There are plenty of tools that can make creating for TikTok easier (and a lot more fun).
Instead of overwhelming you with every option out there, we pulled together the ones creators mention repeatedly — in TikTok videos, Reddit threads, and even in conversations with our team here at Manychat.
So if you’re looking for tools to help you edit, post, engage, and grow on TikTok, start with the curated list of vouched-for options below.
You don’t need Hollywood-level production to go viral on TikTok. Most creators are shooting, editing, and publishing straight from their phones. Here are the best options for every creator level — from quick-and-easy templates to pro-level editing suites.
TikTok Studio
TikTok’s in-app editing tool has come a long way, and for most creators, it’s all they really need. It covers the basics (trimming, transitions, audio syncing, etc.) and adds handy features like green screen effects and auto captions.
I asked Ben Kim, Manychat’s Video Editor/Producer, what tools he uses to create TikToks. He said the native TikTok editing tool is a pretty good catch-all for most content creators’ needs.
“The green screen effect is probably the most-used feature. It’s efficient, convenient, and makes it super easy to place yourself anywhere on screen. The captions tool is also surprisingly versatile, offering styles that would take much longer to pull off in professional software,” he says.
So, if you’re just starting, TikTok Studio should be your first stop. Bonus: It’s completely free.
CapCut
CapCut is one of the most popular mobile editing apps for TikTok creators, and for good reason. Made by ByteDance (the parent company of TikTok), CapCut is optimized for short-form content.
It also offers ready-made templates, an intuitive interface, and the ability to fine-tune edits that TikTok Studio can’t quite handle. Bonus: there’s a desktop version if you’d rather work on a bigger screen.
We poked around the TikTok subreddit to see which tools creators recommend for editing TikToks. We found this top-rated comment from u/Proteckd: “No reason to use anything else other than CapCut for 99% of people. It’s got more built-in features than everything else, and it’s quicker and easier to use than Premiere.”
Unfortunately, CapCut isn’t free anymore. If you don’t pay for Pro, it’ll add a watermark to anything exported from the app. Fortunately, pricing for CapCut Pro isn’t too steep at $9.99/month.
Canva
Canva is a surprisingly solid option for creating TikToks. Its TikTok video editor is a powerful option for creators and brands who want their content to stand out without spending hours using editing software.
Canva boasts more than 1 million templates for social posts and includes easy drag-and-drop editing, AI tools like Magic Animate (which auto-selects transitions), and Beat Sync (which matches clips to music automatically). You can add text, stickers, GIFs, stock footage, and even record or upload your clips directly into the editor.
Good news: Canva’s TikTok video editor is free.
VN Video Editor
VN (short for “VlogNow”) is an editing app that offers surprisingly advanced features for zero cost. It gives you multi-track editing, curve speed adjustments, and keyframe animation — features usually reserved for paid tools. It’s perfect for vlog-style content, aesthetic edits, or storytelling TikToks that need extra polish. And unlike some free apps, VN doesn’t slap a watermark on your videos, so your edits stay clean.
And great news — the VN Video Editor app is free to download and use, making it a strong option for creators who want advanced editing options without spending money.
Advanced: Adobe Premiere and After Effects
For creators who want total control (or who come from a film/editing background), Adobe Premiere and After Effects are still the gold standard. You can create complex motion graphics, cinematic edits, and tailor every frame.
That said, our Editor, Ben, offers caution: “Unless you’re already an editor or trying to achieve some complex motion design, Premiere and After Effects can be overkill for most creators.”
Creator Gigi Robinson (@itsgigirobinson) echoed this sentiment with important context: She uses Premiere, but she also has a degree in Design and Photography and is an Adobe Global Ambassador. “I use Adobe Premiere and Adobe Express for higher-quality, brand-deal-level edits — especially when I need custom graphics or captions that align with my style guide,” she says. Gigi leans on CapCut for day-to-day content for its quick text overlays and branded templates.
In other words, these tools are best for advanced users who want to push their content beyond what’s possible on TikTok or CapCut.
Top Tools for Posting on TikTok
Filming and editing content is only half the equation — getting your videos live at the right time and keeping your posting schedule consistent builds momentum. Whether you’re managing your own account or running content for a brand, these tools make planning and posting much easier.
