Best Color Grading Software

Movavi Video Editor is hands-down one of the best color grading software tools around. It’s loaded with a variety of filters, stylish transitions, and professional-grade tools, making color correction smooth and visually striking. The interface is clean and intuitive, letting you jump straight into editing, Windows and macOS compatible. Fresh updates have improved real-time preview rendering, so you can see your color tweaks immediately (release notes).

Personally, I love using it for quick projects where I want professional results without fuss; exporting straight to YouTube is seamless, and handling conversion like IFO to MP4 is a breeze. The color grading workflow feels natural, and the software never feels sluggish, even on complex edits.

Step 1. Import your video
Download and open Movavi Video Editor. Click Add Files or drag and drop your video file into the program interface. Then, drag the video onto the Timeline to start editing.

Step 2. Access Color adjustments
Navigate to the Tools tab and select the Color adjustments option. Click on Manual mode to access the color grading controls.

Step 3. Adjust Color settings
In the Manual mode, you'll find sliders for adjusting parameters such as brightness, contrast, saturation, and hue. Use these sliders to fine-tune the colors and exposure of your video.

Step 4. Apply Presets (optional)
If you prefer, you can apply built-in presets for quick color grading. These presets can be accessed within the same Color adjustments menu.

Step 5. Export your video
Once satisfied with the color grading, click on the Export button to save your edited video in the desired format.

Wondershare Filmora is a versatile color grading software that merges simplicity with power. Its color correction software provides precise adjustments using Vectorscope, Histogram, Parade, and Waveform, and it includes motion graphics and a wide range of special effects.

The latest update improved real-time preview and rendering stability, keeping your edits smooth. From my personal workflow, fine-tuning colors felt intuitive, and navigating the interface was easy, though on very heavy projects, I noticed occasional lag. But my verdict is quite positive: it’s a solid free color grading software Mac and professional color correction software for quick, visually appealing results.

Step 1. Import your video
Open Wondershare Filmora. Click Import to add your video files to the media library. Drag the video onto the Timeline to begin editing.

Step 2. Access Color correction tools
Select the video clip on the Timeline. Click on the Color tab above the preview window to open the color correction tools.

Step 3. Adjust Basic settings
In the Adjust section, you'll find sliders for brightness, contrast, saturation, tint, temperature, and white balance. Adjust these sliders to correct the overall color balance of your video.

Step 4. Fine-tune with HSL
For more precise adjustments, click on the HSL option within the Adjust section. Here, you can fine-tune the hue, saturation, and lightness of individual colors in your video.

Step 5. Apply 3D LUTs (optional)
Filmora offers a selection of 3D LUTs (look-up tables) that can be applied to your video for creative color grading. Click on the LUT tab to browse and apply these presets.

Step 6. Save and Export
After making the desired adjustments, click on the Export button to save your edited video. Choose the output format and settings, then click Export again to finalize.

Final Cut Pro is a top-tier color grading software for Mac users, packed with advanced color correction tools like color wheels, curves, and SAT/HUE adjustments. You can remove tints from highlights, correct shadows, and apply LUTs or color matching for cinematic looks. The latest updates include improved HDR color workflows and better real-time rendering for smoother editing.

From my own experience, working with exposure and highlights felt precise and efficient, and the interface allows me to focus on creative tweaks rather than technical hurdles. The software is among the smoothest Mac color grading apps, and using LUTs to harmonize multiple shots has never been easier.

Step 1. Import your media
Open Final Cut Pro. Click on the Import media button to add your video files to the project. Drag the video onto the Timeline to start editing.

Step 2. Add a Color correction effect
Select the video clip in the Timeline. In the Effects browser, navigate to the Color category and choose a color correction effect such as Color wheels or Color board. Drag the selected effect onto the clip in the Timeline.

Step 3. Adjust Color settings
With the clip selected, open the Inspector panel. Here, you can adjust parameters like exposure, contrast, saturation, highlights, shadows, warmth, and tint. Use the sliders to fine-tune the color balance of your video.

Step 4. Use Masks for targeted corrections
To apply color adjustments to specific areas, you can use masks. In the Inspector panel, click on the Add mask button and choose either a shape mask or a color mask. Adjust the mask to cover the desired area and modify the color settings accordingly.

Step 5. Apply Additional corrections (optional)
If needed, you can add multiple color correction effects to a single clip. In the Inspector panel, click on the pop-up menu at the top and select Add correction. Choose the desired effect and adjust its settings.

Step 6. Export your video
Once you're satisfied with the color grading, click on the Share button to export your video. Select the desired output format and settings, then click Next to finalize the export.

DaVinci Resolve is one of the best color grading software solutions for serious editors. It combines editing, visual effects, motion graphics, audio post, and professional color correction all in one interface. Its color grading toolset is immense: you get advanced scopes, LUTs, HDR grading, face-tracking, Magic mask, and Chroma warp. Plus, AI features like Auto color and Smart multicam for rapid workflow.

Assessing the performance of this capable platform, I discovered that balancing skin tones and adjusting shadows was intuitive, and the real-time previews handle complex projects with impressive speed. Switching between color, edit, and Fusion pages feels seamless, letting me stay creative rather than technical.

Step 1. Import your footage
Open DaVinci Resolve. Click on the Media tab and use the Import Media option to add your video files to the project. Drag the video onto the Timeline to begin editing.

Step 2. Switch to the Color workspace
Navigate to the Color workspace by clicking on the Color tab at the bottom of the interface.

Step 3. Use the Color wheels
In the Color wheels panel, you'll find controls for adjusting Lift (shadows), Gamma (midtones), Gain (highlights), and Offset (overall balance). Use these wheels to adjust the color balance of your video.

