The Best Video Editing Software Under $100. Best for Beginners Corel VideoStudio Ultimate 2018. Totally worth it. Is the obvious choice for the best Mac video editing software. About this tutorial: Video duration: 19:26 Learn the basics of using Microsoft Excel for Mac, including the anatomy of a spreadsheet, how to enter data, how to make your data look good so it's easier to read and use, and more. Learn the basics of using Microsoft Excel for Mac, including the anatomy of a spreadsheet, how to enter data, how to make your data look good so it's easier to read and use, and more.
Chances are, there are hundreds of videos languishing on your smartphone, DSLR or compact camera. Instead of letting it collect dust, why not polish it up to share with family and friends? That's where a good video editing program comes in.
Among the paid software, only one — Adobe Premiere Elements 2019— is truly cross-platform, and it emerged as our top pick. Despite its lack of emerging popular technologies, like 360-degree video handling and multicam editing features, it's the easiest video editor to learn and use, and offers plenty of advanced functions, such as guided edits and a revised home screen.
CyberLink PowerDirector 16 is the best video editing software for Windows, featuring a dazzling array of tricks and treats; plus, it's great for editing 360-degree videos, too.
Apple’s iMovie, which competes only with cross-platform free apps and Adobe Elements, is the obvious choice for the best Mac video editing software, thanks to its outstanding output, themes and trailers, macOS integration, and features that encourage good moviemaking skills. For the best free software, HitFilm Express gets the nod for its abundant cinematic capabilities and stylish interface. If you often share your videos on YouTube and other social media platforms, the free, cross-platform VideoPad is your best option.
Adobe Premiere Elements continues its long reign as the overall best consumer video-editing app, with new automated features and simplified workflows for quick video editing.
Best for WindowsPowerDirector 16 makes it easy to edit 360-degree videos, but there are a lot of other great features in this program, too.
Best for MaciMovie gives Mac users an easy way to get started creating high-quality movies from videos shot on all kinds of devices.
Our Top Picks
When it comes to user-friendliness, sophisticated features and ways to output your video, nothing beats the cross-platform Adobe Premiere Elements. For 2019, Adobe streamlined the Quick Edits interface, making it all the more easy for novices to jump in. The company's AI now creates collages and slideshows automatically, and can also trim the fat off your videos.
CyberLink PowerDirector offers a dazzling array of fun, advanced video editing features wrapped in a stunning, easy-to-use package. For this year, Cyberlink has beefed up its 360-degree capabilities, making it far easier to edit 360 videos.
Apple iMovie is the ultimate Mac video app for novice filmmakers, combining professional trailers and themes,abundant special effects and an easy-to-learn interface. Version 10.1 added 4K editing and sharing, as well as extended handling to video shot at 1080p and 60 fps. Recent updates tweaked the interface and added Touch Bar support for the latest MacBooks.
Update (June 2019): iMovie is now on version 10.1.12. Recent updates have disabled sharing videos to iMovie Theater and Facebook; you have to save your movies to iCloud Photos to watch them on other devices including Apple TV.
The free HitFilm Express has a quirky but appealing interface and plenty of powerful features, including a new layout panel and better export tools. An optional Starter Pack ($9.99) adds even more editing options. It's good for prosumers and enthusiasts with cross-platform editing and compositing abilities, tracking options, 2D and 3D effects, speed controls, audio tools and an arsenal of instructional videos.
Update (May 2019): Hitfilm Express has been updated since our last review; improvements include new text tools, accelerated decoding of video files with Nvidia GPUs, native support for Dolby AC3 audio, and more. Stay tuned for our updated review.
Corel VideoStudio, an outstanding editing package for beginners on the Windows platform, is a powerful but easy-to-learn app for anyone who wants to make simple videos quickly without fussing around with complex controls. Its spare but inviting interface offers 360-degree video editing, enhanced lens-correction tools, and 3D text editing.
VideoPad is a comprehensive cross-platform software package for the YouTube social media crowd. While this app lacks the flashy, whiz-bang appeal of some commercial apps, it’s still a rock-solid choice for simple video editing. From the main menu, you can choose which social network you want to upload to. The app offers a number of YouTube choices ranging from 480p to 4K, as well as Facebook, Flickr, Dropbox and Google Drive, and is free for non-commercial use.
