Video editing is a world full of opportunities where you can let your creative side take the wheel. However, you'll need a good free video editing software for your Mac device to make your visions come to life and get the desired results. We've tested numerous available options to provide a top list and help you with the experience.
We'll present the best and most powerful solutions below, so you can choose your ideal tool and start editing your videos professionally. Without further ado, let's jump into what the market offers for your experience.
Table of Content
What Makes a Good Video Editing Software for Mac?
Choosing a good video editing software for Mac can be a pain in the neck, especially if you have no experience in the field. We've prepared some things that make software good and stand out from the crowd, so you can gain the ability to recognize good from bad during your search quest.
- Compatibility - A good video editing software for Mac will be compatible with numerous operating system versions and devices, giving everyone the opportunity to get professional results.
- User interface - The user interface should be intuitive and easy to navigate. It's a bonus if you can customize the interface according to your needs and preferences.
- Features - The tool should provide advanced video editing features to support your experience and help you get the perfect video content.
- Formats - A good video editing software solution for Mac will support numerous import and export video formats so you can customize the experience and choose the workflow.
- Pricing - The tool will be reasonably priced according to the features and capabilities it provides.
Once you consider all of these elements, you'll surely discover the best video editing program for Mac.
Best Video Editing Software for Mac (Free, Open-Source, & Paid)
Here's a list of the best video editing software solutions for Mac devices, including free, open-source, and paid options.
1.Wondershare Filmora
Best for: all video editing purposes
Supported OS: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS
Star rating: 4.4/5Pricing: $9.99, $29.99, $49.99
Why We Picked It
Wondershare Filmora is the most universal video editing solution for Macs available on the market. It provides dozens of advanced video editing features that will cut the production time and help you get professional results.
The best part about it is that it's beginner-friendly, and you can master your editing skills in no time. It includes video and audio editing capabilities, giving you the ultimate experience.[a][b]
Key Features
Wondershare Filmora is a feature-rich solution that provides everything you need for a professional experience. Here are some of the most prominent features you'll find on this platform:
- Keyframing
- 3D LUTs
- Multicam editing
- AI features
- Color correction
What Do Other Users Say About It?
Wondershare Filmora is also one of the most loved video editors for Macs, as you can see from the following review:
"Filmora is such an easy software to use that a person who has never edited a video can learn to use it in 5 minutes. The UI is super easy to use. Any video format can be used for this. Makes video editing very quick, and a person does not need to spend too much time to familiarize themselves with the software."
Here's another example of Wondershare Filmora's power: "Is super easy to use, you can create a lot of videos with features, effects, AI, change spped, add transitions and musics. The main platform is very intuitive and you can edit different tracks in one."
2.OpenShot
Best for: composting
Supported OS: Windows, Mac, Linux
Star rating: 4.4/5Pricing: Free
Why We Picked It
OpenShot is one of the simplest video editors for Mac available on the market. It'll provide you with essential tools and solutions to make your visions come to life and share your creations. The best part about it is that it supports numerous file formats, so you won't have to worry about this experience if you opt for OpenShot.
Key Features
Here are some of the best features you'll get with OpenShot:
- Keyframe animations
- Layers
- Watermarks
- Time mapping
What Do Other Users Say About It?
OpenShot is generally loved by the video editing public, as you can see from the following review: "OpenShot Video Editor is a fantastic video editing software as it is open source (free). All the tolls are visible at one place on the home screen, which is very convenient for me to use OpenShot and edit videos."
On the other hand, many users have reported issues with the platform, as you can see here: "There are few heading effects to use advance Editor needs to install functions. I dont like most of the heading Temples. We needs to instrall another (bender) softwear to create animated tiitles."
3.Shotcut
Best for: video filters and effects
Supported OS: Windows, Mac, Linux
Star rating: 4.2/5Pricing: Free
Why We Picked It
Aside from being an entirely free video editor for Mac, Shotcut provides numerous features that you'll rarely see on free platforms. For instance, it supports up to 8K video resolutions, which may be rare even for paid video editing options. Although it doesn't provide too many features, it's still among the best in the free game.
Key Features
You can check out some of the best Shotcut features below:
- Tone mapping
- Batch conversion
- Audio filters
- Deinterlacing
What Do Other Users Say About It?
