Video Editing: Best Video Editing Software in 2022
Best Video Editing Software in 2022
If you work in the world of videography then the best video editing software is a must-have for you. All they offer is time-saving tools and an interface that fits in with your workflow, they make editing video a smooth, fast, and perhaps even enjoyable experience.
To help you reach this editing nirvana, we've selected the best video editing software available today. We have software for many budgets and Windows PC, Mac, and Android devices. (However, if you're only interested in mobile apps, our guide to the best video editing apps will serve you better.)
Whether you're a professional working on movies and streaming content, YouTube trying to sign up your footage, or just an avid smartphone user who wants your holiday clips to look sleek, you'll find the right tool for your needs here. Of course, with the best video editing software, you want the best hardware. So don't forget to check out our guides about the best monitors for video editing, the best laptops for video editing, and the best tablets for video editing.
What Is The Best Video Editing Software?
Right now, Adobe's Premiere Pro is at the top of our list of the best video editing software. This industry-standard, subscription-based tool is aimed at professionals and is packed with sophisticated and powerful tools. And the latest features released this October, show how committed Adobe is to continually update and improve.
If you're more a fan, though, you're probably better off with our second choice, CyberLink PowerDirector 365. It's cheap and easy to get started, and it's available for purchase at a one-time fee.
Top 10 Best Video Editing Software in 2022
01. Adobe Premiere Pro - Best Video Editing Software
02. CyberLink PowerDirector 365 - Best Video Editing Software
03. Adobe Premiere Elements - Best Video Editing Software
04. Pinnacle Studio - Best Video Editing Software
05. Final Cut Pro - Best Video Editing Software
06. Adobe Premiere Rush - Best Video Editing Software
07. Corel VideoStudio Ultimate - Best Video Editing Software
08. Filmora - Best Video Editing Software
09. Vimeo Create - Best Video Editing Software
10. Apple iMovie - Best Video Editing Software
01. Adobe Premiere Pro - Best Video Editing Software
The best video editing software for pro video editors
 |
| Adobe Premiere Pro - Best Video Editing Software |
Pros
- Amazing Performance
- Industry-standard
- Powerful features
- Constantly updated
Cons
- Requires subscription
| Adobe Premiere Pro Specification | |
|---|---|
| Platform | Windows, Mac |
| Key features | Multi-cam editing, 3D editing |
| Free trial | 7 days |
| Best for | Video editing professionals, video editing students |
Adobe Premiere Pro is the industry standard for video editing today. It is regularly used by professional video editors to create everything from YouTube videos to streaming content and movies.
The two tools are closely matched in features and sophistication, but Final Cut Pro is only available for Mac, giving Premiere Pro an edge because it's also available for Windows. The Premiere Pro interface increases productivity by dividing everything into separate workspaces, such as editing, effects, and audio. Each workspace helps you manage a specific task and minimizes distraction.
The software supports 4K, 8K, and VR formats. Its trimming and editing tools give you a high level of precision and control. You can work on an unlimited number of video tracks, which can be imported from any source. The automatic sync is a gem when you have multi-angle shots, and it's hard to blame the fine-tuning tools that make your videos stand out from the crowd. Plus you get customizable keyboard shortcuts and great collaboration features.
If you subscribe to Adobe Creative Cloud, you get access to Premiere Pro as part of the package, and you can use it natively with other software, from motion graphics tools After Effects to Adobe Stock. will be able However, even if you don't want other Adobe apps, Premiere Pro is still worth considering as a standalone app. You can take a seven-day trial to make sure you like it before trying it out.
Like all Creative Cloud software, Premiere Pro is constantly being updated, and customers get all updates for free. Last December the latest update (22.1.1) makes it easier to edit titles and graphics with search and replace and spell-check, and also introduces a new Universal Text Engine and improved shape tools.
