Best video editing software for Macs in 2023

Whether you are a seasoned video editor or an enthusiastic amateur, if you are looking to edit video footage you are likely working on a Mac. There are a ton of powerful programs currently on the market that allow you to turn that awesome footage into a video. The best editing software for Macs offers the features you need without a ton of bloat and complicated interfaces.

• Best overall: Adobe Premiere Pro
• Most user-friendly: Final Cut Pro
• Best for all-in-one production: DaVinci Resolve
• Best budget: Cyberlink PowerDirector
• Best free: iMovie

How we picked the best video editing software for Macs

The video editing software that is featured in this buying guide are all products that we have used to edit personal projects or covered for an editorial review. When selecting the products for this guide it was important to include editing software that would fit all three types of video editors: beginners, amateurs and professionals. As the price of these products is often related to the kind of user that it is geared to we naturally considered that as well. Ultimately we wanted to represent a variety of choices that are good for a variety of editing levels and styles.

Best video editing software for Macs: Reviews & recommendations

Best overall: Adobe Premiere Pro

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Key features 

• Industry-standard program 
• Non-Linear editing program
• Works seamlessly with other Adobe products 

Pros

• Intuitive timeline editing 
• Supports footage up to 8K
• Features are regularly updated 
• Automatically reframe videos for sharing on different platforms

Cons 

• Requires a paid subscription
• Prone to crashing if you are editing massive projects (always be saving!)  

Simply put, Adobe Premiere Pro is the video editing software that is most widely used by all types of video editors. It’s the go-to program of most news organizations, indie filmmakers, documentary shooters, music video editors, YouTubers and more. It has intuitive timeline editing, includes all kinds of customizable presets, built-in effects and color adjustments that simplify the editing process so you can focus on bringing your vision to life. And because it’s used by so many video editors it makes it easy to do collaborative edits by sharing timelines back and forth. The UI can be a little overwhelming if you are new to Adobe products, but with a little bit of time you can customize your workspace to fit your needs. If you are looking to take your video editing to the next level or trying to break into editing as a career, Premiere Pro is a program that you need to know. Although it is a subscription-based pricing model, you can select a monthly plan and only pay for it as you need it—although paying for a year’s worth upfront will save you some bucks in the long run.

Most user-friendly: Final Cut Pro

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Key features 

• Approachable UI 
• Linear editing 
• Optimized for MacOS systems 

Pros 

• Easy to use 
• Very fast with Mac 
• Supports 360 footage 
• Magnetic timeline

Cons 

• Linear editing can be irritating for long-time editors
• No search function for imports 

Apple’s prosumer-level video editing software offers professional-level editing tools packaged inside an extremely user-friendly interface. While this is great for someone who is just starting out or making the jump from a free program like iMovie, the magnetic timeline editing and hidden professional functions can be a little frustrating for anyone who has used Premiere or earlier versions of Final Cut. Although it’s just as capable as Premiere in terms of function, it isn’t quite as widely used by professional organizations and it can be difficult to use for collaborative back-and-forth editing jobs. That being said, it does tend to be a more nimble program than Adobe Premiere because it was designed directly by Apple—meaning it’s faster and less prone to crashing than some competitor software. 

Best for all-in-one production: DaVinci Resolve

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Key features

• All-in-one tool for editing, color, VFX, motion graphics and audio
• Well-designed interface
• Cloud-based workflows

Pros

• Available as free and paid versions
• User-friendly interface
• More control over color corrections

Cons

• Requires a computer with lots of system resources and space
• Steep learning curve for advanced functions

DaVinci Resolve is the only editing software that offers an all-in-one package, making it easy to cut, color correct, edit sound, and add motion graphics without ever having to leave the program. However, these are all specialized skill sets, and although the program has a very user-friendly interface, the learning curve on mastering the capabilities of the powerful program can take a while to achieve. It’s available as a free version or the paid DaVinci Resolve Studio version for a one-time fee of $295—making it a comparable price to its competitors. Realistically though, if you have a powerful computer the free version should serve you well in most situations. DaVinci Resolve also happens to be one of the best programs out there for color correcting, but you will need to upgrade to the studio version to access tools like HDR grading and HDR scopes.

Best budget editing software: Cyberlink PowerDirector

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Key features

• 4K video support 
• Supports 360 VR 
• Tons of stock content from Getty Images and Shutterstock

Pros

• Fast rendering
• Tons of effects and presets
• Supports 360 VR

Cons

• Somewhat overwhelming UI  
• No Keyword tagging

PowerDirector 360 has been a long-time favorite of Windows users looking to edit video, and in 2020 CyberLink finally released a version for Mac users. It offers more flexibility and precise editing tools than a program like iMovie, but isn’t quite as advanced as programs like Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere—making it a great stepping stone for someone looking to upgrade from iMovie, who isn’t quite ready to invest in a more expensive piece of editing software. The program is regularly updated and includes fast rendering speed and tons of effects and presets that make it easy to put something together without much editing experience. Multicam editing tools lets users include 2-7 different perspectives and it comes with a large library of royalty-free music that can be used in the background of your videos. If you’ve primarily been a Windows user the learning curve with this piece of editing software will be much less steep.

Best free video editing software: iMovie

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Key features

• Built-in templates 
• Customizable motion graphics 
• Supports 4K video

Pros

• Extremely simple interface
• Lots of built-in templates
• Free
• Good for very simple edits

Cons

• No tagging support
• Limits users to two video tracks
• No multicam editing functionality

If it’s simplicity that you crave in your video edits, you certainly can’t beat the price of iMovie. The app is free for all Mac users and has an extremely simple interface and tons of built-in templates and effects that are good for making simple, short videos that still look good. While it lacks some of the professional-level tools that the other video editing software featured in this guide have, if your project doesn’t call for that level of precision, this is a worthwhile program. While we wouldn’t recommend it for cutting together a feature-length film or a professional-level project, it’s a fast and free tool for editing a few clips together for personal use or for social sharing.

Things to consider when shopping for the best video editing software for Macs

Video editing software is broken down into three different categories: entry-level, enthusiast or consumer, and professional. When selecting the video editing program that might be right for you consider where you fall currently and where you aspire to end up. 

Entry-level programs are often free to use, but offer limitations when it comes to making precision edits. Apple’s iMovie is one of the most well-known entry-level programs. An enthusiast or consumer program will give you a bit more control, have a user-friendly interface and typically still offer a number of templates and built-in effects to make editing a painless process. Programs like Premiere Elements and Cyberlink PowerDirector are well-known programs for enthusiast-level editors. 

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At the professional level, you will find programs like Adobe Premiere and DaVinci Resolve—these programs are what’s known as “industry standard” programs and if you want to get paid to edit videos having a knowledge of how to use these programs is a must. They also tend to be the most expensive, but if video editing is a long-term goal for you, it’s well worth the investment. 

FAQs

Final thoughts on the best video editing software for Macs

Ultimately choosing the right video editing program for you depends a lot on what you are shooting, how you are editing your footage and what your long-term goals might be. If you aspire to professional-level editing work, investing and learning technology like Adobe Premiere or DaVinci Resolve is a good first step to getting there. If you are looking to work alone and do more personal projects a program like Final Cut Pro might be a better fit. If you are looking for something that lets you make quick and easy edits for personal use an entry-level or enthusiast-level editing system might be more your speed.