Top YouTube Video Editor Tools to Make Viral Videos

We get a lot of questions about our deal videos. Which software do we use? What techniques are in our toolbag? How is Brandon so awesome? Who is Chrystie’s tattoo artist?

Video is having something of a moment these days. According to HubSpot, 54% of consumers want to see more video content from their favorite companies.

In the first part of this post, we’ll explore 12 paid and free video editing tools to help you create your videos with style. Then, we’ll break down our deal video creation process step-by-step to give you some key takeaways that we’ve learned from creating video content over the years.

12 Best Paid and Free YouTube Video Editor Tools 

Here, we’ve pulled together 12 go-to video editing tools on the market. They’ll help you edit better and faster so that you can get back to replying to all the nice comments on YouTube.

1. Adobe Premiere Pro

Source: Adobe

Adobe Premiere Pro is the industry-leading professional video editing software.

Here’s what you can do:

• Stay super organized with advanced meta-tagging tools and workflows powered by Adobe Sensei
• Edit any video format all the way up to VR, and use helpful tools like Auto Reframe, advanced color grading tools, audio mixing, and so much more
• Easily pull motion graphics and images from After Effects, Photoshop, Spark, etc.
• Edit on your phone with Premiere Rush

Best for: Consummate professionals who don’t mind Adobe prices

Pricing: Premiere Pro starts at $20.99 per month (or $52.99 per month for the full Adobe Creative Cloud).

Related: Learn more about the 10 best Adobe Premiere alternatives for Windows, Mac, and more.

2. Filmora9

Source: Wondershare

Filmora9 is a great option for a YouTube video editor made for beginner to intermediate online video creators.

Here’s what you can do:

• Enjoy advanced layering (up to 100 layers)
• Add royalty-free music, effects, filters, and professional 3D LUTs in an easy drag-and-drop editor
• For more advanced video editing, Wondershare also creates FilmoraPro 

Best for: Beginner to intermediate YouTubers or Vimeo video editors

Pricing: $69.99 (one-time payment)

3. InVideo

Source: InVideo

InVideo is a scalable video creation platform that provides templates that help you make engaging videos, faster.

Here’s what you can do:

• Use pre-made templates to create professional-level videos in minutes
• Access InVideo’s media library loaded with millions of beautiful images, videos, and music
• Perform professional video editing functions: Trim clips, crop frames, loop video, and tons more with additional Advanced Editing options

Best for: Marketers, media companies, and any business that wants to create marketing videos

Pricing: InVideo offers a freemium version of their tool. Premium features start at $10 per month.

4. Adobe Spark

Source: Adobe

Adobe Spark is a lightweight online graphic, video, and web page editor.

Here’s what you can do:

• Use online editing tools to quickly create short videos
• Easily share creations across your favorite social channels
• Upload and use your favorite fonts, graphics, and photos — they’re stored online for easy regular access

Best for: Entrepreneurs and creatives looking for an easy online editing tool (picture Canva or Stencil)

Pricing: After two free months, Adobe Spark starts at $9.99/month (or $52.99 per month for the full Adobe Creative Cloud).

5. Camtasia

Source: TechSmith

Camtasia is an all-in-one screen and webcam recording tool with video editing functionality.

Here’s what you can do:

• Use the screen-capture and recording tools to create powerful tutorials and webinars
• Access a suite of editing tools to add effects, upload audio files, and other basic editing features
• Make video lessons interactive with quizzes to keep viewers engaged

Best for: Businesses, educators, and entrepreneurs

Pricing: Camtasia is available for a one-time payment of $249.

Related: Find out more about the best Camtasia alternatives for screen recording and video editing.

6. Final Cut Pro X

Source: Apple

Apple’s Final Cut Pro X is one of the go-to tools for professional video editors, with good reason. In fact, AppSumo’s video editor, Brandon, uses it. (See other tools Brandon loves!)

