Video editing is no longer a task for only the tech-savvy. Anyone can now edit videos with a few clicks on their computer using video editing software. But, which is the best video editing software?
There are a lot of options available that cater to different users with different needs. You can get specialized video editing software for PC or Mac, there are some specifically made for Youtube video editing, while others are made for professional-grade video editors- the Hollywood aspirants.
To make life a little easier, we have shortlisted some of the best video editing software for you. Some of these are easy to use, others have pro-level editing tools. Some are free, others will cost a big chunk of money.
But the one common thing is that these are good video editing software. Now, let’s move forward with the reviews so you can pick the right one.
Best Video Editing Software – Premium
1. Adobe Premiere Pro
Best Video Editing Software For Professional Editors
In 2022, video editing software doesn’t get much better than the Adobe Premiere Pro CC. A clean and easy-to-use UI, scads of integrated apps and editing tools, and some latest features added by Adobe take the Premiere Pro to the top of our picks.
The latest update to the Premiere Pro brought new features like Auto Reframe, HDR support, and a bunch of new text and graphic styles. But, thankfully the non-linear editing interface stays intact.
The best addition has to be the Learning Mode that includes 8 video tutorials and walkthroughs for different editing and creating actions. It’s not easy for novices to break into Premiere Pro, but this will certainly help.
Adobe has taken away the one-time buy option and switched to the subscription model. Right now, the Adobe Premiere Pro is available for $19.99 a month, which goes up to $33.99/month for Business users.
You can choose to pay monthly or pay for the whole year at once. But the change is more than welcome because it means the software receives continuous updates.
Adobe Creative Cloud: You can also choose to buy a bundle of Adobe apps for $79.99/month.
Highlighted Features
- NVIDIA and AMD hardware decoding on Windows
- Edit videos in 480p, 720p, 1080p, and 4K
- Multicam angle editing
- Integrates seamlessly with Creative Cloud and every other Adobe app
Supported Platform
- Windows
- Mac
2. Adobe Premiere Elements 2022
Adobe’s Best Video Editing Software For Beginners
This is the easiest video editing software to use. The interface is minimal and super easy to learn. It’s kind of a training tool before you take up pro editing with Adobe Premiere Pro.
We wouldn’t say it has fewer features- they are just different and pretty basic. Still, it’s capable of creating visual treats without pitting you up against the complexities of professional video editing software.
The highlight has to be the AutoCreations. Once you import your videos or images, Adobe Elements will automatically create collages and slideshows with a few transitions and background music thrown in as well. That said, it’s just a start. Sometimes the slides, let’s just say, need touch-ups.
There’s also Auto Smart Tone that easily lets you change up that lighting for every frame of the video separately. And, the Guided Edits feature gets two new edits: Animated Matte Overlays and Double Exposure.
As for the pricing, it’s a one-off buy. The Premiere Elements has a $99.99 one-off fee, and Photoshop Elements and Elements Premiere Combo costs $149.99.
But, if you own the previous version of these Adobe apps, you can choose to get a license upgrade and save $20 on Premiere Elements and $30 on the Photoshop + Premiere Combo. A 30-day free trial option is available to test the waters.
Get Adobe Premiere Elements 2022
Highlighted Features
- Video Stabilization
- Guided Edits
- New and improved Chroma Key
- Direct uploads to Vimeo, YouTube, and Facebook
Supported Platforms
- Windows
- Mac
3. Corel VideoStudio Ultimate 2022
Best Video Editing Software For Windows 10
If you aren’t a fan of Adobe, your next best bet is Corel- a long-time Adobe competitor with a bigger product range.
Corel VideoStudio Ultimate is another video editing software that suits beginners more than professionals. The drag-and-drop interface makes video editing super simple. It’s a great option for novice content creators to capture, edit, and share their content all under one roof.
It’s also cheaper than its Adobe counterpart. The VideoStudio Ultimate version is $99.99. You can also go for the slightly toned-down Pro version, which costs $79.99. Both have a 30% discount on Corel, but Amazon has 40% off.
There is only one slight problem- none of the previous versions were cross-platform, and neither is this one. It only runs on Windows, which can be a deal-breaker if you have an Apple ecosystem.
For Windows users, features like 4K support, multi-cam capture, split window editing, and more are hard to ignore at this price.
