Cloud vs. On-Prem Editing: Pros and Cons

By 2025, editors have real choices between cloud-based and on-premise systems. Each approach offers benefits and trade-offs, and many teams use a hybrid model.

Cloud Editing

Advantages:
- Accessible from anywhere, ideal for distributed teams.
- Scales resources up or down per project.
- Integrated with cloud storage and collaboration tools. 

Challenges:
- Dependent on network quality.
- Ongoing costs can add up.
- Latency may frustrate editors in complex projects.

On-Prem Editing

Advantages:
- Low latency and predictable performance.
- Greater control over hardware and storage.
- No reliance on external providers. 

Challenges:
- Limited scalability without new investment.
- Higher upfront costs.
- Remote collaboration requires workarounds.

Hybrid Approaches

Many teams keep high-performance editing suites on-prem while using cloud for collaboration, review, or quick-turn projects. This balances reliability with flexibility.

There’s no single right answer. The best approach depends on team structure, budget, and content type. In 2025, hybrid editing is increasingly the norm.