This question comes up a lot — especially if you’re new to video editing or switching software.
I’ve seen it on Reddit, Instagram comments, YouTube community posts, and even in DMs:
“Premiere Pro is buggy.”
I used to believe that too.
But after years of editing and using Premiere Pro in different ways, my perspective has changed. This blog isn’t here to defend Adobe or attack any other software. It’s simply my honest experience — what went wrong, what worked, and what I learned along the way.
When I thought Premiere Pro was buggy
When I was learning video editing, I was using pirated versions of Premiere Pro. At that time, crashes felt normal. The app would freeze, timelines would lag, and sometimes projects wouldn’t even open.
Back then, I genuinely believed Premiere Pro was unstable.
But here’s the honest part — after I purchased the official license and started using the genuine version, it hasn’t crashed on me till now. That’s not theory. That’s real usage.
This doesn’t mean Adobe is perfect. It just means a lot of my early problems weren’t coming from the software itself.
Why people think Premiere Pro is buggy
Premiere Pro has one of the largest editing communities in the world. And that’s actually part of the problem.
Whenever we face an error, the first thing we do is search for it online. We land on Reddit threads, forum posts, and YouTube comments. Seeing hundreds of people discuss the same issue makes it feel like everyone is facing it.
That creates a perception that the software itself is broken.
In reality, what we’re seeing is volume — not necessarily frequency. A large user base means every error will be documented somewhere.
Hardware misunderstanding
One of the biggest misconceptions around Premiere Pro is hardware.
Most people think investing in a powerful GPU will solve everything. While a good GPU helps with certain effects, Premiere Pro is far more CPU-oriented than many editors realize.
A strong CPU matters more than an expensive GPU in most editing workflows. RAM also plays a bigger role than people expect, and fast SSD storage is no longer optional.
Once I understood how Premiere actually uses hardware, my expectations became realistic — and stability improved naturally.
Codecs (this matters more than you think)
If you’re on Windows and editing HEVC footage, chances are you’ve experienced stutters or lag. HEVC is a highly compressed codec, and Premiere has to decode it live while you edit.
That decoding process can slow things down, especially on mid-range systems.
The solution here is proxies. Proxies create low‑resolution copies of your footage so you can edit smoothly, while Premiere uses the original high‑resolution files during export.
In my case, I use macOS. Editing HEVC footage on Mac has been smooth enough that I rarely need proxies. This shows how much codecs and operating systems influence performance.
Pirated plugins
Social media plays a big role here.
We see cool effects on Instagram or YouTube Shorts, download a pirated plugin, and install it without thinking twice. Some of these plugins work fine. Others don’t.
Pirated or poorly maintained plugins can cause random lags, glitches, or crashes — sometimes immediately, sometimes weeks later.
That’s why I now prefer installing plugins only from official sources. It’s not about morality; it’s about reliability.
Pirated Premiere Pro (honest take)
Using a pirated version for learning is something many people do, and I understand why. But once you start earning money from editing, sticking to a cracked version becomes a liability.
Pirated builds often break updates, background services, and codec support. You lose time fixing problems instead of editing.
I’m not a fan of subscriptions either, but I also use other apps from the Adobe suite like After Effects and Photoshop. For my workflow, the cost makes sense.
Some real, minor bugs
Now, to be fair — Premiere Pro does have issues.
Dynamic Link can be unstable at times. Recently, Adobe acquired Film Impact plugins, and the GPU-based effects still have a few minor problems.
But these are not deal-breakers. Most of them improve with updates, and they rarely affect day-to-day editing if your workflow is structured.
Premiere Pro vs other software
There are three major editing softwares dominating the industry today. Each has its strengths and weaknesses.
For the sake of this discussion, Premiere Pro stands out because:
- Its learning curve is relatively easier
- It has strong demand in the job market
- It has a massive community
That community ensures one important thing — solutions exist for almost every issue.
My take (personal verdict)
Premiere Pro works best for structured workflows. It’s not ideal for low-end systems or rushed, unplanned editing habits.
But if you’re serious about video editing as a skill or a career, Premiere Pro usually gives more return than what you invest in it — both financially and professionally.
Watch the video version
If you prefer watching instead of reading, I’ve also shared a detailed video version of this topic on YouTube.
In the video, I talk through my experience more personally — including what went wrong when I was learning, why I stopped blaming Premiere Pro, and what actually helped me reduce crashes in real projects.
👉 Watch the full video here:
If you’ve ever felt frustrated with Premiere Pro, I’d recommend watching the video alongside this blog — it adds context that’s hard to fully capture in text.
Final thoughts
Premiere Pro isn’t perfect — and it probably never will be.
But in my experience, most of the frustration around it doesn’t come from the software alone. It usually comes from how we use it: our hardware choices, the codecs we edit with, rushed workflows, or relying on pirated tools.
Once I understood how Premiere Pro is designed to work — and adjusted my setup and habits around that — it became far more stable and predictable.
If you respect the workflow, Premiere Pro can be a powerful tool that actually supports your growth as an editor. And if it doesn’t fit your current system or style, that’s okay too. Choosing the right tool is part of the learning process.
Thanks for reading. If you have a topic you’d like me to break down next, feel free to share it.