When it comes to the best video editing software for Mac, there are a TON of options.
Whether you’re new to video editing or are a seasoned pro Mac video editor, it can be difficult to keep up with all the updates and know which one is right for you.
Which is why every year we do a full review of the video editor landscape on both Mac and Windows, and update our recommendations on the best video editing software for every budget.
But this year we decided to do things a little differently…
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After testing all the leading options, we found that we actually don’t recommend a lot of the options that we used to… Which means our recommendations are simpler than ever!
We narrowed it down to just TWO Mac video editors that we now recommend for Mac users to create awesome videos.
We’ll cover exactly why these two video editing software are so powerful AND why we’re not recommending the other options over these ones anymore.
This roundup might be shorter, but it still packs a punch! Whether you’re after something beginner friendly or a more advanced option – we’ve got you covered.
Shortlist Of Video Editing Software For Mac
Our recommendations for best video editing software in 2023 are:
The best part? They both have a completely free version available. This is great news if you’re looking for the best free video editing software.
But even if you’re not looking for a free video editor, we think these options have overtaken the paid video editing software!
Let’s take a deeper dive into these video editing programs to find out why.
Mac Video Editing Software #1: CapCut
CapCut is a really easy to use yet powerful free video editing software. It works on Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android.
This video editor actually started out as an app first. They’ve taken the same overall approach from mobile and used it on desktop.
We think this is part of the reason that it’s so powerful on desktop.
It’s replacing a lot of other beginner friendly video editing software that we previously recommended such as iMovie and Filmora.
If you ask us, CapCut is a better all round solution for most people.
CapCut Features
This video editing software is incredibly intuitive and really easy to use.
You can jump in, play around and figure out how to create something pretty amazing without much time and effort – even as a complete beginner.
Some of our favorite CapCut features include:
- Awesome transitions and effects: There’s more than just your average transitions and effects in here, there are some really cool ones that can help you really level up your story telling (& they’re definitely a level up from iMovie’s wipe transitions!)
- Background remover tool: This allows you to remove the background of your video clips without needing to use a green screen
- Great basic presets & filters for color correction: Just keep in mind that these aren’t pro-grade tools (if you’re after something more advanced, the next option will be much better suited for you)
- Adjustment layers for quickly applying effects to clips: These are like blank layers you can add to the top of your video clips – once you apply any adjustments to that layer, they will flow through to any clips that are underneath it
- Voice to text tool: You can type out text, select a voice and the text will be spoken aloud (or even SUNG aloud!)
- Even more amazing features: Built-in video stabilization, motion tracking, noise reduction and more
CapCut Downsides
There are a couple of things you should be aware of with CapCut.
Copyright Music
We’re always pretty weary of using any music that a video editing application provides. As a general rule, it’s always safer to use music that you actually own the license to.
That’s why we use services like Epidemic Sound and Artlist for our music, because it means we know all the licensing is completely handled and we won’t have any problems in the future.
In the case of CapCut, there’s actually a lot of copyright music available. If you use this in your YouTube videos, you’re gonna get flagged really quickly!
But the reason there’s copyright music available, is for use in TikTok videos. CapCut has tons of awesome tools for creating great TikToks. So you can use that copyright music in TikTok videos and you won’t have any trouble with licensing.
So, just make sure you’re not using that music in your YouTube videos.
Privacy Concerns
You might have heard about some concerns around TikTok’s Terms of Service.
Given that TikTok and CapCut are owned by the same company (ByteDance), people have also been concerned about there being some questionable stuff in CapCut’s Terms of Service.
Because of these concerns, both TikTok and CapCut have been banned in India.
But we’re not overly concerned and still have CapCut installed on all our devices. Again, this is just something you should be aware of.
Overall, CapCut is an amazing free tool that suits anyone from complete beginners up to intermediate video editors.
If you’re looking for more advanced features or you want access to all the pro-grade features, that’s when the next option – DaVinci Resolve – might be better suited for you.
Mac Video Editing Software #2: DaVinci Resolve
DaVinci Resolve is an incredible, professional-level video editing software that works on Mac, Windows, Linux and an iPad version has recently been released too.
It’s one of the most powerful video editing software we’ve come across.
