RIFTPutting yourself in a trend used to mean learning the moves. Now several kinds of app will do it, and they differ more in how you steer them than in what comes out. This guide sets out how we judged them, what each is best for, and where each falls short.
How we judged
We looked at five things you can check yourself:
- Where it runs. An iPhone app, or a website.
- How you start. From a video you saw, from a template, or from words.
- What you can try free. Whether there is a free way in.
- What it shows before you spend. Whether you can see the cost first.
- What it doesn’t do. Every app has limits.
We did not rank on price or speed. We can’t match them like for like, and plans change.
Rift (listed first because we make it)
Rift is an iPhone app on the App Store, where you talk to Spark, its video agent. Share a TikTok, Reel or Short, add a photo, say what to change, check the Draft and tap Make. The price is on the Make button before every Make, and a stopped Make isn’t charged. Characters are made once from a few photos and reused. Best for remaking one specific video you saw with you, a friend or a pet in it. Limits: up to 15 seconds, one shot per Make, and no films, captions, music, voice, lip-sync or posting for you yet.
CapCut
A full editor with a multi-track timeline, templates, and text tools that Rift doesn’t have yet (auto captions and text-to-speech), on mobile, desktop and web. Free with in-app purchases. Best for editing your own footage with full control. Limits: it is an editor, so you do the editing unless you use a template or its AI tools.
Higgsfield
A creative suite in the browser, with tools to make and edit images and video, plus audio tools Rift doesn’t have, including tools that apply motion from one clip to a new character. Its help center says it has no mobile app. Best for people who want many tools in one place, on a computer or a phone browser. Limits: no iPhone app, and plans are on its pricing page.
Pika
A creative platform on the web with video tools such as Motion Transfer and Swap Anything, plus image and audio tools. Its home page links to a web app and mentions no iOS app. Best for people who like to experiment with a range of tools in the browser. Limits: check its pricing page for what is free.
Reface
An iPhone app, free with in-app purchases, that puts your face into videos, movie stills and character art, with hairstyle and photo tools too. Best for classic face swaps and playful photo filters. Limits: its listing centres on faces, hair and photo looks.
Viggle
An iPhone app, free with in-app purchases, with 8,000+ templates for dances, memes and a style Rift doesn’t do yet (lip-sync), up to 5 free video generations a day and a live mode. Best for meme and dance templates. Limits: results come from its templates or uploads; free videos carry a watermark on its website’s free plan.
Quick table (checked 2026-10-21)
| App | Runs on | Starts from | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rift | iPhone, on the App Store | A shared video, photo or sentence | Remaking a specific video with you in it |
| CapCut | Mobile, desktop, web | Your footage and templates | Full editing |
| Higgsfield | Browser | Text or reference media | A wide toolkit |
| Pika | Browser | Text or reference media | Trying many tools |
| Reface | iPhone | A photo and a face swap | Face swaps and photo looks |
| Viggle | iPhone and web | Templates or your own | Dances and memes |
How to choose
Know your starting point. If you have a video in mind, use an app that begins from that video. If you want a ready look, use templates. If you want control over every cut, use an editor. Try one clip across two apps; that tells you more than any list, including this one.