Video content is an essential marketing tool for businesses and creators, especially when surveys have proven that 9 out of 10 viewers will most likely buy from brands whose videos they’ve seen.
For example, Evian, a company selling bottled water, has built an audience of 225k subscribers on YouTube. Yes, a company that sells something so mundane has an audience this big. And what does a massively engaged audience mean? A massive customer base.
But more consumption also means more competition. To be ahead of the game like Evian, you must produce the best videos. For that, you need experience and expertise. In other words, you must hire someone who does it for you. Hence, the term outsourcing.
With outsourcing, you have two choices: freelance editors vs video editing companies. Both these have their own set of pros and cons, which you need to be aware of before you make a decision.
Fortunately, we did the research work for you and compiled it here. Let’s begin!
Table of Contents
What does a professional video editor do?
First and foremost, you should know what professional video editors do.
A professional video editor deals with the creative as well as technical aspects. From crafting video storyboards to integrating special effects and graphic elements to choosing the right music— they do it all.
And there’s more.
Putting together raw footage is another challenge altogether. It includes combining raw footage, reorganizing shots for smooth and logical transitions, eliminating faulty footage, and performing color grading to enhance the good ones.
All in all, you give a professional video editor raw clips, and they produce a neatly stitched, high-quality, and compelling visual narrative
Freelance Video Editors
Now, let’s start with what it means to hire a freelance video editor. But let’s get clear on the term “freelance” first.
Freelancers are self-employed individuals who don’t necessarily commit to long-term employers. So we are talking about a one-person workforce responsible for managing the business, dealing with clients, and doing the work.
Consequently, they don’t spend all of their time editing your videos— just a fraction of it. Which also means that their availability is limited. Sometimes, they might not be available for your projects because they have too much on their plate or need a break.
Tip: To avoid availability issues, you can pay retainers and make sure the freelancer stays available for your projects.
Freelancers usually have clients all over the world. Therefore, your time zone might not be the same as theirs. If you want a project completed overnight, this factor comes in handy.
But it also depends on the editing speed of your freelancer, which is heavily dependent on their professional experience and efficiency. The freelancer needs to be efficient, particularly if you’re looking for a long-term collaboration. They’ll most likely struggle with deadlines if efficiency isn’t their strong suit.
Also, with freelancers, you will always know who is handling your project, which can prove fruitful for your business or brand if you hire the right individual on a long-term contract.
Moreover, with freelance video editors, you can pick niche specialists. For example, if you want to get a YouTube video edited, you can hire someone who specializes in the department: an Expert YouTube Video Editor. Cool, right? Also, you can have them sign an NDA, with which you are guaranteed confidentiality.
Unfortunately, finding the perfect freelancer who’s as passionate as you will not be a piece of cake. Yes, there are websites like Upwork which make the search more convenient. But you still have to sift through many CVs, go through samples, conduct interviews, and do everything a hiring manager does before you find the right candidate.
Another con in the freelance category is that you can never tell how much a project will cost you before its completion. The most common freelance contract is one where they charge per the time it took, and the speed may vary from person to person.
Some freelance video editors offer services for as low as $10 per hour but hardly deliver work that can pass the bar. Some charge $40 per hour; you can expect high-quality work at this rate, but it’s not always guaranteed. Other types of contracts with freelance editors include Fixed-Price Contracts, Pain Share/Gain Share Contracts, Task-Based Contracts, and Retainer Contracts.
To summarize;
| Pros | Cons |
| Can get work done overnight | Schedule delay and Availability Issues |
| You always know who’s working for you; confidentiality | Can not predict total project costs |
| Niche Specialists | Difficult to find the perfect candidate |
| One-on-one communication with the editor | Variable cost |
Video Editing Companies
Next, we have video editing companies. To name a few examples, we have The DVI Group, Webdew, Blend, and Blue Chalk Media. You can find a list of more companies here.
Unlike freelancers, companies have hired editors and administrative teams. Since it is a full-fledged business set-up, they can guarantee consistency and speedy delivery.
With these companies, availability is not an issue. Having a staff of editors means someone will always be present to handle your project.
Companies also provide professional and formal customer service, often better than most freelancers. Moreover, video editing companies are predictable in terms of pricing plans. They offer services at a fixed price, ranging from $50 to $150 but usually lean towards the upper end.
Another perk with video editing companies is that you can get package plans or discounts if you have a bulk of content that needs editing. Some companies also offer subscriptions ranging from $350 to $2000, editing a set number of videos per month.
On the downside, you won’t always be sure who’s working on your project, unlike with freelance editors. Therefore, your confidentiality may get compromised.
Also, most companies have representatives who communicate the customer’s needs to the editor. Thus, you will not talk with your editor directly in most cases. However, some companies allow direct communication between the client and the editor.
Tip: Feedbacks are just as important as clear instructions because it will help the editors understand what you expect. Try to be comprehensive with feedback; if you don’t know how to do that, we have a detailed guide on how to give feedback to video editors.
Here’s a quick summary;
| Pros | Cons |
| Guaranteed consistency and availability | Different editors |
| Faster turnaround time | No specific niche specialists |
| Formal customer service | |
| Predictable pricing and discounts |
Final Words
If we keep all of the above in mind, it’s safe to say that video editing companies have the upper hand here.
Unlike most freelancers, companies guarantee a fast turnaround time, consistency, professional service, quality work, and constant availability for your projects. Finding all this in a freelance editor is also possible, but the probability is low. Also, companies like Editvideo.io offer a fixed pricing plan for a fixed number of videos, which makes budgeting more convenient.
One last tip before we end: always check testimonials, samples, and work history before hiring.
