Launching a YouTube channel does not only imply good content, but editing contributes immensely to the level of refined and captivating videos. Various creators will require different needs: some will require speed, some will require advanced effects, and some will operate on a tight budget. This post will review the best video editing software that the YouTubers use (both free and paid), as well as what features to look for and the characteristics that should be considered when choosing the right one that fits the level the user is at.
Why Choosing the Right Editor Is Important
Workflow / Speed: A decent editor will make cuts, revisions and rendering faster and will save you time.
Quality & Features: Color correction, effects, transitions, and audio mastering tools may break or make the experience of the viewer.
Cost vs Benefit: There exists free or cheap software; others are subscription or high hardware specifications. You want value.
Platform Compatibility: Mac, Windows, Linux, or mobile? As well, what works with your devices and camera?
Top Video Editing Software YouTubers Use (2025 Edition)
Here are the most popular and well-regarded software options that many YouTubers use, grouped by skill level and what they excel at.
| Software | Best For | Key Strengths | Things to Consider / Drawbacks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adobe Premiere Pro | Intermediate → Professional | Widely used in the industry, powerful timeline editing, strong audio tools, and integrates with other Adobe apps (After Effects, Audition, etc.). | Subscription cost, steep learning curve, and demands decent hardware. |
| DaVinci Resolve | Professionals + Color Grading Fans | Excellent color correction & grading tools, audio post-production (Fairlight), effects, both free & paid versions. | The free version has limits (e.g., some effects, exports, etc.), high resource usage, and lots of features may overwhelm beginners. |
| Final Cut Pro | Mac users who want pro-level polish | Optimized for Apple hardware, great performance, magnetic timeline, efficient rendering, etc. | Costly one-time purchase, macOS only; less cross-platform flexibility. |
| iMovie | Beginners, casual creators, Mac / iPhone users | Very easy to use, free with Apple devices, basic editing features are clean and reliable. | Limited advanced features, not ideal if you want complex effects or high customization. |
| Filmora | Beginners → Intermediate who want to style easily | User-friendly, lots of built-in effects, transitions, modern UI, good value. | Some features behind a paywall; less fine control compared to Resolve or Premiere. |
| Free / Open-source options (OpenShot, VSDC, Kdenlive, etc.) | Those on a tight budget, hobbyists, or secondary editors | They let you do a lot without spending, often sufficient for standard YouTube content. OpenShot is simple; VSDC has motion tracking, effects, etc. | May lack polish, smoother UX, or speed of rendering; sometimes less support/documentation. |
| Mobile / Lightweight Editors (CapCut, Premiere Rush, etc.) | Vloggers, creators shooting with phones or on the go | Quick editing, easy export, often includes templates; perfect for social content or short videos. | Limited features may compromise control or quality; exporting high-resolution video can be slower. |
What Features Do YouTubers Usually Need
These are the features that are usually important when comparing the editors and which help successful creators:
Timeline Editing (video multi-track audio) – capability to overprint video, audio, insert b-roll, etc.
Color Correction / Grading – ensure that your video has professional, even lighting/colors.
Audio Tools – music noise, audio mixing, audio mastering, background hiss.
Effects & Transitions – smooth transitions, glamorous graphics, motion effects, animations.
Export Options — compatible with YouTube (mp4, etc.), can change resolution (1080p, 4K), frame, etc.
Support / Updates / Learning Resources: good documentation, active community, tutorials.
Hardware/Performance Compatibility – some require a powerful GPU/RAM, those that are less demanding.
Real-World Examples: Who Uses What
- Adobe Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve is the choice of many creators who strive to achieve high-quality cinematic content due to its advanced features and flexibility.
- Final Cut Pro is also popular among the Mac-only users as it is optimized for the operating system of macOS, smooth to use and fast to render.
- Novices or creators of simpler videos or shorts, or vlogs tend to use iMovie, Filmora, or mobile editors such as CapCut or Premiere Rush due to their convenience.
- The low-budget creators will work with free or open-source software (e.g., OpenShot, VSDC, Kdenlive) to get the task done without making payments, and with free or learning-curve-compensated add-ons.
How to Pick the Right Video Editor for You
The following are guidelines that you can follow to decide on what software best suits your channel, style, and objectives:
- Evaluate your budget: Free/paid; one-time/subscription.
- Select your platform: PC or Mac, or mobile? Does your hardware have resource-intensive software?
- Suited to your way of editing: Do you do simple cut + voice over? You may not need everything with the bells and whistles. You will have to have more powerful tools in case you work with green screen, multi-camera, and heavy effects.
- Take into account the learning curve: How sharp is the learning curve? Does it have tutorials, templates? Community support?
- Future growth: You must begin with something you can expand with. Start maybe with something less complex and then advance to a more complicated tool, so that you do not need to go and change the tool again and go through all the learning.
Pros & Cons: Common Editors Side by Side
| Scenario | Good Choice | Why It Works | Possible Downside |
|---|---|---|---|
| You want stylish videos fast, without a steep learning curve | Filmora, iMovie, Premiere Rush | Templates, easy GUI, fast turnaround | Less control, possible watermark or lower export quality if free version |
| You want cinematic visuals and pro-level color grading | DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro, Premiere Pro + After Effects | Powerful tools, high-quality output | Cost, hardware demands, and steeper learning |
| You don’t have a big budget | Free editors like OpenShot, VSDC, and Kdenlive | Let you do basics for no price, often sufficient for many YouTubers | Fewer advanced features, sometimes less polished UI, and slower support |
| You create on the go/mobile | CapCut, Premiere Rush, mobile editing apps | Shoot and edit from phone, quick social uploads | Limitations on effects, export resolution, stability vs desktop |
Trends & New Features YouTubers Are Loving
- Artificial intelligence applications: automatic captions, automatic cut or trim, background noise removal. These speed up editing a lot.
- Even mid-range tools are starting to become more color gradable and have LUTs.
- Templates & presets to allow creators to have standardized intros/ outros/ effects styles.
- Cloud collaboration, Cloud collaboration / remote editing in particular.
- Improve mobile editing software to enable editors to do more on the phone or tablet.
Tips to Make the Most of Your Editing Tool
- Master shortcut keys – colossal time killer.
- Large files may cause problems with your system.
- Regular use of the same brand: templates or graphics to make the style of your channel consistent.
- Remember hardware: decent RAM, SSDs, possibly a graphics card, in case you have to do high-res work.
- Always back up your work.
Final Thoughts
There is no universal solution. The optimum video editing software to use on YouTube varies according to your personal preference, financial capacity, computer and objectives. Novices can make do with less sophisticated editors; professional designers tend to use heavy programs such as Premiere Pro or DaVinci. It is only necessary to select what one is at ease with and to develop and grow over that.
FAQs
What is the best program to use when editing YouTube videos?
Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro X or iMovie are some of the video editors used by many YouTubers.
Do YouTubers use CapCut?
Which video creator do new YouTubers use? CapCut is the preferred choice of YouTube editors, whether they are beginners or professionals.
What is the software that MrBeast uses to edit his videos?
MrBeast and his staff tend to use Adobe Photoshop to create visually impressive thumbnails.