It’s difficult to argue that Adobe Premiere Pro is unmatched as the industry standard in video editing software. Designed to be used by both seasoned editing veterans and beginners, Premiere Pro maintains its position at the top for many reasons.
In our Adobe Premiere Pro review, we’re going to dive deep into this innovative and robust software to help you determine if it’s the best fit for your needs.
What is Adobe Premiere Pro?
Simply put, Adobe Premiere Pro is a video editing program that is built for success. Whether you are creating professional-grade works or just tinkering around, you’d be hard-pressed to find its equal.
Adobe Premiere Pro software is a workhorse in the industry of video editing. Its accessibility is such that just about anyone can jump right in and start learning its ropes. If you’re familiar with Photoshop and other Adobe programs, you’re going to feel right at home here.
Even if you’ve never edited a video in your life, Premiere Pro is designed in a way that will have you pumping out high-quality works in short order.
Is it the perfect application for video editors? Maybe, but it’s not without its downsides, either. As you will soon discover in our review of Adobe Premiere Pro, what it gets right is enough to cement it as the best the industry has to offer. And yet, there are aspects of Premiere Pro that could potentially keep some people from ever enjoying its brilliance.
Who Is Adobe Premiere Pro For?
Quite frankly, anyone who wants to edit videos at a professional level. Adobe Premiere Pro is designed in such a way that it makes it a breeze to use, regardless of your skill level. The software is ingeniously crafted from the inside out.
Thanks to inviting tutorials that guide you through from the outset, newcomers will likely have a firm grip on Premiere Pro in no time at all. You get a litany of features so powerful that you almost feel guilty for using them.
There are blockbuster movies that have been made with Adobe Premiere Pro. We’re talking hits like Deadpool, Act of Valor, Terminator: Dark Fate, just to name a few.
And yet, anyone with a computer and a little passion can get their hands on and use Premiere Pro.
Requirements
Windows
- Multicore processor with 64-bit support
- Microsoft Windows 7 with Service Pack 1 (64 bit) / Windows 8.1 (64 bit) / Windows 10 (64 bit)*
*Windows 10 is the recommended version to use with Premiere Pro. However, it should be noted that Windows 10 build numbers 1507 and 1807 that are running on OS build 17134.165 are not supported
- Supporting Windows 10 Creator Edition & Dial
- 8 GB of RAM*
*16 GB or more is recommended
- 8 GB of available hard-disk space for installation; additional free space required during installation (cannot install on removable flash storage devices)
- 1280 x 800 display*
*1920 x 1080 or larger is recommended
- Sound card compatible with ASIO protocol / Microsoft Windows Driver Model
macOS
- Multicore Intel processor with 64-bit support
- macOS X 11 / v10.12 / v10.13
- 8 GB of RAM*
*16 GB or more is recommended
- 8 GB of available hard-disk space for installation
- Additional free space required during installation*
*Cannot install on a volume that uses a case sensitive file system or on devices with removable flash storage
- 1280 x 800 display*
*1920 x 1080 or larger is recommended
- Sound card compatible with Apple Core Audio
- Optional: Adobe-recommended GPU card for GPU-accelerated performance
For both the Windows and macOS versions of Premiere Pro, you will need to have an internet connection. Without one, you won’t be able to register or activate the software. Online access is also needed to validate subscriptions and use Adobe’s services.
If you aren’t already familiar with Adobe’s subscription model, you might be in for some major disappointment. Follow us to the next section to learn all about buying Premiere Pro and how much it will cost you.
Adobe Premiere Pro Pricing Overview
Before the internet was such a widely-accessible concept, companies had no choice but to put their software on disks or CDs and sell it to consumers. Maybe there never was an overarching plan to change that format.
But as data connections improved and became more widespread, more software companies have moved away from the tried-and-true hard copies in favor of subscription services. Sadly, Adobe is no different.
Now, if you want to use their robust creation tools, you have to essentially rent them. That’s right; you can’t actually “own” Adobe Premiere Pro. But you can use it as much as you like – for an (ongoing) amount.
Before you can do that, though, you will first need to create an account with Adobe Creative Cloud. This is Adobe’s online service that is home to all of Adobe’s software. We’ll talk pricing in a moment, but first, let’s discuss each powerful feature that comes with Premiere Pro.
Adobe Premiere Pro Features
Adobe Premiere Pro comes packed with features that make it ideal for a wide-ranging audience. The tools that you’ll gain access to are going to be familiar to anyone who has used other types of video editing software. Both beginners and professionals should have no trouble transitioning to Premiere Pro.
More complex features are proprietary and help give Premiere Pro and help the software stand out from its competition.
