What Video Editing Software do YouTubers Use?

The online content, especially on video platforms, is diverse, greatly advanced from what it used to be a few years back, and of supreme quality, raising the bar for every content creator if they have to stand out from the rest. Using the right tools is a way of enhancing the process of content creation and editing.

Initially, content creation could only be done by experts but today, there are a variety of editing options available to anyone. Choosing the right video editing tools for your content is not obvious. This article explores the video editing tools for YouTubers that you can use.

Final Cut Pro

Final Cut Pro is ideal professional subscription-free video editing software. It is available on Mac and not Windows. Final Cut Pro was launched in 2011 and it was the best player in the market for a long time.

If you are a long-term YouTuber and don’t like to pay endless subscriptions, the Apple Final Cut Pro is the best because it only attracts a one-off fee. It is also good if you operate within the ecosystem of Apple because it operates well with photos and iTunes collections.

Apple offers a generous three months free trial and this is a chance to confirm capabilities before committing. It comes with advanced features to enable you to improve the feel and look of your videos to higher levels. The features include 360-degree HDR and video, 4K support, audio tools for multiple channels, advanced filters, and color grading, and noise reduction.

Through Final Cut Pro, you can find scenes and move them around easily during the video-editing process. With the Multicam feature, you can sync up to around 64 and view 16 angles at the same time.

Premiere Pro

Premiere Pro is the best video editing software available for top YouTubers who prefer working on Mac or Windows. If you are a pro in editing YouTube videos and prefer software with excellent features suitable for various platforms, choose Premiere Pro.

Premiere Pro is known for sleek production capabilities and is used in the movie and TV industries. The software will support VR, 8K, and 4K formats, as well as collaborative editing through virtual screening. Other important features include:

  • Automatic video and audio syncing.
  • Motion graphic pulling capabilities.
  • The ability to watch and edit a clip simultaneously.

The features of Premiere Pro can be overwhelming, but the interface is user-friendly and customizable. Adobe also offers free tutorials in case you need help on how to navigate the software. You need to be a member of the Creative Cloud to rent the software because the direct purchase is not allowed.

Premiere Rush

Premiere Rush is suitable for video editing on mobile, particularly in iOs and Android. The free version is available with creative capabilities, although it is less powerful than Premiere pro. This software has been developed for people who create videos for social media and YouTubers.

If you like creating and editing YouTube videos on the go, Premiere Rush can save you lots of effort and time, especially when combined with Premiere Pro. It has features almost similar to Premiere Pro, like auto-ducking for balancing the levels of sound between music and voice.

It is easy to use facilities from Adobe Stock like graphic templates to create a slick feel and look to videos. This app also facilitates cloud video sharing, and therefore you can take it for continued editing on your iOs, Android, or desktop.

If you are on a Creative Cloud Membership plan, a free app plan is available, including unlimited free mobile exports, 2GB storage on the cloud, and more. After that, you need a paid plan upgrade.

Pinnacle Studio 24

Pinnacle Studio 24 is one of the most cost-effective YouTube video editing software for windows. Since it has been in existence for a long time, there could have been some poor reviews attached to previous versions.

Since it was taken over by Corel in 2012, it has been greatly improved in terms of reliability and capability. Whereas it may not be as advanced as most other software on the list, it is good for beginners, owing to its user-friendly interface and cost-effectiveness.

After using it for a while, you may consider shifting to advanced features under a higher tier that offers 360 VR editing, diverse video masking, and keyframing controls. Pinnacle Studio 24 is a worthy investment if your budget is limited or you are not tied to Apple’s or Adobe’s ecosystems.

CyberLink PowerDirector 365

CyberLink PowerDirector 365 is suitable for both pros and beginners. It is low-cost software with advanced features, including motion tracking, 360-degree editing, and multicam editing. CyberLink is a mid-market application and is available for an affordable subscription, although it is used on Windows only.

If you wish to create and edit a video fast, a mini-program called Magic Movie Wizard is available in CyberLink. It uses advanced technology to combine your clips and photos within minutes. For quality video editing, you can use a flat learning curve and access various tutorials to improve your editing skills.

The Shutterstock collaboration simplifies the use of stock assets on videos, like the way Premiere Pro operates with Adobe Stock. Although Cyberlink requires a subscription and is suitable for windows only, it is significantly cheaper.

Lightworks

Lightworks is a pro tool that works on Linux, Windows, and OS X. If you prefer working on Windows and are interested in some learning curve, Lightworks is a worthy investment. It is applied in Hollywood on movies that involve bug budgets.

The free version of this software is not as powerful as the paid option. Lightworks has a fine control capability and superior timeline capability in addition to its ability to export directly to Vimeo and YouTube.

The free version is limited because it only allows for export at 720p. Therefore, if 4K video and HD is your priority to your brand on YouTube, then you have to look for another software. The free version only supports commercial projects, so it may not be valuable if you are making some money from YouTube.

Other amazing features of Lightworks include:

  • Intuitive and simple user interface
  • Templates for social media to sequence output
  • Customizable formats for sequence output
  • Access to royalty-free video and audio content
  • Easy trimming and timeline editing
  • Export video for Vimeo and video

iMovie

iMovie is yet another video editing software suitable for novices using iOs, iPadOS, and macOS. It is easy to understand with a simple interface, although there is no version for Windows. The software has dynamic editing capabilities, titles, and built-in transitions and if well uses, it can yield impressive results.

If you have iMovie on your iPad, iPhone or Mac, try using it to edit your YouTube videos. With iMovie, you can cut clips into a single project and is available on any Mac device. iMovie targets general users who desire to put together videos for holidays or something similar to that.

iMovie is simple to acquire and use and is not far away from the pro-level tools. Nifty features such as 4k editing support, pre-set themes, and storyboard-based facilities for movies and trailers are available on the latest version. Additionally, there is support for the touch bar of MacBook, touchpad, and iPad’s mouse.

iMovie allows you to compress your video into a single file, in which case, after selecting the YouTube platform, it will facilitate export and publishing. You need not worry about the sophisticated settings that appear like hieroglyphics. It may not be suitable for complex editing tasks and implementing special effects may also be an uphill task.

Clipchamp

Clipchamp is a great video editing software for newbies who want something simple and easy to use as well as for seasoned video editors who want professional-looking results. It has over 17 million users ranging from creators to marketers to small businesses.

Clipchamp online video editor stands out from the rest because you can use it on any computer with an internet connection. All you have to do is go to their website, sign up (for free), and you can start creating or customizing your videos right in your browser.

YouTubers can enjoy several advanced tools and features with the free version, such as cutting and trimming your videos, adding subtitles or captions, merging clips, controlling speed, adding video overlays, recording your webcam or screen, and more. You also get unlimited exports of 480p resolution videos, watermark-free!

Paid versions start at only $9 per month, perfect for YouTubers who are on a budget. The upgrade to a paid plan offers even more features, such as converting text to speech with 170 natural-sounding AI voices to choose from, green screen effects, stock audio and video, and more.

Clipchamp works on Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge-based on Chromium browsers and has a mobile app for iOS devices to help make stories on the go. This web-based video editor has recently been acquired by Microsoft, making it an even more powerful tool for YouTube creators worldwide.

Conclusion

There are excellent YouTube video editing options for beginners and experienced users. Advanced software such as Final Cut Pro and Premiere Pro turns out to be better options but you can attain great results with minimal spending. If you are a beginner, select free options such as Lightworks and later migrate to advanced software after gaining video editing experience.

 

Originally published on June 10th, 2021, updated on October 28th, 2021
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What Video Editing Software do YouTubers Use?

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