When people first began their Shotcut experiences, they were surprised by the features and capabilities, as you can see from this review: "I was pleasantly surprised that Shotcut provides all of the editing features I wanted and more even though it's a free product."
However, some users didn't have the best experiences, such as this one: "The user interface is NOT AT ALL intuitive. You have to read documentation and get caught up in learning the ShotCut way of doing things."
4.Final Cut Pro X
Best for: professional video editing
Supported OS: Mac
Star rating: 4.4/5Pricing: $299.99
Why We Picked It
Final Cut Pro X is a professional video editing solution designed specifically for Mac users. It allows you to edit your recordings in detail and create professional content, so if you're searching for a solution to master your skills, this may be the ideal solution. It's a feature-packed tool that will surely help you boost your video editing career.
Key Features
Here are some of the best video editing features you'll find on Final Cut Pro X:
- Magnetic timeline
- Multicam editing
- 3D titles
- Color grading
What Do Other Users Say About It?
Final Cut Pro X is a rather complex tool, but professionals usually have good experience with it once they start editing. Here's an example: "Final Cut Pro X is very lightweight and works great on our MacOs systems. It has simple and good looking editing interface. It has vast collections of special effects and audios for our videos."
On the other hand, some people had difficulties using the solution, as you can see here: "I don't like that there is little customization of the window layout, and my windows don't always stay the way I left them."
5.Adobe Premiere Pro
Best for: cross-platform editing
Supported OS: Windows, Mac
Star rating: 4.5/5Pricing: $22.99
Why We Picked It
Adobe is known for creating the ultimate editing solutions like Photoshop. Its corresponding solution for video editing is Premiere Pro, which provides limitless capabilities and opportunities for your editing experience.
The tool comes with all the features you'll need to make professional content, and the best part is that you can connect it with other Adobe platforms for the ultimate journey.
Key Features
Here are some of the best features you'll find on Adobe Premiere Pro:
- Motion graphics templates
- Speech-to-text
- Color grading
- 3D editing
What Do Other Users Say About It?
Adobe Premiere Pro is well-known in the video editing community, and most professionals enjoy using this solution, as you can see from this review:
"I love Adobe Premiere Pro for its powerful editing tools, seamless integration with other Adobe apps, and support for various file formats. Its intuitive timeline and real-time previews make editing efficient, and the frequent updates keep it industry-leading."
On the other hand, people may also experience issues with the platform, as you can see here: "Comparing Adobe Premiere Pro to alternative video editing applications that can be bought with a single payment, the monthly or annual subscription model can prove to be costly over time."
6.iMovie
Best for: beginner video editing purposes
Supported OS: Mac
Star rating: 4.3/5Pricing: Free
Why We Picked It
iMovie is a video editing platform developed by Apple. If you're seeking a simple, free, and easy video editing experience for your Mac device, this may be your ideal choice.
Although it won't provide you with professional results, it's still a solid solution for personal use. The best part about this software is the user interface; it's simple, clean, and easy to navigate.
Key Features
You can check out some of the best iMovie features below:
- Keyword tags
- Transitions
- Effects
- Royalty-free audio
What Do Other Users Say About It?
iMovie is a simple tool that many users love. You can check out this example for more information: "It is straightforward and has the essential tools to create a well-done video. I like the effects and that I can easily use either on my computer, iPad or iPhone."
However, as mentioned above, it's a simple tool, which may bother some users: "It is fairly basic, so you will be using all the features that are there; don't expect anything fancy from it. Not too many use cases outside of personal cute stuff, however professional stuff is possible as many elegant options to select from."
7.Riverside
Best for: creating and editing podcasts
>Supported OS: Windows, Mac
Star rating: 4.8/5Pricing: $15, $24, custom
Why We Picked It
Riverside is a modern, intuitive, and feature-packed video editing program for Mac devices. It provides you with all the tools you need to create and edit your videos professionally. Since it was designed for podcast purposes, you'll discover numerous audio features that will surely help you reach your goals and create professional content.
Key Features
Riverside provides numerous features, such as the following:
- Text-based editing
- Magic audio
- Keyframing
- Notes
What Do Other Users Say About It?
