HitFilm Pro Review

PROS: One of the main reasons that I continue to choose HitFilms over any other solution is that it is already complete enough by itself. It does not require fancy add-ons that other programs do. In fact, I can easily add effects without having to reach out to a third-party plugin. It’s flexible too, and it allows me to produce content in a time-efficient fashion. As the cherry on top, the team working behind it is pretty awesome as well.

CONS: The program itself lags often.

PROS: This tool connects me to a plethora of advanced editing tools. With these within arms reach, I'm excited about what future projects may bring. There's also an online gallery of videos created by HitFilm users. Browsing through these videos gives me the vote of confidence that I too can accomplish great things with this tool.

CONS: The interface can be quite intimidating at first. I struggled a bit during the high points of the learning curve, but it gets easier once you get the hang of it.

PROS: It does editing and compositing in one—need I say more? Seeing the results in real-time is enough gratification by itself.

CONS: I had a little trouble understanding the environment at first, but it eventually started to make sense to me.

PROS: To be honest, I can’t name a more robust editing tool with advanced features for under $500. But HitFilm does one better by offering all of its tools—that includes animation, editing, composting, 3D capacity, and so much more! It has all of the tools that one would need to create a top-quality video Whether you use it for its color-correcting features, or you do the heavy work here by introducing 3D models, you can depend on HitFilm to take care of all of this for you. Even a lot of video editing professionals and aficionados pit this against the better-known, Adobe After Effects. If I were to make an argument for HitFilms, I’d say that I can get more work done with it just from its sheer speed. It definitely trumps AE when it comes to this aspect. Plus, it’s more economical too. With AE, you have to pay a monthly subscription—much like renting. But HitFilms is something that you buy and own. My final note on the matter: HitFilm is just as good, if not better, than AE. With the right user, one can come up with professional (even TV-grade) content from this too.

CONS: Scripting can be quite a feat when it comes to HitFilms. Plus, it would be nice if editors would be equipped with more sophisticated tools. Right now, we’re only connected to the basic tools. I admit that HitFilms is not my number one go-to for editing videos, but it does work as a very good back-up to my preferred editor. This is because, despite its pros, the audio editing features are quite sub-standard. But of course, I do acknowledge the updates that HitFilm has implemented over the years. I can’t wait for their mixing and audio-editing to be at par with other options available. Another issue that I’ve noticed is that, despite its superior speed over other options, it often lags whenever I introduce an h.264 video. Exporting videos can be a handful too. I wish this would be a smoother process.

PROS: My requirements are simple: an editing program just has to be affordable for me to want to try it out. And HitFIlm fits snuggly in this category. But what really got me hooked is its combo of editing and compositing.

CONS: One of my issues about it is that it does not work seamlessly with third-party add-ons. Plus, it only has a limited number of formats that it recognizes too.

PROS: This is a very intuitive program. It focuses more on the user-experience—a brilliant sales move if you ask me. I love how it doesn’t overwhelm its users with excessive features that will likely just confuse rather than assist.

CONS: It would be nice to have more options when it comes to scripting and transition effects. But other than these, everything works fine.

PROS: I’m practically a rookie when it comes to video editing, but HitFilms has been excellent in their support despite this. It comes with a complete set of tools that even beginners can easily understand. I’m sure my videos will improve with experience, but I’m really satisfied with the result so far.

CONS: As in the case with most editing programs, HitFilms needs to run on a sufficiently fast PC.

PROS: We have here a new player in the video editing field. Sure, it might not be at par with the big names yet, but I’m sure that it’s on its way. Even at its infant stages, it shows some pretty promising features. Just by its simplicity and completeness alone, this is already showing such great potential. I’m pleasantly surprised by the number of features that this program has. And it’s not just about the inclusions too—it also is very user-friendly. Even the most rookie video editors can make the most of this. I’d even go far as to say that this is a great training ground for budding editors. I’d recommend this to anyone who’s looking to get a foot in the industry.

CONS: The only issue I have with this is that it requires a pretty powerful PC.

PROS: There are a lot of things to love about this program. For one, it is an impressive combination of robustness and user-friendliness. It equips users with a plethora of services, while still maintaining an approachable dashboard. I can recommend this to both beginners and experts alike.

CONS: First of all, it’s almost impossible to initiate a proper workflow with HitFilms. There is no structure, plus it does not support a standardized compressing and decompressing of videos. The result? A work process that is all over the place. Then there’s also the issue of syncing audio to video too.

PROS: The main selling point of HitFilms is its accessibility. Anyone can enjoy its wide array of services. Even myself, who’s a beginner at video editing, has found its interface to be quite easy to work with. I love how it equips me with the basic tools to realize my creative vision. If that doesn’t sell you on the merit of this program, then you might be glad to know too that they have a really supportive team from customer service. They’ve been especially helpful to me, and I’m sure they will be with you too.

CONS: First of all, I love just how flexible this program is. However, I can’t seem to get used to its graphical typefaces that are a smidge too big for my taste. I know this seems like I’m nitpicking, but it really becomes more blatant as you get to use it more and more.

PROS: What's great about HitFilm is that it lends high-end editing tools to its users. It also offers special effects features that lend a certain professional polishing to the videos that I create.

CONS: I wish that HitFilm would allow users to fully explore its features more by offering a longer trial period. This way, we can fully understand what we are getting into.

PROS: Not only does it have a complete set of editing tools—but it also offers add-ons in case you require more effects and other features. If you’re lucky, you might also get the chance to acquire these plugins for free!

CONS: The only issue I have with this program is that it tends to freeze mid-project. One needs to invest in a more powerful device to use this without interruption.

PROS: I’m such a huge HitFilm fan. I love how it combines a robust set of tools with an incredibly easy to navigate interface. It is this rare combo that really sets this product apart from its competitors. Despite the number of advanced tools that it offers, I don’t get overwhelmed by the quantity too. This is all thanks to the top-notch search feature that it has. With just a few clicks of a button, I can locate the effect or transition that I want to use in my work. It is king when it comes to compositing too. 2D or 3D compositing—it can do both! Adding animations is easy to do too. In fact, I might even go as far and say that adding animations is quite fun. It really brings back the childlike excitement that I’d get when I had first started dabbling in video editing. Plus, compared to other options, I think that this is the most economical choice. It has a great support community too.

CONS: Just minor things, really. For one, it would be nice to enjoy a multiple-select option when choosing files.

PROS: Well, for one thing, you don't have to worry about the lack of online support for HitFilm--there are plenty of resources about it online. You can simply look up how to make the most of its advanced features, and a long list of results will be given to you. I find this very convenient.

CONS: I think that this is a great tool for professionals who are still building their portfolio. However, I have noticed some slight issues with the program. For example, I might want to go back and edit a certain part of my video only to find out that it is quite difficult to do so.