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10 best photo and video editing apps for social media

In the world of social media, change is the only one certain thing, which means the next big app is already being coded somewhere. If you dig a bit deeper you will find a common denominator behind the rise of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok (and more): photos, videos, and short, easily digestible content.

Any list of social media video tips and photo tips will, as their main point, bring up the importance of quality, and to create great quality content requires great tools. But how do you decide which tools are the best ones for you?

That’s why we’re here with insights on some of the best photo and video editing apps for social media.

Best photo editing apps for social media

Best video editing apps for social media

Best photo editing apps for social media

In this section, we will try to answer the question, what is the best photo editing app? The applications listed here are not ranked, but do represent some of the best photo editing software that is available. 

Pixlr

Pixlr is a very popular photo editing app available for both iOS and Android that can take your social media content far.  This free app has many great social media photo editing and enhancing options that can help your posts stand out.

Using both basic and custom social media photo sizes, you can use it to make collages, apply photo effects and filters, and enhance the quality of your photos with great features like color splash, double exposure, or focal blur.

Pixlr main features

  • Instantly adjust the color of your photos with auto-fix

  • Crop, resize and change the border of your photos in a few easy steps  

  • Use color splash to add color effects and enhance photo color

  • Choose from a multitude of effect packs you can add to your social media photos

  • Use the stylize feature to sketch or add photo effects

  • Add shades, cool down, or amplify the photo tone

  • Create amazing collages with plenty of options for style, ratio, and background

  • The double exposure feature allows you to easily apply effects with adjustable layers and transparency

  • Easily learn how to edit photos to remove red eye or whiten teeth

  • The add text feature comes with many font options

  • Focal blur effect

Pixlr options and pricing

Pixlr is downloadable on iOS and Android devices. It is free and very user-friendly. Pixlr X and Pixlr E, the two versions of the online photo editor software, are available for desktop and provide many advanced features and options. 

VSCO

VSCO is a photo and video editing app and a photo-sharing platform. It’s a very easy tool you can use to enhance the quality of your social media posts.

It’s user-friendly and has a clean and simple design and menu. When you become a VSCO member, you also get access to a community similar to Instagram. There, you can browse photos and videos in the discover feed and also connect with friends or join weekly photo challenges.

VSCO main features

  • VSCO has 10 free, quick, and easy photo editing presets

  • For more advanced editing, you can use the manual adjustment options and add your flair

  • The app enables simple importing and editing options for RAW photos

  • You can change photo perspectives with crop and skew and adjust exposure, clarity, and saturation

  • You can edit contrast and saturation or use the grain and fade options to add an old film effect to your photos

  • The photo enhancer allows you to modify the strength of the photo filter

  • To easily recreate your favorite edits, you can save them in recipes

  • The camera features allow you to adjust focus and exposure and choose flash modes and interface color

  • The built-in camera can be set up manually to adjust shutter speed, ISO, and white balance

  • You can use the same VSCO presets and editing tools for your videos

  • You can also create GIFs with VSCO

  • The VSCO montage feature allows you to make a video collage by combining video, photos, and shapes; options include adjusting the opacity of layers and double exposure.

VSCO options and pricing

VSCO is available for iOS and Android devices. To use it, you will need to set up an account – the app offers a 7-day free trial.

After the trial, the annual subscription fee is $19.99. It comes with full access to over 200 presets and advanced photo editing tools like HSL and split tone.

Infltr

If you are looking for an easy way to make your social media pop, meet Infltr. It edits photos with the help of photo filters and offers the most filter options out of any photo editing app.

It has over seven million possible filter combinations and advertises itself as the easiest editing tool in the field.

InfItr main features

  • You can instantly change the filter by touching the screen and choosing one of the seven million options

  • As you drag your finger across the screen, the combination of photo filters in effect changes

  • Editing options include adjustment of saturation, brightness, contrast, tint, temperature, as well as filter intensity

  • You can choose the filter before or after taking the photo

  • You can add filters to HD panoramic shots

  • You can also create and edit videos, GIFs, and live photos

  • You can choose and add your favorite filters to a filter library

InfItr options and pricing

Infltr is only available for iOS devices. The free version offers limited features. The yearly subscription costs $19.99 and there is also a monthly subscription available at $3.99.

