Adobe's Best Video Editing Software

Improve your videos with Adobe video editing software

An image of a man reviewing film in a motion picture editing room.

 Getty Images

by Gretchen Siegchrist
Updated August 16, 2018

Adobe has some of the best video software out there, and there's a version for every user level and budget.

When you go with Adobe for your video editing needs, you'll get a robust set of tools, a clean and usable interface, and tight integration with your other Adobe programs to produce high quality videos for every need.

Although the free Adobe Premiere Express is no longer available, Adobe Premiere Elements hits that same level, and the professional software included with Premiere Pro and After Effects makes them perfect choices for professional videographers that need an editing tool.

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Adobe Premiere Elements 2018

Picture of the Adobe Premiere Elements 2018 box

Adobe Premiere Elements has all the features that beginning or intermediate hobbyist editors are looking for in a video editor. Even if you’ve never edited video before, the logical interface, clear tutorials, and help section make it easy to get started. 

Premiere Elements allows users to easily create simple DVDs and home movies, or edit more involved projects with multiple video and audio tracks, and customized effects. 

As your skills and ambitions grow, you’ll be happy to see that Premiere Elements has the features necessary to let you create more complex projects.

What We Like:

  • Lots of advanced tools
  • Simple interface
  • Great for beginners
  • One of the cheaper Adobe video editors

What We Don't Like:

  • Unable to open Premiere Pro files

Adobe Premiere Elements is currently priced at $99.99 for one license.

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Adobe Premiere Pro CC

Picture of the Adobe Premiere Pro CC box

Adobe's Premiere Pro CC video editor is a good choice if you want to edit high-quality, professional videos. Not only can you use it for things like vlogging and home videos, but its versatility makes it a program of choice for some movie makers.

What We Like:

  • Hundreds of tutorials for self-help
  • Edit virtual reality (VR) while using a VR headset
  • Works with any format, including 8K video
  • Projects can be locked to prevent editing

What We Don't Like:

  • You have to pay for it every month or every year; there isn't a one-time payment option

The most inexpensive way to buy Adobe Premiere Pro CC is per year by prepaying $239.88. Another option is an annual plan paid by the month, at $20.99 /month. You can also buy Adobe Premiere Pro CC one month at a time for $31.49 each month.

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Adobe After Effects CC

Picture of the Adobe After Effects CC box

If you're needing a professional video editor to make movie introductions and custom transitions, you can't go wrong with Adobe After Effects.

This movie making program is also relevant for animators and designers. All the tools you need to create motion graphics and other visual effects are included in Adobe After Effects.

What We Like:

  • Supports keyframes
  • The Puppet Engine makes manipulating shapes easy
  • You can import native formats like CSV and JSON directly into the timeline
  • Hundreds of built-in effects

What We Don't Like:

  • Subscription-based, so you have to keep paying to use it

The pricing for Adobe After Effects is the same as Adobe Premiere Pro. You can get the yearly subscription and pay once every month or, for a slightly cheaper option that shaves a dollar off every month, you can pay once per year for $239.88. There's also a month-to-month option.