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Final Cut Pro

Final Cut Pro

Overview

What is Final Cut Pro?

Apple offers Final Cut Pro, a video editing platform featuring optimized for a high performance machines and supporting a wide range of quality effects.

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Recent Reviews

TrustRadius Insights

Final Cut Pro X has been widely used by a diverse range of users for various purposes. Users have found that the software provides a …
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Nice Software to Edit a Podcast

9 out of 10
April 27, 2022
I've run a MMA Podcast for the past 12 years and have been editing the show with Final Cut Pro X and all previous versions. This program …
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Awards

Products that are considered exceptional by their customers based on a variety of criteria win TrustRadius awards. Learn more about the types of TrustRadius awards to make the best purchase decision. More about TrustRadius Awards

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Pricing

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Final Cut Pro X

$299.99

On Premise
per license

Entry-level set up fee?

  • No setup fee

Offerings

  • Free Trial
  • Free/Freemium Version
  • Premium Consulting/Integration Services
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Product Details

What is Final Cut Pro?

Final Cut Pro Technical Details

Deployment TypesOn-premise
Operating SystemsMac
Mobile ApplicationNo

Frequently Asked Questions

Apple offers Final Cut Pro, a video editing platform featuring optimized for a high performance machines and supporting a wide range of quality effects.

Reviewers rate Support Rating highest, with a score of 8.8.

The most common users of Final Cut Pro are from Small Businesses (1-50 employees).
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Comparisons

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Reviews and Ratings

(116)

Community Insights

TrustRadius Insights are summaries of user sentiment data from TrustRadius reviews and, when necessary, 3rd-party data sources. Have feedback on this content? Let us know!

Final Cut Pro X has been widely used by a diverse range of users for various purposes. Users have found that the software provides a powerful platform for creating videos exactly how they want them to look, with built-in tools and the ability to install numerous plugins for expanded functionality. A post-production team has utilized Final Cut Pro X to ensure that everyone in the company, including freelancers, is using software that works well in the Apple ecosystem and allows for easy sharing of project files between editors. Reviewers have praised the program for its efficiency and ease of learning, making video creation a smooth process. Moreover, Final Cut Pro X has been a reliable choice for editing videos in different domains such as media communications, marketing, training content development, and more. Users have found that the software allows them to create professional-quality videos for marketing, fundraising, donor engagement, grant applications, and even feature-length films. The software's intuitive interface and helpful features have made it popular among photographers, production studios, marketing departments, small businesses, creative storytellers, religious organizations, and individuals looking to produce high-quality videos for various purposes. Whether it is editing rough cuts or creating alternate cuts, Final Cut Pro X has proven to be a quick and easy-to-use video editing program that caters to the needs of different users.

State-of-the-Art Transition Feature: Many users have praised Final Cut Pro X - FCPX for its state-of-the-art transition feature, which they found easy to use in their projects. The intuitive nature of this feature has allowed reviewers to seamlessly incorporate transitions into their videos, enhancing the overall visual appeal.

Great Light and Color Correction Toolbar: The software's light and color correction toolbar has received positive feedback from multiple users. They appreciate the extensive options available, allowing them to easily enhance the lighting and colors in their videos. This feature has been described as a valuable tool for achieving professional-looking results.

Non-linear Editor with Intuitive Interface: FCPX's non-linear editor has impressed many users with its intuitive interface. Reviewers find it easy to navigate and work with, enabling efficient editing processes. The simplicity of the interface contributes to a smooth workflow and allows both beginners and experienced editors to quickly adapt to the software.

Lagging Performance: Several users have reported that the software lags when working on extensive projects, especially those with 4K footage. This can significantly slow down the editing process and hinder productivity.

Outdated Layout: Users find the layout of the software to be outdated and difficult to comprehend. The outdated design makes it challenging for users to navigate and understand its features, leading to a frustrating user experience.

Uncomfortable Timeline: Many users have expressed dissatisfaction with the timeline in Final Cut Pro X, particularly when dealing with multiple video and audio sources. The timeline is uncomfortable to work with, making it difficult for users to edit their projects efficiently.

Users commonly recommend the following actions for Final Cut Pro X: consider the self-hosted version, compare with Adobe Premiere, and take classes or online tutorials.

  1. Consider the self-hosted version: Users recommend using the self-hosted version of Final Cut Pro X instead of the cloud version. They find it more cost-effective and user-friendly.

