- Online Video Editing Service
- Video Editing Software Subscription
- Professional Video Editing Service Company
Shotcut is a free, open source, cross-platform video editor for Windows, Mac and Linux. Major features include support for a wide range of formats; no import required meaning native timeline editing; Blackmagic Design support for input and preview monitoring; and resolution support to 4k. Verdict: VSDC will be the best video editing software for Windows if you are making a presentation and wish to add text, diagrams and other effects to it. This non-linear video editor offers Instagram-style filters, a masking tool, and a variety of special effects, including color correction and blurring. The original, free professional craft video editing software. Built by world-leading editors, used by 5.5 million creatives world-wide. Start your edit now!
When you want to make a strong impression, there's nothing quite like moving images with sound. That's why digital video continues to grow in importance online. Couple that trend with the ever-increasing availability of devices capable of high-resolution video recording—smartphones, GoPros, DSLRs—and the case for powerful video editing software becomes clear. The software must be usable by professionals and nonprofessionals alike, and it needs to keep up with newer formats such as HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding), HDR, and VR. It also must work with 4K video since common devices are now capable of producing 4K content and sometimes even higher resolutions.
Increasingly, tools trickle down from professional-level software to the consumer category. Multitrack editing, motion tracking, and advanced color grading have all made the leap. This trend is a boon to nonprofessional movie editors and vloggers, since the more-consumer-oriented software tends to simplify procedures that are complex in the pro-level software. It also means you'll have more familiarity, should you move up to a professional application. In another plus for consumers, features that, in the pro world, are relegated to separate apps for motion graphics and color grading are often included in one package at the consumer level, making for a more integrated editing experience.
![Video Video](https://cdn-www.avid.com/-/media/avid/images/hero-products/media-composer-2020/in-monitor-images/media-composer-symphony-video-editing-software-interface.png)
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Multicam, Motion Tracking, and Yet More Motion
Advanced abilities continue to make their way into accessible, affordable, and consumer-friendly video editing software as each new generation of software is released. For example, multicam editing, which lets you switch among camera angles of the same scene shot with multiple video cameras, used to be a feature relegated to pro-level software. Now this and many other advanced effects are available in programs designed for use by nonprofessional enthusiasts.
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- Pinnacle Studio 25 Ultimate (PC Disc) — $99.99(List Price $129.95)
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- CyberLink PowerDirector 365 One-Year Subscription — $59.99(List Price $69.99)
Another impressive effect that has made its way into consumer-level video editing software is motion tracking, which lets you attach an object or effect to something moving in your video. You might use it to place a blur over the face of someone you don't want revealed in your video, or to display a text box next to a moving object. You mark the object you want to track, specify the effect or text, and the app takes care of the rest, following the marked object.
Motion tracking used to be the sole province of special-effects software such as Adobe After Effects. Corel VideoStudio was the first of the consumer products to include motion tracking, and it still leads the pack in the depth and usability of its motion-tracking tool (even including multipoint tracking) though several others now include the capability.
Does the Software Support 4K Video? How About 8K?
Support for 4K video source content has become fairly standard in video editing software, and pro software already supports up to 8K, which isn't practical unless you're running a full-size movie theater. That said, even some smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G (which I recently upgrade to) now can shoot in 8K.
The support for 4K and higher formats varies among the consumer products. For example, some but not all the applications can import Sony XAVC and XAVC-S formats, which are used by Sony's popular DSLRs, mirrorless cameras, camcorders, and professional video cameras. The same holds true for the H.265 High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) standard. Most of the applications here now can import and export HEVC, but there are still a few holdouts.
If you plan on working with 4K or higher video content, make sure you choose a video editing application that's fast at rendering output files (See Gathering Speed section below).
How Can You Edit Video on a PC?
None of the extras matter if an app can't do the most basic editing tasks. At this point, all the software included here does a good job of letting you join, trim, and split video clips. Most also provide extensive tutorials, help, and guided editing tools. You can make use of special effects such as animated transitions, picture-in-picture (PiP), chroma-key (often known as green screen), and filters that enhance colors or apply creative effects and distortions. With most products, you can add a multitude of timeline tracks that accommodate video clips, effects, audio, and text overlays.
