In the last couple of years, several AI video editing platforms have arrived on the scene. They all promise to simplify the video editing process for people with non-technical backgrounds (like me!).
Two applications, invideo and Pictory, stand out to me from the rest. This begs the question: Pictory or invideo—which is the better choice?
This Pictory vs invideo review aims to determine which of the two AI video editing platforms offers better value for money.
We compare their features, pricing models, ease of use, support, and more. When you reach the end of this article, you’ll be able to make an informed buying decision!
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.
TL;DR – Pictory vs invideo
Software Program | # of Assets in Library | Mobile App? | Best Features | Price (cheapest plan – monthly) |
invideo Neil’s take: 4.8 stars | 8 million | Yes | – More templates included – Video background removal – Color correction – Includes more editing features but is more complicated to use! – Best for agencies, marketers, and video editors | $30 (or $15/month if you pay yearly) |
Pictory Neil’s take: 4.5 stars | 3 million | No | – Includes AI voices – Real-time captions – Easier to use overall – Better for creating short videos using AI – Best for YouTubers, casual video creators, and influencers | $23 (or $19/month if you pay yearly) |
About Invideo
Invideo
invideo is a video editing software application that aims to make quality video content accessible to all.
It allows video editors to use AI to help them create fantastic videos quickly and easily, using video templates, stock videos, and great music.
Invideo debuted on the 4th of August 2017 and has raised $52.5 million in funding to date. According to the invideo team, the app has over seven million users across 190 countries.
Typical invideo users include social media influencers, web publishers, bloggers, YouTubers, and small businesses.
Thanks to an extensive library of stock footage, templates, and other assets, you can use invideo to customize videos, create original ones, and edit your creations.
About Pictory
Pictory
Pictory is a fun, easy AI video editing program to use. It specializes in helping non-professionals edit their videos quickly and easily.
If you are a YouTuber wanting to create tons of high-quality shorts, Pictory is a great program for you!
Pictory is an AI-powered web application. The software debuted on the 1st of September 2019 and raised $2.1 million in a 2022 funding round. Tech website data from Crunchbase estimates that Pictory’s site attracts 683,042 monthly visitors.
This online video editing tool leverages artificial intelligence and machine learning to help users create engaging videos easily.
Bloggers, YouTubers, and more use it to make promo videos, social media videos, YouTube videos, and so on. Its features and functions speed up the video content creation process.
Pictory vs Invideo: The Two Apps Compared
How does Pictory compare to invideo and vice versa? This section discusses the features of the two video editing apps, pricing, and more.
Features
Both tools have an impressive array of features.
In invideo’s case, the software makes a fantastic first impression by providing users with a vast library of stock videos and templates. The templates make creating original videos much faster than starting from scratch, giving beginner video editors a leg up when they sign into the platform.
In addition, invideo offers services like video stabilization (to correct blurry or shaky footage), brand overlay for watermarking or branding your original videos, and bespoke graphic assets to make your videos pop. It can also help you remove the background of your video and even does color correction!
Pictory also has lots of fantastic features. The tool’s AI video generator and text-to-video functions are impressive, turning scripts and blog posts into full-fledged videos within minutes.
If you host webinars or virtual coaching sessions, you’ll love its automatic audio and video capture and captioning capabilities.
YouTubers who want to create faceless channels will find Pictory’s huge AI voice collection a godsend. You can choose voices based on nationality and gender, giving you a ton of flexibility depending on the type of video you’re going for.
TikTok and Instagram influencers will appreciate how Pictory’s video trimmer lets them create reels of images and shorts with minimal effort. And anyone who wants it for the basics, i.e., video editing, will be happy with its capabilities.
So who wins this invideo vs. Pictory round? invideo, for the sole reason that it provides a crucial feature Pictory doesn’t: a mobile app. Thanks to this feature, you can carry many of invideo’s video editing capabilities in your pocket or handbag.
Considering that many internet users browse social media sites from their phones, Pictory missed a trick there.
Pictory also has a few constraints. For example, you can’t use multiple audio files in the same video. The lack of this feature will be disappointing if you want to use music to change the mood in your project’s different scenes.
Winner: invideo
User-Friendliness
By design, Pictory and invideo try to make the video creation process as pain-free as possible. However, Pictory offers beginners a more user-friendly interface than invideo. The reason boils down to the difference in features.
Invideo has more advanced features than Pictory, making it the more complicated video creation tool. In the beginning, you may find yourself seeking tutorials to get the platform to do your bidding—not great if you’re pressed for time and need to knock out a quick video.
