Editing videos for YouTube or Earneo.Tube can be a daunting task if you don’t have the right tools at your disposal.
Luckily, there are plenty of apps and software out there that make editing for YouTube easy and efficient.
In this article, we’ll explore the top 10 editing apps for YouTube that can help you create professional videos at home and on the go!
We’ll also cover some important features to look out for in a good editing app, as well as what free video editing software is available, mobile-specific apps, as well as tips for making the most out of your editing software.
So, if you’re looking for the best video editing apps for YouTube or Earneo.Tube– read on!
Features to Look for in a Good Editing App
Before we discuss the specific apps, let’s talk about what you should be looking for in an editing application.
The difficult thing about this is that it’s different depending on who you are and the content you want to make.
Here, we’ve broken these considerations down into three categories; Tech, tools and price.
Make sure to note your needs in this section when considering the apps listed later!
Technology Limitations
The first thing to consider when choosing an editing software is your technological limitations, in regards to both software and hardware.
First, how good is your device?
Some programs, both mobile and desktop, will require sturdier hardware to run well (or at all). If this is the case, make sure your device is up to the task before committing to any single software.
If you can’t even run the program, none of the other categories really matter!
You should also think about your software limitations. Do you only have a mobile device? Are you running Apple or Android?
Or, if you’re on a desktop computer, is it Windows, Apple or Linux?
When choosing a program, make sure it is available for your operating system or device. You will also need to check you have the right version of OS, since some programs require a more up-to-date version to run properly.
Finally, think about what you want to upload. Depending on if you want full 4K HD videos, certain aspect ratios or other specific technical features, you may be limited to certain software over others.
You should make sure that the software you choose does the following:
- Able to import the files you are recording (which could be affected by size, aspect ratio or file format.)
- Can export in YouTube applicable formats; and
- Can export in the desired quality for your final upload, for instance you may only want 4k videos.
Important Tools
Next, let’s talk about the tools and features you will need from your program. Again, this is different depending on your personal preferences and content.
Almost every YouTube creator will need some basic tools; notably cutting, pasting, cropping, transitions, split, overlays, music and text. Pretty much every editing software will include these things at varying levels of complexity.
If you are creating gaming videos, or any other content where you want to put yourself in the corner of your content to commentate, then Chroma Key and green screen capabilities will be a must.
For making handheld or GoPro recordings, stabilization technology will be of great help! Without it, these videos can be jarring and difficult to watch.
If you only want to do basic editing on your video, cutting clips and adding audio, then a simple program will be plenty.
A more complex program will be essential if you want more control over things like color grading, effects, filters and other advanced features.
Finally, consider the availability of learning resources. Without any existing knowledge of editing programs, learning an advanced program from scratch will be impossible without some sort of guidance.
Many programs come with built-in tutorials, and some have engaged and passionate communities that provide incredible, free tutorials to help you learn the program. Both of these things are a massive benefit if you aren’t already very confident in editing software.
Price
This last section is simple: How much are you willing to spend?
Some editing software can be prohibitively expensive, being created for use in huge film or TV productions by massive companies. Others are completely free.
If you’re just starting out on YouTube and make no income from it yet, a free program may be a great way to get on your feet.
Alternatively, if you are already making some money from YouTube and are looking to start professionally editing your videos, a more advanced, paid program may be better.
What are the Best Software to Edit videos?
Adobe Premiere Pro
Subscription Based: $20.99 USD per month, 7 Day Free Trial
Windows, Mac
This program is the industry standard for video editing, used by many top YouTubers as well as in the film and tv industries. Its price point is high, but the features available are unmatched by most competitors.
Premiere Pro has a huge array of features.
It has all of the basics such as clipping, cutting, audio and music effects, as well as more complex tools like 3D and 360 editing, audio-video syncing, motion graphics, effects, filters, color grading, captioning, and more.
Pro also has unlimited video and audio tracks.
Of special note in this program is the excellent color editing and graphics options. If you want to tweak settings and sliders for hours to perfect the color in your video, then Premiere Pro is perfect!
All tools in the program are granular and precise, letting you make frame-perfect changes at just the right moment.
