Every score is worked out from the vendor's own pages · How we score →Disclosure
SAASINSPECTOR
Directory · 10 tools reviewed

Best Video Software

Find the best video software for editing footage you shot yourself: the desktop editors that film, TV and YouTube editors cut in, from paid suites to free open-source apps. Each editor is ranked on its professional editing tools, the AI help built in, how it works for a team, what the cheapest way to pay costs and what happens to your footage. How we score.

Video generators, avatar tools, ad makers, clip cutters and online editors are ranked on Best AI Video Tools →

Choose the kind you need

10 Professional video editors ranked

Ranked by score · price shown: cheapest way to pay, monthly
★ Top professional video editorof 10 professional video editors
DaVinci ResolveFree · 100% publishedBest free plan
9.3/10

Editors and colourists who want grading with scopes, compositing and audio post in one app, and would rather buy the upgrade once than rent it

Colour grading with scopesMulticam editingHDR editing and exportCamera raw videoCompositing and effects in the same appProxy editingMotion trackingThird-party plugins3Where it runsGenerates new frames or footageEdit the video by editing its transcriptMasks a person or object by itself+7 more
What makes up the score9.3

Longer bar, heavier criterion. A hatched bar is one the vendor never published. A red one is a zero they did publish.

Pro editing10.0
AI in the editorweakest6.2
Workflow and teams9.2
Pricing10.0
Privacy and support10.0
Read the DaVinci Resolve review
02Filmora100% published8.6/10FreeBest forCreators who want an easy desktop editor with pro colour tools and AI features, on a yearly plan or bought once
Colour grading with scopesMulticam editingHDR editing and exportCamera raw videoCompositing and effects in the same appProxy editingMotion trackingThird-party plugins4Where it runsGenerates new frames or footage+9 more
What makes up the score8.6

Longer bar, heavier criterion. A hatched bar is one the vendor never published. A red one is a zero they did publish.

Pro editing8.8
AI in the editor10.0
Workflow and teamsweakest4.2
Pricing10.0
Privacy and support8.3
Read the Filmora review
03Adobe Premiere100% published8.0/10$22.99Best forEditors already working in Adobe's applications who want generative editing and shared projects inside the timeline
Colour grading with scopesMulticam editingHDR editing and exportCamera raw videoCompositing and effects in the same appProxy editingMotion trackingThird-party plugins2Where it runsGenerates new frames or footage+9 more
What makes up the score8.0

Longer bar, heavier criterion. A hatched bar is one the vendor never published. A red one is a zero they did publish.

Pro editing10.0
AI in the editor10.0
Workflow and teams9.0
Pricingweakest3.8
Privacy and support10.0
Read the Adobe Premiere review
04Avid Media Composer90% published8.0/10FreeBest forFilm and TV editors who work on shared projects and need an industry-standard editorial toolset
Colour grading with scopesMulticam editingCompositing and effects in the same appProxy editingMotion trackingThird-party plugins2Where it runsGenerates new frames or footageEdit the video by editing its transcriptTranslates captions or audio+9 more
What makes up the score8.0

Longer bar, heavier criterion. A hatched bar is one the vendor never published. A red one is a zero they did publish.

Pro editing8.8
AI in the editorweakest4.4
Workflow and teams8.2
Pricing8.2
Privacy and support10.0
Read the Avid Media Composer review
05Vegas ProLowest price100% published7.9/10$8.33Best forWindows editors who want a full pro editor they can buy outright instead of renting
Colour grading with scopesMulticam editingHDR editing and exportCamera raw videoCompositing and effects in the same appProxy editingMotion trackingThird-party pluginsGenerates new frames or footageEdit the video by editing its transcript+9 more
What makes up the score7.9

Longer bar, heavier criterion. A hatched bar is one the vendor never published. A red one is a zero they did publish.

