While convenient, the iPhone Photos app isn’t a comprehensive video editor. Advanced video editing software exists, but it can be less accessible to the average user. Here are four features I’d love to see in future iOS updates, and where to access those features right now (for free).

With videos increasingly present on social media, the ability to stitch multiple videos together is in high demand and has been simplified by many platforms. While the Photos app lets you cut within one captured video, you’re not able to connect multiple clips. I’d love to see a basic timeline editor, where you can select more than one video to achieve simple compilations.

In the meantime,CapCutis a free app that allows you to edit your videos on a straightforward timeline. I like this app because it appeals to both experienced video editors and newbies. If it’s your first edit, CapCut offers templates to get you started. If you’re a little more comfortable, you can easily create a quick compilation:

CapCut seamlessly integrates with TikTok, so this is a good app to download if TikTok is the destination for your creations!

While there are some differences between thefree and paid versions of CapCut, basic timeline editing is available at no cost.

2Sound Design

Even if you’re not going for blockbuster-worthy sound design on your iPhone videos, it would be nice if there were a few basic audio functions on the Photos app. I’d love to be able to add music to a clip (hello,Apple Musicintegration?), or at least adjust the volume of the video’s diegetic audio.

In addition to the aforementioned CapCut,Instagramis another option foradding music to your videos on an iPhone. In the case you don’t already live on Instagram, the social media app is free to download.

Here’s how to use Instagram to add music to your videos:

Although Instagram offers an incredibly easy way to add music to your video, you have to publish it on Instagram to share it. Instagram does let you download an edited video without publishing, but only without sound.

3Visual Effects

Although Apple touts its capability ofremoving backgrounds from images on the iPhone, that feature doesn’t exist for videos. I get it, because motion introduces a whole set of challenges. But I have to wonder if Apple could leverage the current technology it uses for photos and apply it at least to videos with solid backgrounds.

The good news is that, once again,CapCut has a feature to remove backgroundsthat is accessible to anyone, even the non-visual effects pros.

If you’re looking for more advanced visual effects, you may have to pay for CapCut Pro. Or, you can explore another app calledVideo Star. Whencomparing CapCut with Video Star, Video Star comes out on top with its keyframe editor, with which you can create unique masks for each frame of a video clip. Essentially, you could remove a clip’s background with precision akin to expensive software likeAfter Effects.

While you can download Video Star for free, you will need a paid package or subscription to access its advanced keyframing features.

4Text Effects

Captions can be a great asset to your videos, and they are fairly ubiquitous on social media today. Again, I feel like the technology exists here for Apple to integrate into their Photos app, but at the time of writing this, the offering is not there.

Here’s how to add automated captions on TikTok:

If I had to choose one app to use while waiting for the Photos app to step up its game, it would be CapCut for its range. Ultimately, the best app for your mobile editing needs depends on you and your most familiar UI.