From the desk of David Utke
Subj: We’re all video first creators now
I love making video content. For whatever reason, it’s a format I excel at. To create great videos however, you’re going to need reliable, feature rich software that allows you to create and design videos.
You have a lot of options for video editors depending on the operating system and device. PC laptops, Macbooks and tablets all have their own dedicated editors.
In this complete beginners guide, I’m going to break down the best video editing software and their pros and cons. So if you’re looking to create YouTube shorts, long form content like a vlog, or something else, I got you covered.
While you’re here, make sure to checkout my popular best camera for YouTube guide as well.
What to look for in a video editor?
Video editors can be quite complicated and feature rich, so much so that they are designed for a professional film maker. Conversely, they can be extremely simple and easy to use, but limited in terms of your control over your edits. In general you are going to want a few things in any editor.
Good export settings and codecs
When shooting clips you can pick the frame rate that everything is recorded at. For example, if you’re using a GoPro you can record at 60 frames a second. When you edit, render and export your video you’ll want to set the frame rate so it matches your video.
Codecs are also important because you want a video editor with a modern codec that takes advantage of your laptops graphics card for quick editing. As cameras for YouTube are quickly having 4k become the standard instead of an option, you need a video editor that can handle big files.
Control over your timeline
Your video timeline is functionally your workspace. A good video editor will will allow you to zoom in, cut, close gaps, add transitions, fade in sound or other clips, adjust the audio and more.
Simple video editors tend to not offer the control you’ll want as your experience and skill grow.
Transitions, texts, color grading
Video editors should come out of the proverbial box with these features as they become more useful as you become a better video editor. They all help to make a more interesting and engaging video.
The Best Video Editors for YouTube Content Creation
So what are the best software options (both free and paid) that you as a beginner should be aware of? He is my breakdown as well as the pros and cons of each:
- iMovie
- Final Cut Pro
- Davinchi Resolve
- CapCut
- Adobe Premier Pro
- Vegas Pro
- Premier Pro Elements
- Filmora
- Kdenlive
- Lightworks
- Luma Fusion
iMovie – The free, easy to use option for Apple users
Leading off my list is iMovie.
It’s a free app and software you get with your purchase of any iPhone or Macbook. It’s a fantastic free option for anyone looking to get started vlogging with their iPhone or needing to to do simple edits on their laptop.
You can put together different clips with modern transitions, text overlays and it also has a free library of music you can add to your videos. You can also export your videos at different frame rates depending on what you frame rate you set your iPhone too.
All in all, if you’re looking for a “good enough” video editor for a total beginner and you have an iPhone or a Mac, consider using iMove. However, the iPhone version of iMovie is pretty terrible, nowhere near as feature rich as what you get on a Macbook.
Want an example of what you could make? Checkout Johnny FD – he uses his iPhone and iMovie and built his channel to over 100K subs.
Pros:
- Free, comes with IOS.
- Good enough for casual vlogs with an iPhone or an action camera.
- Can stabilize video, basic color grading, add transitions and export at different frame rates.
- You can also edit 4k clips video.
Cons:
- The iPhone version of iMovie is much more limited than it’s Macbook counter part.
- This is an IOS only software.
- No control over the aspect ratio – if you want to make a video for Instagram or YouTube shorts, you can’t.
- You’re limited to how many tracks you can overlay.
- No keyframing or any sort of animation in iMovie.
- Can’t import new transitions or text.
Final Cut Pro – The Professional Option for IOS
When you’re ready to upgrade from iMovie, your best option as an IOS user is to get Final Cut Pro. This software does everything iMovie does and has none of the limitations.
It’s professional level software on par with industry standards like Adobe Premier Pro. What’s great about Final Cut Pro is that it’s easy to use like iMovie, but comes with advanced features for you to learn and grow with over time.
You can keyframe and create animations, overlay multiple clips and images, import quality LUTS and get into color grading as well as import text and transition styles.
In addition, you also get a lot more control over your audio with the ability to reduce or increase the decibel per clip and adjust the EQ.
