12 Best Video Editing Software for Mac in 2026

Editing videos on a Mac just hits different, you know. 

The whole thing feels a bit smoother, a bit nicer, and honestly, a lot less frustrating compared to other setups. 

And yeah, Macs are kind of known for this stuff — creators, YouTubers, editors… everyone ends up here sooner or later because the software just works well with the hardware.

But the real question is, like, which video editor should you actually use? 

Because there are so many options out there, and each one does something slightly better than the other. 

Some are super simple for quick edits, some are a little more advanced, and then there are a few that feel like, okay… this is for people who take editing seriously.

So in this guide, I’m just breaking down all the good options you can use on a Mac right now. 

Nothing confusing, nothing technical — just straight-up, real tools that help you edit your videos without wasting time. 

Whether you’re making YouTube videos, short clips, travel vlogs, or even something a bit more professional, you’ll find something here that actually fits what you need.

Alright, let’s start.

1. Final Cut Pro

Why I Picked It: It’s the one Mac software that feels truly built for smooth, fast, everyday editing without any struggle.

Final Cut Pro runs so clean on macOS that you can feel the difference the moment you start working. 

The timeline feels light, the previews load quickly, and even bigger projects don’t slow the whole thing down. 

Apple has tuned this thing perfectly for their M-series chips, so you get that sharp performance without pushing your Mac too hard.

It also works for all kinds of creators. 

If you’re new, you can jump in and pick up the basics without feeling lost. 

As you get better, there’s room to grow into color grading, multi-cam work, better effects, and more advanced timelines. 

And since it’s a one-time purchase, you can keep using it freely without worrying about monthly payments.

Final Cut is that editor people stay with for years because it’s fast, stable, and feels natural on a Mac. 

It’s just a strong fit for anyone who wants clean editing with room to level up.

Also Read: 17 Best Free Video Editors You Should Try

2. DaVinci Resolve

Why I Picked It: It gives you pro-level editing, color work, and audio tools in one place, and you can start with the free version.

DaVinci Resolve is one of those editors that grows with you as you learn more about video. 

You can do simple cuts, add music, trim clips, all that basic stuff. 

But the moment you want to go deeper—cleaner color, better sound, sharper details—it already has everything waiting for you.

The color grading tools are the biggest reason people use Resolve. 

You can fix lighting, adjust tones, and shape the look of your video in a way that feels very controlled. 

The audio section is also solid, so you don’t have to jump between different apps just to polish your sound.

Even the free version gives you more than enough to create solid YouTube videos, travel edits, short films, or client work. 

And if you ever want more advanced features, the paid version is there, but you don’t need it right away.

Resolve works great on newer Macs, and once you get used to the layout, it feels like a complete studio sitting right on your laptop. 

It’s powerful, flexible, and a really good choice if you want more control over how your videos look and sound.

Also Read: 16 Best Video Editors Without Watermark You Should Try

3. Adobe Premiere Pro

Why I Picked It: It’s the go-to editor for people who want something powerful, flexible, and fully connected to the Adobe ecosystem.

Premiere Pro works well for creators who like having control over every part of the edit. 

You can handle long YouTube videos, short clips, talking-head content, travel vlogs, or even more detailed projects for clients. 

The layout feels familiar once you get the hang of it, and the timeline is clean enough for both quick edits and big workloads.

One big plus is how it connects with other Adobe apps. 

If you use Photoshop, After Effects, Illustrator, or even Lightroom for your thumbnails, everything just moves smoothly between them. 

You can fix graphics, replace clips, adjust colors, or drop in effects without jumping through too many steps.

It does come with a subscription, and the learning curve feels a bit heavier at first. 

But once you settle in, you get a strong, stable editor that works across different types of projects and stays consistent every time you open it.

Premiere Pro is great for people who want a full editing setup that can handle simple videos and bigger, more detailed work on the same platform. 

It’s reliable, loaded with tools, and a strong pick if you want something long-term.

4. iMovie

Why I Picked It: It’s free, simple to use, and perfect for anyone who just wants clean, basic edits without learning a complicated editor.

iMovie comes built into every Mac, and that alone makes it a really solid starting point. 

You can drop in your clips, trim them, add some music, throw in titles, and you’re pretty much done. 

The whole layout feels light, so you don’t get overwhelmed with too many buttons or panels.

It’s great for quick YouTube videos, school projects, travel clips, talking videos, or anything casual that doesn’t need advanced color tools or heavy effects. 

