Best GoPro Video Editing Software

Choosing the best GoPro editing software can be difficult and time-consuming. There are dozens of different software to pick from, each of them suited for certain skill levels.

Luckily, I’m here to show you exactly which GoPro editing software to use today. My name is Larry, and I’ve been creating GoPro videos for nearly a decade. Over the past ten years, I’ve edited thousands of GoPro videos and tested nearly every editing software.

This guide includes the top 7 best GoPro editing software and who each software is suited for. By the end of today’s guide, I promise you’ll know which GoPro editing software to choose.

Let’s get right into it!

Key Takeaways

• Some editing software have a one-time payment, while others are subscription-based.
• If you’ve never edited videos before, you should start with a basic free program like Windows Movie Maker (Windows) or iMovie (Mac).
• Adobe Premiere Pro CC is the best overall GoPro editing software for experienced editors.
• GoPro Quik is GoPro’s freemium mobile app with basic editing capabilities.

What Makes the Best GoPro Editing Software

There are a few key factors to consider when choosing the best GoPro editing software. These factors include traits like price, skill level, and interface. For example, you wouldn’t want to choose an editing software that’s meant for experienced editors if you’re an absolute beginner.

Furthermore, you wouldn’t be able to use editing software exclusive to Windows devices if you use a Mac. So as you can see, there are several elements to consider when choosing the right GoPro editing software.

Let’s take a look at these important considerations:

• Price: The best GoPro editing software fits your budget perfectly. Some GoPro editing software are free, while others cost hundreds of dollars.
• Skill Level: The best GoPro editing software fits your specific skill level. Many editing programs are meant for experienced users, while others have simple user interfaces and are great for beginners. 
• Compatibility: Your GoPro editing software should be compatible with your operating software and computer components such as RAM, processor, graphics card, and display resolution. This way, your computer won’t throttle or slow down the software.
• Interface: The best GoPro editing software will have an intuitive and easy-to-understand interface. Therefore, you can easily find your needed editing tools to edit your GoPro videos efficiently.

The Top 7 Best GoPro Editing Software

Let’s dive into the 7 best GoPro editing software. This list is based on years of personal experience I’ve spent testing and using each program. 

Although you can edit an excellent GoPro video with any program mentioned on this list, some editing programs are better suited for different people. I’ve done my best to differentiate each software so you can easily find the best GoPro editing software for yourself. 

1. Adobe Premiere Pro CC (Best Overall)  

• Recommended Level: Intermediate to Advanced
• Platform: Windows and Mac
• Key Features: Multi-cam editing, 3D editing
• Minimum System Requirements: Windows 10 (64-bit), 8GB RAM, 8GB hard disk space, Intel 6th Gen or AMD Ryzen 1000 Series; macOS v10.15, 8GB RAM, Intel 6th Gen, 8GB hard disk space

Adobe Premiere Pro is the best consumer video editing software available. It has a comprehensive and powerful set of editing features. Adobe Premiere Pro also integrates with Adobe’s cloud platform Creative Cloud, offering cloud storage and updates.

This editing program offers a wide range of organizational tools, unlimited video tracks, excellent speed, and much more. Therefore, you can easily create stellar GoPro videos once you get used to the interface. 

Adobe Premiere Pro uses a traditional workflow for video editing called the track-based model. This means that the timeline editor uses a layout with different video tracks, where you can layer your clips, move them around, and order them.

Best of all, Premiere Pro fully supports all GoPro raw files, from 4K and 360-degree videos to slow-motion and time-lapse videos. It also provides comprehensive editing tools like trimming, transitions, color adjustments, titles, and audio editing. Therefore, you can efficiently splice up a fantastic GoPro video.

There are two drawbacks to Adobe Premiere Pro.

First of all, I can only recommend this video editor to experienced GoPro video editors. Adobe Premiere Pro is too advanced for you if you have never edited videos before. 

Second, Adobe Premiere Pro is relatively more expensive than other options on this list. However, the price is justified because once you have Adobe Premiere Pro, you’ll never need another video editor again.  

My Verdict: Adobe Premiere Pro CC is the industry-leading editing software for a good reason. It features advanced post-production and video editing capabilities along with an intuitive workflow to create professional GoPro video quality. 

2. DaVinci Resolve (Best Free)

• Recommended Level: Intermediate to Advanced
• Platform: Windows and Mac
• Key Features: GPU acceleration for rendering, facial recognition, noise removal
• Minimum System Requirements: Windows 10, 16GB RAM; macOS 10.15 Catalina, 8GB RAM

Blackmagic Design’s DaVinci Resolve has been a longtime favorite among ambitious GoPro users because of its high-quality free version and advanced features. For example, DaVinci Resolve claims it’s the only program to combine video editing, color coding, motion graphics, and audio production in one tool.

