Best Video Editing Software 2022
The best video editing software gives you all the tools you need to make epic movies that will delight your audience. Plus, it needn't cost a fortune: for less than $100 you can get complex packages that let even amateur video editors add special effects, apply stunning filters and cut together complex scenes.
These video editors are also more powerful, easier to use, and more widely accessible than would have seemed possible a few years back. But that said, you still have to choose wisely. Not all video editing software is built for the same audience, so you’ll need to think carefully about your needs.
Many of the best video editing software programs in this list come in at less than $100, but some are aimed at novices, while others are better suited to more advanced users.
Read on for our pick of the best video editing software.
Top three video editors in 2022
1. Adobe Premiere Pro
Premiere Pro is our pick of the best video editing software overall. It's the video editing program used by professionals the world over, thanks to its user-friendly interface and best-in-class feature set. However, because of its price (Premiere Pro starts at $20.99 per month), it's best for those who plan to do a lot of video editing and some people may find Premiere Elements 2022 (below) to be a better fit.
2. CyberLink PowerDirector 365
This video editor is less expensive than Premier Pro, but still has a wealth of cutting-edge features. It's a great choice, especially if you're a Windows user. (The new Mac version is good, but lacks the complete feature-set). PowerDirector 365 starts at $51.99 for an annual subscription.
3. Corel VideoStudio Ultimate
Corel VideoStudio Ultimate is powerful but easy-to-learn, and can be used to create simple videos without fuss. That's not to say Corel VideoStudio Ultimate doesn't have a great feature-set: it supports a huge array of tools for when you're ready to make more complex videos. Corel VideoStudio Ultimate costs $99.99.
What is the best video editing software?
After testing a number of programs, we think that Adobe Premiere Elements 2022 is the best video editing software for most people. Although it’s missing some newer technologies, such as 360-degree video and multicam editing, it’s got an intuitive interface and a gentle learning curve — something amateur video editors will especially appreciate. That said, it’s got plenty of advanced features, so professionals will also feel right at home. And, it works with both Mac and Windows.
Windows — and now Mac users— will also want to check out CyberLink PowerDirector 365. It has an impressive range of features but still manages to shape everything into an easy-to-use interface. Unlike Elements 2022, PowerDirector 365 supports 360-degree video editing. It also has more advanced audio editing tools and a larger library of visual effects. It's finally available for Mac as well as Windows, though the Windows version has a few more features.
If you’re on a tight budget, HitFilm Express is a solid pick. It came out on top in our round-up of the best free video editing software, and with good reason. It’s user-friendly, with a great selection of resources and online tutorials, and frequent updates, and well deserving of its place in our best video editing software list too.
The best video editing software you can buy today
Adobe Premiere Elements 2022
When it comes to user-friendliness, sophisticated features and ways to output your video, the best video editing software for most people is the cross-platform Adobe Premiere Elements 2022.
The program uses Adobe's Sense.ai artificial intelligence to make it easier to perform edits. Its Guided Edits feature remains a great tool for demystifying the entire process for novice filmmakers, and there's now additional support for 4K resolutions and stabilized video, plus tools for selective edits, double-exposure video, and real-time effects. The 2022 version also adds new outputs for social media, video reframing and support for vertical videos.
However, it still lacks features such as 360-degree video editing, or support for multicam editing. But Adobe's program is the most well-rounded of all the video editing software we've tested.
CyberLink PowerDirector 365
At long last, CyberLink PowerDirector is available for Mac as well as Windows users, bringing a dazzling array of fun, advanced video editing features wrapped in a stunning, easy-to-use package to a new audience.
CyberLink offers several versions of PowerDirector: PowerDirector Ultra ($99) and PowerDirector Ultimate ($139) are one-time purchases, while PowerDirector 365 ($69.99/year is a subscription model that comes with Shutterstock integration, unlimited access to CyberLink's background music and video editing plugins.
