Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
Best Rendering Speed and Format Support
CyberLink PowerDirector 365
Pros & Cons
Fast project rendering
Clear, usable interface
Loads of effects and AI tools
Multicam and motion tracking
Screen recording
Number of options can be overwhelming at times
Specs & Configurations
Number of Video Tracks
100
Supports 360° VR Content
Supports 4K XAVC-S Format
Why We Picked It
CyberLink PowerDirector has long been a PCMag Editors’ Choice winner among Windows video editing software options, and the product made the jump to the Mac relatively recently, where it continues to excel. Standout features include its Mask, PiP, and Title Designers, as well as a beefy selection of templates and stock content. The included Audio Designer lets you play with sound, with pitch shifts and radio effects, wind removal, and denoise options. LUT support means you can apply a studio-like color language to your movie, and seamless transitions, speech-to-text transcription, and motion graphics make for captivating YouTube posts.
Who It’s For
PowerDirector is for serious amateurs who wants to create impressive videos but don’t want to take a postgraduate course in editing and production. Despite its depth of features, CyberLink PowerDirector is fairly simple to figure out and use. Single-purchase and subscription options are both available, with the latter getting frequent content, stock media, and feature updates.
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CyberLink PowerDirector 365 Review
Best for Cross-Platform Professionals
Adobe Premiere Pro
Pros & Cons
Excellent stabilization tool
Responsive speed and fast rendering
Unlimited multicam angles
Many organization and collaboration tools
Clear, flexible interface
Some techniques require additional applications, such as After Effects or Media Encoder
No sound effect samples
Intimidating interface for nonprofessionals
Specs & Configurations
Number of Video Tracks
Unlimited
Supports 360° VR Content
Supports 4K XAVC-S Format
Why We Picked It
Premiere Pro is a powerhouse among pro video editing applications, and Adobe keeps adding more pro-level features, such as with its acquisition of the leading online video collaboration platform, frame.io. You get top-notch color grading, multicam, effects, VR editing, motion graphic templates, and speech-to-text tools. Another big reason to go with Premiere Pro is its tight integration with other Adobe products like After Effects and Rush. If that’s not enough, it supports a wide range of third-party plug-ins.
Who It’s For
Yes, Premiere Pro is definitely for pros. It’s also for enthusiastic amateurs, YouTubers, and those who want to get a foot in the door of professional video editing. It’s certainly a deep, demanding applications in terms of learning curve, but Adobe has recently been adding features that make Premiere Pro more accessible to nonprofessionals. Those unwilling to pay a recurring subscription fee will want to look elsewhere, however.
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Adobe Premiere Pro Review
Best for Professionals and Prosumers
Apple Final Cut Pro
Pros & Cons
Magnetic, trackless timeline
Superior organization tools, including libraries, ratings, tagging, and auto analysis for faces and scenes
Support for 360-degree footage and wide color spaces
Plug-in support
Multicam editing
Fast performance
Nontraditional timeline editing may turn off longtime video producers
Import and export experiences trail those in Premiere Pro
No automatic speech-to-text captioning
Runs only on Apple hardware
Fewer collaboration features than Premiere Pro
Specs & Configurations
Number of Video Tracks
Unlimited
Supports 360° VR Content
Supports 4K XAVC-S Format
Why We Picked It
Final Cut is one of the pioneers among nonlinear computer video editing programs. Before a revamp several years ago, it was a daunting beast of a program, only suitable for dedicated professional editors. Since then, it’s become far more intuitive, yet still remains among the most powerful and feature-full video editing applications available. It leads in support for new standards like 8K RED RAW, ProRes 422, VR and wide-gamut color spaces. It also offers slick tools for multicam editing, color grading, and intelligent motion tracking. Its unconventional but brilliant “trackless timeline” is unique, and workflow features for media management and collaboration are aces up its sleeve.
Who It’s For
Though it’s a thoroughly professional-level application, Final Cut is nevertheless also suitable for amateurs who want to do impressive feats with their video projects. It won’t break the bank and doesn’t require an ongoing subscription fee like competitor Adobe Premiere Pro does.
