Video editing was once reserved for powerful desktop computers with capable processors and many gigabytes of RAM. That's no longer the case today, as the increasing power of mobile devices has made video editing accessible to phones and tablets like Apple's iPad.
Whether you're a content creator, a vlogger, a hobbyist, or a professional editor, the rise of iPad editing software has made these devices the perfect tools for editing on the go.
Yet, the overwhelming number of available tools can make your choice more challenging. That's why we compiled a list of the ten best video editors for iPad, so let's get into it right away.
Table of Content
Best Video Editors for iPad - Quick List
Before we explore each iPad video edit app individually, we also included a quick list where you can see and compare the top ten video editors for iPad.
| iPad Editing Software | Required OS Version | Standout Features | Best For |
| Filmora for iPad | iPadOS 12.0 or later | – Multi-track editing – Rich asset library |
Novices, professionals, and AI-based editing |
| LumaFusion | iPadOS 17.0 or later | – Color correction tools – PremiumBeat music |
Multi-layer editing and professional projects |
| iMovie | iPadOS 17.0 or later | – Straightforward interface – Storyboard mode |
Simple editing projects and quick videos |
| KineMaster | iPadOS 15.6 or later | – Auto captions – Keyframing tool |
Social media content and quick edits |
| Filmmaker Pro | iPadOS 13.0 or later | – Royalty-free music library – AI Face Beautifier |
Intermediate projects and precise control |
| Splice | iPadOS 12.2 or later | – Extensive music library – Fantastic speed ramping tool |
Audio-focused editing and social media clips |
| InShot | iPadOS 12.0 or later | – Free 4K exports – Massive transition library |
Influencers and social media enthusiasts |
| Final Cut Pro for iPad | iPadOS 17.4 or later (M1 and newer chips) | – Live Multicam tool – Great color-grading presets |
Highly detailed projects that require a lot of customization |
| DaVinci Resolve for iPad | iPadOS 17.0 or later (A12 and newer chips) | – Hollywood-level color correction tools – Great export presets |
Professional-grade videos and movies |
| Adobe Premiere Rush | iPadOS 14.0 or later | – Creative Cloud integrations – Cross-cloud project synchronization |
Motion graphics and cloud-synced projects |
10 Best Video Editors for iPad
Suppose any of the abovementioned iPad video edit apps intrigued you. In that case, you can learn more about them below as we explored each app in detail, examining its pros and cons, user ratings, and more. So, let's dive in.
1.Filmora for iPad
Overall, the best iPad video edit app for beginners and pros
4.7/5 stars on the App Store
Specifications
Supported iPadOS: 12.0 or later
Free Trial & Pricing: free trial; In-app purchase
Key Features: Enormous asset library, AI-powered editing tools, Terrific keyframing tools
Reasons to Buy
- Free version and affordable subscription costs for the pro version
- Remarkable rendering and exporting speeds
- Fantastic motion tracking capabilities
Reasons to Avoid
- The free version has a watermark
About
Filmora is an iPad video edit app that's packing some heavy heat. It has an enormous asset library filled with cool transitions, effects, animations, stickers, and more. Yet, everything is well-organized in an intuitive and effortless-to-navigate interface, making the tool perfect for beginners.
Both fundamental and advanced features are easy to use, while professionals can also benefit from AI-powered tools that streamline the editing process and help you make edits much faster.
With comments like "Wonderful!", "A really great video maker or editor," and "Filmora Wondershare 10/10 would recommend", it's evident that users love Filmora, earning it the title of the best video editor for iPad, and the top spot on this list.
