The best video editing apps for your phone

For most beginners, CapCut and VN are the best free places to start, because both export your own footage without a watermark. When you want more control over colour, audio and multi-track timelines, move to LumaFusion or DaVinci Resolve for iPad.

A few years ago, creating polished video content meant expensive gear and hours at a desktop computer. Today, your smartphone can handle nearly everything, from quick social clips to structured brand stories or short documentaries. Even when I shoot with professional tools like the Blackmagic Camera app on iPhone for manual controls, ProRes recording, and Blackmagic Cloud sync, I often turn to mobile editing for quick assemblies or full projects on the go.

These apps have matured into genuinely capable tools that balance power and simplicity. These are the ones I'd point a beginner to first, with UK prices and what each does best. They also sit inside a wider set of decisions around editing, delivery, and video SEO for creator-led video, especially once your workflow starts reaching beyond quick exports and into clearer publishing choices. Ready to get hands-on? My smartphone video essentials workshop goes deeper into editing workflows with these apps.

Here's a quick comparison of the top picks to help you decide at a glance.

App	Platforms	Price (UK)	Best for	Key strength	Watermark?
CapCut	iPhone, iPad, Android (also desktop and web)	Free; paid plans from £10.99 a month	Quick social edits, trends	AI tools and templates	Not on your own footage; some templates add a CapCut ending clip
DaVinci Resolve	iPad only	Free; Studio upgrade £99.99 one-off	Pro colour grading and workflows	Professional colour grading and Blackmagic Cloud sync	No
InShot	iPhone, iPad, Android	Free; Pro £4.99 a month, £19.99 a year or £49.99 one-off	Fast vertical content	Super simple, direct social sharing	Yes on the free version; Pro removes it and the ads
LumaFusion	iPhone, iPad, Android, Chromebook	£29.99 one-off (£26.49 on Google Play); add-ons extra	Serious creators, short films	Desktop-like timeline and colour tools	No
VN Video Editor	iPhone, iPad, Android (also Mac and Windows)	Free; optional VN Pro	Precise multi-track editing	Clean timeline, pro controls	No

Prices checked October 2026 on the UK App Store, and on Google Play for LumaFusion on Android; in-app prices can differ between the two stores.

1. CapCut, the Standout Free All-Rounder That's Hard to Beat

CapCut has become the default choice for many creators in 2026, and for good reason. It is free to download and edit with, and it packs AI tools that genuinely speed up editing without dumbing things down. More of its premium effects, templates and AI tools now sit behind a subscription or paid AI credits. On the UK App Store, plans start at £10.99 a month, with Pro at £21.99 a month. Edits built from your own footage export without a watermark, but CapCut's help pages explain that some templates add a branded ending clip, which you delete from the end of the timeline before exporting. Its auto-caption generator creates styled subtitles in minutes, which saves hours compared to manual timing. That matters because subtitles often do more than improve accessibility; they also make mobile-first video easier to follow in real viewing conditions. The keyframe animation is precise enough for smooth transitions and text reveals, while background removal and AI effects let you experiment creatively without plugins. Note that, as it is owned by ByteDance (TikTok's parent), some creators prefer alternatives for privacy reasons, but its features are hard to match.

Pros

• Free to use, with no watermark on edits built from your own footage

• Strong AI tools such as auto-captions, text-to-speech and background removal

• Huge template library and trending effects and music, with direct sharing to TikTok

• On iPhone, iPad and Android, with desktop and web versions too; exports up to 4K at 60fps

Cons

• Advanced colour grading is not as deep as dedicated pro apps

• Many premium effects, templates and AI tools now need a paid plan or AI credits

• Some cloud-based AI features require internet

2. DaVinci Resolve for iPad, professional colour on mobile

DaVinci Resolve for iPad has been on the App Store since December 2022 and brings true professional colour grading and editing to the iPad. There is still no iPhone or Android version. Clips shot with the Blackmagic Camera app can sync to it through Blackmagic Cloud. The free version is incredibly capable, with the node-based colour page that pros rely on at the desktop. The Studio upgrade is a one-off £99.99 in-app purchase on the UK App Store and adds AI tools such as Magic Mask, Smart Reframe and Voice Isolation.

