How to Make a Video Editing App: Tips and Cost Estimation

By Firzouq Azam Eye icon graphic 31 Views Clock vector illustration April 29, 2025
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You’re living In 2025, and trust us, everyone around you is a creator! 

Whether it’s your neighbor making videos on TikTok, preaching about his gardening skills, or it’s you who has decided to be the next Spielberg with your vlogs, the thing that we are sure about is – video editing apps are the MVP and are here to stay for a while! 

But to be really honest, most of the video editing apps aren’t able to provide that “Wow” element – at least the ones we’ve tried! 

From what we experienced, some of these apps were either overly feature-bloated or came with unnecessary cringy filters that were absolutely of no use. And if you even manage to find a perfect video editing app for you, it will sadly cost you an arm and a leg! 

This is why you need this guide now! If you have been thinking of creating the greatest video editing app of all time, here is the treasure map for you!  

This guide shows you the ropes, shares some insider tips, and, yes, breaks down how much video editing costs to build so you’re not left guessing. 

After all, this isn’t just about building an app for editing video; it’s about creating a tool that content creators will fall in love with! 

So, without any further ado, let’s get started! 

Understanding the Video Editing App Market

Developing a video editing app without a sound understanding of it can feel like trying to edit a video in real-time with a potato for a computer—which is really not cool, right? 

Before jumping straight into development, you need to go the extra mile to learn who your users are, what your competitors are offering, and how your app would make a difference!

Is Making A Video Editing App Worth It? 

Without any doubt, the video editors app market is booming. The global video editing software market is expected to reach $3.1 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate of 9.5% from 2022. 

Why? It’s because everyone, from YouTubers to small businesses, needs engaging video content to stay relevant. More than 500 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube each minute – and we all know that’s a ton of content to edit! 

Identify Your Target Audience 


Just like the five fingers aren’t equal, so are the video editors being used today! 

Prior getting starting to develop a video editing app, you need to ask yourself, “Is your audience the casual one that edits their cat videos occasionally?” or “You want to make the life of the professional editors easy by giving them a lifetime gift?” 

Knowing your audience will determine what features your app should have and what pricing model you should implement. 

Here is a list of some of the many features you need to keep in mind before diving into your video editing app development. 

  • Content Creators: People who make videos for multi-dollar platforms like YouTube or TikTok. They need a real-time video editing solution with social media integration.
  • Professional Editors: These people want advanced tools like multi-track editing and color correction.
  • Everyday Users: Your grandma editing a family reunion clip just wants simplicity.

Competitor Analysis

To succeed, you need to be aware of the market gap so that you can bridge it and become the best video editing app in 2025. To save you time in researching the best video editing apps, here are some of the names that you should start with. 

  • CapCut: People love it for the free professional attributes.
  • InShot: Best suited for those normal random edits
  • Adobe Premiere Rush: Professionals consider it best

Your goal is to analyze the pain points of your users and then find the loop holes that your competitors are lacking to provide – get your video editing app loaded with all these features, and you are good to go!  

  • Ready to turn your app idea into an Oscar-worthy hit?
  • We bring your blockbuster video editing app dreams to life

Essential Features of a Video Editing App

Before diving straight into the development process of your video editing app, you should know that its features are the only thing that can help it stand out in the market. 

An app with too many features or too few features won’t be able to satisfy your target audience – the real key is to get the perfect balance of features!

As easy as it may sound, many people often fail to achieve the balance and thus fail to scale their video editing app. 

With the video editing software market reaching about $932 million in 2025, here is the list of features that must-have for your video editing app in 2025. 

Fundamental Editing Tools

The foundation of any video editing is enriching your users with the fundamental tools that allow them to do the basic operations like: 

  • Length And Frame Adjustment: Remove unwanted sections of footage.
  • Merge Clips: Combine your two clips into one masterpiece
  • Speed Adjustment: Adjust the speed of the videos as per your liking
  • Inserting Text and Titles: Make your videos creative by adding text like captions and headings.
  • Apply Filters and Effects: Improve the appeal of your videos by inserting layers of filters and effects. 

Advanced Editing Features

If your potential audience are professionals, then you need to ensure that your video editing app has the following features: 

  • Multi-Track Editing: Layering video, audio, and effects tracks for complex projects.
  • Color Correction and Grading: Control color balance and mood setting.
  • Audio Editing Tools: Noise reduction, equalization, and synchronization features.
  • Motion Graphics and Animations: Dynamic visual elements can be created.
  • Chroma Keying (Green Screen): Facilitate changing backgrounds for creative compositions.

User Interface and Experience

A user-friendly interface boosts productivity and reduces the learning curve for new users. If you want your user to keep coming back to your video editing app, then consider loading your app with: 

  • Intuitive Layout: Tools are accessible and logically organized.
  • Customizable Workspaces: Users can personalize the interface according to their workflow preferences.
  • Responsive Performance: It works smoothly without lag, even when working with high-resolution footage.
  • Tutorials and Guided Edits: Helps beginners learn the software efficiently. 