  2. Compare with Adobe Premiere: Users suggest comparing Final Cut Pro X with Adobe Premiere, particularly considering Premiere's integration with other Adobe products. They advise those seeking a deeper and more complex editing experience to consider Adobe Premiere instead.

  3. Take classes or online tutorials: Users recommend learning Final Cut Pro X through classes or online tutorials. They highlight the importance of fully utilizing its features, suggesting exploring the Generators Browser and Titles Browser as well.

Overall, users find Final Cut Pro X worth the investment, particularly for basic to complex projects. They also emphasize the importance of having ample hard drive space, using Compressor for easy exporting, and maintaining a strong labeling and indexing system for efficient project organization.

Attribute Ratings

Reviews

(1-25 of 28)
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Seth Paine | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
I have used Adobe Premiere Pro but I keep going back to Final Cut Pro X because it is easier to use. At some point, I will learn Premiere Pro because from what I have heard it is much more powerful, but I am staying with Final Cut Pro for now because it is much easier to use.
Shubham Verma | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Final Cut Pro X is a one time purchase and Adobe Premiere Pro has monthly subscription. Final Cut Pro X takes less time to arrange your clips and Adobe Premiere Pro takes most time to arrange your clips. A beginner can do work easily on Final Cut Pro X, but a beginner can not do work easily on Adobe Premiere Pro.
Hilary Hobbs | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Premiere and Final Cut are very similar is usage. Final Cut has less crashing and lag, but does not work well with Adobe products. You'd basically have to use all different softwares to use it best. Davinci is a different beast with a color grading portion that is unmatched by any other product. Although DaVinci is non-linear editing, so you essentially have to unlearn everything you know from Final Cut and Premiere.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
I have used both Final Cut Pro X and iMovie and Final Cut Pro just seems to be my go-to. Final Cut Pro X just seems to have more tools, features, functionality, and more. It also integrates with Compressor which helps when reducing file sizes. There seems to be more extras that other users have created that you can purchase and use in your video editing. I'm not so sure that exists with iMovie.
Brendon Brown | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
I find that many users have some iMovie experience when approaching Final Cut Pro X, and thus segue quickly to it. Premiere is also a good product, timeline-based, with a very mature expansion market, possibly with a cluttered interface. DaVinci Resolve is the free product from Blackmagic, but complaints consist of node-based management confusion and costly upgrades outside of the limited free version.
Alex Pegg | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Final Cut [Pro X] has way more features in a much better layout. Although it is more expensive, I believe the improved performance and advanced level of features is worth it if you are serious about video production and professionalism.
Mike Muller | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Final Cut Pro X stakes up well against the main competitors such as Adobe Premier Pro and DaVinci Resolve. Each has their strengths but Final Cut Pro X provides a competitive set of features but is optimized for the Macintosh environment. With the new M1 chips, Final Cut Pro has a strong advantage editing high res video files from the newer cameras.
Rob Gokee | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Final Cut Pro X is basically the professional upgrade of iMovie - if you're familiar with that product, stepping up to FCPX is a natural progression. Avid Media Composer and Adobe Premiere Pro are both industry standard products - in all honestly, if you're an editor, you should be proficient at all three if you work in the entertainment industry. Final Cut Pro X is my go to because I started on iMovie editing promo videos and moved up.
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Final Cut Pro X has all the same features that the other two have. The price point for both Final Cut Pro X and Premier Pro are very comparable and DaVinci Resolve is a free software but I found it to not be very user friendly. We have access to both Premier Pro and Final Cut Pro X on a daily basis at our university, but I prefer to use Final Cut Pro X.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
I briefly experimented with Adobe Premiere but wasn't crazy about the user interface. I'm so used to Final Cut Pro X and it's become such a mainstay for me that I saw no need to pursue an alternative. Final Cut Pro X certainly delivers worlds above your customary free editing software (imovie, PC free equivalent) and is easy to figure your way around if one is fairly new to the non-linear editing process. It would be nice if it was as easy to move around individual windows in the program like you can with Premiere Pro but the windows within the program are much less adaptable in this way. Also, with Final Cut Pro X you don't have to continually pay a monthly fee as you do with Adobe CC products.
Michelle Green Arnson | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 5 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
I have hated iMovie since its inception. This probably says more about me, but I've never been able to figure out how such a simple piece of software can make me feel like such a dope! It's certainly improved over the years, and I have even used it in a pinch when I didn't have my own laptop handy, but it still feels clunky and low-quality when I compare it to Final Cut Pro X.

