Empowered by social media and a wide range of mobile devices, everyone today can be considered a content creator. While it doesn’t take much to shoot a video or post an image online, it takes time, dedication and good software tools to create memorable content that millions of viewers across the world will watch.
Youtube channels and personalities constantly fight for our undivided attention and need to come with a unique voice and feel in their videos that will resonate with their potential subscribers. Shooting a good video is just one side of the coin, using the right editing tools is the other. To capture your audience you will need effects, transitions, soundtrack, and many other variables to make the video feel complete. So with that in mind, we want to present you with 5 software tools for editing Youtube videos.
Note: This will be the measuring stick – there are many different categories that video editing software can be placed in like: free vs paid, monetization model: one-time payment vs subscription, beginner-intermediate-expert level editing tools and so on. When presenting you with these programs we will do our best to try and categorize them for you, but remember that it comes down to your personal preference and experience with them that should guide you. All these tools are great and we encourage you to try them and decide which sticks the most.
- Hitfilm Express
Our number one pick based on all the above-mentioned criteria is Hitfilm Express. Many outlets find this to the best youtube video editors today. It has a friendly interface that is very welcoming for beginners with easy to grasp functions for video editing. Transitions, effects, import and export options, you name it. It also boasts a great community that can help you in case you get stuck on any particular issue. Hitfilm Express is free and you can go at your own pace before considering the HitFilm Pro 14 version. This commercial version packs a much higher variety of features and effects, importing options. You’ll want to employ those you believe you have passed the beginner stage. Pro features can be added via their Add-on store and if you need options such as add 360° video, effects library, or third-party solutions you should consider paying.
HitFilm is available for both Windows and Macs.
2. Adobe Premiere Pro / Adobe Premiere Pro Rush
There is no going back and forth about this, Adobe Premiere Pro makes it to the top in the majority of video editing software lists. Next to Apple’s Final Cut Pro, it is the standard in movie and TV production. It has tons of features that go beyond youtube video editing, but this is both its biggest strength and downside for beginners. If you are an intermediate or expert user this is the best software editing tool that will allow you to bring your craft to the next level. New features are released constantly at a pace that has creators coming back for more. The editing process for the Pro can be characterized as smooth and powerful, but tools like rulers, guides, snapping, trimming, strokes, background fill rendering, mask tracking can be overwhelming for beginners. So if you are looking for a place to start and not get swamped in the terminology (like I do) and all the complex interface options try Adobe Premiere Rush
Not only is it an app you can download on your phone Adobe Rush comes with pre-defined templates that can also help you set up the perfect video of your choosing. It focuses on accessibility and speed rather then complexity so if you are looking for a place to start Rush for it. Now Adobe products are not free so you’ll have to consider your budget. Adobe Premiere Rush comes with a Free Starter plan, that will allow for 3 exports before moving you to the paid version of $9.99/month and the Premiere Pro comes with a 7 days free trial when you get the $20.99/month option.
Both products are available and run on Windows and Apple’s Mac OS with Rush being available on your devices both, Android, and iOS.
3. Davinci Resolve 16 / DaVinci Resolve Studio 16
Developed by Blackmagic Design, DaVinci Resolve comes with a free and commercial edition. DaVinci Resolve Studio 16 will cost you 299$ (one-time purchase) and it is formidable. It facilitates multi-user collaboration, stereoscopic 3D tools, dozens of plugins, but again expertise is what is important. If you are a beginner youtube video creator or haven’t decided to make the purchase, try out the free DaVinci Resolve 16. It has one of the most user-friendly interfaces for beginners and tutorial courses that will get you thought the basics. No watermarks in exported videos, no limits of exports, but you should bear in mind that for a smooth experience (i.e. High 4k quality videos) will require a strong PC.
It’s available for all major platforms: Windows, macOS, and Linux
4. Filmora9
Their statement is “A video editor for all creators” shines through. Filmora9 is very easy to use and rewarding to master. In terms of creating youtube videos, it is one of the most friendly video editing software on the market. The free version has a lot of features available from the get-go and in case you decide to upgrade, there is a variety of both individual and business plans for you to choose from. Now it may not come with all the high-end features that other editing products have, but it is a great tool for beginners aiming to start their careers.
Available for Windows and macOS
5. Shotcut
Shotcut is a free, open-source, cross-platform video editor. The trade-off is polish and a shorter range of features, but a collaborative development of the tool means it is going to be an ever-growing program. New tools and features are constantly added down the line and if download and go is your choice Shotcut is simply great. You’ll get all the necessary tutorials to help you in navigating all its most crucial tools like crossfades transitions, track fillers, keyframes. Basically it provides all the knowledge base that a starting youtube video creator needs. Where Shotcut stands out among the crowd of free editing software for YouTube is the tutorials on offer. The interface may be a bit clunky, but it is all a matter of a user’s taste. No watermarks, tons of variety and available for all platforms: Windows, Mac OS, Linux.
Conclusions
If you want to start off your youtube career, focus on the quality of content first. Make sure your videos have a message, topic and voice that captures the user’s attention. Once that’s finished, figure out what sort of effects, audio devices, text and color grading you’ll want to use. That’s when you should jump ahead and give all the above-mentioned software tools a try. Video editing also has personality and style, you’ll need to choose what’s right for you. Looking for new devices that can help you shoot high-quality videos, Techfiddle has you covered. Experiment and master the craft of creating videos!
