TikTok is a popular short video app that has exploded in popularity over the past few years. As of 2023, TikTok has over 1 billion monthly active users worldwide, making it one of the most popular social media platforms (Source). The app allows users to create and share 15 to 60 second videos, often set to music or featuring different creative effects.
A big part of TikTok’s appeal is the ability for creators to edit their videos using various effects and features within the app. There are also many third-party editing apps that TikTokers use to take their videos to the next level. Editing is key for creating the high-quality, polished videos that tend to go viral on TikTok. In this article, we’ll look at some of the most popular video editing apps used by top TikTok creators and influencers.
Most Popular TikTok Editing Apps
There are several popular video editing apps used by TikTok creators to edit and enhance their videos before posting.
CapCut
CapCut is one of the most popular and full-featured editing apps made specifically for TikTok. It’s free for iOS and Android and offers advanced editing tools like video cropping, filters, effects, transitions, stickers, text, and more. CapCut makes it easy to follow TikTok trends and gives creators precise control over their videos 1.
VSCO
VSCO is a robust photo and video editor with high-quality presets and editing tools. The VSCO app is free on iOS and Android and allows for cropping, adjusting speed/duration, adding filters, and fine-tuning videos. It has a minimalistic interface optimized for mobile. While not TikTok-specific, VSCO is commonly used by TikTok creators.
Adobe Premiere Rush
Adobe Premiere Rush is a scaled-down mobile version of Premiere Pro, Adobe’s professional video editing software. The Rush app has a free starter plan and is available on iOS and Android. It provides timeline video editing, color correction, audio editing, animations, and export presets optimized for social media like TikTok.
FilmoraGo
FilmoraGo is a free mobile editing app by Wondershare for basic on-the-go video editing. It’s easy to use with intuitive drag and drop functionality. FilmoraGo allows trimming, filters, overlays, title effects, transitions, and has export presets for TikTok. It’s a good option for quick simple edits.
InShot
InShot is a popular free video editor for iOS and Android. It provides TikTok-optimized editing features like trimming, filters, text, stickers, animations, blurring backgrounds, and no crop export. InShot has a simple interface and fast rendering for quick edits on mobile.
CapCut
CapCut is widely considered the most popular video editing app among TikTokers today. Developed specifically for TikTok by Chinese company Bytedance, CapCut features an intuitive interface and easy-to-use tools optimized for creating high-quality short videos.
Key features of CapCut include:
- Hundreds of filters, effects and transitions designed for TikTok videos
- Tools to trim, split, duplicate and rearrange clips
- Options to add text, stickers and music
- Drawing and virtual dubbing capabilities
- Multi-layer timeline for advanced editing
CapCut is free to download and use across iOS and Android devices. Its seamless integration with TikTok makes it easy to directly export edited videos for uploading. According to Later’s guide, “How to Use CapCut Video Editing for TikTok,” CapCut provides beginner-friendly tools combined with advanced capabilities required by power users. This versatility helps explain its popularity among TikTok creators.
VSCO
VSCO is a popular photo and video editing app for both iOS and Android devices. It offers users a range of filters and editing tools to enhance their TikTok videos. One of the reasons VSCO is so popular among TikTok creators is its simple, easy-to-use interface.
VSCO has a range of preset filters and editing tools that allow users to quickly edit the look of their videos. TikTokers like being able to adjust aspects like contrast, saturation, and fade to get the perfect look. There are also a range of video editing tools within VSCO like being able to adjust speed, add split screens, and insert short video clips.
Many TikTokers praise VSCO for its user-friendly interface. Compared to more complex editing software, VSCO has a simple design that makes it easy for creators to find the tools they need. Users can easily browse filters, adjust sliders, and add edits with just a few taps. This simplicity and efficiency allows TikTokers to quickly edit their videos in the app.
Overall, the combination of powerful editing tools and an intuitive interface has made VSCO a go-to choice for TikTok creators looking to spice up their videos before posting them. The app’s popularity as a photo editing tool also means many users already have it installed and know their way around it.
Adobe Premiere Rush
Adobe Premiere Rush is a full-featured video editing app from Adobe that enables advanced editing capabilities. With Premiere Rush, users can access professional tools like color correction, audio editing, transitions, graphics overlays and more. This makes it possible to create high-quality, polished videos with special effects.
One of the standout features of Premiere Rush is the ability to easily add graphics, animations, titles and other enhancements to videos. There are numerous templates and assets available in the app to spice up TikTok videos. Complex editing like split screen, green screen and picture-in-picture is also possible.
While Premiere Rush offers powerful capabilities, the interface can be more complex compared to basic editing apps. There is more of a learning curve since it provides professional-level control over edits. However, Premiere Rush aims to simplify the video editing process through an intuitive workflow. Overall, it’s a top choice for TikTokers who want finer control over their creations.
