Our testing looked at ease of use, speed and responsiveness, the power of adjustment, blending and transition features, and video and audio effects. In the list below, we've included pros and cons, and explained exactly what kind of video editing projects each pick is best for. We know exactly why these are good because we've hand-tested every option.
If you want a program for your phone or tablet, you need this list of the best video editing apps. These tools work for Mac, PC, iPad, iPhone and Android – and many work across all platforms. Here, we've rounded up the best video editing software that costs money for all experience levels (no budget? You need our best free video editing software guide). But professionals are bound to want the most advanced software, which comes at a premium price (like Premiere Pro, for example). Just editing your holiday vids or creating simple clips for social media won't take a super-complex program, so you'll be able to spend a lot less. Of course, you may not want to pay through the nose if you're a beginner.