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Hesitant to throw down $50 a month to pay for an Adobe membership? Here are all the NLE alternatives that you have available to you — both free and paid.
While Adobe may be the top choice of NLE for most indie filmmakers, DIY production houses, and beginners (and even the choice for large scale productions such as Gone Girl), the steep $50 per month subscription charge is enough to drive some people away from the highly-rated editing suite.
- Large Title Slideshow. Premiere Pro project. A simple slideshow with a variety of overlays.
- 16 Circle Transitions. This pack of transitions from PremiumBeat includes 16 different circle wipes.
- Free Templates for Adobe Premiere Pro. Templates include more than just settings, and range from simple animations to full-scale projects. Check out the free Premiere Pro templates at Mixkit, or try these options: Cover Flow Template: 'This template enables you to quickly make a cover flow sequence in Premiere Pro CC, and easily edit it.
Mini Glitch Pack Free. Bring pixel-smashing image-warping glitch effects with this awesome Premiere Pro toolkit. This download comes with 6 transitions, 3 logos, 3 titles, 8 sound effects and 26 elements. This kit is a great introduction to glitch effects. You can use it in any project that needs technical distortion and glitches! Adobe Premiere Pro crack is a pirated version of professional software that has undergone different modifications. The software cracking is aimed at removing the software protection so a larger number of people can use it without purchasing the activation key.
There are a plethora of choices out there that are either free to use or require an up-front cost. Tons of creators are turning to these alternatives when looking for their preferred NLE. So, today we're going to dive into all the choices you have on the market — their pros, cons, and price — so you can decide for yourself if you want to make the switch.
DaVinci Resolve 16
I'm starting off with DaVinci Resolve because this is my absolute first choice for a free, incredibly powerful, and intuitive NLE. There's a big shift going on in the indie circuit when it comes to Resolve. We've seen a huge uptick in creators switching over to Resolve due to its availability and reliability.
One of DaVinci's biggest draws is its color correction and grading platform. It's by far the top choice for professional color graders for correcting and grading footage. The software also beats out Adobe's Lumetri Color by a long shot.
With recent updates, it's upgraded both Fairlight and Fusion VFX — their audio and VFX tabs within the program. Their edit page isn't too shabby either. It's a full stop edit suite that can get down and dirty with a complicated timeline. It's also a one stop shop for a professional edit, and has most (and in some cases, more) features than all of the Adobe suite programs combined.
If you want to learn more about DaVinci Resolve and get to learning it, download the program for free and follow along with our multiple tutorials by Lewis McGregor to get yourself acquainted.
Pros:
- Incredible industry-standard color correction and grading software within the program
- Gives you all the tools you need to make a professional edit in one program
- No monthly subscription or upfront cost
Cons:
- Steep learning curve, and sometimes hard to understand UX
- VFX program does not match up to After Effects
Price: Free
Avid Media Composer
Ahh, Avid — the one NLE that editors love to hate. I trained in Avid in college, and as much as I hated slogging through the textbook and the antiquated features of the program, I grew to love it in a weird way. It's incredible at handling feature-length projects, and the organization tools inside of the program are hard to match. It won't blink at high resolution video, or shy away from a monster timeline. It's the workhorse of all of the NLEs out there.
It's still the overwhelming choice of NLE for most Hollywood-level productions due to its enterprise and project-sharing abilities. And, I will say, after the upgrades in the recent update it looks a lot friendlier and modern compared to the blocky grey blob it used to be. If you are serious about becoming an editor for a post house or grinding your way to entering the ACE guild, Avid is the right choice.
Pros:
- The choice of NLE for major productions and union editors
- incredibly powerful software that can handle feature-length projects
- New, updated UX that is cleaner and easier to understand
Cons:
- Incredibly difficult learning curve (seriously, you might have to buy a textbook)
- Not as user-friendly as the other NLEs
Price: $23.99 Monthly Subscription
Final Cut Pro X
Final Cut Pro X is historically Premiere's top competitor in the indie NLE market. I was brought up in the editing world during the heated battle between Final Cut and Premiere users. It was a gruesome battle between editors — I even almost got fired from a gig early in my career for arguing with my boss about using Final Cut over Premiere. Even though I may be committing a cardinal sin amongst Premiere users for suggesting Final Cut over Premiere, I'm going to write this with as little bias as possible.
