Adobe Premiere Alternatives: 5 Powerful Video Editors for Professionals
We think most of us would have been satisfied with Adobe Premiere, had it been a free program. We all wouldn’t be running out for an alternative if there wasn't a hefty monthly subscription fee for it. Sadly, it’s not an ideal world, and the case stays the same for the entire Adobe Cloud Creative family. Whatever the price is, it's worth it. The Adobe Premiere Pro is magic for professional video editing. Anyone with a little knowledge of editing software can create stunningly professional outputs. That’s empowerment to millions of people. However, Premiere isn’t the only software that can keep its neck above the water. Luckily, we have plenty of Premiere alternatives that are comparable to its expansive toolset.
In 2019, Premiere has become the benchmark for editing software for its quality output. It is being used by amateurs and professionals alike. In this article, we are listing our top picks of video editing software that could bear the expectations of professionals, and at the same time, stay intuitive for easy operations. Here is the list.
1. Kdenlive
Kdenlive is what OpenShot aimed for some time ago. But we can’t deny that the market is ruthless and doesn’t forgive any limitations. Moving on, Kdenlive is an acronym for KDE Non-Linear Video Editor. Although the program is available on all the mainstream operating systems, it is primarily designed for Linux.
Kdenlive makes a great mixture of basic and high-end features. Based on the MLT framework, the program features multi-track video editing with a beautiful set of key framable effects. This is further complemented by its themable interface. Due to its open source model, it allows you to arrange and save interface layouts as it fits your workflow. While testing we also noticed that Kdenlive has faster rendering compared to the other Premiere alternatives. This allows you to make changes on the video in real time, with the ability to pause, stop and restart your editing projects.
Kdenlive has a great set of audio effects as well. It allows pitch shifting, phase and volume adjustments, equalization, normalization, and some decent reverb filters. Adding to that, it automatically backs up projects every few minutes and even allows users to get to the older versions of the file. Also, learning how to use this software is easy with its community support, tutorial videos, forums, and discussions. We found that migration to this platform is much smoother than anything else we have reviewed so far. Kdenlive deserves our first spot.
2. DaVinci Resolve
Davinci Resolve is as advanced as a video editor can get. While testing we found that this software seamlessly combines a world-class color corrector with a complete suite for audio and video editing. We get so much in one package that it somehow becomes unsettling that how Premiere has been topping the charts in terms of popularity. Anyhow, the program was originally designed for Hollywood’s elite colorists, and we must tell you that we were satisfied with its results.
With DaVinci Resolve, you get two options; Resolve 15 which is a basic video editor available for free, and Resolve 15 Studio which matches, by all standards, to Adobe Premiere Suite and cost as much as the cheapest subscription plan of Premiere. All in all, it feels like a holiday deal. So much good for so much cheap. One thing that might hesitate people from DaVinci Resolve is its steep learning curve. We found that a program of such potential has to have a complex structure to accommodate all its features, and in that sense, the program does a great job by keeping things fairly clean and organized.
The program also allows team collaboration, where multiple people can come together and work on the same project, simultaneously. We didn't find this feature on any other programs on the list. So, if you want a Premiere alternative that lets you collaborate, this is your only option. Additionally, the program is at the top for its multi-cam editing and advanced filters. On this program, everything comes together well, and the entire experience is beautiful. Highly recommended!
3. Magix Vegas Pro
Magix Vegas Pro is designed around creativity. Its streamlined structure and logical interface represent that pretty well. The other thing that the program promises right at the start is its state-of-the-art editing tools, which allows complete creative freedom. All the tools on the program come in a very intuitive package which subsequentially helps you transform your professional videos and audio editing projects. Its latest version, Magix Vegas Pro 15 is one of the most exciting things we have reviewed recently. We are praising it not for something specific, but how all the tools and features interact with each other within its interface. It is just incredible and we think we have something really special here.
Magix Vegas Pro is an advanced alternative to Adobe Premiere. It is not only comparatively fast, but it strangely uses GPU in the right way and renders both 16 bits and 32 bits color space. It was previously owned by Sony, and it is almost frightening if the same goodness will continue with Magix. We are hopeful for the future.
Furthermore, Magix has another Video editor called Magix Video Pro X, which is fast and easy to use, but in no way comparable to the power of Vegas. Vegas Pro is undoubtedly a great product, and if you are looking for a professional alternative, this one can do the job. Definitely worths a try.
4. Final Cut Pro
Final Cut Pro is Apple’s professional video editing software. It joins the team to continue the tradition of creating industry-standard outputs, and as per our tests, it does well. Firstly, its interface is super intuitive, and beautiful. Aesthetics is something we all expect from Apple products, and Final Cut Pro has the same minimalistic clean approach to its design and user interface. Good designs don’t always convert them into good functionalities, but FCP is an anomaly and it delivers. If you are a professional, we assure you that the program has your back for all your projects. And, if you are already in Apple’s ecosystem, then Final Cut Pro is the logical Premiere alternative.
Apple is known for its innovation and you can clearly see its reflection on FCP. The program has entirely changed how people managed all their media elements on their editing program. No matter what footage source or location you are working with, it all comes down to one single spot. Its film strip provides sneak peek to all your footage, and its media browser helps you find anything you would like to import. The other innovative feature we found is its compound clips, where sequences are treated as a single unit. This feature saves time and makes moving sequences an easy task.
Apple also has another program called Apple’s iMovie, which is only good for basic editing and comes preloaded on every new Mac. However, switching from iMovies to FCP has a steep learning curve, and many users might not be ready for its expansive toolset. If that’s the case, users can take advantage of the endless self-learning material on the internet. There is very little to complain about the program, but having a Windows version would have been nice. Anyhow, highly recommended.
5. Shotcut
Shotcut is an open source non-linear editor that supports hundreds of audio and video codecs and formats. The program doesn’t require any imports, and functions strictly on the native editing model. Shotcut is popular in the creative groups for its strong features and accurate frame that holds everything together. And the fact that it’s free of cost makes it all special. Most of its features are available on the other platforms, but they cost multiple hundred dollars, while this comes at no price.
Talking about its strength, we cannot forget that it supports multiple format timelines and frame-rates within a project. Shotcut uses SDI and HDMI for preview and output monitoring. Adding to that, it also supports screen, webcam and audio capture, which is rare in the free video software world. It shouldn’t be surprising that Shotcut supports 4K, and has the ability to capture from multiple sources like X11 screen and Windows DirectShow devices.
Shotcut is filled with features, and while listing them all is not practical, we would like to mention a few more that improve the editing experience on the program. While testing, we found that it has several dockable and undockable panels, which becomes very handy once you get a hold of it. It also has a playlist with thumbnails, filter and encoding panel, history view, jobs queue, and many more additional features. The program comes with tutorial supplements to help new users. It also has a warm community around it, which seems very helpful for beginners. The program is among the few free video editors that actually get the job done. It has earned its space on this article. Highly recommended to people who are looking for a free and powerful alternative to Premiere.
Adobe Premiere has its name at the top of the list, and it is there for a reason. Its power speaks for itself. In this list, we have listed 5 comparable alternatives to Premiere which can get the projects done. We hope that this article will help you in finding a quality alternative that can achieve professional quality without breaking the bank.
Do you agree with our list, or do you think we have missed one of your favorite video editing platforms? Do let us know in the comments. Also, to get instant tech updates, Follow TechNadu’s Facebook page, and Twitter handle.