A powerful pro-level app, cross platform you’ll want to use a system with discrete graphics to get the most out of this editor.
The latest version of DaVinci incorporates Fusion, previously a stand-alone application, which brings with it four high-end video-production modules for editing, color correction, audio production, and video effects and motion graphics. This video editor is quite powerful, but has a bit of a learning curve. If its 256-page manual doesn't intimidate you, high-level enthusiasts will find a lot of tools at their disposal.
We tested more than a dozen programs — paid and free — on consumer Mac and Windows laptops for more than 100 hours, to see which are the best for editing, as well as sharing your videos with friends and family.
We evaluated all of the software based on functionality, ease of use, performance, sharing options and new features in the latest versions. We also judged the packages based on real-life uses for a number of categories, including best overall, best free app, best for beginners, best for YouTube maestros, best for Mac users and best for Windows platforms.
There’s no reason for the occasional video jockey to fork over any cash, as there are plenty of free apps available for both Windows and Mac. But while the deciding factors for free and paid software may appear to be based on cold hard cash, that’s not the whole story.
People who are looking for a more powerful editor with a variety of built-in resources, responsive technical support and more would be better off dropping some cash on a video editing program.
However, there’s a third option: You can download software such as VideoPad or HitFilm (which offer all of the basics) for free, and then purchase additional features à la carte as your experience and needs grow.
Performance results are important, but they’re not critical components of software evaluations, because depending on your hardware setup, your mileage will vary. By comparison, ease of use, interface and features carry more weight than export clock speed. Nonetheless, as a single measure among many, speed testing provides valuable comparative information.
As several of the programs on this page have been updated with newer versions since their initial review, we are currently in the process of re-testing them. At the same time, we are upgrading our testing platforms, from laptops with integrated graphics to those with discrete GPUs. This will better reflect the improvement in performance from apps that can take advantage of discrete graphics cards. Stay tuned for the results.
-->Jul 30,2019• Proven solutions
When you are trying to make funny cartoons, explainer videos, or informative shorts to post online, 2D animation software can come in handy. With access to a 2D animation maker, you can create intricate and interesting stories that will help you connect with your audience.
Whether you are teaching a group of kids, showing employees how to do their job, introducing a new product, or trying to elicit an emotional reaction from your audience, 2D cartoon animation can be very useful.
If you are new to the world of 2D animation as a beginner and want to be a professional animation maker, you will be interested in our review of the top 10 free download 2D animation software options that may prove useful to you.
If you want to create an animation video, we recommend using 2D animation software FilmoraPro. Why do you need to use FilmoraPro to make 2D animation?
FilmoraPro is a powerful and straightforward animation video editor to make a 2D animation video. You can customize the workplace to make it comfortable while editing. From start to finish, you can make animation within 7 steps, so don't worry about it is too difficult to start. Just free download it to have a try!
Price: Free
Compatibility: Windows, Linux and OSX
Pro: It offers more than 50 layers to make simple or advanced animation, so you don't need to worry about its limitation though it is free to use.
Con: Few tutorials are available in the market to start making animation for beginners.
Synfig Studio is an open-source free 2D animation software that is the perfect place for beginners to learn about 2D animation. There are two versions available for free download - stable and testing. The testing version has some experimental features if users want to try those ahead of their introduction into the stable release.
Features:
Price: Free
Compatibility: Windows and OSX
Pro: You can use a plug in to make beautiful animation effects automatically without further editing.
Con: The UI design it outdated compared with other animation software, but it won't affect user experience.
Based on the Toonz software, Opentoonz is the best free alternative that will help you create 2D animated content. Anyone can use the software, free of charge and download. And users can modify the source code to add specific features to this simple animation software.
Features:
Price: Free
Compatibility: iPhone and Android
Pro: It is free to use with easy to start the introduction, even for kids.
Con: You need to email its staff to get the installer online, which is inconvenient sometimes.
The beauty of the Maefloresta app is that you can use your Android or iOS tablet and smartphone to create free 2D animated videos. There is no need to pay for expensive software if you just want to create some fun videos to show your friends. It also offers school solutions for teachers and students.
Features:
Price: Free
Compatibility: Windows, Linux and OSX
Pro: It offers English, Spanish and Portuguese language tutorials to use.
Con: It doesn't support shapes tool. If you like to make shapes and draw something, you'd be disappointed.