You can also sync projects between your iPhone and Mac, which makes editing even easier when you’re on the go.

If you ever plan to move to Final Cut Pro later, iMovie actually helps because the workflow feels somewhat similar. 

But even on its own, it does more than enough for everyday videos, and you won’t feel slowed down at all.

iMovie is a good pick when you want something that just works right out of the box, with no extra cost and no learning pressure. 

It’s simple, clean, and gets the job done for most basic editing needs.

Also Read: 15 Best Video Editing Apps That Help TikTok Creators Go Viral

5. CapCut

Why I Picked It: It’s fast, easy, and great for people who want ready-made tools and templates that save a lot of time.

CapCut’s desktop version feels very simple when you open it, but it still gives you a lot of room to create clean, sharp edits. 

You can trim, cut, add music, drop in text, adjust colors, and even use built-in effects without digging through complicated menus. 

It’s the kind of editor that helps you finish a video quickly, which is why so many creators use it for YouTube Shorts, TikTok clips, travel videos, and day-to-day content.

The templates are a big help because you can pick one, drop in your clips, and you’re halfway done. 

The auto-captions feature is also strong, and it saves a lot of time if you make talking-style videos. 

Everything feels smooth on a Mac, and the app doesn’t push your system too hard.

CapCut works well for people who want clean results without spending hours learning a pro editor. 

It’s light, quick, and reliable when you just want to edit your footage and get it out there.

Also Read: 14 Best Video Editing Apps for Instagram Reels

6. Filmora

Why I Picked It: It keeps things simple while still giving you enough tools to make your videos look clean and polished.

Filmora is one of those editors that feels easy the moment you open it. 

The layout is clear, the tools are right in front of you, and you don’t spend time guessing what button does what. 

You can trim clips, add transitions, fix colors, drop in music, and use effects without feeling stuck or confused.

It works well for YouTube videos, travel edits, school projects, reactions, tutorials, or anything where you want decent control without dealing with a heavy learning curve. 

The built-in effects and presets also help a lot when you want a certain look but don’t want to build it from scratch.

Performance on a Mac is solid, and the export times stay pretty quick, even on longer videos. 

It’s not as advanced as Final Cut or Resolve, but that’s the whole point — Filmora gives you a comfortable space to edit without making the process feel complicated.

It’s a good pick for anyone who wants something simple but still strong enough to create clean, well-edited videos on a regular basis.

7. Movavi Video Editor

Why I Picked It: It’s lightweight, quick to learn, and works well for everyday videos without making the process feel heavy.

Movavi has this very clean layout that helps you get into editing right away. 

You can drag your clips in, trim them, add music, fix colors a bit, and you’re already moving toward a finished video. 

It doesn’t overload you with advanced tools, which is good when you just want to put a clean edit together without spending too much time learning new features.

It works nicely for YouTube vlogs, talking videos, travel footage, small projects, or any simple content you want to put out regularly. 

The transitions, titles, and effects feel easy to drop in, and nothing gets in your way when you’re trying to finish quickly.

Performance stays smooth on a Mac, and the app doesn’t demand a lot from your system. 

It’s not meant for heavy color grading or big professional projects, but that’s not what most people need anyway.

Movavi is a solid choice when you want a friendly, quick editor that lets you finish your videos cleanly without getting lost in complex tools.

Also Read: 17 Best Video Editing Apps Every Pro Secretly Uses

8. Lightworks

Why I Picked It: It gives you a professional-style workflow while still offering a free version that’s strong enough for regular editing.

Lightworks feels a little different when you first open it, but once you settle in, it becomes a very steady editor for longer videos, interviews, YouTube content, and even short films. 

The timeline is flexible, the trimming feels sharp, and the whole setup is made for people who like a clean, organized workspace.

You get solid control over your clips, audio, and effects without the software slowing down your Mac. 

The free version already covers most things people need to make good videos, and if you ever want more advanced export options or extra features, you can upgrade later.

It’s not the simplest editor on this list, but it’s also not overly complicated. 

It sits right in the middle—strong enough for serious use, but still calm enough for someone who wants to grow into a more advanced workflow.

Lightworks is a good pick if you want something stable, reliable, and made for longer or more detailed editing sessions on your Mac. 

It has that steady and controlled feel that many editors appreciate.

9. HitFilm

Why I Picked It: It mixes video editing and visual effects in a way that feels smooth and easy to handle on a Mac.

HitFilm is great when you want more than just cutting and trimming. 

