Best Vlog Editing Software in 2023 (Free & Paid)
Uncover the top vlog editing software options, expertly curated to elevate your content creation and captivate your audience.
Software | By Andrew Dilks
The best vlogging editing software will help you create scroll-stopping YouTube Shorts and vlogs.
If you want to be a successful vlogger (or just save time editing vlogs), you’ll need to use the right video editing software.
While there aren’t any video editing programs purposely designed for vlogging, certain apps do make life easier when putting together video content.
Still the top choice for vlog editing, offering powerful features tailored for dynamic storytelling.
Video editing tools can be tricky to use for beginners, but once you get the hang of our recommended editing software, you’ll be producing more engaging vlog content.
We’ve included both premium and free video editing software for vlogging, as well as online video editors for maximum convenience.
Make sure you also take a look at the features to look out for when choosing a vlog editor, which we’ve included later in the guide.
Table of Contents
What is the Best Vlog Video Editing Software in 2023?
Adobe Premiere Pro (Best Vlog Editing Software for PC & Mac)
- Flexible and intuitive interface
- Plenty of editing tools
- Fast and responsive rendering
- Impressive stabilization
- Captioning and transcription tools
- Complicated for beginners
- Subscription only
Anyone with even a passing interest in vlogging will have heard of Adobe Premiere Pro, the go-to editing software for many professionals.
Existing fluidly within the Adobe Create Cloud suite of programs, Premiere Pro delivers high-end editing power with a wealth of impressive tools.
Vloggers can use it for far more than simply editing content, adding transitions and effects, and exporting to their video platform of choice.
There’s a plethora of text and titles to draw from to enhance videos and give them a professional look that impresses your audience.
You can also use Premiere Pro to stabilize your video clips if you’re shooting handheld and use the Auto Reframe for vlogging content.
This tool automatically adjusts your source video, so it’s compatible with spec requirements for Instagram, YouTube, Vimeo, and other platforms.
With colour grading, audio mixing, and many more advanced editing tools to play with, Adobe Premiere Pro is among the best video editing software available.
Final Cut Pro (Best Vlog Editing Software for Mac)
- Simple to use magnetic timeline
- Plenty of tools
- Multicam support
- Rapid performance
- Outstanding organizational tools
- The update rate can be slow
- Mac only
Like Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro is professional video editing software with a long and studied history in the movie industry.
Mac users looking for comprehensive desktop video editing apps can take advantage of a long list of advanced features to improve their vlog content.
Final Cut Pro complements all the basic video editing tools for clipping and arranging shots with many more impressive features.
These include a cinematic mode for altering points of focus and depth of field and over 100 transitions to spice up your vlog edits.
Final Cut Pro also delivers when it comes to filing and cataloging your assets, with an excellent library system to tag content before you edit.
It’s a great combination of classic video editing functions with more in-depth tools that allow for truly creative vlog videos.
Mac-owning bloggers looking for a range of video and audio effects to edit YouTube videos will find everything they need in Final Cut Pro.
Filmora (Best Vlog Editing Software for Beginners)
- Available on Mac and Windows
- Impressive selection of editing tools
- Simple enough for beginners
- Hundreds of overlays and effects
- Affordable price
- Video stabilization needs improvement
- Lacks multicam editing
Perhaps the first thing that strikes users when loading up Filmora is how neat and intuitive the user interface is.
Indeed, Filmora has a workflow that feels optimized for people who are new to video editing, outlining the basic features in an intuitive workflow.
Trimming and arranging edits is easy, as is adding transitions and effects from Filmora’s impressive library of tools and options.
Despite this beginner-first approach, there’s enough here for more advanced editors to explore in addition to the basic video editing features.
This includes chroma keying for vloggers using a green screen and motion-tracking tools for those creating outdoor content that needs post-production work.
While Filmora is free video editing software, some tools require upgrading to the paid license in order to unlock them for use.
