Although serious creators still prefer full-size PCs for editing social videos, increasingly capable mobile video editing apps make it possible to do some of this work on a smartphone. Several of these apps are template-based, meaning all you have to do to create a compelling final product is select photos and video clips. Others give you nearly as much control as sophisticated desktop video editing software, with tools for audio editing, motion effects, overlays, and time remapping. Free versions are available for some apps, but it's usually worth paying a few dollars to access the best features. Below are our picks for the best mobile video editing apps, along with why they stand out and what platforms you can use them on.
Overview
-
Jump To Details
Best Full-Power Mobile Video Editing AppCyberLink PowerDirector
-
Jump To Details
Best for Premiere UsersAdobe Premiere
-
Jump To Details
Best for iPhone UsersApple iMovie
-
Jump To Details
Best for Instagram UsersEdits, an Instagram App
-
Jump To Details
Best Interface and WorkflowSplice
-
Jump To Details
Best for Pro Video Editing FeaturesVN
-
Jump To Details
Best for Standard Video EditsYouCut
-
Jump To Details
Best for Multi-Track EditingLumaFusion
-
Jump To Details
Best for Video Compilations and CollagesInShot
-
Jump To Details
Best for Audio Features and Remixing VideosKineMaster
You Can Trust Our Reviews
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
-
Credit: CyberLink
Best Full-Power Mobile Video Editing AppCyberLink PowerDirector
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Just like its desktop counterpart, the mobile version of PowerDirector offers a wide range of editing tools, effects, templates, and transitions. You can create projects in vertical or horizontal aspect ratios and add titles and soundtracks. Subscribers have access to stock footage from Getty and Pixabay. You get nearly all the same tools from the desktop program, including animated text titles, chroma-keying, overlays with transparency, and even effect keyframing. Particularly useful for mobile is the Fit & Fill tool, which makes reformatting horizontal content to vertical, and vice versa, a snap. PowerDirector also has adjustment effect layers, an advanced crop tool, auto-captioning, and templates for business social posts, Instagram videos, and vlogs. You can use the app for free; however, a subscription is required to access additional features and remove the watermark.
Platforms: Android and iOS
Who It's For
Intermediate and advanced editors: Features such as chroma keying, keyframing, masking, motion tracking, multitrack editing, and video overlays should appeal if you are an advanced video editor.
Marketers: A huge collection of templates and convenient access to a large library of stock content make social marketers' jobs easier. The app is also easy to use.
Social media posters: Thanks to all its effects, titles, stock content, and transitions, PowerDirector Mobile has the juice to keep your followers glued to their mobile screens.
Specs & Configurations
Exports to H.265 (HEVC) Motion Tracking Multicam Editing Number of Video Tracks 100 Supports 360° VR Content Supports 4K XAVC-S Format Learn More CyberLink PowerDirector 365 Review -
-
Best for Premiere UsersAdobe Premiere
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
The mobile version of Adobe's class-leading pro video editing software is available on iOS to start, but the company plans to bring it to Android (now in beta). The app features multitrack timeline editing, along with audio editing, and advanced color and text effects. It's free to download, though a paid account ($7.99 per month or $69.99 per year) provides you with generative credits for AI-based image expansion, image-to-video, sound generation, text-to-image, and text-to-sticker features.
Platform: iOS
Who It's For
Professional video editors: Projects created in the app are compatible with Premiere on the desktop, allowing professionals to easily transition between the two platforms. That's extremely convenient if you need to work away from your desk.
Social media creators: If you tend to post your videos on social media, you should appreciate that the app integrates with YouTube for direct posting and includes animated text and sticker overlay capabilities.
Specs & Configurations
Exports to H.265 (HEVC) Keyword Tag Media Motion Tracking Multicam Editing Number of Video Tracks Unlimited Supports 360° VR Content Supports 4K XAVC-S Format Learn More Adobe Premiere Review -
-
Credit: Apple
Best for iPhone UsersApple iMovie
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
The iMovie app lets you perform standard video joining and trimming tasks, as well as tackle more advanced edits, such as green-screen compositing and speed adjustments. We especially like the Storyboards feature, which shows you exactly what kind of shots to insert to create a compelling video. Another recommended feature is Magic Movie, which automatically trims clips and adds background music, titles, and transitions. A significant advantage is that you can continue editing projects on a Mac using iMovie or Final Cut Pro.
