Professional video editors and filmmakers use editing software to create polished videos for projects or social media. There are many choices of editing software available today and choosing the right one with the features you need is the key to putting together an awesome video. In this article, we’ve compiled a guide to help you find the best video editing software that fits your needs and budget.
Things To Consider When Getting a Video Editing Software
Finding the right video editing software is not easy. You don’t simply pick a video editing software that’s the cheapest or most expensive. There are many factors that can affect your purchase decision.
Moreover, there are also tons of options available so choosing the right one can be a real challenge. But what should a good video editing software include? Here are some things you should consider before buying video editing software.
1. It should have the basic editing tools
An impressive video editing software should make cutting, trimming, and combining clips easy. It should have all the basic editing tools you need to create a simple yet good video.
2. It should have the features you need
Before deciding which particular software to buy, you should make a list of features you need first. If you’re a business owner or a designer, or just a consumer editing home videos, you want features that you will use. Purchasing a video editor with loads of features you don’t even know how to use is just a waste of money.
3. It should have a good interface and usability
Although the end results are important, the software’s underlying interface and usability also help with the phase, journey, and overall creation of the video.
10 Best Video Editing Software in 2024
Looking for a great video editing software? Check out the list below to find the best video editing software you can use to edit video content for your website, Youtube, social media, or other platforms:
1. Lightworks
Lightworks is video editing software that can help you create quality videos. It’s designed for both pros and newbies alike. Lightworks is one of the most popular video editors used by professionals and even award-winning filmmakers.
In terms of usability, Lightworks is quite difficult to use at first. However, there are lots of tutorials you can read to help you. Lightwork’s interface is minimalist and neat. You won’t have to worry about getting lost track of what you’re doing because of the absence of clutter on your screen. Easy commands such as trim, delete, and save are all placed in the best spots. This makes creating and editing videos a lot faster.
Features:
Fast and precise video editing
Multicam editing
Option to export to YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, and Instagram
Real-time team project sharing
Supports a wide range of video formats
2. Adobe Premiere Rush
Adobe Premiere Rush is another amazing video editing software for people on a budget. With this tool, you can create amazing video content for Youtube or social media. The software allows you to edit videos with special effects, texts, overlays, and different kinds of cool transitions. You can also adjust your video speed and sound to your liking.
With Adobe Premiere Rush, you can also save your videos offline or share them on the internet. Because it’s free, the editing tools are quite basic and simple. It isn’t exactly for advanced video editors and you’ll be much better using another tool if you’re a pro.
Features:
100GB of cloud storage (you can also upgrade up to 10TB)
Easy click and drag to add transitions
Built-in templates for adding and editing titles
Presets to easily create video files optimized for specific platforms
3. Avid Media Composer
Avid Media Composer is an impressive video editing software for professional editors. It’s flexible, simplistic in design, and has industry-standard features that you need for proper video editing in 2024.
Avid Media Composer is designed to work with add-ons but it also has a free version. If you’re serious about video editing, you can purchase their add-ons. However, if you want to simply try the app, the free version is a great starter tool. The only downside of this software is that it’s a bit performance-needy and you might need a powerful computer for it. It also has a difficult learning curve, so if you’re a beginner in video editing, it would be pretty normal to struggle at first.
Features:
Audio Dupe Detection
Background Render
Background Consolidate/Transcode
Color Correction
Edit HDR projects
FrameFlex
Keyboard Mapping
Multicam editing
Preview clips
Print Timeline
Visual feedback
4. Final Cut Pro
Final Cut Pro is Apple’s professional video editing software that’s also part of their Prop Apps family of software. The software was first released on June 21, 2011. Because it’s made by Apple, Final Cut Pro shares code and interface design with Apple’s video editing software iMovie.
Features:
Fast performance
iPad Sidecar and MacBook Touch Bar support
Magnetic, trackless timeline
Multicam support
Superior organization tools
Support for 360-degree footage and HDR
5. Sony Vegas Pro
Sony Vegas Pro is a video editing software published by Sonic Creative Software (Magix). It runs on the Windows operating system. Originally, it was an audio editing software but later developed into an NLE for video and audio from version 2.0.