WordSwag

WordSwag can instantly take your social media posts from drab to fab. It helps you create stylish posts with an expert designer touch.

The app allows you to create and add high-quality graphics and captions to your photos, as well as create flyers.

WordSwag main features

  • Hand-designed graphic font styles

  • Includes 1.3 million free backgrounds from Pixabay and 22 image filters

  • Font and layout combinations are constantly updated and change every time you use the app

  • You can add captions and quotes and there is also a library of thousands of captions that you can use for inspiration

  • You can choose your frames and layouts, as well as text effects like gold foil, water color, or stamped

  • The pro feature allows you to create high-resolution graphics for printing and add your brand’s logo

  • Easy share options for platforms like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest

WordSwag options and pricing

WordSwag is available for free on iOS and Android devices. The monthly premium subscription has a 7-day free trial and comes with additional features like over 80 designer font styles, gold font colors, multiple text layers, custom colors, the possibility to add a logo, high-resolution export for printing, and removal of watermark for $4.99.

PicCollage

PicCollage is a collage-making app you can use for creating, drawing, and decorating the photo collages you post on your social media accounts.

It offers several options for photo grids and backgrounds and loads of fun stickers for a touch of personality. A simple tool that answers the question of how to edit Instagram photos.

PicCollage main features

  • Choose the grid that works for your social media content and instantly upload photos from your gallery

  • Add exclusive colorful stickers and fun backgrounds made by collaborating artists and illustrators

  • Create holiday cards with quick templates

  • Use the freestyle mode to create your type of collage

  • Use only your finger to edit Instagram or Facebook photos with the cut-out feature

  • Use the doodle feature to draw and write messages on your collage

  • Easily share your collage on your social media accounts

  • Easily send your pictures to print

PicCollage options and pricing

iOS and Android apps are free. The PicCollage Premium subscription offers access to enhanced features and options for watermark removal. An annual subscription plan is $35.99 and the monthly version is $4.99.

Best Video Editing Apps for Social Media

Following our section on photos, here we will try to answer the question of what is the best video editing app.

The uses of these apps are endless; you can edit videos for family use or spice up your webinar event, but one of the main uses is, of course, easily editing videos for social media.  There are many choices that are available, so this list is just our view on the best editing apps for videos.

Adobe Premiere Rush

Created as a simpler alternative to Adobe Premiere Pro, the Premiere Rush app allows you to create and edit high-quality content for your social media platforms easily and without any complicated headaches.

Adobe Premiere Rush main features

  • You can use the built-in camera feature to film directly from the app and start editing instantly

  • Choose from a range of motion graphics built-in templates

  • Motion graphics editing options include color enhancement and customization of fonts or size

  • Easily add audio tracks to your video choosing from over 30 royalty-free options

  • Add effects like picture in picture or split view with multiple video tracks

  • Simple sharing options that allow you to resize videos or change them from landscape to portrait or square

  • You can add thumbnails, schedule your posts, and publish on multiple platforms at once directly from the app

  • Ideal for video for Instagram and Facebook with its 4:5 aspect ratio

  • Premium features include sound balancing and auto-ducking, access to the premium content library, and the possibility of exporting videos in 4K video quality

Adobe Premiere Rush options and pricing

Adobe Premiere Rush is available for iOS and Android devices. The download is free and there are several subscription options:

  • Subscription $9.99

  • Annual Premium Membership $34.99

  • Monthly Premium Membership $4.99

  • Rush Phone-Only Subscription $4.99

  • Monthly Premium Membership $4.99

  • Annual Premium Membership $29.99

iMovie

iMovie is a free video editing app for iOS that comes pre-installed on Apple devices. It’s ideal for simple video editing and very user-friendly.