Final Cut is a solid, simple editing platform. It may be joked about as being 'iMovie Plus,' but it's actually got some serious horsepower behind its simple, friendly exterior. One of my favorite parts about Final Cut is its ability to take complicated editing tasks and condensing them into an incredibly easy to use, drag and drop effect. I started doing a few projects within the program this past year, and there were times that I was able to use effects that took me thirty seconds which would have taken me five minutes in Premiere to execute.
They've really put the work in to make it a professional-level NLE, and it's motion and audio editing platforms within the program are easy to use and incredibly clean. One of the main problems I have with Final Cut though is its organization flow. The project and clip window is a mess to me, and hard to organize. But, for a small project, it's by far the fastest way to get a clean edit.
Pros:
- Easy to learn and pick up for beginners
- Incredibly clean and intuitive UX
- Great for getting out a project fast
Cons:
- Only available on Mac
- Untidy organization for scanning through clips and for large scale projects
Price: $299.99
HitFilm
HitFilm Express is probably the closest program to Premiere that you are going to find. It's simple, extremely intuitive, and best of all, it's FREE.
HitFilm Express is the go-to choice for a lot of editors that like the simplicity of Premiere, but don't want to pay the monthly tithe to Adobe. It's got some serious punching power for a free program, and it's also pretty great for a simple edit. It may not be at the level as the other programs on here, but it's one of my first recommendations for an editor just getting into the game who doesn't want to drop a bunch of money on an editing program, or doesn't have the time to get acquainted with Resolve.
HitFilm also offers their pro version for $299, which offers a plethora of extra effects and programs. If you want to learn more about HitFilm, they have an extremely active YouTube channel with tutorials and walkthroughs of their program.
Pros:
- Free to use, fun editing program perfect for beginner editors
- Ability to do some really interesting and professional looking effects with guided walkthroughs from FXHome
Cons:
- Not as professional-grade as the other programs, not very applicable to corporate or post-house level editing
- Pro version costs as much as some other high-caliber editing programs
Price: Free for Express / Pro version – $299
Vegas Pro 17
Vegas has always been the scrappy little brother in the fight for the top NLE. It's never really taken a chunk out of the market share, but it is still loved and adored by its hardcore fans and users. What I've found with NLEs is that you usually stick with the one that you learned on. For most folks who were editing Call of Duty screen captures for Youtube in the early 2010s, Vegas was the editor of choice.
Now Vegas is a fully fledged NLE with all of the features that you would need. But, to be honest, even with their new update it still looks like it's stuck in 2015. The UX is clunky, and the design of the program looks a bit outdated. Still, it's used around the world as a go-to editor. The price point is pretty steep for a smaller program (especially when you have Resolve available for free), but it's still a solid option when shopping around for your new program.
Get Adobe Premiere Pro Free
Pros:
- Great program for legacy Vegas users
- Intuitive color grading programs
Cons:
- Clunky, outdated UX
- Not as feature-heavy as the other NLEs in its category
- Steep price point
Price: $399 for Basic Edit Package, $599 for Pro
Cover image via Antonio Guillem.
Want more insider tips on video editing? Check these out.
- Interface
- Usability
- Features
- Speed
- Support
- Price
Adobe is recognized worldwide for its fantastic software tools, many of which have become a true standard in the field. Among the Adobe programs, Adobe Premiere Pro is one of the flagship products and is one of the best video editing tools since its market release. If you are willing to use this program and don't know-how, today I'll show you how to get Adobe Premiere Pro for free.
How to get Adobe Premiere Pro safety
Premiere Pro is one of the best video editors of today and has been like that since its very beginnings. In order to make use of the program and have the most updated version, it is best to go directly to Adobe, who offers different plans and ways for you to get their software.
As Premiere Pro is part of the Creative Cloud, it can be downloaded along with other series of programs from the company, such as After Effects or Photoshop.
