The best video editing software for Mac is the one that suits your projects and your machine: a professional timeline for long-form work, a free open source editor for simple cuts, or a screen recorder with editing for tutorials. Several have a free version. These ten are listed in no particular order, with export settings below.
Macs are brilliant for video, but the editor you pick shapes everything: how fast you cut, how your exports look and how much time you lose to settings you don't understand. Most people don't need the most powerful app; they need the one that fits their kind of project.
These are ten Mac video editors in no particular order, sorted alphabetically, from Apple's own professional app to free open source editors and transcript-based tools. Each description comes from the developer's own website, re-checked today. If a project needs a different file format at the end, my round-up of tools for converting video files can help.
Mac video editors in one view
Free plan shows what each developer's site says: Yes for a free version or free download, Trial only for a time-limited trial, and No where neither is stated.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adobe Premiere | Professional video editor | Pro timeline editing on Mac | Trial only |
| CapCut | Video editor | Templates and AI tools on desktop | Yes |
| DaVinci Resolve | Editing and colour suite | Editing, colour and audio in one app | Yes |
| Descript | Transcript-based video editor | Editing video through text and AI | Yes |
| Final Cut Pro | Apple video editor | Apple's professional editor for Mac | Trial only |
| Lightworks | Professional video editor | Free pro editor with upgrades | Yes |
| OpenShot | Open source video editor | Simple free editor, no watermarks | Yes |
| ScreenFlow | Mac screen recorder and editor | Screen recording and editing together | Trial only |
| Shotcut | Open source video editor | Free cross-platform editor | Yes |
| VideoPad | Easy video editor | Easy free editor for home projects | Yes |
Ten editors that run on a Mac
Adobe Premiere
Best for: Editors who need a professional timeline editor on Mac, with a free trial before they choose a plan.
CapCut
Best for: Creators who want a desktop editor with templates and AI features for short videos, starting on the free plan.
DaVinci Resolve
Best for: Editors who want editing, colour correction, effects, motion graphics and audio post-production in one app, with a free download.
Descript
Best for: Podcasters and talking-head creators who want transcription and AI tools inside their editor, starting on a free plan.
Final Cut Pro
Best for: Mac editors who want Apple's own professional editor, with a free trial through Apple Creator Studio or a one-time App Store purchase.
Lightworks
Best for: Editors who want a full professional editor that's free to download, with Create and Pro editions to move up to.
OpenShot
Best for: Beginners who want a free, open source editor with no subscriptions, watermarks or project limits.
ScreenFlow
Best for: Mac users who record their screen for tutorials and demos and want editing built into the same app, with a free trial.
Shotcut
Best for: Editors who want a free, open source editor with wide format support that runs on Mac, Windows and Linux.
VideoPad
Best for: Home users making personal videos who want an easy editor, with a free version for non-commercial use only.
YouTube's export numbers to copy into your preset
If your videos end up on YouTube, set your export preset once and stop guessing. YouTube Help's page on recommended upload encoding settings lists 35 to 45 Mbps for 4K SDR uploads at 24, 25 or 30 frames per second, and 53 to 68 Mbps at 48, 50 or 60 frames per second. It recommends an MP4 container with H.264 video and AAC-LC or Opus audio at 48 kHz.
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Every editor on this list lets you save a custom export setting. Build one for 4K uploads using those numbers, name it clearly, and you'll never wonder why an upload looks soft or takes forever to process.
Disk space and other Mac basics
Before you install anything heavy, look at your free disk space. Video editors create cache and render files that grow quickly, and a nearly full drive slows every Mac down. An external SSD for footage keeps your internal drive clear and makes projects easy to move between machines.
If you edit on a laptop, plug it in for long exports, and close browser tabs you don't need while you render. It's dull advice, but it's the reason some exports take ten minutes and others take an hour.
How to choose a Mac editor in five steps
- Write down the three kinds of video you make most often.
- Decide whether you need colour grading, screen recording or transcript editing.
- Install a free version or trial and edit one real project from start to finish.
- Export it with your YouTube preset and watch it on another screen.
- Only then decide whether you need more than the free tools give you.
Questions to ask before you switch editors
- Can it open your old projects? Usually not, so finish current work first.
- Does it read your camera's files? Import a clip from every camera and phone you use.
- Can you share projects with a collaborator? Check before you take on a joint project.
- Will your presets and LUTs come with you? Rebuilding a look from scratch takes longer than you'd think.
And if a finished video then refuses to go up, here's what to try when a YouTube upload stalls.
Do you make video editing software for Mac? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
Clear advice for Mac video editing
If you're new to editing, start with a free open source editor or the free version of a professional app, and learn cutting, audio and export before you think about effects. If you record tutorials, a screen recorder with built-in editing saves you a whole step. If most of your videos are you talking, transcript-based editing can save a lot of time.
Whatever you choose, make the export preset first and test it with a 30-second clip. Don't switch editors halfway through a project; finish it, then try the next tool on something new.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free video editing software for Mac?
Several editors on this list have free versions, including open source editors and free editions of professional apps. Choose based on the projects you make.
What export settings should I use for YouTube?
YouTube Help recommends MP4 with H.264 video and AAC-LC or Opus audio at 48 kHz, and lists 35 to 45 Mbps for 4K SDR at 24, 25 or 30 frames per second.
Do I need a powerful Mac to edit video?
Not for simple projects. Long 4K timelines, heavy effects and colour work run better with more memory and plenty of free storage.
Is there a Mac video editor without watermarks?
Yes. The open source editors on this list say they don't add watermarks. Some free versions of other apps do, so export a test first.
Should I use a screen recorder with editing built in?
If you make tutorials or demos, yes. Recording and editing in one app saves exporting and importing between tools.
Can I move a project between video editors?
Usually not directly. Finish the project where you started it, or export the edit as a video file and keep the original media.
