Comparison

StoryWave vs MX Effects

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

Head to head
About

StoryWave

Easily merge videos, create slideshows, and add music, effects, and text to make stunning video edits. Perfect for social media content like Reels and TikToks.

Highlights
  • Merge and combine videos
  • Add music and effects
  • Create slideshows
  • Add text and transitions
  • Trim and crop videos
  • Video tone control
Features
Read full description

The easy video editing app, merge and combine videos, create slideshows, add music, amazing effects and filters, even add text to videos. Instantly make stunning video edits. Great for Instagram Stories, TikToks, Reels, YouTube Shorts and more. StoryWave's features include: * Add music to videos * Filters and effects (Glitch, Retro, Vintage, Lights leaks, VHS, Chromatic, Beauty, Face tuning, Mirror, Grids and more) * Create slideshows * Full tone control for videos (Contrast, Brightness, Saturation, Exposure, Gamma, Sharpen) * Add transitions to videos * Add text and animated text * Create videos from live photos * Trim videos * Crop videos * Combine videos and photos * Create videos from stock photos With StoryWave you can create any kind of video: * Instagram Stories * YouTube Videos * Videos with effects * Slideshows * Vlogs * Video Ads * Tutorials * Video Effects Share them to your favorite social networks: * TikTok * Instagram * YouTube * Snapchat * WhatsApp ..and many more! You can use it as a: * Instagram Editor * Reels Editor * Slideshow Maker * Video Editor * Story Maker * TikTok Editor * Vertical Video Editor StoryWave Pro: • Unlimited access to all our effects, music, text, transitions and every editing tool you will ever need. • Remove the watermark from your videos. StoryWave Pro offers three subscription options: $49.99 Yearly $7.99 Monthly $3.99 Weekly Prices may vary by location. Should you choose to upgrade to a Premium subscription, payment will be charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period. You may cancel automatic renewal and manage your subscription by selecting Manage App Subscriptions in your Apple Account settings and selecting the subscription you want to modify. Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when you purchase a Premium subscription, where applicable. Privacy Policy: https://www.unstaticapps.com/storywave-privacy Terms of Use: https://www.unstaticapps.com/storywave-terms Contact us: https://www.unstaticapps.com/storywave Acknowledgements: Some of the music is by Icons8 icons8.com/music Express yourself!

About

MX Effects

Easily create stunning Instagram posts with a wide variety of beautiful templates and photo effects. Add text to stylize your images and impress your friends with professionally edited visuals.

Highlights
  • Instant beautiful templates
  • Picture effects
  • Add quick text
  • Over 200 templates
  • Beautify Instagram wall
Features
Read full description

Edit picture for Instagram by choosing instant beautiful templates and picture effects right from this templates editor app. Add quick text to your pic to stylize images and impress your friends with this app. With more than 200 different templates available for every kind of occasion, this app is all you need to beautify your Instagram wall is beautifully edited image templates.

Screenshots

StoryWave4 screens
MX Effects3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: StoryWave at 4.8 against MX Effects's 4.2. StoryWave also leads on ratings volume (5.7K vs 95). MX Effects's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and update cadence (every 3 days vs monthly). On price, ads and device support 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. StoryWave sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. MX Effects asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

StoryWave holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: StoryWave has 5.7K ratings behind it against 95, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

StoryWave ships an update monthly, MX Effects every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
StoryWave versus MX Effects: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStoryWaveMX Effects
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (5.7K ratings) — better4.2 (95 ratings)
Positive reviews49.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings5.7K — better95
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size113 MB393 MB
Age rating4++4
DeveloperUnstatic LtdAaron Kwok

Customer experience

StoryWave

All ratings5,738 ratings
Positive94.4%
Neutral2.9%
Negative2.7%
Written reviews348 reviews
Positive49.7%
Neutral12.9%
Negative37.4%

MX Effects

All ratings95 ratings
Positive77.9%
Neutral6.3%
Negative15.8%

Bugs and requests

StoryWave

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Videos get corrupted or lost
  • App freezes during editing
  • Music/audio features not working
  • Compatibility issues with newer devices

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add more free filters and effects
  • Improve video saving and exporting
  • Expand music library and audio editing
  • Provide better documentation and tutorials

MX Effects

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

StoryWave

Subscriptions8
  • StoryWave Pro Weekly3 Days trial$3.997 Days
  • StoryWave Pro Monthly$7.991 Month
  • StoryWave Pro Monthly3 Days trial$7.991 Month
Show 5 more
  • StoryWave Pro Monthly1 Month trial$7.991 Month
  • StoryWave Pro Monthly$14.991 Month
  • StoryWave Pro Yearly$24.991 Year
  • StoryWave Pro Yearly$49.991 Year
  • StoryWave Pro Yearly3 Days trial$49.991 Year
One-time2
  • StoryWave Pro One Time$64.99
  • StoryWave Pro One Time$129.99
None

MX Effects

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is StoryWave free?
StoryWave is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is MX Effects free?
MX Effects is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, StoryWave or MX Effects?
StoryWave is rated higher. StoryWave averages 4.8 out of 5 from 5.7K ratings, while MX Effects averages 4.2 from 95 ratings.
Do StoryWave or MX Effects have ads?
Neither StoryWave nor MX Effects shows ads.
Which is updated more often, StoryWave or MX Effects?
StoryWave ships an update monthly, and MX Effects every 3 days. Most recently, StoryWave was updated on October 23, 2026 and MX Effects on October 21, 2026.

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