Have you recently looked through your camera roll, found a few of your amateur videos, and thought… “hey, this has potential?”.
If you enjoy taking or recording videos in your free time, why not take your hobby (or career ambition) a step further by investing in your skills?
No, we don’t mean shelling out on an expensive camera or breaking the bank for a professional editing suite.
Believe it or not, you can produce professional-grade outstanding videos straight from your iPhone – all you need is the right software to unlock the potential for video creation.
If we’ve piqued your interest, then stick with us to explore some of the best video recording apps for iPhone, and see how you can take your skills to new heights.
1: ACDSee Camera Pro
Let’s kick things off with ACDSee Camera Pro. ACDSee claims to lead the industry in both photo and video editing software, bringing its capabilities straight to your iPhone with this powerful and truly awe-inspiring app.
Of course, you can take pictures and videos on your iPhone without an additional app, but after you’ve tried this, you won’t want to.
ACDSee works its magic by accessing the untapped potential of your camera – your pictures and videos will come out looking like they’ve been shot from a professional-grade Canon rather than a little device in your back pocket!
With ACDSee Camera Pro, you can control exposure, white balance, and over and underexposure. You can also access shutter priority mode, which allows you to manually set your shutter speed – the app can also choose the right shutter speed to give you the correct exposure!
For your videos, you can apply filters and adjustments in REAL TIME. That’s right, DURING the recording, not after.
You can also use the above controls in real-time, and gain access to additional exposure levels, flash modes, flash fusion (to combine a natural capture with a man-made one.
Other features include:
- Locking exposure, white balance, and focus
- Level indicator to help compose shots and record video
- All features compatible with front and rear-facing iPhone cameras.
ACDSee has really pulled out all the stops to bring you your very own video editing suite, straight to your phone. Let’s be honest, it goes even further than that – how many video editing suites allow you to edit your footage in real-time?!
Although these features are ideal for advanced video editors, the app makes it easy for novice users to get to grips with them, too.
Thanks to its simple interface and user-friendly design, it’s pretty clear that whatever your skillset or ambition, this app is an excellent investment.
Pros
- Make edits in real-time
- Access extra exposure levels and flash modes not seen without the app
- Flash fusion helps you alter the lighting of your videos in different ways
- Manually set your shutter speed, or let the app do it for you
Cons
- Advanced editing features are not as intuitive as other mainstream apps like Photoshop
- Results don’t always look professional
2: Videon
Next up, we have Videon.
This video recording app offers its user pretty much everything you could possibly want from a video recording app, and when we tried it for ourselves, we were impressed by its potential and how much better our final footage looked.
Videon guides you through the process, from capture to editing and viewing.
You can access different resolutions inside the app (full HD and 2.35:1 cinema format), adjustable frame rate, video stabilization, HDR mode, and so much more.
You can even take photos DURING recording – something we don’t see offered by many video recording apps these days!
You’ll also be able to set your own focus and exposure points and edit your video audio in real-time (and after) with the built-in audio meter.
Once you’re done recording, you can access even more features inside the editor, including video merging, splitting, shadows, speed effects, filters, and color correction filters. It’s worth noting that you can also apply some effects like filters while you’re still recording!
We love how simple it is to use Videon. It has an intuitive user face with a simple design, making it incredibly easy to record and edit on the go.
You’ll have far more creative control over your videos than you would with your regular iPhone version recordings, making this a great app for both experienced and inexperienced videographers.
Pros
- Make edits in real-time, or after shooting video in the in-app video editor
- Merge or split videos to create your own movies
- Take photos during the recording and adjust video settings
- Access different resolutions, including Full HD Down and 2.35:1 cinema format
- Frame rate adjustments can be made up to 120fps
Cons
- The app can be laggy on iOS 16
- Features don’t work with the front-facing camera
3: FiLMic Pro
Now, let’s take a look at FiLMic Pro. First things first, we LOVE this app – it’s simple (so beginner videographers won’t be too daunted), and it has one of the cleanest interfaces we’ve ever reviewed.
It’s amazing feature-rich, super powerful, and it does a great job, even when compared with high-end video recording applications.