This makes it great vlog editing software to try before you buy, exploring the free version to see if it’s the right vlog editor for you.
iMovie (Best Free Vlog Editing Sofware for Mac)
- Easy-to-learn user interface
- Nice selection of themes
- Effective chroma-keying feature
- Integration with Final Cut Pro
- Free software
- Mac only
- No multicam support
Apple Mac users looking for free editing software they can use for basic vlog editing apps have largely adopted iMovie for their content.
One of the platform’s most popular free editing apps, iMovie is notable for its ease of use and clean interface that new users can easily understand.
It’s easy to edit vlogs with iMovie quickly, and there are lots of eye-catching themes to bring more visual interest to video content.
Users can draw on a range of movie templates to add a particular aesthetic, and there are some excellent audio tools for creating more dynamic soundtracks.
Vlog-specific tools available in iMovie include picture-in-picture modes, chroma key support, and options to export videos directly to YouTube and Vimeo.
While its limitations might put off a professional video editor compared to paid editing software, you’ll find all the essential tools if you’re a new vlog editor.
This combination of versatility and simplicity has helped make iMovie the best free vlog video editing software for casual Mac editors of all types.
DaVinci Resolve (Best Free Vlog Editing Software for Windows, Mac & Linux)
- High-end professional editing tools
- Outstanding colour grading and correction
- Motion graphics and titles
- Dolby Atmos audio editing
- Quick rendering
- Very complicated for beginners
- System resource intensive
While most people consider Final Cut Pro and Premiere Pro the go-to editing software for pros, DaVinci Resolve is also used for movies.
Available as both free vlog editing software and with a feature-complete paid version, DaVinci Resolve’s list of features is truly impressive.
It’s a comprehensive vlog video editor you can use to combine video clips with effects to export professional-looking videos in a few hours.
At the same time, it delivers a fully-fledged colour grading suite and the option to create motion graphics and titles in depth.
DaVinci Resolve’s user interface breaks down this workflow into manageable components, with pages for editing, grading, graphics, and audio.
As such, it’s no surprise that DaVinci Resolve is one of the most popular vlog editing software choices for those willing to put in more time and effort.
Whether you’re after a free video editor with all the basic features or professional software with all the bells and whistles, DaVinci Resolve has it covered.
Adobe Premiere Rush (Best Mobile Vlog Editing Software for iOS and Android)
- Intuitive user interface
- Social media network sharing
- Synch projects with Creative Cloud
- Plenty of titles and effects
- Free version on mobile devices
- Rendering can be slow
- Desktop version requires a subscription
Vlog video editors who need a program they can use on the go should consider installing Adobe Premiere Rush for their editing needs.
A pared-back version of Premiere Pro, Premiere Rush is optimal editing software for vloggers who want to edit videos with minimal fuss.
Easy to use and with plenty of tools to explore, Premiere Rush brings in cross-platform compatibility for added versatility.
This makes it among the best free vlog editors for mobile users looking for a video editor to use while traveling or commuting.
Basic tools sit alongside a range of presets for colour manipulation, titles, and other cool effects that don’t require technical expertise to implement.
It’s also easy to export videos to social media platforms with Premiere Rush, with support for a range of popular video formats.
With its user-friendly interface and a free version for mobile, Adobe Premiere Rush is a great vlog editor for casual content creators.
Clipchamp (Best Free Vlog Editing Software Online)
- Simple to use
- Lots of social media templates
- Great effects and transitions
- Included with Windows 11
- Free vlog editing software
- Many features require a subscription
- Export rendering can be slow
Clipchamp is another commendable free vlog video editing software that newcomers can quickly pick up and learn.
This web-based free vlog editing software comes with many basic tools for creating impressive video content oriented toward social media platforms.
Some of the video editor tools you’ll access through Clipchamp include a selection of creative transitions and filters to help define a particular aesthetic.
The ability to refine video aspects such as contrast, saturation, and color temperature further adds to its impressive roster of editing tools.