Although DaVinci Resolve does deliver these features, it isn’t the only tool that combines them. Nonetheless, DaVinci Resolve is highly capable of producing awesome GoPro videos. This software also has a beautiful interface that’s relatively easier to use than Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premiere Pro.

There are a number of other features that make DaVinci Resolve great for GoPro users. From the hundreds of tools and effects to the transitions and color features, your creativity is the limit when it comes to your next GoPro video.

If you were curious, DaVinci Resolve was used to edit movies such as Dune, Avatar, and Snakes on a Plane. Although these movies obviously used the paid version of DaVinci Resolve, it shows how powerful this editing program is. 

The only downside to using DaVinci Resolve is that it can be pretty complicated to learn. So if you’re new to video editing, I recommend sticking to something a little more basic like Windows Movie Maker or iMovie.

My Verdict: DaVinci Resolve is the best free GoPro video editing software because of its features. Although there is a paid version, the free version has enough tools to create incredible GoPro video edits.

3. GoPro Quik (Best for Mobile)

• Recommended Level: Beginner
• Platform: iOS and Android
• Key Features: Basic editing tools, filters, themes, royalty-free music tracks
• Minimum System Requirements: iOS 13; Android 9.0, 2GB RAM

GoPro Quik is GoPro’s official editing software exclusive to mobile and tablet devices. This app is free on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Although it’s free to download and use, there is a paid version that requires a subscription. 

The free version of GoPro Quik editing tools like duration, framing, exposure, vibrance, contrast, highlights, and more. It also offers 22 filters, 11 themes, and limited Mural events. You also get access to a limited number of royalty-free music tracks.

On the other hand, the paid version of GoPro Quik offers unlimited editing, unlimited Mural events, and 25 additional photo and video filters. Furthermore, you can access a speed adjustment tool and 190 background music tracks.

The best part about using GoPro Quik for editing is that you can pair your GoPro camera to the app and wirelessly transfer videos from your camera to your phone. This way, you can quickly edit and share your GoPro videos with your friends and family. 

If you prefer to edit your GoPro videos on a computer, GoPro Quik isn’t the best GoPro editing software for you. In this case, I recommend using another option on this list because GoPro Quik is exclusive to mobile and tablet devices.

My Verdict: GoPro Quik is the best GoPro editing software for mobile devices because it’s free to download and easy to use. It also pairs with your GoPro camera so you can easily transfer videos from your GoPro to your phone. 

4. Adobe Premiere Elements (Best for Beginners)

• Recommended Level: Beginner to intermediate
• Platform: Windows and Mac
• Key Features: Video stabilization, face detection, automatic motion tracking
• Minimum System Requirements: Windows 10 (64-bit), 8GB RAM, 6.7GB hard disk space; MacOS 10.15, 8GB RAM, 8GB hard disk space

If you’re looking for a comprehensive video editor suitable for beginners, Adobe Premiere Elements is the best option. Not only is it less expensive than Adobe Premiere Pro, but it also features a friendlier user interface and more in-depth tutorials. 

In essence, Adobe Premiere Elements is the best video editing software for most GoPro users. This is because if you looked up this guide on Google, you likely don’t have much experience editing videos before. Or else you would know which program to use.

This program uses Adobe’s Sense.ai artificial intelligence to make it easier to edit your GoPro videos. The Guided Edits feature is an excellent tool for demystifying the entire editing process for beginner GoPro editors. Furthermore, there’s added support for 4K resolutions and stabilized videos, plus tools for double-exposure video, real-time effects, and selective edits.

However, Elements still lacks features such as multi-cam and 360-degree video editing support. But if you don’t need these features, Elements is the most well-rounded video editing software I’ve tested in terms of usability and video editing capability. 

My Verdict: Adobe Premiere Elements is the best GoPro editing software for beginners because of its clean interface and a robust toolkit. This is the best editing software if Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premiere Pro are too complex for your skill level. 

5. Final Cut Pro (Best for Mac) 

• Recommended Level: Advanced to Professionals
• Platform: Mac
• Key Features: Multi-cam editing, intelligent color balancing
• Minimum System Requirements: macOS 11.5.1, 4GB RAM, 1GB VRAM, 4.5GB hard disk space

Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premiere Pro are the top two video editors for feature-rich, professional-level video editing. Both programs are industry leaders, and it’s hard to pick which one is better than the other. However, there are some notable differences.

Unlike Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro isn’t subscription-based. So although it comes with a hefty price tag, it’s certainly cheaper in the long run. It also comes with a free 90-day trial which gives you plenty of time to test out the software before making a decision. 

