Meta Launches Edits: A Comprehensive Guide to the CapCut Competitor
Meta has officially entered the short-form video editing arena with the release of Edits, a new app designed to rival ByteDance’s popular CapCut. Aimed at content creators, Edits offers a range of tools and features tailored for mobile video editing.
The development of Edits was initially revealed in January, coinciding with a period when CapCut faced potential removal from U.S. app stores due to TikTok’s uncertain regulatory landscape. While CapCut remains available, Meta is strategically positioning Edits to capitalize on any future disruptions.
This guide provides a detailed walkthrough of the Edits app, exploring its features and comparing it to CapCut.
Getting Started with Edits
Edits is readily available for download on both iOS and Android devices. Upon launching the app, users are prompted to log in using their Instagram account.
The app’s interface is organized into five primary tabs:
- Ideas: A space for creators to brainstorm video concepts and save reels.
- Inspiration: A hub for discovering trending audio tracks and popular reels.
- Projects: A storage area for ongoing video projects, allowing users to upload content from their camera roll.
- Record: Enables users to directly capture video content within the app.
- Insights: Provides performance metrics such as views, reach, and follower counts.
Key Tools and Features in Edits
Edits comes packed with a variety of tools designed to streamline the video editing process:
- Green Screen: Easily replace video backgrounds.
- Timeline: Arrange and fine-tune video clips with precision.
- Captions: Automatically generate captions in multiple languages.
- Audio Library: Access Instagram’s extensive music library for soundtracks.
- Cutouts: Isolate specific objects with tracking.
- Animate: Transform static images into dynamic videos using AI.
- Apply All: Apply adjustments, filters, and transitions to all clips simultaneously.
- Timeline Frame Rate Selector: Optimize playback smoothness by converting video to a specific frame rate.
- Alignment Guides: Ensure key elements are visible and accurately positioned.
- Beat Markers: Automatically detect and add beat markers for audio synchronization.
- Filters & Transitions: Choose from 30 filters and 30 transitions to enhance visual appeal.
Edits vs. CapCut: Key Differences
While both apps serve the short-form video editing market, some key distinctions exist. CapCut currently offers a broader range of AI-driven and robust editing features compared to Edits, reflecting its more mature development. However, Meta is expected to continually enhance Edits in the future.
CapCut also boasts a more comprehensive music library. Additionally, CapCut offers a subscription model with advanced tools behind a paywall, whereas Edits is currently free. According to Adam Mosseri, future versions of Edits may introduce paid features. Finally, CapCut is available on the web, while Edits remains a mobile-only application, at least for now.
