The consumer market for video editing software is highly competitive.

As a result, the user benefits greatly from features and pricing, but there is a downside.

The choices resulting from intense advertising and marketing might seem overwhelming.

I’m going to look at some of the important things you should consider in this article. You will be able to make an informed decision when choosing the ideal video making software for your purposes.

Quick Navigation

• 5 Important Factors to Consider When Picking Video Editing Software
• Which Video Editing Software to Go With

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5 Important Factors to Consider When Picking Video Editing Software

#1. Price

If you are a newbie, this is one of the first things you need to consider.

We will break down the video editing software market into 4 different levels for price and level of experience:

Consumer level ($0~$70):

This level has the biggest selection. Most video editing software products fall into this range and most users should start here.

If you are a newbie in video editing, it is a good idea to start off with a free video editor. Actually, the best available option is usually the video editing software that comes with your operating system.

If you are running Windows 7/8, try Movie Maker. MacOS users should try iMovie.

Movavi Video Suite is a great option if you want an easy to use and powerful video editor.

Prosumer level ($100~$200)

This “Prosumer” is just above the consumer level. Here you will find the enthusiastic amateur or an editor who is thinking of taking their skill to a pro level.

The selection of software at this level decreases dramatically. At this time, there are only a couple of products worthy of your time and consideration:

Cyberlink PowerDirector and Adobe Premiere Elements.

With prosumer software, you might end up paying for numerous features and functions that you will not use, especially in a “home video editing” setting.

To get to a level where you can actually use the program, there is a steep learning curve. This software is aimed at the pro or semi-pro users.

Professionals ($200~$400)

Adobe Premier Pro and Final Cut Pro fall into this category.

These programs are for the pros and if you want this kind of software, you are on the wrong webpage!

For Business ($500~$800)

This tier is not relevant to 99.9% of video editors.

Avid Media Composer and Lightworks are in this category and are geared to businesses and there is no need to pay this price for the software.

#2. Interface

If you are a newbie or an expert video editor, this part can be a problem. It all looks confusing when you are a newbie. Know that there is a learning curve and there aren’t any real shortcuts.

However, even those with experience have their own unique problems. For example, you might discover that your hotkeys, favorite shortcuts and all the other features you like are not where you expect them to be.

Before you buy any video editor, watch a few YouTube videos, look at screenshots and get a good idea about how the editor will work for you.

#3. Video File Formats

What video format are you planning to encode in? Pick the software that is compatible with these formats.

In terms of input, be sure that the software in your video editor is compatible with the source material.

In terms of the output, you have to keep in mind the formats that are compatible with the platform where you plan on posting your video.

Therefore, before you make your final decision on a software program, confirm that your input and output formats are supported.

#4. Editing Tools

The real value of video editing software is how many tools the software provides.

You might have a great selection of tools and only some are important for your purposes.

Great video editing software should include at least the features and functions listed below:

• Be compatible with the video files you are using and have the ability to convert from one video format to another.
• To merge video clips and remove unnecessary sections.
• To make adjustments to music tracks of the video files and include extra audio such as sound effects, voice-overs and background music.
• Scan for compatibility of audio files along with MP3, Dolby etc.
• A wide selection of special effects such as overlays, titles, video filters etc..

#5. Trial offers, technical customer service, stability, etc.

1. Take full advantage of free trial offers. Some software might look great, but not perform as expected and vice versa.
2. Does your computer have the minimum requirements? If you plan on doing lots of video editing, you will have to get a powerful computer.
3. Does the software maker provide regular updates or has an active presence? This shows that they are constantly improving the product.
4. What are other people saying about the product and the customer service? If you see a good buzz around a video editor or there are lots of YouTube tutorials, then the software is probably good to use.

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Which Video Editing Software to Go With

We have tested many software products and I’ve put together a list of the best products into various categories according to skill levels. That way it is simple to see the ones most suitable for your level.

If you begin at a lower level, you know the exact features you’ll get when you move up to a higher level.

If you are a newbie or a semi-pro video editor, we recommend Movavi Video Suite since it is easy to use and a powerful video editor.

Movavi is compatible with Windows and Mac computers.

You can easily do basic video editing and you still have access to advanced tools like Time-lapse, image stabilization and Chroma Key Effect.

Furthermore, Movavi provides a library full of effects that are updated regularly and already includes hundreds of amazing filters, texts, overlays and motion elements that dramatically improve your videos.