Top 15 Video Editing Software For Mac

1. PowerDirector 365

Ideal for: Individuals with any level of experience to produce a range of video projects

Why We Picked It

Because PowerDirector has simple capabilities for novice and experienced editors, as well as everyone in between, it is the best video editing software for Mac. It has AI-powered tools that let you quickly edit videos on a Mac by changing your projects with a single click.

Drag-and-drop effects and AI capabilities like object detection, motion tracking, and sky replacement are ideal for beginners. Still, more experienced users can customize their profiles using this Mac video editor.

Pros	Cons
The low learning curve makes it quick and easy to edit videos on a Mac	You can only access stock libraries by paying for a subscription.
Several updates all year long, including creative packs and special features	Voice-to-text transcription, wind reduction, voice improvement, and denoise are examples of AI audio editing features.
The low learning curve makes it quick and easy to edit videos on a Mac	Essential features include preset aspect ratios, start templates, and social media-friendly capabilities like direct uploads.
Adapted to Macs running M1/M2 chips	Video stabilization, color matching, lens distortion correction, and other improvements

Compatibility	Mac, Windows
PCMag Rating	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Price	Free *Premium subscription available for $4.33/month

Time to conclude

Every time we test PowerDirector 365, it gets better and better because of regular upgrades. You can get the most value for your money with this Mac video editing program. For a small fraction of the cost of more expensive professional software, this Mac video editor has many of the same tools and features. Thanks to PowerDirector’s user-friendly interface, you can edit a film on a Mac immediately, even though other less obvious capabilities require hours to understand.

Visit the Home page to download the best video editing software for Mac at no cost and discover why TechRadar described it as “powerful and affordable.”

2. Magix Movie Edit Pro

Best For: Magix Movie Edit Pro is suitable for beginners and intermediate users who want a user-friendly interface and a range of features for video editing.

Why Choose for Mac:

It provides a specialized solution for Mac users and a full suite of video editing tools for mac OS.

Pros	Cons
Intuitive interface with drag-and-drop functionality.	Some advanced features may not be as extensive as in professional-grade software.
Multi-track editing and a variety of built-in effects.	Compared to industry-standard tools like Final Cut Pro or Premiere Pro, it is limited.
Supports 4K editing and 360-degree video editing.
3D video editing capabilities.

Compatibility	Mac, Windows
PCMag Rating	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Price	Free *Premium subscription available for $59.33/year

Conclusion

Magix Movie Edit Pro is a solid choice for Mac users seeking a balance between user-friendly features and a reasonably powerful editing suite. Except PowerDirector, our #1 pick, it now ranks #2 on our list because it performs noticeably better than other Mac video editors. It’s especially suitable for those new to video editing.

3. ScreenFlow

Best For: ScreenFlow is best suited for content creators, educators, and those who need to create screencasts or tutorials.

Why Choose for Mac:

Explicitly designed for macOS, ScreenFlow integrates well with the Apple ecosystem and offers optimized performance on Mac machines.

Pros	Cons
Direct export to various platforms, including YouTube.	Primarily focused on screen recording, it may lack some advanced video editing features.
Advanced editing features for adding annotations, animations, and effects.	They are priced higher compared to essential video editing software.
Intuitive and easy-to-use interface.
Powerful screen recording capabilities.

Key Features:

Professional-level screen recording.
Advanced editing tools for annotations and animations.
Direct export to various platforms.

Compatibility	Mac, Windows
PCMag Rating	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Price	Free *Premium subscription available for $129/yearly

Conclusion

ScreenFlow is an excellent choice for Mac users who prioritize screen recording and need advanced editing features for creating professional screencasts.

4. Blender

Best For: Blender is best for users interested in video editing and 3D modeling/animation, making it suitable for content creators, animators, and those working on 3D projects.

Why Choose for Mac:

Blender is a cross-platform tool, and its availability on macOS ensures a consistent experience for Mac users involved in 3D modeling, animation, and video editing.

Pros	Cons
Active community support.	The steeper learning curve, especially for beginners.
Open-source and free to use.	The interface may be overwhelming for those solely interested in basic video editing.
Powerful video editing capabilities.
Complete suite for 3D modeling and animation.

Key Features:

3D modeling and animation tools.
Video sequence editing.
Node-based compositor.
Sculpting and texturing tools.