With FilMic Pro, you’ll have access to manual controls for almost every thinkable function.
Some of our favorite features include Dolby Vision HDR support, live analytics for False Color, Zebras, and Focus Peaking, waveform monitor, gamma curve controls, and more.
These are some of the most advanced features on the app, and experienced (or professional) videographers will LOVE having these in their back pocket.
Some of the more basic (but still powerful) foundation features include variable best zoom quality, time-lapse capture, different shooting modes, variable frame rates, image stabilization, eight aspect ratios, and different encoding options to share your videos.
You can even monitor and edit the audio quality through your headphones, play with external mic control, and full manual control input gain!
FiLMic Pro has really pulled out all the stops, and we can easily say it’s one of the most advanced video recording and editing apps for the iPhone.
It may be a little overwhelming for beginners, but with a bit of research and practice, the advanced features are simple to learn.
If you’re interested in pursuing film professionally, but you don’t have the budget, this app is a great springboard to get you started.
Pros
- Advanced features like gamma curve controls are great for experienced videographers.
- A simple, clean interface avoids overwhelming novice users
- Add filters and make edits in real-time or after recording
- Export videos after editing and choose from different encoding options
- Advanced audio editing lives up to expectations
Cons
- Manual exposure control doesn’t work well when filming with different lighting
- High price tag
4: MAVIS
MAVIS is another popular video recording and editing app that’s definitely worth a mention in our roundup. Like FilMic Pro, MAVIS is a more advanced recording and editing software.
However, it’s still great for novice users. This app comes loaded with professional-grade features, some of which are pretty unique to the app.
MAVIS has a pretty strong reputation behind it – it’s been recognized (and used) by some pretty big names, including the BBC, ITV, Financial Times, and Sky Sports; so, straight off the bat, you know you’re in for a treat.
MAVIS has so many foundation-level and advanced features that it would be impossible to mention them all in this review. So, we’ll dive in with all the best bits. Some of our favorite features in MAVIS include:
- Custom frame rates up to 240fps
- High bitrate and ProRes recording
- Perform color work in real-time with the full-scale vectorscope
- Timecode systems support for Ultrasync BLUE
- Edit exposure with zebras and false color
- Audio metering
- Record and start/stop from your Apple Watch
- Multiple-resolution support, including 4K, 2K, and HD
- Shutter lock, separate target focus, and view shutter in speed control and angles
- Encoding bit rates from 10 Mbit/s to 100Mbit/s – these can support high-quality productions and ease the strain if you have limited storage.
- Internal mic selection and polar patterns
- VU metering
- Use the viewfinder to support different aspect ratios
As you can see, when we say MAVIS is advanced, we mean it.
This doesn’t mean it can’t be used by novice videographers, but to get to grips with the complexity of some of the features, we’d recommend having at least a small amount of knowledge behind you.
If you’re looking to produce professional-grade videos straight from your iPhone, this is one video recording and editing app you need to invest in!
Pros
- Control recording from your Apple Watch
- Alter polar patterns and other audio features in real-time
- Use zebras and false color to edit the exposure
- Custom frame rates up to 250fps
- Supports 4K and HD recording
Cons
- Some features have been lagging and can freeze on iOS 16
5: Horizon Camera
Last on our list is the Horizon camera. Horizon is a powerful, simple, and high-quality video recording and editing app, and its main USP is being able to take videos and photos horizontally.
Let us clarify – whatever way you hold your phone, this app will record your videos horizontally! This is a pretty convenient feature, but it’s just one of many that make Horizon so popular.
Let’s take a closer look at its main features.
It sounds pretty basic, but Horizons features work on both the front and rear-facing cameras.
This isn’t something that all video recording and editing apps provide, so it appeals to a much larger audience – especially those dabbling in blogging!
Aside from auto-leveling your videos while recording, with Horizon Camera, you can also…
- Geotag
- Choose from eight video filters, and apply them during recording or after
- Have access to several aspect ratios (4:3, 16:9, and 1:1)
- Support for multiple resolutions, including HD, VGA, and 4K and other supported video resolution types.