Step 4. Adjust saturation and contrast
In the same panel, you can adjust the saturation and contrast of your video to enhance its visual appeal.

Step 5. Apply Curves for precision
For more precise adjustments, use the Curves panel. Here, you can adjust the RGB channels individually or use the master curve to modify the overall tonal range.

Step 6. Use masks and tracking
To apply color corrections to specific areas, you can use masks. In the Window panel, choose a mask shape and position it over the desired area. Use the Tracker panel to track the mask's movement throughout the clip.

Step 7. Export your video
Once you're satisfied with the color grading, switch to the Deliver workspace. Choose the desired output format and settings, then click Add to render queue and Start render to export your video.

Red Giant Magic Bullet is a professional color correction software plugin designed to bring cinematic color grading directly into your editing workflow. It offers GPU-accelerated real-time previews, a variety of LUTs, and the ability to create and save custom looks.

Recent updates improved on-screen position controls and modular Capsules for streamlined visual effects.

From my personal test, applying LUTs and adjusting tones felt immediate and intuitive. integrating with After Effects allowed me to work on complex projects without bouncing between apps. Fine-tuning shadows, highlights, and color casts was smooth, and Magic Bullet’s guidance made even tricky color corrections approachable.

Magic Bullet Looks is a powerful plugin designed for color grading and film-style effects.

Step 1. Apply Magic bullet looks to your clip
In your editing software (e.g., Adobe^® Premiere Pro^®, Final Cut Pro), select the clip you wish to color grade.
Apply the Magic bullet looks effect to the clip.

Step 2. Open the Magic bullet looks interface
Navigate to the Effect controls panel. Click on the Edit button next to the Magic bullet looks effect to open the Looks interface.

Step 3. Choose a look preset
In the Looks interface, browse through the available presets. Select a preset that closely matches the desired style for your clip.

Step 4. Customize the look
Adjust the parameters within the selected preset to fine-tune the look. Use tools like Colorista for color correction, Film Grain for texture, and Vignette for focus.

Step 5. Apply the look
Once satisfied with the adjustments, click Ok to apply the look to your clip.

Step 6. Export your video
Proceed with exporting your video as usual, now with the applied color grading.

Adobe^® Premiere Pro^® is a professional color grading software that offers a full suite of tools via the Lumetri Color panel. It includes color wheels, curves, sliders, and LUT support, giving you total control over hue, saturation, and luminance. They do keep it up-to-date. For example, the latest updates brought AI-powered Auto Color, faster GPU rendering, and improved export workflows.

I was eager to see this tool in action. Working with shadows and highlights was smooth, and applying color presets saved me a ton of time on recurring projects. The interface feels familiar if you’re used to other Adobe^® apps, and switching between color correction, editing, and audio workflows is seamless.

Step 1. Import your media
Open Adobe^® Premiere Pro^®. Click on the Import button to add your video files to the project. Drag the video onto the Timeline to begin editing.

Step 2. Access the Lumetri color panel
Go to the Window menu and select Lumetri color to open the Lumetri color panel.

Step 3. Basic color correction
In the Lumetri color panel, navigate to the Basic correction section. Here, you can adjust white balance, tone, and saturation using the provided sliders. Make adjustments to correct the overall color balance of your video.

Step 4. Creative adjustments
For creative color grading, go to the Creative section within the Lumetri color panel. Here, you can apply 3D LUTs, adjust the intensity of the LUT, and modify the vibrance and saturation.

Step 5. Curves and Color wheels
For more advanced adjustments, use the Curves and Color wheels sections. In the Curves section, you can adjust the RGB channels individually or use the master curve. In the Color wheels section, you can adjust the shadows, midtones, and highlights to fine-tune the color balance.

Step 6. Apply masks (optional)
To apply color corrections to specific areas, you can use masks. In the Effect controls panel, select the clip and use the masking tools to create a mask over the desired area. Adjust the color settings within the Lumetri color panel to affect only the masked area.

Step 7. Export your video
Once you're satisfied with the color grading, go to the File menu and select Export > Media. Choose the desired output format and settings, then click Export to save your video.

Neat Video is a popular plugin-based color correction software. It puts a special focus on eliminating noise, grain, flicker, and other imperfections from video. Its core strength lies in its automated noise-profiling system, which generates accurate profiles with a single click. The plugin works across multiple editors, including Premiere Pro, Final Cut, and DaVinci Resolve, leveraging GPU and CPU to speed up processing.

The latest modification, Neat Video 6.0.7, supports new versions of Windows, macOS, and Linux and improves efficiency and compatibility with contemporary video formats. From underwater shoots to slow-motion clips, it ensures pristine results without compromising detail.

Using Neat Video has been a great find for me. I recently processed some low-light drone footage, and the results were almost magical: grain vanished, yet the textures stayed intact. The interface is intuitive for a plugin. I love that it integrates seamlessly with my existing editing workflow. Even when tackling tricky CGI renders, it keeps everything smooth and sharp.

Neat Video is a plugin designed to reduce noise and grain in video footage.

Step 1. Apply Neat Video to your clip
In your editing software, select the clip you wish to process. Apply the Neat Video effect to the clip.

Step 2. Open the Neat Video interface
Navigate to the Effect controls panel. Click on the Edit button next to the Neat video effect to open the Neat video interface.

Step 3. Build a noise profile
In the Neat Video interface, go to the Device noise profile tab. Click on the Auto profile button to let Neat Video analyze the clip and create a noise profile.

Step 4. Adjust noise reduction settings
Once the noise profile is created, go to the Filter tab. Adjust the noise reduction settings to balance between noise removal and detail preservation.

Step 5. Apply the noise reduction
Click Apply to apply the noise reduction settings to your clip.

Step 6. Export your video
Proceed with exporting your video as usual, now with reduced noise.