Meta has thrown its hat into the video editing ring with the launch of its new app, Instagram Edits, and it’s already shaking up the space. Designed to help users craft sleek videos for Reels, Stories, and other social posts, the app’s debut has not only caught attention it’s shattered records, particularly when compared to ByteDance’s CapCut, a leading editing tool used by TikTok creators.
In the first two days following its release, Instagram Edits recorded an estimated 702,900 downloads on iOS, a figure that makes CapCut’s original launch numbers look minuscule by comparison. CapCut, by contrast, pulled in only 83,500 downloads in its first three days across iOS and Android combined. Meta’s launch strategy capitalized on its vast social media ecosystem, where promotional power is nearly unmatched. Even considering that CapCut debuted in fewer global markets, the scale of Edits’ success remains impressive. By the third day, total global downloads of Edits reached 7.1 million, with 1.2 million from iOS and 5.9 million from Android.
In the United States alone, the difference is even more stark. Edits amassed 381,000 downloads during its first three days, while CapCut managed only 3,400 in the same period during its U.S. debut. That’s a 112-fold lead—further proof of how Meta’s network can rapidly fuel adoption. Edits also climbed to No. 1 on the U.S. iPhone App Store charts on launch day, April 22, topping both the overall and non-game categories. While it dropped to the No. 2 position by the second day and slipped to No. 3 by Friday, it remained one of the most visible apps on the platform. By contrast, CapCut ranked No. 14 overall and No. 10 among non-game apps after three days.
These results reveal more than just a well-executed launch—they illustrate the kind of network effect only a company like Meta can generate. The app’s quick rise in rankings has also further boosted its visibility, creating a self-reinforcing loop that CapCut never benefited from at its debut. But explosive starts aren’t everything.
CapCut, after all, has built a powerful user base since its April 2020 launch, with a staggering 1.22 billion lifetime downloads worldwide, excluding China. It has become a mainstay in the content creation toolkit for TikTok users. If Edits wants to catch up or surpass it, Meta will have to continue iterating on features and addressing feedback from its creative community.
Initial reactions to Edits have been mixed. Many creators appreciate its simplicity, clean interface, absence of ads or watermarks, support for 4K video, and built-in analytics. These qualities make it highly appealing to Instagram-focused creators who want a streamlined workflow. However, others have noted that Edits currently lacks some of the more powerful tools that make CapCut so effective, such as dynamic templates and a broader array of transition effects. The lack of these advanced editing options may become a sticking point for users who require more depth and creative flexibility.
According to social media marketing consultant Lia Haberman, these gaps in functionality are not being overlooked by the community. Some users are already calling for feature parity with CapCut, while others wonder how long Edits will remain ad-free or free altogether. It’s entirely possible that Meta could monetize the app later through a premium tier or advertising integrations, especially if it continues to scale.