It can take your social media content to the next level and help your brand stand out on platforms like Instagram. You can also use it to add voice-overs or music to your videos and upload them to iCloud.

iMovie main features

  • Animated drop zones make selecting videos and photos simple

  • You can record directly in the app

  • Includes 14 movie trailer templates

  • Easy customizing options for cast names and credits

  • 8 unique movie themes with matching titles, transitions, and music

  • 13 Apple-designed video filters

  • Slow-motion and fast-forward options

  • Simple access for adding a picture in picture, green screen, or split-screen effects

  • Add a soundtrack to your movie with the built-in feature that automatically adjusts to the length of the movie

  • Add sound effects or narration

  • Easy transfer to other iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch by AirDrop or iCloud Drive

iMovie options and pricing 

iMovie is available for free on iOS devices and comes pre-installed on Apple iPhone and iPad.

LumaFusion

LumaFusion is a more professional video editing app with many free features, as well as additional, more advanced, in-app purchases and an easy-to-use, intuitive design. You can use it to improve the quality of your social media videos and get noticed online.

LumaFusion main features

  • Customizable aspect ratios

  • Options for editing iPhone and iPad video recordings

  • Frame rates from 18fps to 240fps

  • Easy options for importing media directly from Photos, GNARBOX, WD Wireless, Frame.io or cloud storage, SanDisk iXpand flash drives, and SMB network drives

  • Free music, loops, sound effects, videos, and backgrounds

  • Up to 6 video/audio tracks available for adding photos, videos, audio, titles, and graphics

  • 6 additional audio tracks available for adding narration, music, and sound effects

  • Extended features include insert or overwrite clip, as well as to link or unlink clip

  • Options to share a preview on an external monitor

  • Layer effects include chroma key, blurs, distort, change styles, and color

  • Color correction tools

  • Unlimited keyframes for animating any effect or color

  • Use slow /fast motion, forward, and reverse options

  • Add layers for titles with text, shapes, and images

  • Adjustable fonts, colors, borders, and shadows

  • You can also import custom fonts

  • Easily share or archive edited social media videos

LumaFusion options and pricing

LumaFusion is available for $29.99 on iOS devices. In-app purchases include Storyblocks for $9.99/month and $69.99/year, and FCPXML Export for $19.99.

FilmoraGo

FilmoraGo offers an easy and intuitive way to edit social media videos. It is very popular with Android users and has over 50 million installs. Use it to edit and enhance your social media content and you are sure to stand out.

FilmoraGo Main features

  • Offers copy, paste, rotate, and sequence adjustment options

  • You can also rearrange, reduce, and split videos, or adjust the video speed

  • For audio, you can adjust the volume or mute it

  • Choose from a wide range of music tracks and sound effects that you can add to your video

  • Add text, notes, filters, or stickers to your social media videos

  • Editing options include adjusting brightness, clarity, contrast, and saturation

  • You can create a personal video filter

FilmoraGo options and pricing

The FilmoraGo social media video app is free for Android and Apple devices. The Pro version is $4.99/month or $29.99/year.

Splice

Splice is a great, intuitive video editing app with an easy-to-use menu created by GoPro. You can use it on iPhone and iPad to create and edit videos and give them a high-quality, professional polish. It’s great if you share adventurous, bold, content on your social media accounts and need an editing app that will make your GoPro videos pop.

Splice main features

  • Editing tools include trim, cut, and crop options

  • Easily add filters and backgrounds

  • Change colors and orientation or add text overlays

  • Options for adjusting playback speed and slow motion

  • Options for adjusting the transition style and the transition speed

  • Create soundtracks with a wide variety of free music and sound effects

  • Add songs from your own iTunes collection or add narration

  • Easily share your edited videos on social media (YouTube, Instagram, Facebook)

Splice options and pricing

Splice is available for iOS devices. The download is free and subscriptions range from $1.99 for the trial version to $2.99 for the movie creator and clip editing app.

The Takeaway

We hope that this list will help you to navigate through a wide choice of social media photo and video apps. One thing is for sure, that with this wide array of tools at your disposal there is no need to join any kinds of online course platforms to edit great photos and pictures. 

All of them have some great features, but at the end of the day, you have to test for yourself to see what fits you the best!

Editor's Note: This article was originally published on socialbakers.com. Any statistics or statements included in this article were current at the time of original publication.

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