How the invideo editor looks:
In contrast, Pictory is straightforward to use. You can sign in to the platform and knock a video together after spending less than thirty minutes familiarizing yourself with its features. That’s probably intentional, as the Pictory website markets it toward internet publishers.
How the Pictory Editor looks:
Winner: Pictory
User Interface and Design
Pictory and invideo have clean user interfaces. However, Pictory’s interface is more navigable, a quality you can attribute to the platform’s simplicity. All the functions you need are within reach, and you create amazing videos in a few clicks.
Invideo users may find the tool’s interface complicated, especially if they don’t have prior backgrounds in editing. The interface isn’t cluttered but can appear intimidating on the first launch. Its video editor has many buttons and menu options that less adventurous users may hesitate to press.
Winner: Pictory
Asset Library
While both applications provide considerable asset libraries that speed up video creation, invideo’s vast library dwarfs Pictory’s.
Pictory has a respectable library of images, graphics, videos, and music tracks. It offers three million licensed assets, which is no small figure. However, this application lags behind invideo in the template department, offering little to speak of.
Meanwhile, invideo has an enormous template library. The tool gives you access to a whopping 5,000+ templates that help you create videos quickly. Some of the most popular templates include the YouTube video editor, the slideshow maker, meme templates, business video templates, and marketing video templates.
Also, an invideo subscription gives you access to over eight million image and video assets, which you can use during your video-creation process. That’s a whole five million more than what you’d get access to if you went with Pictory.
If you prioritize quantity and quality, there’s a clear winner here.
Winner: invideo
See Also: 11+ Best Invideo Alternatives for AI Video Editing
Pricing
Invideo offers a free trial of its software. The trial gives you access to over 5,000 templates for custom content, three million assets in its media library, an AI script generator, team collaboration features, and an automated text-to-speech voices feature.
Meanwhile, invideo has two paid plans:
- Business Plan: It costs $30/month
- Unlimited Plan: It costs $60/month
Both plans include a 7-day money-back guarantee.
For a limited time, educators, influencers, and small businesses can also buy a Lifetime Business Plan for a one-time payment of $399.
In contrast, Pictory’s free trial lets you create three videos with a 10-minute maximum duration. However, the trial gives you access to the software’s full suite of features, making it an excellent way to try before you buy.
Also, Pictory has three paid plans:
- Standard Plan: It costs $23/month
- Premium Plan: It costs $47/month
- Enterprise Plan: Custom price
Based on the above, it’d be easy to think that Pictory’s pricing is the best. However, on closer analysis of the two applications’ cheapest plans, it’s clear invideo offers more value for money.
While Pictory’s Standard plan lets you create 30 videos a month, invideo’s Business plan lets you export 60 HD videos.
In other words, you can create double the number of videos Pictory’s plan offers in exchange for paying an extra seven bucks.
Winner: Invideo
Post-Purchase Support and Learning Resources
Pictory has a friendly and supportive team that’s always willing to walk you through any issues you have with the software.
You can reach them in one of two ways:
- By emailing support@pictory.ai
- By clicking the chat button at the bottom left corner of the screen when using the app
The tool also has a Help Center with articles, tutorials, and walk-throughs to get you up and running with the software.
Similarly, invideo offers 24-hour email and chat support. You can reach the tool’s customer support reps through its website, and they usually respond on time.
Meanwhile, you can get self-help by visiting invideo’s YouTube channel, where you’ll find many tutorial videos about the software. The invideo team also manages a blog, and social media handles through which it shares helpful tips about its video editing tool.
The lengths the invideo team goes to help its users master the platform make the tool the clear winner.
Winner: Invideo
Final Thoughts
Pictory and invideo both offer unique features for video-based projects. The two applications’ strengths and weaknesses make them ideal for different sets of professionals. However, invideo is the clear winner in terms of the capabilities it has to offer.
Agencies, marketers, and video editors will appreciate the breadth of features and templates invideo provides. In contrast, casual digital creators, YouTubers, and influencers may prefer Pictory’s simplicity and ease of use.
Choose invideo If:
- You want access to an extensive library of eight million video and image assets.
- You’re pressed for time and need templates to speed up your workflow.
- You want a video editor with a mobile app that lets you make high-quality videos anywhere and anytime.
- You work as part of a team and need collaborative features.
Choose Pictory If:
- You want a platform that’s easy to use (no technical skills required!).
- You want to turn your long-form content to short-form automatically.
- You want to harness the power of artificial intelligence and automation when creating videos.
- You’d like to start a faceless YouTube channel and need a large collection of artificial voices.
- You’re an online coach or host webinars and need an automated transcription.
Note: Make sure to use coupon code NEILCHASEFILM to get 20% off your subscription to Pictory!
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