TL;DR
- Meta launched a new app called Edits to compete with CapCut.
- Edits integrates directly with Instagram and is focused on creators making Reels.
- It includes tools like green screen, automatic captions, and beat markers.
- CapCut still offers more advanced AI and editing features—especially in its web version.
- Edits is currently mobile-only and free to use, but paid features are expected in the future.
Meta’s Strategic Move Against CapCut
Meta recently introduced a new short-form video editing app for creators called Edits. Designed as a direct competitor to ByteDance’s CapCut, the app targets Instagram Reels creators who want more in-app editing power.
Meta first teased Edits in January after CapCut was briefly removed from U.S. app stores due to TikTok-related legal uncertainty. Although CapCut is now reinstated, the future of TikTok—and its associated tools like CapCut—in the U.S. remains unclear. Meta seems prepared to capitalize on any regulatory fallout with Edits positioned as a native alternative.
Getting Started with Edits
Edits is available on iOS and Android. Users must log in with their Instagram account to begin.
The app’s interface includes five main tabs:
- Ideas: Save Reel concepts and collect drafts.
- Inspiration: Discover trending audios and Reels for creative prompts.
- Projects: Upload from your phone or revisit ongoing edits.
- Record: Create content directly from your mobile device.
- Insights: Track performance metrics like reach, views, and engagement.
Tools and Features on Edits
Edits offers a range of creator-friendly tools, rivaling many of CapCut’s core functions:
| Feature | Description |
| Green Screen | Replace video backgrounds with one tap. |
| Timeline | Arrange clips precisely in your preferred sequence. |
| Captions | Auto-generate subtitles in multiple languages. |
| Audio Library | Import music from Instagram’s built-in tracklist. |
| Cutouts | Isolate and track objects frame-by-frame. |
| Animate | Turn images into videos using AI animation. |
| Apply All | Use the same effects and filters across all clips. |
| Frame Rate Selector | Customize playback smoothness. |
| Alignment Guides | Properly position text and stickers. |
| Beat Markers | Sync edits to music beats automatically. |
| Filters | Choose from 30+ unique visual presets. |
| Transitions | Apply seamless cuts between clips. |
| Teleprompter | Read scripts while recording in-app. |
| Restyle (AI) | Redesign clips with AI-styled presets. |
| Keyframes | Animate position, rotation, and scaling. |
| Cut Silences | Remove dead space automatically from your video. |
| Import Audio | Upload custom audio directly. |
| Clip Preview | Watch takes in real-time before finalizing. |
How Edits Stacks Up Against CapCut
While CapCut remains the gold standard in short-form editing with a robust set of AI features, Edits holds its own with strong integration into the Instagram ecosystem.
Key Differences:
- Editing Capabilities: CapCut still leads in advanced functionality, especially for transitions, masking, and AI effects.
- Pricing: Edits is currently 100% free, but Meta’s Adam Mosseri has hinted that premium features may be added later.
- Platform Support: CapCut has a web-based version, while Edits is currently mobile-only (iOS & Android).
- Music Access: CapCut offers a broader music library compared to Instagram’s native collection.
If you’re already active on Instagram and looking for streamlined editing, Edits may be the easiest choice. But if you need high-end effects or cross-platform functionality, CapCut remains the more flexible option for now.
What’s Next for Edits?
Meta has made it clear that Edits will evolve. In a recent Threads post by Mosseri, the Instagram chief emphasized that Edits is an MVP and “just getting started.” Expect additional monetization tools, templates, and possibly even AI co-editing features down the road.
Data Snapshot
| Feature | Edits | CapCut |
| Available Platforms | iOS, Android | iOS, Android, Web |
| Music Library | Instagram-native | Extensive |
| AI Effects | Basic | Advanced |
| Monetization Tools | Planned | Existing |
| Free Tier | Yes | Yes |
| Paid Tier | Not Yet | $7.99/month |
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