Swipe to the result
Reveal an authentic input and output with a simple comparison. Keep the source quality visible so that the improvement is understandable and not misleading.
PANTHEON FOR PHOTO, VIDEO & UTILITY APPS
Show the job getting done.
Photo, video and utility app ads should make the product’s before-and-after workflow easy to understand. RevenueCat classifies 61.4% of Photo & Video apps in its 2026 dataset as AI-powered. In a crowded category, a real output and a clear task can explain your difference better than another generic AI promise.
Start free ↗See the workflow ↓The input, the action and the resultExplore the category ↓
CATEGORY CONTEXT · 2026 REPORTS
The numbers behind the question.
Industry research, not Pantheon customer results. Each figure keeps its original category, store and measurement scope.
| Metric | Value | Scope & period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apps classified as AI-powered | 61.4% | Photo & Video · RevenueCat 2026 dataset | RevenueCat ↗PDF p. 159 |
| Median trial-to-paid conversion | 17.1% | Photo & Video · Google Play · 2025 | RevenueCat ↗PDF p. 143 |
| Median D35 download-to-paid | 2.6% | Photo & Video · App Store · 2025 | RevenueCat ↗PDF p. 144 |
| Median D35 download-to-paid | 2.4% | Utilities · App Store · 2025 | RevenueCat ↗PDF p. 144 |
D35 means within 35 days of download. Report medians and cohort comparisons are descriptive, not forecasts or evidence that changing a creative causes a particular outcome. Source methodology ↗
THE CREATIVE STRATEGY
Keep the transformation specific and the evidence visible.
A photo editor, scanner and privacy tool are not interchangeable. Start with the product’s actual job and choose a demonstration that explains it in a few clear steps. Show the original input, the action inside the app and the resulting output. For a utility without a visual transformation, show the completed task rather than inventing a dramatic before-and-after.
Compare formats that change the explanation, not the underlying truth. A split screen, narrated walkthrough and close-up detail can all demonstrate the same capability. Use assets you have permission to process and advertise. If a result is curated or a sequence accelerated, preserve enough context to avoid suggesting that the experience is instant or universal.
The benchmarks distinguish Photo & Video from Utilities; do not apply a photo category conversion rate to a VPN or document tool. Segment tests by the real task and store. Evaluate whether people complete that task after installation, then look at subscription quality. A striking image can win attention while still attracting users who do not need the paid product.
IDEAS TO MAKE YOUR OWN
Eight starting points. One real product.
Creative hypotheses to adapt and test with your own product materials. These are illustrative concepts, not customer testimonials or promised results.
Remove the distraction
Demonstrate an actual object-removal task. Test a close crop against the full scene while preserving the same output and clearly showing any remaining limitations.
Two ways to finish
Compare an ordinary workflow with your app’s supported steps. Avoid unmeasured speed claims; let the visible process explain why the tool may be useful.
Look at the edges
Zoom into a detail such as hair or a document boundary. Show a real result and use the detail to explain quality rather than claiming perfection.
One app, one complete task
Connect supported features into a useful sequence such as edit, caption and export. Do not add capabilities simply to make the creative story feel complete.
Scan, review, send
Show a document workflow with sample information. Keep personal details out of the recording and verify that the advertised export or sharing option is available.
An old photo, carefully restored
Use an authorized image and its actual enhanced output. Be clear where generative processing creates detail rather than presenting reconstruction as historical fact.
The offer in your market
Pair a localized demonstration with the genuine local offer. Review currency, billing period, language and store destination together before running the test.
WITH PANTHEON
From the idea to a reviewed campaign.
- 01
Find a demonstrable job
Research competitor formats and trending hooks, then select a real task your app performs. Keep the original input and approved output ready for production.
- 02
Build around your footage
Use Ad Create & Clone to generate a concept from an idea or reference. Add real app recordings and use Vibe Edit to refine text, pacing, layout or voice.
- 03
Test the explanation
Review vertical and square exports, check the destination, then compare distinct explanations of the same job. Look at completed tasks and paid conversion alongside ad metrics.
QUESTIONS, ANSWERED
Photo, Video & Utility Apps: the practical details.
How do I make ads for a photo editing app?
Show a real input, the editing action and the actual result. Use a format such as a comparison, close-up or walkthrough to explain the difference. Keep asset permissions and any generative limitations clear. Pantheon can help turn those materials into an original, editable creative and refine its presentation.
#Do utility ads need a voiceover?
Not always. A clear visual workflow may explain the task with short text and no narration. Voice can help when a feature needs context or a result is easy to misunderstand. Compare the approaches using the same product action, offer and audience so that you can interpret the difference.
#Do photo app benchmarks apply to all utilities?
No. Photo & Video and Utilities are separate categories in the RevenueCat report. A scanner, editor and security tool can have different audiences and economics. The table keeps each metric’s category and store visible. Use the figures as context for your own tests, not as expected acquisition or subscription results.
#Should I promote a weekly or annual plan?
Use your own retention, pricing and customer evidence to choose the offer. The creative must show the real billing interval and conditions. Test offer-led messaging only where the destination supports it, and compare refunds and paid retention as well as initial conversion before deciding which approach is better.
#How can an AI editor stand out?
Demonstrate a specific task and the quality of its real output. A detail view, an unusual input or a complete workflow can make the difference tangible. Avoid claiming every output is flawless or implying that the presence of AI alone establishes value. Match the ad to what a new user can actually do.
#How many creatives should I launch first?
Start with a small number of distinct hypotheses that your budget and conversion volume can support. There is no universal creative count for every utility app. Keep a clear control and change one meaningful element at a time. Producing more versions is useful only if you can learn from the resulting test.
#COMPARE YOUR OPTIONS
See where Pantheon fits.
Make your next test a clearer one.
Start with your app. Build the creative. Review what goes live.
Start free ↗