Instagram has released “Edits,” a standalone video creation app designed to rival TikTok’s editing ecosystem amid uncertainty surrounding the Chinese-owned platform’s future in the US.
The new app, launched globally this week, offers creators a comprehensive suite of video editing tools without requiring them to juggle multiple applications. Unlike TikTok itself, Edits doesn’t feature a social feed but instead focuses purely on content creation.
“Our goal is to build the most compelling creative tools to help creators express themselves freely in all the ways they can imagine, not just on Instagram and Facebook, but on any platform out there,” Meta said in a blog post announcing the launch.
The timing appears strategic, as TikTok faces a potential US ban unless its Chinese parent company ByteDance sells to non-Chinese buyers. President Donald Trump recently extended the deadline by 75 days, but questions remain about whether such a deal will materialize.
Edits provides features including a high-quality camera, frame-accurate timeline editing, and AI-powered animation tools. Users can also export watermark-free videos directly to various platforms, including Meta’s Instagram and Facebook.
Instagram head Adam Mosseri addressed the launch in relation to TikTok’s situation, stating, “No matter what happens, we think it’s our job to create the most compelling creative tools for those of you who make videos.”
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Industry analysts view Edits as Meta’s answer to CapCut, TikTok’s sister app also owned by ByteDance, which offers similar video editing capabilities.
Meta has been steadily expanding its short-form video strategy since launching Reels in 2020. The company is also reportedly considering a standalone Reels app to further challenge TikTok’s dominance.
Upcoming features for Edits will include keyframe animation, AI-powered video modification, collaboration tools, and expanded creative assets like fonts and transitions.
Edits is available for free download on both iOS and Android devices.
