11 Best Video Editing Software for YouTube 2023
Explore the best video editing software for YouTube beginners and professionals, including our easy-to-use yet powerful CapCut video editor. Get started now to create stunning videos to boost your followers.
If you're in search of the best video editing software for YouTube, there are several options available to explore. Look for software that offers a range of editing features, effects, transitions, and audio tools to enhance your videos. Consider user-friendly interfaces, compatibility with your operating system, and positive user reviews.
Look for software that strikes a balance between ease of use and providing enough capabilities to create content for your YouTube channel, all without any cost.
Top 5 video editing software for YouTube beginners
Apart from CapCut, there is a load of software for YouTubers in the video-making field, such as Shotcut and Premiere Pro. In the following, we're about to share with you the 10 best YouTube beginners' video editing options. Let's begin!
Shotcut
Shotcut is among the best video editing software for YouTube due to its user-friendly interface and comprehensive features. It supports a wide range of formats, making it easy to work with different types of footage. The customizable filters allow for creative editing, while the intuitive timeline simplifies the editing process.
Although it may have a steeper learning curve for advanced features, Shotcut's stability and versatility make it a top choice for beginners looking to create professional-quality videos for their YouTube channels.
Pros and Cons
- User-friendly interface
- Wide format support
- Customizable filters
- Multi-track timeline
- Steeper learning curve for advanced features
- occasional stability issues
DaVinci Resolve 18
Renowned for its advanced editing tools, DaVinci Resolve stands out as a top video editing software for YouTube professionals. It offers professional-grade color correction capabilities and robust audio editing features.
With its non-linear editing system, users have complete control over their videos. Although it requires higher system specifications and may have a complex interface for beginners, DaVinci Resolve's power and versatility make it an ideal choice for YouTube creators who require precise editing and high-quality post-production.
Pros and Cons
- Advanced editing tools
- Professional color correction
- Robust audio editing
- Audio mixing
- Stunning effects supported
- High system requirements
- Complex interface for beginners
- Limited export options
OpenShot
OpenShot is a good video editing software for YouTube, especially for beginners seeking free options. Its user-friendly interface makes it easy to learn, and its cross-platform compatibility ensures accessibility. OpenShot supports a wide range of formats, allowing creators to work with different types of footage seamlessly. While it may lack advanced features found in other software options, its simplicity and wide format support make it an ideal tool for beginners who want to create professional-looking YouTube videos without a steep learning curve.
Pros and Cons
- Easy-to-use interface (low learning curve)
- Cross-platform compatibility
- Support for a wide range of formats
- A trove of popular video effects
- Limited advanced features
- Occasional performance issues
- No music resources
HitFilm Express
For YouTube professionals looking to add visual effects to their videos, HitFilm Express is the best program for video editing YouTube. Its comprehensive set of editing and visual effects tools, along with 3D compositing capabilities, offers creators endless possibilities for enhancing their videos.
However, due to its advanced features, HitFilm Express may have a steeper learning curve and require more system resources. Nonetheless, its professional-grade capabilities make it an exceptional choice for YouTube creators looking to take their videos to the next level.
Pros and Cons
- Comprehensive set of editing and visual effects tools
- 3D compositing capabilities
- Real-time rendering
- 4K UHD resolution supported
- Steeper learning curve
- Resource-intensive
- Limited export options
Olive Video Editor
Olive Video Editor is a simple yet best free editing software for YouTube gaming videos that stands out as an excellent option for YouTube beginners. Its intuitive interface and multi-track editing capabilities make it easy to create professional-looking videos. With real-time preview functionality, users can see their edits in action instantly. While it may have limited advanced features compared to other software options, Olive Video Editor's simplicity and real-time editing make it an ideal choice for beginners who want to create high-quality YouTube gaming videos without any hassle.
Pros and Cons
- Simple and intuitive interface
- Multi-track editing
- Real-time preview
- Built-in transitions and filters
- Limited advanced features
- Occasional stability issues
Top 5 best video editing software for YouTube professionals
Now, we're going to show the popular editing software for YouTube that YouTubers use most frequently and will promote the qualities of your content. Keep in mind that these software options are feature-rich and may come with premiums that are not cheap, but they are embedded within a suite of powerful tools, such as color grading and audio mixing. Let's continue!
Adobe Premiere Pro
Adobe Premiere Pro is a great YouTube video editing software, highly favored by YouTube professionals. It offers an extensive range of editing features, seamless integration with other Adobe Creative Cloud apps, and advanced tools for precise editing. However, it comes with a subscription-based pricing model and requires higher system specifications.
Pros and Cons
- Extensive editing features
- Seamless integration with other Adobe Creative Cloud apps
- Multi-platform software
- Preview the footage in the Media
- A plethora of video and audio formats supported
- Subscription-based pricing
- High system requirements
- Some tools you need to learn professional tutorials online and even watch videos
Final Cut Pro
When mentioning Final Cut Pro, it's important to note that Final Cut Pro is a renowned video editing software exclusively available for macOS. It provides professional-grade editing tools, an intuitive interface, and optimized performance on Apple devices. YouTube professionals often choose Final Cut Pro for its advanced features and seamless integration with other Apple products. However, it comes with a higher price point.
Pros and Cons
- Professional-grade editing tool
- Optimized for macOS
- Fast and quality rendering
- 4K supported
- Easy to use user interface
- Exclusive to macOS
- High price
Sony Vegas Pro
Sony Vegas Pro is a popular choice among YouTube professionals due to its powerful editing capabilities. It offers a comprehensive set of editing tools, advanced audio features, and real-time effects. However, some users have reported occasional stability issues, and the software comes with a higher price tag.