Pro editing10.0
AI in the editor6.2
Workflow and teamsweakest4.0
Pricing7.8
Privacy and support10.0
Read the Vegas Pro review
06Final Cut Pro100% published7.2/10$12.99Best forEditors on Apple hardware who want multicam, curve-based grading and ProRes RAW, and the option to own the Mac app outright
Colour grading with scopesMulticam editingHDR editing and exportCamera raw videoCompositing and effects in the same appProxy editingMotion trackingThird-party plugins2Where it runsGenerates new frames or footage+9 more
What makes up the score7.2

Longer bar, heavier criterion. A hatched bar is one the vendor never published. A red one is a zero they did publish.

Pro editing10.0
AI in the editor4.0
Workflow and teamsweakest3.2
Pricing7.2
Privacy and support10.0
Read the Final Cut Pro review
07CyberLink PowerDirector100% published6.6/10$24.99Best forWindows and Mac editors who want AI translation and masking in an editor they can rent or buy once
Colour grading with scopesMulticam editingHDR editing and exportCamera raw videoCompositing and effects in the same appProxy editingMotion trackingThird-party plugins2Where it runsGenerates new frames or footage+9 more
What makes up the score6.6

Longer bar, heavier criterion. A hatched bar is one the vendor never published. A red one is a zero they did publish.

Pro editingweakest4.8
AI in the editor10.0
Workflow and teams3.2
Pricing7.4
Privacy and support10.0
Read the CyberLink PowerDirector review
08Shotcut100% published6.2/10FreeBest forEditors who want a free, open-source editor with scopes, HDR support and proxy editing
Colour grading with scopesMulticam editingHDR editing and exportCamera raw videoCompositing and effects in the same appProxy editingMotion trackingThird-party plugins2Where it runsGenerates new frames or footage+9 more
What makes up the score6.2

Longer bar, heavier criterion. A hatched bar is one the vendor never published. A red one is a zero they did publish.

Pro editing7.2
AI in the editorweakest1.2
Workflow and teams2.5
Pricing10.0
Privacy and support5.0
Read the Shotcut review
09Kdenlive100% published6.1/10FreeBest forEditors who want a free, open-source multicam editor with local AI object masking
Colour grading with scopesMulticam editingHDR editing and exportCamera raw videoCompositing and effects in the same appProxy editingMotion trackingThird-party plugins2Where it runsGenerates new frames or footage+9 more
What makes up the score6.1

Longer bar, heavier criterion. A hatched bar is one the vendor never published. A red one is a zero they did publish.

Pro editing6.5
AI in the editorweakest1.8
Workflow and teams2.5
Pricing10.0
Privacy and support5.0
Read the Kdenlive review
10iMovie95% published4.4/10FreeBest forMac, iPhone and iPad owners who want a free, simple editor for home movies and short clips
Colour grading with scopesMulticam editingHDR editing and exportCamera raw videoCompositing and effects in the same appProxy editingMotion trackingThird-party plugins2Where it runsGenerates new frames or footage+9 more
What makes up the score4.4

Longer bar, heavier criterion. A hatched bar is one the vendor never published. A red one is a zero they did publish.

Pro editingweakest0.0
AI in the editor1.2
Workflow and teams3.2
Pricing9.1
Privacy and support10.0
Read the iMovie review
published yespublished nonot published, scored at the midpoint
⇄ Compare
01

DaVinci Resolve

Editors and colourists who want grading with scopes, compositing and audio post in one app, and would rather buy the upgrade once than rent it

9.3
Rank #1 of 10 professional video editors
Best:Pro editing10
Weakest:AI in the editor6.2
Several editors on one project: yes
FreeFree plan
100% from published facts · checked 22 Sep
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02

Filmora

Creators who want an easy desktop editor with pro colour tools and AI features, on a yearly plan or bought once

8.6
Rank #2 of 10 professional video editors
Best:AI in the editor10
Weakest:Workflow and teams4.2
Several editors on one project: no
From $49.99 per yearFree plan
100% from published facts · checked 26 Sep
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03

