A LookedApp Comparison of Leading Photo and Video Editing Apps

Comparing Photo and Video Editing Apps

Visual content creation has become an essential part of daily life, ranging from personal photo enhancements to professional marketing materials. Many mobile applications offer powerful tools for editing photos and videos, often incorporating advanced features like artificial intelligence.

LookedApp has assessed a selection of these applications to help users navigate the options. This comparison focuses on editing and design apps that are free to download on both Google Play and the App Store, providing a clear overview of their capabilities and target audiences based on LookedApp's assessments.

Canva

CanvaCanva · 4.9★ (3.6M) · App Store

Canva is identified by LookedApp as a versatile creative platform designed for graphic design, photo editing, and video creation. It offers a comprehensive suite of tools, making it suitable for individuals and teams needing to produce professional-quality visual content for various purposes such as social media, presentations, resumes, and marketing materials.

LookedApp's review highlights several key features, including revolutionary AI video creation with Veo 3, which allows for generating videos with sound from simple text prompts. The app also includes an advanced photo editor for effortless background removal, applying filters, and adjusting lighting and contrast. A professional video editor enables users to craft engaging videos with captions, cinematic effects like slow motion, and mobile optimization. Users can build dynamic presentations and slideshows using professional templates, and a standout resume maker offers hundreds of professionally designed templates.

The Canva app is free to download on both Google Play and the App Store. However, both platforms indicate the availability of in-app purchases, ranging from $1.49 to $300.00 per item on Google Play, suggesting that additional features or content may require payment. The App Store listing also notes that "Canva for Education" is offered without charge for eligible K-12 teachers and students, providing a specialized educational experience.

Canva holds a rating of 4.9★ from 3.6M ratings on the App Store and 4.8★ from 23.7M ratings on Google Play. It requires Android 8.0 and up, and iOS 15.0 or later. Canva is suitable for a broad spectrum of users, including individuals, small business owners, educators, and creative teams who need accessible yet powerful tools for visual content creation, regardless of their design experience.

Google Photos

Google PhotosGoogle · 4.8★ (1.6M) · App Store

Google Photos is described by LookedApp as a comprehensive mobile application for managing personal photos and videos. It provides users with cloud storage, advanced AI-powered editing features, and intelligent organization tools, positioning it as an all-in-one platform for storing, enhancing, and sharing digital memories efficiently.

Among its key features, LookedApp's review notes that every Google account includes up to 15 GB of cloud storage, shared across Google Photos, Gmail, and Google Drive. The app incorporates AI-powered editing tools such as Magic Eraser for removing distractions, Unblur for improving out-of-focus photos, and Portrait Light for enhancing lighting and brightness. Photos are easily searchable through natural language queries, and the app assists in organizing galleries by grouping duplicate photos into stacks and creating intuitive folders. A locked folder feature is also available for sensitive content.

The Google Photos application is free to download on both Google Play and the App Store. While the core app is complimentary, it offers services like turning memories into photo books, photo prints, and canvas wall art, with prices varying by product and availability in specific regions. The Google Play listing indicates no in-app purchases for features, though the App Store listing shows in-app purchases, likely referring to these print services.

The app has a rating of 4.8★ from 1.6M ratings on the App Store and 4.4★ from 53.6M ratings on Google Play. It requires Android 8.0 and up, and iOS 18.0 or later. Google Photos is designed for individuals who need an intelligent solution for managing extensive photo and video collections, particularly those who value advanced editing capabilities and smart organization, making it suitable for a broad audience.

YouTube Create

YouTube CreateGoogle · 4.6★ (3.6K) · App Store

YouTube Create is presented by LookedApp as a video editing and creation application developed by Google. It is designed to help users produce captivating videos for their audience, offering essential editing tools, AI-powered features, and a library of music and effects without requiring complex software.

LookedApp's review highlights that users can combine videos, photos, and audio, and apply trimming, clipping, and cropping to video clips. The application offers over 40 transitions and allows adjustment of video speed. One-tap automatic captions or subtitles are available in selected languages, and video backgrounds can be removed using cut out or chroma key features. The app provides a library of thousands of trending and royalty-free songs, including those from the YouTube Shorts music library, along with sound effects. An audio cleanup tool removes distracting background noise, and direct voiceover recording is supported. Videos can be resized to various aspect ratios and exported in up to 4K resolution at 60 fps.