Pros:
- Final Cut is one of the best, if not the best video editing software for vloggers and YouTubers. It is a big reason what a lot of creatives make the switch and buy into the IOS ecosystem.
- One time price, unlike Premier Pro which operates on a subscription model.
- Advanced, professional features while still being easy to use. Perfect for seasoned professionals or inexperienced beginners.
Cons:
- You must buy an IOS laptop. Not all PC users want to make the switch for just one piece of software.
Davinchi Resolve – The best answer to Final Cut
Davinchi Resolve is the best answer Windows user have to Final Cut, oh and you can get it totally for free. Davinchi Resolve has become nearly as feature rich as Final Cut and allows you to do a lot of advanced edits.
Unlike Final Cut Pro, which is macOS exclusive, DaVinci Resolve is cross-platform, running seamlessly on Windows, Mac, Linux, and even the iPad. Resolve is also well-optimized for Windows hardware, especially with GPU acceleration, rivaling Final Cut Pro’s performance on Mac
Resolve offers a comprehensive suite of tools comparable to Final Cut Pro, including advanced video editing, industry-leading color grading, VFX (Fusion), and professional audio post-production (Fairlight), all in one application.
The only issue with Resolve is that it lacks the magnetic timeline of Final Cut, instead opting for a mult-tab layout that does different functions. Davinchi Resolve is feature rich, but the workflow can be a bit slow if you’re trying to do simple edits.
Pros:
- Has a free version and a one time fee paid version.
- The color editing, or color page as it’s called in Resolve is the best of any software we tried.
- All the editing features you need, built into one timeline like adjusting audio, interesting and dynamic effects, transitions and more.
Cons:
- More complex than other editors, you’ll need a few weeks to understand Resolve but it’s worth it.
- Does not support H.264 files, common but complex video codecs.
- Slow on older machines that don’t have a dedicated graphics card.
- Workflow is slow, at least for me. I find myself having to do multiple clicks and steps for simple tasks like cutting a clip and adding a transition.
CapCut – The shorts editor of choice
CapCut, like a laid out in my “how to make YouTube shorts” guide is by far the best editor for creating YouTube shorts for one reason, and one reason only, auto captions.
While other video editors do come with captions, they are just nowhere near as polished and professional looking as what CapCut can produce, particularly for short form content.
On top of that CapCut is a beginner friendly editor with a bunch of templates for color grading, sound effects and transitions. All at the click of a button. CapCut to video editing, is what Canva is to graphic designers.
It allows total beginners to add in cool effects, transitions, captions, and color grading at the click of a button.
Pros:
- Auto captions are the whole reason why you would want to use CapCut in the first place.
- Fun transitions and effects built in, perfect for beginners who don’t have any video editing skill.
- Render videos up to 4k with ease.
- Totally free to use, but obviously all the helpful features are behind the paywall.
- A great beginner friendly editor to create all types of content.
Cons:
- Auto captions are now a paid feature, so you’ll need to get CapCut “Pro” to unlock everything.
- In general you’ll need CapCut Pro, so expect to pay a yearly subscription if you want to grow your channel with CapCut.
Adobe Premier Pro – The Industry Standard
Courtesy Variety.
Want to learn a software that will enable you to work as a highly paid video editor at a creative studio? That software you’ll want to learn is Adobe Premier Pro.
Part of the creative suite offered by Adobe; it is the industry standard for editing movies, documentaries and more.
While totally excessive for something like a simple vlog, if you’re looking for something as good as, if not more feature rich than Final Cut and you want to use a Windows machine, then Adobe Premier Pro is your editor.
As the industry standard, there are no limits to what you’re able to create and do. It’s simply a matter of learning and applying and getting better with each edit.
From advanced color grading, overlays and transitions to audio adjustments and keyframing. Premier Pro can do it all particularly if you learn how to take advantage of Adobe After Effects.
Pros:
- The most feature rich, professional video editor on the list.
- Designed for film making, full length movies, documentaries and more.
- In combination with Adobe After Effects, you can create a cinematic masterpiece.
Cons:
- For new creators, this software is excessive and complicated.
