# Video Star vs Snapchat

The clearest difference is ads: Video Star at none against Snapchat's shown. Video Star also leads on review sentiment (57% vs 30%). Snapchat's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 4.1) and ratings volume (6M vs 90K). On price, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Video Star sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and Snapchat sells 15 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Snapchat holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Snapchat has 6M ratings behind it against 90K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 57% of Video Star's written reviews are positive against 30% of Snapchat's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Video Star ships an update fortnightly, Snapchat every 6 days. Both last shipped on October 16, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Video Star | Snapchat |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (90K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/video-star/id438596432/reviews) | **[4.5 (6M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/snapchat/id447188370/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 90K | **6M** |
| Positive reviews | **57.1% of reviews** | 30.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #99 | **#2** |
| Size | 539 MB | 402 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Frontier Design Group](https://appshunter.io/developer/286083972) | [Snap, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/446889612) |

## What reviewers say

### Video Star

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/video-star/id438596432)

**Currently charting:** #99 Top Grossing · Photo & Video (US App Store)

Create stunning fan edits and lip-sync music videos with a vast array of effects. Enhance, animate, and combine clips to transform photos and videos into magical creations. Unlock all features with an optional subscription.

**Highlights:** Create fan edits, Lip-sync music videos, Thousands of effects, Color and animate clips, Enhance and warp videos, Combine and re-time clips

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Month Pro | $5.99 | per month |
| Month Pro | $5.99 | per month |
| 3 Month Pro | $17.99 | per 3 months |
| Year Pro | $34.99 | per year |
| Video Import Kit | Free | one-time |
| Crazy Party Effects | $2.99 | one-time |
| Advanced Auto Stop | $3.99 | one-time |
| Motion Madness Effects | $5.99 | one-time |
| Cinema Pro Pack | $7.99 | one-time |
| Multi-Layer | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ⭐ Amazing app for editing
- 👍 Smooth and professional
- 🎨 Endless creative options
- 💻 Versatile for different types of edits

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🤯 Steep learning curve for new users
- 🔍 Limited free features and effects
- 🔋 Quality issues with exported videos
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and glitches

**Reported bugs**

- Multilayer feature crashing
- Exported videos losing quality
- QR code imports not working
- Saved edits getting deleted unexpectedly

**Requested features**

- Add undo/redo functionality
- Improve text animation and effects
- Introduce more free transition and color options
- Optimize performance and reduce crashes
- Allow custom audio editing and voiceovers


### Snapchat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/snapchat/id447188370)

**Currently charting:** #2 Top Grossing · Photo & Video, #5 Top Free · Photo & Video, #6 Top Grossing, #52 Top Free (US App Store)

Instantly share photos and videos with friends and family. Express yourself with creative tools, connect through live messaging and video calls, and discover content from the community. Save your favorite moments and explore shared memories.

**Highlights:** Camera with Lenses and Filters, Live Messaging and Video Chat, Friend and Group Stories, Spotlight for user-created content, Location Sharing Map, Memories for saving photos/videos, Friendship Profiles

**Features:** Apple Watch app, iMessage stickers

**In-app purchases (15)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Memories Storage | $1.99 | per month |
| Snapchat+ Monthly Plan | $3.99 | per month |
| Snapchat+ Monthly Plan | $3.99 | per month |
| Snapchat+ (Monthly Plan) | $3.99 | per month |
| Snapchat+ (Monthly Plan) | $4.99 | per month |
| Snapchat+ (Monthly Plan) | $4.99 | per month |
| Snapchat+ Monthly Plan | $4.99 | per month |
| Snapchat+ (Annual Plan) | $29.99 | per year |
| Snapchat+ (12-Month Plan) | $39.99 | per year |
| Snapstreak Restore | $0.49 | one-time |
| Snapstreak Restore | $0.99 | one-time |
| Snapstreak Restore | $1.49 | one-time |
| Snapstreak Restore | $2.99 | one-time |
| Snapstreak Restore | $3.99 | one-time |
| Snapstreak Restore | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💬 Great way to communicate with friends
- 📷 Convenient for sharing photos and videos
- 🤳 Fun filters and customization options
- 🔒 Secure messaging with disappearing content
- 🗺️ Useful location-based features like Snap Map

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤖 Forced AI assistant that can't be removed
- 🤢 Dislike for new 3D bitmoji design
- 🕰️ Frustration over Snapchat+ paywall for basic features
- 🔇 Inability to disable shutter sound
- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and glitches

**Reported bugs**

- Accounts being permanently locked for unclear reasons
- Inability to create new accounts on banned devices
- Disappearing Memories and lack of data retrieval
- Inconsistent video upload and playback issues
- Notifications and chat features not working properly

**Requested features**

- Allow permanent deletion of Memories
- Add multi-video upload to Stories
- Improve customer support and account recovery
- Provide option to disable AI assistant
- Bring back 2D bitmoji customization


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Video Star free?

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

### Is Snapchat free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Video Star or Snapchat?

Snapchat is rated higher. Video Star averages 4.1 out of 5 from 90K ratings, while Snapchat averages 4.5 from 6M ratings.

### Do Video Star or Snapchat have ads?

Snapchat shows ads; Video Star does not.

### Which is updated more often, Video Star or Snapchat?

Video Star ships an update fortnightly, and Snapchat every 6 days. Most recently, Video Star was updated on October 16, 2026 and Snapchat on October 16, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Video Star or Snapchat?

Video Star currently peaks at #99 in the App Store charts, and Snapchat at #2. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*