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Apple Final Cut Pro Review
Best for Entry-Level Users
Apple iMovie
Pros & Cons
Beautifully simple interface
Great chroma-keying tool
Unique support for iPhone video features
Excellent movie templates
Extremely easy to use
Does not support media tagging
Lacks multicam and motion tracking capabilities
Limited to two video tracks
Specs & Configurations
Number of Video Tracks
2
Supports 360° VR Content
Supports 4K XAVC-S Format
Why We Picked It
Apple iMovie not only comes free with every Mac, but also offers some nifty video editing capabilities in a clear, usable interface. Despite its simplicity (it shares Apple’s unique trackless timeline interface with Final Cut Pro), you still get advanced tools for chroma-keying, color-matching, and working with audio. The Storyboard and Trailers features are unmatched for giving amateurs guidance on how to create compelling productions.
Who It’s For
Apple iMovie is clearly not intended for professional video editors. Home users and hobbyists who want to make appealing mini-movies of their vacations are the perfect audience for this app. It’s also a great choice for iPhone users, since it ties in with the video capabilities of that device.
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Apple iMovie Review
Best Free Version
DaVinci Resolve
Pros & Cons
Plenty of editing tools for precise control
Clear, well-designed interface
Includes motion graphics and audio editing
Fast render performance
Requires a lot of system resources
Complex software takes time to learn
Specs & Configurations
Number of Video Tracks
Unlimited
Supports 360° VR Content
Supports 4K XAVC-S Format
Why We Picked It
DaVinci Resolve is at the forefront of professional digital video post production. It’s more of a suite, rather than a single application, as it combines video editing with motion graphics, color coding, and audio production. This software has been used on recent movies and TV shows, including Dune, Jurassic World Dominion, and Top Gun: Maverick. Clearly, any effect or edit that can be done in the medium, you can do with Resolve.
Who It’s For
DaVinci Resolve is a standard in professional video editing, but for the consumer audience it offers something extremely compelling: a very capable free version. That said, it’s doesn’t sport the lowest learning curve, so be prepared to study and figure out of its interface and processes, which differ from those of average consumer video editors. The best part for our consumer readers is that the free version lets them do quite a lot. The paid version adds temporal and spatial noise reduction, stereoscopic 3D, optical blur, mist effects, and the Neural Engine machine learning technology that powers more advanced effects.
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DaVinci Resolve Review
Best for Easy Effects
Wondershare Filmora
Pros & Cons
Blazing-fast render speed
Pleasant interface
Lots of effects and overlays
Inexpensive
No multicam editing or VR capabilities
No DVD menu or chapter authoring
Some AI features are disappointing
Specs & Configurations
Number of Video Tracks
100
Supports 360° VR Content
Supports 4K XAVC-S Format
Why We Picked It
Wondershare Filmora is one of the easier-to-use and lower-cost video editing options around. The company is continually adding impactful effects like motion blur, filters, animations, and transitions. The interface is slick, clear, and pleasing, and performance is speedy. You get a good selection of stock content and templates with the app.
Who It’s For
Filmora is squarely for hobbyists and YouTubers. Its frequent additions of effects make it suitable for you if you’re in that group. It’s available either as a subscription or a perpetual license, both of which get you stock media, templates, and effects.
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Wondershare Filmora Review
Best for Hobbyists
Adobe Premiere Elements
Pros & Cons
Clear and simple interface
Guided Edits ease basic and advanced projects
Ample video effects
Professional-looking text tools
Cross-platform support
Slow output rendering speed
No 360-degree VR or 3D editing
No multicam support
No screen recording capability
No DVD or Blu-ray burning
Specs & Configurations
Number of Video Tracks
Unlimited
Supports 360° VR Content
Supports 4K XAVC-S Format
Why We Picked It
Premiere Elements lets hobbyists more easily produce effects that would take significant learning time and effort in a professional-level application. It does offer the standard timeline and keyframe editing tools, but Guided Edits and other ease-of-use features make it so amateurs can avoid the intricacies of those tools and still produce something that looks good. Another benefit is the upgrade path to Adobe Premiere Pro, though the interfaces are quite different.
Who It’s For
Adobe used to use the term “memory keepers” to describe the audience for the Elements versions of both Premiere and Photoshop. That’s the person in the family who creates visual keepsakes from the family vacation, birthday, and other occasions. If you want to produce lovely, charming home movies with compelling effects, Premiere Elements is for you. Another advantage over some other products, including most of those from Adobe, is that Elements doesn’t require subscription payments; buy it once and it’s yours forever.