- Operates on an expensive subscription model instead of a one time payment.
- There is a big learning curve with Premier.
Vegas Pro – 4k Editor with a one time fee
Vegas Pro is fairly expensive but powerful software that’s intuitive and easy to use. Best of all, it’s only a one time fee and each upgrade you can get at a discounted rate.
As for the editor itself, you simply drag and drop clips onto your timeline and can begin editing with ease. You can zoom in to specific clips, play back and edit at the same time and adjust audio and add text events.
I personally find Vegas Pro overall more intuitive than Davinchi Resolve when it comes to making groups on a timeline and adjusting clips, cutting and adding transitions.
The catch? Vegas costs hundreds of dollars while Resolve you can get for free. However, it is a one and done fee, no annoying monthly or yearly subscriptions like CapCut.
Pros:
- Vegas is easy to use and will make a lot of sense to any beginner content creator.
- Feature rich, text events, transitions, color grading and the ability to add features onto Vegas.
- Optimized to use your computers graphics card for easy editing and fast rendering.
Cons:
- Using .mov files is a bit difficult with Vegas, the advantage of this file format is you can have a transparent background when editing.
- The price of Vegas is also something to consider, it’s a bit to expensive for anyone just starting out.
Premier Pro Elements – The scaled down version
Premier Pro Elements is an entry-level video editing software designed for beginners or casual users It offers an intuitive interface, automated tools, and guided edits to make video editing accessible without the complexity of professional software.
With Premier Pro Elements you can cut clips, add transitions, zoom in and out, add text overlays, adjust music and more. It’s perfect for a beginner looking to learn video editing and a seasoned pro looking for a simple interface for uncomplicated edits.
Pros:
- One time fee, no subscription required like Premier Pro.
- Optimized to use your laptops GPU for fast rendering and editing.
- Can handle 4k video clips.
- Beginner friendly but still feature rich.
Cons:
- Designed for simple edits. Look elsewhere if you want to learn how to make cinematic travel videos.
- You get a 3 year license, after which it expires. Lame.
Filmora – A Good Mid Range Option
Filmora has been continually developed and overall as come a long way since it’s humble beginnings. It has an intuitive, easy to use timeline and workspace where you can add clips and adjust the audio and video. You can cut clips, add transitions, music and text very easily with Filmora.
Filmora allows you to color correct videos to your liking or you can use their built in presets. You can also adjust audio levels to blend in music. Last, you can export your video to different formats. It works by way of adding different pieces of content to your timeline so you’re able to lay everything in one view.
What I find lacking however with this software is the ability to fine tune audio. Depending on your microphone, you may want to increase the highs and lower the base or vice versa. With Filmora it’s all a bit lacking.
Last, you can get download Filmora for free but all videos made with the free version have a watermark. So, try them out to see if the workflow is something you like.
Pros:
- Low one time fee.
- Ideal for videos with easy edits
- Interesting transitions and text animations.
Cons:
- Rendering is not optimized to use your computers graphics card.
Kdenlive – The native open-source Linux editor
It’s free, open-source, and native to Linux, with an intuitive interface similar to iMovie or Adobe Premiere Elements.
It supports 4K, offers easy-to-use tools for cutting, transitions, text, and audio, and has direct YouTube export. Recent versions are stable, and tutorials are widely available, making it ideal for vlogs, tutorials, or simple content creation.
With it you get a multi-track timeline lets you layer video, audio, and effects with drag-and-drop simplicity, similar to iMovie. Beginners can start with 2–4 tracks for basic projects.
There are also over 20 transitions with customizable keyframes, perfect for smooth YouTube scene changes as well as noise reduction, equalizer, and “keyframeable” audio effects to enhance voice clarity or background music.
If you’re on Linux and have never heard of Kdenlive, you’re welcome. It’s powerful and free.
Pros:
- Powerful, stable video editor for creating vlogs.
- Advanced features for creating animations and graphic.
- Free, open source and works great with Linux.
Cons:
- Very overwhelming for beginner editors. You’ll be spending weeks learning how to use Blender.
