8 Best Video Special Effects Apps in 2025 [iOS & Android]

Using Visual Effects (VFX) Software has become essential for producing captivating visual content, whether for filmmaking or social media. These powerful tools allow creators to seamlessly add special effects to their videos, enhancing the narrative and entertaining viewers with stunning visuals. However, incorporating these effects can be a daunting task, especially for individuals without a graphics background.

To overcome this, many advanced resources have been introduced, such as online tools, software, and mobile apps. This article explores the top 8 special effects apps that help you add a flair to your video while you are on the go.

• Part 1: A Comparative Review of Top Special Effect Apps [2025]
• Part 2: Reviewing the Best Special Effects App for Easing Video Making
• Part 3: How To Add and Adjust Effects Using Filmora
• Part 4: Conclusion

Part 1: A Comparative Review of Top Special Effect Apps [2025]

Part 2: Reviewing the Best Special Effects App for Easing Video Making

After having a peek at the comparison table of these top applications, let us have a detailed discussion on the key features offered by these options:

1.Filmora App (iOS/Android)

Filmora app stands out as a reliable special effects app with its ability to help users create movie-like clips in professional-grade quality. The effect library includes everything from "Christmas Silhouette" to "Tilt Shift," enabling users to add dynamic visual elements. Whether you need a clown laughing for a funny scene or birds chirping for a travel video, you can explore the application's vast library of audio effects.

The application also features advanced AI-powered features such as text-to-video and an AI Reel Maker that generates visual content automatically. Additionally, you get the ability to share the video you created on multiple platforms while staying within the application. If you want to avail yourself of all the features of this application, you can acquire the value-added subscription according to your budget and needs.

Key Features

• Generates videos with text using the power of artificial intelligence.
• Applies the effects on the entire video or a specific object to highlight the focus and enhance key elements.
• Offers a huge library of customizable filters besides the effects library.

2.VideoShow (iOS/Android)

This smartphone movie effects app gives you numerous video editing features that help you create stunning visuals for your videos. This AI-powered app has 30 filters that can be applied to enhance your media. Moreover, you can select the AI editing feature and let the application add interesting effects and filters to make your footage stand out.

Key Features

• Adds text to your videos using a variety of styles and font options.
• Offers a wide variety of AI filters to add to your videos and adjust different elements.
•  Adds interesting effects and filters automatically to make your footage stand out using the AI Video editing feature.

3. FXGuru (iOS/Android)

From zombie hunter to tornado, this special effects app offers more than 90 special effects for users to enhance their videos with dramatic and immersive elements. Using this application you can scare the world by recording a horror bride in a hallway with the ghost bride effect.

Key Features

• Provides you the ability to add sound effects as background scores for your videos.
• Adjusts the timing of your effect according to your preferences.
• Add multiple effects, from horror to sci-fi, and make your visuals as realistic as possible.

4. Action Movie FX (iOS)

Whether it is a car crash or an explosion, you can add relevant special elements to your visual content using this iOS application. Moreover, the effects selection has been made easier across Action Movie FX as all the effects are organized category-wise.

Key Features

• Contains relevant sound effects for your visual content to enhance the viewing experience.
• Helps users automatically track and follow moving objects within a video.
• Generates stunning GIFs with users’ favorite effects to share on different platforms.

5. PowerDirector (iOS/Android)

It is an advanced video editing app that offers a wide range of special effects to enhance your footage. You can apply cinematic effects like Vertical Jolting and Spiral Spin to bring action-packed scenes to life by giving them a twist of art.

Key Features

• Adds incredible visual effects like beams and flames to the subject’s body or background.
• Enhances videos by removing the flaws using the AI Video enhancer of this special effects app.
• Inserts sound effects, such as snore effect, to give your funny movie a more realistic touch.

6. Shot FX (iOS/Android)

If you are a professional video editor and are stuck with scenes like a zombie apocalypse or dragon attack, use this app to give your video a realistic flair. From laser lighting to swirling water, this special effect app offers a huge variety of special effects to add to your visual content.

Key Features

• Provides a wide variety of templates for special effects to select from.
• Gives you the ability to select different qualities for the effects applied.
• Offers real-time recording of video with the special effects already applied.

7. Videoleap Editor By Lightricks(iOS/Android)

This iOS and Android app lets you enhance your videos with a variety of special effects, such as Glitches and Chromate. Whether you're aiming for a unique style or a cinematic look, this movie effects app provides more than 100 premade templates. Moreover, users can perform smart trimming and resizing to remove unwanted parts and adjust the aspect ratio according to their preferences.

Key Features

• Provides a wide variety of templates for special effects to select from.
• Gives you the ability to select different qualities for the effects applied.
• Offers real-time recording of video with the special effects already applied.

8. Nception - Distortion Effects(iOS)

If you want to add a unique dimension to your videos, this special effect app offers powerful special effects like the Inception effect, which creates stunning distortions. Moreover, the platform allows you to add visual distortion effects while recording video for a more realistic touch.

Key Features

• Allows you to apply compelling colors after applying the distortion effect with cinematic LUTs.
• Lets you shoot in real-time while applying a special Inception effect.
• Gives your content symmetrical transformation while applying mirror reflection effects.

Part 3: How To Add and Adjust Effects Using Filmora?

Among the above-mentioned special effects apps, Filmora App stands out because of its high-quality video editing features and extensive effects library. If you want to learn how to add special visuals to your media using the Filmora App, read the steps mentioned below:

1. Start by Creating a New Project and Importing a Video

To initiate, launch the application on your smartphone and tap on the "New Project" feature from the homepage. The tool will ask you to add your media; scroll your device’s gallery to select your desired video.

2. Select the Special Movie Effect and Apply

Once the video is successfully imported, go to the toolbar at the bottom of the screen and tap on the "Effect" icon. This will enable a list of effects that you can apply to the video by tapping on them and pressing the "Tick mark."

3. Apply Effect on Object Across Filmora

Next, select the "Object" icon to specify the object in your video for applying the effect on a particular person or thing. Once you are satisfied with the result, head to the top-right corner and press "Export" to save the output.

Conclusion

To conclude, the article explored the best 8 special effects apps that you can use to give your media a dynamic touch. It also suggested that the Filmora App is one of the most reliable apps among the options provided. Users get a large library of effects and filters to enhance the overall visual appeal.