Platforms: iOS
Who It's For
Apple households: iMovie lets you transfer video projects between mobile devices and desktops. If you tend to edit on multiple devices, a consistent experience on both desktop and mobile should improve your workflow.
iPhone videographers: The app uniquely supports proprietary iPhone features, such as Cinematic video. You won't find that support on any other app.
Specs & Configurations
Exports to H.265 (HEVC) Keyword Tag Media Number of Video Tracks 2 Supports 4K XAVC-S Format Learn More Apple iMovie Review -
-
Best for Instagram UsersEdits, an Instagram App
Why We Picked It
Edits, an Instagram app, is one of the clearest and simplest video editing apps I've seen, still managing to pack a lot of power. It supports chroma-keying (aka green screen), multitrack overlays, stickers, voice-overs, and even motion tracking for overlays. You can record video or audio right from the app or add prerecorded media for editing. The app allows you to set the resolution and frame rate, as well as select between HDR and SDR color. You get background removal for video subjects and can even animate images with generative AI. A generous selection of sound effects and soundtracks is at your disposal, too. All these tools are completely free. Although the app integrates with Instagram for exporting and engagement reporting, it saves edited video projects directly to your phone, allowing you to use them anywhere. The one downside? It creates only vertical videos; that's fine for mobile social platforms, but not much else.
Platform: Android and iOS
Who It's For
Instagram posters: As its name suggests, Edits ties in beautifully with Instagram. If that's your social media platform of choice, no other app does a better job of getting your videos ready for posting.
Vertical video editors: You don't need to share videos you edit in the app on Instagram: Your vertical-only productions work on other mobile outlets as well. The sheer number of cool effects available to apply should keep your viewers engaged.
Learn More Edits, an Instagram App Review -
Best Interface and WorkflowSplice
Why We Picked It
Splice has one of the slickest interfaces of any mobile video editing app, with a clear workflow and all the tools you could want. You can easily create chroma keys, masks, picture-in-picture overlays (with transparency), and speed changes. The app supports HDR output. Nifty transitions are at your disposal, as well as glitch and vintage effects, and tons of text styles. You don’t get quite as many objects to overlay or as much stock content as with PowerDirector’s mobile app, though Splice's music library is excellent. The price is on the steep side, however.
Platforms: Android and iOS
Who It's For
Aspiring pro video editors: Splice packages a lot of pro-level features in a clear interface that even beginners can grok. The catch is that you must pay a high price to unlock everything.
Influencers: If you regularly post to Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube, you can rely on Splice to produce polished videos with effects like Ken Burns. A wide choice of royalty-free background soundtracks can add to your creations, too.
Learn More Splice Review -
Best for Pro Video Editing FeaturesVN
Why We Picked It
VN (Vlog Now) has one of the most professional interfaces of the apps in this roundup. You start by choosing your output dimensions—Instagram reels, YouTube video, and so on—but you can change that after editing. When you start a project manually, you specify whether it should be video-based or music-based (the app even has a beat-matching feature). Pick from a generous set of templates or start from scratch with your content. It's a very rich app that can add keyframes, motion tracking, picture-in-picture tracks, speed curves, and titles and captions. It even integrates with ChatGPT and other AI content generators. A large library of music backgrounds is available for download; many of the tracks are free, thanks to SoundCloud. You receive 100 projects for free, with no watermarks on the output. However, upgrading to VN Pro removes this limit and unlocks additional templates and stock media. The one caveat for VN is that its power makes it less clear and simple to use compared to some other options here.
Platforms: Android and iOS
Who It's For
Free users: VN provides a generous (but not unlimited) number of free exports with no watermarks. You can produce dozens of videos before you have to pay.
Serious video editors: VN targets serious editors. Its interface is almost as complex as that of pro video editing software, so you should expect a significant learning curve.
Learn More VN Review -
Best for Standard Video EditsYouCut
Why We Picked It
YouCut is a clear, capable, and affordable video editing app. In addition to the standard clip joining, splitting, and trimming tools, you get cool background music, effects, filters, picture-in-picture, speedup/slowdown, text overlay, and transition options. A significant portion of this functionality is available for free, and the app doesn't watermark your creations like many free video editors do; however, it does rely on ads. For just $19.99 per year, you get a whole lot more filters and effects. There's even a tool to generate custom backgrounds to convert a horizontal shot into a square or vertical aspect ratio. When you save a file to your phone's local storage, you can set the frame rate, quality level, and resolution (up to 4K) with sliders. Then, you can share your creations via any social app.
Platforms: Android and iOS
Who It's For
New editors: Despite its deep feature set, YouCut is simple to learn and use. And it's free, with no watermarks.