Furthermore, Final Cut Pro fits seamlessly into the larger Apple ecosystem. It’s designed to take advantage of Metal for lightning-fast graphics and is optimized for Mac Pro. There are also plenty of advanced features, including Magnetic Timeline, range-of-effect options, and intelligent Smart Conform cropping.

Final Cut Pro can create extremely in-depth and unique GoPro videos if you know what you’re doing. This is why I can only recommend Final Cut Pro to experienced video editors. If you’re new to video editing but have a Mac, I recommend either iMovie (which is free) or Adobe Premiere Elements.

My Verdict: Final Cut Pro is a powerful video editor exclusive to macOS devices. This is a professional video editor with advanced tools and a wide range of supported formats. GoPro editors love Final Cut Pro for its grouping tools, magnetic timeline, and effects kit. 

6. CyberLink PowerDirector (Best for Automation)

• Recommended Level: Beginner to Advanced
• Platform: Windows and Mac
• Key Features: Multi-cam editing, motion tracking, automation tools
• Minimum System Requirements: Windows 7 (64 bit), macOS 10.14; Processor: Intel Core i-series or AMD Phenom II; Memory: 4 GB RAM; Graphics: 128 MB VGA VRAM; Storage: 7 GB.

CyberLink PowerDirector brings a dazzling array of fun and advanced video editing capabilities into an attractive, easy-to-use package. There are several versions of PowerDirector: PowerDirector Ultra and PowerDirector Ultimate, and PowerDirector 365.

Each version caters to beginners, intermediates, and pros alike. In my experience, I found that CyberLink PowerDirector can create anything from a simple GoPro cut and transition to a really complex movie with innovative effects, transitions, and titles.

In summary, PowerDirector bridges the gap between professional-level editing and consumer compatibility. This program has often been ahead of professional products with support for new technologies and new formats. Best of all, it’s easy to work with and offers high-speed renders.

Furthermore, CyberLink’s PowerDirector now supports 4K video. Since most GoPros record up to 4K or more video resolution, you can edit these high-resolution clips with PowerDirector. In addition, PowerDirector now supports HEVC video formats, a standard GoPro format for large video content.

The main downside of using CyberLink PowerDirector is that there are too many options. While this may seem like an unreasonable drawback, this was my main concern when using this video editor. With too many options, it was difficult for me to choose an option and find what I needed to use. 

My Verdict: CyberLink PowerDirector is the best video editing software for non-professionals with some video editing experience. This program is suited for all creators and features powerful AI tools such as sky replacement, object detection, and wind removal.

7. Lightworks (Best for Customization)

• Recommended Level: Beginner to Advanced
• Platform: Windows and Mac
• Key Features: Customizable interface, multi-track editing 
• Minimum System Requirements: Windows 10, 4GB RAM, 200MB hard disk space; macOS 10.11, 4GB RAM

Although there is a free version and a paid version of Lightworks, the free version offers impressive audio-editing features, video effects (VFX), color adjustments, and much more. However, the free version has an output maximum of 720p, which is relatively low for GoPro users.

For this reason, I recommend Lightworks Pro, the paid version. Lightworks Pro is subscription-based and unlocks 4K resolution output and various additional features, including timeline rendering, advanced project sharing, extra import features, and more. 

Lightworks makes it easy to deliver your GoPro videos to any social media platform. For example, once you finish editing your GoPro montage, you can instantly share it to your preferred social media outlet directly on Lightworks. 

The main downside of Lightworks is that it can take some time to learn as the interface can confuse newcomers. Luckily, you can drag various editing windows around to create a fully customizable layout. You can also set custom keyboard shortcuts to speed up your GoPro video edits.

My Verdict: Lightworks Pro is another industry-leading video editor used to create many award-winning movies like Jerry Maguire, Pulp Fiction, and The Wolf of Wall Street. Even the free version features a wide range of reasonably advanced editing tools for GoPro videos.

Final Thoughts

The right GoPro editing software can turn your action clips into beautiful art pieces. Not only should the best GoPro editing software be fun to use, but it should also have everything you need to create the masterpiece you envision.

Hopefully, by now, you’ve discovered the best GoPro editing software for your needs. I’ve shown you the top 7 GoPro editing software based on specific preferences. In general, I recommend Adobe Premiere Elements for beginners and Adobe Premiere Pro CC for experts. 

Nonetheless, you can’t go wrong with any video editor on this list. If you need to make a quick edit, I recommend using GoPro Quik on your phone. You can quickly trim and add clips together with your mobile device. 

But now I’d love to hear from you! Which video editor are you going to pick? Are there any video editors I forgot to mention? Let me know by dropping a short and sweet comment down below!