The camera on your average smartphone rivals even dedicated digital cameras.
Great for Advanced Users: FiLMic Pro
The best interface among available options.
Full range of professional features.
Output comparable with pro-grade camcorders.
Novice videographers will be overwhelmed.
Getting good footage requires good skills.
Some features require in-app purchases.
You’ll also find more common features like frame rates from 24 to 240 and various file format options.
The app is free and offers in-app purchases for many of the most professional features.
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Cinema Quality for iPhone: MAVIS
Dozens of unique professional-level features.
Broadest audio recording options available on iOS.
Only available for iOS.
Best for advanced users.
MAVIS is another dense recording tool.
Uniquely, selectable bitrates range from 10Mbps up to 100Mbps, and embedded timecodes appear in video files.
Like FiLMic, MAVIS offers a massive array of professional controls.
Advanced Control for Beginners: MoviePro
Require less serious investment.
Doesn’t overwhelm the user with options.
Professional-level shooters might miss some features.
Some features depend on the iPhone model.
For iPhone users only.
Audio recording and monitoring options are just as flexible, with on-screen audio meters and Bluetooth microphone input options.
This app is also free to use with in-app purchases for desired advanced features.
Straightforward Android Camera Enhancer: Open Camera
Largely accessible.
Significantly improves stock Android camera app.
Unattractive interface made from off-the-shelf components.
Limited to Camera2 API functionality.
Only for Android devices.
Open Camera is primarily built for still images, but its video recording capabilities are impressive as well.
It’s completely free, with no in-app purchases.
The feature list includes desirable functions that enhance the the built-in camera app.
Open Camera also supports the newest Camera2 API.
Simplifies sharing edited mobile videos.
Ideal for creating short event videos.
The app is free.
The interface might be too simplistic for video experts.
Advanced tools require buy-in.
Possible iPhone performance issues with too many effects.
Videoshop isn’t a camera recording app, but it’s an essential companion to one.
It’s a straightforward and capable app for producing simple edited videos on your smartphone.
All of this can be done within the app, with no need for a computer.
A Powerful Choice for All Levels: LumaFusion
Uniquely powerful non-linear editing features.
Excellent choice for mobile filmmakers and other pros.
Multicam Studio requires in-app purchase.
If you want a professional editor to go with your professional iOS video recording app, look at LumaFusion.
It’s one of the most powerful video editing apps on the App Store.
And it’s also available in the Play Store for Android devices.
It will run you nearly $30, but the pro-level features fit the price.
A Powerful Choice for Casual Users: ProMovie Recorder
Impressive range of adjustments.
Free to download and accessible to everyone.
Powerful features like MAVIS and FiLMic Pro.
The interface isn’t as attractive as other apps.
Not as intuitive as competitors.
Requires in-app purchase to remove watermark.
ProMovie Recorder approaches MAVIS and FiLMic Pro in complexity but lacks the intuitive interfaces of those apps.
Unlike FiLMic Pro, ProMovie Recorder is free to download.
You’ll need to make a one-time $3 in-app purchase to remove the watermark from your exported videos.
