Apart from iPhone's processors becoming beefier, and the increase in RAM allowing for more intense tasks, the camera department has been getting its share of love, and so what we’re left with is an almost perfect device for capturing and video editing.

To accommodate these technological advancements, app makers, while fully aware of the decrease in limitations and what’s possible, have developed some truly amazing platforms for users of different levels to create videos with.

Today we’re going to look at some of the best video-making apps that are currently available on the App Store. Also, do take a look at our article about video marketing and some tools specialized in video marketing if you look for a practical way of using your video editing skills.

Some of the products which we are going to cover might be familiar, while some you’ll discover for the first time.

With the information provided, you will hopefully come to a step closer to taking on the engaging and creative processes that come with video editing.

For your consideration, we’ve picked out apps that address specific goals for specific levels of users, so not one of these apps is one and the same, and each of them brings something unique to the table.

Anyhow, enough sitting around, we’re losing daylight… Lights, camera, action!

Table Of Content

  1. Write-on Video
  2. iMovie
  3. Renderforest
  4. LumaFusion
  5. Splice
  6. Funimate
  7. Magisto
  8. Cute CUT Pro
  9. VivaVideo
  10. Filmmaker Pro
  11. Adobe Premiere Rush

Important disclosure: we're proud affiliates of some tools mentioned in this guide. If you click an affiliate link and subsequently make a purchase, we will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you (you pay nothing extra). For more information, read our affiliate disclosure.

1. Write-on Video

Price: Free (With In-App purchasing options)

Kdan Mobile's newly updated Write-on Video adds even more awesome features to an already solid video-making app. If you like having lots to play around with in terms of features without things getting too complicated, this editor will suit you well.

You’ll have an option to ‘plan your videos’ which is a great tool for task-oriented people who have a specific vision in mind regarding the post-production phase of the video editing process.

There's really so much more to this app than meets the eye on the first encounter that the more I've played with it, the more it grew on me, making it a go-to video maker on my iPhone at the very moment.

The UI feels superbly intuitive, and with access to all of the tools at your disposal within this app, you will be able to create professional-looking videos that will have a YouTube material ‘feel’ to them (just as long as there’s decent content from your end).

What’s also nice about this app is that before beginning any new project, you get to select the aspect ratio (landscape, portrait, square, etc.), which you can also change at any point during your editing phase.

All in all, Write-on Video is a great free app that beginners and professionals can both enjoy and get lots out of, but if you do decide to opt for a $29.99/year Pro version, your creativity won’t know any limits (though mine at times does...)!

2. iMovie

(iMovie)

(Loading)

Price: Free

Coming pre-installed on all newer generations of iPhones, iMovie is a go-to option for many users who are looking for a simple approach to video editing.

There’s definitely a chance you've used it at some point. What iPhone user hasn't? Over the years, iMovie has become better with each update, and at the moment, this app is quite functional and can be used to complete most of the ‘basic’ video editing tasks that you throw at it.

Thanks to the simple UI, navigating across this app is quite intuitive and if you have any sort of background in video editing, this app will feel like a walk in the park.

Sharing videos and projects is another strong point of iMovie since it is an Apple product. Allowing you to access your files across your other devices and storing them for a later time in iCloud makes life easier.

On top of that, you can always continue working on your iMovie projects in Final Cut Pro, but that’s a topic for another discussion.

Overall, this is a video-making app that will suit most people, but its limitations do leave room for wanting and needing more (thankfully, there are many other great options to consider).

📚 Check out our list of the best iMovie alternatives.

3. Renderforest

(Renderforest)

(Loading)

Price: Free (With In-App purchasing options)

Taking new steps to simplify online video creation, Renderforest launched its video maker app for iOS devices.

The user-friendly tool is a great choice for anyone looking to create top-quality videos without spending much time or finances on the process.

The app includes all the features and functionalities of the web browser version and continues to improve its interface with regular updates.

As the platform is cloud-based, it’s easy to access your projects on multiple devices, switching between the web and the iOS apps.

Renderforest Video Maker app comes with a built-in editor that’s super straightforward, intuitive, and requires no learning curve. You can create your videos in a matter of minutes by customizing ready-made templates.

The vast template library is designed to meet a broad range of project needs — from intro animations and product promos to slideshows and music visualizers. You can search, select, and edit any template you wish.

The video maker gives you access to hundreds of stock images and videos, as well as audio tracks you can freely use in your projects.

You’re also able to upload your own media files, music, and voice-over to make your videos more personal. All your uploaded files will be saved in your media library, which you can access at any time.

If you need assistance, you can find answers to frequently asked questions or contact the support team that’s available 24/7.

4. LumaFusion

(LumaFusion)

(Loading)

Price: $29.99  (with additional In-App purchasing options)

LumaFusion is a truly powerful video editing app that has the word ‘professional’ written all over it.