TikTok (duh!)
The TikTok app now includes a native Scheduler that lets you set posts to go live up to 10 days in advance. For creators just getting started, posting directly in-app keeps things simple. It’s basic but gets the job done if you only need a short-term content plan.
Later
Later is one of the most popular social scheduling tools. It supports TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and other platforms. Its clean calendar view makes it easy to drag and drop posts, preview how your content will look, and batch-schedule for the week. Later also offers analytics to determine which posting times actually get the best results.
Gigi Robinson says she uses Later to keep a consistent posting cadence across TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts (we’ll talk more about cross-posting options later).
If you’re juggling multiple platforms like Gigi is, Later could be a good pick. Unfortunately, there isn’t a freemium option. The lowest-priced plan, Starter, costs $25/month.
Planoly
Planoly started as an Instagram scheduling tool, but it now supports TikTok, too. It’s great if you’re a visual planner — you can lay out your content in a grid, pre-draft captions, and organize hashtags before you post.
For small businesses and creators who want a lightweight tool that also covers Instagram, Planoly is a solid pick. The brand doesn’t offer a free version of its Social Planner, but the most affordable plan beats out Later at $16/month.
Sprout Social
Sprout Social is a good choice for those managing multiple social accounts (and multiple team members). It offers robust TikTok scheduling and goes beyond posting: You’ll get advanced analytics, team collaboration features, and unified inbox management. Sprout can be a powerhouse for agencies and bigger brands, but it’s probably not the best option for individual creators.
Sprout is a comprehensive tool, and its pricing reflects that; the Standard plan begins at $199/seat/month.
TikTok’s algorithm rewards content that taps into the right keywords, trends, and sounds. The good news is that there are tools that can help you figure out what people are searching for and what’s about to blow up.
Creator Search Insights
Creator Search Insights is a free native TikTok feature that helps you understand exactly what your audience is searching for. By showing trending queries and related keywords, this tool makes giving people what they want easier. It’s like having a TikTok-specific SEO tool, giving you a sense of what’s hot right now so you can tailor your content accordingly.
To access Creator Search Insights:
- In the TikTok app, tap the Search button at the top.
- Search “creator search insights” and tap View at the top of the search results.
High-volume, broad topics often dominate Creator Search Insights. So, if you’re creating in a specific niche, the insights might not feel as actionable compared to something like Google Analytics or traditional keyword research. Still, it’s a great starting point for new creators.
TikTok Creative Center
The TikTok Creative Center is basically your backstage pass to trends. It surfaces trending sounds, hashtags, videos, and creators by region — so you can spot what’s hot (and fading) before the wider audience catches on. This tool is invaluable for creators and brands who want to ride trends at just the right moment.
TrendTok
TrendTok is a dedicated app that uses AI to identify and predict up-and-coming TikTok trends. It doesn’t just show you what’s trending now, it shows you what’s about to trend, which gives you a chance to jump in early. If you’ve ever wished you could see the future of the For You Page, TrendTok is as close as it gets.
vidIQ
Best known in the YouTube world, vidIQ has expanded its tools to TikTok, too. You can use it to track trending sounds, analyze hashtags, and get keyword recommendations that can boost discoverability. It’s especially handy if you’re repurposing TikToks for YouTube Shorts and want consistent data across platforms.
TikBuddy
TikBuddy is a Chrome extension and companion app that puts real-time TikTok analytics at your fingertips. You can track trending hashtags, monitor sounds, and even peek at competitor growth to see what’s working for others in your niche. It’s a handy tool for creators who prefer to make data-driven decisions.
Top Tools for Cross-Posting TikToks
TikTok might be your primary platform, but chances are your audience is watching content elsewhere too (Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and maybe even Facebook).
Cross-posting your videos is one of the easiest ways to get more mileage from your content without significant work. These tools help you repurpose and share TikToks across multiple platforms.
Repurpose.io
Repurpose.io is a creator favorite because it automatically takes your TikToks (without the watermark) and publishes them to Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and more. You can set up workflows once and let them run in the background — a huge time-saver if you post daily.
