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Best Tools

Best Video Editing Tools

Editors for short-form, long-form, and pro work — desktop and mobile.

Best Video Editing Tools Updated regularly · review methodology applied

Video editing software has bifurcated: pro NLEs and short-form template-driven tools. The picks below cover both.

Picks

DaVinci Resolve

Best free pro NLE

Hollywood-grade editor with a free version that covers most needs.

Pros

  • Pro-grade color and audio
  • Free tier is genuinely capable
  • No subscription

Cons

  • Hardware demands are real
  • Steeper learning curve

Adobe Premiere Pro

Best industry-standard

Default in most professional studios; deep ecosystem.

Pros

  • Industry-standard
  • Strong After Effects/Photoshop integration
  • Wide tutorial supply

Cons

  • Subscription required
  • Performance varies by hardware

Final Cut Pro

Best for Mac users

Apple's pro NLE — fast, optimized for Apple silicon, one-time purchase.

Pros

  • Excellent performance on Apple silicon
  • One-time purchase
  • Magnetic timeline

Cons

  • Mac only
  • Different paradigm than Premiere

CapCut / VN

Best mobile / short-form

Template-driven editors built for vertical video. CapCut's data-handling has raised concerns; VN is a privacy-friendlier alternative.

Pros

  • Great mobile UX
  • Built-in templates and effects
  • Free tiers are usable

Cons

  • CapCut data-handling concerns
  • Limited for long-form work

Kdenlive / Shotcut / OpenShot

Best open-source

Free, open-source editors for desktop. Kdenlive is the most polished of the three.

Pros

  • Free and open source
  • Cross-platform
  • No subscription

Cons

  • UX less refined than commercial tools
  • Smaller communities

Things to consider

Pick by where you'll spend the most time: short-form mobile vs long-form desktop. Don't buy software based on the longest YouTube tutorial — buy based on a project you actually need to finish this month.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a beefy computer?

For 4K editing yes. For 1080p, modern mid-range hardware is fine.

Is DaVinci Resolve free really enough?

For most creators, yes. The paid Studio version adds neural-network features and team collaboration.

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