It’s hard to compare this app to any other video maker out on the Apple store when it comes to functions and features, making it one of the best-paid apps that have almost everything you’d need from a portable video editing station directly on your iPhone (for a reasonable price).

This app is aimed at a more serious category of users, hence the $30 price tag it carries. Yet, for paying such a sum, you’ll have the closest thing to a professional video editor on your phone, which is saying something.  

When it comes to the features, as stated previously, this app has you covered. You'll be able to work in both portrait and landscape modes, with the ability to switch back and forth, which is great for utilizing certain functions midway through a project.

The UI will keep you engaged throughout the process, thanks to its overall design and simplicity when navigating within the app.

It also has a 'natural feel' to it, which is pretty great. You can have up to 6 video/audio tracks for photos, videos, audio, titles, and graphics, as well as additional 6 audio tracks for narration, music, and sound effects.

At the end of the day, if you're constantly on the go and putting out videos at a constant rate or are thinking of finding a great 'do it all' iPhone video editor, then I can definitely recommend LumaFusion. It's one app you won't regret paying for.  

5. Splice

(Splice)

(Loading)

Price: Free (With In-App purchasing options)

Splice is an app that was brought to us by the creators of GoPro (though this app was acquired by Bending Spoons App IVS), and it too has lots to offer.

When using Splice, you'll quickly find out that you're able to put out high-quality videos without compromising your time - meaning that thanks to this product's automated features, the app will basically do all the hard work for you.

Meanwhile, what's required of you is to import the footage and other media, though this does have its drawbacks in terms of pure customization standpoint.

You do get the most out of this app when choosing a subscription, whether on a weekly, monthly, or yearly basis.

Since the latest big update, Splice has introduced more advanced editing features, which has allowed for more customization when it comes to video making.

Though some of these introductions have made this app's learning curve a bit steeper, all in all, it has become a truly powerful video editor with some cool and unique features that you won't find elsewhere.

The ability to sync your video to the beat of the music is one of the awesome features which definitely makes this app stand out.

The UI is as good as you'd expect from a product that has GoPro in its DNA, but it can be a go-to tool for any video project. Splice undoubtedly deserves some consideration, even at a $1.99 trial price tag.

6. Funimate

(Funimate)

(Loading)

Price: Free (With In-App purchasing options)

With Funimate, creating and editing videos turns from a somewhat lengthy process into something utterly engaging and fun, all the while not undermining the quality of the end product (well, maybe a tiny bit).

The results you'll get from using this app will definitely capture all the attention on your social media platforms, and that is what this app is mostly aimed at.

You can expect your videos to really 'POP,' and there are so many effects to choose from that your videos created with this app will do more than just stand out.

All of that can be achieved in the simplest of ways, since this is one of the most user-friendly apps I've tried, and did I already say how much fun it is to use… I'll say that a hundred more times if I want to!

Some of the best features that this app has are only available once you've subscribed, and even though there's a 7-day free trial, the subscription charges on a weekly basis and the cost of that is $2.99.

But luckily for most users, the free version is still good enough in most cases, so if you happen to completely fall in love with this app (many have), perhaps you'll find the pro version is a must.

But until then, the stock transitions, effect mix, into and outro effects, and a lot more are definitely worth playing around with, especially if you're looking to surprise your followers on Instagram or friends on Facebook with awesome little videos!  

7. Magisto

(Magisto)

(Loading)

Price: Free (With In-App purchasing options)

Magisto Video Editor is a product of Vimeo. In essence, this tool was created for people with very little background in video editing. Its main focal point is simplifying the creation process of videos for social media sharing.

This product falls into the category of 'smart apps', meaning it'll automate the process of video editing with 3 simple steps. This app uses sophisticated AI to find the best parts of your footage.

Then it combines and automatically adds video editing techniques such as stabilization, object detection, filters, and effects, leaving you with a finished product that you can ultimately customize to your own liking.

The UI of Magisto Video Editor is as pleasant to navigate through as it is friendly and intuitive. As I stated earlier, this is an app that takes out all of the difficulties of video editing and thus provides its users with a very uncomplicated process.

But such a luxury comes at a pretty high price, and even though most of the core features are free, you won't get results that truly stand out if you don't put a buck out.

This is why you need to take into consideration your background in video editing. Since this app is aimed more towards novice users, there are better/cheaper options for those who've had some experience under their belts.

But if you're fine with the subscription costs, and perhaps the time factor is something you also value over a truly personalized video (which does usually take a good while to perfect), then this might be the video maker solution for you.