Repurpose.io’s Starter plan costs $35/month and allows you to post up to 5,000 videos on three social platforms.
Buffer
Buffer is another tool for cross-posting TikTok videos to other platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also tailor the captions for each channel so the same video feels native wherever it lands.
Even better, TikTok scheduling is supported on Buffer’s Free plan, which lets you connect up to three social channels and schedule up to 10 posts per channel at a time. For many creators, that’s enough to stay consistent without paying a dime. If you need more, paid plans start at $6 per channel per month.
ICYMI: A Cross-Promotional TikTok Strategy That Works offers a deeper dive into how to grow your TikTok following and get more views.
Going viral is fun, but real growth happens when you connect with people who comment, DM, and interact with your content. TikTok rewards accounts that build community, and these tools can help you manage that engagement without losing your mind.
TikTok inbox
TikTok’s built-in smart inbox brings all your notifications — comments, likes, mentions, and DMs — into one streamlined feed. It makes it easier to reply quickly and filter out what matters most. If you’re managing your account yourself, this native tool can help you avoid missing opportunities to engage with followers, fans, and potential customers.
💡 Tip: Use TikTok’s comment filters, which let you hide spammy comments, block certain keywords, or pin positive interactions to the top of your post.
Manychat
You had to know this one was coming. And sure, we’re biased, but Manychat is truly a game-changer for TikTok engagement. Instead of spending hours replying to comments and DMs individually, Manychat will handle it for you. Just note that you need a Business account to connect Manychat to TikTok — a Personal account will not work.
Here are a few things you can do with Manychat:
- Respond to comments, even while you sleep.
- Automatically answer FAQs, so followers get instant info.
- Route users where they want to go, whether that’s your website, a product listing, or a booking page.
- Build your email list directly through TikTok DMs, turning followers into subscribers and customers.
The best part is you don’t need to be a flow-building wizard to make it work. You can launch an automation in minutes (check out How to Set Up Your First TikTok Automation to see how simple it is). Plus, Manychat works across Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp, and Telegram, making it easy to create a cross-platform automation strategy that saves you time and drives more conversions.
Learn more about how to include automation in your TikTok strategy: The TikTok Automation Playbook
Or, get started: Sign up for Manychat today.
✋ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Do I need to pay for editing apps to succeed on TikTok?
Not necessarily. TikTok Studio and VN Video Editor are free and cover most creators’ needs. CapCut is also a top choice, though the free version now adds a watermark unless you upgrade. Paid tools (like Adobe Premiere) are only worth it if you’re doing advanced motion design or cinematic edits.
2. What’s the best time to post on TikTok?
There’s no universal “perfect” time, since it depends on your audience and time zone. A good rule of thumb is to post when your followers are most active, which you can see in TikTok’s analytics (available with a Business account). Scheduling tools like Later and Planoly also give data on when your posts perform best, so you can experiment and adjust based on that data.
3. How do I know which trends are worth jumping on?
Use TikTok’s Creative Center to see which sounds, hashtags, and creators are trending in your region. If you want to catch trends early, apps like TrendTok can predict what’s gaining momentum. The key is to only join trends that make sense for your niche — forced or off-brand content usually won’t perform well.
4. Can I post the same video on TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts?
Yes, posting across channels is a smart way to get more mileage from your content. That said, there are a few best practices to follow:
- Remove the watermark. Instagram and YouTube don’t prioritize videos with the TikTok logo. Tools like Repurpose.io or CapCut can export watermark-free versions.
- Mind the aspect ratio and length. All three platforms support vertical video, but their max lengths differ. Keep your content short and engaging so that it works everywhere.
- Test and tweak. Sometimes the same video performs differently across platforms. Use each app’s analytics to learn where you’re getting the most traction and adjust your posting strategy.
5. Do I need a Business account to use TikTok automation?
Yes. To connect TikTok to Manychat, you’ll need a Business account, not a Personal one. The good news is that switching is free and unlocks TikTok’s analytics and scheduling features. Learn more about the two types of accounts and decide which one is the best fit: Business or Personal: Which TikTok Account Type is Best For You?