Learn more at Adobe’s Premiere Rush overview.
FilmoraGo
FilmoraGo is a popular mobile video editing app by Wondershare that offers various editing features tailored for TikTok videos. Some key aspects of FilmoraGo include:
- Special effects like stickers, overlays, filters, and transitions to enhance videos.
- Allows basic editing functions like trimming, cropping, splitting, and duplicating clips.
- Huge library of licensed music, sound effects, and text fonts to use.
- Beginner-friendly interface with an easy-to-use timeline editor.
- Provides preset aspect ratios optimized for different social media platforms.
FilmoraGo makes adding eye-catching effects, transitions, and filters to videos simple even for novice editors. The app supports key TikTok features like trimming multiple clips and adjusting aspect ratios. With its intuitive design, FilmoraGo is an ideal choice for TikTok users looking for an easy way to level up their editing game.
InShot
One of the most popular video editing apps for TikTok is InShot, with over 200 million downloads on the Google Play store alone. InShot stands out for its extensive filter and effect options that allow users to easily enhance their videos. There are numerous filters that can change the look and feel of clips, as well as options to adjust attributes like contrast, saturation, and brightness. InShot also provides an array of overlay and sticker options to liven up videos, including customizable text boxes.
Additionally, InShot has drawing and sketch tools to add a more creative flair. Users can freehand draw directly on the video or use the Shape tools to insert predefined shapes. The sticker library is also robust, containing animated stickers, emojis, icons, and more. This allows TikTokers to make their content more engaging and personalized.
Lastly, InShot has a completely free version that provides access to many of the key editing features needed for short-form social videos. For TikTok creators getting started, this free option enables basic editing capabilities without needing to pay upfront. While the free version has limited exports and watermarks, it’s an ideal way to try out InShot’s capabilities.
Other Notable Options
While CapCut, VSCO, Adobe Premiere Rush, FilmoraGo, and InShot are among the most popular and powerful editing apps for TikTok, there are several other options worth considering:
Quik – Created by GoPro, Quik makes it easy to create great-looking videos with just a few taps. It has preset editing styles and the ability to add music, titles, and more. Quik also easily imports photos and videos from your camera roll.
Splice – Splice offers professional-level editing tools like split, trim, crop, transitions, filters, and audio editing. Its simple interface and curated music library make it easy for beginners to create high-quality edits.
iMovie – For iPhone users, iMovie is automatically installed and integrated. It provides multi-track editing, audio editing, titles, effects, and more. With an intuitive interface, iMovie is great for basic editing needs.
PowerDirector – Featuring multicam editing, a huge effects library, slo-mo controls, and an array of editing tools, PowerDirector is a robust option for more advanced editing on Android. However, the interface can be complex for beginners.
Key Factors When Choosing an Editing App
When selecting a video editing app for TikTok, there are several key factors to consider:
Ease of Use
Look for an intuitive interface that allows you to edit quickly and easily. The app should have basic editing tools like trimming, splitting, and splicing clips readily available. More complex features like filters, text overlays, transitions, and effects should also be easy to find and apply.
Available Features
Consider the special effects, transitions, text tools, filters, and other enhancements an app provides. The more options for customizing your videos, the better. However, also make sure the app includes core editing tools like trimming, cutting, and splicing. A balance of utilities and creativity is ideal.
Cost
Evaluate whether you want a free editor with limited capabilities or are willing to pay for a premium app with more robust features. Some free apps have in-app purchases to unlock more effects. Paid apps usually offer the full suite of tools without add-ons. Factor in your budget and needs.
Device Compatibility
Check which platforms and operating systems the app supports. Most run on both iOS and Android. But some are mobile-only while others also work on desktop. Consider the devices you’ll use for editing and choose an app that will work across them.
Conclusion
When it comes to editing apps for TikTok, CapCut, VSCO, Adobe Premiere Rush, FilmoraGo, and InShot stand out as the most popular options used by top TikTok creators. Each app has its own advantages – CapCut offers powerful editing tools specifically designed for short-form social video, while VSCO provides high-quality filters and effects. Adobe Premiere Rush brings professional desktop-level editing to mobile, FilmoraGo is packed with templates and effects, and InShot is highly intuitive with a straightforward interface.
Choosing the right TikTok editing app ultimately depends on your needs and level of expertise. Key factors to consider are usability, editing capabilities, availability of effects and filters, output quality, and cost. Whichever app you choose, using a specialized tool designed for short video can help take your TikTok content to the next level through polished editing that captivates viewers. With the right editor, you’ll be able to transform ordinary clips into eye-catching TikTok videos.