Top 21 Video Recording and Editing Apps

Posting videos is the best way to grab your audience’s attention, and it’s hands down the most accessible content to consume. 

The good news for content creators is that recording and editing fantastic videos has never been easier. Gone are the days of needing tons of expensive equipment or enormous downloads. 

Everything is now just in the palm of your hand. 

This all makes sense when you consider that a smartphone can be found in nearly every pocket around the globe. According to Statista, it’s projected that in 2025 the number of mobile users in the world will be at an astounding 7.5 billion.

The market is huge, and that’s why so many apps are trying to get your attention as being the best or even most fun (with filters and extras).

But if you are looking for what really is the top app to use, you’ve come to the right place. In this post, we’ve selected the 21 video recording apps that we think outperform the rest and have the best features. Keep on reading and find the one that best fits your needs!

Why should I use special video recording apps? 

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Before we get going with our list of video recording apps, you might be asking yourself why anyone would use a separate app just for video, let alone pay for one.

Beyond the advantages of being able to record and edit your videos with no heavy equipment or set location, there are a lot of other perks, primarily if you are looking to post quickly on social media. 

And this is a huge advantage. Since nearly everything today is somehow connected to social media, being able to post content quickly and easily is a game-changer.  

In addition to this, most of these apps are free, which is a big difference from most computer software. If you do pay for one of these apps, the benefits make it well worth it. 

And of course, since these apps have been adapted for smartphones, they tend to be much more intuitive in use than most desktop software. You don’t need to decode dozens of menus, options, and shortcuts. All of the features are just a logical tap away. 

So, let’s get things rolling and find out the best apps for you to start producing videos on the go.

Video recording apps for videos with more professional results

Although technology has advanced a lot over the last few years, smartphone cameras still haven’t reached the level of professional equipment. But this doesn’t mean you can’t create professional-looking videos on your cell phone. 

There are a lot of video recording apps that let you fine-tune the image quality and control the details like focus, exposure, and resolution.  

In what follows, you’ll find a selection of the best programs for those who want to produce content that is a bit more sophisticated.  

1. Canva’s Video Editor

• Available for Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows
• Free, but offers a paid plan

Canva’s Video Editor enables anyone to produce and share videos of high quality. For free on the web, desktop, and mobile, Canva combines intuitive editing, recording, and collaboration features, hundreds of configurable video templates, and a sizable media collection in one simple-to-use platform. Make your story stand out with graphics, intriguing transitions, and text animations and manage your media clips, by dragging and dropping them on a timeline, and quickly trimming, splitting, and resizing clips.

2. Adobe Premiere Rush

• Available for Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows
• Free, but offers a paid plan 

Adobe CC is well known among those who work in design, photography or desktop video editing. And they have now brought their powerful software to smartphones.   

Premiere Rush brings the power of its desktop version to the palm of your hand. The idea of the tool is for the video to be ready quickly. With this in mind, it offers a lot of things that will feel familiar from previous versions. 

To get started, just select the video files you want to work with. You can use your photo library, Dropbox, Creative Cloud, among other options. 

Premiere Rush has a free, limited version and a monthly subscription that includes 100GB of cloud storage and unlimited projects.  

3. FiLMic Pro

• Available for Android and  iOS
• Paid

Another high-performance video recording app is FiLMic Pro, which has a simple interface and can be easily assimilated by the user. 

You can change recording settings to better suit your purposes and save the presets. 

It can record in slow motion and time-lapse and presents few bug complaints, such as locking up during its use. 

The only problem with FiLMic Pro is that it’s not free. Its price on Google Play is $ 14.99. It’s also available for iOS.

4. Movavi Video Editor

• Available for Windows and Mac
• Paid, but there’s a free trial version

Movavi Video Editor is an intuitive editing app that makes video creation a breeze. Just add your files to the program, and you won’t have any trouble finding the tools you need, as this movie editor is very easy to use. 

With this desktop video editor, you can trim, crop, resize, and stabilize your footage in just a few clicks and level up your videos with effects, music, titles, filters, and transitions. You can also experiment with AI background removal, AI denoiser, color correction, slow motion, and chroma key to push your creative boundaries, and even record voice-overs to complement your visuals. 

Start a free trial to create stunning content in no time.

5. iMovie

• Available for iOS
• Free

iMovie is Apple’s own app, so you’ll only find it on iPhones and other Apple products.  

If you are an Apple user, you’ll find this video recording app for free already on your device to edit videos.

It’s got all of the features you need to create great content and runs with seamless integration with all of Apple’s other services.

Additionally, iMovie lets you share your videos directly on social media with only a tap.  

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6. ProCam 8

• Available for iOS
• Paid and with in-app purchases

If you are looking for a video recording app that will bring your Apple device to the next level, ProCam 8 is for you.

The app gives iPhones features and controls that were once only found in DSLR cameras, which opens the door for any user to get amazing footage. 

Among its available features are manual exposure control, focus, and white balance, among a wealth of options for different image modes and 4K. 

ProCam 7 will run you US$ 7.99 to download and start using with optional in-app purchases that can be made later.