When we say ‘professional-level’, we mean that literal Hollywood movies are being edited and produced on this by professional editors!
Just like CapCut, there is a complete free version of DaVinci Resolve. For most people, this free version will definitely get the job done – it’s a fully featured video editor with very few limitations.
DaVinci Resolve Features
This video editing software is intuitive and easy enough to learn. It’s definitely not on the same level as CapCut in terms of ease of use but if you’ve used something like Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere Pro, it’s gonna feel pretty familiar to you.
It’s almost like they’ve looked at Avid, Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, taken bits from each of these and melded it into something amazing.
Some of the top DaVinci Resolve features include:
- Individual tabs for each stage of the editing process: There are different tabs for each of the stages in the editing process, allowing you to access tools relevant to that stage e.g. there’s a Cut area where you compile and cut down your video files, there’s the Edit tab where do further edits to your video clips
- Awesome motion graphics and animations: There’s a ton of pro-level tools in the Fusion tab (think DR’s version of Adobe After Effects)
- Incredible color grading tools and audio tools: The tools are even used by professionals in these fields – we’ve heard of audio professionals jumping into DR just to use the tools for audio editing!
- Easily work with a team: You can really easily work collaboratively with teams using DR’s cloud service or even just by transferring projects
- Voice isolation tools: This is incredibly powerful for removing background noise and cleaning up audio
- Really powerful tracking and masking features: These will blow your mind, especially if you’ve been doing this stuff manually before
DaVinci Resolve Downsides
The only potential downside here is that you will need to have a fairly new computer.
If you’re using an older, low powered computer, DaVinci Resolve likely won’t work very well and you probably won’t have a great experience.
You can always take a look at the DaVinci Resolve System Requirements to see if your device is compatible.
DaVinci Resolve Pricing
As we mentioned earlier, there’s a free version that’s incredibly powerful and will likely suit most people’s needs.
There’s also a Studio Version which unlocks some more advanced features and more integration with your computer hardware which helps you process/render/edit in a more fluid way.
It costs a one-time fee of $295.
Overall, if you want pro-grade tools that are literally industry standard software then DaVinci Resolve is right up your alley.
What’s The Best Video Editing Software For Mac
For years now, when it came to the best video editing software for Mac our top pick has always been Final Cut Pro.
But DaVinci Resolve takes that place now. If we were starting again with a new video editing software, hands down we’d be choosing DaVinci Resolve.
Here at Primal Video, Final Cut is ingrained in our processes, templates, workflows and shortcuts. So right now, it makes sense for us to continue with that.
And that’s not to say that Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere Pro are bad options. They’re super powerful video editing software.
Especially if you use tools like Photoshop or After Effects and already have an Adobe subscription – it definitely makes sense to continue using Adobe Premiere Pro as your video editing software.
But right now, DaVinci Resolve has such a compelling offer. You get access to an entire suite of editing software that works together super smoothly – and it’s a completely free video editor.
Even if you do want to jump on the Studio Version, it’s a one-time fee rather than an ongoing subscription.
It might seem crazy that our top picks are both free editing software but we think it’s awesome that the FREE video editing software has overtaken the PAID video editing software in this roundup.
As you can tell, CapCut and DaVinci Resolve will cater to the needs of most people that are making videos.
So, which of these free Mac video editors is right for you?
If you want to use fast, basic editing tools with a bunch of awesome visual effects and controls – CapCut is an incredible option.
If you want access to next level professional video editing tools for more advanced edits – DaVinci Resolve could be the one for you.
The best video editing software for you will come down to your skillset, the types of videos you’re creating, and what features work best for you.
Video editing software are just tools to edit videos. So your goal should be to find the one that’s easiest for YOU to get the job done. Choose the one that allows you to be as creative as you can, without being limited by the software.
No matter which video editing software you go with, the fastest and most effective method for editing videos is by following a clear process. Check our complete video editing process in this guide – The ULTIMATE Process for Editing Videos Faster.
If you’d like to see our top recommendations for best video editing software on Windows PC, you can check them out here.
Recommended Tutorials:
Recommended Gear & Resources
Check out an up-to-date list of all the gear, software & tools we use and recommend right now at Primal Video on our resources page here!
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