Comparison: Premiere Pro vs Final Cut Pro

Video Tutorials
June 28, 2022

Comparison: Premiere Pro vs Final Cut Pro


Article image

When it comes to video editing, two of the most popular choices among professionals are Adobe Premiere Pro and Apple Final Cut Pro. Both are feature-rich software programs that offer a wide range of tools and features for creating high-quality videos.

So, which one should you use? It really depends on your needs and preferences. To help you make a decision, we’ve created a side-by-side comparison.

What are the Main Differences Between Premiere Pro vs. Final Cut Pro?

As two of the most popular video editing software programs on the market, Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro often rival each other in terms of features and capabilities. So, what are the main differences between these two programs?

For starters, Adobe Premiere Pro is a part of the Creative Cloud suite of tools, while Final Cut Pro is available as a standalone program. This means that Premiere Pro users have access to all of the other Creative Cloud apps, such as After Effects and Photoshop, while Final Cut Pro users do not.

Another key difference is that Premiere Pro uses a traditional timeline editing interface, while Final Cut Pro uses a more modern Magnetic Timeline. This can make Premiere Pro feel more familiar to users coming from other editing software, while the Magnetic Timeline can save users time by automatically adjusting clips to fit the timeline.

In terms of pricing, Adobe Premiere Pro is available as part of the Creative Cloud subscription starting at $31.49/month, or $239.88/year. Final Cut Pro is available for a one-time purchase of $299.

How to Use Adobe Premiere Pro

Adobe Premiere Pro is a professional video editing program that can be used to create movies, TV shows, and web videos. The program offers a variety of features that allow users to edit video footage, add visual effects and transitions, and export their projects in a variety of formats.

To get started with Adobe Premiere Pro, users can download a free trial from the Adobe website. Once the trial period is over, users can purchase a subscription to the Creative Cloud.

To create a new project, go to File > New > Project. This will open up the Premiere Pro project window, where you can set your project settings and preferences.

To import video and audio files into your project, go to File > Import. This will open up the Media Browser, where you can navigate to your file(s) and import them into your project.

Once your media is imported, you can drag and drop it onto the timeline to start editing. To do this, simply select the clip you want to add and drag it down to the timeline.

For more complex editing, such as adding transitions or effects, you can use the Premiere Pro workspace. To access this, go to Window > Workspace > Editing (or type Shift+Cmd+E on a Mac). This will give you all the tools you need to edit your video.

To export your final project, go to File > Export. This will open up the Export window, where you can choose your export settings and format.

What are the Main Advantages of Using Premiere Pro?

Premiere Pro is a powerful video editing program with a wide range of features and capabilities. Here are some highlights of using Premiere Pro:

  • Premiere Pro is part of the Creative Cloud suite of tools, which gives users access to all of the other Creative Cloud apps.
  • Premiere Pro uses a traditional timeline editing interface, which can be familiar to users coming from other editing software.
  • Premiere Pro is available as part of the Creative Cloud subscription starting at $31.49/month, or $239.88/year.

You can do a lot more with Premiere Pro than you can with Final Cut Pro, including adding effects, transitions and titles, and color correction. Premiere Pro also has a wider range of exporting options, including online video services like YouTube and Vimeo. There are also a wide variety of Premiere Pro plugins that are available. 

Film editor working on a movie

How to Use Final Cut Pro

To get started with Final Cut Pro, you will need to have a Mac running macOS 11.5.1 or later. You can download the program from the App Store, and then launch it from your Applications folder.

Once you have launched Final Cut Pro, you will be greeted by a welcome screen. From here, you can choose to open an existing project or create a new one.

To create a new project, go to File > New > Project. This will open up the Final Cut Pro project window, where you can set your project settings and preferences.

To import video and audio files into your project, go to File > Import. This will open up the Media Browser, where you can navigate to your file(s) and import them into your project.

Once your media is imported, you can drag and drop it onto the timeline to start editing. To do this, simply select the clip you want to add and drag it down to the timeline.

For more complex editing, such as adding transitions or effects, you can use the Final Cut Pro workspace. To access this, go to Window > Workspace > Editing (or type Shift+Cmd+E on a Mac). This will give you all the tools you need to edit your video.

To export your final project, go to File > Export. This will open up the Export window, where you can choose your export settings and format.

What are the Main Advantages of Using Final Cut Pro? 

There are many reasons why someone might choose to use Final Cut Pro over another video editing software, such as Adobe Premiere Pro:

  • Final Cut Pro is a very powerful video editing tool. It has all the features you need to create professional-looking videos, including transitions, effects, and a wide range of export options.
  • Final Cut Pro is very user-friendly. The interface is very intuitive and easy to use, even for beginners.
  • Final Cut Pro is that it is very affordable. You can get the program for a one-time price instead of a monthly subscription.

Overall, Final Cut Pro is a great choice for anyone looking for a powerful and user-friendly video editing tool. It is also very affordable, making it a great value for the money.

What Can You Do on Final Cut Pro that You Cannot on Premiere Pro?

There are a few things that you can do on Final Cut Pro that you cannot do on Premiere Pro. For example, you can use the “Edit to Log” feature to quickly and easily create a log of your footage. This is a great way to keep track of what you have shot and make sure that you don’t miss anything important.

Another thing that you can do on Final Cut Pro that you cannot do on Premiere Pro is to create multicam projects. With this feature, you can edit multiple camera angles at the same time and easily switch between them.

Finally, another thing that you can do on Final Cut Pro that you cannot do on Premiere Pro is use the “Compound Clip” feature. This allows you to combine multiple clips into one, which can be helpful when you are trying to create a complex video project.

Utilize Storyblocks Templates for Easy Video Content Creation

Storyblocks is a great resource for video content creators. We offer a wide variety of templates, including Premiere Pro templates and Adobe After Effects templates.With a subscription for Storyblocks, you can easily create professional-looking videos without having to spend hours editing. Simply choose a template that you like, add your own media, and export your finished project.

Check out our plans here!

Elaine Kuckertz

Elaine Kuckertz is the Senior SEO Manager of Storyblocks. She is passionate about learning and growing as the SEO industry changes and is excited about a video-first world. Outside of work, Elaine enjoys being outdoors, painting, and spending time with her dog, Meatloaf.


Join Our Creative Community

Access the best video tips, design hacks, and deals straight to your inbox.