Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Splice vs VN: Photo & Video Editor

Splice 4.6★ · Free + IAP 40
Winner VN: Photo & Video Editor
VN: Photo & Video Editor 4.8★ · Free to download 65

For users seeking a truly free and functional video editor, VN: Photo & Video Editor is the better choice, despite its own issues, as Splice has largely moved to a paid subscription model.

Full reviews: Splice · VN: Photo & Video Editor

Splice, once a popular free video editor, has transitioned to a subscription model, alienating many long-time users and restricting basic features behind a paywall. VN: Photo & Video Editor, while not perfect and having its own set of bugs and limitations, offers more free functionality and is generally preferred by users looking for a no-cost editing solution.

Head to head

Price/Value edge: VN: Photo & Video EditorR1R4R6R10
Splice Splice users are highly frustrated by its shift from a free app to a paid subscription, with many basic features now behind a paywall. The pricing, often $10 a week, is considered expensive and unfair, especially for former free users who feel betrayed. Many users would prefer a one-time purchase or a lower monthly fee.
VN: Photo & Video Editor VN is generally perceived as a free app, though some users encounter limitations like a 100-project cap or paid features like AI voice. Some users express a desire for more free templates and features, but the core editing functionality is available without a subscription.
Ease of Use tieR5R20R21R24
Splice Splice is praised for being easy to use and user-friendly, with intuitive basic editing tools. Many users find it a fun way to put videos together and suitable for beginners.
VN: Photo & Video Editor VN is also widely considered easy to use, with features similar to other popular editing apps. Users appreciate its straightforward interface for clipping and editing videos, though some find the home screen and editor tabs disorganized or struggle with specific functions like adding music or extending clip duration.
Features tieR3R13R14R17
Splice Splice offers a good range of basic editing tools, including music selection that users appreciate. However, it's criticized for limited font options, lack of text boxes for titles, and issues with importing music from iTunes. Some users also note a lack of advanced features like blur or drawing effects.
VN: Photo & Video Editor VN offers many features, with users highlighting its no-watermark export and comparison to other editors like VideoLeap and InShot. However, it receives criticism for lacking AI voice options, limited templates, inability to rename or edit saved sound effects, and issues with copy/paste for text. Users also request better time remapping, easier background removal, and auto-captioning for narration.
Reliability/Performance tieR9R13R18R36
Splice Splice users report frequent crashes, loss of projects, and export problems. Some experience issues with loading and saving work, leading to frustration and lost effort. There are also complaints about music copyright challenges on YouTube when using Splice's library.
VN: Photo & Video Editor VN users frequently report severe export issues, with many unable to save their finished videos. Other problems include freezing screens, glitches where the main editing frame fades to black, and videos not loading or taking too long. Some users also experience brightness and saturation changes upon upload, and sound disappearing after reversing clips.
Support tieR9R11R48R54
Splice Splice users report unresponsive support, with some claiming support only contacts them after a negative review. There are also issues with account linking across devices.
VN: Photo & Video Editor VN users report emailing developers multiple times about issues like the main frame fading to black, with initial responses but no fix. There's also a complaint about being prompted for reviews to exit the program.
Pick Splice if

you are willing to pay a subscription for a generally easy-to-use video editor and appreciate its music selection, and you are not deterred by reports of crashes or export issues R5R14R17.

Pick VN: Photo & Video Editor if

you are looking for a free video editor with no watermarks and a good range of basic features, and you are prepared to navigate occasional bugs, export issues, or a less organized interface R110.

Evidence note: Recent reviews for Splice are heavily skewed negative due to its transition from a free to a paid model, leading to strong user backlash regarding pricing and feature restrictions. This contrasts with its higher lifetime rating, which likely reflects its performance when it was free. VN, while having a higher lifetime rating, also faces significant criticism for reliability and export issues, suggesting its 'free' status is a major draw despite its flaws.

