How to choose the best video editor for you: what to check before you buy

Why the adverts and the tutorials are not enough

Video editor adverts show the best result a product can reach. The detailed terms often say something different. For example:

• A free version may add the company's logo (a watermark) to every video you export, or limit the quality.
• An editor that runs smoothly on a powerful computer can be very slow on an ordinary laptop.
• Your projects may only open in the same editor, so moving later means starting your edits again.

So check the same things for every video editor, using its own system requirements and price pages, and try it with your own videos.

Before you look at any video editor

Write down your answers to these four points. They decide which checks in the list matter most to you.

• What you make. Short videos for social media, family videos, tutorials, videos for video-sharing sites, or longer projects.
• Your device. Your computer or phone, its operating system (the main software it runs), and roughly how powerful it is.
• Your experience. First time editing, some experience, or ready to learn a professional tool.
• How often you will edit. Every week, or a few times a year. This decides whether a subscription or a one-time purchase makes sense.

The checklist

The checks are in three groups. Must have means a problem here can stop you finishing or sharing your videos, or cost more than expected. Nice to have means it makes a real difference for many people. Optional means it only matters to some people. When you open the checklist in NeutralPick, you can move any check to a different group to match your answers above.

• Must have
• Runs well on your deviceDoes my device meet the recommended (not minimum) requirements, and does it run smoothly with my own videos in a free trial or free version?Minimum requirements often mean slow. Test with your own videos, especially long ones or 4K (very sharp, large files).
• No watermark on your videosDoes the version I would use add a watermark or limit export quality or length?Many free versions add a logo to exported videos. Check before you spend hours editing.
• Exports in the formats you needCan it export (save the finished video as a file) in the resolution and format I need, such as for social media, video sites or a TV, without extra cost?Some formats and higher resolutions (sharper picture, such as 4K) are only in paid versions.
• You can learn it in the time you haveCan I make a simple edit, trim, add music and titles, in a free trial or free version, if there is one, without help?Professional editors are powerful but take time to learn. Try a real small project in the trial.
• A price model you understandIs it a one-time purchase or a subscription, what does it cost per year, is there a minimum term, and do I keep the software if I stop paying?With some subscriptions you can't open your projects after you stop paying. A one-time purchase may charge for big upgrades.
• Nice to have
• You can keep and open your projects laterCan I open old projects after updates or if I stop paying, and can I export my finished videos and media easily?Project files usually only open in the same editor; some editors can export a timeline other editors open in part. Keep finished videos and footage safely.
• Good sound toolsCan I adjust volume, reduce background noise and add music easily?Bad sound is often more noticeable to viewers than average picture quality.
• Captions and textCan it create captions automatically in my language, and can I edit them?Captions help viewers who watch without sound, and people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
• Music and effects you are allowed to useDoes it include music, sounds and images I am allowed to use, including in business videos or videos that earn money?Using music without permission can get videos blocked or muted. Check the licence covers business use and stays valid for videos published after you stop paying.
• Optional
• Automatic and AI tools you controlIf it has automatic or AI tools, are they included in the price, and is my footage used to train them?Some AI tools use credits (paid units used up each time). Check the privacy terms for your footage.
• Editing on your phone tooIs there a phone or tablet version, and can I move a project between devices?Useful for quick edits on the go.

Claims to look at carefully

Adverts and product pages often describe the points below in vague terms. When you see one, look for the specific information shown here. If you cannot find it, assume the answer is "no" or "only partly".

• "Free". Look for watermarks, quality limits and which features need payment.
• "Professional results in minutes". Try a real project in the free trial.
• "Royalty-free music". Look for whether business videos and videos that earn money are allowed, and whether the licence ends if you stop paying.
• The price. Compare the cost over the years you will use it, and what happens to your projects if you stop paying.

What to do with what you found

1. Put all the video editors side by side.
2. Look at the Must have checks first. If one gets a No on one of your must-haves, remove it, however good the rest looks. Look closely at any Partial.
3. Make the same short video in each one left, in a free trial or free version if there is one, using your own footage.
4. Keep copies of your original footage and finished videos outside the editor.

Why use NeutralPick to compare video editors

• The same checks for every video editor. You fill in the same checklist for each video editor you are considering, so you compare them in the same way.
• Everything in one table. You see every video editor side by side, check by check, instead of switching between shop pages and notes.
• Nobody can pay to influence it. There are no adverts, no paid placements and no "featured" products. No maker or shop can pay to be shown to you or placed higher.
• Free, with no account. You don't need to sign up or pay anything.

Start with this checklist See an example comparison