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Adobe Premiere Elements Review
Best for Quick Social Videos
Adobe Premiere Rush
Pros & Cons
Clean, clear, simple interface
Good title options
Lets you change video speed
Quick performance
Seamless Premiere Pro project compatibility
Few transitions
Can’t choose export file type and codec
No green screen or freeze frame features
Limited audio tools
Specs & Configurations
Number of Video Tracks
7
Supports 360° VR Content
Supports 4K XAVC-S Format
Why We Picked It
Adobe Rush started out as Adobe’s mobile app for quick video shooting, editing, and posting to social channels. It’s still that, but now it’s also available as desktop apps for Mac and Windows. Rush isn’t overburdened with features, but you get enough titles, effects, color correction, and audio tools to create something visually appealing. Another advantage is that your projects can be stored in the cloud and you can then edit them in Premiere Pro.
Who It’s For
Rush is a great tool for vloggers and anyone who wants to shoot and edit video while out and about. It does require a subscription. The least expensive option that includes Rush is the $9.99-per-month Adobe Express subscription.
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Adobe Premiere Rush Review
Buying Guide: The Best Video Editing Software for Macs in 2024
What Kind of Mac Is Best for Video Editing?The best MacBook laptops options for video editing range from the MacBook Air to the 16-inch MacBook Pro. The preference for Macs for video editing seems largely based on the fact that nonlinear video editing on personal computers started with Macs—with the Apple Macintosh II, to be precise. That preference persists despite Windows systems having long afforded more choices in editing software and more upgradability in hardware, including for CPUs, GPUs, storage, peripherals, and touch screens.That said, Apple still has indisputable inducements, most notably terrific displays with accurate, wide-gamut colors, not to mention exclusive access to the Final Cut Pro professional and enthusiast video editing application. It also lets you use an iPad as a touch-screen peripheral via the Sidecar feature.Some iMacs in recent years have started letting you upgrade their RAM, but with Apple’s move to the Apple Silicon architecture, that’s no longer possible. You’re stuck with the specs you originally purchased. Nor can you upgrade the hard drive (meaning the SSD), though that’s been the case for MacBooks since 2016. As a result, make sure you’re willing to pay extra for more memory and storage when buying a Mac for video editing. Apple itself has admitted that 8GB of RAM isn’t sufficient, so be sure to get a Mac with at least double that.Your choices range from the entry-level Mac Mini for $599 to the Mac Pro video-editing powerhouse, which will set you back from $5,999 to $12,299, depending on whether you want a tower or rack model and on how many cores and how much RAM and storage you kit it up with. With both the mini and the Pro, you need to spring for a monitor, and you should look for one that’s designed for photo and video editing. If you have $5,000 to $6,000 to spend on a monitor, we recommend the Apple Pro Display XDR or the more affordable Dell UltraSharp 27 4K PremierColor for anyone editing video on an Apple Mac.
How to Buy the Best Video Editing Software
What Kind of Mac Video Editing Software Is Available?There are three tiers of video editing software for macOS: entry-level, enthusiast, and professional.Entry LevelThe best-known entry-level video editing application for macOS is Apple’s iMovie. It comes with Macs for free and it’s impressively capable. iMovie ties in well with the iOS version of the app, letting you pick up on the Mac where you left off with the iPhone. Other entry-level options are Lightworks and Movavi.
