How Much Does It Cost to Build a Video Editing App like Clipchamp?

Video editing app development is on the rise as more and more companies are looking to get their own ones on the market, whether it be on a phone or any platform, how much does it cost?

Did you know that, on average, users around the world spend 17.6 million hours a day watching reels on Instagram, whereas TikTok only generates over 197.8 million hours of watchtime a day? It’s no recent news that short-form content, especially in the shape of video content, is the most created and consumed form of entertainment in this digital age. Whether it’s bits from interviews, compilations, relatable media, and even documentaries or educational content, bite-sized entertainment is the way to go for a heavy digital footprint. 

With video content being consumed at an unprecedented rate, the demand for editing tools that are user-friendly but can generate high-quality content is on the rise too. Previously one would have to use software like Premier, After Effects, Sony Vegas Pro, etc, to edit videos. The problem with these apps was that they required expensive equipment and technical expertise. But those days are long gone as now several mobile apps can take raw footage and turn it into engaging videos, all with the touch of a few buttons. 

These video editing apps are used for various purposes by different kinds of people. Whether it’s content creators showing a day in their life or people making promotional content, everyone uses video-editing apps. The options are limitless, and so are the users. With this, the revenue generated from these apps is extremely high which begs the question, why haven’t you had your video editing app developed yet?

This guide promises to take you to the world of video editing app development, showcasing the costs involved and factors to consider when looking to get your own mobile app developed. First, let’s learn a bit about Clipchamp, one of the most popular video editing apps available on several platforms.

Clipchamp – A User-Friendly Video Editing Powerhouse

Clipchamp was developed by Clipchamp Pty Ltd. in 2013 and is now owned by Microsoft. This app has solidified its place in the video editing application industry with its intuitive interface and a feature set that millions of people use around the world. The way Clipchamp got the industry’s attention was through its perfect balance between being user-friendly while also not lacking in the functionality department. People who didn’t have any editing experience could open the app and start creating engaging videos, making it a popular choice for TikTok users. 

According to a recent survey, it was estimated that the global mobile video editing application market had a growth rate valued at USD 764 million in 2021 and can reach over USD 1.567 billion by 2030. 

Although Clipchamp’s success story is one to never undermine, it’s just a fish in a large sea. Every editing app out there from CapCut to Filmora or Inshot, all have their own strengths and weaknesses. But what were the cost factors that went into the creation of these apps, that’s why you’re here, right? Let’s get to it:

Factors Affecting the Cost of Developing a Video Editing App

Having your own video editing app like Clipchamp or Capcut can be an exciting and profitable one. The way to approach this journey shouldn’t be without the right understanding of the associated costs. There are multiple factors that impact the overall price tag, so let’s look at a comparison table which we’ll expand on later:

App Complexity and Feature Set

• Basic Editing Features (Lower Cost): Trimming, cutting, splitting, merging, adjusting speed, rotating.  
• Intermediate Editing Features (Moderate Cost): Multi-track editing, basic text overlays, simple transitions.
• Advanced Editing Features (Higher Cost): Chroma key editing, video stabilization, advanced color correction, animated text effects.

Cost impact:

More complex features with greater functionality lead to higher development costs.

Platform Compatibility

• Native Development (Higher Cost): Separate codebases for iOS (Swift) and Android (Java/Kotlin).  
• Cross-Platform Development (Lower Cost): Single codebase using frameworks like React Native or Flutter.

Cost Impact:

• Native development offers better performance but is more expensive.
• Cross-platform development is cheaper but may have limitations.

Development Team

• Mobile Developers: Build core functionality and user interface. 
• UI/UX Designers: Design user interface and user experience.
• Backend Developers: Build and maintain server infrastructure (social media integration, cloud storage).
• QA Testers: Ensure a smooth user experience through rigorous testing.

The size and expertise of the development team directly affect the cost.  

Cost Impact of Team Location:

• North America & Western Europe (Highest Rates) 
• Eastern Europe & Southeast Asia (Competitive Rates)

In-House vs. Outsourcing

• In-House Development: More control but requires upfront investment in hiring and managing a team.
• Outsourcing to a Development Agency: Cost-effective alternative with pre-assembled teams and expertise.

Cost Impact:

In-house development offers control but is expensive. 

• Outsourcing can be cheaper but comes with less control.

