Introduction
Every business is now a media business. To find new customers, keep them engaged, and turn them into loyal referrals, being active on social media is essential. Instagram, in particular, is popular among small to medium businesses. With their Reels feature, Instagram is giving more push and discovery chances to users who frequently create reels.
Today, we'll cover the best tools for editing reels, who they're best suited for, and the pros and cons of each.
6 Best Reel Editing Apps (Free & Paid!)
1. Flowjin
Best for business professionals to turn videos into shorter reels automatically
Flowjin is ideal for business professionals who have longer videos and want to create shorter reels without spending hours editing. Using AI, Flowjin analyzes your videos to extract the most insightful moments, converting them into vertical-format reels complete with captions and proper framing. This automation saves time and ensures your content is optimized for platforms like Instagram.
Features:
- Transcribes and creates clips ready to play.
- Allows editing through the transcript.
- Reframes landscape videos to vertical format, centering the subject.
- Captions reels automatically.
- Generates Instagram caption text for each reel.
Pros:
- AI saves time by picking key moments and reframing videos to vertical orientation.
- Automatic captioning that's easy to correct if needed.
- Unlimited exports with paid plans.
- No watermark on the free plan.
Cons:
- The user experience is better on the desktop version than mobile.
2. CapCut
Best for making reels from footage on your mobile device
CapCut is an excellent choice for users who prefer creating reels directly from their mobile devices using existing footage. It offers a vast array of templates, making it easy to turn your clips into engaging reels with professional effects. Whether you're capturing moments on the go or editing videos from your gallery, CapCut simplifies the process with its mobile-friendly interface.
Pros:
- Free image creation and editing.
- Multilingual video transcription.
- Removes background images.
- Resizes videos to vertical format.
- Auto captions.
Cons:
- Watermark on free videos.
- Limited video effects.
3. Instagram’s In-app Editor
Best for editing simple talking-head videos or using in-app reel templates
The Instagram’s In-app Editor is perfect for users who want to create simple talking-head videos or utilize the platform's built-in reel templates. Its straightforward interface allows you to record, edit, and publish content without leaving the app. This makes it an ideal option for quick edits and instant sharing with your audience.
Pros:
- Easy-to-use interface.
- Built-in creative tools like filters, music, text, stickers, and effects.
- Record, edit, and post reels within the app.
- Access to popular music without licensing issues.
Cons:
- Lacks advanced editing options like precise trimming and transitions.
- Editing multiple clips is a hassle.
- Doesn't auto-resize videos for different dimensions.
4. Canva
Best for creating reels with stock background videos
Canva is ideal for users who want to create visually appealing reels using stock background videos. With its extensive media library full of images, videos, and graphics, you can easily craft professional-looking reels even without original footage. Canva's drag-and-drop interface and variety of templates make the creation process straightforward and accessible.
Pros:
- Robust stock media library of images, videos, and graphics.
- Variety of reel templates.
- Easy-to-use, drag-and-drop interface for importing graphical assets.
Cons:
- Not ideal for captioning and editing face-focused content.
- Lacks advanced video editing features needed for more complex projects.
5. Splice
Best for editing multiple clips into a reel on mobile
Splice is a great tool for those who need to stitch together multiple clips into a single reel using their mobile device. It's especially useful if you have raw footage that needs trimming and combining. With Splice, you can perform all these edits on the go, making it convenient for creating polished reels without the need for a desktop editor.
Pros:
- Generates captions with auto emojis.
- Easy to edit using a video timeline.
- Automatic caption generation for videos.
Cons:
- Offers a 7-day free trial but requires a credit card to try.
6. InShot
Best for fashion bloggers or lifestyle bloggers
InShot is tailored for fashion and lifestyle bloggers who want to create visually stunning content. It offers features specifically designed for beautifying videos, such as AI-powered outfit transitions and sky replacements. With a variety of templates like collages, it helps bloggers enhance their videos to reflect their personal style and aesthetic.
Pros:
- Allows beautified text and sticker overlays.
- Picture-in-picture features—ideal for explaining another image or video as an underlay.
- Royalty-free audio library to add music to Instagram Reels.
- Beauty AI features like outfit transitions.
Cons:
- Free version comes with ads.
Best Reel Editing App FAQ
Which app is best for making Instagram reels?
The best app for making Instagram reels depends on your specific needs:
- Flowjin: Ideal for business professionals who want to automatically turn longer videos into shorter reels using AI. It saves time by extracting key moments and formatting them for Instagram.
- CapCut: Best for creating reels from footage on your mobile device. With a wide range of templates and editing tools, it's perfect for users who prefer mobile editing.
- Instagram Reel Editor: Perfect for quick and simple edits directly within the app. It's great for creating talking-head videos or using in-app templates without the need for external tools.
- Canva: Excellent for making reels using stock background videos. Its extensive media library and templates make it easy to create visually appealing content without original footage.
- Splice: Best suited for editing multiple clips into a single reel on mobile. It's ideal for stitching together raw footage and adding captions.
- InShot: Great for fashion and lifestyle bloggers. It offers beautification features and templates that enhance visual appeal, perfect for those focusing on aesthetics.
What is the AI app that makes reels?
If you have tons of content but want to save time getting them ready for 1-minute reels, try Flowjin. You can upload your own longer pieces of content—whether it's podcast footage, branded videos, webinars, or any other content—and Flowjin extracts the most impactful moments, preparing them as reels ready for you to download. You can refine them in their Studio in minutes! 📹