I get asked on a weekly basis about the best editing software. There are a few options worth considering and what you choose will depend on your specific needs. The top three I recommend cover all the bases, from beginner to expert, and from Macs to PCs.
The first and most used program is Adobe Premiere Pro. It’s the gold standard for easy-to-use professional grade editing software. It works on both Mac and PC and your subscription will allow you to access both. It has all the functionality you need and the best part is that it is constantly expanding. The relatively new Lumetri Color palette is a particularly useful feature that aids in quick turnaround and efficient workflow. Being able to do everything “at home” is great. It’s a little pricey at about $19.99 per month, but if you’re serious about making videos, it’s worth considering.
Apple’s Final Cut Pro X is also a contender, though its popularity has declined significantly in past years. FCP has developed a reputation for favoring amateur products like skateboarding and surfing videos and as a result a lot of pros have gone looking elsewhere (myself included). The program also works on Macs only, so this may not be an option for those who prefer and own PCs. If you’re a fan of the Mac interface, this program has all the ease of use you’d expect. It handles 4K video footage better than other programs on similar hardware because of how it renders and manages background files. Final Cut is generally easy to get to grips with but at $299.99 I’d recommend beginners test the water with Premiere Pro first. Ultimately, both programs are great for learning the basics of editing, but Premiere will be more useful when you start asking for advanced features.
For those who don’t want to spend any money at all, iMovie is a good option. As you might expect with free software, it’s aimed at beginners and doesn’t have as much functionality as the others. You can get basic editing jobs with little or no prior experience, but eventually you won’t have as much flexibility and some stock options will look amateurish (titles, transitions, etc). If you are looking for something accessible and easy to use, this might be for you.
Bonus: If you want to have some editing fun on your phone, check out Premiere Clip. Don’t expect to be able to edit on the phone but this might surprise you. Combine it with an app like Filmic Pro for advanced control over your phone’s camera and you have a great ‘mini’ setup. There have even been award-winning feature films like “Unsane” shot entirely on the iPhone!
