Comparison

VideoLUT vs Afterlight

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

VideoLUT

Easily transform videos and photos with over 2500 cinematic color grading presets. Import, edit, and apply LUTs, or even record directly with applied looks. Create and share your own custom LUTs for ultimate creative control.

Highlights
  • 2500+ cinematic LUT presets
  • Import and apply .cube, .3dl, and .png LUTs
  • Record video with applied LUTs
  • Create and share custom LUTs
  • Advanced color grading tools (color wheels, curves)
  • Support for iCloud and Dropbox import/export
Features
Read full description

Transform your videos and images into cinematic masterpieces with VideoLUT, the ultimate color-grading app! With over 6000 presets, you can easily import, edit, and apply LUTs to create stunning videos and photos. Plus, VideoLUT allows you to record videos and take photos with your imported LUTs, giving you the ultimate creative control. 217 film emulations — Kodak Portra, Kodachrome, Ektar, Fuji Velvia, Provia, Ilford HP5, Tri-X and more. Import 20+ LUT formats — .cube, .3dl, .look, .csp, .clf, .spi3d, .icc, CDL, Hald PNG, Lightroom .xmp/.lrtemplate — and export float .cube, .3dl, .look. Whether you're a professional filmmaker or a casual iPhone photographer, VideoLUT is the perfect app for you. It comes with powerful editing tools that allow you to color grade your videos and images with ease. You can even create your own LUTs and share them with other users via QR codes or apps like Lumafusion. VideoLUT supports a variety of LUT formats, including DaVinci Resolve 3D Cube LUT (.cube) and Autodesk 3D LUT (.3dl). You can import .cube, .3dl, and 512x512 .png LUT tables, and save or import cube files to iCloud, Dropbox, and other storage apps. It also converts Adobe Lightroom preset files (`.xmp` and `.lrtemplate`) into LUTs during import. This feature is currently in beta; only supported colour adjustments and processing versions can be converted. But that's not all – VideoLUT also lets you visualize LUTs in 3D, export them as LUT images (.png), and share them as .cube 16, 32, or 33 (DaVinci Resolve 3D Cube LUT) with other apps or your desktop. You can also match colors from images and build new LUTs from the result, and use RGB, HSL, CMYK, LAB, and Skin Masks and Curves for added control. With VideoLUT's auto white balance, Macbeth table detection and correction, split toning, color wheels, and other adjust tools, you have everything you need to perfect your videos and images. Mix multiple LUTs to create new ones, convert Filmic Pro LUTS, and even preprocess RAW photos for added flexibility. Download VideoLUT today and transform your videos and images into true works of art! Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Afterlight

Create film-inspired aesthetics for your videos with one-tap presets, authentic overlays, and a range of creative editing tools. Enhance your clips with filters, transitions, and detailed adjustments for a cinematic look.

Highlights
  • One-tap vintage presets
  • Authentic film overlays
  • Seamless clip transitions
  • 32 creative filters
  • Precise clip editing tools
  • Advanced adjustment tools
Read full description

Meet AFTERLIGHT VIDEO: your mobile video editing companion. Tell your story with film-inspired aesthetics: one-tap Presets, authentic film overlays, and a full set of creative tools built to feel like your camera, not a timeline. { VINTAGE PRESETS IN ONE TAP } An ever-growing library of one-tap Presets for any mood. Apply, preview, and fully customize for an original, film-inspired look. - 29+ full-edit Presets, applied in a single tap - Inspired by a range of camera and film types, built with old film videography in mind - Each Preset combines filters, overlays, frames, and unique effects - Tap to preview, tap again to edit - Like most of a Preset but not all of it? Pull out what you don't want, you're in control { AUTHENTIC FILM OVERLAYS } Real film scans, not simulations. Choose from Dust, Light Leak, and Glitch overlays to add texture and imperfection to your videos. { SEAMLESS CLIP TRANSITIONS } Upload multiple clips and use the transition button in your timeline to move between them with a range of creative transition styles. { CLIP EDITING & ADJUSTMENTS } 32 Filters to play with, plus a precision clip selector: trim, flip/rotate, speed up. Finish with a full adjustment kit: Brightness, Contrast, Vibrance, Chroma, our newly updated Grain, Clarify, Glow, Exposure, Highlights, Shadows, Temp, Tint, or lower FPS for a more cinematic feel. Privacy & Terms — https://afterlight.co/privacy Have a question? — https://afterlight.co/support Follow us Instagram @afterlight TikTok @afterlightapp