Interface
The intuitive interface is one of the chief features that help make Premiere Pro so accessible. Its hidden complexity is streamlined into an easy-to-use interface that nearly anyone can master. Video editors, whether new or veteran, will mostly utilize the following workspaces:
- Assembly: Import assets from your projects and organize them here. From graphics and audio to video footage, easily manage your work in one place
- Audio: Audio channel controls and mixing options
- Color: Color grading and correction
- Editing: This is your main workspace, where you’ll spend a lot of time creating and editing projects from beginning to end
- Effects: Work with presets and effects
- Graphics: Create your own motion graphics or use built-in templates
What’s more, you aren’t limited to these six workspaces. Thanks its custom settings, you can build your own to suit your needs or customize the ones that are built-in. This kind of flexibility is why Adobe reigns supreme in the creative software industry.
As you work with the above workspaces, you will have four subpanels that you’ll regularly use, including:
- Preview Monitor: What’s playing on your timeline
- Project Panel: All of your imported assets, neatly organized
- Source Monitor: Panel to review the assets from above
- Timeline: Components such as video footage, graphics, and audio get spliced together here to make your projects
The sleek organization and intuitive interface come together to allow for simplicity in the creation process.
Motion Graphics
Adobe shines in a lot of areas, but perhaps none better than in its ease-of-use. Motion graphics can be dragged and dropped into your timeline, at which point you can edit text, timing, positioning, and more.
Effects
You get a lot of Adobe stock presets to work with, allowing beginners to quickly drag and drop effects just like with motion graphics. Presets include video and audio transitions, as well as complex visual effects.
Experienced users can spend more time with advanced effects for even more impressive results. Having the ability to fine-tune and edit effects gives creators the liberty to build some remarkable works.
Adjustment Layers
Photoshop users will likely be able to jump right in with adjustment layers. The ones used here in Premiere Pro are versatile and easy to use, giving you even more flexibility in the creation of footage and clips.
Lumetri Color
Lumetri Color is Premiere Pro’s robust color grading suite. Some users have argued that this suite isn’t as comprehensive as competing software like DaVinci Resolve. Even if that’s the case, Lumetri Color has enough going for it to make it a winner for most editors.
Color correcting video footage is a walk in the park, and even the color wheel can be mastered quickly. Other color editing features are accessible without the need for experience. As with nearly all of Premiere Pro, color management with Lumetri Color is a pleasure to use and shines in its simplicity.
Audio Editing
No surprise here; Premiere Pro has some superb audio editing tools. Here, you can assign audio types or use automation modes within the track mixer. There’s little doubt that seasoned sound aficionados will have a field day mixing and editing audio.
Beginners, on the other hand, may struggle to successfully design their own sounds. Sure, sound panning and adjusting volume are both straightforward and menial tasks. If that’s all that your project requires, you can rest easy and will likely never struggle to use this area of Premiere Pro.
But if you need to implement more advanced changes, you will likely need to adapt to the learning curve and brush up on your understanding of audio editing. This is really the only area of Premiere Pro that isn’t as accessible as the rest of the program.
Admittedly, it isn’t fair to knock the software for this. The interface remains easy to use, but it’s the nature of audio editing that drags it down a bit.
Multicam Editing
Thanks to this feature, you can easily splice together footage from multiple cameras to create your singular projects. Premiere Pro handles all of the timing and syncing on its own, leaving you with only having to choose the cameras you want to use.
This tool is ideal for when you want more than one camera angle in your video. Editing is efficient and straightforward, too, allowing you to produce creative projects hassle-free.
Auto Reframe
Although simple in design, Auto Reframe is incredibly useful. If you like to create projects for social media and other platforms, you’re going to appreciate the power of this feature.
You can adjust the aspect ratio of your works so that they fit perfectly across various platforms. From landscape to portrait to square, Auto Reframe supports the options you need to ensure that your projects look their best.
Adobe Premiere Pro Modules
Thanks to a slew of educational modules, you can learn how to create and edit videos like a pro. If you’re new to the world of video editing, it is a good idea to invest in the modules available online.
There are plenty of third-party module creators who offer their assistance in learning the ropes of Premiere Pro. After just a few short sessions, you can vastly improve your capabilities with the software to create your best work.
Just a few examples of modules you’ll find online include:
- Adding Video and Audio Transitions
- Color Correction and Grading
- Exporting Your Videos
- Green Screen Editing
- Advanced Tips
- Editing Videos
- Visual Effects
- Editing Audio
- Adding Titles
- Video Speed
- Introduction
- Motion
If you’re serious about becoming the very best that you be with Adobe Premiere Pro, you owe it to yourself to take advantage of the various modules available.
Pricing
Now comes pricing. As we discussed earlier, Adobe no longer offers it software to purchase outright. As such, you have to create an account with Creative Cloud and access Adobe’s library through it.
You can opt to use Premiere Pro for a full year at the cost of $239.88. Remember, that’s only for a year’s worth of use. After the year is up, you will be charged another $239.88 for each subsequent year of use.
This price equals out to $20.99 a month. However, you can only get it at that monthly price when you pay for the full year upfront.
If you don’t believe that you’ll need Premiere Pro every month of the year, you can choose to pay for it on an as-needed basis. In doing so, you will be charged $31.49 for each month that you need to use it.