Some video editing applications now include seamless transition tools. Picture a scene showing people at a beach, and suddenly the sky zooms in and you're in Rome or Paris, but it looks like you're in the same place because the transition glued the two scenes together using the sky. There are plenty of other examples of seamless transition; this magnificent video shows a good selection of them and is partly responsible for starting the trend.
Editing Video on a Smartphone
With Instagram Stories and TikTok all the rage of late, smartphones are the number-one destination for digital video. But you can also create and edit videos on mobile devices. Many of the desktop applications included in this roundup also offer mobile video editing apps. Adobe offers a separate app called Premiere Rush, which you can use to edit video on your phone and then continue editing it on the desktop Premiere app. Apple's iMovie works similarly with Final Cut Pro. TikTok itself offers the excellent, free CapCut. And with over 100 million downloads on the Google Play app store, the powerful CyberLink PowerDirector's separate mobile app has made a name for itself on mobiles as well as the desktop. Many of these apps let you shoot video right from the phone and start editing right away on the same device.
What Are Color Grading and LUTs?
One of the capabilities that has made its way into consumer-level video editing software is more-detailed color grading. Color wheels, curves, and histograms give editors control over the intensity of every shade. Related to this is support for LUTs (lookup tables), also known as CLUTs (color lookup tables). This staple of pro-level software lets you quickly change the look of a video to give it a specific mood.
For example, think of the dark blue look of thriller movies like The Revenant. You can download LUTs for free from several sites or use those included with video software to give your video a specific look. One well-known LUT type is the kind that can make a daytime scene look like it was shot at night.
Where Is the Action?
Many video editing apps now include tools that cater to users of action cameras such as the GoPro Hero9 Black. For example, several offer automated freeze-frame along with speedup, slowdown, and reverse time effects. CyberLink PowerDirector's Action Camera Center pulls together freeze frame with stabilization, slo-mo, and fish-eye correction, and throws in color correction for underwater footage. Magix Movie Edit Pro Premium includes the third-party NewBlue ActionCam Package of effects.
Titles That Zing
I've been seeing a lot of attention paid to creating title effects in the video editing applications. Apple Final Cut Pro has added 3D title creation, which is pretty spiffy, letting you extrude 2D titles and rotate them on three axes. Corel VideoStudio also includes 3D Titling, though not as powerful as Apple's. PowerDirector's Title Designer offers transparency, gradient color, border, blur level, and reflection in titles; Magix has impressive title templates, complete with animations.
Premiere Elements offers a nifty title effect in which your video fills the text characters, and Corel followed suit with a similar tool in VideoStudio. Look for an application that lets you edit titles in WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) mode, so you can type, format, and time it right over the video preview.
Gathering Speed
Video editing is one of the most computing-intensive activities around, so you'll want the best laptop or desktop you can afford if you're serious about cutting your own movies. Most applications help speed up the editing process by creating a proxy file of lower resolution so normal editing and previewing aren't slowed down by the huge full-resolution files.
Particularly intensive is the process of rendering your finished product into a standard video file that will by playable on the target device of choice, be that an HDTV, a laptop, or a smartphone. Most of the software can take advantage of your computer's graphics processor to speed this up. Be sure to check the performance section in each review linked here to see how speedy or slow the application is. In rendering speed testing, CyberLink PowerDirector and Pinnacle Studio have been my perennial champs, but in the latest test runs Corel VideoStudio took the crown.
Other measures of performance include startup time and simple stability. Again, video editing is a taxing activity for any computer, involving many components. In the past, video editing programs took longer than most other apps to start up, and unexpected shutdowns were unfortunately common, even in top apps from top developers such as Adobe and Apple. The stability situation has greatly improved, but the complexity of the process, which increases as more powerful effects are added, means crashes will likely never be fully eliminated, and they often raise their ugly heads after a feature update.