Frequently asked

Is Splice free to use?
No, Splice is no longer primarily free; it has transitioned to a paid subscription model, with many basic features and saving/exporting behind a paywall, often costing around $10 per week R1R4R6R34.
Can I export videos for free with VN: Photo & Video Editor?
Yes, VN: Photo & Video Editor generally allows users to export videos without a watermark for free, though some users report significant issues with the export function failing or causing glitches R61R85R97R110.
Do either of these apps have issues with crashing or losing projects?
Both apps have reported issues with crashing and losing projects; Splice users frequently mention crashes and lost work, while VN users also report freezing screens and difficulties with projects not loading or exporting R9R13R18R36.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R1] Splice 1/5 · US Garbage: Used to be free, updated to paid version and deleted all my videos, new music sucks too.
  2. [R4] Splice 2/5 · US Have to pay to use: All these apps charge for basic features. It’s not great but could be worst. It’s alright.
  3. [R6] Splice 3/5 · US ExPeNsIvE: $10. For a WEEK. Bro. And a whole lot of features are behind that Paywall. For example; you can only have TWO videos in progress at a time. Which I guess isn't too bad if you think about it, but it's auful for me, as a bit of a scatterbrain. Lemme suggest something; make it like 1/4 of the price, which is still like &2.50ish, so you get your money's worth. Or, maybe do $10 a MONTH.
  4. [R10] Splice 1/5 · US WAS my go-to EDIT: I’ve had this editing app for years and over time it’s only gotten better. <- IS WHAT I WROTE but then after leaving the prompt I’m left with a subscription option when this app was free from the beginning? They were also loyal to their original users and told us that we won’t have to pay since we have been loyal to them since the beginning. I feel so betrayed, I can’t afford to
  5. [R5] Splice 5/5 · US Love it!: A fun way to put videos together! Ive used it for professional and personal projects and it does not disappoint :)
  6. [R20] Splice 5/5 · US 🤘: Great tool for editing!
  7. [R21] Splice 3/5 · US New: Still learning how to use it
  8. [R24] Splice 3/5 · US idk how to lol: So how do I save the vid in my photos? Pleaseeee tell me don’t judge me cuz I don’t know.
  9. [R3] Splice 3/5 · US Limited font options: If I could use the fonts I wanted the review would be 5 stars.
  10. [R13] Splice 1/5 · US When I purchase music off iTunes I waste my money it doesn't load: I buy some of iTunes from your site and they don't ever load I've wasted about $20 I have to keep deleting my app this is my third time and it causes me to lose my save work and music your days are numbered
  11. [R14] Splice 5/5 · US Too perfect to be true!: I am. A Tour guide in Puerto Rico, there is a ton of competition, some of them professional and other with no credentials. But with technical knowledge. But this app, have put me on the Top. I can tell someone about my tour with a short video! And the best allow me to paste any song I want! The best investment I have done!
  12. [R17] Splice 5/5 · US Nothing Better Than Splice: Splice has made it possible and affordable for me to create great content for all my social media platforms including my YouTube channels The Vinyl Record Mission and Cooking With Steve G along with my Instagram channels that go by The Record Mission Man and Cooking With Steve G. None of it possible without Splice!
  13. [R9] Splice 3/5 · US Frequent crashes lose projects.: Cannot get responsive support. Frequent export problems. Support only contacts you after a negative review.
  14. [R18] Splice 3/5 · US It’s ok.: It’s ok. But it crashes a lot always missing assists. That could have to do with my storage.
  15. [R36] Splice 3/5 · GB It’s good, when it works: Really easy straight forward app to use. Wish there was more things you could do such as place where you want want to blur out or drawing affects etc. It seems to crash a lot. Struggle to load and doesn’t save your things on there so if you had to delete the app to restart it as it doesn’t work, you will lose everything so it’s not massively reliable
  16. [R11] Splice 5/5 · US I have it on my iPhone and I like on my tablet: I really like the app. I have it on my iPhone . I want the same account on my iPhone and my tablet Can anyone help Thank,YOU EARL GRANT Sr Thank,You
  17. [R48] Splice 3/5 · GB Linking devices: I downloaded Splice on a free trial on my iPhone to do a family video for my daughters baby shower. Really loved the versatility and ease of use in the app so I am keen to continue to a subscription. However, I have one reservation insofar as I have also downloaded the app to my iPad (using the same Appleid) but when I open the app in the iPad it does not show the project that I
  18. [R54] Splice 3/5 · GB Account: Why can you not make an account and have all your saved precious videos??
  19. [R34] Splice 1/5 · US Terrible: After two exports you have to buy premium.
  20. [R61] VN: Photo & Video Editor 1/5 · US DO NOT USE THIS: Do NOT use this if you want to export your work. I worked on a video for 5 hours only to find it impossible to export it anywhere. Many users on Reddit have experience the same thing. For your own sanity DO NOT RISK IT. I’ve tried everything and have now given up.
  21. [R85] VN: Photo & Video Editor 1/5 · US Why is it doing this?: I have been using VN happily and have had no problems. It now has decided that it no longer has access to my photos and doesn’t have the option in settings. I can also no longer export the projects I do have on there.
  22. [R97] VN: Photo & Video Editor 1/5 · GB I will find you: Fix The Upload Issue I’m sick and tired of having to repeat myself. I told you guys 13 times already, that’s almost the same amount of times I tried to export my 6 minute video into my gallery. Rest assured if you don’t fix this problem, I will force myself to put aside everything to find person responsible for this app
  23. [R110] VN: Photo & Video Editor 5/5 · US VN app: Great app and very easy to use! No water marks and very easy to edit and clip videos together! Totally recommend!

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store