Pros

• Industry-standard colour tools and Fusion effects

• Direct integration with Blackmagic Camera app and Blackmagic Cloud

• Free version handles most projects; the £99.99 Studio upgrade adds the AI tools

• Renders in the background on iPadOS 26 with M4 and newer chips, and projects open in DaVinci Resolve on the desktop

Cons

• iPad only, with no iPhone or Android version

• Blackmagic recommends an M1 iPad Pro or newer with at least 8GB of RAM; older iPads may be limited to HD

• Can feel overwhelming for absolute beginners at first

3. InShot, Quick Social Cuts with Beginner-Friendly Polish

InShot remains a solid choice for fast, platform-ready edits, especially vertical content for Reels and Stories. Its strength lies in simple, effective tools such as easy trimming, filters, text overlays, and direct sharing, and it now adds AI tools such as auto captions and background removal. It suits quick revisions when something needs turning around immediately. The free version adds an InShot watermark and shows ads. InShot Pro removes both and costs £4.99 a month, £19.99 a year or £49.99 one-off on the UK App Store; it is also on Google Play.

Pros

• Super intuitive for absolute beginners

• Great built-in filters, stickers, and canvas resizing

• Direct export optimised for social platforms, up to 4K at 60fps

• Pro is available as a one-off lifetime purchase as well as a subscription

Cons

• Advanced timeline features are basic

• Free exports carry a watermark, and the free version shows ads

• Some premium effects locked behind paywall

4. LumaFusion, pro-level power for serious mobile creators

For iPhone, iPad and Android users ready to step beyond basic edits, LumaFusion is the strongest next step on mobile. It is no longer iOS-only. Luma Touch also sells it for Android phones, tablets and Chromebooks running Android 10 or later with at least 3GB of RAM. Its multi-track timeline, external monitor support, and advanced colour tools feel like a trimmed-down desktop NLE. Its keyframes and audio mixing are strong enough for a full short film. The app costs £29.99 one-off on the UK App Store and £26.49 on Google Play. On iPhone and iPad, Speed Ramping and Enhanced Keyframing, Multicam Studio and FCPXML Export are £14.99 each, or all come with the optional Creator Pass subscription (£6.99 a month or £51.99 a year), which also includes Storyblocks stock media.

Pros

• Desktop-class features, including six video and six audio tracks, colour correction with scopes and LUTs, plus multicam and FCPXML export as paid add-ons

• One-off purchase; the subscription is optional and only needed for add-ons and stock media

• Handles 4K ProRes and HDR media, and exports up to 8K on newer iPads and iPhones

• Excellent audio tools and marker support

Cons

• Paid up front, and the add-ons push the cost up

• Steeper learning curve for complete newcomers

5. VN Video Editor, free multi-track editing on iPhone and Android

VN continues to impress with its minimalist design and solid free version, which exports without a watermark. Its multi-track timeline handles multi-clip sequences well, and its curve speed controls make ramping effects feel natural. Recent updates have added AI tools, including auto captions with filler-word removal, background cutout and AI image and video generation, and the October 2026 update (version 2.23.1) improved keyframe behaviour for intensity and adjustment controls. An optional VN Pro upgrade (listed at £7.99 and £66.99 on the UK App Store ) and paid AI credits sit on top, and the Google Play version contains ads.

Pros

• Free, with a professional-grade timeline and no watermark

• Intuitive multi-layer editing and curve-based speed adjustments

• Strong music library and subtitle tools, including auto captions

• Exports up to 4K at 60fps, with versions for Mac and Windows too

Cons

• Fewer trendy templates compared to CapCut

• AI tools use paid credits, and the Android version shows ads

If you prefer a distraction-free workspace that feels closer to desktop software, VN is ideal.

Which app to start with

If you are just beginning, start with CapCut or VN, because both are free and export your own footage without a watermark. Move to LumaFusion or DaVinci Resolve for iPad when you want more control over colour, audio and multi-track timelines. Whichever you choose, the key is consistent practice. Experiment, review your exports critically and keep creating.

When your edit is finished, my guide to editing, delivery and video SEO covers getting it exported and found. If you are thinking of moving up to a desktop editor, see the editing software used in film-making. For help choosing, send me a message or join one of my hands-on workshops.

Sources

• App Store (UK), CapCut Photo and Video Editor
• App Store (UK), DaVinci Resolve for iPad
• App Store (UK), InShot AI Video Editor
• App Store (UK), LumaFusion
• App Store (UK), VN Photo and Video Editor