Sony Vegas Pro’s Free and Paid Alternatives

Sony Vegas Pro (SVP) is a frequently updated video editor (currently on version 18) that incorporates the newest technology into its range of features. For instance, it employs artificial intelligence to transform your videos by applying the styles of famous artists and makes predictive edits based on past editing work you’ve done.

If you want to try Sony Vegas Pro with a free download of the full version, you can experience the range of these features for 30 days before purchasing the product. Advanced color grading, audio mastering and editing (including video noise reduction), professional plug-ins, and some of the most powerful hardware acceleration in video editing software let you use Vegas Pro to edit content at a more precise level than many competitors.

However, its higher upfront costs mean that its user base has higher expectations, and Vegas Pro’s occasional crashing issues have been a cause for concern to some — notably the freezing and crashing errors while rendering videos.

Although Vegas editing software isn’t for everyone, it’s worth trying the free version and giving it a try before making your decision.

Wondering how to get Sony Vegas Pro for free? Check out this link for a Vegas Pro free download, or consider using a Sony Vegas alternative (free, for Windows, and for Mac) that we outline in the rest of this article.

Adobe^® Premiere^® Elements^® side-by-side with Sony Vegas Pro meets many of the same video-editing qualifications. Both products can help you create broadcast-quality media, are updated regularly by their respective companies, and support all of the most popular file formats.

However, where Adobe’s software outshines free Sony Vegas and paid is its user-friendly interface, which makes it popular among hobbyists and beginners to video editing. Not to mention Adobe^® Premiere^® Elements^® is also cheaper than both Sony Vegas Pro 17 and 18 and is available for Mac and Windows users, making it a more accessible alternative to Sony Vegas.

While Sony may offer a more robust suite of features, including a much stronger audio editing tool than Adobe, Adobe is still an effective video editor that addresses the needs present among various levels of video editors.

DebugMode Wax is an open-source video editing tool for Windows that can handle the fundamental needs of most video-editing beginners and experienced amateurs. And while it may lack some of the firepower apparent in paid alternatives, Wax can help you create and modify video content just as effectively.

Where DebugMode Wax really shines is its 2D and 3D special effects features, providing users with a wide range of free effects to manipulate and customize their video files. Wax can even function as a plugin, so if you like its special effects, you can connect them to a more feature-rich video editor like Sony Vegas Pro or Adobe^® Premiere^® Elements^®.

While a Sony Vegas pro free trial may lead you to believe Vegas Pro has more interesting and modern features, DebugMode Wax is worth a download if you want to test the waters of open-source software before pulling out your credit card.

Movavi Video Editor is a robust yet economical video editor that offers many of the same features included in full-version Vegas Pro download at a fraction of the cost. For instance, Movavi’s editor similarly provides powerful audio editing capabilities, 4K video support, as well as easy-to-use transitions, filters, and animations.

If you’re worried about the learning curve, Movavi’s video editor is also known for its clean and intuitive interface that makes it simple for beginners to grasp and fun for video-editing veterans to use to its full potential. It also provides support in 14 languages, making it more accessible than Sony Vegas.

While professionals in need of advanced Open Effects plugins may prefer Sony Vegas Pro’s plugin capabilities, Movavi Video Editor is a powerful tool at a price point that video editors of varying levels can appreciate if they’re not satisfied with their Sony Vegas Pro download free trial.