(Credit: Apple/PCMag)
Enthusiast LevelThe old standby in this category is Adobe Premiere Elements, which offers a clear, simple interface and great tutorial content for getting that special effect you’re looking for. Another choice in this space is our longtime Editors’ Choice-winning video editing application for Windows PCs, CyberLink PowerDirector. The program tends to offer the best support for new formats and technology, and it was the fastest at rendering our test project aside from Final Cut Pro.Professional LevelAt the professional level, choices for video editing software on the Mac shine, particularly because it’s the only platform on which you can run Apple’s excellent Final Cut Pro. Adobe Premiere Pro has taken over much of Final Cut’s market share usage by professionals after Apple completely revamped the traditional Final Cut interface. The current version is a boon to enthusiasts and those moving up from iMovie, however, because of its trackless timeline and simplified interface. Don’t think that means Final Cut Pro isn’t professional level, however. It can match and even sometimes beat Premiere Pro on deep editing tools, format support, and performance.For more on these two higher-end apps, you can read our article on Adobe Premiere Pro vs. Apple Final Cut Pro.Other pro-level editing software available for macOS includes the far more expensive and complex Avid Media Composer ($1,299) and DaVinci Resolve ($295, with a limited free version available).All the apps in this category except Final Cut and iMovie are available on Windows, too. We focus on consumer software that appeals to a general audience rather than these niche products; that said, we include DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut, and Premiere Pro among our reviews because they’re of interest to enthusiasts as well as to professionals.Video Editing on iPhoneSince many Mac users also have an iPhone, you should know that you have plenty of options for editing video on your phone. Some are mobile versions of desktop apps, though you’ll also find capable mobile-only apps like CapCut and InShot. What Is the Best Free Video Editing Software for Macs?Beginners and dabblers in Mac video editing who just want to join clips, add transitions between clips, overlay text, and apply basic effects on Macs need look no further than iMovie. It comes included with your Mac, and it’s very good for beginners. For those who want to go deeper into the intricacies of the craft, I recommend the free version of DaVinci Resolve, which encompasses the full range of professional video editing. A couple of other free options include the open-source ShotCut and Kdenlive, both of which are powerful but lack some usability creature comforts and hand-holding.What to Look for in Mac Video Editing SoftwareThe basics of video editing—joining, trimming, and splitting video clips and then outputting the result as a single file—are possible in all the software here. But there’s so much more that you can do with your video. Adding transitions, text titles and captions, and fun effects all come in limitless variations. You might also want picture-in-picture, motion tracking, chroma keying, and speed-changing like slo-mo or fast forward. Entry-level and enthusiast-level programs include templates that help you arrange your content for a compelling, coherent presentation. iMovie’s Storyboard and Premiere Elements’ Smart Trim tools and templates are standouts among these capabilities.And then there’s audio. Most video editing apps for Mac let you add background music, voice-over narration, and effects and adjustments to your clips’ audio. Want to make it sound like your video was recorded in a concert hall or stadium? The software can do that.
Recommended by Our Editors
(Credit: Black Magic Design/PCMag)
The final stage of editing is not to be ignored: output. Does the program make it easy to format your project for your intended output? For most hobbyist video editors these days that means online social video—TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter—but you may also want to share an HD or 4K file privately or upload it to the more professional Vimeo, as well as embed it on your website, in a presentation, or in a Zoom session. You may even want to create a DVD or USB key with your video to share as a physical gift or promotion, popular for videos of special occasions.The video editing software you choose must be able to output to your specifications, whether that’s a smartphone screen or a wall-size 4K TV. Maybe you even want to output for VR headsets. Whatever the output, you don’t want to be waiting around for long periods while the program processes your project, and that’s what our next section discusses. How Fast Is Video Software on macOS?Rendering a project with all your media, edits, and effects is one of the more computationally intensive processes today’s computers perform. If you want to create complex videos that are more than a few minutes long, you need a powerful computer with high-end components. Better video software enlists your GPU to aid in rendering. To test rendering, I created a five-minute project in each app consisting of a mix of 8K, 4K, and HD clips with cross-fade transitions between each. I render it to 1080p60 using H.264 High Profile and targeting a 20Mbps bit rate. Audio is output at 48KHz AAC at 192Kbps. I test on a 2021 MacBook Air with an M1 processor and 8GB RAM running macOS Ventura. That’s on the low end of power for video editing, but it highlights performance differences more than a superpowered Mac would.
Surprisingly, Apple’s software no longer takes the lead in video rendering performance. The crown goes to software from China, Wondershare Filmora, which took 94 seconds to render the test project, followed by CyberLink PowerDirector for Mac, with a time of 105 seconds. Adobe Premiere Pro held the middle of the pack with 170 seconds, and Apple Final Cut Pro and iMovie followed with 205 and 215 seconds, respectively. Though Adobe Premiere Pro has greatly improved in render speed on Windows PCs, its performance on macOS still trails the pack by a hefty margin, taking 238 seconds. Your mileage will vary, of course, depending on your hardware, the format of your source media, and the output settings. What Is the Best Photo Editing App for Macs?Although more video editing applications are available for PCs, Apple’s computers have more than enough options, and the top software is available on the platform. Whether you use the free iMovie at the entry level or the mega-powerful Premiere Pro, you’re likely to find software that suits your needs on the Mac. If you’re wondering which operating system is best for you, check out our article on macOS vs. Windows. If you have or intend to switch from one to the other, read Windows 10 tips for Mac users or macOS tips for windows users, depending on which direction you’re heading.
