Next on our list of 12 best video editing software for Mac is Final Cut Pro. It is Apple's premier professional video editing software for macOS users. Audio software list. The application is built to tap into the robust processing core, graphics card, and VRAM that power the latest Mac machines. Final Cut Pro X. Best Video Editing Software for Mac. Apple's popular Final Cut Pro X is a prosumer video editing package that perfectly blends professional video features with a smooth learning curve for consumers. With over 2 million users and a steeply reduced price from the original $999 to $99 on Amazon, it's more popular than ever. Another video editing software program for both Windows and Mac is VideoPad, from NCH Software. It's free for non-commercial use. It supports drag-and-drop, effects, transitions, 3D video editing, text and caption overlay, video stabilization, easy narration, free built-in sound effects, and color control. If the potential cost of video-editing software is holding you back, then have no fear. We've gathered together a list of the best free or cheap apps you can use on your Mac. Video-editing apps needn't be costly. Plenty of free alternatives exist for both Windows 10 and MacOS. Here's our list of the best free video-editing software.
The Mac is hugely popular among creative professionals, so it's no great surprise that there are lots of video editing tools available for it. Whether you just want to add titles, transitions and a soundtrack, or you want to add Hollywood-style effects and access to professional color correction there's a Mac application that will do the job.
The really great news is that many of these programs are free. You might expect that free video editing software would have fewer features or produce less professional results than expensive software, but many of the free tools featured here are more than good enough to produce professional-looking movies. The only downside is that they tend to have a steep learning curve and they don't walk you through the process of editing. However, there are plenty of video on YouTube to help you get started. Here are the best free and paid-for video editing applications for the Mac.
Best free video editing software for Mac
1. iMovie
Apple's consumer focused video editing tool used to only be free if you bought a new Mac. But now everyone can download it free from the Mac App Store. It's a brilliantly easy to use application. One of its best features are the movie trailer themes that allow you to create amazing cinema-style trailers in a few minutes.
If you want to create your own movies, there are tons of effects, transitions, sound effects and title styles to help you. And it's easy to import your own audio tracks and photos and add them to your production. If you're looking for a free video editor for Mac, iMovie could be the only tool you'll ever need.
2. DaVinci Resolve
If iMovie isn't for you, give DaVinci Resolve a try. It's the free version of DaVinci Resolve Studio, but being free doesn't mean there aren't many features. It's loaded with professional tools like some of the best color correction and image stabilization there is. In the free version, you can work at frame rates up to 60fps and export your movie in SD, HD and Ultra HD.
It has a full digital audio workstation for sound editing, meaning you won't have to leave the app to get the audio just the way you want it. It's available on the Mac App Store, but if you want the full features of the free version, download it from the Blackmagic website.
3. Lightworks
While DaVinci Resolve gives away lots of its high end features in the free version, the same can't be said of Lightworks. There's still plenty here though, including: effects, multicam editing, titling, and a timeline with multiple layers.
There's also access to royalty-free video and audio content for you to include in your projects. However, output in the free version is restricted to 1080p on Vimeo and 720p on YouTube. And there are no detailed export options for H.264 or MP4. Also, if you want to use the free version for more than seven days, you'll have to register.
4. OpenShot
OpenShot is an open source video editor with a user interface that's much simpler than most. That doesn't mean it's short of features, though. It has templates for creating titles, effects, the ability to remove the background from your video, and slow motion and time effects. You can also create 3D animated titles and effects, there's support for unlimited tracks, and for more than 70 languages. The interface isn't the slickest you'll ever use, and there have been question marks over its reliability in the past, but it's definitely worth trying if you want a free video editor for the Mac.
5. Video Editor MovieMator
Video Editor MovieMator allows you to trim, split, move, and merge clips from a variety of different sources. It handles every consumer file format you're likely to need and can import directly from your iPhone or GoPro. There are lots of built-in effects and transitions, and, of course, you can add titles too.
The interface is simple enough for most people to get to grips with quickly and the real-time preview makes it easy to see exactly how your video is coming along. There is a significant limitation on the free version of the app — exports are listed to videos that are up to five minutes long. Also, there is only one transition and a handful of effects in the free version.
It has a full digital audio workstation for sound editing, meaning you won't have to leave the app to get the audio just the way you want it. It's available on the Mac App Store, but if you want the full features of the free version, download it from the Blackmagic website.