Get Corel VideoStudio Ultimate 2022
Highlighted Features
- 30 days free trial
- 360-degree editing
- Color and lens correction
- VR video support
Supported Platform
- Windows
4. CyberLink PowerDirector 365
An Industry-Standard Editing Software But Easier To Use
There’s a term, prosumers. It’s for consumers that like to use pro tools, and Cyberlink PowerDirector 365 is the best video editing software for prosumers.
It mixes the features of professional-grade editing software with the ease of basic-level editing software. A combination of the best video editing tools and AI integration makes this a capable video editing software for PC.
It was a Windows-only software, but the latest version has added Mac support. Still, the Mac version lacks some features. It’s also available on the Google Play store so you can download it on your Android smartphone.
It’s best-suited for on-the-go creators. Features like Action Cam allow video stabilization, lens correction, and zoom & pan effects. Moreover, the dedicated Hotkeys speed up the entire process.
It also allows direct streaming to popular platforms like YouTube and Twitch and recording with Chroma Key. You will also love the Video Templates. With a few clicks, you can create intros and outros for your YouTube Videos.
You can choose a one-off payment or a monthly pay cycle. The one-off will cost you $54.99, whereas the monthly subscription is $19.99.
Get CyberLink PowerDirector 365
Highlighted Features
- Windows 11 compatibility
- Fastest video editor
- Shutterstock and iStock integration for stock images and videos
- Loads of free video templates
Supported Platforms
- Windows
- Mac
- Android
5. Apple Final Cut Pro
Pro-Level Video Editor For Mac By Apple
The Apple Final Cut Pro is only available to Mac users. It’s optimized for Mac Pro and exploits the full power of the latest Apple M1 chip.
And since it’s an Apple product, it has a noticeable price tag. A one-off payment of $299.99. But it also offers the longest free trial (90 days), so you can get 100% sure before you start paying for it.
That said, it’s the closest any editing software has come to Adobe Premiere Pro. We say closest because Final Cut Pro does lack a few prominent features. The most notable one is Video Stabilization. Both these high-performing editing programs have similar features, albeit presented in varying UIs.
It’s definitely a pro tool, because of the extra-terrestrial features. It’s an industry-leading software, but with quite a learning curve too. For beginners who want a Mac-optimized editing software, perhaps the Apple iMovie would be a better choice or some alternatives.
Highlighted Features
- Smart Conform for social media
- 4K and 8K support
- New Metal engine
- 64 angles in Multicam
Supported Platforms
- Mac
6. Viddyoze 3.0
Good Video Editing Software Choice For Animations
There are a lot of video editing programs out there that claim to be the easiest to use- Viddyoze actually is the easiest to use and one of the cheaper ones too. You can get a commercial lifetime license for only $67. There is no free trial, but you can ask for a refund within 30 days.
The best part about Viddyoze is that it’s almost an automatic tool. There are a large number of templates that you can use to quickly create studio-quality videos. Simply export your videos (or GIFs), choose a template, and enjoy a fully edited video within a few minutes.
Different video editing software excels in different aspects, and for animations, there are few better than Viddyoze. Whether it’s 2D, 3D, or live animations, Viddyoze is the most sophisticated and fast animation tool. But as a user, we would say that the rest of the features are also more than decent.
It’s a cloud-based software app, so you can access it on any device, any time, from anywhere. The web app is polished enough to work on mobile devices including tablets and smartphones.
Highlighted Features
- Cloud-based software
- Affordable
- Quick and easy to use
- Best for animations
Supported Platform
- Mac
- Windows
- Android- through the web app
- iPhone- through the web app
7. Pinnacle Studio 25 Ultimate
A Feature-Rich Video Editing Software For Windows Users
Pinnacle Studio 25 Ultimate is the pro-level video editing software that turns your raw ideas into a grand production.
The features of the previous versions were of the highest caliber, but the recent additions take the Pinnacle Studio 25 Ultimate to the pinnacle of video editing.
New features like Smart Object Tracking, Blend Mode, 8K support, and a pack of audio features are groundbreaking. Moreover, some of the most popular post-production tools like Color Grading, Color Correction, and LUTs are now bigger and better. But, it also has its cons. The biggest is the Windows-only support.
Secondly, it’s a one-off purchase of $129.95 without a free trial. You can apply for a refund within 30 days, but certain conditions apply to that too.
Get Pinnacle Studio 25 Ultimate
Highlighted Features
- 8K imports
- Video masking
- Clone objects and combine clips
- 360 Video Editor, Multi-Cam, Screen Recording
Supported Platforms
- Windows
8. Vimeo Create
Light Video Editing Software Best Suited For Social Media & Personal Videos
Vimeo has been trying hard to compete with YouTube as the next best video sharing and hosting platform. It is a decent site, but no match for YouTube’s services and the amount of content.
