Video editing is no longer the exclusive domain of powerful PCs and expensive software. There are plenty of free or affordable video editing apps that will do the job for most people. In this article, we list the best video editing apps available across multiple platforms.

The Best Paid Video Editing Apps on Desktop

Let's begin by looking at some of the best video editors for Windows and macOS.

1. Adobe Premiere Pro

Available on: Windows, Mac

Adobe Premiere Pro is aimed at professional users, and its features are numerous.

The app offers an unlimited number of video tracks, multicam editing, 3D editing, a resolution of up to 10240 × 8192, 32-bits per channel color, audio sample-level editing, and more.

Adobe Premiere Pro is so good that it has been used to edit Hollywood movies. Films such as Deadpool, Monsters, and Gone Girl were all edited using the app.

Adobe Premiere Pro costs $20.99/month. If you don't need the full feature list, you can buy the consumer-grade Adobe Premiere Elements for $99.99.

2. Final Cut Pro

final cut pro

Available on: Mac

Final Cut Pro is the best video editing app for macOS. The app is developed by Apple, so it integrates seamlessly with the Mac operating system.

The app is supremely easy to use. Some of its best features include grouping tools, 360-degree VR editing, multicam editing, effect options, and an audio editing suite.

Like Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro has been used to edit several Hollywood movies, including X-Men Origins: Wolverine, The Simpsons Movie, Napoleon Dynamite, and The Social Network.

Final Cut Pro costs $299.99 to buy.

3. Corel VideoStudio Ultimate

Available on: Windows

Corel VideoStudio Ultimate is slightly more consumer-focused than the two options we've looked at so far. That means an easier-to-use interface and a lower price point ($99).

The app offers more than 2,000 effects, filters, and transitions, six-cam multi-camera editing, color grading, morph transitions, split-screen video templates, color correction, stop motion animation, a subtitle editor, and a 360-degree video editor.

The slightly less equipped VideoStudio Pro video editor is $10 cheaper. It only offers four-cam editing, and there's no 3D title editor, video mask creator, or MXF (XAVC) import.

One more option to check out is VideoProc for 4K video editing.

The Best Free Video Editing Apps on Desktop

If you want good video editing apps, you don't necessarily need to pay anything. There are several free video editors available for desktop.

4. Lightworks

Available on: Windows, Mac, Linux

If you want a free video editor for Windows, Mac, or Linux, Lightworks is a great place to start.

The app's features include timeline editing, trimming, an audio and video effects library, a low-resolution proxy workflow for when you're editing 4K, and professional sequence grading.

5. DaVinci Resolve

Da Vinci Resolve

Available on: Windows, Mac, Linux

DaVinci Resolve is a premium video editing suite, but the app has a free tier that's worth checking out.

The free version includes editing tools, visual effects, motion graphics, color correction, and audio post-production tools. The pro plan---which costs $299---adds multi-user collaboration features, support for 4K videos, and frame rates of up to 120 FPS.

6. VSDC Free Video Editor

Available on: Windows

VSDC Free Video Editor is a non-linear video editor, which differentiates it from the other desktop video editors in this list.

Features include visual and audio effects, blending modes, Instagram-like filters, masking, 4K and HD exporting, a YouTube uploader, a video stabilization tool, and a video file converter.

The Best Video Editing Apps on Android and iOS

Now let's look at some video editing apps for Android and iOS.

7. FilmoraGo

Available on: Android, iOS

FilmoraGo is probably the best video editing app for Android. It functions in the same way as many of the best video editors for Windows and Mac; you work with a timeline, and trim, cut, render, add themes, and add audio as required.

There's also a bevy of special effects and support for reverse videos, slow-motion videos, in-video text, and overlays.

Because it's a mobile app, FilmoraGo also has additional features that will appeal to smartphone users, such as support for 1:1 Instagram videos and instant social media sharing.

FilmoraGo is available for free if you're willing to accept a watermark at the end of your video. If not, you'll need to pay $59.99 for a lifetime license.

8. KineMaster

Available on: Android, iOS

KineMaster is a mobile app for on-the-go professionals. There's a free version, but unlike FilmoraGo, it is very feature-limited. To unlock the app's full potential, you need to upgrade to the pro version. It costs $4/month and is overkill for casual users.

If you are a professional, however, KineMaster Pro video editor for Android and iOS is worth considering.

Impressively for a smartphone app, KineMaster supports chroma key (which is used in green screen video), along with audio filters, multiple video, image, and effect layers, and instant previews.

9. Adobe Premiere Clip

Available on: Android, iOS

Adobe Premiere Clip is the smartphone version of the previously discussed Adobe Premiere Pro.

Naturally, the app does not have the same number of features as its desktop-based big brother. However, given that it's entirely free to use (you just need to create a free Adobe ID to log in), it's a great way to use Adobe's products without paying a cent.

Some of Adobe Premiere Clip's most notable features include timeline editing, audio options, filters, speed adjustments, and the ability to auto-generate videos images and videos that are already on your device.

If you have an Adobe Creative Cloud account, you can sync projects between all your devices for a smoother editing experience.

10. Funimate

Available on: Android, iOS

We'll end with a less serious option. After all, not everyone who wants to edit a video needs to be able to produce a Spielberg-esque masterpiece.

So, if you want a fun video editing app for Android and iOS, check out the appropriately named Funimate.

The app is ideally suited for creating short, engaging social media video posts for sharing with your friends and followers. There are more than 15 filters, 100 advanced video effects, and a massive music library.

You can use the app to add emojis and other stickers to your videos, and you can even create your own effects in the app.

Which Is the Best Video Editing App?

So, there you have it. This is a list of the best video editing apps. However, as is often the case with these types of roundups, it's hard to definitively call one app the best. It will vary based on your level of experience and what you want to achieve.

Professional users should probably turn to Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro, depending on their operating system. If you're a casual user who's willing to spend some money, grab Corel. If you want a free app, choose Lightworks.

Pro mobile users might appreciate KineMaster the most, and anyone who wants a bit of light-hearted fun should grab Funimate.

To learn more, read our articles on the best video editors for social media posts and the best video editors for Chromebooks.