Free Video Editing Software
If you don't want to invest a lot of money and effort into your video editing exploits, there are a few free options. Of course, if you use a Mac, the excellent iMovie comes with it. For PC users, Windows 10's Photos app (as of the Fall Creators Update) lets you join, trim, and even add background music, 3D animated effects, and titles to video.
There are also some free video apps on the Microsoft Store, Windows' app store. These include Animotica, Movie Maker, and Video Editor Studio. Some of these are quite basic, but most include with clip joining, transitions, and effects, in a very touch-friendly interface. One free video editing app that's not in the app store has recently come to my attention: MiniTool MovieMaker. I have not yet tested it, but it looks promising. I prefer apps that come from the Microsoft Store, since I know they've been vetted for security and function, they run in sandboxes that can't mess with your system software, and they're easy to install and update.
Free video editing software often comes with legal and technical limitations, however. Some widely used codecs require licensing fees on the part of the software maker, meaning they can't offer free software that can handle these standard file formats. That said, the impressive open-source Shotcut does a lot of the same things that the paid applications in this roundup do, including things like chroma-keying and picture-in-picture. Shotcut is completely open-source and free, while another free option, Lightworks has paid options that remove a 720p output resolution limit. Note also that both Shotcut and Lightworks run on Linux as well as Windows and Mac.
360-Degree VR Support
Several of the products here (Adobe Premiere Elements is a notable exception) still support 3D video editing if that's your thing, though this has been replaced by 360-degree VR footage like that shot by the GoPro Max as a home-theater fad. To be honest, 360-degree is starting to fade in popularity, aside from some content you'll see on Facebook. As is often the case, our Editors' Choice, CyberLink PowerDirector was the first product in this group to offer support for this new kind of video media.
Other programs have jumped on board with 360 VR support, including Adobe Premiere, Apple Final Cut Pro, and Magix Movie Edit Pro. Support varies, with some apps including 360-compatible titles, stabilization, and motion tracking. PowerDirector is notable for including those last two. Final Cut offers a useful tool that removes the camera and tripod from the image, often an issue with 360-degree footage.
Audio Editing
We still live in the days of talkies, so you want to be able to edit the audio in your digital moves as well as the images. Most of the products included here offer canned background music, and many, such as Pinnacle Studio, can even tailor the soundtrack to the exact length of your movie.
All these programs can separate audio and video tracks, and most can clean up background noise and add environmental audio effects such as concert hall reverb. A couple of the products have an auto-ducking feature, which lowers background music during dialog—a definite pro-level plus.
What About Apple?
Though macOS users don't have the sheer number of software choices available for PCs, Apple fans interested in editing video are well served; you can read more about them in our roundup of the best video editing software for Macs. At the entry level, the surprisingly capable and enjoyable-to-use iMovie comes free with every Mac sold since at least 2011. iMovie only offers two video tracks, but does good job with chroma-keying, and its Trailers feature makes easy work of producing slick, Hollywood-style productions.
In the midrange, there's Adobe Premiere Elements, which is cross-platform between Macs and PCs, and offers a lot more features and lots of help with creating effects. Recently joining that in Apple world is a macOS version of my Editors' Choice enthusiast level video editing application, CyberLink PowerDirector. Though it doesn't offer quite as many tools as you get in its Windows version, what it does includes is impressive, as is its rendering performance, which beat all the other Mac products mentioned here on my tests.
Professionals and prosumers have powerful, though pricey options in Davinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro, and Premiere Pro. Final Cut is a deceptively simple application that resembles iMovie in its interface and ease of use, but it offers massively deep capabilities, and many third-party apps integrate with it for even more power. Final Cut also makes excellent use of the Touch Bar on the some MacBook Pro models. Premiere Pro uses a more-traditional timeline and enjoys a large ecosystem of companion apps and plug-ins. It also excels in collaboration features and plays well with ancillary Adobe software such as After Effects and Photoshop.
