The Best Instagram Reels Editing Apps

Instagram Reels have quickly become one of the top trending post types online. They’re used by bloggers, marketers, educational institutions, and just about anyone on Instagram. Maybe you’ve decided to give your imagination a go and create an interesting video for Reels. But how do you edit the video so that it matches your preferences and needs?

That’s exactly what you’re going to find out in today’s article. We’ve done the research, so you don’t have to, and brought you the list of the seven best video editing apps (free and paid). These apps can help you create the Instagram Reels you’ve been dreaming of.

Best Instagram Reels Editing Apps

Before we dive into listing the best Instagram Reels editing apps, it’s worth mentioning that the choices below are picked based on certain criteria. We’ve considered the number of available features, usability, number of downloads, and positive past user experience. We’ve included solutions you can use both on your Android and iOS device. For those of you who are up for advanced editing, we’ve also found some premium apps you can subscribe to for extra features.

The app downloading process is the same for all software listed below, but here’s a short overview just in case you run into trouble:

1. Visit Google Play or App Store, depending on your device.
   
2. Search for the app name in the search bar.
   
3. Hit Download or Install.
   
4. Wait for the app to install and sign up using your Instagram or email account.
   

Note that two of the apps (iMovie and Clips) below won’t be available for download on Google Play, given that they’re native to Apple.

Now that we have gotten the technicalities out of the way, let’s explore the best Instagram Reels editing apps available today.

1. InShot

If you’d like to change the position of the video from horizontal to vertical or add titles, transitions, or custom text captions to your content, you can do so with InShot. This app is available in the Google Play Store as well as in Apple’s App Store.

Additional features of the app include footage trimming, speeding up videos, splicing, adding background music and filters, and much more.

Note that the free version of this app will leave a watermark on your work and will only let you work with a limited number of tools. You can subscribe to a monthly or yearly plan or simply purchase separate tools if that’s all you need.

InShot Pros

• Among the most user-friendly apps
• Easy to make changes
• Tons of features
• Supports collages

InShot Cons

• No advanced editing tools
• Watermarking in the free version
• Single-track timeline

2. Adobe Premiere Rush

Adobe Premiere Rush is a video editor that comes from one of the world’s best-known visual content editing brands – Adobe. You can only imagine the number of tools and effects you’ll have at your disposal after downloading this app. There are plenty of built-in templates for Instagram Reels you can choose from for free. The easy-to-use interface makes HD video exporting a breeze with the simple tap of a button, so you can publish the newly edited videos as Reels instantly.

The great thing is that there’s also a desktop version of the app for more feature-intense work. However, the mobile version is equally robust and guaranteed to meet all your needs. You can easily adjust the speed of your video, add audio, customize the titles, tailor transitions, add effects and filters, and much more.

The app is available for download on Google Play and App Store.

You can download the app for free on all your devices and use the basic free app with limited features or upgrade to the premium version for full access to all video editing tools. There’s also a 7-day free trial to test out the software before making your purchase.

Adobe Premiere Rush Pros

• Plenty of video editing features
• Easy file export
• Great color and title tools
• Desktop and smartphone project synchronization

Adobe Premiere Rush Cons

• The premium plan is pricey
• Slow project rendering
• Lacks storyboard templates

3. Clips (iOS only)

With Clips, you can add funny eye-catching captions to your Instagram Reels in seconds. There’s a feature that lets you add 15-second Reels with captions appearing as you speak, pretty much like the subtitles. You can also benefit from the transcription feature, which works great compared to competitors. Users are free to change the color, size, and font of the captions.

You can also use Clips to create Reels with into or outro messages that will show up at the beginning or the end of the clip. If need be, you can always decorate your videos with animated characters, emojis, stickers, or GIFs.

All features are incredibly easy to use, so there’s virtually no learning curve when it comes to using this app.

Clips is available for a free download on the App Store and can be used on iPhones and iPads. The app is native to the iOS system, so there’s no Android version available.  

Clips is one of the rare apps that’s completely free, so you can download and play without worrying about hidden costs.

