Video Editing: Buying Advice, Tips, and News
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Our Top Video Editing SoftwareWe test and rate the top video editing software for every type of user, from casual family event videographers to social media posters to studio professionals.
By Michael Muchmore
Our Top Picks
CyberLink PowerDirector 365
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
CyberLink PowerDirector 365 delivers an unbeatable mix of power, speed, and accessibility, blending professional-grade AI tools with intuitive design to make it the best all-around video editor.
Full CyberLink PowerDirector 365 ReviewPros
- Fast project rendering
- Clear, usable interface
- Loads of effects and AI tools
- Multicam and motion tracking support
- Screen recording
Cons
- Number of options can be overwhelming at times
Pros
- Fast project rendering
- Clear, usable interface
- Loads of effects and AI tools
- Multicam and motion tracking support
- Screen recording
Cons
- Number of options can be overwhelming at times
Adobe Premiere
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
Adobe Premiere is an expansive, professional-level video editing program with top-notch editing tools, swift rendering speeds, useful collaboration features, and a well-designed interface.
Full Adobe Premiere ReviewPros
- Clear, flexible interface
- Responsive performance and fast rendering
- Auto-transcribing and text-based editing
- Excellent stabilization tool
- Unlimited multicam angles
- Many organization and collaboration tools
Cons
- Some techniques require external applications
Pros
- Clear, flexible interface
- Responsive performance and fast rendering
- Auto-transcribing and text-based editing
- Excellent stabilization tool
- Unlimited multicam angles
- Many organization and collaboration tools
Cons
- Some techniques require external applications
Apple iMovie
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
Apple's entry-level video editing app, iMovie, can turn your casual clips and photos into impressive productions and is especially adept at editing iPhone content.
Full Apple iMovie ReviewPros
- Intuitive interface
- Good chroma-keying tool
- Unique support for iPhone video features
- Excellent movie templates with shot guidance
Cons
- Lacks multicam and motion-tracking capabilities
- Allows just two video tracks on a timeline
- No feature updates in several years
- Only available for Apple platforms
Pros
- Intuitive interface
- Good chroma-keying tool
- Unique support for iPhone video features
- Excellent movie templates with shot guidance
Cons
- Lacks multicam and motion-tracking capabilities
- Allows just two video tracks on a timeline
- No feature updates in several years
- Only available for Apple platforms
Apple Final Cut Pro
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
Apple's Final Cut Pro gives you a wealth of powerful video editing tools in a streamlined interface, making it well worth the cost for professionals and serious hobbyists alike.
Full Apple Final Cut Pro ReviewPros
- Superb organization tools
- Magnetic, trackless timeline
- Supports 360-degree footage and wide color spaces
- Excellent multicam editing
- Powerful masking and chroma keying
- Fast performance
Cons
- Import and export experiences could be clearer
- Some techniques require extra software (Motion and Compressor)
- Fewer AI and collaboration than Premiere
- Runs only on Apple hardware
Pros
- Superb organization tools
- Magnetic, trackless timeline
- Supports 360-degree footage and wide color spaces
- Excellent multicam editing
- Powerful masking and chroma keying
- Fast performance
Cons
- Import and export experiences could be clearer
- Some techniques require extra software (Motion and Compressor)
- Fewer AI and collaboration than Premiere
- Runs only on Apple hardware
DaVinci Resolve
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
DaVinci Resolve 20 is a professional-grade, all-in-one video editing workhorse with a robust free version that's best for ambitious creators willing to invest time mastering its vast toolset.
Full DaVinci Resolve ReviewPros
- Plenty of editing tools for precise control
- Includes motion graphics and audio editing
- Deep color-grading tools
- AI features to automate processes
- Fast render performance
Cons
- Requires a lot of system resources
- Takes some time to learn
Pros
- Plenty of editing tools for precise control
- Includes motion graphics and audio editing
- Deep color-grading tools
- AI features to automate processes
- Fast render performance
Cons
- Requires a lot of system resources
- Takes some time to learn
Adobe Premiere Elements
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
Adobe's Premiere Elements video editing software gets you close to its pro-level sibling in design and performance, though it loses some ease of use in the process.
Full Adobe Premiere Elements ReviewPros
- Interface resembles that of Premiere Pro
- Ample video effects and control
- Cross-platform support
- 360 VR editing tools
- Good rendering speeds
Cons
- Three-year limit on product license
- No multicam support
Pros
- Interface resembles that of Premiere Pro
- Ample video effects and control
- Cross-platform support
- 360 VR editing tools
- Good rendering speeds
Cons
- Three-year limit on product license
- No multicam support
Microsoft Clipchamp
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
Clipchamp is a free, Windows-centric video editing app that can handle quick social videos and small business marketing jobs, but you have to pay to get all of its features and content.
Full Microsoft Clipchamp ReviewPros
- Included with Windows
- Slick interface
- Generous template selection
- Stylish effects and transitions
- Good text and soundtrack options
Cons
- Some features requires a subscription
- Templates tend to be short and don’t specify shot types
- Limited control over effects
- Slow exports
Pros
- Included with Windows
- Slick interface
- Generous template selection
- Stylish effects and transitions
- Good text and soundtrack options
Cons
- Some features requires a subscription
- Templates tend to be short and don’t specify shot types
- Limited control over effects
- Slow exports
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Apple's Final Cut Pro gives you a wealth of powerful video editing tools in a streamlined interface, making it well worth the cost for professionals and serious hobbyists alike.
$299.99
Apple's entry-level video editing app, iMovie, can turn your casual clips and photos into impressive productions and is especially adept at editing iPhone content.
$0.00
After the release of Apple Creator Studio, users will lose access to both programs' 90-day trial periods, though they’ll still get 30 days if they sign on to the subscription service.
Apple's new rival to Adobe’s Creative Cloud offers six services for $12.99 a month or $129 a year: Compressor, Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, MainStage, Motion, and Pixelmator Pro.
We test a multitude of video editing apps, evaluating their ease of use, capabilities, rendering speed, and more. These are the best choices for making movies or viral videos on your Mac.
Did you know that you can copy color values and extract text directly from the screenshots you capture with the Windows Snipping Tool? Here are all the most surprising and useful capabilities it offers.
Adobe's Premiere Elements video editing software gets you close to its pro-level sibling in design and performance, though it loses some ease of use in the process.
$99.99
Whether you're creating videos for Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, or just making a short movie for friends, all you need is a phone. The top mobile video editing apps will amaze you with their capabilities.
DaVinci Resolve 20 is a professional-grade, all-in-one video editing workhorse with a robust free version that's best for ambitious creators willing to invest time mastering its vast toolset.
$0.00
CyberLink PowerDirector 365 delivers an unbeatable mix of power, speed, and accessibility, blending professional-grade AI tools with intuitive design to make it the best all-around video editor.
$59.99 Per Year
Apple Clips has reached end of life, and there won't be any further updates. If you previously downloaded the app, you’ll be able to continue to use it.
ACDSee's beginner-friendly Luxea Pro Video Editor provides the standard video editing tools that creators need (along with some more advanced ones), but it could offer better templates for quick projects.
$59.95
Adobe’s Premiere Rush video editing app has the basic features vloggers need, but it's missing the flexible export options and advanced tools of top competitors.
Get Adobe Creative Cloud All Apps for $59.99/Month
Adobe has also confirmed it will shut down its previous mobile editing tool, Premiere Rush.
