Software

Codecs

In its libavcodec library, FFmpeg provides an AVCHD decoder which is used for example by ffdshow, a free , open source codec set for Microsoft Windows. 

CoreAVC is a Windows H.264 decoder, which can decode both AVCHD and a number of other H.264 formats. 

Using libavcodec, Gstreamer decodes AVCHD on Linux, BSD, OS / X, Windows and Solaris 

Transformers 

Badaboom is a media converter that uses NVIDIA GPUs to expedite AVCHD conversion to mobile devices. 

HandBrake converts AVCHD Lite format to MP4 and MKV (tested on macOS; other available versions), and AVI and OGM are supported before 0.9.4. 

Roxio Toast 10 Titanium converts AVCHD to most formats on a macOS.

Total Video Converter is a converter for most video formats including AVCHD conversion and AVCHD disk burning. 

VideoGo iDealshare can convert AVCHD to MP4, ProRes, MOV, AVI, WMV, FLV, MKV, VOB etc. 

Publishers 

Support for AVCHD format is provided in the following video editing software: 

On certain cameras / camcorders, apple iMovie. 

Adobe Premiere Pro (running from version CS4). (Native version of Creative Cloud 2013 supports AVCHD Dolby Digital.) 

Version 10 supports AVCHD output, Adobe Premiere Elements (version 7 through 9 only supports import, no AVCHD output). 

Avidemux Video Editor for both Windows and Linux 

Apple Final Cut Pro X supports AVCHD natively via Camera Import.

Full Apple Cut Pro to macOS. Final Cut Pro 7's new version reports greater integration with other technical applications from Apple, and enhanced codec support for editing HD, DV, and SD video formats, including encoding options for devices such as iPod, Apple TV, and Blu-ray discs. 

Apple Final Cut Express 4, Final Cut Pro 6.0.1, and iMovie '08-'09 (iMovie is included with all new Apple PCs; Final Cut Express and Pro are sold separately) do not allow direct editing of AVCHD video. 

Imported AVCHD clips are automatically converted to the Apple Intermediate Codec format, which requires more hard disk space (40 GB per hour versus 13.5 GB per hour for Standard Definition DV), a more powerful machine (an Intel-based Mac), and a more recent OS (Mac OS X 10.5). By default, Final Cut Pro 6.0.5 "logs and transfers" the footage from AVCHD to AppleProRes and also gives the option to convert to the Apple Intermediate Codec. It does not allow native transferring or direct editing of the * .m2ts clips. Apple's latest iLife suite update (specifically, iMovie) has added support for Lite AVCHD cameras.

When attaching a supported camera to the computer, it automatically imports AVCHD files, and can import older MTS or M2TS files that have been rewrapped as m4v, for example. 

AVCHD is supported by Avid Media Composer (version 5.x and later) via transcode import. AMA connecting can be found in Avid Media Composer 6 when installing a special AMA plugin from the Avid download centre. 

AVS Video Editor supports videos from HD cameras (incl. AVCHD, MPEG-2 HD and WMV HD), TOD, MOD, M2TS.) to CD-R / RW, DVD+/-R, DVD+/-RW, DVD-RAM, Double / Dual Layer on Windows XP, 2003, Vista, 7 (not supporting macOS / Linux).

Blender uses an FFmpeg decoder to support the AVCHD format. Blender has a video editing program that is little known and incorporated with its 3D editing software. This supports up to 25 percent scaling of proxy editing, which helps when editing sluggish AVCHD images. 

Corel VideoStudio supports AVCHD format import, make, and burn in Windows system. 

Cyberlink PowerDirector 11 is capable of natively editing AVCHD 2.0 3D / Progressive, without transcoding, intermediate or proxy file formats. AVCHD clips can be edited and output losslessly to AVCHD or Blu-ray Disk using patented technique (SVRT).

PowerDirector also supports acceleration of the OpenCL encoding on graphics platforms Intel, AMD, and nVidia. The finished film can be output by PowerDirector in a number of video formats, DVD, AVCHD on Cd, removable storage unit, SD / SDHC / SDXC memory card, memory stick or blu-ray disc. 

Dayang Serious Montage [ME] 1.2 

Elecard AVC HD Editor AVC HD Editor provides reordering, trimming and merging of AVCHD clips with no transcoding requirement. 

Grass Valley Edius from 5.5 up to 9.5 (current) and historically Edius Neo from 2 up to 3.5 but not on current versions of Windows. 

Kdenlive Platforms for Linux and BSD

For Windows and Linux Lightworks, starting with version 11.1. AVCHD support is available in both Free and Pro versions but when importing AVCHD files, the free version includes transcoding to a different format. 

Microsoft Windows Live Movie Maker 2011 (part of the Windows Live Essentials package) converts to a lower editing and playback resolution, but is able to export to HD. 

Nero Ultra Edition Enhanced includes the Nero Vision editor and the Nero Showtime set, all of which support AVCHD files. NeroVision can use AVCHD format to author DVDs. 

Openshot Linux Video Editor 

Pinnacle Studio Plus (running version 11)

Ulead Video Studio 11 has announced support for MTS / M2TS, but many user reports that this statement is completely wrong and the editor is unable to import video from that format, let alone edit. 

VSDC Video Editor is Free 

Linux Video Editor Pitivi 

7.0e to Sony Vegas 

Sony Vegas Pro (running from version 8) 

Sony Vegas Movie Studio Platinum (running from version 8) 

Other developers have pledged support but implementation may still take some time. 

Codecs which are open source

Tryouts ffdshow, revision 1971 May 23, 2008, decodes AVC (H.264) video format. 

Libavcodec (part of the FFmpeg project) is a library of codecs supporting AVCHD. This is most commonly used in Jahshaka and Blender.