These days, there’s an app for everything, even if you want to effortlessly edit videos from your iPhone or iPad.
In fact, there are so many iOS-compatible video editors available in app-form that trying to choose one can feel daunting and overwhelming. Well, that’s where we come in.
Here at Primal Video, we’ve tested all the big iOS editing apps and with our recommendations, you’ll be able to go straight from shooting to editing to uploading like a pro – all from your iPhone or iPad!
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Check out this guide to get our insight into which apps are worth downloading to edit and create quality videos. We’ll cover all our favorite apps and their features, pricing information, pros and cons for each one, and more.
So if you’re ready to edit videos with the latest and greatest iPhone apps, let’s get started!
Our Shortlist for Best iPhone Video Editing Apps
Before we dive into the top picks for best iPhone video editor, it’s worth mentioning that you’ve got plenty of choices here. But remember, we’re here to cover the best…
After rigorously testing all the most popular options, we’ve compiled this shortlist of the best video editing apps for iPhones and iPads:
A few more apps that didn’t make our shortlist this time around are AlightMotion, KineMaster, Videoleap, and PowerDirector. All of these are great options, so they deserve a shout-out and are definitely worth considering.
But for now, let’s focus on the 4 listed above.
Adobe Premiere Rush
First up on the shortlist is Adobe Premiere Rush. This is the sibling to – you could call it the “baby brother” – Adobe Premiere Pro. It’s suitable for entry-level editing, but it still packs a powerful punch with editing features and controls.
One really cool thing about Premiere Rush is that it works across all platforms and devices. That means you can edit from any device, moving from an iPhone or Android smartphone to a Mac or PC laptop and back again if that’s how you like to do things.
This is the only app that offers cross-platform capabilities, so if you foresee yourself switching between devices to edit, this is the one to go with.
In terms of the features, there’s a lot to like when it comes to Adobe Premiere Rush.
The Pros of Adobe Premiere Rush
- It offers intuitive features that are easy to navigate – you won’t find any confusing menus here!
- It has quick reformatting capabilities to work well with YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, or whatever platform you’re using to upload your videos
- There’s amazing audio control, including an Auto Mode and easy-to-set manual audio settings
The Downsides to Adobe Premiere Rush
The main flaw of using Adobe Premiere Rush as your video editor for iPhone is that it has been known to be a bit buggy in the past. This isn’t something that we’ve experienced lately, so there’s a good chance that Adobe has already addressed these bugs in their recent updates to the app.
The other downside is that Premiere Rush does not currently offer the ability to reverse a clip while editing. A lot of people use this feature while making edits and most other apps offer this ability, so consider that before buying the app.
Adobe Premiere Rush Pricing Guide
Speaking of buying the app, it’s time to go over the pricing options for Adobe Premiere Rush. While there is a free version, it only allows users to upload 3 videos. For recurring video editing, you’ll have to go with one of the paid versions of APR.
The most basic plan starts at $9.99 per month, and this gives you complete access to the Adobe Premiere Rush features.
You’ve also got the option to bundle with Adobe Premiere Pro, which will start at $20.99 per month or bundle with the rest of Adobe’s suite of products for $52.99/month. If you’re currently paying for the Adobe suite, disregard this pricing – you’ve already got access to Premiere Rush.
Paying for a subscription is a good choice for absolute beginners all the way through to more advanced videographers. $9.99 per month may seem like a lot, but it’s a small price to pay considering all of the features it comes with for quick, easy editing.
InShot
Next up is InShot, the easiest-to-use app for video editing on iPhone. Even though it’s hands-down the most basic app on this list, it still serves as a super powerful tool, especially if you’re looking to edit fast and don’t mind using fewer features to do that.
The features of InShot don’t reach the same advanced level as Adobe Premiere Rush, but there’s still a lot we love about this app.
The Pros of InShot
- The app is extremely easy to use, even for beginners
- It offers simple video reformatting to cater to your upload platform of choice
- There’s lots of customization and control over effects with the ability to apply effects to multiple clips at a time
The Downsides to InShot
The main flaw of InShot is that it doesn’t offer the option for multiple video layers, so you won’t be able to stack video clips on top of one another for B-roll and overlay footage.
Another drawback is that InShot doesn’t give its users control over the video frame rate. If you want to adjust the frames per second, you won’t be able to do that with this one.
Lastly, InShot is all about the basics, so that means you won’t have access to the same advanced features you’d find with Adobe Premiere Rush and other apps. That’s why this is the best video editor for iPhone beginners. For pro-level editing, you’ll have to look elsewhere.
InShot Pricing Guide
On to pricing, the good news is that InShot offers a free version, which is another big perk for beginner-level videographers. There will be an InShot watermark in the corner of the video with the free version, but that can be removed after watching a quick ad.
To eliminate the need to watch advertisements, all you have to do is pay $1.99, or you can unlock the InShot Pro plan by paying $4.39 per month or a one-time payment of $42.99. With InShot Pro, users have access to all the paid filters, effects, and stickers.
To recap, InShot is great for fast, easy edits. However, it’s aimed at beginner to intermediate editing and doesn’t offer much in terms of advanced features.