Here’s what you can do:

• Create professional-grade videos with a long list of powerful editing tools
• Use dynamic audio and visual editing tools for that added creative touch
• Experiment with advanced functionality like 360-degree video editing

Best for: Mac Pro users, professionals

Pricing: Final Cut Pro X is available for a one-time payment of $299

7. Kdenlive

Source: Kdenlive

Kdenlive (KDE Non-Linear Video Editor) is an open-source video editor that’s compatible across most video software.

Here’s what you can do:

• Access a standard multi-track video editing layout for straightforward editing
• Save time by avoiding the video file conversion process (most file types upload directly without needing to convert)
• Use basic effects, transitions, and title-creation features to add flavor to your project

Best for: Tech-savvy video creators

Pricing: Kdenlive is free and open source

8. MAGIX Vegas Pro

Source: MAGIX

MAGIX Vegas Pro is an advanced, customizable video editor.

Here’s what you can do:

• Access a robust suite of editing tools for professional-grade video creation
• Enjoy rendering tools like stabilization to diminish the impact of a shaky camera
• Use advanced editing features like motion tracking to help edit images moving across the screen

Best for: Professional film creators looking for advanced editing power

Pricing: Current promotion is for $299

9. iMovie (free)

Source: Apple

iMovie is a simple Mac-exclusive video editing software that comes standard on most Apple computers, iPhones, and iPads.

Here’s what you can do:

• Use simple video editing tools to create movies on your phone or computer
• Add animated titles, transitions, and personal videos and photos straight from your camera roll
• Film yourself on greenscreen to add the background of your choice

Best for: Apple users looking for a streamlined video editor to use across multiple devices

Pricing: Free (but only available for Apple users)

10. Shotcut (free, open source)

Source: ShotCut

Shotcut is a free, open-source video editing tool.

Here’s what you can do:

• Convert and adapt with native timeline editing that supports most major audio, image, and video formats
• Access dozens for editing tools from filters to color correction
• Dive in with free templates to help you create videos faster

Best for: Tech-savvy video creators

Pricing: Free and open source

11. Olive Video Editor (free)

Source: Oliver Video Editor

Olive Video Editor is a free non-linear video editor currently in alpha. Unlike beta versions, that means it’s scaling rapidly but not fully developed yet. You can download the current build now.

Here’s what you can do:

• Access a robust suite of video editing tools for flexible, professional-grade editing
• Communicate directly with the creators, influencing the creation of future tools and features (this is an open-source tool, after all!)
• Use shortcuts to speed up video editing

Best for: Early adopters curious to see if someone’s finally going to bridge the gap between professional-grade video editing software and free, open-source videos (jury’s still out)

Pricing: Free and open source

12. DaVinci Resolve (Free)

Source: DaVinci Resolve

DaVinci Resolve combines professional 8K editing, color correction, visual effects, and audio postproduction in one software tool. The program runs on all major platforms (Mac, Windows, and Linux).

Here’s what you can do:

• Access powerful editing, VFX, color correcting, and audio mixing features
• Use the streamlined “Cut Page” to import, edit, trim, add transitions, titles, automatically match color, mix audio, and more
• Integrate with ease and move projects between DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro, Avid Media Composer, and Premiere Pro

Best for: Editors in fast-paced environments working on things like commercials and news cutting, and users seeking a seamless all-in-one video solution

Pricing: Free, but if you want the multi-user collaboration features of DaVinci Resolve Studio 16, you’ll have to upgrade for a one-time fee of $299

AppSumo’s Video Editing 101 

Tip 1: Preparation is key

No one likes a rambly video intro. No matter what kind of video you’re making, do your homework beforehand to make sure your content is top-notch. First, our scriptwriter, Lyndsay, digs deep into our partner products to gather the most important information customers need to know before they buy.

We create each script using a few different sources, including our partner’s website and the product itself. Plus, we have partners submit a form with specific product information and a demo walkthrough. Lyndsay brings all of this research together to create an explainer video for all of you.

