What is the Best Video Editing Software for Beginners? 8 Options to Choose From

Best Video Editing Software for Beginners - Featured Image

If you’re just starting out in filmmaking or YouTube, you’re going to need some video editing software. But with so many options on the market, it can be tough to know where to start. In this blog post, we’ll break down the best video editing software for beginners, so you can make an informed decision about which one is right for you.

Finding the right editing software can be daunting, time-consuming and most importantly EXPENSIVE. You need it to have the right functionality so you can edit your film to how you want to tell the story. For your beautiful vision to be recognized to its fullest. Trying to find the best video editing software for beginners is open of there toughest tasks as it can be a huge outlay that you want to get spot on.

What Features Should I Look For in the Best Video Editing Software for Beginners?

There are a few key things to look for when choosing video editing software, regardless of your skill level.

Best Video Editing Software for Beginners - Filmmaker Editing

PC or Mac Compatibility

One of the first things to consider is whether the video editing software you’re considering is compatible with your computer. If you’re a Mac user, make sure the software you’re considering is available for Mac. And if you’re a PC user, make sure it’s available for PC. Otherwise, you could find yourself stuck with software that doesn’t work with your computer.

Best Video Editing Software for Beginners - PC or Mac Computer

Ease of Use

It’s also important to consider how easy the software is to use. If you’re a beginner, look for software that is designed for beginners and is relatively easy to use. Even if you’re more experienced, you might want to choose software that is easier to use so you can focus on other aspects of your project.

Features

Another thing to consider is the features offered by the software. Some software packages are very basic, while others offer a wide range of features. Decide what features are most important to you and make sure the software you choose has those features.

Price

Of course, price is also an important consideration. Fortunately, there are a number of affordable options on the market. But be sure to compare prices and features to get the best value for your money.

Top Video Editing Software for Beginners

Editing is one of the biggest components to moulding this to your style. Obviously, you need it written and shot in the style but without editing it correctly, you’re left with nothing…

Well. A slight exaggeration, but you get the idea.

Now that you know what to look for in video editing software, let’s take a look at some of the great video editing software for beginners that are on the market.

Adobe Premiere Pro (Recommended)

Adobe Premiere Pro is a powerhouse of a video editor, capable of churning out Hollywood-quality results. However, all that power comes at a price—both in terms of money and learning curve. If you’re just starting out, Premiere Pro might be more than you need. However, if you’re serious about making films or becoming a professional YouTuber, then Premiere Pro is definitely worth considering. I think it truly is the best youtube video editing software for beginners.

Best Video Editing Software for Beginners: Adobe Premiere Pro
The Best Video Editing Software for Beginners is Adobe Premiere Pro

Adobe Premiere Pro is the industry-leading video editing software for film, TV and the web. Creative tools, integration with other apps and services and the power of Adobe Sensei help you craft footage into polished films and videos. With their Premiere Rush app, you can edit your footage from any device.

It’s an amazingly diverse program, you can edit footage in any format, from 8K to virtual reality. Native file support, lightweight proxy workflows and faster ProRes HDR allow you to work how you like with your media.

Read More: 6 Ways to optimize Premiere Pro’s performance

Final Cut Pro

Final Cut Pro is another industry-leading video editor, but unlike Adobe Premiere Pro, it’s geared specifically towards Apple users. If you’re planning on doing any video editing on a Mac computer, then Final Cut Pro is definitely the way to go. It’s user-friendly interface and intuitive workflow make it ideal for beginners, but it also has enough features and power to satisfy more advanced users.

DaVinci Resolve

DaVinci Resolve is a relatively new player in the video editing software space, but it’s quickly become one of the most popular choices for filmmakers and YouTubers alike. That’s because it offers an impressive array of features and capabilities, all wrapped up in an easy-to-use interface.

Plus, it’s available for both Windows and Mac computers—so no matter what kind of computer you’re using, DaVinci Resolve should be able to meet your needs.

Videopad

This is a straight forward, easy to use and free video editor. For your first editing program, this is one of the best to blood you before you step up to the next level. You really can hone your skills and ground yourself on Videopad.

3 key features:

  1. Intuitive editing.
  2. Export to file or disk (Not sure why in this day and age, but… Let’s not complain).
  3. Supports all video formats.

Apple iMovie

If you ‘re a Mac user, iMovie is a great option. It’s free to download from the App Store, and it’s relatively easy to use. iMovie offers a number of features, including the ability to add titles, transitions, and music.

Some of the features of Apple iMovie:

  1. Supports 4K video.
  2. Edit on Mac or an iOS device.
  3. Create stunning cinema-quality films.
  4. Studio-Quality Titles.
  5. Extra-Special Effects.
  6. High-Fidelity Filters.
  7. Soundtracks.
  8. Cut from iPhone to iPad to Mac.
  9. Share your movie, easy to share functionality.
  10. It’s FREE.

Windows Movie Maker

If you’re a PC user, Windows Movie Maker is a good option. It’s a free program that comes pre-installed on most PCs. Windows Movie Maker is fairly easy to use, and it offers a number of features, including the ability to add titles, transitions, and music.

Overall, Windows Movie Maker is a pretty good video editing software for beginners.

HitFilm Express

HitFilm Express is a more robust video editing program that is available for both PC and Mac. It’s free to download, and it offers a wide range of features, including special effects, Green Screen support, and 360-degree video editing.

Filmora

Why does this stand out? Are they not the same? You ask. It has all the basic features – cutting, rotating, cropping and zooming, trimming and splitting… You can add up to 100 video tracks and 100 audio tracks. Below is the latest pitch video for Filmora.

They also throw in these little features:

  • Transitions.
  • Overlays.
  • Visual effects.
  • Filters.
  • Elements.
  • Title & text.
  • Credits templates.
  • Cool sound effects

Overall, Filmora is a pretty good video editor and is a decent choice for video editing for beginners.

What is the best video editor for professionals?

There is no one “best” video editor for professionals. Every filmmaker or video editor has different needs, and each person will prefer a different video editing program. However, some of the most popular choices among professionals include Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, and DaVinci Resolve.

These three programs offer an impressive array of features and capabilities, and they’re all easy to use, even for beginners.

And The Best Video Editing Software for Beginners is?

There are a lot of great video editors on the market nowadays—but not all of them are created equal. If you’re just getting started in filmmaking or YouTube, you need something that’s user-friendly and relatively affordable.

No matter what your skill level or budget is, there’s a video editing program out there that’s perfect for you. Just be sure to do your research before making a purchase, and always start with the basics—you can always add more features later on as you become more comfortable with the editing process.

With that in mind, I recommend either Adobe Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve — depending on whether you’re using a Mac or Windows computer. Whichever one you choose, make sure to do your research and read some reviews before pulling the trigger!

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Jay Neill

Jay Neill is the founder, owner, and managing editor of iFilmThings and believes everyone should have access to the film resources they need to plan their filmmaking project, which is why he’s dedicated iFilmThings to helping all filmmakers.

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