Welcome to our guide to the best video editing software – applications that have never seemed more important as the world connects virtually more so than ever right now. Whether you're creating a short clip for social media or a full feature film, picking the right tool can make the difference between the success or failure of your video project. But with so many options available, how do you choose the best one for your needs?
Don't worry: we've already done the research, so you don't need to. In this guide, we bring together today's very best video editing software and explain what they do, what platform they run on, how much they cost, the pros and cons of each, and everything else you need to know to make your decision.
Even the most expensive options here are broadly affordable, and certainly offer excellent value for money. However, if you're totally cash-poor right now then don't stress: we've also listed the best free video editing software as well. And while these tools won't cost you a penny, they're all surprisingly powerful.
01. Adobe Premiere Pro
Excellent automatic functions
Industry standard video editing tool
Free trial available
Expensive
It's easy to see why it's so popular for Windows 10 users. It can handle an uncapped number of video tracks, which can be imported from pretty much any source you can think of (files, tapes, cameras of all standards... even VR). The automatic sync is a gem when you have multi-angle shots, and it's hard to fault the fine-tuning tools that really make your video stand out from the crowd. There's also a free companion app – Adobe Premiere Rush – that makes it easy to work with footage captured on your phone: see number 4 on our list for more on that.
You can subscribe to just Premiere Pro on its own, but if you use more than one of Adobe's apps, it'll be worth your while subscribing to Creative Cloud for a slightly higher monthly fee. Want to know more? Check out our in-depth Adobe Premiere Pro review.
The best free video editing software
Looking for free video editing software? In most case, you're not going to get the range of features that you would with paid-for software, but the free tools we've listed below are surprisingly capable. In the case of Lightworks, for example, the main restriction is the output format, but VSDC and the amazing DaVinci Resolve let you export your creations in a wide range of formats.
The range and power of the features available in this free video editing software is remarkable; if you have the talent there’s nothing to stop you putting together a technically accomplished production. Alternatively, if you have simple needs and just want easy-to-use software that sits between Windows Movie Maker and a top-end professional package, we have you covered here too.
KineMaster
- Surprisingly rich features
- Good enough for professionals
- Widely used and popular
- Slow on lower-end devices
It packs the ability to edit multiple layers, add handwriting and text annotations, experiment with up to four audio tracks and precisely edit at a frame and sub-frame level. We could go on with a long list of features, but perhaps the best endorsement is the average review score from on both the App Store and Google Play. Plus, it's free, so it's probably worth just downloading this video editing app and giving it a try.
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