Edits / Comparisons / Edits vs Splice
Splice is a simple iPhone video editor with trimming, overlays, masks, chroma key, a royalty-free music library and one-tap sharing to YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and more, sold through free download and subscriptions. Edits is Instagram's own editor: free, no watermark, keyframes, one-tap styled captions, audio cleanup, a teleprompter camera and a direct hand-off to Instagram with the audio tag. Ten rounds, an honest score, and how to use both.
For making Instagram Reels, Edits takes six rounds: it's free without a watermark, has keyframes, captions in a tap, audio cleanup, a teleprompter camera and a hand-off to Instagram that keeps the audio tag. Splice takes three: a royalty-free music library, chroma key and masks, and direct sharing to other platforms. Layers are a tie. The trade-off is cost: Splice relies on subscriptions.
They pair well. The use-both section shows how.
Scored for a creator who wants Reels to look and sound good. If you post to YouTube and TikTok as much as Instagram, weight rounds 5 and 9 higher. Splice's plans and features change, so check the store listing.
Free, no watermark, no paywall. Pricing
Free to download, with in-app subscriptions (weekly, monthly and yearly on its listing). The listing doesn't state a watermark policy; one review says the end watermark can be switched off.
Multi-track timeline with overlays, text, audio and keyframes for position, scale, rotation and opacity. Keyframes
Overlays, masks and chroma key on a simple timeline. Keyframes aren't mentioned on its listing, so check the app.
One tap, free, styled and editable per line, bilingual in 15 languages. Auto captions
Text overlays and title slides; the listing doesn't describe automatic captions.
Enhance, ducking, loudness match, beat markers and voiceover. Music & audio
Trim and mix multiple audio tracks, record narration and sound effects. Simple mixing, without one-tap cleanup that we could confirm.
Instagram's tagged library, which keeps the audio tag when you post. Trending audio
6,000+ royalty-free tracks from Artlist and Shutterstock, usable on any platform, plus songs from your iTunes collection under iTunes terms.
Built for 9:16, shares straight to Instagram with the audio tag, plus templates and Inspiration. Templates
A general-purpose editor: export a file or share onward. No audio tag, no Reels-specific templates.
HD to 4K, 24-60 fps, HDR/SDR, 10-minute takes and a teleprompter. Camera tools
An editor first; we couldn't confirm a built-in camera with comparable controls.
Dozens of effects, In & Out, Opacity blending and AI effects. AI effects
Chroma key, masks, Ken Burns, glitch and vintage effects and adjustable transitions. A more classic effects set, especially for green screen.
Instagram-first: shares to Instagram directly, with other uses via a saved file. Export settings
Shares directly to YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook, or saves to the camera roll.
Insights next to the edit. Reels analytics
No analytics; you read results in each platform.
| Edits | Splice | |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | Instagram (Meta) | Bending Spoons |
| Price | Free | Free + subscriptions |
| Watermark | None | Policy not stated; toggle reported |
| Timeline | Multi-track | Simple, with overlays |
| Keyframes | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Masks & chroma key | Not a headline tool | Yes |
| Auto captions | Yes, free, bilingual | Not confirmed |
| Audio tools (Enhance, ducking, beats) | Yes | Mixing, narration |
| Royalty-free music library | Instagram tagged library | 6,000+ tracks |
| Share to Instagram with audio tag | Yes | No |
| Share to YouTube / TikTok | Via saved file | Direct |
| Camera | 4K · 60 fps · teleprompter | Not confirmed |
| Analytics next to the edit | Yes (Insights) | No |
| Platforms | Android, iOS | iPhone, iPad, Vision (Android not confirmed) |
| Best for | Reels, free and clean | Quick cuts with licensed music |
Note: Splice's details come from its App Store listing and user reviews and may have changed; "not confirmed" means we couldn't verify it. More in the Edits review, the CapCut comparison here, and all head-to-heads in Comparisons.
They don't share projects, but exported clips move freely, so use Splice for cross-platform cuts and Edits for the Instagram version.
Edits exports without a watermark and hands your Reel to Instagram with the audio tag.