Instagram's Edits vs. TikTok's CapCut?
The short video format originated primarily on TikTok as "TikToks." Of course, it was then picked up by Instagram ("Reels"), YouTube ("Shorts"), and later other platforms began to embrace this trend of short, vertical videos (LinkedIn, X).
For these purposes, TikTok created a mobile video editing app and later a desktop version, CapCut. (2019)
And guess what... 😀
Instagram is planning to launch its version (expected on the 31st of March, 2025) called Edits.
Do you think that Instagram's product will overachieve CapCut?
I need to say that CC got pretty far and for me, it outperformed DaVinci Resolve, which I used for editing. They implemented many features, and effects and applied a subscription I recently paid for.
I am especially asking because it may happen that TikTok will be banned together with other ByteDance apps in the US (including CapCut).
Replies
Based on what I've seen from the past, any app that is trying to compete with something that is currently doing well in the market or trying to capture audience because it was getting shutdown, generally on the long term doesn't succeed in the end.
The reason why I am saying this is because, take a look at how Threads was formed by trying to compete with X, when there was an exodus of people from X(formerly twitter) after twitter was changed to X.
If you build a product by focusing on how to outcompete your competitor, you don't end up winning with your audience.
If you build a product with the mindset of improving upon yourself constantly based on feedback and customer review you win the audience.
Philosophy behind this
Finite versus Infinite Game concept by Simon Sinek.
minimalist phone: reduce your screentime
We will see over time. Meta has a bigger audience but it doesn't guarantee the success.
@focusaur Glad we have same perspectives.
Certainly something to keep an eye on! Another app from Meta :-| I agree with @mzkvisuals desktop is better for editing in any case. We're due for a new kind of social media.
minimalist phone: reduce your screentime
@mzkvisuals @kenny_hawkins That's sure thing. I cannot imagine to edit videos on my smartphone. I did it a few years ago and it was hell. Small space for orienting myself in effects, transitions, time stamp... all bad :D
@kenny_hawkins The best kind of social media will be if there is a way to make people accountable for the things they say! That would a social media I would glady participate
Couldn't agree more! What are your thoughts on something like https://theinternetpress.com/code
CapCut replaced FinalCut for me as well, pretty powerful. If Edits has a desktop version I might consider it as well. If it's just mobile they have to innovate some really smart way to edit videos, otherwise I keep to desktop editing
minimalist phone: reduce your screentime
@mzkvisuals It is a kind of sad that software dedicated solely to editing is behind something that was intended only for social media.
I just found out CapCut made exporting audio part of their paid plan and I'm not ready to upgrade. Any aternatives for desktop?
minimalist phone: reduce your screentime
Unfortuantely, I was forced to pay it. The alternative is DaVinci Resolve but can be a difficult to manage it at first, as it is a professional "studio".
@busmark_w_nika Will give it a try
minimalist phone: reduce your screentime
@mzkvisuals If you need any complicated tutorial, I have many :D
@busmark_w_nika I've actually opened a screenshot of Davinci Resolve to see how different it is and I think I'll just not add audio to my CapCut edits from now on :D
minimalist phone: reduce your screentime
@mzkvisuals So next time :DDDD
hard to tell before they launch tbh. but an interesting development to watch, that's for sure @busmark_w_nika
Update since this post: Edits launched in April 2025 and it's genuinely good — especially if Instagram is your main platform. Watermark-free exports, clean interface, built-in analytics.
But CapCut still wins on depth. Multi-track editing, AI tools, cross-platform flexibility — it's closer to a mobile Premiere Pro.
The ironic twist: CapCut updated its ToS in June 2025 giving ByteDance broad rights over uploaded content. For personal creators, not a big deal. For brands or businesses — worth thinking twice about.
So it's less "which is better" and more "which ecosystem do you live in."
minimalist phone: reduce your screentime
@oana_clopotel CapCut is still ahead, they started first and keep improving. + in China's culture, they work a lot and hard.