02. CyberLink PowerDirector 365 - Best Video Editing Software
The best video editing software for everyday use
 |
| CyberLink PowerDirector 365 - Best Video Editing Software |
Pros
- Amazing Performance
- Powerful tool
- Stacks of features
- Choice of payment models
Cons
- Tough for newbies
| CyberLink PowerDirector 365 Specification | |
|---|---|
| Platform | Windows, Mac |
| Key features | Multi-cam editing, 360-degree video, motion tracking (and loads more) |
| Free trial | 30 days |
| Best for | Experienced filmmakers |
CyberLink PowerDirector 365 is one of the best video editing software packages aimed at users. While it isn't as powerful and feature-rich as Premiere Pro or Final Cut X, it certainly comes close. It is available for Windows and Mac, either as a one-time purchase or as a monthly or annual subscription.
Get cracking on the 100-track timeline and you'll soon find yourself making the most of tons of stabilization and video correction tools, professional effects, multi-cam editing, motion tracking, and surprisingly easy trimming. There's also 360-degree video editing, along with support for all file standards and formats you can imagine. Then there are slideshows, screen recording, DVD menus, object design tools, and more.
You get free and unlimited access to Shutterstock's extensive, royalty-free library of content. The latest version, released in December, lets you add text or graphics that automatically follow the motion of any object, and features three AI-powered features: AI Audio Denoise, AI Video Denoise, and AI Dereverb.
03. Adobe Premiere Elements - Best Video Editing Software
The best video editing software for beginners
 |
| Adobe Premiere Elements - Best Video Editing Software |
Pros
- Amazing Performance
- Easy to use
- Loads of features
Cons
- Not as powerful as some tools
- Not the fastest
- No SSDs
| Adobe Premiere Elements Specification | |
|---|---|
| Platform | Windows and Mac |
| Key features | Video stabilization, face detection, automatic motion tracking |
| Free trial | 30 days |
| Best for | Video editing beginners and enthusiasts |
Want to edit some family video footage or your first YouTube video for fun? Then we'd recommend Adobe's Premiere Elements, the best video editing software for beginners.
Premiere Elements is a simplified version of Premiere Pro (number one on our list). This makes it cheap and easy to learn. But it's still very capable, with high-end features including facial recognition, audio effects, and a bundled soundtrack.
The interface is very simple and visual, and you get all the necessary video effects including transitions, chroma-keying, and opacity. You can develop a faster workflow by using smart search functionality, video stabilization options, and automated functions, such as motion tracking and smart toning.
With the latest version, Premiere Elements 2022, you can now edit and export videos in social-friendly formats. There's also a new auto-reframing feature that lets you choose a subject and then focus on it throughout your video; A new easy-to-use video compression feature based on sliders; and the ability to view animated GIFs within the interface.
04. Pinnacle Studio - Best Video Editing Software
Strong video editing software for beginners using Windows
 |
| Pinnacle Studio - Best Video Editing Software |
Pros
- Amazing Performance
- Super-simple to use
- Free effects, titles & templates
Cons
- It may be too basic for some
| Pinnacle Studio Specification | |
|---|---|
| Platform | Windows |
| Key features | Multi-camera capture and editing, color controls, stop motion animation |
| Free trial | No, but the 30-day money-back guarantee |
| Best for | Beginners |
Pinnacle Studio is a great option for Windows users (there's no Mac version) who've never edited video before. Overall, it sits somewhere between more basic free tools and professional-level video editing tools in terms of both price and capability.
For an affordable price, you get more than 1,500 effects, titles, and templates, six-track HD video editing, color correction tools, a dedicated stop motion feature, time remapping, and more. It is also very easy to use. The latest version, version 25, introduces some new features including smart object tracking, 8K import, keyframe groups, new mixing modes, and new audio features.
05. Final Cut Pro - Best Video Editing Software
The best video editing software for Mac
 |
| Final Cut Pro - Best Video Editing Software |
Pros
- Amazing Performance
- Versatile and powerful
- Optimized for Mac
Cons
- No Windows version
| Final Cut Pro Specification | |
|---|---|
| Platform | Mac |
| Key features | Muti-cam editing, intelligent color balancing |
| Free trial | 90-day |
| Best for | Video editing professionals, video editing students |
Before the arrival of Premiere Pro, Apple's Final Cut Pro used to be the industry standard. And it is still used today throughout the TV and film businesses. (Note: It was called Final Cut Pro X until Apple dropped the last letter in November 2020.) Unlike Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro is subscription-free: you pay only once, and only once.