So, what does Vimeo do? It tries to transform into a one-stop shop for visual creators. One tool that’s helping is Vimeo Create. It’s a mid-level cloud-based video editor that lets you create, edit, and then upload your videos- all in one place.
Being web-based, Vimeo Create has its pros and cons. It will work on any device, but it restricts the functionality. No work if you can’t find a high-speed and stable internet connection, and say goodbye to 4K video editing.
Because its primary target is social media content creators, the majority of templates on offer are generic. You can edit them further and make improvements, but that kills the speed and time.
Still, looking at the features on offer in the various paid plans, it’s a decent choice if you want a web-based video editor for a quick editing fix.
Highlighted Features
- Very easy to use
- Cloud-based program
- Great templates for marketing and social media postings
- Integrated with AI to help beginners
Supported Platforms
- Chrome
- Firefox
- Safari
- Microsoft Edge
- Internet Explorer 11
Best Video Editing Software – Free & Freemium
Three free video editing software – with paid versions – and one free video editing mobile app.
1. DaVinci Resolve 17
Best Free Video Editing Software With A Pro-Level Paid Version
The latest version of Blackmagic’s Davinci Resolve is the most powerful and the most complete one yet. It combines every major aspect of post-production into one. From editing to color correction, audio editing to VFX, the Resolve 17 handles all.
But we want to talk about the new UI. With the latest update, Blackmagic made the biggest change to the user interface making it easier and more intuitive. And that’s why we regard Resolve 17 so highly. It always had powerful features, but it lacked easy usability.
Now, if you are willing to invest in the Studio version, you can get industry-standard editing software that makes your job extraordinarily simple.
Aside from the fact that it’s free, the best feature is the multi-page UI. Instead of cramming everything in one window, Resolve 17 has various windows that help perform the various editing tasks. Edit, Cut, Media, Fusion, Color, and whatnot.
Highlighted Features
- Feature-rich basic version
- Separate windows for every major function
- All-in-one editing tool
Supported Platforms
- Windows
- Mac
- Linux
2. Shotcut
Completely Free & Open-Source Video Editing Software
As far as free editing tools go, Shotcut is right up there with the best. It’s an amazing software that is easily customizable and easier to use but takes no shortcuts when it comes to features and performance.
It is also an open-source program which means any shortcomings you feel in this software, you can fix yourself. Chances are someone’s already done it on the Shotcut subreddit. It even gets monthly updates, adds new features, improves existing ones, and minimizes bugs.
The only complaint we have is the scattered interface. Audio features, video features, editing, effects, everything is right there in front of you, yet somehow difficult to navigate. So, it will take some getting used to, but once you get the hang of it, you won’t find a better free video editing software.
Highlighted Features
- Open Source
- Monthly updates
- 100% free
Supported Platforms
- Windows
- Mac
- Linux
3. KineMaster
One Of The Best Mobile Apps To Make/Edit Videos
To end our selection of video editing software, we choose the highly intuitive and powerful video editing mobile app. It took off a couple of years back, and they have managed to keep the app fresh and relevant through constant changes and regular updates.
Unlike most mobile apps, KineMaster was much more comprehensive in terms of features. It isn’t too far behind the desktop video editing software. The inclusion of Chroma Key is a testament to that.
Moreover, there are text graphics, smooth video transitions, color and lighting corrections, even some audio effects, and tons of filters. Considering it is totally free and brings quite some editing prowess to your smartphone, it’s worth a try at least.
Highlighted Features
- Easy to use
- Decent editing tools
Supported Platforms
- iOS
- Android
Conclusion
We tried to keep our list as versatile as possible so every type of user gets a look at their best video editing software and alternatives. There’s an open-source software in there, a few cross-platform as well as some platform-dedicated software.
Now all you have to do is make up your mind regarding your needs and you have all the right options right here.
FAQs
Q. Is Viddyoze worth it?
Viddyoze has recently been called a scam and troublesome, but our experience was smooth. Considering it’s a one-time license fee of $67 for web-based software that will only get better with updates, it’s definitely worth it.
How to edit videos for free?
Simple, buy any of the free video editing software. You have Apple’s iMovie if you are a Mac user, Davinci Resolve or Videopad for Windows, and KineMaster if you want a mobile app for editing videos.