3. Lightworks
While DaVinci Resolve gives away lots of its high end features in the free version, the same can't be said of Lightworks. There's still plenty here though, including: effects, multicam editing, titling, and a timeline with multiple layers.
There's also access to royalty-free video and audio content for you to include in your projects. However, output in the free version is restricted to 1080p on Vimeo and 720p on YouTube. And there are no detailed export options for H.264 or MP4. Also, if you want to use the free version for more than seven days, you'll have to register.
4. OpenShot
OpenShot is an open source video editor with a user interface that's much simpler than most. That doesn't mean it's short of features, though. It has templates for creating titles, effects, the ability to remove the background from your video, and slow motion and time effects. You can also create 3D animated titles and effects, there's support for unlimited tracks, and for more than 70 languages. The interface isn't the slickest you'll ever use, and there have been question marks over its reliability in the past, but it's definitely worth trying if you want a free video editor for the Mac.
5. Video Editor MovieMator
Video Editor MovieMator allows you to trim, split, move, and merge clips from a variety of different sources. It handles every consumer file format you're likely to need and can import directly from your iPhone or GoPro. There are lots of built-in effects and transitions, and, of course, you can add titles too.
The interface is simple enough for most people to get to grips with quickly and the real-time preview makes it easy to see exactly how your video is coming along. There is a significant limitation on the free version of the app — exports are listed to videos that are up to five minutes long. Also, there is only one transition and a handful of effects in the free version.
Best paid-for video editors for Mac
1. Final Cut Pro X
Final Cut Pro has come a long way since it was overhauled a few years ago and lost several features that caused lots of criticism to be directed at Apple. The fact that it's designed by Apple means that it takes full advantage of hardware on the Mac, particularly the Mac Pro and iMac Pro. It pushes their multi-core CPU and GPUs to the maximum.
Features like the Magnetic Timeline 2 and Enhanced Timeline Index may be beyond the needs of most of us, but if you edit videos for a living, you'll appreciate them. Support for up to 64 camera angles with automatic audio syncing is another feature that makes video professionals lives much easier. And of course, it supports the formats you would expect of a serious video editor including ProRes, RED, and XAVC, as well as H.264 from digital SLR cameras. When it comes to Mac video editing, Final Cut Pro X has all the bases covered.
2. Adobe Premiere Pro CC
Like all of Adobe's professional products, Premiere Pro is only available as a subscription package and subscribing for a year will cost you almost as much as buying Final Cut Pro X outright. However, if you prefer your video organisation tools and especially the timeline to look and work like a traditional non-linear video editor, you may prefer Premiere Pro over Final Cut's Magnetic Timeline.
In other respects, Premiere Pro is very similar to its Apple rival, offering a full range of audio editing and color correction tools, as well as effects, support for multiple formats (including Apple's ProRes) and all the output options you're likely to need.
Best Free Video Editing Software For Mac Beginners
One area where Mac users will notice a difference is in rendering performance, particularly on a high-end Mac like a Mac Pro or iMac Pro. Adobe's application is designed for Mac and PC and so optimized or for the Mac's multi-core CPU and GPU the way that Final Cut Pro is.
3. Adobe Premiere Elements 2018
The simplest way to describe Premiere Elements is that it is to Premiere Pro what iMovie is to Final Cut Pro. But Elements and iMovie are two very different apps. For a start, while iMovie is free, Elements costs $100. The other main difference is that Elements is set up to automate much of the process of creating your movie masterpieces. So, for example, Quick mode takes the clips and other media you've imported and throws them together on the timeline, you can then re-order them, trim them and add transitions and other effects. Even here, however, the emphasis is on letting Elements do the hard work for you. So, press the Fix button and it will apply image stabilization and other ‘fixes.' If you want to be more involved, a guided mode prompts you with onscreen tips. Of course, if you'd rather work completely manually, you can. Elements doesn't make it as easy to import media as iMovie does, and you'll have to download much of its additional content, like music scores, individually.
4. Filmora
Mac compatible music software. FIlmora allows you to import clips from your Mac's hard drive, a camera, and even from social media accounts. It has a somewhat quirky interface, that may take some getting used to if you've used other video editors. But it has plenty to commend it including lots of effects, titling options, and audio controls. It's neatest feature could be the lighting preset options that allows you to emulate the look of Game of Thrones, Star Wars, or House of Cards at the click of a button.