Screenshots

VideoLUT4 screens
Afterlight4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: VideoLUT at free with in-app purchases against Afterlight's subscription. VideoLUT also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs fortnightly). Afterlight's advantage is review sentiment (90% vs 68%) and rating (4.6 vs 4.3). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. VideoLUT sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days and Afterlight sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Afterlight holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 356 and 171 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 68% of VideoLUT's written reviews are positive against 90% of Afterlight's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

VideoLUT ships an update every 3 days, Afterlight fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
VideoLUT versus Afterlight: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVideoLUTAfterlight
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (356 ratings)4.6 (171 ratings) — better
Positive reviews67.6% of reviews90.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings356 — better171
Update frequencyEvery 3 days — betterFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS16.616.6
Further details — not scored
Size233 MB251 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEnrique GarciaAfterlight Collective, Inc

Customer experience

VideoLUT

All ratings356 ratings
Positive81.7%
Neutral5.6%
Negative12.6%
Written reviews441 reviews
Positive67.6%
Neutral8.8%
Negative23.6%

Afterlight

All ratings167 ratings
Positive87.4%
Neutral6.0%
Negative6.6%
Written reviews50 reviews
Positive90.0%
Neutral6.0%
Negative4.0%

User reviews

VideoLUT

From 356 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 💻 Powerful color grading features
  • 🎨 Extensive LUT library
  • 🔍 Detailed color adjustment tools
  • 🤳 Convenient mobile editing
  • 💰 Good value for one-time purchase

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
  • 🔍 Unintuitive UI/UX
  • 🔒 Unexpected paywall after purchase
  • 🔇 Audio sync issues
  • 📽️ Limited export options

Afterlight

From 171 App Store ratings

What we love

  • ✨ Great vintage effects
  • 👍 Easy to use interface
  • 🌟 Good for quick edits
  • 🎬 Film effects and presets
  • 🎨 Interesting and fun colors

Room to improve

  • 📉 Videos darken on export
  • ⏳ App not updated in years
  • 🎦 Lacks many features

Bugs and requests

VideoLUT

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Inability to import custom LUTs
  • Saved presets disappearing
  • Exporting issues with certain video formats
  • Compatibility problems with newer devices

Requested features

5 requests
  • Batch video processing
  • Undo/redo functionality
  • Higher resolution export
  • iPad-native interface
  • Improved LUT management

Afterlight

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Exporting darkens videos
  • Videos darken when uploaded to Instagram Stories

Requested features

6 requests
  • Add more filters & presets
  • Add more vintage effect variations
  • Add text adding features
  • Add 4K export at 60fps
  • Revamp the whole system
Show 1 more
  • Add more transition options

In-app purchases

3 purchases

VideoLUT

Subscriptions2
  • VideoLUT PRO3 Days trial$0.997 Days
  • VideoLUT PRO3 Days trial$6.991 Year
One-time1
  • VideoLUT PRO$9.99
3 purchases

Afterlight

Subscriptions2
  • PRO Monthly$2.991 Month
  • PRO Yearly7 Days trial$17.991 Year
One-time1
  • PRO Lifetime$35.99

Questions

Is VideoLUT free?
VideoLUT is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Afterlight free?
Afterlight is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, VideoLUT or Afterlight?
Afterlight is rated higher. VideoLUT averages 4.3 out of 5 from 356 ratings, while Afterlight averages 4.6 from 171 ratings.
Do VideoLUT or Afterlight have ads?
Neither VideoLUT nor Afterlight shows ads.
Which is updated more often, VideoLUT or Afterlight?
VideoLUT ships an update every 3 days, and Afterlight fortnightly. Most recently, VideoLUT was updated on October 29, 2026 and Afterlight on October 22, 2026.

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