Similar to how the montages your application will be able to make, this is just a brief intro into the cost factors concerning mobile video editing app development. Let’s take a better look at them:

App Complexity and Feature Set

One of the main cost factors when developing a video editing app is the number of features you choose to integrate into the app. Whether they are complex or user-friendly, they ultimately require more time and cost to integrate. Here’s a breakdown of a few ways that features influence the cost of the development of an editing app:

• Basic Editing Features (Low Complexity, Lower Cost): Every video editing application at least has to have basic editing features to be usable. Such core functionalities consist of trimming, splitting, merging multiple clips, cutting, increasing or decreasing the speed, and rotating clips. These functions are quite inexpensive to integrate into the development process, and any video editing app will have these as the foundation of their software, ensuring a smoother user experience as well as a faster developmental process. 
• Intermediate Editing Features (Moderate Complexity, Moderate Cost): The next level of video editing apps is the intermediate level. The intermediate functionalities consist of the basic ones, with some additional features such as multi-track editing for smoother editing and a solid mix of video and audio, various text overlays, and transitions that elevate the experience of watching a video edited on the application. 

Multi-track editing allows users more power over what they are making. Similar to how editing is done on Adobe editing software, having multiple tracks can help people merge and mix videos with audio while keeping an eye on the timeline. It also empowers editors with more ways to fix an error if they make one. 

Similarly, adding another layer of polishing is done through text overlays and transitions. Whether one wants to include captions, informational text, or simply create more engaging content that can transition between clips. But, since these features are not easy to integrate, the app development might cost more than one with only the core features. 

• Advanced Editing Features (High Complexity, Higher Cost): What many mobile video editing apps fail to successfully integrate is the more advanced editing features out there. Apart from average and basic features, advanced features include green screen editing with Chroma Key, video stabilization using AI and other tools, color correction tools to reshape how a video looks, text effects that are animated, and much more. These features although might be hard to use for beginners, mix them with a user-friendly interface and give people what they want, all in the palm of their hands.

Platform Compatibility

The kind of app you want to have developed mostly relies on the target audience you’re reaching out to. Whether you’re aiming to launch your app for a single platform (iOS or Android) or go for a more universal approach by having it developed for multiple platforms such as Web, Mac/PC, Android & iOS. Whichever approach you choose, it’s important to know the cost differences:

• Native Development (Higher Cost): Native development refers to having a video editing app developed by building different codebases for each platform you target, making the app different for each platform. Suppose you are targeting Android users, but still want that sweet premium the Apple store pays, what could be done about that is you could have a video editing app with a better user experience on Android and the same app with a bit less focus on overall quality on iOS. However, this approach costs more as multiple development teams with proficiency in each platform’s native language will be needed. 
• Cross-Platform Development (Lower Cost): If you want one app that you want to put out there for the whole world, then coding engines such as React Native or Flutter can allow a single codebase to be run and deployed on multiple platforms. The cross-platform development approach saves time in the development process and also costs less money compared to native development. 

Apart from the low cost and time-save, there might be a couple of performance compromises going for a universal language with limitations to some device-specific features.

Development Team

Apart from the features you want your app to have, or where you want your video editing app to be deployed, the most crucial role when it comes to overall project cost will be played by the development team. Let’s see how:

• Mobile Developers: Contacting a mobile video editing app development company will be how you choose the backbone of your project. This team will be responsible for how the core app functionality is built, and how the user experience will be prioritized. The expertise they have will be translated into exactly the vision you have when it comes to the functionality of the editing app. 
• UI/UX Designers:  Apart from mobile developers, the key behind a crafty user experience through the interface will be handled by UI/UX experts. The focus these designers have will be on ensuring the editing app is not only intuitive but also visually appealing.  
• QA Testers:  Suppose the app is ready to be launched, but as soon as it hits the market it’s bombarded with negative reviews. What’s the point of an editing app, no matter what features it contains, if some of them can’t even work? This is why its important to also have QA testers. These professionals will not only identify any bugs and issues but also rectify them. Good quality assurance testing will be essential for a more polished final product, so make your decision wisely. 