- Airplay mirroring while you’re recording
- Record up to 120fps videos
- AF/AE Lock
Since its inception, Horizon camera has received some great reviews – especially amongst vloggers.
If you’re new to video editing, or you’re not bothered about the more advanced features, we’d have no issue recommending Horizon camera – especially if you need to record horizontally!
It produces professional-grade videos on a simple interface with a few standout features.
However, this probably isn’t something that advanced videographers will want to invest in unless they’re planning to use a separate editing suite.
Horizon camera lacks more advanced features like zebras and false color, and there’s no VU metering to be seen. All-in-all, though, this is a fantastic app for novice users, and we can see why it’s so popular!
Pros
- Record videos horizontally, whichever way you hold your phone
- Features can be applied to both the front and rear-facing cameras
- Access Airplay mirroring while recording
- Different aspect ratios and support for multiple resolutions
Cons
- Lacks more advanced features such as zebras and false color
- Some existing features feel a bit basic
Buyers Guide
Whether you’re a pro or novice user, you’ll have plenty of things to consider before investing in recording software.
Although recording and editing software for iPhones is far cheaper than professional-grade equipment, it can still come with a big price tag, so you’ll need to choose carefully.
So you can launch into your buyer’s journey with the right knowledge, let us walk you through some of the most important things you’ll need to consider from your new software.
High-Res
Whatever you’re shooting, you’ll need to ensure your video recorder supports and captures high-quality video – it’s a no-brainer.
Even if you’re going one step further and adding a professional camera to your recorder, it’ll be limited if the software isn’t powerful.
So, make sure you choose software that can capture video somewhere between 720p HD and 1080p HD.
Easy Interface
You can have the most advanced phone editing software in the world, but you’ll quickly come to hate it if you can’t use it.
Even if you’re an advanced videographer, you should be investing in a software that has an easy, clean interface.
By this, we mean that the most important features should be visible and easy to access, and if you’re not sure how to use the more advanced features, the app should have the resources to help you do so.
This is SO important, especially for beginners, and it’ll save you plenty of precious time in the long run.
Look Beyond Filters
Let’s be honest; some iPhone video recording apps can be a bit basic. Although many of them come with cool filters built-in, you should be looking beyond these features, even if you’re a beginner user.
If you need to make an investment, it’s worth looking out for some more advanced features.
Even if you don’t know how to use them now, you’ll be able to pick them up in the future, and they can completely change the quality of your videos.
Some standout features to look out for are Zebras and gamma curve controls, custom frame rates, image stabilization, audio editing features (like polar patterns), and manual exposure.
Front and Rear Facing Recording
Will you be recording with your front or your rear camera?
It’s important to check if the software you want to invest in supports both. Some apps only support rear-facing cameras, and you may not even realize it until after you’ve spent your money.
Think carefully about your needs, and do your research thoroughly before you splash the cash.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I record videos secretly on my iPhone?
If you’re recording videos on your iPhone, you’ll have to open the camera app, which will be visible on your screen. However, some external other apps offer more discreet ways to record videos.
Remember: you should NOT be secretly recording videos if it is not legal or ethical to do so.
Can I edit videos on my iPhone?
Your iPhone will offer several video editing features. These can be accessed by pressing on your desired video and clicking the ‘Edit’ option in the top right corner.
Apple’s built-in editing features can include filters, trimming, cropping, adjusting exposure, and more. For more advanced features, you’ll need to install a third-party app.
Does Apple have a video editor for iPhone?
You can edit your videos directly from your phone, and you can even use iMovie or Magic Movie to bring your clips to life.
These apps are available on iPhones and iPads; however, they’re not as advanced as some other video editing software on the market.
The Bottom Line
Whatever your subject, there’s so much fun to be had with video editing and recording.
Whether it’s landscapes, people, the ocean, or something else, you can create high-quality videos straight from your iPhone – as long as you invest in the right software!
Although it’ll come at a price, the right skills (and software) can save you from needing to buy expensive cameras and editing software; this is great for beginners and those who want to record and edit on the go.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our roundup of the best video recording apps for iPhone – get stuck in, and have fun!