Professionals especially like the magnetic timeline, grouping tools, a wide range of effects, good organizational features, and simple ways to add and edit audio. Other features include advanced tools for 360° video, HDR, and color correction.
Despite being so powerful and feature-rich, this video editing software is surprisingly easy to use. And there are plenty of resources to help novices get up to speed (see our guide to the best Final Cut Pro tutorials).
As for Apple software, Final Cut Pro is optimized to get the most out of your Mac (there's no version of Windows). And as you'd expect, it integrates well with other parts of Apple's ecosystem, such as your Photos or iTunes collection. Every update since the release of Final Cut Pro has been made free. For example, the latest release in November (10.6.1) improved performance when opening large libraries and introduced fixes for several file handling issues.
06. Adobe Premiere Rush - Best Video Editing Software
The best video editing software for mobile
 |
| Adobe Premiere Rush - Best Video Editing Software |
Pros
- Amazing Performance
- Simple interface
- Good for social videos
- Interoperable with Premiere Pro
Cons
- Less powerful than Premiere Pro
| Adobe Premiere Rush Specification | |
|---|---|
| Platform | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android |
| Key features | In-app motion graphics, 4K support |
| Free trial | Free starter plan |
| Best for | Enthusiasts (Premiere Rush alone), professionals (with Premiere Pro) |
Going to work on this move? Then check out Premiere Rush, which brings all the most important bits of Premiere Pro to your tablet or phone. Available for iOS and Android, this is one of the best video editing software for mobile, especially because the free version is so powerful.
In general, Premiere Rush offers a simpler version of the Premiere Pro interface, with larger icons and panels that are easier to click on a smaller touch screen. And while that means fewer features, you still get all the basics, like adding videos to a timeline and mixing in music via drag-and-drop. (For more, see our article Premiere Pro vs. Premiere Rush.)
One of the best video editing apps around, Premiere Rush can be used as a mobile app or in concert with Premiere Pro. For example, when you're on the train, you can make some additional edits to the footage you previously worked on in the studio on your desktop PC.
If you're a YouTuber who wants to make quick edits to your clips, Premiere Rush is good for that too. There are customized export options for Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Vimeo, and more. This alone makes it one of the best software for editing videos for YouTube.
Like all Adobe software, Premiere Rush is updated regularly. The most recent release in December, version 2.0, added new audio tracks along with unlimited export to desktop and availability in additional languages.
07. Corel VideoStudio Ultimate - Best Video Editing Software
The best video editing software for Corel users
 |
| Corel VideoStudio Ultimate - Best Video Editing Software |
Pros
- Amazing Performance
- Easy to pick up
- Relatively inexpensive
Cons
- Too basic (and unusual) for pros
- An unusual approach to layers
| Corel VideoStudio Ultimate Specification | |
|---|---|
| Platform | Windows |
| Key features | Real-time effects, color correction |
| Free trial | 30 days |
| Best for | Beginners, Corel users |
If you're just starting in video editing software, Corel VideoStudio Ultimate is a good choice—especially if you're already familiar with Corel's illustration and graphic design software, such as Corel Painter.
The relatively inexpensive video editing software for Windows has a clear, intuitive interface that makes it easy to get started. Once you master the basics, you can explore more powerful features, like motion tracking, 4K support, 360-degree VR video support, a music library, multi-cam support, 3D text editing, and thousands of effects.
08. Filmora - Best Video Editing Software
The best value video editing software for hobbyists
 |
| Filmora - Best Video Editing Software |
Pros
- Amazing Performance
- Simple to use
- 4K support
- Royalty-free sound effects and music
Cons
- Too basic for pros
| Filmora Specification | |
|---|---|
| Platform | Windows, Mac |
| Key features | 4K support, built-in effects, and titles |
| Free trial | Yes (with watermarks) |
| Best for | Enthusiasts |
For a low price, Wondershare's Filmora offers a solid video editing tool for enthusiasts or those new to video editing. It has an intuitive interface that is easy to use, whatever your level of experience. There's a plethora of handy built-in titles, effects, and filters designed for YouTubers and others like it, plus a library of royalty-free sound effects and music to give your videos the impact. You can also record your media directly within the tool.
