Using a video editing app is critical for creating a winning video marketing strategy. And if you're reading this blog post, chances are you already know you should incorporate more video content into your marketing, especially after the rise of remote work.
But like most new strategies, you’ll need to prove its ROI before you get a budget. And that can be tricky because to make a great video, you need a few things — like a camera and editing software. You might already have a high-quality camera built into your smartphone, but editing your raw footage and preparing it for publication requires a third-party mobile app. You might even need to hop on the computer for the more extensive post-production projects.
The good news: There are several free and inexpensive video editing apps you can download that run the gamut from super simple to Hollywood-level powerful. In this post we will delve into the best video apps for every device and click one of the links below to jump to a specific type of app, or keep reading to learn about them all.
- Instagram Video Editing Apps
- Top Free Video Editing Software
- Best Video Editing Apps for YouTube
- Video Editing Apps for Android
Editing Apps for Videos: Standard Features
Every editing app will be different, but there are a few features you’ll want to look for. Because most apps will have a free and paid version, it’s important to know what’s essential and what might be worth an upgrade.
For every video app whether paid or free, it will include:
- Scrubbing through video as you edit.
- Choosing an aspect ratio that fits with your target platform [Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, TikTok, etc.].
- Adding text and shapes along with professional transitions throughout the shots.
- Exporting video with at least 480p quality with high definition exports up to 4k.
- Adding music to the video via stock music or your library.
The following solutions can help you make video magic — whether your video is meant for Instagram, YouTube, or a similar channel where your audience is hungry for content.
- Magisto
- Hyperlapse
- Wondershare Filmora
- InShot
- WeVideo
- Splice
- Adobe Premiere Rush
- PicPlayPost
- Blender
- Lightworks
- Shotcut
- VSDC Free Video Editor
- Machete Video Editor Lite
- Avidemux
- HitFilm
- Wideo
- VideoShow
- PowerDirector
- Quik
- KineMaster
- VivaVideo
Instagram Video Editing Apps
The following apps allow you to edit and quickly upload beautiful videos to Instagram. None of these apps are limited to Instagram but are known for their support of this social network.
1. Magisto
Price: Starts at free | Platforms: iOS, Android, Online
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Video automation is here — in the form of the Magisto video editor.
Owned by Vimeo, Magisto allows you to make incredible videos without ever leaving your smartphone in three easy steps: First, you'll choose your video editing style [the type of story you're telling], then you'll choose the photos and video clips you'd like included, and lastly, you'll pick your music from Magisto's built-in music library.
Using artificial intelligence [AI], this intuitive app helps organize your footage in a video that best delivers the message you have in mind. Why not stop at the free version? Upgrade to Premium or Professional for a small monthly fee and make longer movies with more of your own content.
Pros
- Easy-to-use templates for hassle-free creation
- Intuitive, beginner-friendly interface
- Online version available for creating both on Windows and macOS laptops
- Professional and Business plans come with a free Vimeo Pro subscription
Cons
- The “Created with Magisto” watermark will be visible unless you upgrade to premium
- No multi-track editing or 4K exporting
- Ideal for very short social media videos [< 3 minutes long]
- Stock videos are only accessible with a Professional plan
2. Hyperlapse
Price: Free | Platforms: iOS
Hyperlapse is an app created by Instagram itself that condenses videos into brief, hyper-speed videos that you can upload to Instagram or Facebook.
You can choose among a few different speeds, and the app will show you how long the hyperlapse video will be for every speed in comparison to the length of the video in real-time. [So a 40-second video in real-time will become roughly a 7-second video in Hyperlapse at 6X speed.] It's a cool way to capture something that usually lasts a while — like a sunset or an event setup.
See what happened when I used Hyperlapse to film daybreak at 12X in the video above.
Pros
- It's an easy way to speed up process videos.
- Use a minimal layout that’s nearly identical to the iPhone camera.
- You can capture videos straight from the app.
- No sign-in is required to get started.
Cons
- It only has one capability: speeding up videos
- You can’t import already-filmed videos into the app
- The video saves to your camera roll, taking up storage space
- No multi-track editing, 4K exporting, or other features typically associated with apps for video editing
3. Wondershare Filmora
Price: Starts at free on mobile | Platforms: iOS, Android, macOS, Windows
Wondershare Filmora [formerly Wondershare Video Editor] is the perfect option if you want to start with basic video editing functionality with the opportunity to get more advanced as you go. The app is perfect for Instagram but can create audience-ready videos for numerous platforms.
Filmora is available for Windows and Mac computers, whereas the company's FilmoraGo mobile app is free to download for both iOS and Android devices.
Filmora's "Easy Mode" strips away the complexity so you can drag and drop video clips, add some music, and produce a finished video in a matter of minutes. The FilmoraGo app has many of these features, plus an Effect Store where you can incorporate preset intros, themes, and transitions into your video creation.