YouTube Create is available at no cost on both Google Play and the App Store. Neither listing mentions any in-app purchases or subscription requirements for accessing the features within the application, setting it apart as a completely free option.

The app has a rating of 4.6★ from 3.6K ratings on the App Store and 4.3★ from 22.2K ratings on Google Play. It requires Android 8.0 and up, and iOS 17.0 or later. YouTube Create is intended for individuals who produce video content and seek a straightforward yet powerful editing solution, catering to creators who want to enhance their videos with various effects, music, and AI-powered tools without needing expertise in complex video editing software.

Cut Paste Photos

Cut Paste PhotosDexati · 4.5★ (15.6K) · App Store

Cut Paste Photos is a mobile application designed for photo editing, with a specific focus on the ability to cut, copy, and paste elements within and between images, according to LookedApp's review. It provides tools for background removal, photo collage creation, and various creative effects, catering to users who wish to manipulate their photos without needing professional software.

The app's key features, as noted by LookedApp, include an AI Background Eraser that automatically removes backgrounds from photos, isolating people or pets. Users can utilize Manual Copy for precise selection and cutting of specific image parts. An Advanced Photo Editor helps refine cut photos for sharper edges. The Paste On Photos feature enables placing cut images onto any background from a user's gallery, and photo collages can be created using custom backgrounds or in a freeform style. A Color Pop feature applies a color splash effect, maintaining color saturation on a selected area while rendering the rest in black and white.

Cut Paste Photos is free to download on Google Play and the App Store, but it includes in-app purchases. On Google Play, these purchases range from $1.99 to $99.99 per item. The App Store listing details several subscription options: a weekly subscription for $4.99 with a 3-day free trial, a monthly subscription for $9.99, and a yearly subscription for $79.99, also with a 3-day free trial. These subscriptions automatically renew unless canceled.

The app holds a rating of 4.5★ from 15.6K ratings on the App Store and 3.8★ from 277.9K ratings on Google Play. It requires Android 6.0 and up, and iOS 15.0 or later. Cut Paste Photos is intended for individuals who want to easily modify and enhance their photographs using a mobile device, particularly for creative photo manipulation such as changing backgrounds or creating collages, and is suitable for a broad audience.

ibis Paint X

ibis Paint Xibis inc. · 4.7★ (300K) · App Store

ibis Paint X is identified by LookedApp as a feature-rich illustration and animation application. It provides an extensive toolkit for digital artists, offering a wide range of brushes, materials, advanced vector tools, and animation capabilities, making it accessible for new users while also serving experienced creators.

LookedApp's review highlights an extensive collection of over 130,000 brushes, more than 30,000 materials, and over 3,000 fonts. The app includes 86 image filters, 46 screentones, and 27 layer blending modes for advanced editing. It also integrates vector tools, a reference window, radial and symmetry rulers, animated filters, and an AI Disturbance feature. The ability to record and share the creative process as a time-lapse video is also a notable feature.

The ibis Paint X app is free to download on Google Play and the App Store. Both listings indicate the presence of in-app purchases, ranging from $2.99 to $79.99 per item on Google Play. The developer's information suggests a subscription model, noting that if auto-renewal is not canceled at least 24 hours before a free trial concludes, users will be automatically charged upon renewal.

ibis Paint X has a rating of 4.7★ from 300K ratings on the App Store and 4.5★ from 3M ratings on Google Play. It requires Android 7.0 and up, and iOS 15.0 or later. The app is intended for any individual worldwide who desires to engage in drawing and animation, offering an approachable and user-friendly experience for various age groups, countries, and skill levels, from simple illustrations to complex animations.

How They Compare

These applications, while all free to download, differ significantly in their pricing models beyond the initial download, their specialized features, platform requirements, age ratings, and privacy practices.

Regarding price, YouTube Create stands out as the only application listed without any mention of in-app purchases or subscription requirements. Google Photos offers in-app purchases primarily for physical products rather than app features, while Canva, Cut Paste Photos, and ibis Paint X all utilize in-app purchases or subscriptions for access to additional features or content. Cut Paste Photos explicitly details weekly, monthly, and yearly subscription costs, whereas Canva and ibis Paint X indicate a range of costs for their in-app purchases.