I used to work in Premiere but I had no interest in (and my organization wouldn't support) moving to a cloud-based editing tool.
Andrew Peterson | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Final Cut Pro X is almost a direct upgrade to iMovie. iMovie is a very dumbed down piece of software. iMovie is good for very basic video editing needs, but it does not allow you to create a video exactly how you might envision it. Those familiar with iMovie will have a very easy time switching over to Final Cut Pro X. The interfaces are relatively similar and some of the buttons/labels are uniform across both of the pieces of software.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Final Cut Pro X is much easier to navigate and more user-friendly than Adobe Premiere. It is something a beginner can pick up and have an easy time editing, and then an experienced pro can really dig in and make something amazing out of it. Premiere can be a train wreck from the get-go.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
I first learned to edit on Adobe Premiere Pro, and then FCP7. Comparatively, FCP7 just worked. Adobe crashed all the time (back in the day). Apple clearly also had the edge on the user interface - not just doing what NLEs had been doing for years but making improvements to the process of editing. When I switched to FCPX it was tough at first, but once I became accustomed to the magnetic timeline, I realized it was once again the changes were for a better user experience - saved time - and let you focus on story first and take the computer out of the way. Premiere Pro - through a solid editing platform, hasn't changed much over the years and still requires much of the clunky key-stroke heavy processes that early NLEs required. Avid is ancient compared to FCPX - and only those who learned it in film school or have been in the business for years stick with it. It's time to get with the era we're in and move beyond our processes, get the computer out of the way and let good editing be good editing and storytelling triumph. FCPX is the most natural editing process you will find.
Daniel Epstein | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
FCPX is very similar to Premiere Pro, and the two software are locked in a competition. Some years Premier is better, some years FCPX is better. I would say FCPX is more stable with fewer crashes, but Premier sometimes lets you customize the view a bit more. Flash is good for animation which can be used in tandem with either software, and Photoshop is good for making custom title cards or still frames.
Dave Becker | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Final Cut Pro X is just as good as Adobe Premier Pro but doesn't require a subscription to keep using. The one time cost was a plus for us. Although Final Cut Pro X is only available for Apple, everyone in our department uses Macs so it wasn't a problem. We've found it easier to use and gives the same result in quality.
Julio Ahumada  MBA | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
I cut my teeth on Media Composer and Adobe Premier. When I had a budget of nothing to start a creative services department for a Warner Bros. television affiliate, I took a chance on Final Cut (the first version). Now Final Cut X is very robust and is a killer editor. Even the color grading tools are pretty awesome.
Dan Talvi | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
When compared to other video editing software, Final Cut Pro X falls in the middle in terms of difficulty and functionality. iMovie (another Apple / Mac video editing software) provides many of the basic functions and features of Final Cut Pro X, while Adobe Premiere Pro CC (the other top leading video editing software in the video editing industry) provides advanced features and functionality with a higher level of control over applied effects. Our program teaches and utilizes both Final Cut Pro X and Adobe Premiere Pro, depending on the project and client. Simple video productions with minimal or basic added effect can be accomplished with ease using FCPX, whereas more advanced productions may require the fuctionality of Adobe Premiere Pro.
Shawngela Pierce | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
The user interface for Final Cut Pro X is way more intuitive. I have used and currently use a lot of Adobe products so I am very familiar with their interface, however, I am not a big fan of most of their design layouts. Their software is very powerful but not very intuitive, at least for me. As a result, Final Cut Pro X wins hands down.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
I prefer Final Cut because of the magnetic timeline and the simplified way to edit clips. In my experience with other editing software, FCPX changed some basic things about editing to make them simpler. Often, editors who are engrained in the classic ways to edit don't like FCP's new way of selecting clips and editing. But if you drop your preconceived ideas of how the 'best' way to do it and try on FCP's method, you'll find it's a much faster and more natural way of getting things done!
Jeff Huisjen | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Final Cut Pro X stacks up well against Premiere Pro in my opinion. If you're looking for something a bit more basic in functionality that's easy to use Final Cut Pro X is great. In my experience, if you're doing a much larger project with lots of editing, correcting, and many multiple layers of clips, Premiere may have a bit better functionality for that.
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