What's Not Here
There are more video editing software applications than we can fit into this roundup of the best options, which includes only software rated three stars and higher. A couple of products recently passed this bar: Vegas Movie Studio and VSDC Video Editor Pro, both have made improvements on previously convoluted interfaces and slow performance.
Longtime pro video editors will note the absence of Avid Media Composer, which is simply too unwieldy for PCMag's primarily consumer audience. There are a couple of more interesting applications—NCH VideoPad and AVS Video Editor among them—that we simply haven't tested yet, along with several web-based editors.
The Finish Line
The video editing application you choose depends on your budget, the equipment you're using, and how serious you are. Fortunately, you're spoiled for choice with the products available. Peruse our in-depth reviews of enthusiast-level video editing software linked below to see which is the right one for you.
One final note about the features table here: To provide some differentiation among the products, check marks represent above-the-call-of-duty features, rather than truly essential ones. So, just because Nero Video and Wondershare Filmora don't have any checks, it doesn't mean they're not good choices. In fact, both offer decent basic video editing on a budget.
Dec 09, 2021• Proven solutions
A grand number of people out there wondering what the best professional video editing software you can use.
The answer? Well, it depends on what you need to get done. Are you on a budget, and need free professional video editing software? Are you looking to use the professional software for commercial purposes, or strictly for yourself, as a hobby?
Maybe you’re looking for something that’s easy to use and free to download, or you might want to get your hands on the most complicated video editing software you can find.
No worries - we’ve got you covered.
We’ve done some extensive research on what some consider to be the 9 best professional video editing software currently on the market, and we’re here to present what we’ve managed to find.
Here is the 10 best professional video editing software for you to free download.
Part 1: Top 10 Professional Video Editing software, free download
1. FilmoraPro
Price: $149.99 for perpetual license, $89.99 for 1-year subscription
Pros: The best value on the list, covers everything a pro video editor should have, Easy-to-use.
The newly released professional video editing software from Wondershare is specially designed for pros who are looking for a quick way to edit videos yet in a professional way as well.
The FilmoraPro video editing software makes professional video editing easy. You can add unlimited video and audio tracks and control the panels at your hand.
You can also use customizable animations to establish your style and use high-quality presets to get a detailed color correction.
2. EDIUS
Price: $499, One-Time Purchase
Pros: Genderless video editing, 4K HDR workflow, flexible user interface, real-time conversion rates, support for a wide variety of video formats, fast AVCHD editing, motion tracking, 3-way color correction.
Cons: Relatively broadcast-oriented.
EDIUS is a free download video editing software that evolved out of what was originally a number of Adobe Premiere Plus plugins.
Ever since its release, EDIUS has gained a loyal following that appreciates both its business model and the operations that the program can perform.
More than a handful of broadcasters worldwide use EDIUS as their program of choice, both due to its flexibility when dealing with various video formats and because it’s quite easy to use when compared to some of its competitors.
Why do so many people swear by EDIUS? Well, according to its fanbase, EDIUS tends to be quite fast when processing, importing, editing, and exporting videos - couple that with the fact that EDIUS doesn’t require a subscription, and you’ve got yourself a thoroughly solid video editing software that can go toe to toe with its rivals.
3. Autodesk Smoke
Price: $190, Monthly Subscription, 1505$, Yearly Subscription
Pros: Timeline-based creative workflow, node-based compositing, ability to flawlessly make use of 3D animations and modeling, a high degree of stability (no crashes!).
Cons: Can only be used on a single monitor. Furthermore, Autodesk Smoke is exclusively for Mac users.
Autodesk is a video editing software that is favored by many people to due to its node-based compositing.
To put it as simple as possible, the video editor achieves a higher level of complexity than other popular software.
Smoke’s real strength lies in editorial and finishing functions. While the professional video editing software that is free download doesn’t necessarily offer anything that its competitors don’t, this video editing software comes out on top when it comes to 3D effects.