2.LumaFusion
LumaFusion
Top-rated iPad video edit app
4.8/5 stars on the App Store
Specifications
Supported iPadOS: 17.0 or later
Free Trial & Pricing: No free trial; $29.99
Key Features: Fantastic image stabilizer, Excellent color correction tools
Reasons to Buy
- Multi-layer audio and video editing
- Sleek and highly intuitive interface
- Specific iPadOS optimizations for speed
Reasons to Avoid
- No trial period
- It's expensive and includes additional costs
About
Despite having a high upfront cost that doesn't appeal to many casual video editors, LumaFusion is a remarkable video editor for iPad. The good news is, once you purchase it, it's yours forever, and you get access to an incredibly well-designed touch-first interface, numerous advanced editing features, rich asset libraries, and an editor that's a breeze to work with.
The bad news is that you might need a few additional assets, which cost extra. Aside from that, users are also reporting issues with audio syncing and clipping, but there aren't any significant concerns that could prevent LumaFusion from getting its spot on this list.
3.iMovie
iMovie
Best iPad video edit app for simple projects
4.2/5 stars on the App Store
Specifications
Supported iPadOS: 17.0 or later
Free Trial & Pricing: Free app
Key Features: Storyboard mode, Fantastic Chroma Key tool
Reasons to Buy
- Entirely free to use
- Highly simplified user interface
- Great color grading tools
Reasons to Avoid
- Occasional crashing and glitches
- Infrequent updates
About
If you're a casual editor after a simple app, look no further than iMovie, Apple's simplicity-focused video editor for iPad. This tool offers beginner and intermediate editing features, helping users create simple projects in minutes.
Its fans love the app's simplistic design and accessible features, with only a few comments reporting issues with selecting clips, saving projects, and screen freezing. Overall, iMovie does what it says, earning it a spot among the top ten video editors for iPad.
4.KineMaster
KineMaster
Most capable free iPad editing software
4.7/5 stars on the App Store
Specifications
Supported iPadOS: 15.6 or later
Free Trial & Pricing: Free version; No free trial; $9.9.$49.99
Key Features: Magic Remover, Fantastic free assets and tools
Reasons to Buy
- Well-designed user interface
- Generous free editing tools
- Exceptional asset library
Reasons to Avoid
- The free version has a massive watermark
- Occasional errors with large video files
About
If you're on a tight budget, KineMaster is the best video editor for iPad to try, as it has a competent free version, and you can accomplish so much without ever getting a subscription. It has a well-designed interface, adaptable contextual menus, an extensive asset library, and dozens of free tools.
KineMaster's App Store page was full of reviews like "Amazing, but the thing is…" and "Great, but missing something." Most comments are positive, however, and KineMaster performed flawlessly in our testing.
5.Filmmaker Pro
Filmmaker Pro
Best video editor for iPad for audio-focused content and intermediate projects
4.6/5 stars on the App Store
Specifications
Supported iPadOS: 13.0 or later
Free Trial & Pricing: Free version; No free trial; $7.9.$79.99
Key Features: Professional-grade transitions, Expertly crafted filters
Reasons to Buy
- Fantastic AI tools
- Rich music assets
- Great graphics and labels
Reasons to Avoid
- The free version has a watermark
- Some features are locked behind a subscription
About
With 45+ transitions, 30 filters, 150+ royalty-free audio tracks, 200+ gorgeous graphics, and hundreds of fonts, Filmmaker Pro video editor for iPad is a fantastic tool for customizing your videos to extreme levels. It's aimed at intermediate users who need precise detail control and does what it's intended for.
While some of its users call it perfect, other commenters weren't thrilled, saying that the app "has potential" and had issues with cropping, audio, and the Chroma Key tool. Still, that wasn't the case in our test, so Filmmaker Pro deserves the spotlight.
6.Splice
Splice
iPad video edit app for audio-focused social media edits
4.6/5 stars on the App Store
Specifications
Supported iPadOS: 12.2 or later
Free Trial & Pricing: Free tool
Key Features: Tremendous speed ramping capabilities, iTunes integration
Reasons to Buy
- Free to use
- Simple and easy-to-learn interface
- Extensive audio library
Reasons to Avoid
- Occasional crashes
- Potential copyright issues for music
About
Whether you want to trim and crop clips to focus on the highlights, add transitions to make your projects smoother, or apply effects to make your content unique - Splice is the app for you. This iPad video edit app has all the bells and whistles you'll need to create great content, focusing specifically on social media clips. It also has a vast music library and iTunes integration for a complete audiovisual experience.
