I'm constantly working on creating and editing videos on demand. My to-do list includes tasks like creating tutorials, promo videos, content for bloggers, and experimenting with new tools. For 10 years of working as a video creator, I've been using Adobe Premiere Pro all the time, but since I started using Setapp, I've expanded my toolkit.

Discovering Setapp's collection of specialized video tools, I realized I could build a more flexible, cost-effective workflow. Instead of forcing Premiere to handle every single task, I now use Adobe Premiere Pro alternatives that excel at specific functions. As a result, I’m finishing projects 30-40% faster and producing higher-quality work.

Premiere Pro alternatives: my picks for professionals

Don't get me wrong – Adobe Premiere Pro is powerful. But the subscription costs keep climbing, and honestly, I was spending way too much time on repetitive tasks that could be automated.

I'm not one of those who were unhappy with the complexity and price of Adobe Premiere Pro. One Reddit user wrote that “My main complaint with Premiere is that, at the end of the day, it just ends up wasting a lot of my time. Five minutes here and there to restart the program or computer, to close and open a project to get some feature to work, it all adds up”.

Another video creator also encountered difficulties with Premiere Pro, complaining about its price and crashes. “I think that the program it's a very powerful editor when it works, but I don't know why it's getting worse and worse with each upgrade, and it's just getting super frustrating. It's not a cheap subscription to have, and it's just only sad that I can't work faster because of the program crashing all the time or not working correctly”.

Okay, guys, for everyone who is in the same boat with us, here's how I've restructured my entire video production process using Premiere Pro alternatives available at Setapp.

App	Task	Result
iShowU	Screen recording with face overlay	Eliminated 2-3 hours of post-production background removal per tutorial
VidCap	Subtitle generation and styling	Reduced captioning time from 2-3 hours to 20 minutes per project
Camera Bag Pro	Color correction and grading	Cut color work from 45 minutes to 10 minutes for standard projects
SnapMotion	Thumbnail and frame extraction	Reduced thumbnail creation from 30 minutes to 5 minutes
Hustl	Timelapse creation for social media	Automated process that previously took 1-2 hours of manual editing

Using these apps as part of a single $9.99/month + tax subscription, I can create a full-fledged, high-quality video, and I'm going to show you how.

iShowU: My screen recording Adobe Premiere alternative

For tutorial creation and product demos, iShowU, included in Setapp, replaced my old QuickTime-based journey. Previously, I'd record with QuickTime, import into Premiere, and spend ages keying out backgrounds or dealing with inconsistent lighting. Now I just use iShowU’s AI background removal feature and save hours of mundane work.

iShowU screen recording

What I like most:

AI-powered background removal that works in real-time
Smart face overlay positioning that analyzes screen content
Preset profiles that eliminate setup time
Professional-quality recordings without post-production

Price: Included in Setapp for $9.99/mo+tax, along with 260+ other apps.

VidCap: The Premiere Pro alternative for subtitles

Since I found VidCap in the Setapp collection, I can now create subtitle templates for each of my regular clients. When a new project comes in, I just apply the appropriate template, and VidCap handles the rest. What used to take 2-3 hours now takes 20 minutes.

Captioning used to be my least favorite part of video editing. I'd either spend hours manually typing subtitles in Premiere or pay for expensive transcription services. This Setapp tool changed everything.

VidCap susbtitles generating

What I like most:

High accuracy rates, especially with technical terminology
Customizable templates for different clients and projects
Direct editing capabilities without round-tripping to other apps
Faster processing times in comparison to Adobe Premiere Pro

“I used to create subtitles on my phone, send the file to my Mac, and spend a lot of time trying to make a proper video out of it. But with VidCap, I can finally create subtitles right on my Mac, exactly the way I want them. The subtitles look professional and clean, without the typical mobile app limitations” shares Alina Shevchenko, video editor, director of photography.

Price: Included in Setapp for $9.99/mo+tax, along with 260+ other apps.

Camera Bag Pro: Adobe Premiere alternative for color grading

For client work that doesn't require extensive color grading, Camera Bag Pro is my go-to from the Setapp collection. I can enhance footage quality in minutes rather than getting lost in Premiere's extensive color panels. The interface of this Premiere Pro alternative is so intuitive that I can apply adjustments quickly during fast-paced editing sessions.

СameraBag Pro color grading

What I like most:

Intuitive filter system that's faster than Premiere's Lumetri
Real-time preview without rendering delays
Wide range of filters and creative effects
Professional results with just a few clicks

Price: Included in Setapp for $9.99/mo+tax, along with 260+ other apps.

SnapMotion: Premiere Pro alternative for frame extraction

I use SnapMotion for creating YouTube thumbnails, client presentation materials, and visual references. The precision and speed are unmatched compared to Premiere's clunky frame export process. All I do is import my video, choose the exact frame I want, and extract it – simple as that.

Snapmotion frame extraction

What I like most:

Full resolution output without quality loss
Precise frame selection tools
Perfect shots extracted in seconds
No messy manual pauses or cropping needed

Price: Included in Setapp for $9.99/mo+tax, along with 260+ other apps.

Hustl: Adobe Premiere Pro alternative for timelapse creation

The insights Hustl provides about my workflow patterns have actually helped me optimize my work habits. Plus, the timelapses I create serve as excellent marketing content for my services. The ability to focus only on specific apps or parts of my screen keeps recordings clean and distraction-free.

Documenting creative processes and creating behind-the-scenes content has become a huge part of my business. This Adobe Premiere Pro alternative, included in Settap, makes professional timelapses effortless.

Hustl timelaps creation

What I like most:

Selective screen recording (only capture what matters)
Pause and resume functionality for long sessions
Up to 8K export resolution
Customizable aspect ratios and frame rates

Price: Included in Setapp for $9.99/mo+tax, along with 260+ other apps.

Final words on Adobe Premiere Pro alternatives from Setapp

With Premiere Pro alternatives, I can complete specialized tasks faster and more efficiently. I record the screen with iShowU, use VidCap for subtitles and Camera Bag Pro for color, which increases efficiency in post-production. SnapMotion is my go-to tool for thumbnails, and Hustl for timelapses.

However, I still continue to combine these apps with the functionality of Premiere Pro. It remains my main tool for complex editing and assembly and advanced motion graphics. In the future, I plan to explore more apps from the Setapp collection for video editors and share my insights on the blog. Stay tuned.