In terms of features, each app serves a distinct purpose. Canva offers a broad creative suite for graphic design, photo, and video editing, including AI video creation and templates for presentations and resumes. Google Photos focuses on comprehensive photo and video management with cloud storage and AI-powered photo enhancements like Magic Eraser. YouTube Create is a dedicated video editor with tools for combining media, adding effects, royalty-free music, and direct export. Cut Paste Photos specializes in photo manipulation, particularly background removal and collage creation. ibis Paint X is designed for digital illustration and animation, providing an extensive array of brushes and advanced drawing tools.

All five applications are available on both Android and iOS platforms. However, there are slight variations in their minimum operating system requirements. Google Photos requires iOS 18.0 or later, YouTube Create requires iOS 17.0 or later, while Canva, Cut Paste Photos, and ibis Paint X generally require iOS 15.0 or later. Android requirements vary from 6.0 and up for Cut Paste Photos, to 7.0 and up for ibis Paint X, and 8.0 and up for Canva, Google Photos, and YouTube Create.

Age ratings also show some distinctions. Canva is rated 12+ on the App Store and Everyone 10+ on Google Play. YouTube Create is rated 4+ on the App Store but Teen on Google Play. In contrast, Google Photos, Cut Paste Photos, and ibis Paint X are consistently rated 4+ on the App Store and Everyone on Google Play, indicating their suitability for a younger and broader audience.

Privacy practices, particularly regarding data collection and sharing, exhibit differences. Canva, Google Photos, and YouTube Create all state on their Google Play listings that no data is shared with third parties. However, Cut Paste Photos states that it shares "Device or other IDs" with third parties, though it also states "No data collected." ibis Paint X collects and shares more types of data, including Location and Personal info, with third parties, compared to the other apps.

Which One to Choose

The choice of photo and video editing application depends heavily on individual needs and creative goals, as each app offers a unique set of functionalities and focuses.

For users who require a versatile platform for graphic design, photo, and video editing, complete with extensive templates and AI-powered creative tools for various purposes like social media graphics or presentations, Canva is an appropriate choice. Its "Canva for Education" program also makes it valuable for K-12 educational environments.

Individuals primarily focused on managing large collections of photos and videos, seeking smart organization, cloud storage, and AI-driven enhancements for existing memories, would find Google Photos to be a highly suitable option. Its features cater to efficient personal memory keeping and sharing.

Video content creators, especially those aiming to produce engaging videos for platforms such as YouTube, may prefer YouTube Create. Its dedicated video editing tools, royalty-free music library, and straightforward export options are designed to streamline the video production workflow.

For creative photo manipulation, such as isolating subjects, changing backgrounds, or creating custom collages, Cut Paste Photos offers specialized and accessible tools. It is ideal for users who enjoy personalizing their photos with specific artistic effects.

Digital artists, illustrators, and animators looking for a comprehensive drawing and animation experience with a vast array of brushes, materials, and advanced creative features would likely find ibis Paint X to be the most fitting choice. It supports a wide range of artistic endeavors, from simple illustrations to complex animations.

Related on LookedApp

• Photo and video editing apps18 reviews in one place
• How to Safely Find and Install Apps on Android DevicesThis guide from LookedApp provides step-by-step instructions for responsibly acquiring applications from the Google Play Store, emphasizing important checks and features like Google Play Protect to ensure a safe digital experience.
• How to Cancel an App Subscription on Android and iPhoneThis guide provides step-by-step instructions for canceling app subscriptions purchased through Google Play or the App Store, clarifying what happens after cancellation and why simply deleting an app does not end a subscription.
• How to Check and Change App Permissions on Android and iPhoneUsers can control what installed apps can access on their Android and iPhone devices, such as the camera, location, microphone, or contacts. This guide provides step-by-step instructions for managing these permissions and understanding app privacy before installation.
• How to Update Apps on Android and iPhone: A Step-by-Step GuideTimely app updates bring new features and bolster security. This guide provides instructions for manually updating applications, managing automatic updates, and finding key app information on Android and iPhone devices.
• How to Set Up Parental Controls for App Downloads and PurchasesLookedApp provides a step-by-step guide for parents to manage their child's app downloads and in-app purchases on Android and iPhone devices, utilizing platform-specific tools like Google Play's content restrictions, Family Link, Screen Time, and Ask to Buy.