Outsourcing video editing is a great way to save time and streamline your content production. But who should you hand your editing work off to? Freelancers? Or video editing companies?
Well, there are advantages and disadvantages to every method of hiring a video editor.
But which is the best fit in your particular case? And what does that depend on?
To help you make the right choice, here are 5 core factors: speed, availability, quality, customer service, and cost.
Key Takeaways
- Speed, availability, and customer service are usually better with video editing companies.
- Freelancers may offer lower prices, but companies are more predictable.
- Quality depends on the company or editor.
- Video editing companies are generally the safer bet.
Keep reading for the full scoop!
Speed: What’s the Turnaround Time?
First off, let’s talk speed: Turnaround time is a major distinguishing point between freelancers and video editing companies.
Freelancers are usually one-person shows. This means that editing speed will depend heavily on how professionally and efficiently that person works.
On top of that, though, freelancers also manage their own projects, juggle file transfers, acquire customers, and talk to clients. This limits the time they can spend actually editing your videos.
Video editing companies, on the other hand, will have several editors on staff, as well as a separate team dealing with admin. They typically also shell out for a better hardware setup and enterprise tools like specialized fast file transfer services. As a result, they often guarantee consistent, fast turnaround times. They’re also better equipped to handle revisions.
Availability: How Flexible Are the Editors?
Next, if you’re outsourcing your video editing long-term, you’ll want your editor’s availability to match your content creation schedule.
Freelancer are less flexible because they can handle only so many jobs at the same time. They’ll also take days off, or even get sick. A different time zone can make scheduling difficult, too – although this could be handy if you need work done overnight. You might also be able to persuade them to work on weekends and holidays, which companies often won’t.
One way of making sure a freelance video editor does stay available for your projects, though, is to pay them a retainer.
In contrast, video editing companies are usually more consistently available because they have a whole team of editors. If your usual editor isn’t in, another will step in to ensure you get your edit done on time with minimal friction. If you put in a lot of orders at once, you might get several editors to work on it.
Of course, even an editing company can have a lot on their plate. In that case, however, they can simply hire more editors. You, as their customer, probably won’t even notice.
Quality: How Good Are the Edits?
When it comes to editing quality, there are certainly amazing freelance video editors out there. Plus, they could even be specialists in your niche and platform – as YouTube video editors, for instance.
However, finding an experienced editor like that is a daunting task. You’ll have to advertise on several job boards, get personal recommendations from your network, or comb through LinkedIn to find suitable candidates. Essentially, you’ll need to go where the pros themselves look for video editing jobs.
And, unfortunately, you’re going to get snowed under with amateurs, scammers, and even pros that apply to every vaguely suitable job. Generative AI has made it all too easy.
On the other hand, video editing companies have already put all that work in when they selected their editors. You can therefore expect a solid standard of editing competence. Many of them also serve specific niches, such as real estate video editing, travel video, or weddings.
The same goes for less usual sources of footage. Got some janky footage from drones? Underwater audio? They probably have someone with the expertise to work with that.
However, you will have to vet the companies themselves to make sure that they offer quality video editing services. It’s a good idea to hop on a call with a few, ask for a trial, and put in a test order.
For both solo editors and companies, niche and video type matter: A business that does fantastic video production on corporate ads isn’t automatically great at editing your next YouTube Short. Sometimes you need creativity for your video content. And sometimes you just need twenty product videos done by the end of the week, with consistency and brand alignment more important than anything else.
Customer Service: How Well Do You Work Together?
If you’re planning to work together with someone long-term, it’s crucial that they’re not just good at what they do, but also at how they do it. In short, that they’re good to work with, and handle your requests – and your creative input – efficiently.
In the freelance world, this is down to the individual. There are eager-to-please freelancers who respond to your requests almost instantly, but also many who grudgingly reply days later. Freelance platforms often try to encourage interaction, but that only goes so far – to the point where they’ve integrated AI tools to help them handle communication. To mixed results.
When we went to review an Upwork freelance video editor, for example, the platform did automatically prod them as the deadline for the first draft whooshed by. (Want to see how that went? Check out our Upwork talent experience!)
On the upside, though, you know that it’s always the same person handling your projects. And if you find someone competent, and you click instantly, that can be worth gold!
If you opt for hiring a video editing company, in contrast, you can expect more professional, formal customer service. Often, you won’t be talking to the same person all the time, and different editors will handle your projects.
Better-organized companies often give you a designated manager to handle the creative process. Especially if they’re putting a team together for you. For YouTube videos, for example, you might need thumbnails or channel management services in addition to one or two editors. Compared to building a team of freelancers yourself, this can be a very cost-effective solution.
Often, you’ll have to depend on the company rep to accurately translate your requests to the editors. (Sometimes literally.)
However, there are also businesses who’ve created tools to let you communicate with the editor on your project directly. This direct, two-way feedback can help both you and them to clarify questions faster, and gives you tighter creative control. Tasty Edit’s VOMA system, for example, integrates a video team collaboration tool that enables you to leave comments on individual frames.
Cost: How Much Will You End Up Paying?
And finally, the big one. How much does it cost to outsource your video editing?
The answer, unfortunately, is: It varies.
Yes, you can find freelance editors working for $15 or less per hour. The quality of work in this price range, though, is doubtful. On average, you can expect video editors to charge $40+ per hour for solid services.
In comparison, video editing companies usually offer different editing services, package deals, and subscriptions. A basic jump-cut edit for a YouTube Short might come in at $50, though you’ll rarely find a complete edit for under $250.
If you have a bunch of content to edit all at once – like for the video-a-day tradition of vlogmas on YouTube – then you might be able to take advantage of bulk discounts.
Subscriptions usually promise you a set number of videos per month, and range from about $350 to well over $2,000 a month. Not considering the “enterprise grade” tiers that target the needs of large companies. A common pitfall is that they’ll edit orders sequentially, reducing your flexibility. If you need a lot of revisions, this means higher costs per final video compared to packages, and substantial delays.
Generally speaking, video editing company pricing is more predictable and easier to budget, especially a fixed subscription fee. That’s because they can average out the time spent editing across all orders. A freelancer with a hourly contract, on the other hand, might need a few more hours than expected on a complex edit, and will charge you accordingly.
Verdict: Video Editing Companies Are the Safer Bet
Overall, a video editing company is the safer choice, especially if you’re outsourcing your editing for the first time, or are just getting started in content creation.
Why?
Companies offer consistent availability and editing quality, standard turnover times, professional customer service, and predictable pricing.
However, if you get lucky and find an amazing freelance editor who’s taking on new clients, you might also want to opt for working with them. To ensure they’re available for you, though, consider paying them a retainer.
FAQs
What is the average rate for a freelance video editor?
The average rate is about $40/h. Expect $30/h and up for a solid freelancer. Lower rates often mean unprofessional work, AI slop, and outright scams.
How much do YouTubers pay video editors?
YouTube video editors earn $30/h on average, or $65,000 a year. This is slightly less than video editors are paid in Film and TV. They may also earn a revenue percentage.
How many hours does it take to edit a 1 minute video?
Video editing takes approximately 30 minutes to an hour per minute of finished video.
Are video editing subscriptions or packages better?
Packages and hourly rates are very flexible. If you know precisely how much work you need every month, a subscription may be cheaper.
Why should you hire a video editor or company?
Outsourcing video editing to a professional freelance editor or company gives you high-quality results and saves you a lot of time. Compared to an in-house editor, it is more flexible and often less costly.