It also has some of the best collaboration tools available in the industry, making it a great choice if you plan to work with a team who will all need to access the same tools and footage.
Premiere Pro plays very nicely with pretty much all Adobe products, letting you export and import projects from one to the other with ease.
The software comes with a built-in stock photo, video and audio library that is easy to pull from and add to your project. This is especially useful for adding quick sound effects, music and B-footage to your videos.
However, a major complaint from users of the program is that it often crashes or freezes, especially if you don’t have a top of the line computer. For this reason, it’s not a good option if you are working off a low-spec laptop or pc.
When it comes to exporting your video, Premiere Pro has a huge variety of options. It can export in 4k, 8k and 360 / VR setups and in pretty much any file format you can imagine. It also has YouTube specific export settings, and receives regular, free updates.
Adobe Premiere Pro is one of the most complex options when it comes to editing software.
It can seem like there are a thousand different buttons, menus and options that will easily overwhelm anyone new to editing. If you want a program that’s quick and easy to learn, this definitely shouldn’t be your choice!
However, if you already have some experience, or are willing to put in the time to learn, then Premiere can be an incredible tool and allow for extreme control over your final product.
A major plus is that, being one of the most popular editing programs, there are plenty of great tutorials on getting started in Premiere Pro– both from Adobe and non-official sources.
FinalCut Pro
One Off Purchase: $499 USD, 90 Day Free Trial
Mac Exclusive
FinalCut Pro is a program already being used by many professionals in the industry to create high quality edits.
The biggest limiter when it comes to FinalCut is its Mac exclusivity, meaning Windows and Linux users are out of luck.
However, it works very well for those already used to Apple products, since its UI and systems are laid out in a similar way to most Apple software and so will be familiar. It also plays nicely with Apple products, such as allowing easy imports from iTunes and your Photo Library.
FinalCut Pro offers all the main features you want from an editing software, as well as multichannel audio, noise reduction and advanced color grading.
It also offers HDR, 4k and 360 video editing. The biggest draw to FinalCut is its color correction and grading tools, since they are very high quality with many adjustment options to get your video looking exactly how you want it!
It also has an excellent timeline system which makes finding specific scenes throughout your project a breeze.
However, the program is complex, and can be difficult to learn. This also applies to experienced editors, since many aspects of the program, namely its timeline, are laid out in a completely different way to most editing software.
If you want to make use of the full potential of FinalCut, you’ll need to be willing to put some time into learning its intricacies.
This complexity is also increased when you start introducing plugins, which are required for some of the more advanced features to be utilized.
However, if you learn how to use them, they open a lot of possibilities in the program! It’s also very well supported, with regular, free updates available.
Adobe Premiere Elements
One Off Purchase: $99.99 USD, 30 Day Free Trial
Windows, Mac
This program is an excellent choice for a beginner looking for something simple and easy to learn.
Effectively, Premiere Elements is a stripped down version of Premiere Pro with a much, much lower price tag.
It has all of the standard tools you need to edit video, with a few of the nice features from Pro as well. Notably, it includes time lapse tools, motion tracking, multi track editing, keyframing, and transitions.
Made with beginners in mind, Elements also comes with a host of useful, automated features that make complex methods a lot more achievable for a less experienced editor.
This includes face detection, easy audio effects and soundtracks, and an auto-curate feature that automatically sorts videos by different features to make organisation easy.
Element’s tutorials are very thorough, with guided edits that walk you through systems and methods step by step. It also has a huge amount of tutorials, both from Adobe and unofficial sources in the community.
It also has plenty of YouTube-specific features, such as preset export settings and aspect ratios. These are very useful when making videos for YouTube in particular.
Its comprehensive and intuitive compression tools make it very simple to get your video to the correct file size and quality.
The biggest drawback when it comes to Premiere Elements are the lack of complex features like 360 editing and advanced colour tools. It’s also known to render slowly.
However, it’s easy to use and quick to learn, with a simple interface that makes editing a painless experience.
If you’re a beginner looking for a way to get started quickly, and don’t care about the high level, advanced features of something like Premiere Pro, then Elements may be the perfect fit!