8. Cute CUT Pro

(Cute CUT Pro)

(Loading)

Price: $5.99

One of the few paid apps (since most are subscription-based), Cute CUT Pro is a well-rounded video maker that hits the sweet spot without too many compromises.

This app is a full-featured video editor, and is somewhat reminiscent of iMovie, though with way more features and a lot easier to get a hang of.

You can use it to create short clips for social media platforms, and if you're looking to create lengthier projects, that's also doable.

Overall, this video maker makes the processes of editing less complicated while staying sophisticated enough to not feel as if some key features are missing or that you're getting skimped at any point.

Cute CUT Pro utilizes a fairly friendly UI with drag-and-drop features, which makes arranging segments quite simple and intuitive in both portrait and landscape modes.

What makes this app unique is the ability to draw directly on your footage (though this is a feature that can also be found on Write-On Video), which can make for a personalized feel as well as amping up that creative look you might be going for.

You get over 20 transitions that can be customizable enough for you to get as close to perfection as possible. Along the way, if you do happen to run into any problems, there are multiple tutorials and a full video walkthrough available, leaving little room for uncertainty.

9. VivaVideo

(VivaVideo )

(Loading)


Price: Free (With In-App purchasing options)

VivaVideo is a hip little video editing tool that surprisingly has some power under the hood. At a glance, this editor might seem just like any other ordinary effects and theme kind of app, but to my surprise, there's a lot more to this app when it comes to video editing.

In order to get access to all of the tools (and there are many), the subscription option is the way to go, by opting out either for a $4.99/month or a $24.99/annual subscription, for which there's a 3-day free trial.

But if you're looking to only create short, 5 minute long videos and you don't mind the watermark, then all the more power to you!

From the moment you open this app, you'll be given a brief tutorial, though not too in-depth, which leaves room for your own discovery of the app, and that's one of the greatest things about this video editor.

In its own way, it's almost an experience unlike many of the apps that we're used to seeing following that one and the same formula (not that the formula is bad or anything, just a little generic, that is all).

Perhaps this app's target audience is the reason it is the way it is, but that doesn't mean that you won't find something to like about it.

The UI is quite friendly, editing tools are intuitive, and what really stands out are the template sharing features which other users have created. This sense of community and way of sharing your art with others has the ability to inspire, which is something that not many apps can do.

10. Filmmaker Pro

(Filmmaker Pro)

(Loading)

Price: Free (With In-App purchasing options)

Filmmaker Pro is an all-around solid video editing tool with lots of customization options and a handful of features that will make your final result have that professional look.

When considering what we need from a video editor, three words come to mind: capabilities, quality, and simplicity, and it can be said without a doubt that Filmmaker Pro covers all the bases, and it does so with style.

In the case of Filmmaker Pro, some of its features surprised me a bit in the sense of how much can be packed into a single app, features which only a few years back would only be seen in top video editors on Macs and PCs. Guys, we are living in an amazing time!

The ability to adjust color gradient of your footage is an addition which works very well in this app, but that's nothing out of the ordinary.

What really took me by surprise in the ability to replace the green screen recordings (recording can be done on the app, too) with any background.

All of the features are highly intuitive and can be mastered quickly just by watching a few in-app tutorial videos, which do a great job of explaining the best ways to work with this editor.

Overall, it's an awesome tool with great functions and a reasonable price and is the best fit for those who take video editing on their iPhones seriously.

11. Adobe Premiere Rush for Video

(Adobe Premiere Rush for Video)

(Loading)

Price: Free (With In-App purchasing options)

The last product to make our list is Adobe Premiere Rush for Video, which is a shrunken-down version of their powerhouse video editing tool, the Premiere Pro.

If someone knows a thing or two about how to make a dang good video maker, it's Adobe.

This app is pretty close to smartphone video editing perfection for sharing videos on social media, with some highly sophisticated functions and customization options.

Since this app is part of Adobe's ecosystem, you do get some additional perks that are hard to find elsewhere.

For instance, if you have access to Premiere Pro, work that you do on a project in Rush for Video can be continued in PP, so that and many other Creative Cloud features provide a certain advantage.

Premier Rush for Video is an all-in-one app for creating and sharing online videos quickly and intuitively.

Functions such as a built-in camera will allow you to capture videos directly from your phone, which you can instantly begin editing without losing much time.

You also get access to themes and templates to achieve that certain look you might be going for.

The free version allows for only 3 exports, which isn't much, but if you decide to opt-out for the pro version, it'll cost you $9.99/month, with which you'll get 100GB of Creative Cloud storage, unlimited exports, and cross-sharing features across all of your Apple devices.


These apps serve a particular purpose and are mostly aimed towards content creators, enthusiasts, and people who are simply looking for a way to put out videos which they'll be able to share with friends and family, all on the go.

Still, these are some amazing apps and are all worthy of your consideration.