Export and Sharing Options

Today, every user needs to have the flexibility of saving their edited videos as per their liking. Hence, the more exporting and sharing options your app will come in handy with, the more love it will receive

  • Format Support: Supports a wide range of video formats and resolutions, including 4K and 8K.
  • Direct Share: Easy uploads to social media, such as YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.
  • Cloud Saving: Project saving to cloud storage for access later on different devices.
  • Compression: This allows for file size control without quality compromise.

Integrating AI in Your Video Editing App

Since the entire world is proceeding towards AI, why shouldn’t your video editing app? 

Enriching your video editing app with AI enhances user experience by automating mundane tasks and intelligent support. By 2025, AI integration will be among the most common trends for video editing apps:

  • Automatic Editing: AI can create edits based on the beats of the music or according to desired styles.
  • Intelligent Effects: They can be applied wisely, such as auto-reframing of subjects or improving the quality of images.
  • Speech-to-Text Transcription: Creates captions automatically, which improves accessibility.

Collaboration and Cloud Features

With the rise in remote work and collaborative projects, incorporating the following features has now become extremely necessary for all new video editing app developers.

  • Real-time Collaboration: It enables several users to work on a single project.
  • Version History: Keeps track of changes and revert to previous versions.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility: The app will run without bugs on different devices and operating systems.
  • Can’t Decide The Features For Your Video Editing App?
  • Let Us Help You Choose The Best Ones!

Challenges in Developing a Video Editing App

Nobody said that your journey of developing a video editing app would be like walking barefoot in a garden filled with flowers. 

Here is a comprehensive table that’s more than enough to keep you abreast of all the challenges that life may throw at you during your video editing app development journey.

Challenge Details Impact
Technical Complexity Integrating features like real-time video editing and multi-track timelines. Demands advanced development skills and seamless performance across devices.
User Experience (UX) Design Designing an intuitive interface while balancing functionality and simplicity. Ensures user satisfaction and retention in a highly competitive market.
Performance Optimization Resource-intensive processes like video rendering and editing on mobile devices. Requires robust optimization for devices with varying capabilities.
Security and Privacy Protecting user data and ensuring compliance with privacy laws. Increases trust and prevents reputational damage caused by breaches.
Market Competition Competing with established players like CapCut and Adobe Premiere Rush. Necessitates innovative features and strategic marketing to capture market share.
Development Costs High costs depend on features and platform requirements. Basic apps: $15,000–$50,000; Advanced apps: $100,000+. Post-launch updates further add to expenses.

 

Step-by-Step Guide to Developing a Video Editing App

Video editing app development is multi-phased – it needs a certain level of strategy, intensive development, and relentless testing.

With projections assessing the video editing app market to reach about $3.1 billion by 2030, now couldn’t be a better time to launch yours.

Would having no precise guide be the only thing that prevented you from getting down to turning your video editing app idea into reality – then we will have stopped it right here.

Here is a detailed guide to help you maneuver through the development. 

  • Ideation and Conceptualization

Identify the specific purpose of your video editing app. Consider the following:

  • Target Audience: Casual users, professionals, or both?
  • Core Features: Will it include real-time video editing, multi-track timelines, or AI-based enhancements?
  • Unique Value Proposition: What sets your app apart from competitors?
  • Planning and Research

Market research is vital to understanding the needs of the users and the gaps in current video editing apps. 

Seek help from a mobile app development company to validate your idea and analyze how much video editing costs in terms of design and functionality.

  • Designing the App

A user-centric design ensures your app is functional and aesthetically pleasing as well. Here’s what you need to keep in mind while designing your app! 

  • Clear structure through wireframes and prototypes.
  • Clean UI/UX with intuitive controls.
  • Responsiveness across devices.
  • Choosing the Right Tech Stack

Your tech selections will determine how your app functions. Following is the most common type of Tech Stack that you can use to develop your video editing app. 

  • iOS Development: Swift programming.
  • Android Development: Kotlin programming.
  • Cross-Platform Tools: Flutter or React Native in case of cost-cutting.
  • Development and Integration

This is the development phase where the core functionality of an app comes into existence.

  • Frontend Development: Development of an interface which a user will engage with.
  • Backend Development: It includes server management, databases, and APIs.
  • Integrate SDKs, such as Media3 or FFmpeg, for real-time video editing features.
  • Testing and Quality Assurance

To ensure that your app functions seamlessly, you need to perform the following activities: 

  • Functional tests on features.
  • Speed and stability tests on performance.
  • User-friendliness tests on usability.
  • Launch and Marketing

Obviously, you would love people to give your video editing app a try, right? This can only happen when you market your app to the right audience. Here’s the to-do list for you: 

  • App stores publications with optimized listings.
  • Social media and influencer collaboration for marketing purposes.
  • Paid marketing to get instant results

Estimated Development Timeline and Costs

Stage Time Required Cost Range Key Deliverables
Ideation and Research 2–4 weeks $5,000–$10,000 Market analysis, feature definition, competitor review.
Design 3–6 weeks $8,000–$20,000 Wireframes, prototypes, UI/UX design.
Development 12–20 weeks $50,000–$120,000 Frontend, backend, SDK integration.
Testing and QA 4–6 weeks $8,000–$15,000 Functional, performance, and usability tests.
Launch and Marketing 2–4 weeks $10,000–$30,000 App store optimization, promotional campaigns.