Pinnacle Studio
One Off Purchase: $49.95 (Basic Version), 30 Day Money Back Guarantee
Windows Exclusive
Created by Corel, the price is a major draw to this program– setting it apart from the others as it is much cheaper and has a single payment purchase.
However, it does hide some features behind its higher (and pricier) tiers. Most notably, 4k rendering is only possible with its highest tier, which costs $109.95 USD.
Along with all the basic, expected features, the notable parts of this software are its in-built screen recording (which is great if you want to create gaming or tutorial videos), thousands of filters and effects, keyframes, advanced blend modes, titles, video masking, 360 support and stop motion tools.
It also has six track HD video editing. This, alongside its huge library of in-built effects and templates means you can create very complex, stylish videos.
The main drawbacks of Pinnacle Studio are technical in nature. To run it, you need a fairly beefy computer, and even then it’s known to run slowly.
Loading times are often long, which can be frustrating. It also takes up a lot of space on the computer. If you don’t have decent hardware to run it, Pinnacle likely isn’t a good fit for you!
However, if you have a good computer, it could be an excellent choice. It has superb support for new users, and a fairly active community who provide tutorials and other resources.
Although it’s a little more complicated than some of the simplest, free programs, it’s one of the easier professional-level softwares to learn.
If you want to get started quickly and not spend weeks learning every menu in something like Premiere, then Pinnacle might suit you very well.
Best Free Video Editing Software Available
iMovie
Free on Apple Devices
Mac and iOS
This program comes preloaded on pretty much every Apple device– so if you already own a Mac or iOS device, you already have access to iMovie! However, it isn’t available for any non-Apple products.
This is an excellent, basic program for beginners or those only wanting to do basic level editing.
It allows for speed adjustments, templates, soundtrack and sfx, cut, clip, greenscreen, chroma key and other simple features.
It’s also made with beginners in mind, and has some handy tools to help those who aren’t experienced editors. These include its storyboards, which are premade templates that guide you through specific actions.
It also has Magic Movie, which uses AI to automatically edit together an entire video from your clips which you can then edit.
Although updates are free, they aren’t frequent, meaning iMovie has a tendency to lag behind its peers when it comes to more advanced features. However, if you want highly advanced editing tools, you likely aren’t using iMovie anyway!
If simple, easy and quick to learn is what you want, iMovie could be an excellent choice for any Apple user. The interface is clean and simple to pick up, and there are plentiful tutorials to help you along the way.
Lightworks
Free, Optional Paid Versions
Windows, Linux
Where iMovie is quick and simple, Lightworks is largely the opposite.
The program is jam packed with features, even in the free version, and is definitely a professional-level tool.
However, it has a very high learning curve, especially if you aren’t already familiar with other editing tools.
There are endless menus and buttons to hit, so you need to be ready to study and learn the layout of the program before being able to edit effectively.
This software has been used for Hollywood level film editing on projects like The King’s Speech, and is used by many professionals in the editing industry.
The free version has most features you need for basic to intermediate video editing. Many of the more advanced features are locked behind the paid subscriptions, however. Most importantly, the free version only allows exports up to 720p, which may be a dealbreaker for some.
Lightworks is also only available for free for non-commercial use, so if you start making money from your YouTube channel you will need to upgrade or switch to another program.
The paid versions of Lightworks include the Premium version at $9.99 USD a month, and the Pro version at $23.99 a month.
The most beneficial features of Lightworks are its YouTube presets and tools, stock music, voice over tools, color correction, multicam editing and text effects.
It also has some nice quality of life features like autosave and background processing, meaning you can keep working on your project while it renders or exports.
Major pain points in the software are its finicky nature that rejects imports that don’t perfectly match your project’s framerate, the limited resolution in the free version, and the lack of good tutorials available online.
This could make it difficult to learn for someone completely new (but not impossible). The resources just aren’t as numerous as some other programs.
Overall, the program is complex, allowing a high level of control and customisation for your project.
It’s difficult to learn for beginners, but if you already have some experience in video editing it should be easy enough to pick up!
This program would be best for an intermediate editor looking for a free, professional-grade software, or for a beginner looking to get started with a more complex program for the first time.
