VlogNow (VN) is available for both iOS and Android users, though the app is not identical on the two platforms. I tested the Android version 1.10.5 which will run on Android 5.0 and up.
Unlike other apps that have both a free, limited, version and a paid premium version that unlocks additional features and tools, there is only one version of VN. There is no watermark added to any videos created in the app, but you are required to create an account with VN to use it.
The app includes two templates that can be used to create videos. More templates can also be
downloaded from the VN community. For this review, I did not use a template, but I created my own video. The app only functions in Portrait mode with the preview window at the top of the screen and the timeline and editing controls in the bottom half of the screen. I could not find a way to change this view.
The Initial VN timeline includes:
- One video track
- A second video track that can be used for stickers, logos, Picture-in-Picture, or full screen video
- A text track for titles
- An audio track. Additional audio tracks can be added for Voice-Over/Narration etc.
Like many other editing apps, you simply tap a clip to edit any individual video, audio, or text element on the timeline. Tapping highlights it, then the clip can be adjusted using the toolset at the bottom of the screen. Tools that are not appropriate to the type of clip are ‘greyed out.’ A secondary tool bar may open, depending on the type of element. Each video clip added to the timeline can be trimmed and adjusted for Speed (x0.025 to x8), Copied, Cropped, Flipped, Mirrored, Rotated, or adjusted for volume. One interesting feature: you can adjust the speed of a clip uniformly or by using a curve to increase and/or decrease speed over time - for which there are several presets, which can be adjusted manually.
Each clip can be adjusted manually or by using one of 50 preset filters that adjust Contrast, Saturation, Exposure, and Color Temperature. The filters can be used to add a Vignette or sharpen images.
VN provides 20 basic transitions, but users have little control over the duration or speed of transitions, with Fast, Normal and Slow as the only choices. The only option I could find to apply motion to a still image, aka the ‘Ken Burns Effect’ (panning and cropping), was by adding a ‘zoom’ to clips. This allows you to zoom in, out, move down, move up, move right, or move left across an image, but there is no way to control the 
speed. I found the built-in speed too fast because I believe this effect is more effective when it is applied in a more subtle way.
Text and titles can be added by tapping ‘+’ on the text track. You have to first choose from pre-defined styles. The title can then be manually adjusted for font, color, and position, which can be key-framed. The VN app only includes 9 Latin-character fonts and 9 Chinese-character fonts, but it allows you to import custom font files.
The VN app lets you add a music background but, unlike other editing apps, it does not include a music library. You need to supply your own music, which can bring up the issue of copyright and whether you have permission to use a music track in an online video. The app allows you to record a voiceover/narration track directly. However, in my test, I found that the recording quality was not
good, whether I used the internal mic on my phone or an external lapel mic. Both sounded a little distorted. It may be better to use a different app to record narration, then import that track into the VN app. Each clip can be trimmed for length and individually adjusted for volume. One nice feature with the audio is that you can add ‘beat’ marks on the audio track that will help you easily sync video clip edits to a musical beat.
For the final export, the VN app allows for many different aspect ratio choices, including:
- 16:9 (horizontal)
- 1:1 (square)
- 9:16 (vertical)
Tapping the ‘Export’ tab in the top right of the screen will bring up the export settings box, where you can
select the resolution, frame rate, and bit rate. I like how the VN app provides several manual options to adjust the output and achieve the quality of video you require. Many other apps will only provide a choice between low, medium, or high quality output.
As you export files, the app will render the new file, and then you may save the file to your camera gallery, the VN community cloud, or social media platforms.
Summary of VN (VlogNow)
The VN app provides many features that are not normally found in free apps:
- No watermark
- Key frames to manipulate text and the second video track
- Ability to import custom fonts
- Curves to increase/decrease playback speeds of clips
- ‘Beat’ marks that assist with syncing video transitions
These are all great features. However, I found that while some things, such as the speed curves, the output settings, etc. are highly customizable, many settings are either fixed or offer only limited control, like transition timings or, in the case of the ‘zoom’ motion effect, no settings except direction. I found it frustrating not being able to make fine enough adjustments to achieve my desired look.
The biggest drawback for me was the app's instability while I tried to use it on my test phone - a Google Pixel 3a. It worked with just one video track and audio track, but when I began to add more audio and video tracks, tapping on a timeline clip often caused the app to freeze or crash.
I have seen this app compared to KineMaster and PowerDirector. I feel this kind of comparison is being very generous to VN. The app does offer some advanced features, but, due to the lack of control over some of them, I would put it more in the vlogging category which is (guessing by the name) its target market. In the future, it's possible the Android app's developers will fix the instability issues and undo some of its control limitations. I think the VN app's capabilities are very similar to Vlogit. With the instability issues I encountered in VN, I would still choose Vlogit over VN(VlogNow).