HitFilm
Editor and VFX compositor with grading controls and 800+ visual effects
About HitFilm
HitFilm from FXhome (now part of Artlist) blends a non-linear editor with a node-style VFX compositor and a respectable color grading toolset. Editors get color wheels, curves, channel mixers, LUT support, and the ability to apply grades inside composite shots — useful when grading needs to interact with VFX layers like muzzle flashes, lens flares, or sky replacements. HitFilm is positioned at indie filmmakers and YouTubers who want grading and VFX in the same app without paying for both Premiere and After Effects.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Color grading lives inside the same app as compositing — no round-tripping
- Strong VFX library for indie filmmakers (lens flares, muzzle flashes, particle FX)
- Affordable monthly pricing relative to Adobe's bundle
- Free tier is genuinely useful for learning
Cons
- Color tools are less deep than Resolve or Lumetri
- Smaller community and tutorial ecosystem than Premiere or Final Cut
- UI can feel cluttered when grading and compositing in the same view
Pricing
- Editor + basic VFX
- Limited effects library
- Up to 1080p export
- 800+ effects and presets
- Color grading toolset
- 4K export
- Audio cleanup
- All Creator features
- Advanced compositing
- Particle simulator
- 3D model import
Best For
Indie short film creators
VFX, edit, and color in one app keeps the pipeline simple.
YouTubers doing action or sci-fi content
Built-in muzzle flashes, lens flares, and color grading.
Students learning VFX
Free tier and affordable upgrades make it accessible.
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