ShotCut
Free and Open Source
Windows, Mac, Linux
This program is entirely free, with no paid version available. It also has a highly active community, meaning plentiful learning resources and tutorials for those looking to get started.
ShotCut comes with all the expected features of an editing software, including 4k support, audio filters, keyframing, grading, color correction and inbuilt webcam capture.
Additionally, it has unlimited undo / redo, over 40k instant templates to work from and batch encoding to make large sets of videos easy to export all at once.
The main difficulty you’ll face in ShotCut is learning its interface.
It’s very clean and nice to look at, but many of the features are hidden away in menus and shortcuts that will take time to learn.
Luckily, the thriving community around the program provides plenty of tutorials and support forums that will make this easier! Once you get the hang of the interface, it’s very efficient and will make your editing process smooth and pleasant.
Best Mobile-Specific Editing Apps
Adobe Premiere Rush
Subscription Based: $9.99 USD Per Month
iOS, Android
This is, effectively, the mobile version of the normal Premiere apps.
It’s heavily cut down in features compared to its desktop counterparts, but it’s still a solid editing app to use on the go.
The best features of this program are its very fast export times, drag and drop systems, color correction, titles, speed tools and transitions. It also comes with 100 GB of cloud storage for your footage and finished projects.
Although somewhat limited in number, it does allow for multitrack editing of audio and video (with four video tracks and three audio tracks). You can also access Adobe Stock for images and graphics to use in your project.
However, probably the biggest boon of using Rush is its easy interconnectivity with Premiere Pro and Elements.
It’s very simple to transfer files back and forth between the programs, meaning you can do simpler editing on Rush and then send it to your computer to make more complex, final additions.
Many of the more complex features from the desktop apps are not included however, so if you don’t also purchase them, you will be limited to only basic editing tools.
Overall, Rush is a great choice for simple editing tasks, or more complex ones if paired with its desktop versions.
It has a great setup for YouTube and social media, with presets and export settings that make getting your video online a breeze!
It’s easy to learn, has a simple interface, and is entirely optimized for mobile use. If you aren’t bothered about the more complex editing features, this could be a great option for you.
LumaFusion
One Off Purchase: $29.99 USD
iOS Exclusive
If you’re looking for a fully fleshed out, professional grade editing app for your phone, LumaFusion is a great option.
It’s more advanced than Rush, with the most comprehensive video editing features we could find in a mobile app.
LumaFusion has twelve tracks each for video and audio editing, titles, graphics, colour correction, lossless export, vertical video support, speed controls, effects, multicam support and a plethora of export options.
It also offers great DropBox integration that makes it easy to work in a team on a single project!
The biggest strength of the program is also its biggest weakness, however.
The sheer complexity of the software and its many menus, buttons and sliders will certainly be overwhelming for a beginner.
Even an experienced editor will likely need some time to figure out exactly how to use LumaFusion before being able to efficiently edit content.
However, if you want very high levels of customisation, control, and advanced features in your mobile app, then this one simply can’t be beat.
If you’re a beginner however, who only wants to make basic edits to their video– maybe give LumaFusion a miss for now.
FilmoraGo
Free
iOS and Android
If you want something simple to make basic edits to your videos, and don’t care about the highly advanced features in something like LumaFusion, then FilmoraGo could be perfect for you.
The program has a simple layout, which is easy to learn even for a beginner.
It also has a wide range of preset themes, titles, layouts and export settings which make things easier if you aren’t sure about all of the granular settings involved. The ability to upload directly to YouTube also improves your workflow and makes things quicker.
The basic features needed for video editing are all included, such as clip, effects, overlays, graphics, filters, titles, trip, split and speed controls.
However, it’s lacking some of the major intermediate features that may be required for some projects. The biggest missing tools are 4k support and multitrack editing. However, it does include basic chroma key features that let you work with greenscreens.
The built-in, royalty-free music library is also useful for YouTube. You can easily apply music and sound effects within the app without worrying about YouTube’s strict copyright laws!
Overall, avoid FilmoraGo if you want all the complex settings and advanced features normally found on desktop apps.
However, if you want something you can pick up and get started with quickly, it could be an excellent choice– especially if you aren’t bothered by advanced tools.