Lightworks – The freemium option
Lightworks is another solid video editor choice for vloggers. It comes with the ability to edit clips in various ways like cutting, speeding up or slowing down. You can adjust the audio as well as add special effects to specific clips.
What I love about Lightworks is how easy to use and understand the timeline is. It works by layering clips with their associated audio on a timeline and then selecting features, FX and transitions to each clip.
Overall this is a video editing tool that is used by film professionals and social media marketers for video content improvement. It has a wide range of format support, and it benefits from multicam editing, built-in presets, text effects, real-time collaboration, and an entirely configurable interface are among the features available.
Pros:
- Lightworks has a feature rich free version you can try out.
- Easy to use and understand for editing vlogs.
- Simple interface with more advanced features for color grading clips, adding FX and transitions.
Cons:
- The paid version operates on a monthly subscription.
- You can only export in 720P with the free version and are limited to codecs that are not optimized to use your graphics card.
Luma Fusion – Best Editor for iPad
Luma Fusion is the best mobile app video editor on the market. It’s only available on the App Store for IOS and is a significant upgrade over iMovie.
While iMovie is a great editor on a Macbook, the app version is quite limited. There are also iPad versions of Final Cut, CapCut and Davinchi Resolve. But Luma Fusion is the easiest to use with the most features for the price.
This app offers a desktop-like editing experience with up to 12 audio/video tracks, advanced transitions, titles, and effects. Supports 4K, multi-cam sync, and XML export to Final Cut Pro. Intuitive for beginners but still feature rich and powerful for pros.
If you’re someone who has an iPad and wants to use said iPad to edit your vlogs with, then you’ll love Luma Fusion. It has all the essentials you need in an editor.
Optimized for mobile, a quick and snappy interface when editing, great color grading, text and transitions options. You can also add animations through keyframing.
Pros:
- The best mobile app video editor.
- A great choice for iPad users looking to vlog with their phone while editing with their tablet.
- One time fee, no subscription nonsense.
Cons:
- Ideal if you’re using an iPad, but most users typically would have a Macbook, which using iMovie or Final Cut Pro is a better choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Let me address some frequently asked questions regarding video editors. You have a lot of options and some editors are better for different use cases or operating systems.
What is the best video editor for YouTube?
If I’m hard pressed to pick just one, I love Final Cut Pro if you’re on a Mac, Davinchi Resolve if you’re on PC, CapCut for YouTube shorts (because of auto captions) and Kdenlive if you’re on Linux.
What is the best video editor for beginners?
Without a doubt, iMovie is the best overall editor for beginners.
It’s surprisingly feature rich if you have the laptop version (the iPhone version is much more limited) and easy to learn. You can easily add in nice transitions text, video overlays and render in modern formats.
The only downside is that iMovie is exclusively on IOS and Windows does not have a comparable software that’s free, easy to use and feature rich. Davinchi Resolve is free and feature rich, but it does have a significant learning curve.
What is the best video editor for Mac?
Final Cut Pro is the best editor available for Mac and is still to this day one of the most compelling reasons to switch to IOS as this software is so feature rich with a large community and lot’s of great free tutorials online to learn from.
What is the best video editor for free?
The best free editors are iMovie and Davinchi Resolve. With iMovie you get a video editor ideal for vlogs and educational content. It provides enough features for a skilled creator to make a high quality video. When you’re ready you can then upgrade to Final Cut Pro.
Davinchi Resolve is a suite of tools built into one software. It’s not at all easy to use and has quite a learning curve, however it’s totally free and does not come with any annoying limitations like having a watermark on your video or only being able to render out a 720p video.
Best Video Editing Software for YouTube
So that’s it for my comprehensive breakdown of your different video editing software options.
You have a lot to choose from, if you’re just starting out I would suggest using a few different editors to see what workflow you like as each one is quite different.
You have iMovie and Final Cut with their magnetic timeline, Davinchi Resolve with it’s multi-panel layout (viewer, timeline, and media pool/Inspector panels) and CapCuts beginner friendly non-linear timeline.
Try multiple options out to see what workflow you like, then get to work developing competency with your chosen software.
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