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Video Production · head to head

VEGAS Pro vs YouTube

VEGAS Pro logo

VEGAS Pro

Video Production

Professional timeline-based video editing software from Boris FX

From
$19.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
YouTube logo

YouTube

Entertainment

Video sharing and streaming platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only YouTube has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: VEGAS Pro windows-only, with no native macOS or Linux version.; YouTube youTube Premium/Music subscriptions bill through the App Store with a stated auto-renewal clause: renewal charges are applied within 24 hours of the current period ending unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before that point, and no price figure is disclosed in the listing itself.
  • They diverge on capability: VEGAS Pro covers Timeline-based editing, YouTube covers Video hosting.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which VEGAS Pro and YouTube actually diverge.

Attributes where VEGAS Pro and YouTube differ
AttributeVEGAS ProYouTube
Starting price$19.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformswindowsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles
CategoryVideo ProductionEntertainment
FoundedUnknown2005

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in VEGAS Pro

  • Timeline-based editing
  • Color grading tools
  • Audio mixing
  • Sound Forge integration
  • VFX and compositing (Post/Suite tiers)
  • Perpetual or subscription licensing

Only in YouTube

  • Video hosting
  • Live streaming
  • Content discovery
  • Creator tools
  • Analytics
  • Google services
  • Social media
  • Creator tools

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

VEGAS Pro

  • Professional video editing on Windowsnot YouTube
  • Color grading and finishing for video projectsnot YouTube
  • Audio post-production paired with Sound Forgenot YouTube
  • Long-form video editing needing perpetual licensingnot YouTube

YouTube

  • Video sharingnot VEGAS Pro
  • Content marketingnot VEGAS Pro
  • Educationnot VEGAS Pro
  • Entertainmentnot VEGAS Pro
  • Live streamingnot VEGAS Pro

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

VEGAS Pro

  • Windows-only, with no native macOS or Linux version.
  • Subscription pricing across Edit/Post/Suite tiers can be more expensive than one-time-purchase competitors.
  • Smaller plugin/effects ecosystem compared to Adobe Premiere Pro.
  • Perpetual license versions can lag behind the latest subscription features.

YouTube

  • YouTube Premium/Music subscriptions bill through the App Store with a stated auto-renewal clause: renewal charges are applied within 24 hours of the current period ending unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before that point, and no price figure is disclosed in the listing itself.

Pricing, plan by plan

VEGAS Pro

$19.99/month
  • VEGAS Pro Edit$19.99/month
    • Core non-linear editing
    • Color grading
    • Audio tools
  • VEGAS Pro Post$29.99/month
    • Everything in Edit
    • Advanced finishing and VFX tools
  • VEGAS Pro Suite$49.99/month
    • Everything in Post
    • Full VFX and compositing suite

YouTube

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited video watching
    • Basic video uploads
    • Community features
  • YouTube Premium$11.99/month
    • Ad-free videos
    • Background play
    • YouTube Music included

Which should you pick?

Choose VEGAS Pro if

  • You need timeline-based editing.
  • You work on windows.
  • You also want color grading tools.
VEGAS Pro review

Choose YouTube if

  • You need video hosting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles.
  • You also want live streaming.
YouTube review

Questions people ask

Is VEGAS Pro or YouTube better?
Neither clearly leads. VEGAS Pro starts at $19.99/month and YouTube at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, VEGAS Pro or YouTube?
YouTube has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $19.99/month for VEGAS Pro and Free for YouTube.
Does VEGAS Pro or YouTube run on more platforms?
VEGAS Pro runs on windows. YouTube runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Gaming-consoles.
Can I use YouTube for free?
Yes. YouTube has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. VEGAS Pro starts at $19.99/month.
What is VEGAS Pro best used for?
VEGAS Pro is most often used for professional video editing on windows, color grading and finishing for video projects, audio post-production paired with sound forge, long-form video editing needing perpetual licensing. Of those, professional video editing on windows and color grading and finishing for video projects are not what YouTube is typically brought in for.
What can VEGAS Pro do that YouTube cannot?
VEGAS Pro covers Timeline-based editing, Color grading tools, Audio mixing, Sound Forge integration. YouTube covers Video hosting, Live streaming, Content discovery, Creator tools.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

VEGAS Pro: What does VEGAS Pro cost?

VEGAS Pro offers three subscription tiers: Edit at $19.99/month, Post at $29.99/month, and Suite at $49.99/month, each bundling more finishing and plugin tools than the last.

Source
YouTube: Does YouTube offer a Premium subscription?

Yes. YouTube offers a Premium subscription tier, but specific pricing details are not available in the main website footer and require visiting YouTube's dedicated Premium page.

Source
VEGAS Pro: Is there a free trial of VEGAS Pro?

Yes, Boris FX offers a free trial of VEGAS Pro that does not require a credit card to start.

Source
VEGAS Pro: Can I buy VEGAS Pro as a one-time purchase instead of a subscription?

Yes, VEGAS Pro is available as perpetual licenses priced at $399 (Edit), $599 (Post), and $799 (Suite), in addition to the monthly subscription tiers.

Source
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