Want an open source and free 2D animation design software to help you create videos? Pencil2D animation is the type of program that can help beginners. You can get to grips with how 2D animation works, and you can create some very fun and interesting videos along the way.
Features:
Price: The first 21 days of using the product are free. After the 21 days are up, you will need to pay $109 per month.
Compatibility: Windows, Linux and OSX
Pro: You can make 2D and 3D animation both with models.
Con: It may take some time to learn how to make 2D animation for beginners.
Whether you are trying to create an art piece, showcase a story through 2D images, or craft a unique message for your audience, Toon Boom Harmony will help you immensely. This professional 2D animation software may take time to learn, but it is worth using. It has bitmap and vector tools for creating art, 3D imported models for hybrid productions, and the option to create multiplane scenes with Z-depth. For more information in the top 10 review.
Features:
Price: If you go with the Studio Edition, it costs $1,300 to obtain a single license to use the product for a lifetime. Studio Edition is $1300 for one single license
Compatibility: Windows, Linux and OSX
Pro: It is fast to use with low system requirements.
Con: You can draw animation in itself, so you need to import all words from third party software.
Want to create unique and complex 2D animations for your upcoming projects? CelAction2D is the type of product that is going to help you create wonderful and professional animations. While getting a full license is a financial commitment, you are getting a product that has all the features that you could need.
You can create a palette using up to 16 million colors, and you will have a very easy time getting to grips with the way the software works. It is designed for beginners and intermediate users, but still has all the advanced features that a pro would want.
Features:
Price: $399.99 for the full package.
Compatibility: Windows and OSX
Pro: Its update is regular with advanced and newest features to use.
Con: It is not user friendly for beginners as the functions are too advanced a little bit.
Anime Studio Pro is a fantastic option for anyone who is looking to get into professional 2D animation creation. It is affordable and designed for Flash-style animations. While you cannot create frame-by-frame animations using this program, you will be able to create some fantastic videos nonetheless.
There is an Anime Studio Debut - simple animation software, which is targeted towards the beginner user and free download. But if you want all the features of a high-end 2D animation software, you will want to go with the Pro version.
Features:
Price: $59.99 to download the software onto your PC.
Compatibility: Windows, OSX, Android and iOS
Pro: You can use build-in sound to make your animation unique. You can also record voice and use it on the video.
Con: You can only use it to make 2D stop motion animation.
Want to create fun, 2D animated videos? Hoping to impress your bosses with a 2D animated presentation to highlight a product’s features? Using Stop Motion Studio will help you achieve all that you want in the world of 2D animation.
You can capture content with ease, whether you change up the focus, exposure or white balance. There is DSLR support, so you can use your high end camera in conjunction with this professional software.
And with a unique, frame-by-frame editor, you will be able to get the result that you want for your 2D stop animation movie.
Features:
Price: $19.99 for FlipBook Lite, $49.99 for FlipBook Studio, $149.99 for FlipBook Pro, $199.99 for FlipBook ProHD
Compatibility: Windows and OSX
Pro: From drawing, scanning to sound, this 2D animation software can make you powerful video.
Con: You can't use it to make subtle changing as bone rigging is not available.
FlipBook is easy to use for beginners and pros who want to improve the editing experience. It is a powerful video editor that you can make 2D animation with various functions like syncing sound with animation, scanning cells and more. If you like to make a cartoon videos like a pro, this 2D animation maker is best for you. It is free to download.
Features:
Price: USD199 for the pipeline, USD99 for pro.
Compatibility: Windows and OSX
Pro: You can always find the feature you like for beginners and professionals. You can control characters even in expression level.
Con: It integrates with PhotoShop to import and export video.
CrazyTalk is a 2D animation maker for professional users, so you can use this one if you don't know which one to use. It supports controlling characters with your expression and lip-syncing. It is popular among YouTubers, educators and marketers.
Features:
Price: USD199 for pipeline, USD99 for pro.
Creating a 2D animation video is a lot easier when you have the right software available to you. You already have a script and storyboard in mind, but now you can realize your vision in intricate and unique ways. If you want to make 3D animation, there are also various 3D animation software options for you. . If any one of the products above will serve you well, you could use FilmoraPro.
Easy-to-use and powerful video editor for all creators.
Bring up your video to a professional level with straightforward tools.