Adobe Premiere

Editors already working in Adobe's applications who want generative editing and shared projects inside the timeline

8.0
Rank #3 of 10 professional video editors
Best:Pro editing10
Weakest:Pricing3.8
Several editors on one project: yes
From $22.99No free plan
100% from published facts · checked 22 Sep
→
04

Avid Media Composer

Film and TV editors who work on shared projects and need an industry-standard editorial toolset

8.0
Rank #3 of 10 professional video editors
Best:Privacy and support10
Weakest:AI in the editor4.4
Several editors on one project: yes
From $39.99Free plan
90% from published facts · checked 26 Sep
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05

Vegas Pro

Windows editors who want a full pro editor they can buy outright instead of renting

7.9
Rank #5 of 10 professional video editors
Best:Pro editing10
Weakest:Workflow and teams4
Several editors on one project: no
From $99.95 per yearNo free plan
100% from published facts · checked 26 Sep
→
06

Final Cut Pro

Editors on Apple hardware who want multicam, curve-based grading and ProRes RAW, and the option to own the Mac app outright

7.2
Rank #6 of 10 professional video editors
Best:Pro editing10
Weakest:Workflow and teams3.2
Several editors on one project: no
From $12.99No free plan
100% from published facts · checked 22 Sep
→
07

CyberLink PowerDirector

Windows and Mac editors who want AI translation and masking in an editor they can rent or buy once

6.6
Rank #7 of 10 professional video editors
Best:AI in the editor10
Weakest:Workflow and teams3.2
Several editors on one project: no
From $6.67Free plan
100% from published facts · checked 26 Sep
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08

Shotcut

Editors who want a free, open-source editor with scopes, HDR support and proxy editing

6.2
Rank #8 of 10 professional video editors
Best:Pricing10
Weakest:AI in the editor1.2
Several editors on one project: no
FreeFree plan
100% from published facts · checked 26 Sep
→
09

Kdenlive

Editors who want a free, open-source multicam editor with local AI object masking

6.1
Rank #9 of 10 professional video editors
Best:Pricing10
Weakest:AI in the editor1.8
Several editors on one project: no
FreeFree plan
100% from published facts · checked 26 Sep
→
10

iMovie

Mac, iPhone and iPad owners who want a free, simple editor for home movies and short clips

4.4
Rank #10 of 10 professional video editors
Best:Privacy and support10
Weakest:Pro editing0
Several editors on one project: no
FreeFree plan
95% from published facts · checked 26 Sep
→
Buying guide

How to choose video software

Three questions settle it: how much of a pro toolset you need, how you want to pay, and what computer and team you work with.

  1. 01

    Pro editor or simple editor

    A professional editor adds the tools longer projects need: cutting several cameras at once, colour grading with scopes, proxies so heavy footage plays smoothly, and plugins. If you are trimming holiday clips or a short for social, a simple free editor such as iMovie covers it, and the extra tools only get in the way.

  2. 02

    Subscription, licence or free

    Adobe Premiere and Avid Media Composer are rented by subscription. DaVinci Resolve has a free edition and a Studio version you buy once, and Final Cut Pro, Vegas Pro, PowerDirector and Filmora will also sell you a licence you keep. Shotcut and Kdenlive are free and open source.

  3. 03

    Your computer and your team

    Final Cut Pro and iMovie run on Apple devices, and Vegas Pro runs on Windows, so check the platform first. If several editors share one project, look at the team features under How we rate: Avid Media Composer is built around shared projects.

Scoring

How we rate video software

Every score on this page is out of 100 and worked out from what each vendor publishes, never from a demo or a sponsor. Below: where the points go, every check behind them, and how the tools above did on each. Every rule, in full

Professional video editors: where the 100 points go

30Pro editing30Pricing15AI in the editor15Workflow and teams10Privacy and support
30/ 100
Biggest share

Pro editing

The professional work: multicam, colour grading with scopes, HDR, camera raw video, proxy editing, motion tracking, compositing in the same app, and third-party plugins. All three do all of it, and it is scored anyway, because it is why you would pick one of these over a browser editor.

