Instagram has announced a new video editing app called Edits, aimed at creators who produce videos on their phones. The app, unveiled by Instagram head Adam Mosseri in a video on Instagram, is positioned as a competitor to CapCut, the video editor app owned by TikTok's parent company ByteDance.

As per Mosseri, Edits is designed to streamline the video creation process by integrating advanced tools and features into a single platform. The app offers tools for high-quality video recording, editing with precision, background replacement, AI animations, and audio enhancements. Users can also organise drafts and export videos without watermarks for use on any platform.

For creators sharing videos on Instagram, Edits includes a dashboard to track performance metrics like engagement, follower breakdowns, and factors affecting video recommendations, says its official listing on the iOS App Store.

In his announcement, Mosseri described Edits as "more than a video editing app", highlighting its suite of creative tools, including a tab for inspiration and another for tracking ideas. The app also allows users to share drafts with friends and other creators, with the option to export videos in 1080p directly to Instagram.

Edits is currently listed for preorder on the iOS App Store, for free, and is expected to launch on March 13, 2025.

Edits enters the market during a time of significant disruption, as creators seek alternatives to TikTok and its associated tools amid the ongoing threat of ban in the US.