Adobe offers the following plans to access Adobe Premiere Pro:
Option 1. Single application
The Single application plan is the most basic one you'll get on Adobe's website. With this plan, you can download only Adobe Premiere Pro, along with the extra content that comes with the other plans: the 100GB of cloud storage, Adobe Fonts, Adobe Portfolio, and Adobe Spark.
There are three different payment methods:
- Annual plan, with a monthly payment of $20.99/mo.
- Annual plan (prepaid) of $239.88/yr.
- Monthly plan for $31.49/mo.
Option 2. All Apps Plan
This is Adobe's main bet. This plan includes the entire Creative Cloud – more than 20 programs dedicated to the world of media editing, illustration, special effects, and more. You have all this at your disposal, in addition to the extras previously mentioned. The price/value ratio makes this the best-selling plan of all.
The price of this plan is
- Incredibly difficult learning curve (seriously, you might have to buy a textbook)
- Not as user-friendly as the other NLEs
Price: $23.99 Monthly Subscription
Final Cut Pro X
Final Cut Pro X is historically Premiere's top competitor in the indie NLE market. I was brought up in the editing world during the heated battle between Final Cut and Premiere users. It was a gruesome battle between editors — I even almost got fired from a gig early in my career for arguing with my boss about using Final Cut over Premiere. Even though I may be committing a cardinal sin amongst Premiere users for suggesting Final Cut over Premiere, I'm going to write this with as little bias as possible.
Final Cut is a solid, simple editing platform. It may be joked about as being 'iMovie Plus,' but it's actually got some serious horsepower behind its simple, friendly exterior. One of my favorite parts about Final Cut is its ability to take complicated editing tasks and condensing them into an incredibly easy to use, drag and drop effect. I started doing a few projects within the program this past year, and there were times that I was able to use effects that took me thirty seconds which would have taken me five minutes in Premiere to execute.
They've really put the work in to make it a professional-level NLE, and it's motion and audio editing platforms within the program are easy to use and incredibly clean. One of the main problems I have with Final Cut though is its organization flow. The project and clip window is a mess to me, and hard to organize. But, for a small project, it's by far the fastest way to get a clean edit.
Pros:
- Easy to learn and pick up for beginners
- Incredibly clean and intuitive UX
- Great for getting out a project fast
Cons:
- Only available on Mac
- Untidy organization for scanning through clips and for large scale projects
Price: $299.99
HitFilm
HitFilm Express is probably the closest program to Premiere that you are going to find. It's simple, extremely intuitive, and best of all, it's FREE.
HitFilm Express is the go-to choice for a lot of editors that like the simplicity of Premiere, but don't want to pay the monthly tithe to Adobe. It's got some serious punching power for a free program, and it's also pretty great for a simple edit. It may not be at the level as the other programs on here, but it's one of my first recommendations for an editor just getting into the game who doesn't want to drop a bunch of money on an editing program, or doesn't have the time to get acquainted with Resolve.
HitFilm also offers their pro version for $299, which offers a plethora of extra effects and programs. If you want to learn more about HitFilm, they have an extremely active YouTube channel with tutorials and walkthroughs of their program.
Pros:
- Free to use, fun editing program perfect for beginner editors
- Ability to do some really interesting and professional looking effects with guided walkthroughs from FXHome
Cons:
- Not as professional-grade as the other programs, not very applicable to corporate or post-house level editing
- Pro version costs as much as some other high-caliber editing programs
Price: Free for Express / Pro version – $299
Vegas Pro 17
Vegas has always been the scrappy little brother in the fight for the top NLE. It's never really taken a chunk out of the market share, but it is still loved and adored by its hardcore fans and users. What I've found with NLEs is that you usually stick with the one that you learned on. For most folks who were editing Call of Duty screen captures for Youtube in the early 2010s, Vegas was the editor of choice.
Now Vegas is a fully fledged NLE with all of the features that you would need. But, to be honest, even with their new update it still looks like it's stuck in 2015. The UX is clunky, and the design of the program looks a bit outdated. Still, it's used around the world as a go-to editor. The price point is pretty steep for a smaller program (especially when you have Resolve available for free), but it's still a solid option when shopping around for your new program.
