Alternatives to Final Cut Pro
Apple's professional video editor for Mac and iPad, with editing, audio, motion graphics and color grading. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Final Cut Pro
Apple's professional video editor for Mac and iPad, with editing, audio, motion graphics and color grading.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Final Cut Pro.
Adobe Premiere
Adobe's professional video editing and post-production application for Windows and macOS, formerly Premiere Pro.
Adobe Premiere runs on both Windows and macOS and integrates with other Adobe apps, but it requires a paid plan rather than a one-time purchase and has no iPad version.
DaVinci Resolve
Professional editing, colour grading, visual effects and audio post in one program, with a free version that is genuinely capable.
DaVinci Resolve runs on Windows, macOS and Linux with a free version and reference colour grading tools, though it is demanding on hardware and has no iPad version listed.
iMovie
Apple's free video editor for making and sharing movies on Mac, iPhone and iPad.
iMovie is free on Mac, iPhone and iPad and suits beginners, but it is aimed at basic editing rather than professional work.
LumaFusion
Professional multi-track mobile video editor with color correction and audio mixing.
LumaFusion is a paid multi-track editor for iOS with colour correction and audio mixing, but it has no desktop version, so Mac editing is not covered.
Kdenlive
KDE’s free video editor, with a multi-track timeline, proxy editing and a large effect set.
Kdenlive is free and open source under GPL-3.0 on Windows, macOS and Linux with multicam and proxy editing, though its Windows and macOS builds have historically lagged Linux in stability.
Shotcut
A free cross-platform video editor with a multi-track timeline that edits most formats without importing them first.
Shotcut is a free open source multi-track editor for Windows, macOS and Linux that edits most formats without importing, but has no iPad version.
Lightworks
Professional video editor with a free tier limited to 720p exports.
Lightworks runs on Windows, Mac and Linux with a free tier of professional tools, but free exports are capped at 720p and there is no iPad version.
VEGAS Pro
Long-running professional video editor with strong audio-editing tools.
VEGAS Pro is a paid professional editor with strong audio editing tools, but it runs only on Windows, so it requires leaving Apple hardware.
Also worth comparing
These listings name Final Cut Pro as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
Avid Media Composer
A professional non-linear video editor used for film, television and news production.
Final Cut Pro is a professional editor with a one-time purchase option on Mac and an iPad version, but it runs only on Apple devices.
VN Video Editor
Free mobile video editor with keyframe animation and a multi-layer timeline.
Final Cut Pro is a paid professional editor for iPad and Mac, adding colour grading, motion graphics and subject isolation, with no Android version.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
Adobe After Effects
Adobe's desktop application for motion graphics, visual effects compositing and animation for film, TV and web.
CapCut
Free video editor with templates, effects, and text overlays for social media.
Topaz Video
Video enhancement software that uses AI models to upscale, stabilize, sharpen and interpolate frames in footage.
Subtitle Edit
Creates, retimes, translates and fixes subtitles, with a waveform so you can see where the speech is.
HandBrake
A video converter that turns files and unprotected discs into MP4, MKV or WebM with presets for common devices.
Fusion
A node-based compositing program for visual effects, motion graphics and 3D work.
