Video editing software can appeal to professionals and beginners alike. For a one-time purchase, these 5 software options appealed the most to us boasting their modern features, affordability, and support of various file types. Ensuring the program runs on the operating system you use, and that your system has a sufficient amount of space needed to download and run the program are some of the first steps necessary for finding the correct software for you.
Top 5 best one-time purchase video editing software
- Apple Final cut pro – Apple’s marque video editing software
- PowerDirector20 – An affordable one-time purchase for video editing software
- Pinnacle Studio 25 – Video editing software with fast rendering performance
- Davinci Resolve – All-inclusive video editing software with a capable free version
- Movavi Video editor – User-friendly video editing software optimized for Windows users
- Adobe Premiere Elements – Adobe’s option for one-time purchase video editing software
1. Apple Final Cut Pro – Apple’s Marque video editing software
PRICING:
- $299 one-time fee
Apple’s marque video editing software is powerful and packed with modern features that allow its users to produce high-quality videos of many types. Multicam, VR, and 4K support are just some of the software’s powerful modern tools. Final Cut Pro allows many plugins to assist you with doing things the software is not capable of. The software is currently only available on the Mac, Windows, and Linux users will have to consider other options discussed below.
KEY FEATURES:
- Magnetic and timeless tracking
- VR support
- Multicam support
- 4K support
- 3D tilting feature
- Motion graphics
- Audio editing tools to remove background noise and optimize sound levels
- Advanced color grading tools
REASONS TO BUY:
- Fast performance
- Many plug ins available
- Organized asset MGMT system
- Real-time VR playback
- Smart conform- uses AI to crop widescreen content to fit mobile device screens and social media formats
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Nontraditional timeline editing can be strange for experienced editors
- Import and export functions are inferior to competitors
- No 3D editing
- Only available on Mac
2. PowerDirector20 – An affordable one-time purchase option for video editing software
PRICING:
- Ultra – $99
- Ultimate – $139
PowerDirector20 is a two-tiered powerful video editing software that comes with motion tracking and multicam editing to help keep itself in the conversation of industry leaders for video editing software. AI sky replacement features and its Magic movie-making wizard are standout features of the software that boast modernity and creativity. With very fast rendering speeds and a clean UI, this software can be professionally used to create amazing content. PowerDirector20 comes with features that can optimize content specifically for YouTube which can be great for creators.
KEY FEATURES:
- Motion tracking
- Multicam editing
- AI sky-replacement
- YouTube friendly features
- Stock content from Getty
- Magic movie wizard
REASONS TO BUY:
- Very fast rendering speeds
- Clean UI
- Regularly updated software
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Complex for beginners
- 100 max video track
- Lacks tagging feature for media
- Its many options can overwhelm newcomers
3. Pinnacle Studio 25 – Video editing software with fast rendering performance
PRICING:
- Standard – $49.95
- Plus – $89.95
- Ultimate – $109.95
Pinnacle studio is Corel’s high-end video editing software and is considered to be a near-pro-level video editing suite. The software comes with modern features including Multicam editing, 4K and 8K support, and even VR support. Noise reduction tools and unlimited video tracks make this affordable software to be well above the industry standard. Its unique features include an animated GIF creator as well as smart object tracking capabilities. The learning curve to the software is much smaller than some of its competitors, Corel users will have no issues quickly and efficiently understanding the ins and outs of the software.
KEY FEATURES:
- Multicam editing
- 4K and 8K support
- VR support
- Unlimited video tracks
- Stop-motion video
- Motion tracking – Smart object tracking
- Noise reduction tools
- Animated GIF creation
REASONS TO BUY:
- Fast rendering performance
- Advanced masking tools
- Clean and smooth interface
- Small learning curve
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Limited motion tracking
- VR implementation can be buggy
4. Davinci Resolve – All-inclusive video editing software with a capable free version
PRICING:
- Capable free version – $0.00
- Paid version – $295
Davinci Resolve by BlackMagic is a one-time purchase video editing software that is simply packed with value and modern features that set it apart from others. The software is incredibly inclusive as you can take care of your video editing, audio editing, motion graphics, and color-coding all in one suite. With multicam editing, 3D editing, motion tracking, and premiere motion graphic feature this software is powerful and is for ambitious beginners or advanced users. The free version of Davinci is quite capable and comes with no expiration, while the paid version will cost you an affordable one-time payment of $295.
KEY FEATURES:
- Cut page feature
- Motion graphic features
- Motion tracking
- Stabilization
- Audio editing suite
- Unlimited video tracks
- Multicam editing
- VR support
- 4K support
- 3D editing
- Color coding features
REASONS TO BUY:
- Easily integrated with other popular editing software
- Software is growing and receives regular updates
- The free version is capable and paid version is cheap
- Clear and optimized interface
- All-inclusive in compared to other video editing software
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Lengthy learning curve
- It lacks the dynamic linking that Adobe has
- Takes up a lot of system resources
5. Movavi video editor – User-friendly video editing software optimized for Windows users
PRICING:
- Video editor plus – $74.95
- Video suite – $94.95
Movavi video editor is a more than capable option for one-time purchase video editing software. The software may not be the fastest, but it comes with industry-standard tools and features to help users of any experience level produce high-quality movies or clips. The software includes motion tracking but has yet to add multicam editing and VR support. Movavi comes with audio editing capabilities and even loads of transitions to choose from that also affect the audio. With its montage wizard and intro mode, this software can appeal to users who are constantly creating content for social media platforms such as YouTube.
KEY FEATURES:
- Powerful undo feature that works in between sessions
- Intro mode – preset features and clips to begin your videos
- Chroma keying
- Motion tracking
- Many transitions with audio
- Audio editing capabilities
- Montage wizard
REASONS TO BUY:
- Pricing makes the most sense for windows users
- Easy to use interface with powerful shortcuts
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Storage of software is lightweight
- Slow rendering
- Limited trimming features
6. Adobe Premiere Elements – Adobe’s option for one-time purchase video editing software
PRICING:
- $99.99
Adobe Premiere Elements is one of the more limited options on this list, but it is great for beginners who are shopping for the perfect video editing software while on a budget. With an impressive auto-creation feature that creates high-quality collages, slideshows, or montages and a guided edits feature this software appeals massively to beginners. Adobe’s beginner video editing software comes with motion tracking as well as the ability to toggle between multitrack editing and key-frame editing. Adobe Premiere Elements supports 4K and runs on almost any mod
KEY FEATURES:
- Guided edits feature
- Motion tracking
- Multi-track editing
- Key-frame editing
- Organizer app embedded into software
- Auto creation feature
REASONS TO BUY:
- Clear and simple UI
- Supports 4K
- Multi-platform
- Syncs with Adobe cloud
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Lacks multicam editing
- Lacks VR support
References and Links
- https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-video-editing-software
- https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/best-video-editing-software
- https://www.creativebloq.com/features/best-video-editing-software-for-designers