Compatibility	Mac, Windows
PCMag Rating	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Price	Free

Conclusion

Blender is an exceptional choice for Mac users who want an all-in-one 3D modeling, animation, and video editing solution. It’s precious for those working on complex multimedia projects who are okay with a learning curve.

5. Final Cut Pro

Ideal For: Experienced, devoted Apple users

Why We Picked It

Because Final Cut Pro allows you to modify the focus of videos taken in cinematic mode, it is among the best Mac video editing programs for editing footage from iPhones. When you edit a movie on a Mac with Final Cut Pro, you get the enhanced Pro-res performance and speed of software tuned for Apple Silicon and M1 Ultra.

Pros	Cons
Support for HDR videos enables breathtaking images and brilliant colors.	Experienced editors may need help finding the unconventional timeline of this Mac video editor.
Navigating the extensive feature set is simple, thanks to a straightforward interface.	It is more expensive than other Mac video editors

Key Features:

You can quickly classify and retrieve your media files using the integrated organizing tools.
Improve your videos with options for expert color grading.
Motion graphics and a robust object tracker provide movement

Compatibility	Mac
PCMag Rating	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Price	*Premium subscription available for 299.99/month

Bottom Line

For serious Mac video editors, whether they are professionals or amateurs, Final Cut Pro is the most excellent video editing program available. We discovered that even for novices, the learning curve is modest enough to make the effort worthwhile. And lastly, Final Cut Pro just released an iPad-compatible edition, which is truly revolutionary.

6. DaVinci Resolve

Ideal For: Professionals in need of a comprehensive post-production tool

Why We Picked It

For experienced editors on a tight budget, DaVinci Resolve is among the best video editing programs available for the Mac. It is broken up into Pages, each representing a different aspect of post-production, such as audio, effects, color correction, and timeline editing. Every one of them is deserving of a specialist in that area. All you’ll ever need to launch your post-production studio is this Mac video editor.

Pros	Cons
There’s a perfect free version available.	High learning curve necessitates powerful hardware and lots of system resources.
M1 Macs with Apple Neural Engine support
Expert tools for color, effects, and audio

Important characteristics:

Collaboration tools simplify processes for several users.
Integrated Digital Audio Workstation with advanced compositing, visual effects, and motion graphics features for professional audio editing

Compatibility	Mac, Windows
TechRadar Rating	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Price	Free *Premium subscription available for $295/Yearly

Bottom Line

Even seasoned editors find DaVinci Resolve to have a steep learning curve. For instance, we discovered that exporting videos required a lot more work and parameter adjustments than it did with other Mac video editors. However, because it receives frequent updates that include more excellent search capabilities and AI-powered tools, we moved it up to our list of the top 3 best video editing programs for Macs.

7. Shotcut

Ideal For: Using uncommon or antiquated forms

Why We Picked It

Its widespread accessibility makes this one of the greatest video editing programs for Mac as well. It functions on older versions of Macs and runs natively on more recent models powered by Apple Silicon. FFmpeg allows Shotcut to handle hundreds of codecs and audio/video formats.

Pros	Cons
Thin enough to operate on laptops such as the MacBook Air	Users complain about instability.
Support for comprehensive formats for users with various cameras and devices	Not posted directly to social media
All tools are available for free.

Important characteristics:

Use 3-point editing to guarantee smooth cuts and transitions.
Organize your thoughts and reminders with a dedicated notes section.
Add some style to your movie with these eighteen blending modes.

Compatibility	Mac, Windows
Software Advice Rating	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Price	Free

Bottom Line

Like PowerDirector, Mac’s most excellent video editing program, Shotcut receives regular updates. Thanks to these ongoing changes, shortcuts online review scores have increased since our last software test, leading to a higher ranking for 2024. Nevertheless, learning the UI takes longer than learning it with PowerDirector and is more complex. There still needs to be helpful export settings in this Mac video editor.

8. Lightworks

Ideal For: Novice Users Producing Expert-Level Content

Why We Picked It

Of the Mac video editors categorized as “professional,” Lightworks is one of the easiest. The video editing program for Mac is highly versatile, offering a Pro version that has been used to edit Hollywood films, a Create edition perfect for YouTubers and intermediate editors, and a free version for anyone who needs to edit a video on Mac by assembling clips.