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7. Camera Plus pro

• Available for iOS
• Paid with in-app purchases 

Camera Plus Pro is yet another option among video recording apps available for iOS. 

Its features allow the user to easily choose the best settings for their videos in a practical way.  

It provides gridlines so that you can stabilize your recordings better, in addition to having a time-lapse option, which allows you to speed up your recording from 0.25 to 2 seconds.

You’ll find it on the App Store for US $.99.

8. Cinema FV5

• Available for Android
• Paid

With Cinema FV-5, you can shoot with the best of them and get a wide range of tools for image adjustment.

Among the features available are image control (like ISO, exposure and white balance), zoom in and out while filming, audio and video codecs and 4K compatibility. 

Cinema FV-5  is only available for Android and will cost US $ 2.49. 

9. Camera JB+

• Available for Android
• Paid

With an incredibly intuitive interface, Camera JB+ is ideal for those who want practicality when it’s time to record. All of the features are visible and easily accessible. 

Only available on Android, this is one of the video recording apps that gives you the possibility to customize the screen, adjust the quality of the image and to film in 4K among other features. 

To install this app, you’ll need to pay US $1.99.

10. VideoShow

• Available for Android and iOS
• Free, but has in-app purchases 

VideoShow is the ideal video recording app for those who want to easily integrate photos, videos, music, and text into their content. 

Everything is easy to edit by using a template, which can be shared directly to social media. 

You’ll find the app on the  App Store and Play Store for free with options to purchase more features in-app later. 

11. Open Camera

• Available for Android
• Free

Open Camera is one of the most powerful Android recording video apps. It offers dozens of features that had only been available in professional programs before.  

With it, in addition to the traditional adjustments for exposure, focus and white balance, you can also set voice commands to control remotely. 

You can leave your videos sounding even more professional as the app supports external microphones.  

Open Camera is an open-source app, so you’ll find it for free on the Play Store. 

12. MAVIS

• Available for iOS
• Free, but with in-app purchases 

 MAVIS  is another video recording app option for Apple devices. It separates itself from the crowd by offering a lot of advanced features that other apps don’t.  

The interface is clean and intuitive and gives you access to all the features with just one touch. The app has adjustments for capture and exposure speed, real-time chromatic vector and custom frame rate. And that’s not all: MAVIS also allows you to connect external devices, such as microphones and recorders, to the iPhone’s Lightning port. 

Although free, more advanced features need to be purchased separately within the app.

13. Movie Pro

• Available for iOS
• Paid

If you want a video recording app with similar features and as powerful as FiLMic Pro, but you don’t want to spend that much, you can choose Movie Pro.

This app offers a number of advanced features, such as manual focus and exposure controls, as well as on-screen audio control and support for Bluetooth microphones. 

The app costs US$9.99 on the App Store, which represents a great cost-benefit for those who want to make more elaborate videos.

Producing videos with fun effects with video recording apps

A lot of times, you may want to make videos a little more relaxed, with fun effects such as filters and drawings, especially if you are big on social media and want to encourage your audience’s engagement.

There are a variety of video recording apps that let you play with effects and make your content more fun and lighter. Check it out: 

14. VivaVideo

• Available for Android and iOS
• Free, but with in-app purchases 

If you want to record more relaxed videos with your cell phone, VivaVideo is a great option.

It has thematic effects, allowing you to produce a small film, either with photos or with the recordings you already have stored on the device.

Among the features available in the app are cutting tools, voice filters, text insertion, filters, and stickers.

VivaVideo is free and available for Android and iOS.

15. Lapse It Pro

• Available for Android and iOS
• Free, but with in-app purchases

Have you heard of time-lapse? This technique condenses a long video into a few seconds and has become quite famous in recent years.

If you want to make things like this but don’t know how, don’t worry. With Lapse It Pro, you can! 

In addition to speeding up or slowing down your movies, the user can record and make quick edits in the app. And once ready, post it on your social media with ease

Lapse It Pro is available for Android and iOS and is completely free, but with in-app purchases. There is also a paid version available that has no ads and goes for US $3.99 on Play Store and US $2.99 on the App Store.

16. Super 16

• Available for Android
• Paid with in-app purchases 

If you dig the vintage look and pine for the days of Kodachrome, Super 16 is your new, nostalgic friend. 

This video recording app offers textures, grain and charming imperfections that only grandpa’s 16mm film cameras could offer.   

Despite having a slightly more complex interface, the results are fantastic for those of you who prefer their content retro.

Super 16 is available for Android and for free.

17. FxGuru

• Available for Android and iOS
• Free, but with in-app purchases 

Do you like action effects in the Hollywood style and wish to use them on your productions without much difficulty? 

Use FxGuru! 

The video recording app allows you to add explosions, alien invasions, sound effects, etc. Everything you’d find in a major movie production. 

You can download the free version for iOS and Android.

18. SloPro

• Available for iOS
• Free, but with in-app purchases 

SloPro is yet another video recording apps ideal for those who like to change the speed of their films without much difficulty.

In addition, it has the option to pause the recording and continue afterwards, without having to make two videos, which is quite helpful during editing.

