning effects
7. Sci-Fi effects
8. Blaster impacts
The only thing which concerned me while using HitFilm Express was that the software is heavy and requires a good PC to work at its best.
✓ Premiere Pro
Adobe Premiere Pro is the software for all the professionals. The software is paid which makes it unique and special. The software is made for those who already earn money by creating and editing videos. With constant updates and hundreds of tutorials on YouTube, Premiere Pro is a fast and possibly the ultimate tool you will need. It works with other Adobe apps such as Adobe Audition, Photoshop, and Adobe After Effects to create amazing quality videos. The animation feature is another reason for its popularity.
The list of some of the tools:
1. Adding videos, images, and audio files (including Photoshop, Adobe Audition, and After Effects files)
2. Supports multiple tracks
3. Supports animations for videos, images, and audio files
4. Basic and advanced clip tools
5. Supports 3D models
6. Effects
7. Built-in audio editing and clearing options
8. Offers workspace for editing, learning, audio, effects, color, assembly, graphics, and production
9. Supports working on multiple projects simultaneously
Chris Haggerty
✓ Davinci Resolve
Davinci Resolve is a powerful editing suite that allows you to edit, add some special effects, color grade, mix and master audio, and export a final video all in one program.
It can be used by professionals with a crew to one-man-band-do-it-all videographers – this program will work comfortably for nearly all filmmakers.
Instead of having to make monthly payments for other programs (like Adobe Premier Pro) you can purchase the software with a one-time fee and once you buy it you’re in for life. However, it’s great that they offer a free version for those who are on a budget.
It doesn’t have all the fancy detailed tools (like a powerful noise reduction filter) but it still has plenty enough to get everything done. However, Blackmagic is constantly adding to and developing the program to make it better and better, so paying the fee is well worth the cost!
✓ Adobe After Effect
While this isn’t strictly a non-linear editing program, it is a very powerful editor that can create amazing visuals. It allows you to create animated title sequences and visual effects that can’t be done in other nonlinear editing programs.
The reason I recommend this program so highly is because it really opens up the breadth of content you can create; if you can edit well on a nonlinear editing program and create awesome visuals in after effects then the world is your oyster. I use After Effects in most video productions I do.
Eulises Quintero
There are two video making tools I recommend all the time.
✓ Lumen5
The first one is Lumen5; this tool is perfect for those that are only looking to make short and sweet videos for social media channels such as Facebook and Instagram. It has many presets you can use plus a library of free and premium video clips you can use.
✓ Filmora
If you want a powerful video editing software, go for Filmora, it is easy to use and has a big library of free and premium effects you can use to edit your video clips and make people say wow.
Adam J. Ouellette, Esq.
I was a real estate attorney for 20 years and now do online training and record video every day. My work has me recording video training for Florida real estate agents, small businesses, and attorneys/law firms. I have used a lot of different software for editing, including wevideo.com.
✓ Camtasia
The absolute best I have found is Camtasia by Techsmith, and their new 2020 version is fantastic. The latest version has templates for rapid editing using your intro clips, as well as lots of intros and outros ready to be customized for your videos. Camtasia is all anyone might need to do all kinds of video editing for business or personal life.
John Donnachie
✓ Camtasia
We have gotten great results and a lot of digital mileage out of Camtasia’s video editing software. It won’t do some of the fancy stuff that After Effects will do but it is a solid, easy to use workhorse. Adding captions, adding soundtracks, splicing, editing, and more is all pretty easy to handle, even if you aren’t sure what you are doing at first.
If you don’t have an abundance of video editing skill or don’t have the time to learn, Camtasia is a great choice that doesn’t have too much of a learning curve. Instead of a monthly pricing model, the producers of Camtasia use a one-time fee model which saves you money in the long run but it can cause quite a bit of sticker shock if you aren’t prepared for it.
Muhammad Mateen Khan
✓ Adobe Premiere PRO
I use Adobe Premiere. It offers outstanding value for money. It’s genuinely industry-standard quality that will pay dividends if you explore all of its features and frills. It supports all the filter and file formats imaginable and even offers the likes of 360-degree and VR video. Simply put, it’s the very best video editing software around.
