How we rate Video editing software
Our rating is based on a transparent 100-point system. Every video editing software is assessed in 5 categories against objective criteria. Here you can see exactly how our ratings come about.
Points breakdown at a glance
Our 100-point system weights the factors that matter most to content creators and professional video production. Features and usability carry the most weight.
| Category | Max. points | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Features & editing | 32 | 32% |
| Usability & workflow | 22 | 22% |
| Performance & export | 18 | 18% |
| AI features & effects | 14 | 14% |
| Price & licence model | 14 | 14% |
| Total | 100 | 100% |
32 points Features & editing
The core of every video editing software:
- Timeline & editing (10 pts): Multi-track timeline, trim/split/ripple, keyframe animation, multicam editing
- Colour correction (7 pts): Colour grading, LUTs, scopes (waveform, vectorscope), HDR support
- Audio tools (5 pts): Audio mixing, noise reduction, soundtrack library, audio sync
- Titles & graphics (5 pts): Text animations, subtitle editor, motion graphics, templates
- Format support (5 pts): 4K/6K/8K, RAW formats, ProRes, H.265/HEVC, AV1
22 points Usability & workflow
How quickly and efficiently you can work:
- Interface design (7 pts): Layout customisation, clarity, dark/light mode
- Learning curve (6 pts): Beginner-friendliness, tutorials, templates for quick results
- Shortcuts & efficiency (5 pts): Keyboard shortcuts, custom presets, batch processing
- Platform support (4 pts): Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS/Android, browser version
18 points Performance & export
Performance when editing and exporting:
- Render speed (6 pts): GPU acceleration, hardware encoding (NVENC, AMF, QuickSync)
- Preview performance (5 pts): Real-time playback in 4K, proxy workflow, RAM preview
- Export options (4 pts): Codec choice, bitrate control, custom presets (YouTube, TikTok, Instagram)
- Stability (3 pts): Crash frequency, autosave, project recovery
14 points AI features & effects
Modern AI-assisted editing features:
- AI editing (5 pts): Auto reframe, smart cut, scene detection, highlight detection
- AI effects (5 pts): Background removal, face recognition, style transfer, text-to-video
- AI audio (4 pts): Auto subtitles, voice isolation, voice cloning, text-to-speech
14 points Price & licence model
Cost and flexibility of licensing:
- Pricing (5 pts): Subscription vs. one-off purchase, value for money
- Free version (5 pts): Features of the free version, watermarks, export limits
- Transparency (4 pts): Hidden costs, cancellation terms, upgrade paths
Grading scale
| Points | Grade | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 90–100 | 1,0–1,5 | Very good |
| 80–89 | 1,6–2,5 | Good |
| 70–79 | 2,6–3,5 | Satisfactory |
| 60–69 | 3,6–4,5 | Adequate |
| <60 | 4,6–5,0 | Poor |