How to make space for video on your Mac
Working with video editing software means you need lots of free space on your Mac's main drive — video clips use several gigabytes of space for every hour of content, and that's before you export the final version. You should also make sure your Mac is running at its optimal speed, you'll need every ounce of power to render video.
Best Free Video Editing Software For Macbook
One quick and easy way to both improve your Mac's performance and clear space on its hard drive is to use CleanMyMac X. CleanMyMac identifies 'junk' files that sit on your Mac's drive, taking up space and slowing it down. It makes removing the files very easy and could claw back tens of gigabytes of space. You can download it free here.
The best video editing software for Mac is, ultimately, the one that does what you need to do in a way that you enjoy working. There's lots of Mac video editing software, and much of it is free. Take time, try out as many applications as you can and choose the best one for you.
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Are you looking for a software to edit videos on your Mac? If yes, then which is the best video editing software for mac? is the question that you may ask while looking for a video editing solution on Mac. Well, the answer depends on the type of project and your level of editing. Some solutions are simpler than others, allowing for the quick creation of professional-quality presentation or tutorial videos. Other platforms are the more advanced types, with an array of high-tech tools suitable for use by commercial video/film producers and editors.
Today in this article we will help you to choose the best video editing software for Mac. How? Continue reading the article to know.
Contents
- 1 Best Video Editing Software For Mac
- 1.1 1. Adobe Premiere Pro
- 1.2 2. Lightworks – Best Video Rendering
- 1.3 3. DaVinci Resolve – Best Color Grading
- 1.4 4. Final Cut Pro X
- 1.5 5. Blender – Best for 3D
- 1.6 6. HitFilm Express – Best Visual Effects
- 1.7 7. Apple iMovie – For Home Video Editing
- 1.8 8. OpenShot – Best Free Mac Video Editor
Best Video Editing Software For Mac
You'll be confused after seeing a varied variety of video editing software for Mac in the market today. If you are thinking to research all of them, then you will probably take a week. But you don't need to worry; we have done the hard work for you and came up with a well-researched article of the 14 best video editing software for Mac. These best video editing tools are either intuitive to casual users or powerful for pros, while some are scalable so that they can be used by both types of users.
We have also highlighted the key features, pros, and cons of each to make it easier to compare them at a glance.
1. Adobe Premiere Pro
Adobe Premiere Pro is one of the best video editing software and is used at both personal and professional levels. It can be a great choice for those people who want to start filmmaking and produce video content at a professional level. The software is quite popular all over the globe due to its non-linear video editing interface.
Adobe Premiere Pro can run on various platforms including macOS 10.10 to 10.12 and from Windows 7 to Windows 10, ($139.00 at Microsoft Store) with the 64-bit versions required. To have a flawless experience minimum of 8GB of RAM (16GB recommended), and a 1,280**800 display is required
Adobe Premiere Pro comes with a free 30-days trial and to continue using the software after that, you will have to pay $19.99 per month with an annual subscription. You can also pay $29.99 per month to month basis.
PROS
- adjustable interface.
- Lots of
- Fast rendering speed.
- Ultimate power in video editing.
- Used at a professional level.
- Excellent stabilization.
- 360-degree
- multi-cam angles.
CONS
- Very hard to use.
- No keyword tagging for media.
2. Lightworks – Best Video Rendering
Platforms: Windows, Mac OS, Linux
Price: Free or $24.99 per month
Lightworks is another freemium video editing software for Mac. With this video editing software, you can use countless audio and video clips while doing your projects. To run this software smoothly, your system must be powerful so that any post-production can be done in real-time.
NOTE:- It is mandatory to have special drivers for such video cards as NVIDIA.
There is also a screen capture feature that records all your work, so you don't need to worry about the created video as they are automatically saved. Moreover, Lightworks also supports both import and export video formats which makes it possible to edit the videos recorded on multiple cameras simultaneously.
PROS
- Advanced tools
- Plenty of built-in effects
- Free for home use
- 3D video editing
CONS
- Complex interface
3. DaVinci Resolve – Best Color Grading
Platforms: Windows, Mac OS, Linux
Price: Free or $300
DaVince Resolve video editing software can be used at both personal and professional levels. The free version of DiVince Resolve supports up to 60 fps video rendering and SD, HD, and Ultra Hd export format. Its enhanced color correction and image stabilization feature are praiseworthy. DaVinci Resolve has one of the best digital audio workstations comprising amazing soundtracks so you will not need to minimize the software to get your desired sound.
