What is the Best YouTube Video Editing App For PC [Free & Paid]
Perfect video editing companion
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A good YouTube video requires excellent editing and a video editing app can take your video to the next level.
YouTube had a built-in editor that performed the basics of adding music, trimming and merging clips but since it was discontinued, you’ll have to rely on third-party apps.
Factors to consider when selecting a YouTube video editor
- Compatibility – Your video footage can come from different sources so you want to ensure your video editing app supports a variety of formats without unnecessary conversions that could potentially downgrade the quality of the video.
- Cost – A lot of apps offer a free and paid version, The paid version usually has a huge chunk of the functionalities so narrow down all you’ll need from a video editor and select one that meets your requirements. You can also consider getting an additional app for where the free app is lacking.
- Performance – An app that easily renders videos and exports them in record time should be on your bucket list. This also depends on your hardware so check and ensure your device meets the system requirements before downloading an app that will only give you headaches.
- Ease of use – Usability is a key factor. Granted, most apps will have a learning curve especially, for advanced features but you should be able to do basic editing without too much hassle.
Which app is best for YouTube video editing?
Adobe Premiere Pro – Best app for YouTube editing
Any editor can tell you Adobe Premiere Pro is an OG in the game so it should come as no surprise why it is high up in this list. Over the years, it has undergone transformations and it just keeps getting better with all the improvements.
First off, high-resolution support. Before your viewers notice all the transitions or excellent audio-matching for particular scenes, they see the resolution. If it’s a low-resolution video, chances of one watching to the end are very limited. Unless of course, they’re a die-hard subscriber or a family member.
Luckily, this is not something you will struggle with because with its 360 VR, 4K video support, you’ll get crisp clear videos.
Once you’re set with the resolution, you have an array of creative tools from video transitions, effects, color grading and white balance that ensure your video’s visual appeal is spectacular.
Audio is another factor that can make or break your video and Adobe Premiere Pro ensures you achieve high-quality audio from noise reduction to audio keyframing.
All these are availed on a very user-friendly interface that doesn’t require too much from you. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced user, you’ll find it extremely easy to navigate and quickly edit your YouTube video.
And once you’re done, its integration with Adobe Creative Cloud makes your work easier especially if you need feedback before posting.
You’ll also benefit from the Adobe Media Encoder package that comes with a variety of presets optimized for output formats and green screen editing capabilities.
Some important reasons to consider Premiere Pro:
- Easy multicam editing
- Customizable interface
- Fast load speeds
- Seamless DVD and Blue-ray export
- Team collaboration
Adobe Premiere Pro
Edit your YouTube videos with the latest technology from Adobe Premiere Pro.Wondershare Filmora – All-in-one video editing app
When looking for apps that are easy on your hardware, Filmora should be at the top of the list. It’s very lightweight so you don’t have to worry about storage.
Another thing you won’t have to worry about is the video format. Most video editing apps may not support various video formats.
For instance, you may record videos in the HEVC format but once you transfer it to your video editing app, it lacks support. Further, you can create your videos in high-quality resolution up to 4K.
Aside from the basic video editing tools, it has video presets and effects that will aid in creating a high-quality video. When it comes to adding music to your videos, copyrights prevent creators from using music so it may end up being a boring video.
Not with Filmora though. It has its own library of royalty-free songs saving you the time and money of searching for external songs that have probably not been whitelisted.
Screen recording is another feature often overlooked by most video editing apps but Filmora includes it. This makes it easier for you to create tutorials.
Filmora gets constant updates so you can be assured that new features are always being launched that will enhance your video creation capabilities. The app has a free and paid version.
Of course, the paid version offers more of these features but even in the free version, you get access to decent features that will still produce a professional-looking YouTube video. Not to pre-empt the tool but for a more comprehensive review, we have an article on that.
Let’s review some of its most important features:
- Rich library of video special effects
- Record a live cast of your PC screen
- Compatible with Windows OS from 7 and later
Wondershare Filmora
Try video special effects for your YouTube videos and edit them like a pro with Wondershare Filmora.DaVinci Resolve – Fan-favorite tool
DaVinci Resolve is YouTuber’s favorite video editing app on PC. Even though there isn’t a lot of noise about it on the grapevine, it is a top contender.
After some digging, we can see why it would scoop the number one spot. It has lots of features for both beginners and advanced users. Online and offline editing is definitely a feature that is a winner.
Not to mention, the rich color correction tools, audio editing and visual effects that take your video from basic to high-quality. It’s the perfect app for creating a great video without trying too hard.
What’s better is that it offers post-production way after you’ve finished editing. This means that if you look back and find that the audio is off or not matching a particular scene in your video, you can correct that with audio mastering!
Another winning feature is its performance metrics. Most video editors cannot handle a video that requires too much RAM. For instance, if your video goes above 1GB, you might experience slowdowns with your hardware,
However, with DaVinci Resolve, this is not something you’ll have to worry about. Even with lower-end hardware.
And if you’re a creator who is collaborating and needs to share the video before posting, you don’t have to worry about the gruesome back-and-forth exporting and editing.
The free version offers a decent feature list so you may not need to upgrade to the premium version for high-quality and professional-looking videos.
Some important reasons to consider DaVinci Resolve:
- Cross-platform compatibility
- Supports high-resolution formats
- Fast load speeds
- Team collaboration
Vegas Movie Studio – Powerful video editing app
The user-friendly interface displayed on Vegas Movie Studio is one of the first things you’ll notice about the tool. There are no complex, multi-step menus to navigate before you get to what feature you’re looking for.