You can edit your clips, fix colors, adjust audio, and then jump straight into effects without switching to another app. 

It’s useful for YouTube videos, gaming edits, travel videos, reaction content, and anything where you want a bit more style in your final look.

The layout feels clear once you get used to it, and the tools stay organized so you don’t feel lost. 

You can add transitions, build simple effects, and even work with green screen footage without too much effort. 

The performance on a Mac stays steady, even when you stack multiple layers on the timeline.

It also has a good collection of presets, so when you want a certain look—like a softer tone, sharper colors, or a more dramatic style—you can get it done quickly. 

It doesn’t try to be overly complex, and that makes it nice for creators who want flexibility without dealing with a heavy professional setup.

HitFilm is a strong choice for people who want clean editing plus the freedom to play with effects without making the whole workflow complicated.

Also Read: 17 Best Video Editing Software for YouTube

10. Shotcut

Why I Picked It: It’s free, open-source, and gives you a clean editing setup without putting pressure on your system.

Shotcut works well when you want something simple that still feels reliable. 

You can trim your clips, fix the audio a bit, adjust colors, add transitions, and build a full edit without needing a high-end computer. 

The layout is straightforward, and the tools are easy to find once you use it a couple of times.

It’s a good pick for YouTube videos, tutorials, reaction content, or any regular editing where you just want a clean result. 

There are no ads, no watermarks, and no hidden restrictions, which makes it comfortable to use for long-term projects.

Performance on a Mac stays steady, and you don’t have to worry about it pushing your system too much. 

It’s not loaded with advanced features like some of the paid software here, but it has more than enough to help most creators finish solid videos.

Shotcut is a nice choice for anyone who wants free editing software that feels stable, simple, and dependable on macOS.

11. OpenShot

Why I Picked It: It’s a simple, free editor that helps you put videos together without learning anything complicated.

OpenShot is the kind of tool you pick when you just want to edit your clips and get a clean final video without dealing with a big interface. 

You can trim your footage, add text, drop in transitions, adjust a few things, and you’re done. 

The layout is clear, and everything feels easy to move around.

It works well for basic YouTube videos, school projects, tutorials, simple talking-style content, or anything where you don’t need deep color grading or heavy effects. 

It stays light on your Mac, so even older machines can handle it without slowing down too much.

There’s nothing confusing in here, which is one of its strengths. 

You open it, edit your clips, arrange your timeline, and export. That’s it. No extra steps, no pressure to upgrade, and no complex menus.

OpenShot is a good fit for anyone who wants a free, calm, and easy editor that gets the job done for simple, everyday videos.

12. Avid Media Composer

Why I Picked It: It’s built for serious editing work and gives you a very steady setup for long, detailed projects.

Avid Media Composer is well known in the editing world, especially for people who work on films, documentaries, interviews, and bigger YouTube projects. 

It’s more advanced than most editors on this list, but that’s what makes it useful if you want that controlled, professional-style environment.

The timeline feels solid, and the tools are made for precise editing. 

You can manage a lot of clips, fix audio cleanly, adjust colors, and organize large projects without your Mac slowing down. 

It’s the kind of software that stays stable even when the timeline gets heavy.

There’s a learning curve, but once you understand how it works, you get a workflow that’s reliable for long-term editing. 

Avid is great for people who want something beyond casual editing—something that can handle detailed cuts, interviews, client work, or any project that needs a clean structure.

It’s a strong pick when you want a professional setup and don’t mind spending a little time learning how everything fits together.

Final Thoughts

Picking the right video editor on a Mac really comes down to how deep you want to go with your videos. 

Some people just need something simple so they can trim clips and add a bit of music, and some want that full setup where they can shape every detail of the final look. 

That’s why having these options helps — you can start small, learn at your own pace, and then move to something stronger when you feel ready.

If you want clean and fast editing with zero slowdown, Final Cut Pro feels great on a Mac. 

If you want full control without paying right away, DaVinci Resolve gives you a lot to work with. 

And if your videos are more casual or you just want an easy layout, iMovie, Movavi, or Filmora keep things simple.

Every option on this list works nicely on macOS, so just pick the one that matches how you like to edit. 

Once you settle into a workflow that feels comfortable, everything else becomes easier — organizing clips, fixing colors, adding music, exporting… it all starts to feel natural.

So try a couple of them, see which one fits your style, and then stick with the one that feels right. 

Eventually, the editing part becomes less of a task and more like something you enjoy doing.

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