On Sunday, Jan. 19, Instagram announced “Edits,” a new editing app which, if we’re being honest, seems more than a little bit inspired by CapCut — a Chinese short-form video editing app developed by ByteDance.
Instagram head Adam Mosseri seemed to reference the ongoing TikTok ban saga, as he noted in a video that “there’s a lot going on right now.” Still, he affirmed that “no matter what happens, it’s our job to provide the best possible tools for creators.” He then went on to describe “Edits” as, “more than a video app,” that boasts a “full suite of creative tools.”
He continued: “There will be a dedicated tab for inspiration, another for keeping track of early ideas, a much higher-quality camera (which I used to record this video), all the editing tools you’d expect, the ability to share drafts with friends and other creators, and — if you decide to share your videos on Instagram — powerful insights into how those videos perform.”
What Features Does Edits Have?
As pointed out by Mashable, the iOS App Store listing provides a number of other details about the app. Per the listing, Edits will allow users to film videos up to 10 minutes long. It’s also noted that users will have the option of adjusting settings like frame rate and video resolution.
Meanwhile, editing tools within the app include generated captions, video filters, voice effects, and audio enhancement. There are also AI features, including the ability to animate static pictures.
As a result of the TikTok ban, other ByteDance-owned apps like Lemon8, Marvel Snap, and CapCut also went dark. This leaves CapCut’s position in the editing market precarious. So, it makes sense that Instagram has now chosen to unveil its competitor.
Mosseri added in a Threads post that, ultimately, Edits will end up “pretty different than CapCut.”
“Edits will have a much broader range of creative tools and probably a smaller addressable audience,” he wrote. “Think a place to track all your ideas instead of templates. Think AI video editing tools on a per clip or per video basis. Think new insights on why your videos are succeeding or struggling.”
