Best Video Editing Software of 2021 for Youtubers

 
01. Adobe Premiere Pro

The best video editing software overall.

Platform: Windows, Mac | Key features: Multi-cam editing, 3D editing | Free trial: 7 days | Best for: Video editing professionals, video editing students

·         Industry standard 
·         High end features
·         Creative Cloud integration 

·         Expensive

Adobe Premiere Pro is one of two industry standard tools when it comes to video editing. It's used by top professionals, on everything from YouTube videos, ads and short films to broadcast TV and movies.

The other industry standard tool is Final Cut Pro (number 2 on our list), and both are closely matched for features and sophistication. But as Final Cut Pro is only available for Mac, and Premiere Pro is available for both Mac and Windows, that cements the latter as the best video editing software overall.

Premiere Pro supports 4K, 8K and VR formats. Its trimming and editing tools give you a high degree of precision and control. You can work on an uncapped number of video tracks, which can be imported from pretty much any source you can think of. And automatic sync makes it easy to handle multi-angle shots. It boasts customizable keyboard shortcuts, and great collaboration features too.

Like all Creative Cloud software, Premiere Pro is constantly being updated, and subscribers get all updates for free. For example, the latest 2021 release (version 15), includes a new and comprehensive toolset for adding, customizing, and styling captions and subtitles. 

02. Final Cut Pro X

The best video editing software for Mac users.

Platform: Mac | Key features: Muti-cam editing, intelligent colour balancing | Free trial: 90-day (limited time offer) | Best for: Video editing professionals, video editing students

·         Versatile and powerful editing
·         Brilliant interface
·         Makes sense for Apple users

·         Expensive

Apple's Final Cut Pro X is a highly capable and highly respected tool for professional video editing. The main thing that counts against it is that it's not available for Windows. On the upside, it's subscription-free. So, if you don't want a Creative Cloud subscription, Final Cut Pro X lets you pay once, and once only.

03. Adobe Premiere Elements

The best video editing software for beginners.

Platform: Windows and Mac | Key features: Video stabilization, face detection, automatic motion tracking | Free trial: 30 days | Best for: Video editing beginners and enthusiasts

·         Easy to use
·         Loads of features
·         Not as powerful as some tools
·         Not the fastest 

Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro are expensive, and a lot of work to learn if you just want to edit some videos for fun, such as family footage or your first YouTube video.  In which case, we'd recommend Adobe's Premiere Elements, which we'd call the best video editing software for beginners.

The approach to video editing is very simple and visual, and you get all the video affects you need, including transitions, chroma-keying and opacity and so on. You can develop quite a fast workflow too, by harnessing smart search functionality, video stabilization options, and automated functions, such as motion tracking and smart toning. 

Although it's made by Adobe, Premiere Elements is not part of the Creative Cloud but is available for a one-off fee. The software is constantly being improved: the latest (2021) release, for instance, adds GPU accelerated editing, 21 new background music tracks, and two new Guided Edits – Double Exposure and Animated Mattes. So, if you haven't looked at it in a few years, it's well worth taking a fresh look by taking out a 30-day free trial.  

04. Adobe Premiere Rush

The best video editing software for working on the move.

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)

·         Self-contained app
·         Great choice for sound editing
·         Ideal for Adobe users

·         Limited free plan

Going to be working on the move? Then check out Premiere Rush, which makes all the most important bits of Premiere Pro available on your tablet or phone. Available for iOS and Android, this is the best video editing software for working on mobile. 

Premiere Rush offers a simplified version of the Premiere Pro interface, with large icons and panels that are easier to click on a small touchscreen. And while there this means fewer features, you still get all the fundamentals, such as adding videos to the timeline through drag-and-drop, and mixing in background music.

One of the best video editing apps around, Premiere Rush can be used as an app in its own right, or in conjunction with Premiere Pro. For instance, when you're on the train, you could make some extra edits to footage you're previously worked on at the studio on your desktop PC. 

05. Corel Video Studio Ultimate

Solid video editing software for novices and Corel users.

Platform: Windows | Key features: Real-time effects, colour correction | Free trial: 30 days | Best for: Beginners, Corel users

·         Prime
·         Easy to pick up
·         Relatively inexpensive
·         Too basic (and unusual) for pros
·         Unusual approach to layers

If you're a beginner who wants to get started with video editing software, Adobe tools aren't your only option. It's also worth checking out Corel Video Studio Ultimate, particularly if you're already a fan of Corel's illustration and graphic design software.