Pros and Cons
- Powerful editing capabilities
- Extensive audio tools
- Real-time effects
- Motion tracking
- Keyframes propped
- High price
- Occasional stability issues
Avid Media Composer
Avid Media Composer is an industry-standard video editing software trusted by professionals in film and television. It offers advanced editing tools, collaborative features, and a robust workflow. You can experiment with a vast library of sound effects and transitions to enhance the performance of your project without laggings.
Pros and Cons
- Industry-standard editing tools
- Advanced collaborative features
- It allows collaboratibe features
- For both Windows and Mac
- Free versions for users
- Steep learning curve
- High price for the full version
Filmora
Filmora is a user-friendly video editing software suitable for both beginners and YouTube professionals. It features a simple and intuitive interface, a wide range of effects and transitions, and support for 4K videos. However, the free version includes a watermark, and the software may have occasional performance issues.
Pros and Cons
- User-friendly interface
- Wide range of effects and transitions
- 4K video support
- A set of video formats
- Real-time effect rendering
- Limited advanced features
- Occasional performance issues
- Watermark in the free version
Explore the ultimate video editing program for YouTube: CapCut video editor
CapCut is a popular video editing software that has gained recognition as one of the best options for editing YouTube videos. It offers a wide range of editing features, effects, and tools to enhance your video content. You can search for YouTube music and sound effects from built-in audio stock. CapCut is also a YouTube movie maker with amazing effects and a 4K output resolution to help you generate a hit.
One significant advantage of CapCut is that it does not include watermarks on the exported videos, ensuring a professional look for your YouTube channel. With its user-friendly interface and watermark remover, CapCut provides an excellent editing experience, making it a preferred choice for many YouTubers seeking high-quality video editing software.
Create quality YouTube videos in no time!
- There are numerous tutorials available that can guide you through the process of creating a video for YouTube. Here are some general steps and topics often covered in these tutorials. Let's make a good YouTube video now.
- Step 1: Download and sign up
- Visit CapCut's official website and download the CapCut desktop video editor on your device. Sign in after installation, use your TikTok, Facebook or Google account. Then click on New Project, and you can edit your video now!
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- Step 2: Upload video
- Click "Create project" and select "Import" from the media tab. Upload the video from your device and drag and drop it into the timeline.
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- Step 3: Edit YouTube videos with a trove of features and powerful tools
Importing your video footage into video editing software. CapCut supports importing clips from local storage and from media library.
Trimming and organizing your clips. To trim a YouTube video with CapCut, all you need to do is highlight the video track, place the play head, and click the "Split" icon to trim the videos.
Adding transitions, effects, and text overlays. You're allowed to experiment with diverse transitions and effects with specific parameters, such as intensity and effects.
Enhancing the audio quality and adjusting volume levels. Incorporating music or sound effects. Editing the timeline and adjusting the pacing of your video.
Step3: Export and share
- Once you are done with editing, click Export to customize the video or audio exporting settings. You can customize the resolution (480p, 720p, 1080p, 2K, or 4K), quality (lower, recommended, higher and customized), frame rate (24fps, 25fps, 30fps, 50fps, and 60fps), and format (MP4 and MOV). Click the Export button to save the video. You can also run a copyright check before exporting the video.
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Adjust the aspect ratio, choose a captivating video cover, set visibility preferences, and grant necessary permissions. Once done, simply click "Share" to seamlessly post your masterpiece directly to TikTok and YouTube from within the interface, without any hassle.
Conclusion
Here is both easy-to-use and professional (but hard-to-use) video editing software for YouTube. However, CapCut makes itself different from the majority in the service of exporting without watermarks and editing your video with the power of AI technologies.
As for AI-powered tools, you can explore auto-caption (it allows you to generate subtitles for a video automatically), background remover (it allows you to green screen a video), color correction (it allows you to do color grading), and many more.
FAQs related to YouTube video editing software
- What software do YouTubers use for editing?
- YouTubers use a variety of video editing software based on their preferences and requirements. Some popular choices among YouTubers include CapCut and iMovie. These software options offer advanced editing features, professional-grade tools, and flexibility to create high-quality videos for YouTube.
- Ultimately, the choice of software depends on the individual YouTuber's editing style, budget, and platform compatibility. Want to add music to YouTube videos effortlessly?
- What video editing software is best for YouTube?
- When it comes to the best video editing software for YouTube, CapCut and FCP are often regarded as top choices. Both offer a wide range of advanced editing features, professional-grade tools, and seamless integration with other creative applications. CapCut is known for its cross-platform compatibility and easy-to-learn user experience, while Final Cut Pro is exclusive to macOS. Ultimately, the choice between the two depends on the user's preference, operating system, and familiarity with the software.
- What editing software do most YouTubers use for free?
- Many YouTubers, especially beginners looking for the best video editing software for YouTube beginners, use free video editing software such as CapCut and VSDC. CapCut offers a user-friendly interface and customizable filters, while VSDC provides advanced editing tools and professional-grade color correction. CapCut is renowned for its simplicity and versatility, establishing it as one of the best free video editing software for YouTube. Its wide-ranging format support and watermark-free editing capabilities make it an excellent choice for YouTubers seeking a cost-effective solution. These free options empower YouTubers to enhance their videos without the burden of additional expenses, rendering them accessible choices, especially for those just starting or working within a budget.
- Is CapCut recommended?
Yes, CapCut is highly recommended, especially for those looking for a free and feature-rich video editing solution. CapCut stands out as an excellent choice due to its robust set of editing tools, ease of use, and the fact that it offers watermark-free editing without any hidden charges. It's an ideal option for both beginners and more experienced video editors, making it a top recommendation for a wide range of users seeking versatile and cost-effective video editing software.