Get Adobe Premiere Pro Free
Pros:
- Great program for legacy Vegas users
- Intuitive color grading programs
Cons:
- Clunky, outdated UX
- Not as feature-heavy as the other NLEs in its category
- Steep price point
Price: $399 for Basic Edit Package, $599 for Pro
Cover image via Antonio Guillem.
Want more insider tips on video editing? Check these out.
- Interface
- Usability
- Features
- Speed
- Support
- Price
Adobe is recognized worldwide for its fantastic software tools, many of which have become a true standard in the field. Among the Adobe programs, Adobe Premiere Pro is one of the flagship products and is one of the best video editing tools since its market release. If you are willing to use this program and don't know-how, today I'll show you how to get Adobe Premiere Pro for free.
How to get Adobe Premiere Pro safety
Premiere Pro is one of the best video editors of today and has been like that since its very beginnings. In order to make use of the program and have the most updated version, it is best to go directly to Adobe, who offers different plans and ways for you to get their software.
As Premiere Pro is part of the Creative Cloud, it can be downloaded along with other series of programs from the company, such as After Effects or Photoshop.
Adobe offers the following plans to access Adobe Premiere Pro:
Option 1. Single application
The Single application plan is the most basic one you'll get on Adobe's website. With this plan, you can download only Adobe Premiere Pro, along with the extra content that comes with the other plans: the 100GB of cloud storage, Adobe Fonts, Adobe Portfolio, and Adobe Spark.
There are three different payment methods:
- Annual plan, with a monthly payment of $20.99/mo.
- Annual plan (prepaid) of $239.88/yr.
- Monthly plan for $31.49/mo.
Option 2. All Apps Plan
This is Adobe's main bet. This plan includes the entire Creative Cloud – more than 20 programs dedicated to the world of media editing, illustration, special effects, and more. You have all this at your disposal, in addition to the extras previously mentioned. The price/value ratio makes this the best-selling plan of all.
The price of this plan is
- Annual plan, with a monthly payment of $52.99/mo.
- Annual plan (prepaid) for $599.88 /yr.
- Monthly plan for $79.49/mo.
Option 3. Discount for students
If you're a college student or a professor of any grade, you're entitled to a huge discount from Adobe. This is the 'Students and teachers' discount that the Premier Pro development company gives to the educational staff at all levels.
All you have to do is prove to Adobe that you belong to one of these two sectors to enjoy the more than 60% discount on the All Apps plan, which includes the entire Creative Cloud.
You can choose between the following forms of payment:
- Annual plan, with a monthly payment of $19.99/mo.
- Annual plan (prepaid) of $239.88/yr.
Itunes 10 4 11 download free. This way you can get Adobe Premiere Pro from the Adobe website, either as an individual application or as part of the Creative Cloud. If you think the cost is high or you want to try it before you buy, I will show you a way to try it before: how to get Adobe Premiere Pro for free.
How to get Adobe Premiere Pro Free Trial
One of the best things that Adobe offers along with its plans, is the possibility of downloading any of its applications for free, through its free trial. This option allows you to download and use the entire Creative Cloud or one of its programs for free. All you have to do is go to their website and follow the instructions, but I'll explain everything below.
Go to the Adobe Premiere Pro website and look at the top of the screen, there between the different menus available, you will see the one that says 'Free Trial'. Click here to continue.
After clicking on the button, you will be presented with a window with two options:
- Premiere Pro: This is the first plan available, as I mentioned, and includes only Adobe Premiere Pro, as well as: Premiere Rush, 100GB of cloud storage, your own portfolio website and the Premium fonts.
- Creative Cloud All Apps: This is the most complete and enjoyable plan, as it includes the entire Creative Cloud, which is more than 20 programs, 100GB of cloud storage, portfolio website, and premium fonts.
Under each plan is the 'Start free trial' button. Depending on the plan you choose, press the corresponding button.
