Best video editing apps for 2018

Video is arguably the most engaging form of marketing media available. Let’s face it, in today’s world, more people like to watch videos than read. And while that’s a little depressing, that’s the way the world has evolved. With video editing software it’s easier than ever to create professional-quality videos with little prior experience.

If you’re not incorporating video into your multichannel marketing campaigns, you should start. Video is the way of the future, so we need to embrace it or be left in the dust of those who do.

Consider these stats:

• By 2019, global consumer Internet video traffic will account for 80% of all consumer Internet traffic.
• Facebook generates 8 billion video views on average per day.
• YouTube reports mobile video consumption rises 100% every year.

There are loads of statistics that support the case for including video content in your marketing strategy. If you’re not doing so, this article is for you. Here we present the 20 best video editing software solutions, covering the entire spectrum from professional solutions to free ones.

Professional video editing software

1. Adobe Premiere Pro

If you want video editing software for a PC, Adobe Premiere Pro is the Cadillac. It may seem a little expensive, but it’s totally worth the price tag if you want a huge feature set and the ability to produce professional videos.

It’s also available on Apple’s Mac, but most Mac users opt for Final Cut Pro instead. A great benefit you get from using Adobe Premiere Pro is that the company truly listens to its customers and makes feature enhancements they ask for. (Price tag: $19.99/month)

2. Final Cut Pro

Final Cut Pro was the gold standard for video editing for many years. The only issue is that it only works on Apple’s operating system. However, recently Adobe Premier Pro has progressed in leaps and bounds and delivers as robust a feature set as Final Cut.

Still, Mac lovers are loyal to Final Cut Pro, and most Mac users use it instead of Adobe. It has a better user interface (UI), and it’s faster. But the fact that it’s limited to Macs is frustrating to many, including the author of this blog. Plus, Adobe has better customer support. But, it’s very feature-rich, so if you want professional capabilities and use a Mac, this is the software you should look at. (Price tag: $299—one-time fee)

3. VEGAS Pro

Professionals who want the best use VEGAS Pro. It’s highly competitive with the two mentioned above. Its UI is very user-friendly and intuitive. Its strong point is its special effects. You can leverage a host of advanced features to make your videos pop off the screen.

It’s better suited for advanced video editors, so if you’re looking for something for beginners, you may want to consider some of the cheaper options below. (Price tag: $399)

4. Avid Media Composer

I’ll start by saying this is the most expensive option on the list. Professional filmmakers mostly use it. However, it can be used to create videos for your business that will let you present yourself as being light years ahead of your competition.

If you want the best video editing software for Windows, this is your choice. It’s also available on Macs. (Price tag: $1299)

5. HitFilm Pro

HitFilm Pro is another professional video editing software solution, and it offers a free download of its scaled down version. If you want the full feature set, you’ll have to pay for it.

What sets is apart from the competition is that it includes 3D compositing which lets you generate eye-popping graphics and visuals. The price is higher than those we’ll cover below, but you get what you pay for. (Price tag: $359)

6. EDIUS Pro

EDIUS Pro made a name for itself as an alternative to the big guys on the block. For years video editing software was dominated by Final Cut Pro, Adobe, and a few others. EDIUS arrived on the scene with loads of features and a simpler interface that’s easy to use for those with minimal video editing experience.

A big advantage is that after creating a video in most video editing software solutions, the video must be “rendered,” which means the video code in your computer must be converted to an actual video file. That process takes loads of time and consumes loads of processing capacity, slowing your computer down significantly. EDIUS has delivered a product that eliminates rendering, speeding up the process significantly. (Price tag: from $299—one-time fee)

7. Lightworks

Lightworks is unique in that it is highly customizable whereas many other video editing software solutions are static. It uses a series of free-floating windows that you can open or close as you wish to create a workflow that aligns with your editing style. If you want the freedom to customize, check out Lightworks. (Price tag: $299)

8. Director Suite

Director Suite is the last on our list of professional video editing software. It delivers great value for the price and is a great choice for small businesses with limited resources.

What differentiates it from the competition is that it’s not just video editing software. It delivers an entire creative suite that includes video, image, color and audio editing capabilities. If you do run a small business and only have one in-house designer, this application provides the entire package to produce every creative asset you need. (Price tag: $160)

Best video editing software under $100

9. Filmora

Filmora is a great option for beginners who still want a robust feature set. A short learning curve and ease of use are its most appealing features. You can come up to speed and use it well with no previous video editing experience.

It comes with built-in video effects, animations, and other modern video design effects that let beginners produce professional-looking videos that are sure to wow your audience. (Price tag: $99.99 per year)

10. Magix

Magix is also user-friendly and intuitive because it comes with built-in elements that you can pull into your videos for a professional look. It includes over 1,500 effects, menus, transitions, intros, and outros to make your life easier.

Simply select the elements you want to use, and you can create a video in a short amount of time. It also boasts a 93% customer satisfaction level, which says a lot about the program’s usability. (Price tag: $79.99)

11. Visme

Visme’s online video editor will come in handy for those of you who have no skills in video production but need to create a professional video fast, without compromising on quality and creativity. It’s possible due to ready-made video templates customizable by simply dragging and dropping.