These are some of the basic services you’ll require from a professional video editing app development company:

The Cost Impact of Team Location

Software developers around the world present different quotations, mainly depending on their location. Let’s take a look at a general comparison: 

Region	Hourly rate of development
US	$80-$120
Western Europe	$70-$95
Australia	$65-$85
Eastern Europe	$50-$65
Asia	$20-35$
UAE	$50-$70

 

• North America & Western Europe: Usually when you come across developers from these regions, they’ll charge you high hourly rates that might push you over the budget. 
• Eastern Europe & Southeast Asia: Having a “low cost of living,” development teams from these regions will offer more competitive rates while having equal skill levels, if not better. 

In-House vs. Outsourcing

Oftentimes, when wanting to have a mobile editing app developed, one might consider doing it themselves by having an in-house development team, while others might choose the better option and outsource their project development needs. Let’s look at their differences so you can make a more educated decision:

• In-House Development: Although creating an entirely new development team in-house offers more control to those with the vision, it will take more upfront investment in hiring and managing a team while acquiring the resources required to create the project. There can be several costs that vary, such as team size, salaries, how long the project will last, and future changes in the software. 
• Outsourcing to a Mobile Editing App Development Company: Different from having an in-house development team, having your editing app development outsourced to a professional full life-cycle software development company can be more cost-effective. Since these agencies already have professionals at work catering to the needs of any client they get, they can streamline the process and convert a dream into a reality with ease. Costs for outsourcing, however, do rely on where the video editing app development team is located, the experience they have, and what kind of editing app you’re looking to have built. 

Additional Factors to Consider for a Stand-Out App

Apart from the basic, intermediate, and advanced features of a video editing app, there are some more that can change the app’s development cost and, ultimately, factor in its success. These features are:

• AI-powered editing tools: With the rise of AI in automation and various other parts of software, video editing apps can incorporate it with identifying parts that need editing, suggesting edits, and generating captions with the audio. This can make the editing process not only faster but less complex for new users.
• Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) elements: With the introduction of Vision Pro, people around the world are upgrading their editing apps to support AR and VR elements. While these might require more expertise and cost way more money in the developmental process, they can offer unique opportunities to the editors out there. 

Monetization Strategies for Video Editing Apps

How does one gain money from making a video editing app? Well, the way most mobile video editing apps work nowadays is they generate revenue from different monetization models that are implemented in the development process. Some of these models include:

• Freemium model with in-app purchases: Offer a free basic version with limited features and allow users to unlock additional features (e.g., premium effects packs, high-resolution export options) through in-app purchases. A relevant example of this model’s implementation would be CapCut.
• Subscription model for access to exclusive features and content: Provide a subscription tier that grants access to a wider range of editing tools, premium effects libraries, and exclusive content (e.g., stock video footage, music). A solid example of this model being used right now is by KineMaster.
• Freemium model with in-app advertising: Offer a free version with monetization through non-intrusive video or banner ads displayed within the app. Many recent video editing apps have this, from CapCut to Filmora to Inshot. Without a premium subscription, ads are the main way to generate revenue in a video editing app. 

What the Future Holds for Video Editing Apps in The Wake of AI?

The video editing app landscape is constantly evolving, and new technologies are emerging that can potentially revolutionize the way users create and edit videos. Here are some future-looking trends to consider:

• AI-powered Editing Takes Center Stage:  AI technology is poised to play a more significant role in video editing apps. Features like automated editing suggestions, intelligent trimming of unnecessary footage, and even AI-powered object recognition for content categorization could become commonplace.
• The Democratization of Video Effects: Advanced video effects that were once the domain of professional editors are becoming more accessible to everyday users through mobile apps. Expect to see further development in user-friendly tools for applying motion graphics, compositing elements, and creating visually stunning effects.
• Social Media Integration Gets Even Smoother: As social media platforms continue to evolve, expect tighter integration between video editing apps and these platforms. This could mean features like social media-specific editing templates with pre-set aspect ratios and durations or seamless one-click sharing directly to various platforms.

How to Get Your Editing App Developed From Scratch in 2024

Dreaming of launching the next big editing app? Bringing your vision to life requires careful planning and execution. This guide will lead you across the key stages from ideation to crafting a user-friendly experience and building a powerful editing engine. For the most seasoned of entrepreneurs or for those building their first app, this roadmap will give you the knowledge to chart a route to successfully guide you through the thrilling process of developing your own photo-editing app in 2024.