4.Avid Media Composer
Price: $199.99 for a Year’s Subscription, or $24.99 Monthly
Pros: Free download, Advanced color-correction, built-in metadata and effect tools, HDR support, Multicam editing, FrameFlex, keyboard mapping, background rendering, real-time editing, a very high degree of stability, and serves as a great starting point for budding video editors.
Cons: Steep learning curve and outdated interface. However, learning how to use Avid Media Composer will enable you to jump right into other video editing software with ease.
Check the detailed tutorial aboutHow to Edit Videos with avidemux
Most people interested in the business have heard of Avid Media Composer because it’s what most professional video editors use for big blockbuster Hollywood movies.
Avid Media Composer is, arguably, the video editing industry’s preferred software you can download freely - and it’s easy to see why, since it pretty much has everything you might ever need, all rolled up into one neat package.
While some complain about the fact that it’s hard to use and the interface looks very outdated, many people insist that this allows you to build a solid foundation from which your video editing career can skyrocket.
As a matter of fact, its popularity only serves to show that people prefer it for a reason: and that’s because Avid Media Composer is stunningly robust.
5.Adobe Premiere Pro CC
Price: $31.49 Monthly Subscription, $239.88 Yearly Subscription
Pros: Highly customizable and streamlined interface, easy to use for people with past experience in Adobe products but no previous video editing experience, a large variety of tools such as color matching and multi-camera rendering, and a fast rendering speed.
Cons: New updates might have a couple of bugs, so you should be a bit patient before you update if you want to keep it on the safe side. Mac users also report that it runs a bit slow on their systems.
You may also like:Best Transition Plugins for Adobe Premiere Pro
Adobe Premiere Pro CC is one of the best choices an amateur video editor could make when choosing his apparatus.
Both affordable and intuitive, this software has been at the top of the market for more than a couple of years, and now shows no sign of stopping, since it is constantly being supplied with new updates with free downloading.
If you’re looking to achieve a professional level of video editing with little to no previous experience, then look no further, as Adobe Premiere Pro CC might just be the perfect tool for you. With that being said, professional video editors should not shy away from this Adobe video editing software.
6.Final Cut Pro
Price: $299, One-Time Purchase
Pros: Support for 360-degree VR, HDR, multi-camera editing, fast rendering speed, a large variety of interesting tools, expansive library of plugins, and easy-to-use color correction, grading, and adjustment tools. Final Cut Pro has also been designed and optimized for Mac operating systems.
Cons: Only for Mac users. Large project files can also be slow.
You may also like: How to Edit YouTube Videos in FCP
Final Cut Pro is Apple’s response to video editing software. The UI design is sleek and modern, the workflow is intuitive and easy to work with, and the program is impressively fast, even when working with 4K resolutions.
For many Mac users, Final Cut Pro is the definitive answer to their search for a strong video editing software that has been created with macOS in mind (free download).
7.HitFilm Pro
Price: $341.01, One-Time Purchase, $0 for Hitfilm Express (Free)
Pros: Color grading, familiar workflow, a large variety of video effects and presets, automatic audio syncing, impressive 3D graphics.
Cons: Complex for beginners. Effects oriented.
HitFilm Pro is an NLE that puts a heavy focus on the graphical aspect of such free download. software. Additions like the automatic audio syncing is highly valued as a convenient quality of life tool. Multiple plugins can be added, though they cost a fee.
The program features several video tutorials that are targeted towards amateur video editors, as well.
8.Lightworks
Price: $24.99 monthly for Lightworks Pro, $0 (Free)
Pros: Simplified video editing process, extensive format and codec support, a large number of effects and tools, photo slideshows, 4K support, audio mixing, and 60 fps rendering.
Cons: Outdated UI, learning curve.
You may also like:Best Plugins for Lightworks
Lightworks is a flexible video editing software that has gained a good position on the mark due to its consistent design structure.
The workspace is customizable, and while the UI can feel outdated at first, those with experience in video editing should not find it too much of a hassle.
Lightworks is the type of software that is robust all-around - and there’s also a free version out there, so amateurs can get to know what they’re getting into.
