YouTube has gone beyond being a simple video-sharing site to become a phenomenon. So much so there are people who now watch YouTube instead of traditional TV.
This means that whether you dream of being a YouTube star or simply want to share videos with your friends, creating videos for YouTube can be a rewarding process.
However, in order to create and edit YouTube videos, you'll need the right tools. And with that in mind, here are the best video editing apps for YouTube.
1. Adobe Premiere Rush
Adobe Premiere is as close to a household name as you get when it comes to video editors. It's incredibly powerful, but it's so feature-packed that it may be overkill for some YouTube creators. If you're looking for a video editor for YouTube, Premiere Rush may be a better option.
As the name suggests, Adobe Premiere Rush is meant to help you get videos put together faster. It has motion graphics templates built-in, so there's no reason to integrate After Effects into your workflow. This is just one of several features that helps you get videos out more quickly and easily.
Premiere Rush is also relatively affordable at $9.99/month. If you want to have Premiere Pro available as well, you can bundle both for $20.99/month. You might also want to consider exploring Adobe Premiere Elements, which is a scaled-down version of Adobe Premiere Pro.
Download: Adobe Premiere Rush for Windows and Mac ($9.99/month)
2. Pinnacle Studio 24
Pinnacle Studio 24 is an older video editing software, but ever since Corel bought it in 2012, it has improved a lot.
The software features a clean interface that is easy to use. It's a good option for people who want to gradually transition to more advanced video editing.
The only shortcoming of Pinnacle Studio is that it's not as powerful as other video editing tools such as Premiere Pro. But for beginners, it's more than enough. The software is available for Windows at a one-off price of $129.95. There is no free trial, but it does offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Download: Pinnacle Studio 24 for Windows ($129.95)
3. Avidemux
Out of all the software on this list, Avidemux is the lightest and should only be used if your video editing work primarily consists of simple cutting, filtering, or encoding. Due to its simplicity, Avidemux is one of the best YouTube editing apps for absolute beginners.
The software is completely open-source, so you don't need to pay to use it. Avidemux supports all popular video formats such as AVI and MP4. For users who have slower computers, this is the perfect choice since it is not resource-intensive at all.
The only caveat is that it may be too simplistic for your liking, and you may outgrow it quickly. This is especially true if you're looking for more flashy sound and video effects for your videos.
Download: Avidemux for Windows, Mac, and Linux (Free)
4. Blender
At first, Blender might seem like a strange option to include here. After all, it's mainly known as 3D rendering software. Interestingly enough, Blender also includes a full-featured video editor. This is more than enough to make it one of the best video editors for YouTube, especially if you're interested in 3D graphics.
Blender can handle simple video editing functions like cutting and splicing, but also more advanced tasks like masking. You get up to 32 tracks (known as slots here) for video, audio, images, effects, and more. The app is also completely free and open source.
Download: Blender for Windows, Mac, and Linux (Free)
5. VDSC
VDSC has consistently been one of the best free video editing software for YouTube, and not without good reason. It supports all popular video and audio formats, and has a wide variety of editing tools for novices and experts.
The highlight, however, is the chroma key tool used in making green screen videos. If you're a YouTuber, there will be a time when you will need to use a green screen. Luckily, VDSC lets you easily replace the green background with anything of your choice.
VDSC also has a plethora of effects and filters for users to play around with. The video editor also has very low system requirements, making it a good choice for low-spec computers.
Download: VDSC Free Video Editor for Windows (Free)
6. CyberLink PowerDirector 365
CyberLink PowerDirector has been around for a long time and has developed a reputation as a go-to app when it comes to editing video on Windows. There's also an Android version that made it onto our list of the best video editors for Android. If you like the app but don't like paying for updates, CyberLink PowerDirector 365 brings Premiere Pro CC's monthly payment model to the venerable app.
While it may not hold up to offerings from Adobe and similar brands, PowerDirector more than matches the default YouTube editing software. It's also a familiar interface that should appeal not just to PowerDirector fans, but anyone who has used a video editor before.
Download: Cyberlink PowerDirector 365 for Windows and Mac | iOS | Android (Free, subscription available)
7. DaVinci Resolve
It may have roots as color grading software for Hollywood movies, but DaVinci Resolve is also one of the best video editors for YouTube. You'll find an overwhelming amount of features, but fortunately, you don't have to use them all. All you need to know is that it can edit anything you throw at it, including 4K footage.
