Meta has launched Instagram Edits, a new video editing application that has surpassed its main competitor, ByteDance’s CapCut, in early download figures. Designed specifically for creating Instagram Reels, Stories, and other social media videos, the app recorded approximately 702,900 downloads on iOS within its first 48 hours—about 37 times the number CapCut achieved during the same period, according to data from app analytics firm Appfigures.
Within its first week, Instagram Edits reached around 7.1 million downloads worldwide, with 1.2 million on iOS and 5.9 million on Android devices. By comparison, CapCut’s combined iOS and Android downloads during its first three days totalled roughly 83,500. Although CapCut’s initial launch was limited to approximately half of global markets, even tripling those early numbers would not close the gap with Instagram Edits.
In the United States alone, Instagram Edits was downloaded 381,000 times within its first three days, while CapCut managed only 3,400 downloads during its U.S. debut. This means Instagram Edits’ launch was 112 times larger in the American market.
The app’s swift adoption also translated into top rankings on the U.S. iPhone App Store. It debuted at number one on both the overall and non-game app charts on April 22, slipping to second place by the following day and maintaining that position before falling to third by the end of the week. In contrast, CapCut ranked 14th overall and 10th among non-game apps during its initial days in the U.S.
Despite this promising start, Instagram Edits faces a considerable challenge in matching CapCut’s extensive user base. Since its launch in April 2020, CapCut has been downloaded more than 1.22 billion times worldwide (excluding China), largely driven by TikTok creators.
Instagram Edits distinguishes itself through a suite of advanced features that aim to simplify content creation. The app consolidates the entire video production workflow—from ideation and filming to editing and publishing—within a single platform. It offers AI-powered tools such as automatic captions in multiple languages, “Cutouts” for isolating subjects, green screen effects, and access to Instagram’s extensive audio library. Users can create videos up to ten minutes long at 1080p resolution, export watermark-free content, and publish directly to Instagram, Facebook, or other platforms.
“Excited to officially introduce Edits – a new app for making great videos on your phone. With Edits, we want to bring your entire creative process into one place. This is just the beginning – we’ve been building this alongside creators from day one, and we’ll keep listening to feedback to keep making the app better!” said Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram.
Creators have offered mixed reactions. Many praise the app’s intuitive interface, integrated analytics, ad-free experience, and support for high-resolution exports. However, some critics point out that it currently lacks features found in CapCut, including a wider variety of templates and numerous transition effects.
Instagram Edits also aims to help creators optimise their content strategy by providing an inspiration feed showcasing trending Reels and performance analytics to guide video tailoring for maximum engagement. Planned updates include keyframe animation, AI-driven visual modifications, collaborative editing modes, and an expanded library of creative assets such as fonts, transitions, and royalty-free music.