Reelful: the AI that turns your photos into TikTok videos

Reelful: The App That Simplifies Video Creation with AI

The iOS app Reelful offers a new way to create videos for social media using artificial intelligence. It automatically transforms photos and video clips from your gallery into short, stylish videos, perfect for platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels. This app is particularly aimed at those who want to produce social content without diving into the complexities of traditional editing software.

The launch of Reelful is part of a broader trend where AI is redefining content creation. Indeed, more and more users are turning to AI agents to automate this process, surpassing traditional creative tools. Reelful joins other innovative startups like Opus Clip and Captions, which aim to transform the way content is created.

A Solid Foundation and a Clear Vision

Reelful is currently in development as part of the Speedrun program by a16z. The app was founded by Kate Deyneka, a former machine learning engineer at Snapchat. Drawing on her experience in developing video and image models, Deyneka decided to leave Snapchat to create a video editor that automates the creation of short videos. Her goal is to reduce the time spent selecting clips, adding effects, or recording voiceovers, thereby simplifying the process for users.

In an interview with TechCrunch, Deyneka expressed her desire to post more frequently on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts, but the time required for video editing is often a barrier. She emphasizes that, like many founders, she leads a very busy life and that the rise of AI makes editing even more time-consuming. Therefore, Reelful is designed as a tool to help build an online presence and personal brand without the constraints of traditional editing.

A Simplified Process Thanks to AI

The Reelful app works by asking users to provide a prompt describing the story they want to tell. This could be a travel recap, a product demonstration, or a highlight from an event. Users then record a 30-second voice sample to create a voice clone, and select photos and videos from their camera roll. Reelful then takes care of planning the video, writing the script, adding an AI-generated voiceover, and assembling the final edit with subtitles, music, and sound effects.

Reelful's AI also allows for the transformation of still images into animated video clips. For example, a photo of a person cutting a mango can be turned into a short video showing the action of slicing the fruit. The AI-generated videos include a watermark to indicate that they were created using AI.

A Tool for Entrepreneurs and Content Creators

After generating a video, users can still edit it by interacting with the app to modify the soundtrack, revise the script, or adjust other aspects. Deyneka specifies that Reelful primarily targets founders and business owners who need to create content regularly to enhance their online presence or that of their business. For instance, a salon in the Bay area might have plenty of content about its services but lack the time to turn it into engaging videos for social media.

Deyneka describes a typical use case where, after attending an event or meeting interesting people, a user can upload their recordings into the app and receive a video ready to share as soon as they return home. The goal is to simplify the sharing of content and expertise without requiring active editing or complex setup on a laptop.

Pricing and Future Availability

Reelful offers various pricing models, including one-time purchases and subscriptions. Users can buy video credits in packs of five videos for $15, 15 videos for $43, or 33 videos for $90. The “Creator” subscription costs $25 per month for 10 videos, while the “Pro” plan offers 25 videos per month for $50. The Studio plan includes 60 videos per month for $100.

Although Reelful is currently available only on iOS, Deyneka has plans to launch Android and web versions in the future, thereby expanding the app's accessibility to a wider audience.