Social media users: This app is a great choice for frequent TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube users who need to perform quick edits with music, text, and transitions.
Learn More YouCut Review -
Best for Multi-Track EditingLumaFusion
Why We Picked It
LumaFusion offers multitrack video and audio editing with high-level capabilities, including color correction, chroma keying, keyframing, and speed ramping. The app has a one-time price, but some features also require an in-app purchase. Alternatively, LumaTouch's Creator Pass subscription gets you a lot of stock audio and video content, along with all premium features. The Android app is compatible with Chromebooks as well as smartphones. The number of features and their depth make some interface elements appear small on the phone, and the app lacks advanced AI effects, but it compensates for these downsides with near-professional-level video editing tools.
Platforms: Android and iOS
Who It's For
Budding video editors: The app offers a good selection of professional-level features that give budding video editors a taste of what the field is like.
Chromebook users: LumaFusion works just as well on Chromebooks as on Android, meaning you can easily work on your projects across several platforms. That's helpful if you want to view your creation on a larger screen than your phone.
Learn More LumaFusion Review -
Best for Video Compilations and CollagesInShot
Why We Picked It
InShot is a fun app that lets you produce not only video compilations but also collages and photo edits. When you start, simple help tips guide you through splitting and trimming clips, swapping clip positions, and zooming in on the timeline. One of InShot's strengths is that it provides a variety of stickers to overlay on your videos, in addition to text. It also lets you easily position overlays by dragging the item around with a finger. Cropping, masking, picture-in-picture, and speed-changing tools—including one-click freeze frame—are all at your disposal, along with a generous selection of transition styles. Surprisingly, the app even offers keyframe editing, which lets you animate effects. Background music is available to add from a decent library of stock content; however, no stock library of images is provided. The app is free, but it includes ads and watermarks on your final creations. You can remove ads and watermarks (as well as get more effects and stickers) for a monthly or annual fee.
Platforms: Android and iOS
Who It's For
Family video sharers: Thanks to all its stickers and other fun effects, InShot should appeal if you like to share event and vacation videos with your family. Video editing doesn't always have to be a serious pursuit, after all.
Seekers of a powerful free app: Despite all its powerful capabilities, some of which approach those of pro video editing solutions, InShot is free. You just have to deal with ads and watermarks.
Learn More InShot Review -
Best for Audio Features and Remixing VideosKineMaster
Why We Picked It
KineMaster allows you not only to edit your own videos but also to download other people's projects to remix them. Start with either a horizontal or vertical aspect ratio, and then apply standard video editing effects, overlays, splits, trims, and transitions. You can also reverse or change the speed of videos, as well as add panning, rotation, and zoom effects. Text options include a good selection of fonts, and you can apply animations, too. KineMaster comes with chroma keying, color filters, and a surprising array of audio effects and soundtrack options. It's essentially a comprehensive desktop video editing package that runs on your phone, featuring an interface that doesn't feel cramped. The free version of the app watermarks your work, but you can unlock premium assets and watermark-free exports for $44.99 per year.
Platforms: Android and iOS
Who It's For
Audio enthusiasts: The app boasts strong audio editing capabilities, along with a diverse selection of stock effects and soundtracks. Audio is a vital aspect of any video project, and KineMaster provides the tools you need.
Remixers: If you enjoy the idea of a community that allows you to edit and remix other users' videos, KineMaster is for you. You might find some creative inspiration from others.
Learn More KineMaster Review
Compare Specs
Our Pick | |||||||||||||
Rating |
5.0 Exemplary |
4.5 Outstanding |
4.0 Excellent |
5.0 Exemplary |
4.5 Outstanding |
4.0 Excellent | |||||||
Best For | Best Full-Power Mobile Video Editing App | Best for Premiere Users | Best for iPhone Users | Best for Instagram Users | Best Interface and Workflow | Best for Pro Video Editing Features | Best for Standard Video Edits | Best for Multi-Track Editing | Best for Video Compilations and Collages | Best for Audio Features and Remixing Videos | Best Full-Power Mobile Video Editing App | Best for Premiere Users | Best for iPhone Users |
Supports 4K XAVC-S Format | |||||||||||||
Supports 360° VR Content | |||||||||||||
Number of Video Tracks | 100 | Unlimited | 2 | 100 | Unlimited | 2 | |||||||
Multicam Editing | |||||||||||||
Motion Tracking | |||||||||||||
Keyword Tag Media | |||||||||||||
Exports to H.265 (HEVC) |