Sounds too good to be true? Well, you're right: The free version of Wondershare Filmora adds a watermark to your videos that you can only remove through upgrading to their paid service.
Pros
- This app is a powerful option for both beginner and advanced video editors.
- The desktop version offers multi-track editing and more traditional video editing capabilities.
- The mobile version includes easy-to-use effects, stickers, and filters.
- You can layer music and different sounds in the mobile app.
- Relatively affordable [starting at less than $50 per year for Filmora X, and free for the mobile app] compared to competitors such as Adobe.
Cons
- The desktop apps are not free, but a trial is available.
- Videos are watermarked with the Wondershare branding unless you upgrade to a premium plan.
4. InShot
Price: Starts at free | Platforms: iOS, Android
There are times when you just want to edit a video — no fancy collages and no splicing. For that, there's InShot, a handy app that lets you trim, speed up, or add music and filters to video. It's pretty fundamental, but with that comes a high ease of use. You can also add a background if you like, though we think it's pretty cool to have an overlap of images — like we did with the video above.
I took a simple video of a tranquil beach scene, but enhanced it with InShot's "warm filter" and added a fitting musical track to it — a song called "Pikake Stream," by Kalani. [I recommend viewing the video in its entirety with headphones, especially if you're having a stressful day.]
Pros
- It's a great app for beginners and marketers who don’t have a lot of time for intensive video editing.
- Built-in music library with royalty-free options.
- You can add voice-overs and your music.
- The app has a 4.8-star rating on the Apple Store and over 1M ratings.
Cons
- There's no desktop app available.
- Filters and stickers are only available with a paid subscription.
- Your video will be watermarked unless you upgrade to the paid version.
Top Free Video Editing Software
The following tools are the most versatile mobile apps of all the free software listed in this article.
1. WeVideo
Price: Starts at free | Platforms: iOS, Android, Chrome OS
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Cloud-based video editing software [i.e., software that you access via a browser instead of downloading directly to your hard drive] is growing more and more popular. One of the programs leading the charge is WeVideo.
WeVideo offers some advanced features and functionality, including audio editing capabilities, a library of commercially licensed music, and the ability to share videos in 4K resolution. However, the free version of WeVideo isn't without its limitations.
One major downside is that you're only given 10GB of cloud storage. If you're making a one-off video, this is fine. But if you're planning to edit multiple videos, you'll need more space. The free version also puts a WeVideo watermark on your videos, which isn't ideal.
WeVideo is also available as a desktop computer product and comes with free and paid plans. For a complete breakdown of the differences between these plans, check out WeVideo's pricing page.
Pros
- You can access your videos from any device
- Paid versions are relatively cheap [starting at $4.99 for the Power version]
- 4K exporting available
Cons
- Only 10GB of storage and 5 minutes of published video are available on the free version
- The maximum resolution is 480p on the free subscription
- Your video will be watermarked with WeVideo’s branding unless you upgrade
2. Splice
Price: Free | Platforms: iOS
Splice allows you — as the name suggests — to splice together different video clips on your phone to create a moving collage.
We had a lot of fun playing with this one, especially since Splice even contains a library of musical tracks that can be used as a background for your finished product. You can also use the app to trim and edit the different pieces of video and customize transition lengths from one scene to the next.
My colleague, Amanda Zantal-Wiener, experimented with Splice by compiling the above 15-second video of her dog — using only an iPhone 6.
Pros
- Easy and intuitive to use
- Familiar user-friendly interface
- Multi-track and timeline editing with layers and masks
- No sign-in required
- No watermark, even for free subscribers
Cons
- Subscription starts at $2.99/week, or $12.97/month, which is pricier than other alternatives
- Effects and music are only available for paid subscribers
3. Adobe Premiere Rush
Price: Free | Platforms: iOS, Android
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Adobe's popular video editor, Premiere, isn't just available on your mobile device — it's free.
Melissa Stoneburner of Examiner.com calls this app a "gateway" into the full Adobe Premiere Pro video editor for desktop, and we can see this for ourselves. Similar to Magisto [the first video editor on our list], Adobe Rush automatically sets your video to the music of your choice [using Premiere Rush’s library or your own], and offers a Freeform editor that allows you to customize your edits further after this initial audio sync.
Premiere Rush's equally robust video editing features help you trim, drag, and drop multiple video and image clips — right from your mobile device's photo and video album — in the order you'd like.
Then, just add proper lighting, manipulate the speed of the video, and share your final product directly on Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube.
Pros
- It's a natural choice for current Adobe users.
- Premiere rush offers a familiar video editing interface for those with experience and an easier learning curve for beginners.
- The paid version supports 4K exports.
Cons
- Some users report exporting and crashing issues on the Android version.
- Limited storage capabilities [