Tips to Make the Most of Your Editing Apps
Now that we’ve covered the best apps available for different editing circumstances, let’s talk a bit about how to get the most out of your software.
No matter which program you use, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure the best outcome possible:
Start Simple
If you’re a beginner, start small and simple and build your way up to more complex editing methods and tools.
Without prior experience it will take a long time to learn how to edit at a professional level, so don’t rush it! Make sure to remember that it’s ok to be inexperienced; we all start somewhere, after all.
Some of the more complex programs can be very overwhelming to new editors, so it might benefit you to start with one of the simpler softwares and move up to something like Premiere Pro later on.
Get Good Footage
Editing programs aren’t magic. If you capture poor quality footage, you’re setting yourself up for failure when trying to create a professional looking final video.
The biggest thing to consider in getting quality footage is your tools. Make sure to invest in a decent camera or webcam, and learn how to use it properly. Ensure that it’s on the correct settings and recording at a high enough quality.
You should also pay attention to lighting. Avoid very dim or very harsh lights– and if recording your face, avoid strong shadows!
It may be a good idea to invest in a ring light, which can help light your face evenly and softly without dramatic shadowing.
If you really want to capture high quality footage, you could even educate yourself on advanced lighting techniques like a three point light setup.
Finally, a greenscreen is an excellent addition to any YouTubers toolset. It can help make your videos feel even more professional and put-together, and is especially useful for gaming or tutorial videos.
Capture Good Audio
Audio is a major factor in whether someone continues watching your video to the end. No one wants to listen to painful, crackly audio for 10+ minutes.
To ensure your audio is of good quality, get a decent microphone and learn how to set it up properly. Film in a private, carpeted room with little background noise if possible.
You can also invest in sound dampening panels for your wall, which can create even more consistent audio quality.
Ultimately, if you put poor quality video and audio into your editing software, you’re likely to get poor quality results. Make a solid foundation by ensuring your video and audio are set up well.
Audio Extras
Adding things like background music to your videos can really help improve their quality and make them more entertaining to watch.
It can also help set the mood of different moments in the video, such as when something happy or sad happens.
Sound effects are also useful for bringing an extra level of interest to your video. They can be great for drawing attention to certain things or for comedic effect.
Finally, consider adding captions to your video. These help to make it more accessible for those who rely on captions due to hearing impairment or other disabilities.
Captions also help improve your video’s SEO, meaning it will rank higher in the YouTube algorithm! Many editing softwares also offer automatic captioning, meaning it’s relatively quick and easy to include.
Video Extras
There are a few things you can include to make your visuals more interesting.
For instance, B-roll can really help to keep your audience’s attention during a long section of dialogue or text.
Many editing softwares have libraries of copyright-free video that can be used, or you can record your own.
You should also make use of things like transitions and graphics to keep your audience’s attention and convey information.
These are also important on YouTube for adding Subscribe and Like prompts to boost your stats.
Finally, make sure to use editing to your advantage. Most importantly, keep your videos interesting and concise by cutting out awkward pauses or unnecessary rambling!
You want your audience to be entertained and engaged for as much of the video as possible. A long section of boring talking or silence could mean losing your viewer completely.
Work Efficiently
When creating YouTube videos, you want to make sure that your workflow is efficient and sensible rather than wasting time where it isn’t necessary.
Make sure you pick the program for your needs. There is no point in learning a highly complex software like Lightworks if all you want to do is move clips around and add some music!
You should also spend some time learning the tips and keyboard shortcuts that apply to your software, as these can really speed up your workflow over time.
Finally, ensure you have backups of your videos and footage, since a dead hard drive or bricked computer can mean the loss of your local files. You’ll want to avoid this massive setback at all costs.
In Conclusion
Video editing is an entire skillset on its own, with hugely varying levels of complexity.
Make sure you consider your needs, experience and resources when picking your editing software.
The right software will make all the difference to your speed and enjoyment of the editing process, so you want to take your time and really consider what will be best for you.
We hope this list has made that process easier! Once you pick up the intricacies of your chosen program, we’re sure your videos will be efficiently made and of excellent quality.
