One of the first major decisions that you need to make when you want to become a YouTuber is the tools that you want to use
That is what editing software is
It is a tool to help you clean up your videos and make them look better on YouTube
There are a lot of editing software options, but these are the most popular:
- Filmora
- Adobe Premiere Pro
- Clipbot
- DaVinci Resolve
- iMovie
- Final Cut Pro
- Cyberlink Powerdirector
- Lightworks
- Premiere Elements
Some of these options are free, some are paid
Others are very simple and great for beginners, and one is more complex with a large learning curve
Each one has positives and negatives and there isn’t a right answer
The right answer is choosing the one that best fits your needs and resources right now
Filmora
Filmora is one of the best editing software options available
It has an easy setup for beginners to learn and enough features to make professionals happy
This is the editing software that we use and recommend
Filmora is a paid software, but you have three options
You can pay yearly, bi-yearly, or a lifetime fee
We paid the lifetime fee and it was very worth it
There is great customer service, learning resources for the beginner to use, and a simple layout to avoid overwhelm
There are no software options that are better so you don’t have to worry about outgrowing it
Adobe Premiere Pro
Adobe’s Premiere Pro is tied for first place with Filmora but for different reasons
You have more options and features with Adobe, but it is overwhelming and confusing for a beginner
If you are completely new to video editing, Premiere Pro is not my recommendation
It is made for professionals and you can tell
Adobe’s Premiere Pro is also a paid software
You can pay monthly or yearly
There isn’t a lifetime fee option
Clipbot
Clipbot isn’t really editing software, but it can do some editing for you if you are wanting to make TikToks or YouTube Shorts
Clipbot connects to your Twitch account and automatically creates clips to post on TikTok or YouTube Shorts
If you are short on time, this could be a good option for you
To read more about Clipbot, read this article
DaVinci Resolve
DaVinci Resolve is one of the best free editing software options
It can do a lot for being a free program
Keep in mind that customer service and resources will not be as great because it is a free software
It is also not as streamlined as the better paid options
Everything has a price
And that price is either time or money
So if you choose to spend more time instead of money, expect it to take longer to get the results that you want
iMovie
iMovie is a common choice for iPhone users that are starting on YouTube
It works best for videos that are recorded on your phone, so your stream downloads are a little harder
But still possible
If you don’t want complex edits and mostly work from your phone, this is a good free option
I have talked to many creators that use it
Basically, they all say that it gets the job done well enough but not anything special
Final Cut Pro
Final Cut Pro is another software for Apple users
It is a paid software with pretty good reviews
You get a tutorial to teach you how to do the most common things in the software so that will help beginners a lot
It is fast and consistent
If you have a mac, this may be the best choice for you
Cyberlink Powerdirector
Cyberlink Powerdirector is another popular editing software
It isn’t really made for professionals, but it would take a while for a beginner to outgrow it
It is also a paid software
It has fewer features than some professional editors, but it has what you need to start creating content
It is easy and fast to use
Overall, Cyberlink Powerdirector has very good reviews for beginners
Lightworks
Lightworks is one of my least favorite options
It is decent for beginners, but it is more expensive than other software options that have better reviews if you want more features than the free option gives you
There are a lot of features available in Lightworks to make beautiful professional videos
If you are completely new to editing, this could be a good beginner option for you
But you will outgrow it pretty fast if you only use the free version
Premiere Elements
Premiere Elements is the less expensive and less complex version of Premiere Pro by Adobe
Even though it isn’t as well known, Premiere Elements is a better choice for beginners than Premiere Pro
But also helps you transition to Premiere Pro later if that is the goal
Premiere Elements has decent reviews and will get the job done
Adobe likes to update their software features often so there are new and fun features on Premiere Elements usually once a year
It is simple with a clear interface
You will grow out of it but will help you get going fast
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are so many video editing software choices out there
There is no one-size-fits-all option
You just need to look at your skill, goals, and budget to find the right one for you
Keep in mind that you are not married to any choice
If you start with free software now, you can choose to upgrade any time that you are ready
Or you try one and just hate it
You can switch
I do encourage you to give yourself at least a couple of weeks before judging if you hate a software
Learning a new skill is hard
Software can make that process easier, but it will still be hard
Give yourself time and grace
You got this!