While a few comments state things like "It takes forever to upload," most users are pleased with the overall experience, earning Splice a spot on our list.
7.InShot
InShot
Best social media content-focused video editor for iPad
4.9/5 stars on the App Store
Specifications
Supported iPadOS: 12.0 or later
Free Trial & Pricing: 3-day free trial; $3.9.$39.99
Key Features: 4K export capabilities, Vast transition library, Fast renders
Reasons to Buy
- Generous editing tools
- Intuitive tablet interface
- Numerous transition and export options
Reasons to Avoid
- Tracking allegations
- Privacy concerns
About
InShot is an iPad video edit app focused on helping you explore your creativity. It's jam-packed with great editing tools like the AI Smooth feature for slow-mo effects, Smart Cutout for replacing dull backgrounds, Auto Caption for improving your content's social media accessibility, and more.
Its users love InShot's ease of use and accuracy, but a few comments have also mentioned slow export speed and shared their tracking concerns. Apart from these drawbacks, InShot is a remarkable piece of iPad editing software and deserves its spot on this list.
8.Final Cut Pro for iPad
Final Cut Pro for iPad
Best native iPad editing software
4.3/5 stars on the App Store
Specifications
Supported iPadOS: 17.4 or later (iPads with M1 or newer chips only)
Free Trial & Pricing: Free version; 30-day free trial; $4.9.$49.00
Key Features: Live Drawing, Pro Camera mode
Reasons to Buy
- Satisfying and clean user interface
- Optimizations for iPadOS and M chips
- Fantastic color-grading presets
Reasons to Avoid
- Editing tools are different from the desktop version
- Lack of plugins and video effects
About
Any Mac editor knows how good Apple's native Final Cut Pro is on macOS. This powerful video editor has recently been ported to iPadOS, too. While it doesn't include all the bells and whistles of its desktop cousin, it makes for a worthy iPad video edit app with plenty to offer.
One of its major drawbacks is the lack of features available in the Mac version of FCP, which is what most comments are about. Yet, others are happy with FCP for iPad and praise its speed, optimization, and spectacular library of pro content, so this app gets a pass in our book.
9.DaVinci Resolve for iPad
DaVinci Resolve for iPad
Best iPad video edit app for professional videos and color correction
4.5/5 stars on the App Store
Specifications
Supported iPadOS: 17.0 or later (A12 chip or later)
Free Trial & Pricing: Free tool (there is also a paid version, DaVinci Resolve Studio, which costs $94.99)
Key Features: Professional-grade editing tools, Fantastic color correction tools
Reasons to Buy
- Intuitive and well-designed interface
- All the bells and whistles of the desktop app
- Generous editing features
Reasons to Avoid
- Can't zoom on the Timeline
- Lacks optimizations and consumes battery
About
Often considered one of the best free video editors for iPad, DaVinci Resolve is a professional editor that combines post-production features and color correction tools in one software. Its modern interface makes DaVinci Resolve easy for new users, while its Hollywood production-focused tools also make it perfect for professionals.
While some users state that the app occasionally crashes and can't pinch in or out the clip line, most are satisfied with DaVinci Resolve's performance and editing tools.
10.Adobe Premiere Rush
Adobe Premiere Rush
Top iPad video edit app for motion graphics
4.6/5 stars on the App Store
Specifications
Supported iPadOS: 14.0 or later
Free Trial & Pricing: 7-day free trial; $4.9.$34.99
Key Features: Creative Cloud integration, Numerous editing features, Reliable performance
Reasons to Buy
- Easy-to-use tablet interface
- Excellent editing and rendering speeds
- Fantastic captioning tools
Reasons to Avoid
- The iPad version lacks features from the desktop version
- Audio editing tools are subpar
About
Packing a built-in camera, a multi-track timeline, advanced audio tools, and a fantastic premium content library, Adobe Premiere Rush is an excellent video editor for iPad with a lot to offer. With it, you can easily arrange clips, audio tracks, photos, and graphics, trim and crop videos, mirror content, add overlays, adjust speed, enhance colors, and more.