LumaFusion
Number 3 on the shortlist for best video editing app for iPhone is LumaFusion which is probably considered the most professional video editing app for iPhone. That’s because it offers an insane amount of tools and features that you’d normally only find on desktop editing software. You have everything you need right in the app, no matter if you’re creating a short clip or a full-on documentary.
While the interface itself isn’t the most beginner-friendly, that’s not necessarily a bad thing considering all the advanced features, controls, and settings it gives you access to.
Aside from the fact that LumaFusion caters to the professional video editors of the world, there’s a lot to like when it comes to this app.
The Pros of LumaFusion
- It offers amazing performance and power, even when using an older iOS device
- In addition to advanced features, there are also simple features, like allowing users to easily adjust audio and move clips around without missing a beat
- It makes it easy to switch the layout of the app’s interface to cater to your editing needs
The Downsides to LumaFusion
To be completely honest, there’s really not much missing from LumaFusion.
The only thing that you might see as a flaw is that it’s not the easiest app to use. So if you’re a complete newbie to video editing on an iPhone, you might want to start with something simpler – like InShot – before moving on to LumaFusion.
It’s worth noting that even beginners can use LumaFusion and create some amazing video content. Just expect there to be more of a learning curve, but if you’ve got the time and patience to learn and take your editing to the next level, by all means, go for it.
LumaFusion Pricing Guide
There’s no free version of LumaFusion, which isn’t surprising at all considering the pro-level functionality of this app.
To access LumaFusion, you’ll have to pay a one-time fee of $29.99. That’s ridiculously cheap considering this is the MOST powerful video editor for iPhones and iPads.
To quickly recap, LumaFusion is a great option for anyone who’s looking for intermediate or advanced editing capabilities. While it’s possible for beginners to use LumaFusion, it just might take some time to learn the interface and navigate through all the features.
VLLO
The fourth and final iPhone video editing app on our shortlist is VLLO. Regardless of how you choose to pronounce this one – everyone seems to say it differently! – there’s no denying that VLLO is a top choice for editing.
The VLLO interface is simple and not nearly as intuitive as LumaFusion, but the app also has some really cool features to take your video editing to the next level.
The Pros of VLLO
- It offers adjustment layers, a feature that lets you apply effects and edits across multiple clips or the entire video quickly
- It’s easy to switch between formats so that you can repurpose videos for multiple platforms
- It gives you the ability to ripple edit for more control over cutting clips from the video
- The app uses an audio waveform – a visual representation of audio – overlaid on top of the video clips (not many apps have this feature)
- It’s possible to layer video clips for adding in B-roll or overlay footage
The Downsides to VLLO
While it’s possible to create multiple video layers with VLLO for inputting B-roll and overlay footage, there’s a downside to this feature.
The overlay feature isn’t as intuitive with VLLO as you’ll find with more advanced apps, like Adobe Premiere Rush or LumaFusion. It’s pretty easy to add one additional layer of overlay footage, but it’s difficult to go much further than that with multiple layers.
VLLO Pricing Guide
The VLLO app is completely free to use, and best of all, there’s no watermark. The free version has all the basic features you’ll need to edit a video, or you can unlock all VLLO features with a one-time payment of $14.99.
VLLO is recommended for all editing levels from beginner to advanced. It’s simple enough for beginners to use, but it also has plenty of tools and features for advanced edits.
And the Winner Is…
Since there can only be one winner today, the award goes to… drumroll, please… LumaFusion!
The main reason we find this to be the best video editing app for iPhone is the number of features and editing controls, all for the ridiculously low price of $29.99
Adobe Premiere Rush rightfully earns the title of Runner Up, especially for anyone who plans to switch between devices and across platforms while editing.
Other Apps for Editing on iPhone Devices
While the apps listed above are some of our favorites, there are a few more that are worth noting:
- Adobe Clip
- Quik
- Videoleap
- KineMaster
- AlightMotion
- Power Director
- YouCut
- Action Director
- WeVideo
- VivaVideo
Even though none of these applications have earned the title of ‘Best iPhone Video Editing App’ this time around, they all come equipped with helpful editing features.
And if you’re interested in learning about how to shoot high-quality footage on your iOS device, be sure to check out our tutorial on How to Film Like a Pro with iPhone Smartphones.
Now You Know the Best Apps for Video Editing on iPhone!
No matter which iPhone video editing app you choose, you can’t go wrong with any of the options discussed in this post, particularly those that we shortlisted.
If you’re looking for a super simple app, then InShot is hands-down the simplest one that will allow you to do quick and easy edits.
Adobe Premiere Rush packs a powerful punch with editing features and controls that are still suitable for entry-level editing, and VLLO has surprised us with its simple interface combined with advanced features like audio waveforms and adjustment layers.
Finally, LumaFusion is a great option for anyone who’s looking for intermediate or advanced editing capabilities.
By downloading any one of these apps, you’ll be able to edit with ease, and best of all, you can do it straight from your iOS device. If you’d like to see our top recommendations for best video editing app for Android, you can check them out here.
For more information on iPhone video editing, check out our complete guide on the ULTIMATE Process for Editing Videos Faster. In this guide, you’ll learn how to cut your video editing time in half, no matter which app or software you’re using.
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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!
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