Clips Pros

• Free forever
• Intro and outro message features
• No learning curve

Clips Cons

• iOS only software
• Lacks advanced video editing features

4. The Instagram App

This one may seem like a no-brainer, but the Instagram app is a great place to edit videos for Reels. If your smartphone is short on storage or you only need basic editing tools, you can get the job done from within the app – no need for additional downloads!

You can record your Reels in segments, merge multiple videos into a single Reel, set timers, use filters, and adjust the speed of the video.

The great thing is that the app is completely free to use, so you can always rely on it to boost your Reels videos anytime, anywhere.

If you haven’t already, you can download the Instagram app on Google Play and App Store.

The Instagram App Pros

• Easy to post Reels
• Simple and intuitive interface
• Free to use

The Instagram App Cons

• Has limited editing features

5. iMovie (iOS only)

iMovie is yet another Apple native app for editing videos with a bunch of editing options. If you’re all about making Hollywood-style clips and posting them as Reels but don’t have this app pre-installed on your phone, you can download it from the App Store.

There are plenty of forever-free tools and features to try. You can choose from a variety of soundtracks to make your videos both visually and acoustically appealing. If need be, you can even record your own voiceover and add it to the clip.

Customize the titles and video background or add filters to make your clips look attractive – these actions are all super easy to do on iMovie. Additionally, you can use fun video templates or add multiple video themes to a single video, all with a few simple taps. There’s practically no learning curve with this software, and you can use it freely from Day One.

iMovie Pros

• Most tools are free forever
• Video background editing tools
• Intuitive interface

iMovie Cons

• Only available for iOS

6. KineMaster

KineMaster is a video editing software made for perfectionists. If you want to create flawless Reels in high resolution with a professional touch to them, this is certainly the app to try. Record voiceovers, add pre-recorded sound effects, create unique animations, and customize your videos any way you want, thanks to the easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface.

You can also decorate your videos using shape masks to add logos or shapes, scene transitions, text overlays, motion graphics, and more.

Hardly any other app offers its users as many editing options on a smartphone device as KineMaster. You can work on multiple video layers and play with rotation, opacity, color filters, cropping, or even the chroma key tool.

This app has a free and premium version, with the free option featuring more than enough tools for your Instagram Reels needs. The paid version may cost a bit more in the long run, but it’s certainly worth trying if you plan to do extensive video editing.

The KineMaster app is available for download for Android and iOS. Once you download the app, simply sign up to kickstart the editing process.

KineMaster Pros

• Feature-dense video editing app
• Free version works for most users
• Drag and drop interface

KineMaster Cons

• Premium version is a bit pricy
• May have a longer learning curve for beginners

7. FilmoraGo

FilmoraGo is one of the best trending video editing software options on the market right now, and it comes with superb features for editing Instagram Reels. With a few simple steps, you can add stickers, text, animations, overlays, and other elements to make your clip more engaging. You can also add your own voiceover, create special picture-in-picture effects, and speed up and slow down your videos.

The best part about this app is that you get access to the royalty-free library to add background music and stir the emotions of your viewers.

You can use all video editing tools available by the app completely free. However, there will be a watermark in your exported video featuring the company’s logo. You can sign up for some of the premium annual plans for a watermark-free experience and some additional features like:

• Split-screen features
• Audio equalizer
• GIF support
• 4K resolution
• Motion tracker
• Green screen
• Over 800 effects

Given the feature density of the platform, it’s possible for beginners to experience a steeper learning curve compared to the simpler alternatives mentioned above. There’s also no proper walkthrough in the app, but there’s nothing online YouTube tutorials can’t solve.

If you haven’t already, you can download Filmora completely free on your Android or iOS device.

FilmoraGo Pros

• Super intuitive interface
• Easy file export
• Lots of free features
• Free trial

FilmoraGo Cons

• Watermarking in the free plan
• Lack of advanced title and heading options
• Learning curve is a bit steep

Bring Your Instagram Reels to Perfection

If there is a single method online marketers need to use to engage their audience and raise brand awareness on Instagram, it has to be Reels. Whether you’re a professional or a regular user who enjoys editing videos and posting them on this channel, there are many great apps to help you create some stunning content.

In this article, we made sure to include options for all types of users – those who can get by with simple tools and also the ones who need more advanced software.

Which app did you find to be the best match for your needs? What features are you looking for in a video editing software for Instagram Reels? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below.