As a vlogger, one of the most essential tools to have at your disposal is a good vlog video editor. No matter what camera, lighting, or computer hardware you use, the final output is largely dependent on what editing tools you are using. Of course, that’s not to say that the other factors are less important. If anything, they are all equally vital to making good quality, trendy, and attractive vlogs.
So, if you’re on the lookout for good vlog editing software, there are some criteria you should consider before making your selection. Join us while we look at some of the selection criteria and go over some of the most popular software out there.
1. Comprehensive collection of essential editing tools
To make trendy and edgy vlogs, your video editing software should have all the crucial editing tools. If your software comes with templates and presets, that’s an added bonus, as it speeds up the editing process.
The ideal video editing tool has all of the following:
| Features | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Color correction | Correcting color issues in the footage. |
| Color grading | Adjusting the colors to make the videos look more professional. |
| Trim and Cut | Easy removal of parts of the footage. |
| Transitions | Smooth connection between the various video clips in your vlogs. |
| Text and graphics | Adding titles, subtitles, graphics, etc., to the video. |
| Audio mixing | Adjusting the volume, muting the audio, fading in/out, and other effects for an improved audio experience. |
2. User-friendly and easy-to-use interface
When looking for a video editor for vlogs, you’ll naturally want ones that’s easy to use. With user-friendly software, vlog editing becomes easier and faster. If you are a YouTuber, TikToker, Instagramer, or content creator of any other kind, user-friendly software is a must, as you need to post video content as often as possible to maintain your reach. You really cannot afford to waste time figuring out how to use complicated software, as time is literally money for content creators.
Clearly labeled tools and options make software easy to manage and use. Without this, it will be difficult, as a user, to figure out what tool does what function, making it needlessly complicated.
3. Special effects and filters
As far as possible, go for editing software that lets you put special effects and filters in your vlogs. Vlogs are more organic and simple compared to other video formats, but you should still use some sort of special effects to keep things interesting for viewers. Use them to show your brand of creativity and imagination.
Many vloggers use special effects in their intros and outros and to make something pop during the video. Remember to use the special effects sparingly – you’re making a vlog, not a sci-fi movie.
4. Library of royalty-free music and sound effects
Background music and sound effects really elevate the quality and viewing experience of a vlog. Normally, content writers have preferred websites from where they download royalty-free music to use in the background of their videos. But it can be a hassle, as some music may require you to give credit or you may have to pay a subscription fee to use the website. So, find an editing tool that comes with its own library of royalty-free music.
Alternatively, you could make your own music and sound effects and get a software that allows you to easily import your audio files.
5. Multiple export options
Vlogs can be hosted on many different platforms, like Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, etc. However, some of these platforms require you to upload your content in certain file formats. File format also matters for watching the video locally with a media player, like VLC. The most common file format right now is MP4. But there are many other file formats that exist for various purposes. So, to be on the safe side, you’ll want to find a software that lets you export in many different file formats.
6. Video resolution and quality
The editing tool you choose should be able to support the output quality and resolution you want your vlogs to be. If you want a 4K video, there’s no point in going for a free editing tool that can only export videos up to 720p resolution. Choose a tool based on the output quality and resolution you want to use.
Usually, paid video editing software lets you export videos in high quality and resolution. So, think about your budget and your requirements when you are choosing a tool. Many software now come on a subscription basis, so you can consider a tool that has a reasonable per-month price.
7. Cross-platform compatibility
When editing your vlogs, you most likely use multiple different devices and operating systems (OS). Hence, you’ll want a software that’s compatible with various devices or OSs. Doing so will ensure that there are no interruptions and that you can even work on the go with ease.
Even if you’re an amateur at vlog editing, you still can benefit from cross-platform compatibility. Like this, you can upgrade your setup and devices without worrying about having to install or buy another software.
8. Cloud storage and collaboration
Videos, in raw or processed form, take up a lot of storage space. And when your videos are long like vlogs usually are and have a lot of graphics and other elements, the file size will be even bigger. Before cloud storage, content creators, video editors, and other professionals would save their files on their computers or on external storage devices, like hard disks, pen drives, etc. Unfortunately, there are a lot of risks that come with using such storage devices. Files get corrupted, and the devices get lost or damaged, which causes you to lose a lot of your content.
Thanks to cloud storage, all this risk is eliminated, and some video editors give you a certain amount of cloud storage for you to save your projects and files. With cloud storage, editing tools also allow collaborations with other users so you can work with your team on the same project simultaneously. Of course, you still need to save the project files digitally and locally so that there is a multiple backup for everything.
List of most popular free and paid vlog video editor
After seeing all the criteria you should consider when selecting a good vlog editing software, we’ll now look at some of the most popular video editing software used by both amateurs and professionals.
| Software | Key features | Operating system | Pricing model |
|---|---|---|---|
| DaVinci Resolve |
|
|
Free and paid versions available |
| Adobe Premiere Pro |
|
|
Paid (with 7-day free trial) |
| Movavi Video Editor |
|
|
Paid (with 7-day free trial) |
| CyberLink PowerDirector 365 |
|
|
Paid |
| Kdenlive |
|
|
Free |
| Videopad |
|
|
Free |
Over to you
Choosing the right software for vlog video editing is quite essential because if it is a paid tool, you’re stuck with it for a while. Of course, free video editing software exists, but they usually have limitations that are not present with paid tools. If you already have some editing experience, you can go for more professional tools like Adobe Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve (paid). However, if you’re an amateur, opt for easy-to-use tools that come with a large library of templates and presets.