When doing customizations, you can add your copy, animate the looks with various design elements, set fancy transition effects, embed voiceover, and much more. If you haven’t recorded a video for your campaign yourself, feel free to use one of stock video clips from Visme’s library.

No matter what kind of a video marketing strategy you have, there’s a template for basically any purpose. Tutorials, explainers, social media ads, promos, reviews, trailers, – Visme will help you out in any scenario.

12. Nero Video

Another popular option for the resource-strapped business, Nero Video has a very attractive price point without sacrificing too many features. That said, you do lose some premium features that you get with the professional video editing software above.

It is a bit slow, but if you’re a beginner, it’s a decent option to get your feet wet. It includes an array of tips, tricks, and effects that make editing videos easy for those with little experience. Its stand-out feature is really the price, as it’s only a one-time payment, rather than being subscription-based. (Price tag: $49.99—one-time fee)

13. Corel VideoStudio

Corel VideoStudio stands out because it was the first video editing software to incorporate motion tracking out of the box. Motion tracking allows you to track certain objects through your editing process and do things like blur out someone’s face as they move or add a cowboy hat. These elements stay with the object they are attached to while they move.

Now, other video editing software includes motion tracking, but Corel was the pioneer of this feature. (Price tag: $51.99—one-time fee)

14. Adobe Premiere Elements

This is Adobe’s scaled down version of their Premium Pro video editing software. It’s popular for its name. But it does provide solid features, such as a built-in guide that leads you through processes with suggestions along the way.

It has a comprehensive suite of effects, and just like Adobe Premium Pro, it offers great customer support. That’s why it’s a good option for beginners. You know the brand is not going anywhere, and you can rely on it being around for a long time. (Price tag: $79.99—one-time fee)

15. PowerDirector 16

If you want lightning-fast speed, this is your go-to. PowerDirector 16 is the fastest video editing software for Windows, and it’s perfect for the average consumer who doesn’t need professional capabilities. Plus, it was the first solution to support 360-degree virtual reality footage.

That’s the kicker. If you have a need for speed and are interested in virtual reality video, check out PowerDirector 16. (Price tag: $59.99—one-time fee)

16. VideoPad

This is a great choice for those who don’t need super professional videos but still want something that looks sleek and well-done.

It is a top choice for vloggers and YouTube users who don’t need finely edited videos, but rather clear and crisp video on the go. You can upload the solution to your social network and use it there, making it extremely convenient. It works with YouTube, Facebook, Flickr, Dropbox, and Google Drive. (Price tag: from $6.60/month)

Free video editing software

17. Blender

Blender is video editing software that is completely free to download and use. Plus, the platform is open source. Originally designed as a 3D animation creator, it has evolved to offer solid but basic video editing features for those that don’t want to shell out the cash for a more expensive system.

Video editing features include the ability to perform basic edits like video cuts, splicing, and video masking. It’s very flexible and a great choice for both beginners and advanced users.

18. Shotcut

Another popular free video editing software solution, Shotcut delivers a large collection of tutorials to help you come up to speed quickly. It’s also open source, like Blender.

A defining feature is support for 4K video, which is quite uncommon for free video editing software. It also offers native timeline editing, making it one of the best free video editing software solutions out there.

19. VSDC

VSDC is a great free option as it comes with loads of powerful features at no cost. You get features like audio and color editing, which you normally don’t get with free solutions.

It has an intuitive UI and is very user-friendly. It’s free, but the free version doesn’t include some features. The pro version has a price tag of $19.99 and includes voice over support, image stabilization, and visual waveform. Unfortunately, it is for Windows PCs only. But those using a Mac are more likely to pay for a solution, so this doesn’t pose a major obstacle to the average buyer.

20. Avidemux

Avidemux is a perfect fit for beginners because it is very easy to use. The interface just makes sense when you look at it; it’s intuitive to understand how to perform certain functions, such as simple coding, encoding, and filtering.

If you’re just starting out, this is a great choice to cut your teeth on. It’s so easy to use that you don’t need any training or user guides—you can just jump in and start editing.

21. DaVinci Resolve

I wanted to round out the list with DaVinci Resolve because, in my opinion, it’s the most advanced free video editing software available. Although it delivers many professional features, its interface is easy to use.

It comes with powerful features like advanced trimming, multi-cam editing, color correction, audio mastering, and more. It’s my top pick for any non-professional looking to edit video.

Conclusion

The video editing software you chose depends entirely on your needs. If you’re an enterprise level company with the budget to go with one of the big guys, do it. Just be sure you have an in-house designer who can use it.

The more advanced a solution is, the more specialized technical knowledge you need to leverage its plethora of features.

If you’re a startup or a freelancer, I suggest looking into the free options listed above. You can always scale to a more powerful solution as you grow your business. And as I said, take a close look at DaVinci Resolve as it packs the most punch out of the free options.

Which video editing software are you using? Do you have any questions about what you’ve just read? Let us know in the comments section below.