The magic thing about Mac is that with the right software it takes your creativity to the whole new level – from hobby to profession, from amateur to pro. Think Photoshop, QuickTime, or MIDI sequencing programs. For millions of artists and designers, these tools became, well.. the reason to do art and design.

HitFilm Express is a free video editing software for Mac that offers more than 180 special effects for your video including 3D-editing. It has masks and layer tools. The main feature of HitFilm is composite images which allows creating tome line only for special effects and animation (which may be.

Video editors for macOS are a haven for creatives, allowing to transform a bunch of visuals into a professional looking movie. Even with little or no experience, you can do anything from slicing your videos to color tuning to animating in a fraction of time.

Which is the best video editing software for macOS?

What's important, you don't have to give an arm and a leg for it. The software industry is buzzing with video editing tools that are cost-effective. And if you know where to look, you'll even come across those that will cost you nothing.

Here are some of the hand-picked video editors, both paid and free, that deserve your attention. Pick your fave, weed out the rest, and enjoy your movie-making time.

Best free video editor for Mac

iMovie

Virtual set software for mac. Apple's very own movie editing software is a great place to start. For any Mac user who wants to put together a short movie or just learn the ropes in video editing, iMovie is a no-brainer solution. Sleek design, quick performance, and ease of use – these are the key superpowers iMovie is often praised for.

Although it's pretty basic, the iMovie toolkit has everything an amateur videographer needs. You can play with color correction, combine multiple videos, add titles, and do some basic audio editing.

Because the app is integrated with iPhoto and iTunes, you won't have to import any files – they are already there.

Since recently iMovie also supports 4K video editing on a Mac, which allows you to create movies at a stunning resolution. You can download iMovie for free from the Mac App Store.

Pros:

• Seamless integration with Apple devices.
• Intuitive interface.
• Multiple video sharing options (Mail Drop, YouTube, Vimeo).

Cons:

• A limited number of video formats supported.
• Every media file is stored on the device, which leads to excessive disk space usage.

Lightworks

If you think you can't do professional video shooting with free software, you haven't tried Lightworks, a video editor for Mac that's packed with tons of high-end features. Because Lightworks comes as two licenses, Free and Pro, some of these advanced features could be the part of a paid plan. But worry not, you get just enough to create a high-quality movie.

The editing toolkit covers three-way color correction, real-time effects, multi-camera editing, and many other tools you rarely get for free. You can work with high-resolution 5K footage and handle a variety of file formats – perfect functionality on the input side.

Export is limited to 720p HD, so if you need a powerful outlet for your videos, the free version won't be the right fit. Otherwise, you can grab it for free on Lightworks.

Pros:

• Available on all major operating systems.
• Numerous tools for professional use.

Cons:

• Export is limited and you need to upgrade to Pro to get extra functionality ($24.99 per monthly license).

DaVinci Resolve

This one is the king of color matching and grading. With a huge variety of built-in-effects for color editing, DaVinci Resolve is a godsend for the artistic soul.

The app was originally built as a color correction tool and gradually evolved into a full-featured macOS video editor. Just as Lightworks, it's available as both free and paid package. Both versions cover four modules: color correction, audio effects, editing, and visual effects.

DaVinci Resolve is a perfect choice for those who need avideo editor for 'serious work.' The app handles 4K resolution and is suitable for large projects – you can work on thousands of clips and tracks simultaneously. If the free version functionality works for you, you can download DaVinci Resolve on Apple Mac Store or Blackmagic Design.

On the downsize, collaboration tools that allow shared video editing aren't available in the free version.

Pros:

• Good performance (10x improvement since the recent release).
• Superb color editing tools.
• Suitable for large-scale projects.

Cons:

• Limited filters (lens flare/blur, film grain).
• Limited collaboration and workflow tools.

OpenShot

If you're looking for an open source video editor, OpenShot is one of the best in its category. With a team of developers constantly working on the improvements, the app is a functional solution for both newbies and advanced users. Trim and slice your videos, add 3D animations, and experiment with video effects. You can even integrate waveforms into newly created videos.

The set-up process is a weak spot, though. For instance, to use 3D animation and animated titles, you should first install Blender, an open-source 3D creation suite.

You can try this open source video editor for free by downloading it from OpenShot website.

Pros:

• User-friendly interface.
• Frequent updates and improvements.

Cons:

• Third-party tools needed.
• Can be baggy at times.