The most recent version (10.5.5) in July introduced Template Mode, which uses AI algorithms to take highlights from your footage and automatically create the video for you. Another highlight is the new Cloud Files feature, which allows you to synchronize multiple files and use them across applications.
09. Vimeo Create - Best Video Editing Software
The best video editing software for small businesses
 |
| Vimeo Create - Best Video Editing Software |
Pros
- Amazing Performance
- Excellent templates
- Lots of stock content
Cons
- Limited use cases
- Requires membership
| Vimeo Create Specification | |
|---|---|
| Platform | Browser |
| Key features | Templates, stock content, intuitive interface |
| Free trial | 30 days |
| Best for | Beginners |
Vimeo offers a paid service called Vimeo Create, which helps businesses with zero experience create social media videos using pre-made templates. It also offers millions of stock video clips, photos, and commercially licensed music tracks, available to use for free, and lots of built-in styles.
The browser-based interface makes it easy to create videos for different aspect ratios (such as square, horizontal and vertical) for different social platforms. And while the platform, in general, lacks the advanced features of pro video editing software, it promises very well.
10. Apple iMovie - Best Video Editing Software
Best video editing software for novice Mac users
 |
| Apple iMovie - Best Video Editing Software |
Pros
- Amazing Performance
- Simple interface
- Abundant audio tools
- Supports 4K
Cons
- Lacks Multicam, motion tracking, and 360-degree features
- Mac only
| Apple iMovie Specification | |
|---|---|
| Platform | Mac |
| Minimum system requirements: | macOS 10.14.6; 2GB of RAM (4GB recommended); OpenCL-capable graphics card; 1280 x 800-pixel display |
Apple iMovie is the best video editing software for novice filmmakers on Mac, combining professional trailers and themes, abundant special effects, and an easy-to-learn interface. Plus, it's free, so it's a great place to start, or if you need to do simple video editing. iMovie now supports 4K editing and sharing, as well as extended handling for videos shot at 1080p and 60 fps. The recent update changed the interface and added Touch Bar support for the latest MacBooks.
One of the other benefits of iMovie is that you can work on the same project on a Mac laptop or desktop, then switch to your iPad to continue your editing. This is a very handy feature for those who need flexibility.
Which is the easiest software to edit videos?
If you're just getting started in the world of video editing and using a desktop PC or Mac, our top recommendation is Premiere Elements. It's a simplified version of the more powerful Premiere Pro, so there's no such learning curve, and it's also cheaper. Also unlike most Adobe tools, it's available for a fee rather than a subscription.
In the meantime, if you're a beginner looking to edit video on your phone or tablet, we'd suggest checking out Premiere Rush, which offers all the most important bits of Premiere Pro available for iOS and Android devices.
Its interface is nice and simple, with large icons and panels that are easy to click on a small touchscreen. But you still get some useful features, like adding videos to a timeline via drag-and-drop and mixing in music.
Which is the best video editor for free?
If you have zero cash to spend, our guide to the best free video editing software will give you plenty of options. But keep in mind that many of these tools have serious limitations, such as ads, watermarks, or limited features.
An alternative to these free-but-flawed tools is to opt for a free trial of one of the paid options we've listed above. This will enable you to explore your options before making a decision. Just don't forget to cancel your trial if you don't want to be charged!
How difficult is it to do video editing?
Learning to edit video is not something that you should be afraid of. If you have ever used any kind of app on the web or mobile, then you will be able to use video editing software. All you have to do is start with the basics and build your skills from there. Whatever video editing software you use, there are tons of tutorials online to get you started, and often provided free of charge by the best manufacturers themselves. Check out our guide to Premiere Pro tutorials to learn how, and read our Premiere Pro Tips for further pointers.
What do most YouTubers use to edit their videos?
Unsurprisingly, the most popular video editing software among YouTubers are iMovie, Final Cut Pro, and Premiere Pro. iMovie is a common choice among beginners and casual YouTubers, as it's free, already installed on Apple devices, and does everything you need for basic editing. However, if you're on Android, we'd recommend Adobe Premiere Rush.
Pro and semi-pro YouTubers, meanwhile, need something more sophisticated, and so most opt for Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro. For more information, read Best software to edit videos for YouTube.
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