Video-editing software is essential for those looking to elevate their content-creation game. The problem is there are many options to choose from, and most product guides are sponsored to promote certain products. Not here though! All of the recommendations below come from the passionate and creative folk in our Just About Content Creators community. As such, the paid and free video-editing software recommendations below are trustworthy, unbiased, and based on hands-on experience.
We have recommendations covering different niches and requirements. However, for both free and paid software, two frontrunners finish miles ahead of the rest of the pack. We’ll start with the free software recommendations, because why pay if you don’t need to?
Free video-editing software recommendations
Adobe Express - a big brand brings the basics
While a paid Adobe subscription costs around $20 per month, you can access the basic features for free with Adobe Express. You’ll find more laudatory reviews for other software below, but if you’re on a budget and would like to get your head around the basics with the option to upgrade, then according to EveOnlineTutorials, Adobe Express is a good place to begin:
“The free version of this software is limited but effective. It’s a good starting point for video editors looking to add sound, splits, and cuts. Although it quickly becomes apparent that you need to upgrade if you want to get the most out of it.”
Insta360 - best for omnidirectional camera footage
If you’re hoping to capitalise on the omnidirectional video trend, you’ll want something more specialised. Sturmer highlights Insta360:
“I recommend the proprietary app Insta360 for anyone working with 360-degree videos. It’s a specialised tool for editing footage from omnidirectional cameras, offering unique features for this unique niche.”
There are lots of advantages in 360 filming, which Sturmer spells out in our article on content creation trends in 2024.
iMovie - best for Mac
While every Mac comes loaded with a copy of iMovie, that doesn’t mean you should underestimate it. MURRRAAAAY says that it’s surprisingly formidable:
“It’s a fantastic basic video editor, and it’s where I learned the basics of chopping up a video file. It’s pretty powerful once you figure out everything it can do. I still use it as a backup when I want to edit away from my main setup or on the go.”
DaVinci Resolve - the near-unanimous winner
While the free video-editing programs above received a nomination each, every other entrant to our bounty recommended DaVinci Resolve by Blackmagic Design. Here’s Wadd Enderas’s review:
“It’s the first free software I ever tried, so in the interest of transparency, I don’t have a comparison. That said, I’ve never found a reason to try anything else, and I’ve never looked back. The fact that this software is free is madness. It has everything I’ve needed, and nothing short of my own incompetence has stopped me. From simple functionality like clipping and stitching through to transitions, titles, colour editing, and a full sound-editing studio, you really can’t go wrong. There’s a paid version at $295, but I can’t even imagine what that would include that the free version doesn’t.”
Laura (Laura) echoes the same sentiment, “there’s a paid version, but I just can’t imagine needing more features.” Like Wadd, Laura has found everything she needs in DaVinci Resolve and has been blown away by its functionality:
“Resolve can do everything except put the kettle on! There are different tabs for different functions, but I’ve only really dabbled with the other tabs - the ‘cut’ page has nearly everything I’d ever need. For those more proficient than I am, I know this software can do really amazing, advanced things like animating. One of my goals for this year is to more fully learn all that DaVinci Resolve can do.”
Even those with more video-editing experience like Retro Stu agree that DaVinci Resolve is a “no brainer”:
“I’ve tried a lot of software over the years - some good, some bad, some middling - but for a free piece of software, Resolve just packs in so many features, and it’s incredibly intuitive. Take the navigation bar at the bottom, which saves countless hours bouncing back and forth in other menus. It’s also seamless to add my audio plugins. It’s a fantastically powerful piece of kit that doesn’t require much knowledge. If you’re just dipping your toe into video editing or you’re a seasoned pro who wants to break free from subscription models (I’m looking at you, Adobe), you can do a lot worse than DaVinci Resolve."
And in case you needed yet another DaVinci Resolve recommendation (they’re not paying us, we promise), here’s Murray:
“DaVinci Resolve is literally incredible. It has everything you could ever want. There’s a bit of a learning curve, but keep in mind that this software is even used by professionals to make big-budget Hollywood movies.”
We actually received several more testimonials recommending Resolve, but we suspect you get the picture by now: DaVinci Resolve is very, very good.
Premium (paid) video-editing software recommendations
Wondershare Filmora - a cheap starting place for Windows users
While Wondershare Filmora comes with a price tag, it’s still a cheap option with some easy-to-use presets and features ideally suited to less-experienced video editors. Here’s Murray again:
“I used it for a few years. It has a great price with a lifetime update package for about $50, meaning you’ll always have the latest version. It’s simple to use and has user-friendly premade effects that add a little more flair to your videos. It can also use your GPU for super-quick render times.”