Colour grading with scopes5.3 pts
Adobe PremiereAvid Media ComposerDaVinci ResolveFilmoraFinal Cut ProKdenliveShotcutVegas ProCyberLink PowerDirectoriMovie
Multicam editing4.5 pts
Adobe PremiereAvid Media ComposerCyberLink PowerDirectorDaVinci ResolveFilmoraFinal Cut ProKdenliveVegas ProiMovieShotcut
HDR editing and export3.8 pts
Adobe PremiereCyberLink PowerDirectorDaVinci ResolveFilmoraFinal Cut ProShotcutVegas ProiMovieKdenlive
Camera raw video3.7 pts
Adobe PremiereDaVinci ResolveFinal Cut ProVegas ProCyberLink PowerDirectorFilmoraiMovieKdenliveShotcut
Compositing and effects in the same app3.7 pts
Adobe PremiereAvid Media ComposerDaVinci ResolveFilmoraFinal Cut ProKdenliveShotcutVegas ProCyberLink PowerDirectoriMovie
Proxy editing3 pts
Adobe PremiereAvid Media ComposerCyberLink PowerDirectorDaVinci ResolveFilmoraFinal Cut ProKdenliveShotcutVegas ProiMovie
Motion tracking3 pts
Adobe PremiereAvid Media ComposerCyberLink PowerDirectorDaVinci ResolveFilmoraFinal Cut ProKdenliveShotcutVegas ProiMovie
Third-party plugins3 pts
Adobe PremiereAvid Media ComposerDaVinci ResolveFilmoraFinal Cut ProShotcutVegas ProCyberLink PowerDirectoriMovieKdenlive

Highest here DaVinci Resolve 10.0lowest iMovie 0.0 out of 10

30/ 100

Pricing

The cheapest way to pay each month, whether there is a free edition you can keep using, whether it sells a licence you own outright, and the trial.

Cheapest way to pay, monthly18 pts
Avid Media Composer$0DaVinci Resolve$0Filmora$0iMovie$0Kdenlive$0Shotcut$0Vegas Pro$8.33Final Cut Pro$12.99Adobe Premiere$22.99CyberLink PowerDirector$24.99
Free edition you can keep using5.3 pts
Avid Media ComposerCyberLink PowerDirectorDaVinci ResolveFilmoraiMovieKdenliveShotcutAdobe PremiereFinal Cut ProVegas Pro
Sells a licence you own outright5.2 pts
CyberLink PowerDirectorDaVinci ResolveFilmoraFinal Cut ProVegas ProAdobe PremiereAvid Media Composer
Free trial1.5 pts
Final Cut Pro30 daysVegas Pro15 daysAdobe Premiere7 days

Highest here DaVinci Resolve 10.0lowest Adobe Premiere 3.8 out of 10

15/ 100

AI in the editor

AI that saves editing time: generating new frames to extend a clip, editing by transcript, masking a person or object by itself, translating captions, one-click dialogue clean-up and reframing to vertical.

Generates new frames or footage3.4 pts
Adobe PremiereCyberLink PowerDirectorFilmoraAvid Media ComposerDaVinci ResolveFinal Cut ProiMovieKdenliveShotcutVegas Pro
Edit the video by editing its transcript3.4 pts
Adobe PremiereAvid Media ComposerCyberLink PowerDirectorDaVinci ResolveFilmoraVegas ProFinal Cut ProiMovieKdenliveShotcut
Masks a person or object by itself2.6 pts
Adobe PremiereCyberLink PowerDirectorDaVinci ResolveFilmoraFinal Cut ProKdenliveVegas ProiMovieShotcut
Translates captions or audio2.2 pts
Adobe PremiereCyberLink PowerDirectorFilmoraAvid Media ComposerDaVinci ResolveFinal Cut ProiMovieKdenliveShotcutVegas Pro
One-click dialogue clean-up1.9 pts
Adobe PremiereAvid Media ComposerCyberLink PowerDirectorDaVinci ResolveFilmoraFinal Cut ProiMovieShotcutVegas ProKdenlive
Reframes to vertical or square by itself1.5 pts
Adobe PremiereCyberLink PowerDirectorDaVinci ResolveFilmoraFinal Cut ProVegas ProAvid Media ComposeriMovieKdenliveShotcut