And of course, you can share your videos directly from the app to your social media.

SloPro is available for iOS for free.

19. VHS Camcorder

• Available for Android and iOS
• Paid

Another application to record videos where the goal is to go old school. This time, however, the focus is on Dad’s VHS tapes. 

Additionally, the VHS Camcorder also gives customization options that go beyond the retro effects, with cutting tools, frame rate and direct sharing on social media.

This app is for US $3.99 for Android and iOS.

20. VideoCam Illusion

• Available for Android and iOS
• Free

The major unique feature of Videocam Illusion is the possibility to apply the available effects in real-time, i.e., while recording your video.

The effects run the gamut, from a pen tool to frames. Additionally, the video recording app has also got 6 filters,  5 effects, 2 recording speeds and allows you to automatically share the video on YouTube.

It’s a free app and is available for Android and iOS.

21. HyperLapse

• Available for iOS
• Free

HyperLapse, on the other hand, is an Instagram video recording app that allows time-lapse videos compatible with this social network.

If you have a profile and want to create good content for it, this app is an excellent choice.

You can change the video speed by up to 12x, which could speed up a clip of the setting sun to just 10 seconds. 

Even though this tool is on Instagram, you don’t need to use your account to access it. Just download and save your videos on your smartphone.

For now, this app is available only for iOS as a free download. 

22. Boomerang

• Available for Android and iOS
• Free

Boomerang is a popular Instagram feature that has become its own app and can help you make fun and creative videos.

Nowadays, you can create video loops on your own social network account by accessing your Stories area.

But, if you don’t have an account or don’t wish to access it to create a boomerang, you can download the app for free at Google play or App Store.

It’s free!

Despite the video recording apps, what else do I need to record and edit my smartphone films? 

Although it seems more practical to record and edit videos on your smartphone, you still need to focus on quality work.  

In addition to good editing, you need to pay attention to your ambient lighting. No one wants to want a video that is too dark.

Another thing to think about is a home studio.

With all the goodness of a home studio, you will not only make quality content, but will create a standard for your work. This even gives you a visual identity for your content, not to mention that it will always be at your disposal.

Equipment like microphones are also important. They can help you capture higher-quality audio. This will help your audience better understand you (at many levels!).   

With a cell phone with two cameras,  you’ll almost always want to go with the back camera of the device. It tends to give the best quality and generally supports recording at higher resolutions. 

Always look at the environment around you, taking advantage of the scenery, light and, of course, “your best angle”. And, if necessary, use a tripod. 

With these things in mind, it will be much easier when creating your content and you can use the video recording apps  without worrying about having to make many edits to correct these details.

3 tips to get the most out of these video recording apps

Now that you’ve checked out the list of the best video recording apps, you can get out there and start shooting your content.

So that you have all the success we hope for your productions, we’re going to give you a few extra tips so that your work is all-the-more appealing. 

1. Use the back camera

Ok, nearly every camera out there has got at least two cameras: front and back. The front one has more commonly been deemed the ‘selfie camera’ by most.  

It can be tempting to use this selfie camera more often than not, but deny this urge! 

Even though these front cameras have gotten much better over the years, they still don’t offer the same quality you’ll find on the backside.

Always use the back camera when you’re looking to make quality videos. The sensors are better and will make any light appear more natural and give a better resolution. These will make everything look more professional in the end.  

2. Give your phone the support it needs

Our next tip in our journey towards better quality videos is to always record with your phone on a flat and sturdy surface. 

Don’t rely just on your fidgety fingers to make quality videos! Shaky footage is hard to watch, and don’t allow the camera sensors to do their work at full capacity.   

Some models are already coming out with built-in stabilization which can help a lot with a little shakiness. But don’t depend on these too much and not every camera has this feature.    

So, find a book to support your phone or pick up a tripod made for smartphones. 

3. Careful with sound

Every phone out there is made to capture sound, but don’t fool yourself! These built-in mics aren’t made with high-quality video in mind and can give your video unwanted background noise and little range in sound. 

Always try to use external mics. Some of the video recording apps we’ve just discussed have special features, especially for external audio equipment. 

If your app doesn’t have external mic options, don’t worry. You can always record the audio with an external recorder and merge it with your video later. 

The important thing is to always be aware of your audio, noises, and sounds that might cause distractions for your viewing audience!

Always record your videos!

Now that you’ve had access to this list of the best video recording apps, it will be easier to see that it’s possible to create your own audiovisual content without much difficulty.

Despite this, always remember to have equipment at hand to help you produce quality content, such as microphones and even tripods, which will lead to incredible results.

The 7 key points of attention when recording your videos are:

1. Pay attention to the lighting;
2. Create a nice setup;
3. Use a microphone;
4. Use a mobile phone tripod;
5. Give preference to the rear camera;
6. Record in HD if you have this feature;
7. Pay attention to your framing.

After this and choosing the video recording apps that suit your needs, all you need is to do is perform a quick edit to make your content even better and publish it to your audience.

Let us know how it goes! :)

This article was originally posted in March 2019. It has been updated to include more accurate and complete information.