✓ Lightworks
If you are low on the budget. Lightworks is the best free video editing software for anyone who wants to create professional-quality movies and videos without paying a penny. It supports multitrack video and is a non-linear editor, so the quality of your footage won’t be reduced while being processed.
Mike Beatty
✓ Camtasia
I recommend using Camtasia as a video editing tool because of the ease of use. It is very intuitive to use and really user friendly. You can easily add text overlay, shapes, videos or images over the video plus zoom in or out at certain times.
There are tons of more advanced features but I personally just love the simplicity of it.
Jeff Feazell
✓ Final Cut Pro X
I use Final Cut Pro X because I appreciate the way the magnetic timeline is designed around the way a storyteller thinks. Everything on the timeline is positioned relative to another part of the story, rather than having an absolute position on a track. Coming from Premiere, there was a little bit of a learning curve, but piece by piece, the genius revealed itself to me. Now I could never go back to a track-based system.
Fabi Duprés
✓ Adobe Premiere Pro
Adobe Premiere Pro is a great all-round editing tool. It’s user friendly but offers a lot of advanced functions, making it great for both personal and professional projects. Customisable keyboard shortcuts mean it’s easy to adapt from previous editing software. But by far, one of the best features of Premiere Pro is its integration with other Adobe apps in their creative suite, allowing a seamless workflow between different software. From complex to simple tasks, with Dynamic Link you can effortlessly and efficiently move between Adobe After Effects, Audition and Illustrator, allowing more headspace for creativity. Basically, one big happy editing family!
Andrew Laws
✓ Adobe Premiere Pro
Premiere is used by a huge number of editing professionals but has a bit of a mixed reputation. It can be a little bit buggy. The minor frustrations software bugs may cause you are totally outweighed by the incredible amount of online support there is for Adobe Premiere. For me, Premiere is my ‘go-to’ editor because of the fast workflow. If you edit professionally you simply don’t have time to tinker with footage until it’s looking good. I need fast, responsive software and for me Adobe Premiere Pro fits the bill. Getting Premiere Pro as a part of an Adobe Cloud subscription also makes this software very cost-effective.
✓ Screenflow
As much as I love Adobe Premiere there are some functions it simply can’t perform. As a part of my job I regularly need to make very high-quality screen recording videos. I need to show my face, my voice needs to be heard and most importantly I need to include my computer screen in the video. After spending far too long trying to shoot video with one bit of software, while recording my voice in another bit of software and capturing my screen using other software I was ready to give up. Creating footage (and audio) using three bits of software was bad enough, but syncronising the sources in my editing software was a nightmare. Then I discovered Screenflow. Screenflow is incredibly simple to use and excels at making very high-quality screen videos. Screenflow is so fast and easy to use I now utilise it several times a day to make videos to share project information with my clients. Screenflow is silly cheap, I cannot wrap my head around how such a cheap bit of software is so stable and capable.
✓ Whatever you have!
For my third recommendation, I recommend you take a close look at whatever editing software comes free (or cheaply) with your computer. For example, if you are a Mac user then you have easy access to iMovie. If you are just starting out on your editing journey you should get along just fine with pretty much any video editing software; they all share the same basic workflow. If you start to develop your skills on free software then you’ll be able to make more of an informed decision about what editing suite will suit you best when the time comes to upgrade to a professional package.
Romana Kuts
✓ Bitable
If you need cool animated video FAST this online tool is perfect for you! First of all, you can get three videos for your company or product without any watermarks for only $29. What is good about this video editing tool is that you can make your video for free with watermark, check do you like it or no and only then pay! Many digital agencies are using exactly this software for marketing campaigns or sponsored posts. Bitable attracts the user’s attention and looks really professional!
✓ Movavi
Movavi Video Editor is a professional software for advanced videographers but also for beginners! It will take you no more than 20 minutes to master the movie editor and be able to edit like a pro. You can add filters to your videos, write subtitles, or even automatically insert transitions. There are two packages for users: free and paid. Lifetime software for one PC cost only $25, so you can even buy it, but at the same time, from my experience, I can honestly say that a free plan will be more than enough for you!