Pros	Cons
Outfitted with an extensive collection of editing tools suitable for professionals	The free version can only export 720p.
Broad compatibility and support for formats	Not frequently utilized by editors of videos

Important characteristics:

3D stereoscopic audio for a spatial and immersive experience
Accurate trimming and cutting with sophisticated equipment
Animated motion graphics bring movement.

Compatibility	Mac, Windows
PCMag Rating	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Price	Free *Premium subscriptions are available for $9.99/month for Create and $23.99/month for Pro

Bottom Line

Like DaVinci and Premiere Pro, Lightworks has been working hard to improve its products’ user interfaces so people can utilize them more easily. Before a recent upgrade, this Mac video editor lacked many VFX features, but now it has a better and expanded VFX toolkit.

9. VideoPad

Ideal For: Individuals that require an extensive range of export choices

Why We Picked It

Because it is very user-friendly for beginners and offers some sophisticated features like 360-degree editing, video stabilization, visual effects, and animated titles, we believe that VideoPad is one of Mac’s best video editing programs. With its many export choices, this video editor for Mac lets you save videos to your desktop or portable device, burn a disc, or upload straight to social media. It supports over 60 different video formats.

Pros	Cons
Contains expertly created themes ideal for YouTube	Slow rendering that puts a stop to work
Easy to use for beginners with some sophisticated features	Not enough features for experts or knowledgeable users

Important characteristics:

Sound editing tools for pure digital audio
Use the speed adjustment tools to accelerate or decelerate a video.
Using chroma-essential green screen effects, you may place your subject wherever.

Compatibility	Mac, Windows
Capterra Rating:	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Price	Free *Premium versions are available for $80 for Home and $139 for Master’s

Bottom Line

Thanks to its outstanding uploading and sharing capabilities, VideoPad is one of the finest Mac video editing programs for novices who enjoy sharing their work with friends, family, or followers. We have pushed it up to number seven in our ranking because of its inferior feature set compared to our list of the top 6 Mac video editing programs.

10. WeVideo

Ideal for: Creating fast tutorial videos for busy influencers

Why We Picked It

For Mac video editors, WeVideo offers many user-friendly features, including one-click drag-and-drop effects and transitions and an extensive stock library of royalty-free photos, films, and audio. Along with YouTube intros and outros, this Mac video editor also has a screen recorder for tech demos and training videos.

Pros	Cons
Quick and kind client support	More features are accessible only through a pricey paywall.
Beginners can utilize drag-and-drop tools and one-click solutions.	Workflow can be delayed by poor performance.

Important characteristics:

Expert color correction and grading instruments for accurate modifications
Your words stand out with dynamic typography and engrossing motion title graphics.
Utilizing green screen techniques to produce immersive video effects and swap out backdrops

Compatibility	Mac, Windows
G2 Rating:	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Price	Free *Premium subscriptions are available for $4.99/month for Power, $7.99/month for Unlimited, $19.99/month for Professional, and $36.99 for Business

Bottom Line

In our opinion, WeVideo is among the most outstanding Mac video editing programs available online, especially for novices. Nevertheless, a lot of tools are restricted by a paywall. For example, the Power version only permits 30 minutes of content per month with a 720p maximum export limit; the Professional tier offers unlimited access to stock assets and brand management; and team collaboration tools are only available in the Business tier, which comes at a hefty cost. But PowerDirector costs a lot less and has a lot more tools.

11. Apple iMovie

Ideal For: Budget-conscious beginners

Why We Picked It

For those new to Mac video editing, iMovie’s limited feature set, easy-to-use tools, and free download make it a fantastic option. Most Apple devices already have it installed, making setup quite simple. You can quickly make amazing videos and trailers in the style of Hollywood with this Mac video editor.

Pros	Cons
Contains top-notch tools for audio editing	lacks sophisticated functions such as motion tracking
Pre-installed and free video editor for Mac	Not designed for expert outcomes

Important characteristics:

Pre-made storyboard templates to make the process of making videos easier
Adjusts background music intelligently to fit the duration of your film; supports and modifies iPhone videos taken in Cinematic Mode

Compatibility	Mac, Windows
G2 Rating	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Price	Free

Bottom Line

Since Apple has saved its most impressive features for Final Cut Pro, iMovie is not Mac’s most excellent video editing program in terms of advanced functionality. We believe PowerDirector is the ideal option for iMovie users who want more from a Mac video editor but need more time to shell out the extra cash for Final Cut.