9.Blender
Price: $0 (Free)
Pros: Easy to use, with a good variety of tools and the ability to quickly add text and effects to produced animations. Compositing is very impressive.
Cons: No audio editing. Lacks complexity when compared to a couple of its competitors.
While Blender is mostly known for being a software whose main focus is animation, it also features a built-in video editor that is by no means lackluster. Blender has the bonus of being able to work on 3D animations and take care of the video editing process at the same time.
10.Magix Video Pro X
Price: $399, One-Time Purchase
Pros: Supports free download, Wide format support, multi-cam editing, lookup table handling, 3-way color correction, 360 degree video support, many available effects, strong performance.
Cons: Does not work with Mac operating systems. No import tools.
Learn someMagix Movie Edit Pro Video Editing Tips for Beginners
Magix Video Pro X is an NLE that has recently been making a name for itself due to its consistency and welcoming attitude towards amateur video editors. This tool is versatile and can deal with a wide range of situations head-on with no issue whatsoever.
While this isn’t the easiest program to start using, if you don’t quite know what you’re doing, you’ll be happy to know that Magix Video Pro X features a basic mode that has been designed to ease newcomers into the industry.
Part 2: Tips for Choosing Professional Video Editing Software
1. Check your computer specification and performance before purchasing
Professional video editing software may use lots of resources. It is recommended that you check computer specification and the system requirements of the professional editing software that you want to purchase.
To get the full experience of professional video editing, your computer would be better to equipped higher than meeting the mini requirements.
2. How to master the professional video editing software
If you have limited video editing experience and want to become a professional video editor, it is recommended to spend time in editing and take some training or course to master it.
You can find many tutorials about Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe After Effects, and Final Cut Pro X on YouTube. Or, you can attain online courses on Udemy or Lynda. If you want to convince people that you are a professional video editor, it is recommended to take some certifications.
As you may know that Adobe and Apple both provide official certification exams. A certification will be more convincing when people doubt your editing skills.
3. What should I consider before going for a Pro video editor
If you are reading this line, you can ask yourself a question 'what intrigues me to choose a pro video editor? It is because you see other professional YouTuber using them? Do I have the time to learn these professional video editors?' If it is the case, you should consider the price you're paying and whether those high-end features and functions are the things you'll need.
With its extremely low-learning-curve and user-friendly interface, Filmora can deal with 95% of your video editing needs with just $49.99 per year. With Filmora, you don't have to spend time on a boring guide and you can do video editing right away since everything is designed for this purpose.
Part 3: FAQ about Professional Video Editing Software
What software do professional video editors use?
Many people ask what software professional video editors use. The truth is for professional editors use various tools to improve video editing efficiency. For audio editing, they use Adobe Audition. For color grading, many people choose Final Cut Pro. For video editing workflow, they also use Premiere Pro and Lightworks. For semi-pros, they use FilmoraPro to accelerate the video editing process.
What do most YouTubers use to edit their videos?
For most YouTubers, they like easy to use a video editor to make YouTube videos. They choose Filmora to add more than 300 built-in effects, intros, text, and transitions. A group of YouTubers with advanced video editing skills, tend to use Premiere Pro.
What is the best video editing software for beginners?
For beginners, the most important criteria you need to consider are simplicity and price. They like to use Filmora, Movavi, Powerdirector, and iMovie on the PC. For mobile video editing, they like to use LumaFusion, KineMaster, Apple Clips, and Inshot.
Is Adobe Premiere Pro free?
NO, it is not free. Adobe Premiere Pro includes 3 different price plans. Annual plan, paid monthly $20.99/month. Annual plan, prepaid $239.98/year. A monthly plan, $31.48/month.
Conclusion
We hope this list will have guided you towards making the right choice when it comes to investing in professional video editing software. While this was by no means an extensive list, we aimed to summarize professional video editing software information to help you make an informed decision when purchasing your tool of the trade.
Watch the video tutorial below to find out how to make color grading & color correction with FilmoraPro video editor.
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