Regardless of which plan you choose, any software updates are included at no additional charge.
Interface
As we previously mentioned, Adobe Premiere Pro’s user interface is what makes the software so accessible. Users both new and pro will find this interface to be welcoming and enjoyable to operate and navigate.
Even users who have never touched video editing software will appreciate the ease-of-use and intuitive design. It won’t take long for you to learn your way around and become a master of its features.
Adobe has worked hard to refine its software presentation over the years, culminating in an amazing user experience. Industry veterans will equally appreciate all of the nuances and underlying features hidden within.
The result of this interface allows users to create projects that range from overly simple to incredibly complex. Your imagination isn’t limited like it is with other creation and editing programs. If you can dream it up, Premiere Pro ensures that you can create it without a hitch.
Support
Another area where Adobe deserves praise is in its support network. Upon signing up to use Premiere Pro, you will gain access to a wealth of tutorials and walkthroughs, assisting you every step of the way to make sure that you’re getting the most from your investment.
Online communities supporting Adobe’s software are everywhere, so you’ll never be without helpful resources to guide and direct you. And as we talked about a moment ago, the seemingly countless modules available online will also serve you well as you work to learn all that you can about Premiere Pro.
Pros
- Easy to use yet packed full of complex features. After the initial learning curve, users will find a wealth of innovation awaiting their discovery.
- The intuitive interface ensures that anyone can pick up Premiere Pro and edit videos, while a short learning curve promotes fast production.
- Professional-grade video editing software that can create Hollywood-quality
- Easy keyboard shortcut index and macros for faster navigation and operation.
- Perfect creation tool for beginners and professionals alike.
Cons
- The audio editing feature of Premiere Pro just isn’t as accessible as the rest of the program. That said, it’s not really at the fault of Premiere Pro. Chalk it up to the challenges that come with audio editing.
- Still, the fact remains that it’s likely going to present some difficulties for entry-level users who aren’t familiar with the intricacies of audio editing.
- Adobe’s Creative Cloud puts somewhat of a damper on Premiere Pro. You can’t buy the software outright and are essentially forced to rent it instead.
Conclusion
As you can see from our Adobe Premiere Pro video editing review, it’s a homerun aside from the disagreeable pricing system. The overall design and quality of its presentation and features make this video editing software the best in the industry.
In the grand scheme of things, it’s hard to support Adobe’s pricing. The fact that you essentially have to buy the program anew each year is a real thorn in the side. This alone will turn off a lot of users who will never get to experience the brilliance of Premiere Pro, or any of Adobe’s software, for that matter.
Now, with all that being said, the cost of Premiere Pro could be a drop in the proverbial bucket depending on how much income you stand to earn from the software. The fact that you can make production-level works of art speaks to the quality of the Premiere Pro.
As such, many creators make a comfortable living thanks to Adobe’s long line of software. If it ultimately earns you respectable revenue, what’s $240 a year?
FAQ
Is Adobe Premiere Pro worth the money?
If you use to where you create profitable works for clients and other companies, sure. But for someone who just wants to tinker around in their spare time? Not so much.
Thankfully, you aren’t limited to the annual cost of Premiere Pro. If you just want to give it a test run, you can pay for it on a by-the-month basis, albeit at a slightly inflated price.
Is Adobe Premiere Pro free?
No, but you can try a free trial to see how you like it. Unfortunately, you only get a week to test its waters. After that, you’ll be charged the full cost to use Premiere Pro for a year. So make sure that you cancel before the seven-day trial finalizes.
How much does Adobe Premiere Pro cost?
You can use Premiere Pro for one year for $239.88. After the year is up, you will be charged another $239.88 for each subsequent year of use.
This price equals out to $20.99 a month. However, you can only get it at that monthly price when you pay for the full year upfront.
If you don’t need Premiere Pro every month of the year, you can pay for it as needed. In doing so, you will be charged $31.49 for each month that you need to use it.
All plans include software updates at no additional charge.
Why is Adobe Premiere Pro so expensive?
You’re getting the very best in video editing here. Premiere Pro is the result of years of fine-tuning to bring you professional-grade editing tools. What’s more, because of the relatively new pricing system of Adobe’s Creative Cloud, you can only use the company’s software through the subscription service.
Can I buy Adobe Premiere Pro permanently?
No, all access to Premiere Pro must be through the Creative Cloud. Adobe stopped selling its software years ago, instead choosing to favor the subscription model that so many other companies have adopted.
Is Adobe Premiere Pro good for beginners?
Absolutely. Its ease-of-use and stellar accessibility make it an excellent choice for newcomers. Even if you’ve never edited a video in your life, there’s a good chance that Premiere Pro will have you creating professional-quality work by the end of your first day.
Can you cancel Adobe Premiere Pro at any time?
Yes. However, it’s important to note that if you cancel in the middle of a month after you’ve already been charged, you will not be refunded the difference. If you choose to cancel after your initial purchase, you will need to do so within 14 days to receive a refund.
