Export & Mac Handoff on iPhone & iPad

Exporting a platform-ready reel from iPhone and handing a .zella file to the Mac

Quick answer: Export MP4, MOV, GIF or M4A with one-tap TikTok / Reels / Shorts / YouTube / Instagram presets, or hand the project to the Mac app as a .zella file to finish on a bigger screen. Export is free with no watermark; Pro unlocks 4K, and it’s a Universal Purchase — one payment covers Mac, iPhone and iPad.

On this page: export formats · platform presets · handoff to Mac · free vs Pro · FAQ

Export formats

When your edit is done, export to whichever file you need:

MP4 — the default for almost everything.
MOV — QuickTime, when you want it.
GIF — short looping clips for docs and messages.
M4A — audio only, when you just want the sound.

Same export lineup as the Mac’s export.

Platform presets

Skip the guesswork on dimensions — pick a platform preset and Zella sizes the export correctly:

TikTok / Reels / Shorts — vertical 9:16.
YouTube — horizontal 16:9.
Instagram — its own frame.

Pair a preset with Make Vertical and a horizontal recording becomes a post-ready vertical clip in a couple of taps.

Hand off to the Mac app

Started on the phone but want the big screen to finish? Export the project as a .zella file and open it in the Mac app. Your timeline, cuts, captions and effects come across, so you can keep working on the desktop with a mouse and keyboard. See iPhone vs Mac for when each device shines.

Free vs Pro

Export is generous on the free tier:

Free forever, no watermark — export MP4, MOV, GIF and M4A up to 1080p, with all the editing, captions, background removal and color included.
Pro unlocks 4K, transparent-background export (HEVC with alpha), 60 fps, custom bitrate, Clip Series, the multi-aspect queue, saved templates and the depth toolset.
Universal Purchase — the one-time $89 Pro covers Mac, iPhone and iPad together. Buy once on any device and 4K unlocks everywhere.

No subscription, and nothing you make carries a watermark.

iOS export FAQ

Which formats can I export? MP4, MOV, GIF and M4A.

Does the free tier watermark my exports? No — free is watermark-free up to 1080p.

How do I get a vertical video for TikTok? Use the TikTok / Reels / Shorts preset, ideally after Make Vertical for a face-aware 9:16 reframe.

How do I move a project to the Mac? Export it as a .zella file and open it in the Mac app — your edit comes with it.

Do I pay again for 4K on the phone if I bought Pro on the Mac? No. Pro is a Universal Purchase — one payment unlocks 4K on Mac, iPhone and iPad.

Pro tips & gotchas

Pick the platform preset last, once your edit is locked, so the reframe matches your final layout.
GIF for docs and chats — captions and zooms bake right in.
Hand off to finish big. A .zella file carries your whole project to the Mac.
4K needs Pro, but it’s the same Universal Purchase as the Mac — buy once, unlock everywhere.