Adobe Premiere Pro*
An Adobe professional-level product that has become the industry standard. Easy-to-use interface. Support for 360 VR and other features, but some techniques require additional applications (such as After Effects). $19.99 a month.
Adobe Premiere Rush
Video editing app using a range of Adobe’s editing software from cropping to creative overlays with animation overlay options. Works with multiple videos. Set the aspect ratio for your video so you can post on any platform. Add thumbnails, schedule postings. Free versions for for Android and iOS. Extra features with paid version.
Adobe Spark*
See Creative Cloud Express.
Clipchimp*
Makes simple video with a multi-track timeline. Works within a Chrome browser—which provides some privacy protection. A flexible product for both personal and professional users with many templates, stock audio and video, and sound effects. Not as difficult to learn as professional editing software but there is still a learning curve. It could work as first step toward programs like Adobe Premiere. Extras like picture-in-picture video a plus for educational videos. Free version or $9 a month for more options.
Clips*
This Apple app lets you quickly create social videos. Easily add text, filters, emojis, music, speech-to-text captions, and opaque transition cards to your photos or videos. Intended to be fun, though the menu layout is not entirely intuitive and it does take some time to create. User’s guidehere. Free.
CloudConvert
Converts file types. More than 200 formats for audio, video, documents, images, etc. Free usage up to 25 conversions per day.
Creative Cloud Express*
A single template-focused Adobe app (replacing Adobe Spark) that combines some of the best features from the Creative Cloud Suite for mobile and web. Quickly create everything from social media posts to promotional posters and videos with the easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface. There are soundtracks, themes, and many free photos and fonts. Assets from Photoshop and Illustrator can be utilized. Convert videos to GIFs and documents to PDFs. Great for non-professionals with little video editing experience, but not if you’re a pro looking for a full-featured video editor. Free version or $9.99 a month for more templates, photos and fonts.
Cute Cut*
Easy-to-use and powerful video editor. Add text, voiceover, music and logo. Their YouTube tutorials here. Free.
DaVinci Resolve
Video editing software with remote collaboration tools and cloud-based workflows. Features like a depth map effect, color corrector, and more. Free but the paid version, offers more effects and templates. One-time fee of $305.
Disco Videos
A way to add cool effects like music and filters to your videos. $3.99.
DesignLab (no longer available)
Basic video editing tool for social media posts with many templates. Three-day free trial then $9.49 a month.
Storyluxe
This iOS app will help to create Instagram Stories with many free options. More info here.
Filmmaker Pro - Video Editor*
Video editing program for filmmakers. 19 transition options and 30 filters. Many fonts and animation stickers. Sound effects and a robust number of tools. Free.
FlexClip
Simple but well-designed presentation-style social media video editor. Good for making quickly produced marketing. A lot like PowerPoint or Movie Maker in design. Stock audio and video with some editing options (like splitting video into two clips) not found in similar apps though videos are limited to 5 minutes. Free. More options with a $9.99 plan.
Final Cut Pro
Apple’s desktop video editing program for Macs. A big step up from iMovie (which is similar) but not the industry standard for professionals that Adobe Premiere has become but still used by many pros. Not compatible with Windows. $300.
GoPro Quik*
Video editor by GoPro. Easy-to-use. Templated themes, useful filters, royalty-free music, and the ability to add titles and captions. Add up to 200 photos and video clips. Includes square, portrait and landscape settings. Users’ guide here and a dedicated YouTube channel here. Free but some features added with premium account.
Hitfilm
Video editing software aimed at providing a professional editing experience. Change the color balance of video, trim clips, and export in different formats. Steep learning curve for beginners but a familiar feel for those who have used pro editing software. Needs a strong computer processor. Free.
iMovie*
One of the best video-making apps with an intuitive interface. It offers two tracks of video and audio for editing on your phone or laptop. Filters and templates, crop, cut, adjust speed, and add effects to videos. Exports at 30fps only. There is a tutorial here. Free.
iStock video editor*
A Getty Image company, iStock offers not just stock photos but a video editor. There are customizable templates, users can upload their own video, images, music. The video can be downloaded and shared on virtually any platform. Free but a paid account offers royalty-free videos, images, and sound effects.
Inshot
Video & image editing app. Simple-to-use & all-in-one with basic functions: Crop, trim, change the speed, rotate your videos 360°, add filters and music, and more. Free version with intrusive ads $2.99 to remove them and the watermark.
Kapwing
A browser-based video editor (online only-primarily for social media editing) that gives users the tools to splice combine, trim and cut video clips. Add text, images, subtitles, etc. Missing some basic options like transitions. Easy to get started but some features are hard to find. Download quality good for online, not broadcast. Free version with limitations (but no watermarks) or pro version for $17 a month.
KineMaster
Multi-track video editing app for iOS and Android. Lots of powerful tools: Add captions, titles, logos, edit audio and record audio to add video, filters, etc. Easy to get started with a simple interface. Free account with watermark. More info here. $4.99 a month.
Kizoa
A video editing app with outdated looks and design. One-time fee for the features you want. Free version or paid with more features starting about $30.
Lightworks
Lots of tools for editing videos in the free version, which should satisfy most casual users. No HD option. Paid option starts at $49.99 a year.
LumaFusion*
Advanced multi-track video editor that mimics professional desktop software with 3 video/audio tracks for photos, videos, titles, and graphics. Key-framing, colour adjustment, and support for branded fonts and graphics. iOS only. Tutorials on the YouTube channel. $29.99.