Andy Cabasso
✓ ScreenFlow
For Mac users who want something incredibly simple to use, I recommend Screenflow. While it is primarily marketed as a screen recording tool, it is an incredibly versatile and user-friendly basic video editing platform. With Screenflow, you can easily organize your media, edit clips and segments, add titles, effects, and audio. And of course it also has screen recording features too in case you want to record some demos, product videos, or content for YouTube. From Screenflow, you can export directly to YouTube, Vimeo and other platforms as well.
Blue LoLan
✓ Adobe Premiere Pro
The leading video editing program is Adobe Premiere Pro. It is the industry standard for clients right now, and the most versatile. It is compatible with all different file formats and can be used on both PC and MAC. I’m also able to do minor color correction, and even choose between two clips and “color match..”
✓ Adobe After Affects
Additionally, Adobe After Effects is great when I have to create more heavy effects, such as creating 3D motion graphics, or compositing. It’s also easier to toggle through keyframes in After Effects.
✓ DaVinci Resolve
The final program I use along with these two, is DaVinci Resolve. Although Adobe Premiere and Adobe After Effects have decent color correction tools, DaVinci is the ultimate program for meticulous color correction. Sometimes I will throw in my project into Premiere first, do my basic edit, then drop that project into After Effects to add some more effects, then finish it off in DaVinci before I send it to clients.
Shayan Fatani
Being a Digital Marketer and a part time musician, I have had to experiment with many video editing softwares, so here is a list of my personal favorites.
✓ Filmora9
This is the software I started with as a beginner. Reason being, it was extremely user friendly and cheap. Considering I was making zero budget videos, this was the right tool to start with as it has built in effects/filters and a collection of royalty free sound effects that I could incorporate with my own recorded media files. There is a free version available that comes with all the features as in the paid version, except there is going to be a brand watermark, which personally, I did not mind.
✓ Adobe Premiere Pro
As I got the hang of video editing and its basics, I moved onto Adobe Premiere Pro. It is a little expensive, however, It is a very powerful tool and can handle a large number of video tracks which can be imported from multiple sources. But what really makes it stand out is the automatic sync feature. This feature comes in handy when you have a video with multiple angle shots helping you focus on the intricate details and standing out from other content creators.
Emily Briggs
✓ Adobe Premiere Pro
This is the software I use. Once you’re familiar with any of the adobe sweet applications, using them becomes very intuitive. I love that I can use various applications such as Adobe Audition (sound), Photoshop (graphics), After Effects (effects), and they all seamlessly integrate. Most of the time I don’t need to switch between applications since Adobe has it all for the most part, especially now since they have their essential graphics panel. Additionally, since it’s the most popular video editing software on the market, there are a ton of resources available such as tutorials, graphics templates, effect templates, and color presets.
✓ Final Cut Pro
I actually have never used Final Cut Pro, however a lot of my colleagues do. My understanding of it is, just like most Apple products, it is very user friendly. If you started in iMovie, Final Cut Pro is a smooth transition, with more capabilities.
✓ iMovie
For those just starting out or if you have a small project to put together and video isn’t your thing, iMovie will do the trick and is super user friendly. I know especially right now in this COVID-19 Pandemic, a lot of people are having to utilize video, iMovie is a great place to start.
Dan Sanguineti
I am frequently asked by my students what is the best video editing software and my answer sometimes disappoints them; “Whatever suits you!” I generally say.
I know deep down they want me to say ‘Adobe Premiere,’ because it’s one of the more readily available professional editing solutions to students and emerging filmmakers, and it’s comfortable to use for when you are learning.
I usually follow up with this statement: “My experience using video editing software over my 15+ career in video production, has essentially been exactly the same no matter what I use. It ingests your video, allows you to make edits to it and when finished you can export that video for delivery.”
An yes, I use Adobe Premiere regularly. However the decision I make on which video editing software I will use, has nearly always been a result of what the proposed workflow will be, for that particular project.
✓ Apple’s Final Cut Pro X (FCPX)
A great deal of my paid work involves quick gigs, quick edits and quick delivery; the nature of being an event videographer.
FCPX works best for me, in that I can ingest my footage into a Library, order into Events and build edits while that footage is still ingesting. As I shoot in either h.264 natively or AVCHD, FCPX does a great job to interpolate this footage quickly for use, and that saves time during export.