Sony Vegas includes amazing features such as real-time multi-tracking video and audio editing on unlimited tracks. It also has resolution-independent video sequencing, complex effects, compositing tools, and Dolby Digital surround sound mixing.
Features:
4K Support
Adjustable UI Appearance
Audio Editing
Automatic Crossfades
Create Projects In 3D
Crop OFX Plug-In
DVD & Blue-ray Disc Authoring
Enhanced User Interface
Fast & Smooth Timeline Editing
Instant Freeze Frame
OFX Plug-Ins
On-Preview Window Controls
Picture-In-Picture OFX Plug-In
Timeline Clip Events Headers
Velocity Envelopes
Video Effects & Compositing Tools
6. Da Vinci Resolve Studio 16
DaVinci Resolve is another amazing video editing software in the market today. It lets you cut, paste, and do a lot more with clips you’ve added to your timeline. You can also adjust different audio aspects, add visual effects, and change the colors of the video.
DaVinci Resolve has features such as the ability to work with two timelines, create overlays in real-time, change speed, use dynamic zoom, and stabilize recordings. Da Vinci’s impressive tools are also compatible with tons of formats. You can easily export your video to any platform.
Features:
Add effects and subtitles
Additional Resolve FX
Color grade and color correct
Collaborative workflow
Denoiser & Motion Blur
Excellent customer support
Footage and sound editing
Facial recognition, object removal, and auto-color matching
GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) acceleration
HDR (High Dynamic Range) Color Grading
7. Edius Pro 8
EDIUS Pro 8 is the perfect finishing tool for professional video editors allowing them to create impressive videos, documentaries, and 4K theatrical productions. EIDUS Pro 8 is versatile and allows users to real-time edit into different kinds of formats while editing on the same timeline. It’s basically a video editing software that can help you make tons of videos in a short amount of time, without sacrificing creativity.
Features:
265/HEVC decoding
3-way color correction
4K workflow
Edit with different resolution
Flexible user interface
Fast AVCHD editing
Multiple file formats
Multicam editing
Motion tracking
RAW decode
Real-time conversion frame rates
Native processing
8. Hit film 4 Pro
HitFilm 4 Pro is an impressive video editing software that gives you everything you need to edit videos and create films. It even has 3D compositing and visual effects features. HitFilm 4 is designed for professional filmmakers and creators who dabble in blending, compositing, and editing videos. It’s clearly not an app for newbies and those who don’t know anything about video and filmmaking.
Some things you can do with Hit Film 4 Pro include changing your video backgrounds, adding and removing elements, changing color, and generating high-quality visual effects. The software is so good that you can create a very high-quality cinema-like video with it. It also comes with tons of amazing tools that can create various styles and effects on your videos.
Features:
100+ effects in the library
2D and 3D layer compositing
2D and 3D keyframe animation
3D cameras
Advanced Compositing cameras and lights
Audio editing with audio effects
Color correction
Real-time rendering of 3D models
9. Pinnacle Studio 23 Ultimate
A trusted leader in video editing, Pinnacle Studio 23, is an amazing video editing software with ever-improving features such as text masks, LUT profiles, video mask creator, and more. The best thing about this video editor is it’s very newbie-friendly. You can easily learn how to use the software without spending too much time reading manuals or tutorials.
Features:
Clear user interface
Detailed masking tools
Fast rendering and performance
Huge effects library
Multicam editing
Powerful title editor
10. CyberLink Power Director
Power Director is a powerful video editing software for macOS and Windows users. It’s also beginner-friendly with an intuitive user interface. It’s loaded with features that help users create videos for new kinds of technologies and formats. You can create a digital movie with amazing transitions, effects, and adjustments.
Features:
Clear interface
Fast rendering
Motion tracking
Multicam editing
Screen recording
Tons of effects