1. Concept Development

• Brainstorm ideas: Start with the market you are targeting. From here, look for unmet needs inside this market. What are the outstanding or differing features your app could offer that will make it different from the other apps that are within the same market?
• Define Your Target Audience: Who are you building this app for? Understanding your needs, how you prefer to interact with it, and your editing style will be the key to shaping features and design.
• List core features: List what will be the key functionalities your app will offer. It can be basic editing tools, advanced filters and effects, and integration with social media and collaboration tools.
• Develop a solid concept: From your brainstorming and research, solidify what concept your app should have. That includes a clear appreciation of its purpose, your target audience, core functionalities of the app, and how it is different from the rest.

2. Features Prioritization

• Identify critical features: Identify what you consider important features of your app; in most cases, this could include the core function of your app and the general user experience. Normally, you’ll find common rudimentary editing tools, the ability to import and export files, and intuitive UIs.
• Assess Market trends: Research the market trend for any editing app that is in demand at the moment. This might therefore specifically lead you in advancing editing tools, use of AI functionalities, or integrations to popular social media platforms.
• Set Realistic Goals: Do keep in mind your budget and development timeline when you decide to prioritize features. Start with the highest base of must-have features and think of adding more advanced functionality in future updates.
• Create a Roadmap: Develop an elaborate roadmap indicating the timeline for development, schedule for the implementation of every feature, and resources at each phase of the project.

3. User Interface and User Experience Design

• Assemble a skilled team: Work with experienced UI/UX designers who can build an intuitive and good-looking interface—something that’s worth the concept of your app.
• Focus on user-friendliness: The design should be simple to understand and easy to use, hence enabling the app users to navigate the app smoothly and get the needed features without any struggles.
• Ensure aesthetics: Spend some time creating an attractive interface that will be a reflection of your brand identity and appeal to your target audience.
• User testing: Regular user testing with potential users to get their feedback and make the application better for providing its services with ease.

4. Development and Testing

• Select the Right Development Platform: Select your development platform according to the app requirements, the operating system for which it is being developed, and your budget. Broadly this will allow native development for iOS and Android, Cross-platform using Flutter or React Native, and web-based development.
• Develop a team: Collaborate with experienced developers who will be technically empowered to make your app a reality. Look for the skills and experience appropriate for your desired development platform and feature set.
• Implement features: Start developing according to the prioritized feature list and development roadmap. The communication between the designers, developers, and project managers must be consistent and collaborative. 
• Conduct thorough testing: Implement smart and efficient testing procedures to be able to recognize and rectify the major bugs, hence realizing some smooth performance and better user experience within all types of devices and operating systems.

5. Introduction and Marketing

• Prepare for launch: Define the date of release of the product and prepare a marketing campaign to create some noise and show it to people. This could be done in the form of the launch of a webpage, social networks, press releases, and captivating campaign strategies.
• Submit to stores: Submit your application to relevant stores (Apple/ Google Play) through the guidelines and requirements that they specify. 
• Monitor and Analyze Performance: Monitor metrics related to key features, such as downloads or user engagement, while keeping an eye on the crashing rates. Use your user feedback and data to understand what should be tweaked, and reimagine your app to run at the possible maximum level of performance and user satisfaction.  
• Continue development and updating: Regular updates of your application will include new features, bug removal, and error correction, which will ensure your application remains competitive in the trends and users’ choices. 

Key Takeaways

Now that you have a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing the cost of developing a video editing app, here are some key takeaways to guide you on your journey:

• Don’t jump straight into coding! Take time to plan your app meticulously. Who will use it? What problems will it solve for them? What key features are essential?
• Focus on building a strong foundation first. Make sure your app is user-friendly, especially for beginners, with essential editing features.
• Budget is important, but don’t sacrifice core functionalities that users rely on. Find the sweet spot: deliver value to users while staying within your financial constraints.

Getting Started With Your Editing App Development

Developing a video editing app requires expertise, dedication, and a strategic approach. Here at Cubix, we have a team of experienced mobile app developers with a proven track record of creating successful video editing apps. We understand the unique challenges and opportunities associated with this market, and we’re passionate about helping you bring your vision to life.

Leveraging our proven experience of 15 years in creating successful mobile apps, with some focused on video editing, we offer a comprehensive development process. We prioritize cost-effective solutions and explore all options to keep your project within budget.  Furthermore, we believe in fostering long-term partnerships, providing ongoing support even after your app launch.

Together, we can create a video editing app that anyone can use to unleash their creativity and share their stories with the world. Contact us, and let’s embark on this exciting journey together!