Instagram reels are a great way to showcase your content in a creative and easily digestible way. But with so many other videos on the platform, how do you ensure that your content stands out? That’s where several free online tools can come in handy.
These days, you don’t even have to hire the expertise of professionals to get the same high-quality content. With the help of some online editors, you can also make reels in a quick yet effective way.
If you’re ready to learn about the top 4 best tools for making Instagram reels online, let’s dive in!
Why Use an Online Tool for Instagram Reels?
Because Instagram already has a built-in basic editing software, you may be wondering why we recommend using an external tool. While there are a ton of other advantages, we’ve summarized the top benefits of using a free online tool for more engaging Instagram reels:
1. Pre-made templates
Whether you’re in a rush or have the extra time to design your Instagram reels, pre-made templates can make the process a lot easier by giving you a creative means to start. The best part? These Instagram post templates are completely customizable, so you don’t have to worry about committing to a single design.
2. Royalty-free music
With Instagram reels, you want to make sure that your content is not just visually striking, but also includes catchy music to get your audience’s attention. Instead of scouring the internet for free tunes, online editors often include an extensive library of ready-made music options to choose from.
3. Post scheduling
Whether you’re a social media manager, marketer, or just a regular Instagram user, online editors can help you schedule your posts so you don’t have to worry about constantly updating your profile.
4. AI tools
If you’re looking to create faster and more creative content for your Instagram reels, AI-powered tools can help with just that. In most online tools, you can easily find AI features that can help you with generating or editing content.
The Top Tools for Editing Instagram Reels: Feature Comparison
For a quick comparison of the different editing tools for Instagram reels, here is our easy guide:
| Canva | Snappa | Hootsuite | PosterMyWall | |
| Stock Library | ✅Minimal licensing fee ✅Stock images from Pexels and Pixabay | ✅High-resolution stock photos | ✅Store assets in a media library ✅Free stock images and GIFs | ✅1.08M+ Free and customizable poster templates ✅Standard quality images on free version ✅Getty Images photo and video stock |
| Effects/Filters | ✅Free photo effects | ✅Online photo editor | ✅Basic photo editing (crop, filters, brightness) | ✅Dynamic animations and effects |
| Editing Features | ✅Drag-and-drop editor ✅Photo editor ✅Video editor | ✅Drag-and-drop editor ✅One-click image resizing ✅Background removal | ✅Integration with apps like Canva ✅Image and video editing | ✅Drag-and-drop editor ✅AI image and video background removal ✅AI text-to-image generator ✅AI subtitle generator ✅AI text-to-speech convertor |
| Device compatibility | ✅Web-based ✅Mobile app | ✅Web-based ❌Mobile app | ✅Web-based ✅Mobile app | ✅Web-based ✅Mobile app |
The Best Tools for Making Instagram Reels
For a more in-depth look at the top tools for making Instagram reels, we’ve lined up an overview on each app, its pricing plans, and corresponding pros and cons:
1. Canva
Overview
Canva is an online design tool popular for its various free design types and simple drag-and-drop editor. While not the most advanced app for editing Instagram reels, Canva can be a helpful option for those looking for a basic editing software.
Pricing (per month)
- Pro ($15)
- Teams ($10/per user)
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅Comes with free templates for Instagram reels | ❌Limited video editing features |
| ✅Built-in basic editor for adding music to reels | ❌Some assets, like music and design elements, are only accessible on the premium version |
| ✅Directly publish reels to Instagram |
2. Snappa
Overview
Snappa is another online editing software often used for basic graphic design needs, such as social media ads and Instagram reels. While the app shares a lot of similar features with other design tools, such as Canva, Snappa is generally a simpler tool with fewer complicated features.
Pricing (per month)
- Pro ($15)
- Team ($30)
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅User-friendly interface with straightforward features | ❌Some users may find Snappa’s stock library and templates to be a bit limited |
| ✅Variety of export options | ❌More advanced features, such as AI tools, are not as readily available in Snappa |
| ❌Lack of video editing features |
3. Hootsuite
Overview
Unlike other apps in this list, Hootsuite is not a dedicated graphic design editor. In fact, Hootsuite is known for its different social media management features like social listening and analytics reporting. However, users can still edit and create Instagram reels on Hootsuite using the app’s built-in editor or its integration with Canva.
Pricing (per month)
- Standard ($149)
- Advanced ($399)
- Enterprise (Custom)
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅Offers comprehensive social media management tools | ❌Features may not be suitable for users looking for a dedicated editor for Instagram reels |
| ✅ Can be integrated with other design tools like Canva | ❌The app’s built-in editing features may be too limiting for some users |
| ❌Due to its comprehensive features, Hootsuite is generally better suited for large businesses/organizations and not individual creators |
4. PosterMyWall
Overview
PosterMyWall is a beginner-friendly yet comprehensive social media management, marketing, and editing tool, all accessible in one convenient software. Due to the app’s various free Instagram Reel templates and advanced features, users can easily generate creative and effective visual content specific to their needs.
Pricing (per month)
- Premium ($9.95)
- Premium Plus ($29.95)
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅Offers thousands of free and customizable templates for Instagram reels for all niches and seasons | ❌While highly user-friendly, PosterMyWall’s video editing software may not be suitable for those looking to edit more complicated outputs |
| ✅ Easy to use and affordable | |
| ✅Packed with a ton of useful AI-powered features for a smoother and more creative design process |
Top Tips for Making an Effective Instagram Reel
While these free tools can help make your Instagram reels creative and a lot more effective, we also recommend trying out the following tips to ensure that your content is both entertaining and visually striking:
1. Incorporate Your Brand Identity
If you’re looking to make your Instagram reels stand out, it’s important to stay unique by incorporating your brand identity. Not only will this help your audience recognize your videos better, but also promote your brand to other audiences.
2. Follow Trends
Whether you have a small or large audience, following the latest trends can help give your Instagram reels a little extra boost. This can include anything from using location-based tags, hashtags, or using the latest music trends online.
3. Add Subtitles
Now a staple of most Instagram reels, subtitles in short-form videos help audiences better engage with your content. It adds more dynamic to your videos, and also allows viewers to easily follow your message. To generate captions efficiently, we highly recommend using an AI subtitle generator for an easier time.
4. Write a Good Caption
An effective caption can not only add memorability to your Instagram reels but it can also entice more audiences to view your videos. In case you’re having trouble or just looking for a more efficient means to write a catchy caption, we highly recommend trying out an AI writer, which can make the process a lot more smooth.
Get Started With Your Own Trendy Instagram Reels
Now that you’re familiar with the best free tools for designing Instagram reels, you can make your own visual content stand out. So, feel free to check out these online apps, get creative, and come up with your own unique and trendy Instagram reels today!
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