One reason Mac users may want to stick with another program is that the Windows version of PowerDirector 365 has more features and tools than the Mac version. For example, there's no support for importing 360 photos and videos. But there's still enough else here to keep many intrigued.
Corel VideoStudio Ultimate
Corel has long been a competitor to Adobe for video editing software, and continues that rivalry with VideoStudio Ultimate, an outstanding editing package for beginners on the Windows platform.
VideoStudio is a powerful but easy-to-learn app for anyone who wants to make simple videos quickly without fussing around with complex controls. Its spare but inviting interface offers a huge array of tools, including 4K support, 360-degree video editing, multicam support, more than 2,000 effects, enhanced lens-correction tools, and 3D text editing. Our biggest issue is that it's Windows-only and you can't customize your workspace as easily as you can with other programs.
Apple iMovie
Apple iMovie is the best video editing software for novice filmmakers on Macs, combining professional trailers and themes, abundant special effects and an easy-to-learn interface. In addition, it's free, so this is a great place to start, or if you need to do simple video edits. iMovie now supports 4K editing and sharing, as well as extended handling to video shot at 1080p and 60 fps. Recent updates tweaked the interface and added Touch Bar support for the latest MacBooks.
One of the other benefits of iMovie is that you can work on the same project on either a Mac laptop or desktop, then switch over to your iPad to continue your editing. It's a very handy feature for those who need the flexibility.
HitFilm Express
Hitfilm Express is one of the best value packages among the best video editing software, not just because it's free to start, but also because you can add on more features at reasonable prices. The program is compatible with both Macs and PCs, and also supports discrete Nvidia and AMD GPUs for threaded rendering and decoding.
Our favorite new tool of Hitfilm Express is auto-stabilization, which helps smooth out shaky footage. Other new features include WAV audio exports, a crop and pan/zoom effect, a GoPro FX reference effect, a color adjustment effect. While Hitfilm Express can be a little intimidating for beginners, we like its low cost to entry and affordable and scalable features.
Lightworks
If you want proof of the regard in which Lightworks is held, consider that the Pro version has been used to create multiple award-winning movies including Pulp Fiction, The Wolf of Wall Street and Jerry Maguire.
Even the free version has a wide range of fairly advanced tools, including some impressive audio-editing options, VFX, color adjustments and more. Against that, output maxes out at 720p — which may work if you're just making a home movie to share with relatives, but not for anything more serious.
Upgrade to the Pro version for $24/month or $240/year and you'll unlock 4K output plus a raft of other features including to the Boris Graffiti plugin, extra import features, advanced project sharing, timeline rendering and more. Or, for a one-off fee of $390, you can buy it outright and get all of the above plus Boris FX.
The interface may take a little getting used to compared to some programs, but it's still simple enough for a novice to master with a little help from the many tutorials and as a further bonus it works with almost every platform, including Windows, Mac and Linux.
VideoPad
VideoPad is fairly unusual among the best video editing software programs in that it works on both Macs and PCs, which broadens its appeal and reach. However, there are more features available for the Windows version than the Mac version.
You can download a non-commercial version of VideoPad for free, but you'll have to put up with some annoying notifications. A Home Edition ($39) and Master's Edition ($69) get rid of those, and offer more features, such as unlimited audio tracks and plugins.
While VideoPad lacks the flashy, whiz-bang appeal of some commercial apps, it’s still a rock-solid choice for simple video editing. The app offers a number of YouTube choices ranging from 480p to 4K, as well as Facebook, Flickr, Dropbox and Google Drive.
How to choose the best video editing software for you
Free or Fee?
There’s no reason for the occasional video jockey to fork over any cash, as there are plenty of free apps available for both Windows and Mac. But while the deciding factors for free and paid software may appear to be based on cold hard cash, that’s not the whole story.
People who are looking for a more powerful editor with a variety of built-in resources, responsive technical support and more would be better off dropping some cash on something from this list of the best video editing software.
However, there’s a third option: you can download software such as VideoPad or HitFilm (which offer all of the basics) for free, and then purchase additional features à la carte as your experience and needs grow.