Trying to find the best video editing app for Android or iPhone on a budget? If you’ve checked the Play Store or App Store for a FREE video editor app, you’ll know there are LOTS of options out there.
The good news is, free editing apps have come even further since last year’s roundup. In this review you’ll find some incredible and professional free video editor apps that rival even the paid options!
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In this guide, we’ll review the leading options for the best free video editing apps for Android, iPhone and iPad users with NO watermarks. You’ll have all the details you need to help you decide which is the best free video editor app for you!
You’ll be able to edit videos on iPhone & Android using completely free apps to create pro-level videos for YouTube and other platforms.
After all our usual research, testing and trialling of all the top free video editing apps right now, we narrowed it down to a shortlist of just two free video editors you should check out:
Both of these video editing apps have paid options, but we’ve based this on their FREE versions.
Let’s dive into the features so you can figure out which one is right for you.
Free Video Editing App #1: VN Video Editor
VN Video Editor has a really simple and easy to use interface.
If we had to pick the best video editing interface between CapCut & VN Video Editor – it’d hands down be VN Video Editor. For us, the interface is really clean, offers next level simplicity and makes it really quick to find tools.
Not only is it available on iOS and Android, there’s also a Mac version and there’s a workaround to get it working on Windows as well.
This means you can use that same app with the same interface across all of your devices. So if you’re looking for free video editing software for your computer, this is worth checking out!
PRO TIP: You can transfer your editing projects between devices but that feature is only available on the paid plan.
Top VN Video Editor Features
Some of the top features in VN Video Editor include:
- Great control over color grading
- Awesome speed ramping tools (to speed up and slow down your clips)
- Advanced keyframing (this is one big aspect where VN is better than CapCut!)
- Lots of control over export settings (much more granularity than in CapCut – you can customize video resolution, frame rate, bit rate and you can save out videos up to 4K 60 frames per second)
As you might have been able to tell, our absolute favorite thing about VN Video Editor is the interface. Not only is it fast and fluid, but we love how everything is laid out so you can have multiple video tracks on separate video layers.
This makes it really easy to jump between things like different video clips, b-roll footage, music and any other video elements. It’s more in line with traditional video editing software as opposed to options like CapCut that have a compressed timeline.
VN Video Editor Downsides
The number one downside is the ads. This isn’t surprising given it’s a free app (they do need to make money somehow!) and thankfully you can skip most of them.
You can always upgrade to the paid version if those ads get in your way too much.
On the plus side there aren’t any watermarks and VN Video Editor really doesn’t have many features behind a paywall or restricted in the free version of the app which is awesome to see.
Overall, VN Video Editor really is an awesome free video editing app and it’s amazing what you get access to without needing to spend a cent.
If you’re someone who loves to be able to dial everything in and have lots of control over tools, VN Video Editor will likely be the best option for you.
But if you’re looking for the most amount of effects, transitions, AI tools and other more advanced editing tools – the next option might suit you better.
Free Video Editing App #2: CapCut
CapCut is another free video editing app that has an simple, clean and easy to use interface. While we do think VN’s interface is nicer, CapCut’s is still great.
It’s super intuitive and quick, just like VN Video Editor.
There’s desktop versions available for both WIndows and Mac. Plus there’s an online, cloud-based version. So you can pretty much use CapCut anywhere!
Top CapCut Features
Some of the best video editing features in CapCut include:
- Amazing amount of effects and transitions
- Auto captioning (it will listen to your video, transcribe it and then add captions that you can customize up)
- Cool audio effects and background noise removal
- Camera tracking, masking, motion blur and video stabilization
- Other awesome built-in AI editing tools
Plus we love the way they’ve integrated a lot of these tools into the timeline, so that some of these effects can be added as their own layer (essentially like an adjustment layer) across multiple video clips.
This means the effects can be applied across your entire timeline really quickly!
CapCut is also adding in a bunch of other functionality to the app as well, such as a built-in camera, teleprompter and retouching tools.
CapCut Downsides
There are a few downsides when it comes to using CapCut.
More Features Being Restricted
One of the biggest downsides is that more and more features are being restricted on the free version and moved to their paid plan.
Most features and tools are still free (so it’s currently an amazing option) but who knows how this will look in the future.
Banned In Some Countries
Another big downside is that some countries have actually banned both TikTok and CapCut.
Since it’s still available in most countries, we don’t see this as a huge issue for those who have access but it is something to be aware of.
You can make your own call on whether you want to use it.
Most Built-In Music Is Copyright
When it comes to CapCut’s music there is something to be aware of. CapCut has a lot of built-in music and sound effects that you can really easily add to your video projects.
The problem is that a lot of this is copyright music, meaning if it’s posted outside of TikTok you’ll likely end up with a copyright claim or copyright strike against your content.
This really isn’t a dealbreaker for us, because we always recommend using music that you actually have the rights to use.
That’s where platforms like Artlist and Epidemic Sound are game changers. When using music from these platforms you know that you’re compliant and that you have all the right licensing.
The peace of mind this provides is well worth it.
Lack Of Control For Export Settings
CapCut doesn’t have as much control over things like the export settings.
You’re not able to dial in specific settings to really customize your video like you can in something like VN Video Editor.
Internet Connection Required For Some Tools
Some of the effects, tools and especially the AI features do require an internet connection.
So if you’re planning to edit on a plane or somewhere that you don’t have access to the internet, some of those things won’t work.
Again, not a dealbreaker but just good to keep in mind.
Best Free Video Editing Apps In 2023?
So, which is the best free video editing app in 2023?
This is a tough call! And it depends on what you’ll be editing.
For us, if we’re going to be editing some short videos for Instagram stories, Reels, Shorts or something like that – we usually jump into VN Video Editor.
But if we’re working on a project where we want to add in a bunch of effects, captions and take advantage of the AI tools – that’s when we’ll go to CapCut.
As far as we’re concerned, there’s no real clear winner. You can get great results using either video editing app.
Regardless of the price tags, these are two of the best video editing apps right now – they rival even some of the paid options.
The right one for you will come down to what you’re using it for and which interface you personally prefer.
Whether you’re after a basic video editing app or one with more advanced features, you can’t go wrong with either one.
Now that you have your free video editing app sorted so you can edit videos like a pro, if you want to learn how to master your smartphone filming so you can film better videos with your phone – check out our free Smartphone Filming Guide.
FAQ
Which is the best free app for video editing?
The best free app for video editing will come down to your particular preferences and use case. CapCut and VN Video Editor are our top video editing apps right now. Check out the full review above to find out which one is right for you.
What is the easiest video editing app and free?
CapCut and VN Video Editor are both incredibly easy to use and they both have awesome free versions!
How can I edit videos for free?
There are lots of ways you can edit videos for free! One of the best ways is using your iPhone or Android device with free video editing app. Our top picks for free editing apps in 2023 are VN Video Editor and CapCut.
Recommended Gear & Resources
Check out an up-to-date list of all the gear, software & tools we use and recommend right now at Primal Video on our resources page here!
