# Insta360 vs LightCut

The clearest difference is review sentiment: LightCut at 92% against Insta360's 29%. LightCut also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 23) and ads (none vs shown). Insta360's advantage is chart position (#56 vs unranked). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Insta360 sells 21 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. LightCut asks for nothing beyond the download.

LightCut holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9.4K and 17K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 29% of Insta360's written reviews are positive against 92% of LightCut's.

Insta360 ships an update every 5 days, LightCut every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Insta360 | LightCut |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (9.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/insta360/id1491299654/reviews) | **[4.9 (17K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightcut-ai-video-editor/id1575860488/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 9.4K | **17K** |
| Positive reviews | 29.1% of reviews | **92.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Every 10 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#56** | — |
| Size | 2.5 GB | 354 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Insta360](https://appshunter.io/developer/1749225907) | [Yue-Jie Innovations Science and Technology Co. , Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1123430362) |

## What reviewers say

### Insta360

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/insta360/id1491299654)

**Currently charting:** #56 Top Grossing · Photo & Video, #93 Top Free · Photo & Video (US App Store)

This app empowers users to view and edit footage from Insta360 cameras and gimbals. It offers AI-powered auto-editing tools and templates, alongside manual controls for precise adjustments. Users can easily reframe 360 footage, track subjects, create hyperlapses, and share content directly to social media without downloading.

**Highlights:** AI-powered auto-editing, 360 reframing tools, Shot Lab templates, Deep Track subject tracking, Hyperlapse creation, Download-free editing and sharing

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (21)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Insta360 Premium 200GB Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Insta360 Premium 200GB Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Insta360 Premium 1TB Monthly | $8.99 | per month |
| Insta360 Premium 2TB Monthly | $11.99 | per month |
| Insta360 Essential 200GB Annual | $19.99 | per year |
| Insta360 Essential 200GB Annual | $19.99 | per year |
| Moment Pro 1Yr(24) Promo+3Mo Free | $24.99 | per year |
| Insta360 Premium 200GB Annual | $29.99 | per year |
| Insta360 Premium 200GB Annual | $29.99 | per year |
| Insta360 Premium 200GB Annual | $29.99 | per year |
| Premium 500GB Annual | $59.99 | per year |
| Insta360 Premium 1TB Annual | $89.99 | per year |
| Insta360 Premium 1TB Annual | $89.99 | per year |
| Insta360 Premium 1TB Annual | $89.99 | per year |
| Insta360+(Premium) Annually | $119.99 | per year |
| 33 Insta360 Diamonds | $0.49 | one-time |
| 99 Diamonds | $1.49 | one-time |
| 199 Insta360 Diamonds | $2.99 | one-time |
| 489 Insta360 Diamonds | $6.99 | one-time |
| 699 Insta360 Diamonds | $9.99 | one-time |
| 999 Insta360 Diamonds | $12.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🚀 Intuitive app
- 🚀 Robust editing tools
- 🚀 Great camera quality
- 🚀 Awesome features like Starlapse

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🐛 Unreliable WiFi connectivity
- 🐛 Laggy performance
- 🐛 Compatibility issues with older devices
- 🔒 Privacy concerns with data access

**Reported bugs**

- Losing edited clips after camera disconnects
- Inability to connect and control camera
- Incorrect video orientation and stabilization issues
- Exporting problems (failed exports, audio sync issues)
- Disappearing features for older camera models

**Requested features**

- Landscape mode support for iPad
- Ability to edit 360 footage on desktop
- More export options (higher resolutions, codecs, etc.)
- Improved file management and organization
- Persistent camera settings


### LightCut

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightcut-ai-video-editor/id1575860488)

This AI-powered video editor simplifies video creation with automatic editing, stylish templates, and pro-level shooting modes. Easily trim, merge, add text, music, and effects to produce polished vlogs and videos.

**Highlights:** AI-powered automatic video creation, Diverse video templates, Inspire Cam shooting modes, Video trimmer and cutter, Tilt-Shift effects, Aerial AudioMatch sound effects

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Quick video editing
- 💡 Helpful templates and AI-powered features
- 🎨 Good selection of effects and filters
- 🤖 Intuitive interface for beginners

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or bugs
- 🔒 Concerns about data/privacy
- 🕰️ Limited customization options
- 🔇 Restricted music/audio options
- 📱 Lack of iPad/landscape mode support

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent connection issues when transferring files
- Exporting videos at lower quality than expected
- Saved drafts disappearing or becoming inaccessible

**Requested features**

- More customizable templates
- Longer video duration options
- Voice-over/narration capabilities
- Advanced color grading tools
- Improved file management and organization


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Insta360 free?

Insta360 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is LightCut free?

LightCut is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Insta360 or LightCut?

LightCut is rated higher. Insta360 averages 4.4 out of 5 from 9.4K ratings, while LightCut averages 4.9 from 17K ratings.

### Do Insta360 or LightCut have ads?

Insta360 shows ads; LightCut does not.

### Which is updated more often, Insta360 or LightCut?

Insta360 ships an update every 5 days, and LightCut every 10 days. Most recently, Insta360 was updated on October 30, 2026 and LightCut on October 29, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*