Start your Free Adobe Premiere Pro Trial
Once you press the button, a new window will appear before you, but this time it includes different fields that you will have to fill in with your data. For this part of the process, it is necessary to have an Adobe ID account. These accounts are Adobe's way of keeping control of their active plans and programs at all times. If you don't have an Adobe ID account, on that same page you can create one in less than 5 minutes. After entering your Adobe ID, you will need to enter all your data and verify that the information is correct.
Once completed, it will begin downloading Adobe Premiere Pro free trial, which you will have available for 7 days from the time you install it.
No to piracy
Get Premiere Pro Free Windows 2017
There are many websites that claim to have 'free' versions of Premiere Pro or a large number of other programs, but it is not recommended to rely on these sites, much less to download material illegally. I teach you certain things to consider when thinking about pirating a program:
- Malware/viruses: the first danger is an infection by viruses or malware. This can always happen when illegal downloads are made, as the websites where pirated programs are obtained are generally dangerous for your computer.
- Zero updates: forget about receiving any updates, as you don't have an Adobe ID account with an active plan, you won't be able to keep your pirate version up to date. And since Adobe includes new features and extras in all its updates, you would be missing out on a lot.
- No help from Adobe: Goodbye 24/7 customer support. The pirated versions of Premiere Pro do not have the customer service offered by Adobe, and you will not be able to call or consult any problem or malfunction.
- Malfunctioning: Pirate programs don't always come with all the available features, because in order for them to work it is necessary to disable characteristics. For some of these features, it is necessary to have internet, but by blocking the internet connection to avoid detection of the pirate copy, you avoid parts of the software that may be vital to its operation.
- It's illegal: Simple. Downloading and using pirated software is totally illegal, and depending on the site you live on, legal charges can be brought against you.
Adobe Premiere Pro free alternatives
For many people 7 days isn't enough time for a trial, or and many others prefer to try several editors before buying any of them. If your case is similar to one of those, here are some alternatives to Premiere Pro:
Shotcut
The open-source video editor Shotcut is a free tool with a wide range of functions. Shotcut allows you to drag a video file into the timeline box to work on it. The user interface is straightforward and organized, the options to design, format and stabilize the videos are completed with some predefined categories of filtering, which facilitate the search process and speed up the editing. The filters also allow you to increase, adjust or decrease the volume of single sequences in order to insert a music track, and the chromatic wheels intuitively correct color and chromatic density. The tool also makes it easy for users to export files, as it supports formats such as MP3, MP4, MPEG or MOV.
Shotcut allows native editing in the timeline, that is, to edit without importing the video into the program, but using the same original video file as the base, preventing loss of quality. A feature that makes the program a truly attractive alternative to Premiere Pro is its compatibility with 4K resolution videos, almost four times sharper than Full HD resolution. This is why the topic of making 4K videos is often chosen by developers to make detailed video tutorials and publish them on the Shotcut official website.
Shotcut is a program capable of satisfying both lovers of ultra-high definition, as well as the most active editors looking for power, by offering superior quality and multiple possibilities when creating videos.
OpenShot Video Editor
Among the free video editors that make good alternatives to Premiere Pro, the OpenShot Video Editor tool stands out as a very good option for getting familiar with mounting and editing. Previously it was only available for Linux users, but today is also compatible with Windows and macOS.
OpenShot is characterized by an especially clean and easy to understand user interface. As with other editors, you can drag any type of file (image, video, audio) to the timeline panel and start editing.
The program contains all the elementary functions for a good video editing: effects filters, color correction and clarity, different types of fades with preview allowed, and a tool for green or blue screen chroma, among many other options. It also offers several extra useful features such as the possibility of defining keyboard shortcuts for certain actions, integrated tutorials, and configurable effect filters that you can activate by drag and drop as everything else. Using the free 3D Blender creation software you can also create three-dimensional animations (opening video titles, for example).
Now you know how to get Adobe Premiere Pro for free and safe, and know also some good open-source alternatives to try before acquiring any commitment. Whatever it is your final choice, with a bit of patience and practice you can achieve impressive professional-looking videos.