This solid and relatively cheap video editing software for Windows has a clear and visual interface that makes it easy to get started. Then once you've mastered the basics, there are more powerful features to discover, such as motion tracking, 4K support, 360-degrees VR video support, a music library, multi-cam support, 3D text editing and thousands of effects. 

The way it works with layers is a bit unusual, and on the whole, this is not sophisticated enough to be considered a pro tool. But for starters in video editing software, it is very good value for the relatively low price.

06. Filmora

Low-cost video editing software for enthusiasts.

Platform: Windows, Mac | Key features: 4K support, built-in effects and titles | Free trial: Yes (with watermarks) | Best for: Enthusiasts

·         Simple to use
·         Low price
·         4K support

·         Too basic for pros

Wondershare's Filmora is a solid video editing tool for enthusiasts, or those just getting started with editing, for a surprisingly low price. It has an intuitive interface that's easy to use, whatever your level of familiarity with video editing. 

There are a large number of handy built-in titles, effects and filters designed for YouTubers and like, as well as a library of royalty free sound effects and music to give your videos impact. You also get the ability to record your own media directly within the tool. 

07. CyberLink Power Director 365

Consumer-level video editing software that's rich with features.

Platform: Windows, Mac | Key features: Multi-cam editing, 360-degree video, motion tracking (and loads more) | Free trial: 30 days | Best for: Experienced filmmakers

·         Powerful tool
·         Stacks of features
·         Surprisingly affordable

·         Tough for newbies

CyberLink Power Director 365 is a serious bit of consumer-level video editing software that long been available for Windows, and has recently been released for Mac users too. It's available either as a one-off purchase or a monthly or annual subscription, and both options are pretty cheap.

08. Pinnacle Studio

Capable video editing software at a reasonable price.

Platform: Windows | Key features: Multi-camera capture and editing, color controls, stop motion animation | Free trial: No, but 30-day money back guarantee | Best for: Beginners Prime.

·         Super-simple to use
·         Varied features
·         Attractive pricing

·         May be too basic for some

Pinnacle Studio isn't the best-known video editing software for Windows. But it's well worth considering if you've never edited video before. For a quite reasonable price, you get more than 1,500 effects, titles, and templates, six-track HD video editing, colour correction tools, a dedicated stop motion feature, time remapping and more. It's very easy to use too.

The latest version, 24, was released last August, and featured a redesigned title editor, enhanced video masking, and improved keyframe controls. Overall, Pinnacle Studio sits somewhere between the more basic free tools and professional level video editing tools, both in terms of price and features.

This video editing software is available for a one-off purchase. And if you like it, you can always upgrade to one of the more fully-featured and professionally oriented packages, Pinnacle Studio Plus and Pinnacle Studio Ultimate.

09. Vimeo Create

Online video editing tool for crafting social media clips.

Platform: Browser | Key features: Templates, stock content, intuitive interface | Free trial: 30 days | Best for: Beginners

Vimeo is keen to creative professionals. So, it's not surprising that its Vimeo Create service, aimed at helping businesses produce social media videos, is pretty impressive. Aimed at people with zero experience, it allows you to use and customize pre-prepared video templates. And there are millions of stock video clips, photos and commercially licensed music tracks available to use for free. There are lots of built-in styles, too, that you can apply to your video at the click of a mouse. 

Vimeo Create makes it easy to produce videos for a variety of aspect ratios (eg square, horizontal and vertical) to suit different social platforms. It all works in the browser, so there's nothing you need to download. Yes, it lacks the advanced features expected from a full-service video editing program. But what it's designed for, it does very well. 

10. Kinemasters

The best free video editing software overall.

Platform: Android, iOS | Key features: Instant preview, smart effects | Best for: Beginners and lightweight professional use

·         Surprisingly rich features
·         Good enough for professionals
·         Widely used and popular

·         Slow on lower-end devices

If you think professional video editing on your smartphone or tablet requires paid-for software, think again. KineMaster is available for Android devices, iPhones and iPads, and goes way above and beyond what you'd expect from a free mobile app. 

Kinemaster has a smart and easy-to-use interface that's both intuitive and lag-free. Features includes the ability to edit multiple layers, add handwriting and text annotations, experiment with up to four audio tracks, and precisely edit at frame and sub-frame level.