Cost Estimation for Developing a Video Editing App

The cost of building a video editing app depends upon the complexity and platform of application development, which also depends upon the location where the development is being done. 

As the apps for video editing are in full demand in the year 2025, at an estimated worth of $3.1 billion by 2030, determining these cost-driving factors is inevitable.

Factors Impacting Development Costs

  • Feature complexity: Simple features such as trimming and cutting would be cheaper, whereas advanced tools like real-time video editing with multi-track functionality and AI integrations would need to be purchased more.
  • Platform choice: Developing an app for one platform, either iOS or Android, will cost less than building a cross-platform solution.
  • Development location: Employers in the US or Europe will often pay $100-$200 per hour for mobile application developers compared to $30-$70 for hiring a mobile app development company in Asia. 

Breakdown of Development Costs

Here’s an approximate estimate of the cost of video editing apps depending on app complexity:

  • A basic video editing app may cost around $30,000–$50,000 and would come around with basic features like trimming, filters, and exporting. 
  • A mid-range app may cost you $60,000–$120,000 and comes enriched with features like real-time video editing, audio sync, and templates.
  • For getting an advanced video editors app, you may have to pay around $150,000–$350,000+. This cost can provide you with exclusive features like AI-based tools, cloud collaboration, and multi-track editing. 

On-going Cost Breakdown

Development is not the only thing you’ll be paying for your video editing app. You need your app to be super functional at all times, right? – and for that, you can expect the following expenses: 

  • Maintenance: Regular updates and bug fixes (20% of development cost annually).
  • Cloud Storage: For apps that provide cloud-based saving of projects.
  • Marketing: To attract and retain users.

Here’s a table for a much better understanding!

Development Stage Estimated Cost Time Required Key Deliverables
Planning and Research $5,000–$10,000 2–4 weeks Market analysis, competitor research.
UI/UX Design $8,000–$20,000 3–6 weeks Wireframes, app prototypes.
Development $50,000–$120,000 12–20 weeks Frontend, backend, feature integration.
Testing and QA $8,000–$15,000 4–6 weeks Bug fixes and performance checks.
Launch and Marketing $10,000–$30,000 2–4 weeks App store optimization, promotional campaigns.
Total Estimated Cost $80,000–$350,000+ 6–12 months Fully functional video editing app.

 

  • Scared of hidden costs lurking in your app project?
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How Tekrevol Can Help You to Achieve Your Video Editing Dream App

You’ve got the idea, but the journey from concept to launch feels as daunting as editing a three-hour video on a 2007 laptop (Chuckles!)

That’s where Tekrevol steps in! We’re not just another mobile app development company—we’re your creative partners. 

Whether you’re dreaming of a sleek app for editing video with intuitive design or a powerhouse with real-time video editing features, we’ve got the expertise to deliver.

Our team combines cutting-edge tech with deep industry insights to craft apps that users rave about, and competitors envy. Worried about costs? Don’t sweat it! We’ll give you a transparent plan so that you know what video editing costs at every step.

Saying that what are you waiting for? Let’s make that video editors app of 2025. Your vision of our execution it’s a match made in app heaven. 

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Frequently Asked Questions:

  • Refine your concept.
  • Identify your target users.
  • Compile a list of features.
  • Integrate analytics for user insight.
  • Determine your monetization strategy.
  • Select the ideal video app development company.
  • Pick the best technology stack.
  • Design an easy-to-use UI/UX.

The cost to develop a video editing app such as CapCut can range from $30,000 to $250,000 or even much higher depending on the features you want to add, the technology combinations you apply, and the location of the software development agency you partner with.

 

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom is the gold-standard photo editing app on every platform, including iOS and Android. Though targeted at professional and hobbyist photographers, it is quite fine for editing any kind of image you shoot with your smartphone.

Industry reports say it may cost somewhere around $30,000 and as high as $250,000 on average; for an individual company, though, the overall expense to create the same mobile app has been a huge $171,450, taking in mind estimates; the amount would be many dollars more or even less compared with any individual company’s special demands.

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    Author : Firzouq

    Firzouq Azam is a Senior Content Writer who got a knack for turning complicated tech jargon into content that people find interesting, engaging and they ends up with a laugh! Being a certified tech geek and AI enthusiast, he mixes his love for storytelling with his tech smarts to create pieces that educate, entertain, and occasionally make people go, “Oh, I get it now!”.

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