Social apps like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat already come packed with tools for turning the contents of your camera roll into polished video posts. For the digital natives of Gen Z, TikTok is the playground where an entire video vocabulary has evolved (think clever transitions and trending sounds that somehow express feelings more than words ever could).
As social users become more visually literate, CapCut, has established itself as the “next level” stand-alone app for content creators. But now there’s a new contender: Edits, a stand-alone video app from Meta devoted to making your Instagram Reels really impressive (sorry, couldn’t resist….).
So, is Edits a CapCut killer? Or just a me-too product like Meta’s somewhat underwhelming Twitter knock-off Threads app? Let’s take some shots.
First, What Is CapCut?
CapCut is a mobile video editing app from ByteDance, the creators of TikTok. It’s designed to support TikTok users’ creativity with tools, templates and more. It’s part of the same ecosystem. Finished editing in CapCut? Upload directly to TikTok in a click. But more than convenience, CapCut gives you comprehensive editing control: multi-track editing, keyframing, color correction, speed raming and more.
While a lot of them are for paid users, CapCut is full of the kind of features that have often been stripped out of editing tools built for mobile, which often do little more than let you compile, trim and rearrange clips.
CapCut’s got depth. Probably more depth than you’ll ever need. But for people used to desktop editing suites, or just creators who want to take their content up a level, there’s rarely a moment where CapCut’s not got the feature you’re looking for.
Enter Instagram Edits
Instagram’s in-app editor is fine for making Reels. But as a stand-alone app, Edits is a real upgrade. The most notable new feature? Multi-track editing—so you can layer video, audio, and text in more sophisticated ways. And unlike CapCut, Edits delivers multitrack editing that’s easy to navigate, simply stacking tracks on top of each other, always visible. It’s a small interface choice, but it makes a huge difference in how you work, compared to the constant toggling that can make CapCut feel a little fiddly.
That said, there’s a trade-off: Instagram Edits has fewer features. No deep caption styling. No sea of templates. Fewer advanced effects. It’s a cleaner, simpler toolkit that’s likely to grow cover time.
The Easy UX Difference
Here’s where things get subjective. If you’re a long-time CapCut user, you probably know exactly where everything lives—even if that’s in a submenu, inside a submenu, hidden beneath a tiny icon.
Instagram Edits, by contrast, puts more tools up front. Voiceover? Easy. Fonts? All your usual IG font friends are here. Music? Tied directly into Instagram’s licensed library.
If you’re already making content on Instagram, staying in-platform means fewer exports, fewer lost frames, and fewer reasons to rage-quit your phone.
So… Which One Should You Use?
Honestly? It depends.
Use CapCut if:
- You’re making TikToks or Reels with lots of effects, captions, or templates.
- You want way more choices over things like text animations, overlays, and transitions.
- You’re already comfortable in its ecosystem and familiar with concepts like speed-ramping, key framing and other “grown up” editing staples.
Use Instagram Edits if:
- You’re primarily posting Reels on Instagram and want a straightforward workflow for multitrack editing.
- You easily get lost dipping in and out of endless menus.
- You like seeing your Instagram insights while you edit (either because you’re always considering what works for your audience or you just like the dopamine that comes with views).
Final Thought: Maybe You Don’t Have to Choose
Here’s a wild idea: have both on your phone. See what happens. Maybe you enjoy the simplicity of Edits, and the ease of the Instagram music library, but you occasionally want the kind of animated font templates that are probably a little lurid for the ‘Gram. Or you feel like your inner movie maker has some big ideas that make more sense on CapCut.
Whether you’re a CapCut loyalist or about to dive into Instagram Edits for the first time, the real takeaway is this: We’re not just scrolling anymore. We’re storytelling. On the move. On our phones. And increasingly, with tools that keep getting better.
Hashtag coexist?