# LightCut vs Instant Studio

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: LightCut at none against Instant Studio's 3. LightCut also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Instant Studio sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. LightCut asks for nothing beyond the download.

LightCut ships an update every 10 days, Instant Studio fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | LightCut | Instant Studio |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (17K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightcut-ai-video-editor/id1575860488/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **17K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 92.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 10 days** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 354 MB | 42 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Yue-Jie Innovations Science and Technology Co. , Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1123430362) | [Kheir studio Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896121012) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### Instant Studio

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/instant-studio/id6765898505)

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Starter Plan | $4.99 | per month |
| Pro Plan | $12.99 | per month |
| Studio Plan | $24.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is LightCut free?

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

### Is Instant Studio free?

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

### Do LightCut or Instant Studio have ads?

Neither LightCut nor Instant Studio shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, LightCut or Instant Studio?

LightCut ships an update every 10 days, and Instant Studio fortnightly. Most recently, LightCut was updated on October 22, 2026 and Instant Studio on September 30, 2026.

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