DaVinci Resolve Studio - good for advanced video editors with struggling CPUs
The premium version of DaVinci Resolve comes in just under $300, but like Wondershare it comes with a lifetime update guarantee. Also like Wondershare, it allows you to use your GPU for your video editing and rendering. Murray explains why that’s advantageous:
“It can make a huge difference if you’re editing large files which would otherwise be a strain on most CPUs. I’ll be upgrading to this when I can afford to, and I’ll be grabbing some of the dedicated editing hardware they also sell, like their speed-editor keyboard.”
avrona recommends it too:
“The paid version of Blackmagic’s software is by no means necessary, but it does add some very high-end features. I’ve never used any other paid software other than Hitfilm Pro, but even the free version of Resolve makes that look limited.”
Final Cut Pro - best for Mac users
When it comes to paid video-editing software for Mac, Murray says that Final Cut Pro is the only option you should consider.
“Think of it like the pro version of iMovie. Because they’re both made by Apple, loads of the lessons you learn on iMovie can easily be transferred over to Final Cut so it doesn’t feel like you’re starting at square one. Because you’ll be running it on an Apple device, it smooths the process and makes for a great editing experience.”
Adobe Premiere Pro - best for Adobe users
Our penultimate video-editing software recommendation comes from Lanah Tyra. She says that it runs smoothly on Mac but runs into issues with Windows.
“I’ve got Premiere Pro because I wanted to check out some of the new AI features. While it’s a great piece of editing software, I think it’s only worth the price if you’re using multiple Adobe products. $20 per Premier Pro is expensive, but $60 per month for the entire Creative Crowd bundle is justifiable for those utilising the entire suite."
Vegas Pro - the best overall paid video editing software
Once more, there’s a clear frontrunner. Vegas Pro not only received the most recommendations out of any piece of paid software, but the most glowing ones too. Sturmer gives four reasons why it’s his top choice:
“Versatility: It’s a robust tool capable of handling nearly any video-editing task. Much like Word or Excel, it’s versatile enough to be used for simple projects, but also has the depth to satisfy advanced users.
Learning resources: Due to its popularity and longstanding market presence, there’s an abundance of tutorials available. That makes learning new techniques quick and easy.
Affordability: Despite its professional capabilities, Vegas Pro is relatively affordable. You can find lifetime licences on sites like HumbleBundle or Fanatical for around $20.
Performance: It offers excellent performance both in editing and rendering thanks to its GPU support. I’ve smoothly handled edits with over a thousand media elements."
EveOnlineTutorials uses Vegas Pro to render and edit their videos, and they’re very satisfied with it too:
“I’m able to change audio tracks, add tracks in, speed up, slow down, split and cut scenes, and much more. A friend gave me a free copy of it, and it really helped me to step up my videos. Video editing is a huge part of content creation; being able to drop videos in 1080p and 4k can be a huge asset to any channel.”
We’ll leave you with one more shining review, this time from Lanah:
“If you want stable, reliable, and easy-to-use editing software, then it’s Vegas Pro. I used it at university for my diploma, and I’ve loved it ever since. Even if you’re used to other editing software, you’ll get the hang of it very quickly as the UI is simple and user-friendly. The biggest bonus for me is that in a subscription-focused world, you can buy the current version of Vegas Pro on a perpetual licence and use it for as long as you want. You can choose to pay for just the current version or pay monthly to get all of the recent updates. Either way, at roughly $200 for the perpetual licence or $20 per month, you’ll get great value for your money."
Bonus recommendation: the best audio-editing software:
We’ll leave you with one final recommendation from Sturmer who briefly detoured from the bounty brief to recommend a piece of software that will complement your video editing:
“Another invaluable tool in my kit is Audacity. Although it’s an audio editor, not a video editor, it’s crucial for refining audio tracks in my video projects. The quality of your audio can significantly impact the overall production value of your videos. My usual workflow involves all three of the pieces of software that I’ve recommended: first I frame the content in Insta360, then I clean audio in Audacity, and then I make my final edit and render in Vegas.”
And there you have it, the best free and paid video-editing software according to those who really know their stuff. Long live DaVinci and viva las Vegas Pro! If you have any recommendations or questions, let us know in the comments.
Some text has been amended for brevity. You can find the original wording at the bounty post. Image credit in descending order: popmelon, Recklessstudios, honeycombhc, terydanphiri, mchiroque, kreatikar - all sourced from Pixabay.
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