Highest here Filmora 10.0lowest iMovie 1.2 out of 10

15/ 100

Workflow and teams

Several editors on one project, how many platforms it runs on, a scripting or workflow API, and built-in stock media.

Several editors on one project6 pts
Adobe PremiereAvid Media ComposerDaVinci ResolveCyberLink PowerDirectorFilmoraFinal Cut ProiMovieKdenliveShotcutVegas Pro
Where it runs5.3 pts
DaVinci Resolvewindows, mac, iosFilmorawindows, mac, ios, androidAdobe Premierewindows, macAvid Media Composerwindows, macCyberLink PowerDirectorwindows, macFinal Cut Promac, iosiMoviemac, iosKdenlivewindows, macShotcutwindows, macVegas Prowindows
Scripting or workflow API2.6 pts
Adobe PremiereAvid Media ComposerDaVinci ResolveVegas ProCyberLink PowerDirectorFilmoraFinal Cut ProiMovieKdenliveShotcut
Built-in stock media1.1 pts
Adobe PremiereCyberLink PowerDirectorFilmoraFinal Cut ProiMovieVegas ProAvid Media ComposerDaVinci ResolveKdenliveShotcut

Highest here DaVinci Resolve 9.2lowest Kdenlive 2.5 out of 10

10/ 100

Privacy and support

How many ways there are to reach support. All three edit on your own machine, so they are not asked about SOC 2, GDPR or training AI on your videos: there is no service holding the project.

Does not train AI on your videos3.5 pts

Not asked of the tools here.

Ways to reach support3 pts
Adobe Premierephone, live chat, communityAvid Media Composeremail, phone, communityCyberLink PowerDirectorphone, email, communityDaVinci Resolveemail, phone, communityFinal Cut Prophone, live chat, communityiMoviephone, live chat, communityVegas ProFilmoraphone, emailKdenlivecommunityShotcutcommunity
SOC 22 pts

Not asked of the tools here.

GDPR1.5 pts

Not asked of the tools here.

Highest here DaVinci Resolve 10.0lowest Kdenlive 5.0 out of 10

✓ full points◐ some✕ none

Video head-to-head

All comparisons →

The matchups readers in this category weigh most often, lined up row by row.

Adobe Premiere vs Avid Media ComposerAdobe Premiere vs CyberLink PowerDirectorAdobe Premiere vs DaVinci ResolveAdobe Premiere vs FilmoraAdobe Premiere vs Final Cut ProAdobe Premiere vs KdenliveAdobe Premiere vs Vegas ProAvid Media Composer vs DaVinci ResolveAvid Media Composer vs Final Cut ProCyberLink PowerDirector vs FilmoraCyberLink PowerDirector vs Vegas ProDaVinci Resolve vs Filmora
All 20 Video matchups

Frequently asked

What is the best video tool?

It depends on the kind you need: our top professional video editor is DaVinci Resolve. Each has the highest Spec Score of its kind.

Is there a free video tool?

Yes, Avid Media Composer, CyberLink PowerDirector, DaVinci Resolve and 4 more offer a free plan. Check each tool's page for what's included.

How do you rate video software?

Out of 100 points, all worked out from what the vendor publishes: pro editing 30, pricing 30, ai in the editor 15, workflow and teams 15, privacy and support 10. The full rules are on the rating guide.

How much does a video tool cost?

Paid plans start from about $6.67 to $99.95/mo across the tools we track, depending on features and usage.