For an even faster workflow, users can take advantage of the many templates included with Clipchamp, applying them to clips or the entire video.
Additional tools a vlog video editor can take advantage of include a handy auto-caption feature and a good selection of background music tracks.
While experienced video editors may find Clipchamp limiting, if you’re new to the game, it’s a great entry-level video editor to help get you started.
Recommended Features for the Best Vlog Editing Software
Video editing software tailored for vlogging needs a combination of essential video editing features as well as functionalities that cater to the specific requirements of vloggers.
Here’s a breakdown:
Essential Video Editing Features:
- Timeline Editing: A multitrack timeline to layer video, audio, and effects.
- Cut, Trim & Split: Basic tools to refine your footage.
- Transitions & Effects: Options for smooth scene changes and added visual appeal.
- Text & Titles: For adding captions, titles, and annotations.
- Color Correction & Grading: Adjust color for aesthetic appeal and consistency.
- Audio Editing & Enhancement: Tools to refine and improve sound quality.
- Stabilization: Reduce camera shake from handheld footage.
- Export & Rendering: Multiple format options and resolutions for final output.
- 4K & High-Resolution Support: To maintain video quality during editing.
Specific to Vlogging:
- Face Detection: Helps in keeping the subject in focus during color grading or stabilization.
- Auto-editing Tools: Algorithms to automatically trim or assemble clips can speed up vlog editing.
- Background Noise Reduction: Vloggers often film in diverse environments, so noise reduction is vital.
- Music & Sound Effect Libraries: Ready-to-use libraries can enhance the vlog’s mood and appeal.
- Picture-in-Picture (PiP): Useful for reaction videos or adding commentary.
- Direct Upload to Platforms: Seamless exporting to platforms like YouTube or Vimeo.
- Mobile Integration: With many vloggers capturing footage on smartphones, easy integration with mobile devices is helpful.
- Template & Preset Libraries: To maintain consistent branding and aesthetics across vlogs.
- Screen Recording & Webcam Capture: Useful for tutorial or reaction-style vlogs.
- Time-lapse & Slow-motion Effects: Enhance storytelling with varied pacing.
Ultimately, the best video editing software for vlogging will offer a blend of these features, allowing vloggers to create engaging, high-quality content efficiently.
Pricing Summary of Best Vlogging Editing Software
Software | Key Features | Pricing |
---|---|---|
Adobe Premiere Pro | Professional video editing, advanced tools | Subscription-based |
Final Cut Pro | Apple-exclusive, professional video editing | One-time purchase |
Filmora | Beginner-friendly, basic to intermediate editing | Subscription-based |
iMovie | Basic video editing, free with Apple devices | Free |
DaVinci Resolve | Professional video editing, color correction | Free or paid |
Premiere Rush | Simplified video editing, syncs with Premiere Pro | Subscription-based |
Clipchamp | Online video editor, basic editing tools | Free or paid |
What Programs do Vloggers Use to Edit?
Before deciding what the right vlogging software is for your needs, researching the programs established vloggers and YouTubers use is worthwhile.
As you might expect, Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro top the list for many vloggers looking to achieve professional results.
The world’s most famous YouTube vlogger, PewDiePie, uses Premiere Pro to create high-quality videos with striking overlays and filters.
Logan Paul also marshals the many resources and features available in Premiere Pro for his content that reaches millions worldwide.
On the other hand, Casey Neistat prefers Apple’s Final Cut Pro, having stated his enthusiasm for Apple products in general.
If you’re unsure if these high-end programs are for you, consider checking out the free trial version and exploring their tools.
With that said, it’s possible to create stunning content with free vlog editors, so if you’re on a budget, give one a try and see what results you can get.
As you become more proficient, you can always take the next step and move on to Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, or DaVinci Resolve.
Still the top choice for vlog editing, offering powerful features tailored for dynamic storytelling.