Best video editors to buy for macOS

Adobe Premiere

Adobe video editing software comes in two flavors, based on different proficiency levels. As the names speak for themselves, Adobe Premiere Elements is a basic consumer-level editor, while Adobe Premiere Pro CC is the best choice for experienced videographers.

Adobe Premiere Elements: If the goal is to sharpen your teeth at video editing, without spending over $100 on software, that's where you should begin. Even with limited functionality, this app is one of the best cross-platform solutions. The editor comes with a smart Organizer app, Candid Moments for capturing still images, and lots of other pro-level features.

You can buy Premiere Elements on Adobe – the full license costs $99.99 and there's a free 30-day trial for new users.

Pros:

• Built-in asset manager.
• User-friendly interface.
• Available in one package with Photoshop Elements for $119.99.

Cons:

• No support for 3D video editing.

Adobe Premiere Pro CC: A continuously evolving video maker, this software caters to the needs of the most demanding videographers. So if you have an idea for a big-screen movie, Premiere Pro CC can handle that. Compatibility with all major video formats, 3D support, and 8K editing – these advanced features clearly set the pro version apart.

If you want to get serious about video editing, get the pro version on Adobe – the plans start from $20.99 per month.

Pros:

Best Video Editing Software For Mac

• New enhancements added automatically.
• Well-suited for professional use.

Cons:

• Requires a solid knowledge of video editing.

CameraBag Pro

Free or paid, many video editing tools for Mac share the same problem. While large software packages are too heavy, single-purpose apps for filtering and editing have limited functionality. For such cases, you need CameraBag Pro – the golden mean.

Packed with 200+ presets, adjustments, and filter sets, the app is still light and simple in use. From basic color correction to advanced batch processing, the toolkit is impressive. And it's equally good for pros and newbies.

You can use CameraBag Pro as a part of Setapp subscription or you can purchase it separately for $49 on Nevercenter.

Pros:

• Slick interface.
• Adjustable settings.
• Available on Setapp.

Cons:

• Limited website instructions.

Capto

If you're looking for an easy way to create a video tutorial, you don't need no education. You need Capto. One of the best screen recording and video editing tools for beginners, this video editor does the job painlessly.

Record a screen video or import one from your Apple device and start editing. It's that easy. You can crop, trim, or cut your video, add audio tracks, and combine multiple videos into one. With Capto's intuitive workflow, you'll learn the ropes instantly.

Easy video sharing is another big perk. Once you're done with editing, upload your video anywhere, from shared services to platforms like Tumblr, Facebook, or YouTube.

With a Setapp subscription, you'll get Capto starting at $9.99 per month. If you want to buy the app separately, grab in on Global Delight for $29.99.

Pros:

• Perfect for recording video tutorials.
• Customizable screen recording.
• Rich sharing options.
• Available on Setapp.

Cons:

• Limited audio editing.

Final Cut Pro X

Designed for professional post-production, Final Cut Pro X is a big player in the world of video editing. Apart from such superb features as clip grouping and automatic audio syncing, the platform entails powerful media organization: you can organize visuals and audio in smart collections, enable content auto-analysis, and apply custom keywords. A decent choice for videographers who work with lots of footage.

For new users, there's a downside – the learning curve is too steep. But if you know the ropes in movie editing, it shouldn't be too much trouble.

You can download Final Cut Pro X from the Mac App Store for $299.99.

You can also drag files to the drop area to start uploading. Wait until the upload and conversion processes are complete. Click the UPLOAD FILES button and select up to 20 images you wish to convert. Convert jpg to pdf app mac pro.

Pros:

• Background rendering.
• User-friendly interface.
• Powerful color grading.
• Capabilities for media management.

Cons:

• Difficult to learn.

There’s lots of Mac video editing software, and much of it is free. Pros and cons considered, there are no winners or losers in this race. It's all up to your skills, price preferences, and artistic taste. Take time, try out as many applications as you can and choose the best one for you.

If you need a consumer-level tool to get started, iMovie and Adobe Premiere Elements will make the right fit.

For those looking into advanced features like background rendering, Final Cut Pro X is a clear choice.

Capto and CameraBag Pro are great options for both amateurs and pros who want to create basic videos like tutorials or time lapses. Plus both apps are available on a single subscription with Setapp.

It could be a tough choice, but the mission is possible if you understand your needs and proficiency level. Hopefully, this list will match you up with the video editor of your dreams. Or at least a nice tool that helps you get the work done.

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.

Free Editing Software For Mac

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.

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

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.

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.

Video Editing Apps Mac

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