Riverside has some of the best reviews on the market, as you can see from the following example: "Riverside's integrated AI features take so much work off my shoulders. I love how easy it is to edit and remove unwanted sections and awkward pauses with the click of a button."
However, you may experience some issues on your journey, such as this person: "I dislike that we need an enterprise account to have several logins and that, even worse, we can't even see pricing. We have to book a demo and talk to sales. I never want to book a demo and talk to sales."
8.DaVinci Resolve
Best for: special effects
>Supported OS: Mac, Linux, Windows
Star rating: 4.7/5Pricing: $295
Why We Picked It
DaVinci's free version will provide you with everything you need to support your professional video editing experience on a Mac device. It comes with advanced features you can use for unlimited time, making this platform's free version among the best in the industry. The tool is easy to use, and you'll master your skills in no time once you start editing your creations.
Key Features
As mentioned above, DaVinci Resolve provides all the features you need to create professional content, such as the following:
- Color grading
- VFX
- Transcription
- Overwrite
What Do Other Users Say About It?
Many users were stunned when they first started using DaVinci Resolve, such as this user: "The interface is clean and easy to use for novice users; the array of free effects is very wide, and everything else that's not there for free can be implemented with various workarounds. There is a lot of online documentation and guides available for free."
However, things may not always be this bright, and some elements may need to be altered, as stated by this user: "Users may need to invest significant time and effort into learning how to use the software effectively. While DaVinci Resolve has a decent selection of effects and transitions, it is not as extensive as some professional video editing software."
Choosing the Best Video Editing Software for Mac
Selecting your ideal solution can be challenging, which is why we've prepared a couple of guidelines you can follow to get the best results.
Check Features
The first thing you should look for is the features the video editor provides. It should offer all the essential tools you need to make your visions come to life, so always enter the feature library before you decide to download the program.
Understand Pricing
If something seems cheap, it may be because it doesn't provide sufficient features or the features are low quality. You should create a budget and find the best deal according to your pocket.
Overall Performance
Another crucial thing you should consider is the performance; the tool shouldn't be slow, choppy, or laggy, as it may cost you time and nerves in the long run.
Ease of Use
You shouldn't have to spend time navigating and learning the tool. Instead, opt for intuitive and clean solutions that will boost your experience and help you create professional content.
AI Features
The modern era provides us with numerous AI capabilities that will cut production time and boost your experience. Look for video editing solutions for Macs that provide AI features. Trust us, your experience will transform.
How We Test the Video Editors for Mac
All of the abovementioned tools were tested on a MacBook Air M2 version with 8GB of RAM. We've tested 20 other solutions, including Blender, Power Director, Video Pad, Adobe Premiere Elements, Cyberlink, and more. The abovementioned solutions stood out from the crowd in numerous aspects, such as the following:
- Resource usage - All the tools were lightweight and didn't use too many resources to run at full speed.
- User experience - The platforms we chose were the easiest to use, so you can have the ultimate experience without spending time and nerves trying to navigate the solution.
- Editing features - The selected tools have the best feature libraries on the market, providing you with everything you need to get started.
- Support - The platform should have some sort of support to help you if you encounter issues.
- Value - You shouldn't overspend on the video editing experience, which is why the selected products will give you the best bang for your buck.
FAQs About the Best Video Editing Software for Mac
What is the best video editor for Mac?
The best video editor available on the market today is undoubtedly Wondershare Filmora. This all-in-one solution provides dozens of advanced features that will save you hours of manual processes. Moreover, it's easy to use, and you can create professional content without previous video editing experience.Can I edit videos on a Mac for free?
Absolutely! Numerous free video editors are available on the market, such as iMovie, OpenShot, and Shotcut, providing you with essential video editing features. However, you should be aware that such solutions can sometimes lag and bug, and you may not get the full experience if you opt for these tools. Moreover, the features may be scarce, so we won't advise you to use them if you're seeking professional video editing results.How can I choose the best video editor for Mac?
Choosing your ideal video editor may seem challenging, but we're here to help. The first thing you should consider is the feature library; check whether the tool has everything you need to create the desired content. Some other crucial elements include a clean user interface, good reviews, pricing, and performance. Check all of these aspects to reveal the best video editor for Mac on the market.
