7 Best Alternatives to Pinnacle Studio in 2024 [Windows, Mac]

There is a variety of editing software, all with different features and approaches. Of these, Pinnacle Studio has been a solid choice for intermediate editors for some time. But what if you are looking for something more accessible for a beginner or capable of producing more professional results?

We have compiled the top 7 Pinnacle Studio alternatives in this guide to help you find the best video editing software for your needs. We review each video editor's key features, pros and cons, and provide a general overview. Read on to find the best solution for you.

• Top 3 Alternatives to Pinnacle Studio Snapshot
• What is Pinnacle Studio?
• 7 Best Alternatives to Pinnacle Studio
1. PowerDirector – Best Overall
2. DaVinci Resolve - Best for Professional Filmmakers
3. Blender – Best for Professionals Interested in VFX
4. HitFilm Pro – Best for Intermediate Users Interested in VFX
5. Corel VideoStudio - Best for Intermediate Users Focused on Storytelling
6. Adobe Premiere Elements – Best for Basic Home Movies
7. iMovie – Best for Amateurs Wanting to Make Trailers
• Best Alternative to Pinnacle Studio Comparison Chart
• How to Edit With an Alternative to Pinnacle Studio
• Download the Best Alternative to Pinnacle Studio for Free
• Pinnacle Studio FAQ

Top 3 Alternatives to Pinnacle Studio Snapshot

What is Pinnacle Studio?

Pinnacle Studio is a mid-range video editor with color grading functionality, video effects, transitions, titles, and more to give videos a cinematic feel. It supports HD, 4K, and 360 video editing across infinite tracks.

7 Best Alternatives to Pinnacle Studio Video Editor

1. PowerDirector - Best Overall

Compatibility: Windows, Mac

Overall Rating: 10 / 10

Beginner-friendly: 10 / 10

Key Features

• Intuitive AI motion tracking
• Video speed controls
• Multicam designer

PowerDirector 365 provides best-in-class editing features with an easy-to-use workflow. With powerful effects, an intuitive user interface, and ever-growing resource libraries, PowerDirector empowers everyone to be a creator.

You can obtain outstanding achievements regardless of your degree of proficiency. Furthermore, after you've perfected your videos with PowerDirector, you can export them in numerous formats. Overall, PowerDirector's unique feature set and user-friendly interface make it the best video editing alternative to Pinnacle Studio.

2. DaVinci Resolve - Best for Professional Filmmakers

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Overall Rating: 9 / 10

Beginner-friendly: 5 / 10

Key Features

• Blackmagic Cloud
• Multi-user collaboration
• Advanced color correction

DaVinci Resolve is a color correction and non-linear video editing solution that integrates video editing, color correction, visual effects, motion graphics, and audio creation. As a result, it's one of the best Pinnacle Studio substitutes.

DaVinci Resolve includes a wide range of editing tools, including 3D, compositing, transform tools (crop, scale, resize videos), and more. It can make 2D and 3D titles, a soundtrack, and picture-in-picture effects, among other things.

3. Blender - Best for Professionals Interested in VFX

Image from Blender Artists.

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Overall Rating: 8 / 10

Beginner-friendly: 4 / 10

Key Features

• Color grading
• Animation and rigging
• 3D workspace

Blender is an open-source editor and compositor for creating special effects, 3D models, animations, and more. Its wide-ranging capabilities include motion tracking, 2D and 3D animation, and particle simulation. 

You can use Blender to make basic video edits (trimming and splicing) to advanced editing tasks (color grading and video masks). While it is a good alternative for Pinnacle, it is an even better alternative for Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects as it combines the functionality of the two with a similarly steep learning curve.

4. HitFilm Pro - Best for Intermediate Users Interested in VFX

Image from TechRadar.

Compatibility: Windows, Mac

Overall Rating: 8.8 / 10

Beginner-friendly: 6 / 10

Key Features

• Color grading and correction
• Motion tracking
• Lens flares

Don't let the name fool you. HitFilm Pro is not a professional-level video editor like Adobe Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve. It isn't going to be used on the next Hollywood superhero blockbuster. But if you're an advanced hobbyist or YouTuber obsessed with visual effects, this could be your video editor.

With 3D space, camera tracking, and Mocha plug-ins, you'll be creating out-of-this-world videos with an easier-to-navigate UI than your typical high-end editor. Of course, that isn't saying you won't need to spend some time learning HitFilm Pro. You just won't be spending as much time as you would be if you were using something like Blender.

5. Corel VideoStudio - Best for Intermediate Users Focused on Storytelling

Compatibility: Windows

Overall Rating: 8 / 10

Beginner-friendly: 7 / 10

Key Features

• Speech-to-text converter
• Animated AR Stickers
• Drag and drop interface

VideoStudio has everything one needs from a solid video editor. You can use it to create 3D/4K/360-degree VR videos. In addition, you can edit footage shot from various devices with its multi-camera editing capabilities.

Plus, you can do everything from creating GIFs, enhancing panoramic views with 360 editings, adding animation and speed effects for a dynamic result, and much more.

6. Adobe Premiere Elements - Best for Basic Home Movies

Compatibility: Windows, Mac

Overall Rating: 7 / 10

Beginner-friendly: 8 / 10

Key Features

• Sensei AI technology
• Motion titles
• Guided Edits

Premiere Elements is intended for those who take videos and want quick and easy ways to organize, trim, and make them seem fantastic before turning them into lovely creations and finished movies to share with family and friends.

Moreover, Adobe Premier Elements' Quick mode provides a transparent, straightforward approach to connecting video clips, adding titles, transitions, picture correction, soundtracks, and effects without navigating a maze of tracks and settings.

7. iMovie - Best for Amateurs on Mac

Image from DesignBuckle.

Compatibility: Mac

Overall Rating: 8 / 10

Beginner-friendly: 8 / 10

Key Features

• Magic Movie
• Storyboards
• Edit Cinematic Mode videos

The well-known Apple video editor iMovie is a revolutionary video editing program. With iMovie, anyone can easily edit videos and create movies. Almost no prior experience is required. 

One of the best parts about iMovie is you can start editing on your iPhone and finish on your Mac computer. But one thing is sure: the PC version of iMovie does not exist. iMovie only works with macOS and iOS. 

Best Alternatives to Pinnacle Studio Comparison Chart

Download the Best Alternative to Pinnacle Studio for Free

PowerDirector is an excellent video editor that allows anyone to become a creator, no matter their skill level. The tool is simple to use and includes high-end video editing features that professionals use to create stunning videos. 

Making PowerDirector your primary video creation software will save you time and energy. Thanks partly to its cutting-edge AI tools, thousands of video templates, and millions of royalty-free stock assets.

Get PowerDirector and start editing videos like a pro.