Instagram has announced Editing, a free video editing app that sounds a lot like CapCut.
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In a video posted to Threads on Sunday, Instagram head Adam Mosseri described Editing as “a full suite of creative tools,” and briefly used the editing features.
Credit: Instagram
“There will be a dedicated tab for inspiration, one to keep track of any early ideas you may have, the highest quality camera I used to record this video, all the editing tools you would expect, the ability to share drafts with friends and other creators, and, if you decide to share your videos on Instagram , a powerful understanding of how those videos work,” Mosseri wrote.
Although the edits page on the iOS App Store says it is expected on March 13, Mosseri said we can expect it to arrive in February. Pre-orders are currently available on the iOS App Store, and are coming to Android “soon.” However, Mosseri warned that the first version of the app will be incomplete, and asked for users’ patience.
According to the iOS App Store listing, Editing will allow users to record videos up to 10 minutes long, adjusting settings such as resolution and framerate. Editing tools will include generated captions, video filters and voice effects, audio enhancement to remove background noise, and the ability to “bring images to life with AI animation.” There will also be a live data dashboard that allows you to track how your Instagram reels are performing.
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Users were quick to notice the timing of Mosseri’s announcement, and the edit is clearly aimed at competing with ByteDance’s popular video editing app CapCut. CapCut was pulled from US app stores this weekend due to the country’s ban on “apps controlled by foreign adversaries” – a measure that specifically targets TikTok by name, but has also affected other apps such as Marvel Snap.
Although he didn’t initially refer to TikTok or CapCut by name, Mosseri still appeared to make a vague reference to the ban, saying “there’s a lot going on in the world right now,” and that this tool “is for those of you who make videos not just for Instagram, but [other] platforms are there.”
However, without restriction, the Editing features can tempt creators. Although CapCut also offers captioning and audio reduction capabilities, both previously free features now require a paid subscription.
Credit: Instagram
In response to comparisons to CapCut, Mosseri said he believes programming will “end up being very different,” saying it will have broader creative tools and “probably a smaller audience that can be adjusted.”
“Imagine a place to track all your ideas instead of templates,” Mosseri said, noting that the plan has been months in the making. “Think about AI video editing tools on a clip-by-clip or per-video basis. Think about new insights into why your videos succeed or struggle.”