The best software for editing videos for YouTube

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Best video editing software for YouTube - Apple/Adobe

(Image credit: Apple/Adobe)

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1. Best overall: Premiere Pro
2. Best for Mac: Final Cut Pro
3. Beginner: Prem Elements
4. Best free: DaVinci
5. Best non-sub: Pinnacle Studio
6. Best value: PowerDirector
7. For mobile: Premiere Rush
8. Best open source: Shotcut
9. Best basic Apple: iMovie
FAQs

If you're an aspiring YouTuber, you'll want top software to edit your videos. Whether you're an absolute amateur or a seasoned professional, there are plenty of options - all of which we've narrowed down in our list below.

01. Premiere Pro: best overall 
Perfect for working video editors, Premiere Pro is the best software for editing videos for YouTube overall. This industry standard tool works on both PC and Mac; try it out first with a 30-day free trial

01. <a href="https://www.prf.hn/click/camref:1101lr4vm/pubref:hawk-custom-tracking/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.adobe.com%2Fuk%2Fproducts%2Fpremiere%2Ffree-trial-download.html" data-link-merchant="adobe.com"" target="_blank">Premiere Pro: best overall
Perfect for working video editors, Premiere Pro is the best software for editing videos for YouTube overall. This industry standard tool works on both PC and Mac; try it out first with a 30-day free trial.

02.&nbsp;Final Cut Pro: best for Mac 90-day free trial

02. <a href="https://apple.sjv.io/c/221109/435298/7615?subId1=hawk-custom-tracking&sharedId=hawk&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fuk%2Ffinal-cut-pro%2F" data-link-merchant="apple.com"" target="_blank">Final Cut Pro: best for Mac
Got a Mac and don't want a subscription? Then you need the industry favourite, Final Cut Pro from Apple. It's a one off payment – and a generous 90-day free trial so you can try it out first.

03.&nbsp;Premiere Elements: best for beginners
Newbies to video editing should start with Premiere Elements, a simplified version of Premiere Pro that still lets you create very professional results. You can get the free 30-day trial

03. <a href="https://www.prf.hn/click/camref:1101lr4vm/pubref:hawk-custom-tracking/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.adobe.com%2Fuk%2Fproducts%2Fpremiere-elements.html" data-link-merchant="adobe.com"" target="_blank">Premiere Elements: best for beginners
Newbies to video editing should start with Premiere Elements, a simplified version of Premiere Pro that still lets you create very professional results. You can get the free 30-day trial right now and see for yourself.

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Tom May

Tom May is an award-winning journalist and editor specialising in design, photography and technology. Author of the Amazon #1 bestseller Great TED Talks: Creativity, published by Pavilion Books, Tom was previously editor of Professional Photography magazine, associate editor at Creative Bloq, and deputy editor at net magazine. Today, he is a regular contributor to Creative Bloq and its sister sites Digital Camera World, T3.com and Tech Radar. He also writes for Creative Boom and works on content marketing projects. 

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