It's not all rainbows and sunshine, though. Its users are annoyed by the random crashes and lack of bug fixes from the developer. However, we had no issues of this kind, so Adobe Premiere Rush gets a pass.
How to Select the Right Video Editor for iPad
The increasing capabilities of mobile processors have led to a surge of iPad video editing software, which has further made finding the correct tool challenging. To pick the right video editor for iPad, you'll need to either read reviews or consider the following factors and make your decision based on these:
- App Pricing - While there are free video editors for iPad, many professional apps also come with a subscription or require a one-time fee. Setting a budget early on can narrow the list of potential iPad video edit apps and help you find the right tool.
- Editing Goals - The iPad editing software you use will depend on what you plan to do with the app. Most video editors for iPad can handle basic tasks like cutting, trimming, and stitching, but you'll need a professional-grade iPad video edit app for more advanced edits.
- Ease of Use - All iPad video edit apps will inevitably take some time to get used to, especially if you're a novice editor. However, you should also be aware of different app designs and only look into tools whose user interfaces are friendly and easily navigable.
- Export Options - For an influencer or a content creator, the iPad editing software's export options can make all the difference. Thus, finding a video editor for iPad that supports direct exports to YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and other social media platforms can be beneficial.
Independent testing websites and dedicated review platforms can also help, giving you an idea of what's good about an iPad video editor app and what isn't. They can also show you what its users think about it.
Our Criteria for Picking the Best Video Editors for iPad
To create the list of the ten best video editors for iPad, we tested over 20 different apps on the same device and then narrowed our list down. We used a 2022 11-inch iPad Pro with an M2 chip and 8GB of RAM and looked into the following aspects during testing:
- Editing Features - Each test began by trying the iPad video editor's basic editing features, like trimming, transitions, and video effects. We then upped the ante and moved on to keyframing and color correction to test the advanced editing capabilities.
- User Experience - The design and the navigability of the iPad video editor's user interface also played a pivotal role in our tests. After all, a good iPad editing software should streamline your workflow, not slow you down.
- App Performance - Having an app with smooth performance, minimal lag, and no crashes is paramount for video editing, and the performance and stability of video editors for iPad were significant factors that we tested.
- Export Quality - After finishing each round of editing, we looked into each exported project. Namely, we checked its quality, ensuring that 4K-capable iPad video editors export in UltraHD and that these projects look as good as advertised.
- Value for Money - Last but not least, we evaluated whether iPad editing software should make the list based on the editing capabilities and performance it provided for its price, be it a one-time payment or a subscription.
It's worth noting that compatibility with iPad hardware, like the Apple Pencil, can also be a deciding factor for some iPad users, but we ultimately decided not to include it.
Conclusion
Thanks to the increasing power of mobile processors, we've seen a massive pivot in the video editing industry. Many editors, influencers, and content creators are moving full-time to mobile-based video editors, and with that came an enormous surge of iPad editing software.
From free tools like Apple's iMovie, Splice, and DaVinci Resolve for iPad to social media content-focused KineMaster, Filmmaker Pro, and InShot to professional-grade apps like LumaFusion, Final Cut Pro for iPad, and Adobe Premiere Rush, there's an endless supply of video editors for iPad.
However, one tool stands out, creating a perfect balance of beginner-friendliness, social media-focused editing, and professional projects. That tool is Wondershare Filmora, an iPad video edit app with an unrestricted free version, affordable pricing, a massive asset library, swift renders, and AI-powered tools, earning it the title of the best video editor for iPad.
