The battle of the short-form video app has officially begun! With Instagram now extending its services to video, which app wins when it comes to choosing the best video app? It really comes down to the top three categories crucial to video-making – length, recording and editing – as well as when, where and how you plan on creating videos.

Length

Both video services are limited by time. Offering a maximum of 15 seconds, Instagram more than doubles Vine’s six second video limit, giving users a little more to work with when recording their videos. The pro to the extra nine seconds is more talk time within your video. However, unless you have a focused and relevant message, Instagram videos can become boring fast. The fun of using Vine is the message you’re sharing is short and sweet, leaving little time for viewers to lose interest. Vine videos also work on a loop, where Instagram videos do not.

Winner: Tie

Recording

Both Vine and Instagram offer simple ways for users to shoot their own videos. To record on Vine, simply hold down the screen to record and lift your finger to stop. On Instagram, tap the red video camera button and you’re ready to record. When it comes to simplicity, Vine and Instagram are neck-and-neck.

So, which one is better? Instagram’s added features, such as the new tap-to-focus capability and image stabilization, are definitely added bonuses.

Winner: Instagram

Editing

Unlike Vine, Instagram actually lets users edit videos before they are published. Don’t like that clip you just recorded to your Instagram video? Tap the delete button next to the record button and you can remove that clip of video without having to completely start your video from scratch again. Unfortunately, for now at least, Vine does not offer any editing tools. The finished, raw product is what you get.

Instagram also allows users to take advantage of 13 different filters. Described as “everything you love about Instagram – and it moves”, Instagram videos are meant to give your videos the same beautiful touches as your photos. These filters take your videos to the next level, adding a level of fun, artistic appeal and creativity to the mix.

Lastly, Instagram users can also choose a custom cover frame for their videos. When it comes to adding those personal touches, Instagram knocks the ball out of the park.

Winner: Instagram

At the end of the day, what matters most is how you plan on using video content. If you want to take advantage of short-form videos in a fun way while keeping control of the finished product, try Instagram. Its editing features and signature filters add a level of professionalism and personality to your videos.

However, if you’re at a special event, such as a conference or company outing, and want to share videos spontaneously and quickly, Vine might be the best option. The convenience of Vine comes from shooting and sharing instantly without having to worry about editing and making things fancy. If true simplicity is what you want, Vine is your winner.

The winner also depends upon your social media platform of choice. Vines are easily embedded in tweets and Twitter cards, where Instagram integrates with Facebook. In fact, when you break it down, the video apps are actually very similar to their corresponding social media network, which may help you make your decision on which video app to use.

Just like Twitter, with its 140-character tweet limit, Vines are fast and easy ways to share content without getting too involved. They both focus on messaging that is short, raw and to the point.

Facebook, on the other hand, gives you more room to work with. A Facebook status can include anything – a message, a picture or video, tagged friends or liked pages, actions, locations, even feelings. Instagram, with its filters, editing tools, tagging features and cover frames, also gives users more options than they would find with Vine.

So, which app wins out in the end – Vine or Instagram. The answer lies is what YOU like. The best advice is to give both apps a try! You don’t have to choose whether or not you’ll only use Facebook or Twitter, so why only settle on one video app? Just have fun and give both apps a whirl – you’ll discover soon enough which platform is the best choice for you.