What it does
Muse is a mobile video editor built for creating stylish, short-form content for social media platforms like Instagram Reels and TikTok. The app's core feature is its extensive library of pre-made templates, which allows users to quickly generate professional-looking videos by simply dropping in their own photos and clips. Beyond templates, it offers a suite of editing tools for customizing text, applying filters, adding effects, and incorporating stickers.
Where it shines
Muse excels at lowering the barrier to video creation. The template-first approach is central to its success, allowing anyone to produce a polished video in minutes. A great example is the interactive template preview during onboarding (00:40), where the app uses the photos you just selected to give you a live demonstration. The editor itself is also powerful yet accessible. The curved text tool at 03:07, which lets you bend text with a simple drag gesture, is a perfect example of how Muse makes complex edits feel intuitive and playful.
UX highlights
- Template-First Navigation: The main screen is a discover feed of templates, immediately showing users what's possible and providing creative starting points.
- Intuitive Text Editing: The app provides advanced text controls, such as curved path editing (03:07) and character spacing, that are controlled by simple, direct gestures.
- Streamlined Media Selection: The app guides users to select a specific number of media clips (00:22), simplifying the initial creation step and ensuring the content fits the templates.
- Layered Editing Interface: The editor neatly organizes tools like filters, effects, and adjustments into separate tabs, preventing the screen from feeling cluttered while still offering deep customization.
- Robust Filtering: The template discovery screen includes useful filters for duration, number of clips, and music type (08:08), helping users quickly find the perfect template for their needs.
- Direct Manipulation: Actions like resizing stickers (05:25) or adjusting text are done directly on the canvas, providing immediate visual feedback.
Monetization & growth
The app introduces its subscription model early in the user journey. After an engaging interactive preview, it presents a paywall at 01:03. This screen offers a free trial for a yearly plan, highlighting a significant discount ("SAVE 61%") and breaking down the price to a weekly cost to reduce sticker shock. The app also has a clever growth loop after export (07:12), prompting users to rate the app and providing a shortcut to use the licensed music directly within Instagram, encouraging social sharing.
Who it’s for
Muse is designed for social media creators, small business owners, and casual users who want to elevate their video content without mastering complex desktop software. Its target audience values speed, trends, and aesthetic quality. The template-driven workflow makes it ideal for anyone looking to consistently produce engaging Reels or TikToks with minimal effort.
Notes & opportunities
While the template-first approach is a strength, starting a project from a blank canvas is less obvious, potentially frustrating more advanced users. The onboarding flow also presents three consecutive system permission prompts (tracking, photos, notifications) without any warm-up screens, which could feel aggressive and lead to a higher drop-off rate. Adding brief explanations for why each permission is needed could improve the user experience and increase opt-in rates.