Lumen5
An easy-to-use video creation platform that attempts to turn a limited number of photos and text into video for you. Free.
Magisto
Load your video clips or images, pick a style, then the AI software automatically edits them into a video. Not a video editor that you control (except for a paid plan) but great if you have a bunch of clips you don’t want to edit yourself. You give up editing control for speed. It really depends on whether you like their templates. There’s a free version but $60 a year gets you everything though there is no free trial for the paid version—which it needs.
Mojo*
A great easy-to-use app for making professional vertical social stories to go on Instagram Stories, Facebook Stories, and Snapchat. Templates and fonts. More info here. Free. Pro version $9.99 a month.
Movavi
Video editing for casual users. Easy-to-use interface. Limited effects. $39.95.
Movie Maker Online
A poorly designed video editor with a confusing layout and intrusive advertising. Works in browsers, no registration required. Free but still not worth it.
MoviePro*
Video recording app that lets you listen live to your sound, includes manual controls for exposure, focus, and white balance. Shoot stills while recording. Has a built-in single-track video editor. Includes a wide range of video resolutions and aspect ratios, adjustable video quality, $9.99.
Online Video Cutter
Video editing tool that can trim videos, crop them, and rotate them. And nothing else. But what it does, it does well. Free or $5 a month for more features.
PowerDirector 365
Perhaps the best Android video editor app with special effects. Similar to iMovie in ease of use. Free but $4.33 a month to get professional features such as custom transitions and to remove the watermark. There is a YouTube channel here.
Placeit
Easy-to-use video editing tool with pre-designed video templates. Add music, graphics, animations. There is a cost to downloading the final design. Pay as you go ($9.95) or subscription ($14.95 a month).
PicPlayPost (Mixcord)
Video editor that lets users create slideshows, split screens, video collages, etc. adding music, voice, gifs. Best for short videos. Free but the best features come with a subscription such as playing two videos side by side. $6.99 a month.
Preceden (formally Time Glider)
Create web-based timelines using images & videos.
Quik (see GoPro Quick)
Renderforest
A suite of products with many templates. Limited functionality and control. While you can add your own text, photos, and video clips, you can’t easily add clips with just text, No start from scratch option. Free version or $6.99 a month.
Reduct
Edit the video by editing the text. For instance, you can upload a long interview and the site (using machine learning) will transcribe the speech and tag each word to a visual frame allowing you to quickly generate a highlight reel or other edited videos.
Reel Director
Creates movies and lets you edit on phone similar to iMovie. $2.99.
Rocketium Online Video Creation Suite
Multiple video-related tools including a video editor designed to prep material for social media distribution: Upload clips, add text export. Lots of templates, stock images, fonts, and motion graphics. Easy to import articles and make videos based on the images, headlines, and subheadings. Limited functionality in the free version and videos are limited to three minutes. Paid version starts at $9 and includes transitions and animations but videos limited to 10 minutes. Discounts for students and teachers.
Shotcut
Most processes are simple but not everything and it has an odd-looking interface. However, it has gained a following thanks to a large selection of audio and video filters so it has become a favorite of editors who want effects. No preview on the filters. Free.
Spark Camera*
Video filming and editing app. Add captions, titles, music and a voiceover. Easy to get started. Aimed at social media influencers. More info here and user guide here. iPhone only. Free.
Steller*
Create photo and video stories on an iPhone with an emphasis on mobile design. Create collections and share on social networks. Free. Sample.
Unfold*
App for iOS or Android for creating vertical montages of videos and photos. 25 free templates, dozens more as in-app purchases. A product of SquareSpace. More info here.
Veed
Easy to use templated video editing options for creating social media posts. Use to add captions. Free watermarked version available. $20 monthly.
Video Leap
An iPhone app with a wide range of high-end functions (such as masking and blending, key framing and chroma key compositing) for creating videos from images, video and text. Tutorials here.
Video Toolbox
Make quick edits to videos. Convert video formats, make thumbnails, add subtitles, add audio, a watermark, or merge video files. Outdated interface and not user-friendly. Lacking preview options. Other apps are likely better options.
VideoShop
Excellent for making simple edits, add music and subtitles. More info here. Free.
Vimeo
Video hosting and editing.
Vlogit
Editing two-track video, add voiceover. More info here. Free.
VSCO*
Great start-to-finish photo/video app. Easy to use filters and helpful tutorials. Manual controls like focus lock, exposure lock, and white balance. Edit images and share them on social media. IOS. Here is a tutorial. Free version or $19.99 a year for 170 presets.
Wave.Video
Basic video editor for social media posts with many templates including free music, stock photos, and video extras. Intuitive interface and easy to move into social media. Limited text options. Free version doesn’t allow downloads and videos of no more than 15 seconds. To get more than one minute it’s a whopping $48 a month.
WeVideo*
Semi-professional video editing with a real timeline with precise controls. A great app to help you learn simple video editing. Lots of templates, stock audio and video as well as text-based motion graphics templates. Record your webcam, or screen—or both at the same time (helpful for making tutorial videos). Both iOS and Android. A learning curve that’s not too steep. The free plan is really a demo with a watermark. Best options is unlimited plan ($6.39 a month).
Wondershare
Video editing app. Easy-to-use with standard effects though not the more advanced effects. $59.99.