The background render I believe is its strongest function, as I can keep working while it automatically renders effects or footage during breaks in CPU usage. There’s also enough plugins and built in assets to add motion graphics to videos, which has generally left my clients ecstatic over their finished project.
The main downside I have come across with FCPX is its limited exporting options. Without the separate purchase of Compressor from the Apple App store, my final exported Quicktime H264 or ProRes442 versions find themselves added to Adobe’s Media Encoder for final conversion and delivery for online use.
✓ BlackMagic Design’s DaVinci Resolve 16
As a number of camera operators and cinematographers I work with now use BlackMagic Cameras to shoot our projects, Resolve has become a more regular part of my post production workflow. The first key positive to note is this software is free, with an upgraded studio version and reasonable one off price.
While Resolve’s primary function is to give native access to Blackmagic RAW footage, the overall interface draws strong similarities to the best bits of FCPX and Adobe Premiere. I would say its built with a high end video edits in mind, and so anytime I need to work with RED RAW or BlackMagic RAW I’ll likely choose Resolve. Resolve also has very high powered colour correction and grading tools particularly if you upgrade to the studio version. Another handy function with Resolve is that I frequently use it as an intermediary between very non cross-compatible FCPX and Premiere projects. My clients sometimes provide older project files, either as FCP7 or FCPX or Premiere, and I have found Resolve handles these project files quite well and allows for easy rebuilding.
✓ AVID Media Composer
I won’t sugar coat it. Media Composer is not a simple drag and drop video editor, such like FCPX, Resolve or Premiere. As a teacher of this software at a university level, the frustrations the students experienced while cutting their video editing assignments, I do not entirely blame on them. But much like any new software you begin to use, it takes time to understand how it can truely work for you. There is a reason behind why AVID is used primarily in the Film and Television industry. Its strength is drawn from how it handles copious amounts off footage, particularly footage from different media servers, sources, frame rates, codecs and formats.
We used Media Composer for our last feature film Me and My Mates vs the Zombie Apocalypse (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2846938) with our editor working from home using lower quality proxies, while our post production house holding the 4K raw footage. Being able to connect and reconnect the same edit, but with variant quality footage allowed for an easier workflow to produce new cuts and sent for review on a daily basis. Media Composer has much of the same functionality as Premiere and Resolve, when it comes to audio editing, colour correction and grading and vfx editing, but just provided in a way that suites a much larger media corporation, instead a solo freelancer working from home.
Lennart Meijer
✓ Adobe Premiere
Adobe Premiere elements is a great software pick for editing videos. It is very intuitive and comes built in with all the features you might need. Additionally, for Apple users, iMovie is also a great starter tool that comes freely available for iOS and macOS users.
Valerie Frolova
We have 3 video editing software that we would recommend others to use:
✓ Bandicam
Bandicam is a really helpful tool for minor editing, as it’s fast and easy-to-use. What we like about it is that the added watermark in the free version is inserted at the end of the video, while other tools attach it either on the whole screen or every 15 seconds. It’s super-easy to put a few videos together.
✓ Online Video Cutter
Online Video Cutter is the best option for cutting videos. It’s fully unlimited and supports any format. A few other features are available too, such as video converter and recorder, audio converter and cutter, etc. There are also many options for work with PDF-files and no watermarks.
✓ Vegas Pro
Vegas Pro is a software package with an impressive range of functions for professional video editing. It’s easy-to-use, and it won’t take you much time to learn how to move audio and video files in and around, as well as cut video and audio clips together, since it’s pretty intuitive. The tool supports a wide range of formats and has dynamic video effects.
Erick Prospero
My firm produces 100’s of training videos monthly and we have used multiple tools.
✓ Camtasia
This is the goto option for our clients that want the DYI experience. It is ideal for those who don’t have a technical background or the patience to learn adobe. It has limitations with respect to the “cleanliness” of the final output. When you render a video, it does not have that smooth appearance as something rendered from Premiere. With that being said, a noncreative can learn this software in 3 hours. It gets the job done for video editing but only that!
✓ Adobe Premiere
This is our go-to choice for editing and post-production. Our clients with internal teams use this as well. It is the common language among the creative community and it integrates with other adobe creative programs nicely – from captivate to aftereffects. It is not something you want to jump into if you are not patient to learn the ins and outs of Adobe nuances.