It can be downloaded from App Store but if you want to access its all features then you should download it from the Blackmagic website.
PROS
- Certified Training Course available
- multilingual tutorials can be easily accessed
- Package rendering
- Many audio parameters
- Multi-camera editing, curves, extended filters
CONS
- Complicated interface for beginners
4. Final Cut Pro X
Platforms: Mac OS Best tablet drawing software windows.
Price: Free or $299
While talking of video editors for Mac, how can we forget the official one from Apple itself? Final Cut Pro X is specially optimized for Mac and features a modern metal engine. Final Cut X Pro has an intuitive design and offers some very innovative features like advanced color grading, HDR support,360° video editing, VR headset playback, and ProRes RAW.
PROS
- Advanced color grading, HDR support, and ProRes RAW
- 360° video editing and VR headset playback
- New Metal engine
- Advanced color grading
- Intuitive User Interface
CONS
- Clips information can sometimes be slow to load
- Not so great when it comes to audio mixing and editing
5. Blender – Best for 3D
Platforms: Windows, Mac OS, Linux
Price: Free
Blender is another open-source free video editor for Mac. If you are working on 3D projects such as modeling, training, interface, animation, shading, opening UV, creating 3D games in real-time, etc. then you should give it a shot. It will not acquire much space on your system. Its user-interface is quite complex so in the beginning, you might find it a bit difficult to use it to use. However, there are plenty of videos on Youtube that you can watch to master this software.
PROS
- Best tool create visual effects
- A great number of add-ons
CONS
- More inclined toward 3D animation/modeling
6. HitFilm Express – Best Visual Effects
Platforms: Windows, Mac OS
Price: Free
HitFilm Express is another free video editing software for Mac that offers more than 180 special effects that you can use for your videos. The highlight feature of HitFilm is composite images which allow creating a tome line only for special effects and animation (which may be further applied to the main video). It also has a customizable playback and pause for fast user experience.
The latest version of HitFilm Express includes quality playback, video resolution, a pause of quality, and a pause of resolution. Each of these parameters is available with four options from low to high.
PROS
- Continue video editing while exporting
- Flexible and intuitive export functions
- Extended tracking and screen simulation
CONS
- Paid plug-ins
- Low export performance
7. Apple iMovie – For Home Video Editing
Platforms: Mac OS, iOS
Price: Free
If you are a beginner at video editing and looking a free and simple software to do the basics then Apple iMovie can be a good choice for you. It is specially designed for home use that is why the layout of this Mac video editor is made simple but still it has all those essential features that we can expect from a freeware video editor.
Moreover, Apple iMovie has a great online community and support so if anything went wrong with the software, you will get quick solutions for it.
PROS
- Simple user-friendly app with an intuitive interface
- Well designed, qualitative, simple, and interesting themes
- Perfect for editing and creating trailers
- Possibility to 'frozen' frames and make clips
- Many pre-installed sound effects
CONS
- The chosen audio can't be changed
- No synchronization with other IOS-gadgets
8. OpenShot – Best Free Mac Video Editor
Platforms: Windows, Mac OS, Linux
Price: Free
Openshot is another open-source Mac video editing software. This free video editor for Mac is a perfect balance between advanced features and a simple interface. Its user interface is very similar to iMovie, however, in terms of features, it has an upper hand over iMac. Some of its features include clip resizing, scaling, cropping, snapping, rotating, including an unlimited number of layers, sound mixing, and more.
Openshot is suitable for both amateurs as well as for professional video editors. So if you want to edit promotional videos, training videos, etc. then you should consider this software.
PROS
- Clip resizing, scaling, cropping, snapping, rotating
- Cropping video transitions with real-time preview
- Composition, overlays, watermarks
- Title templates, subtitles, 3D animated titles and effects
CONS
- Only a few video lessons are available
14 Free Video Editing Software For Mac
Here are our top 14 picks for Mac video editing software.
- Adobe Premier Pro
- Lightworks
- DaVince Resolve
- Final Cut X Pro
- Blender
- HitFilm Express
- Apple iMovie
- OpenShot
Final Verdict
So, these were our top 14 picks for the best video editing software for Mac available in the market. These softwares are selected and ranked in the list in terms of their popularity, features and functionality, user ratings, and reviews. If there is any other good video editor that we have missed then let us know through the comment section.
Thank You!