12. Avid Media Composer

Ideal For: Television shows, documentaries, and feature films

Why We Picked It

Avid Media Composer offers cutting-edge technologies, including sequence templates, great video organizing tools, and the ability to relink to digital files with perhaps altered paths to expedite the editing process. If you want to work in the Hollywood film industry, we strongly advise you to learn how to edit videos on a Mac using Avid.

Pros	Cons
Industry-leading Mac video editor	High demands on the system
Regularly updated with the newest features and enhancements	Steep learning curve
Support for M1 Macs and Apple Silicon	High-end features come at a high cost.

Important characteristics:

Bulk edits help you save time.
Use multicam editing to combine video from several perspectives fluidly.
Using motion effects and stabilization, increase and enhance movement

Compatibility	Mac, Windows
G2 Rating	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Price	Free *Premium subscriptions are available for $23.99/month and $49.99/month for Ultimate

Bottom Line

Because Avid Media Composer did not provide enough features for Mac video editors in the private sector, it was initially ranked last on our ranking. Due to its expensive cost, steep learning curve, and demanding equipment requirements, large enterprises usually only use this Mac video editor. But the most recent version, available for free to instructors and students, offers more AI-powered time-saving features.

13. Movavi Video Editor

Ideal For: In a hurry and busy influencers

Why We Picked It

Movavi Video Editor is among Macs’ best video editing software because of its simple design and user-friendly controls, which let you edit a video on a Mac in just 20 minutes. This video editor for Mac offers pre-made themes and headlines that will make your life easier if you have to produce a lot of content every week.

Pros	Cons
It was created with simplicity in mind, making it ideal for novices.	Incompatible with Apple Silicon M chips directly
Effects sets and themed intros facilitate speedy content creation.	Slow rendering speeds stall workflow.

Important characteristics:

Use the speed adjustment tools to rewind or slow down videos.
Easily incorporate narrator voiceovers into your projects
Use techniques for dynamic object animation to give elements life.

Compatibility	Mac, Windows
PCMag Rating	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Price	$54.95/year or $79.95 for a Lifetime License

Bottom Line

This is one of the best Mac video editing programs for social media because it supports vertical video and has pre-made intros and themed stickers. Because Movavi Video Editor has incorporated some much-missed advanced functions like blending modes, motion tracking, and AI noise removal, we pushed it ahead of VideoProc Vlogger.

14. VideoProc Vlogger

Ideal For: Editing video from action cameras or drones

Why We Picked It

A free Mac video editor with extremely sophisticated motion and speed control features is called VideoProc Vlogger. You may mimic camera motions with 28 motion effects and more than 20 speed presets. You can remove noise from videos shot in dim lighting and fix fish-eye distortion with this Mac video editor.

Pros	Cons
You can use every tool for free.	It is not a Mac video editor for professionals or experienced users
Sophisticated motion tools for novices	Absence of teamwork features

Important characteristics:

Built-in 90+ LUTS for color correction and grading
Features for altering audio that include beat analysis, effects, voice changers, and fades
More than sixty pre-made transitions are available

Compatibility	Mac, Windows
Creativeblog Rating	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Price	Free

Bottom Line

Despite having quite sophisticated motion features, VideoProc Vlogger is incredibly simple for Mac video editing. The UI is very user-friendly and contains only the essential features for a Mac or Windows video editor. However, if you work as a professional and create content for clients, this isn’t Mac’s greatest video editing program.

15. Hitfilm

Ideal For: Visual effects-interesting intermediate editors

The Reason We Selected It

Regarding Mac users needing to edit a film with a lot of visual effects, HitFilm is among the top video editing software options available. This Mac video editor features readily available 3D capabilities, tilting, and compositing. Hundreds of expert presets and filters are included for simple color correction, motion tracking, audio synchronization, and sophisticated text tools.

Pros	Cons
An entire collection of sophisticated tools	Requires a large amount of processing power
Assistance with three-dimensional effects	Difficult to learn interface

Important characteristics:

Compositions with layers and masking tools are aesthetically pleasing.
Extensive support for plug-ins, such as Red Giant and Video Copilot
180+ effects in one library to improve videos

Compatibility	Mac, Windows
TechRadar Rating	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Price	Free *Monthly premium subscriptions cost $7.99 for Creator and $12.99 for Pro.

Bottom Line

Being too simple for experts and too complex for novices puts HitFilm in the pack. This is ideal for intermediate editors looking for a reasonably priced VFX video editor on Mac.