Osama Mushtaq
✓ Adobe Premier
Adobe premier is the best video editing software.
✓ Openshot
It is free open-source software. It is very simple to use and has a user-friendly interface. It makes video editing easy for beginners. You can also download this software.
✓ Corel Video Studio Ultimate
Corel Video Studio Ultimate offers a great way into video editing software for novices. A well-designed interface means it’s very easy to get going with straight away, and yet it doesn’t lack in features.
David Lynch
✓ Final Cut Pro
I recommend Final Cut Pro for video editing. This powerful video editing software gives you a ton of control over the look, sound, and feel of your video. It’s easy to bring multiple clips together to create one excellent video. We use Final Cut Pro to edit all the videos on our YouTube channel!
✓ ScreenFlow
If you’re on a tighter budget and don’t need a high-end video editor, ScreenFlow is a good option. ScreenFlow is great for people who do a lot of screen recordings. It’s easy to record your computer screen with audio and your webcam in one take. Although ScreenFlow isn’t as advanced as Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere Pro, there are still plenty of video effects and actions you can apply to your project.
Soraya Perry
✓ Adobe Premiere Pro
This program is extremely popular amongst short-form video editors, though it has also been used to edit feature films like Deadpool and Gone Girl. Premiere’s primary benefit is its workflow integration capabilities.
Projects on Adobe’s other programs–think After Effects, Photoshop, and Audition–can be easily integrated into your Premiere timeline, allowing you to incorporate graphics, images, and audio files with little fuss.
This feature makes Premiere a great fit for editors who work in video and social media marketing. In addition, the platform’s diverse tools and effects allow you to edit a composition in great detail.
However, this is also the software’s failing: Premiere’s many customizations can seem confusing to new editors. A Premiere subscription can also get pretty pricey–a one-year subscription costs $240. For these reasons, we only recommend Premiere to editors who are ready to spend time and money on the skill.
✓ DaVinci Resolve
Despite being released 14 years after Premiere, DaVinci has quickly gained traction in the film and video community. The program’s most notable tool is its famed color correction function, which has been used to color grade films like Avatar, La La Land, and Pirates of the Caribbean.
DaVinci is also known for its sleek interface. While DaVinci costs $299, you can test it out by downloading a free version through the Blackmagic Design website. Even though the free version has reduced functionality, it can be a great option for newbies who want to experiment with professional editing software.
✓ Avid Media Composer
If you’re considering a career in blockbuster films, you should know your way around Media Composer. This program has been Hollywood’s dominant non-linear editing system since the 1990s, and most industry cutting rooms view Media Composer proficiency as a must-have skill.
It’s easy to see why: Media Composer’s many tools make your project highly malleable. The program is built for blockbuster elements like car explosions and other large-scale effects. It’s worth noting that younger members of the film community have criticized Media Composer’s predominance, arguing that the program’s interface is outdated.
While Avid offers multiple versions of the software at different prices, a standard Media Composer subscription costs $240 a year.
All three of these programs are great options for someone who wants to invest in video editing software. Download your favorite, import some footage, and make the next great classic film.
Jitesh Keswani
✓ Adobe Premiere Pro
The Adobe reference video editing solution is popular with many professionals in a range of industries. It’s really one of the best in its class and is a must-have for video editing and post-production professionals. It is full of advanced tools and is very powerful to process your video streams. It’s super responsive, stable, and has all the professional tools you could need.
✓ iMovie
The iMovie software is a great place to start for any Mac user and it consistently receives top ratings amongst all of the software available, which says a lot. It features an extremely simple and user-friendly interface, and just enough special features to keep things interesting without overwhelming new users. One of its notable qualities is its multi-media aspect — for instance, you can start editing on a different device such as a mobile or tablet and move your material onto your Mac with no trouble. There’s also a green-screen feature which is great for those interested in digging into the arena of special effects.
Bill Angelos
✓ Camtasia
I recommend a video editor called Camtasia. They are great for non-destructive video editing. It is very easy to record video with this both from your webcam as well as your desktop. Editing videos in the timeline editor is a breeze. You can use this video or import anything you want to make a really professional video for very little investment. The software only costs $249.