Next, you’ll be introduced to its powerful editing tools that make it a great video editor for your next YouTube video. You can edit on your own or use the templates for transitions and any visual effects you wish to add to your video.
Keep in mind that the tool supports multiple video formats so compatibility will be one less thing you have to worry about. It also supports 4K resolution so your upload will be a high-quality video.
After creating your video with diverse video effects, you can now move to the audio. Vegas Movie Studio’s audio editing capabilities range from audio mixing, audio effects and even noise reduction to capture the sounds you’d like to come out in your video.
And once you’re done, you can make a direct upload to YouTube! For all these features, you’ll have to part with a pretty penny. However, we’d say it’s worth it.
Consider its key features below:
- Direct upload to YouTube
- Huge library of video and audio effects
- Video templates
- Support for High DPI monitors
- User-friendly interface
HitFilm Express – Excellent effects library
HitFilm Express is one of the free video editors for YouTube that is worth your time. It’s almost like getting a paid version for free if its feature-rich list is anything to go by.
First off, the interface. Aside from being user-friendly, it is customizable. This means you can tweak things around and arrange it to your liking. This makes editing easy as you keep your frequently used tools close enough.
HitFilm Express supports a wide range of video formats and is compatible with most Windows OSes. Video editing is made easier with the over 150 effects. There are also 3D effects and animation effects all with 4K support.
In addition to these effects, HitFilm comes with an integrated HitFilm store. Here, you can purchase additional effects or addons that further enhance your video editing. This is a cheaper way of getting access to additional features than paying for a premium version of the app.
Some of the other notable features include:
- Upload YouTube videos directly
- Supports multiple video formats
- Ability to copy effects from one clip to another
- Has an audio stabilizer
OpenShot – Free open-source video editor
OpenShot isn’t really a well-known video editing app but it holds its own weight. If you’re looking for a simple editing app, this is the one. It has a user-friendly interface which is perfect for beginners who do not want to be bombarded with a myriad of features when you first launch the tool.
Although we’re discussing YouTube video editing apps for PCs, OpenShot is a cross-platform app. Your PC may fail you at times so it’s good to know you can use it anywhere.
The editing is basic from trimming, merging, resizing and a couple of effects but being an open-source app opens it up to versatility. A community of developers is always in the background working towards making improvements.
The drag-and-drop feature is a great addition as it facilitates easier editing right from your desktop. You also get access to over 400 transitions and unlimited tracks and layers for your video.
Audio mixing has been made easier as you can split it from your video and adjust it individually then merge it.
Some of the other notable features include:
- Multi-format video support
- Real-time preview for video transitions
- Title templates
- Background remover
⇒ Get OpenShot
VSDC Video Editor – Non-linear video editor
Most beginners require a simple and free video editing app and VSDC is the one for you if you’re in such a position. Further, since it supports a wide range of audio, image and video formats, you can easily merge videos with different formats without worrying about compatibility.
It is often referred to as the non-linear app because you don’t have to necessarily follow a predefined sequence to edit and merge clips. This makes editing flexible and you can experiment with various edits without altering original footage.
Video editing allows you to choose from a wide range of effects but you can also customize with color correction tools. Advanced users can also make use of the chroma keying (green screen), and replace that specific color.
Aside from visual effects, audio effects are in plenty. These allow you to normalize sound, adjust the volume or add some effects. All these can be done all the while knowing that it supports 4K. You get high-quality videos for upload with ease.
With all these features, you’d think your current hardware is insufficient to run this app. Well, VSDC is one of the few apps that doesn’t require much. The system requirements are fairly minimal and works even on outdated PCs.
For more advanced features, you can upgrade to the Pro version where you’ll get real-time voiceovers, audio waveform, video masking and more stability.
Some of the other notable features include:
- Multi-format video support
- Direct YouTube upload support
- Supports video capture and screen recording
- File converter
Capcut – Intuitive video editing tool
You’ve probably seen CapCut featured on other platforms like TikTok but you can also use the sem tool as a YouTube video editing app on your PC.
CapCut has an excellent catalogue of video editing tools. Aside from the basics, you also get filters and transitions for your videos.
An eye-catching feature is its powerful search tool. While editing your video, you may be looking for a particular scene and if it’s too long, it could take some time to locate it. With CapCut, you can search based on dialogue, people and objects.
What’s more, is that you can edit your video from any device. Once you’re signed in, your progress is saved and next time you open it on a different device, you can pick up from where you left off.
Some of the other notable features include:
- Automatic caption generator
- Extensive built-in music library
- AI-generated video effects
⇒ Get CapCut
This here is our list of the top YouTube video editing apps for PC but remember that preferences are subjective. What may be number one on our list may be a number five in yours.
It all boils down to your specific editing needs, cost and ease of use. Whichever tool suits your requirements is what you should go for. If cost is a limitation, you can always go for the free version and use additional software like YouTube volume boosters for sound enhancement.
Once you’ve successfully created and edited the perfect YouTube video, you need to get it to the right audience. YouTube SEO software will help you rake in those numbers and grow your channel.
Still, on YouTube, should you feel so inclined to create YouTube remixes, we have lined up some of the best video apps for YouTube poops to help you achieve this.
That’s all we had for this article but we’d like to hear from you. Is there a YouTube video editing app for your PC you feel should be on this list? What makes it a great app in your opinion? Let us know in the comment section below.