Even if your videos are more conversational and off the cuff, preparation is still key:

• Know what you’re going to talk about
• Bullet point your main ideas (so meta!)
• And rehearse the parts you’re most passionate about

If nothing else, it’ll make editing way easier.

Next, we film the video! We just dropped our tips for the filming process, including how to get the best audio and lighting for home recordings. Most of all, make sure you film with the editing process in mind to make work easier for your team later on.

Tip 2: Get your script in line with the lens 

We use a Padcaster Parrot Teleprompter, which comes with a native app that controls everything. Brandon simply loads the Google Doc into the app and the video host reads along.

Source: Padcaster

The benefit of a teleprompter is that it’s connected to the camera — directly in front of the lens. That way, the host can look directly at the camera. There’s nothing worse than watching someone clearly reading a script way off-camera. If a teleprompter isn’t in your budget, just spend more time on Tip #1 and let it roll!

At this point in the AppSumo deal video process, we have multiple people working together: Lyndsay writes the scripts after collaborating with our partners. Our design team creates graphics. Brandon films either Vanessa, Chris, or Chrystie on this set. And then the footage gets shipped off to Jordan for editing.

Tip 3: Create an organizational system for the process 

Even if you aren’t working across departments and city limits, there will always be moving parts in the video creation process. What… are you just going to make ONE video? We hope not.

Over here, we love a kanban board like former AppSumo partner MeisterTask to move scripts along. All AppSumo content teams use it. We communicate mostly through Slack with automated notifications when certain deliverables are completed.

AppSumo’s secret Kanban board

Tip 4: Find the editing tool you like 

This could mean shelling out some dollars, but it’s worth it to find the software you feel comfortable with that isn’t clunky or inefficient. For our editor Brandon, that’s Final Cut Pro X. He’s been using it for about 8 years and finds it to be a simpler UI than most others.

👇 Check out 11+ more video editing tools listed below! 👇

Editing our deal videos is fairly simple.

First, we trim down all the dead space in the main video and put aside any bloopers for the ending. Next, we excerpt the parts of the product demo that are mentioned in the script. Our wonderful scriptwriter — who is extremely helpful and had no hand at all in writing this — leaves timestamps in the script to know which part of the recording goes which section.

Tip 5: Take time to research on-brand motion graphic templates  

We use a number of tools to level up the visual and audio elements in our videos, so let’s take a minute to break down each of them.

• For zooms, we use either the native “Ken Burns” effect or a third party plugin called ProPath (it appears to be discontinued, but you can look at other similar Final Cut Pro X effects from Pixel Film Studios). The latter is ideal if you have more than one area to zoom in on.
• We typically use a combination of templates with Final Cut and Adobe After Effects, but Brandon is always on the prowl for ways to spice up our visuals. He’s found Envato’s Videohive.net to be super reliable, with a lot of animation bundles that are easy to customize.

You may also want to check out Lordicon for graphics — it’s a FREE collection of 500+ animated, interactive icons for web and mobile projects, videos, apps, and presentations available in the AppSumo store for a limited time.

Once we’ve killed it with the visuals by adding graphics and gifs, we layer in music. We source most of our royalty-free music through Epidemic Sound. Their library features boatloads of premium tracks with and without vocals, and they’re organized by genre for easy searching.

After final touch-ups, including adding some *drumroll*…sweet sound effects. Voilà: it’s ready to ship!

Advanced Tip: Build Your Video Studio

Want more behind the scenes of how we set up AppSumo’s video studio? Here’s the studio tour brought to you by Brandon.

The Right Tools for the Next YouTube Star

Annnnd… that’s a wrap!

Sumo-lings: don’t let the wrong video editing software stand in your way. With the right tools, you’ll be well on your way to small business YouTube stardom.

Looking for video hosting sites other than YouTube? Find out the 7 best video hosting sites in the market.