If you decide that you want to upgrade, the full version of DaVinci Resolve costs $299, but you can do plenty with the free version. It's available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, so it is a great option no matter which platform you're on.
Download: DaVinci Resolve for Windows, Mac, and Linux (Free, premium version available)
8. Hitfilm Express
Another pro editor with a free version available, Hitfilm Express is one of the best video editing apps for YouTube you'll find. Like DaVinci Resolve, it lets you do nearly any editing task you can think of, including editing 4K footage. Hitfilm Express has a friendlier interface, so if you're new to video editing, this may be a better choice.
Hitfilm Express also has a full version available for $299 but offers an in-between option as well. You can purchase optional add-ons for the free version, adding bits and pieces of functionality for around $10 to $20 apiece.
Download: Hitfilm Express for Windows and Mac (Free, premium version available)
9. Shotcut
Like Blender, Shotcut is both free and open source. Because of this, you can't really expect the same level of interface polish you'd find in a paid app. That doesn't mean that this app isn't plenty powerful, though.
Where Shotcut stands out among the crowd of free editing software for YouTube is the tutorials on offer. When it comes to open-source software, this isn't always something you can count on. If you're looking for a simple, free option on Linux, this is absolutely worth trying. You might like it on Windows or macOS as well, but the competition is much stiffer on those platforms.
Download: Shotcut for Windows, Mac, and Linux (Free)
10. Wondershare Filmora
Chances are you've already heard about Wondershare Filmora. This is mainly due to its popularity among the video editing community.
Filmora offers functionality in a very visually pleasing package. It contains advanced features, such as motion tracking, while also being equally competent in simpler tasks, like cutting or joining videos.
The software also has a wide variety of transitions, video effects, and audio features. This makes it one of the best YouTube editing apps available. Filmora offers an annual subscription that costs $51.99/year. You can also opt for a one-off payment of $99, however, it doesn't include any software upgrades beyond Filmora's current version.
Download: Wondershare Filmora for Windows and Mac ($51.99/year)
11. iMovie
If you're just starting off and you're not familiar with all the editing apps for YouTube, you may not want to spend any money. Simple videos aren't that tricky to put together, so you may not need fancy software. If you use a Mac and are looking for a simple, cheap option, look no further than iMovie, which comes free with your Mac.
You're not going to edit a feature film with iMovie, but it's more than enough for simple editing tasks. It offers more than YouTube's built-in editor, which could be all you need.
Download: iMovie for Mac (Free)
12. Final Cut Pro
When it was first released, the original Final Cut Pro fans hated Final Cut Pro X. While some still deride it as "iMovie Pro," it's actually very handy if you're looking for YouTube video editing software that's a little more advanced than iMovie. You won't feel completely alienated, but Final Cut Pro is much more powerful.
As Mac-only software, Final Cut Pro takes advantage of features like the MacBook Pro Touch Bar and the Metal graphics API for improved performance. The app isn't exactly cheap at $299, but that's not much more than you'd pay for a year of Premiere Rush and Premiere Pro CC. In this case, you're actually buying the app, so you don't have to worry about monthly billing.
If you end up using it, check out the ultimate Final Cut Pro X shortcut cheat sheet.
Download: Final Cut Pro for Mac
13. Movie Maker 10
The above option isn't going to do you any good if you're looking for YouTube editing software for Windows. Windows Movie Maker used to be an option, but you won't find it on Windows 10. The good news is that Movie Maker 10 offers many of the same features.
You'll find Movie Maker 10 in the Microsoft Store, but it's not a Microsoft app. It's a free download but does offer an optional upgrade. Looking at the user reviews, many people are more than happy enough with the free version. There are better options out there, but for a YouTube editor that's free on Windows, this is a good place to start.
Download: Movie Maker 10 for Windows (Free)
Finding the Best Video Editing Apps for YouTube
Before you decide on one of these video editing apps for YouTube, it makes sense to think about your ambitions. If you just want to share a gameplay clip of yourself singing a song, you don't need a powerful editor. On the other hand, if you're looking to replace every person in a movie with Nicolas Cage, you'll need something more capable.