What is Edits? Everything to know as Instagram launches new app for creators

Instagram announced on Sunday that a new video editing app will be hitting the app stores soon, hours after the ban on TikTok came into effect. Adam Mosseri, the head of the platform, issued the news on Instagram, revealing that the software will be named Edits.

The announcement came on the same day that CapCut, a video editing software owned by TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, was also banned.

"Now, there's a lot going on in the world right now and no matter what happens, we think it's our job to create the most compelling creative tools for those of you who make videos for not just Instagram but for platforms out there, as we can," Mosseri said in his announcement video.

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Here's all we know about Instagram's new editing software as the head of the platform swears it is better than CapCut

At the time of writing, Edits is available for pre-order on the Apple App Store for free, and Mosseri revealed that Android users will also be able to use the app in time. Edits will officially hit the app stores in February.

However, the official date of release on the App Store states March 13. “The first version is going to be incomplete, so please be patient, but I’m really excited to put this in all your hands,” Mosseri said.

As for what the app is about, here's what Mosseri said:

"Edits is more than a video editing app; it’s a full suite of creative tools. There will be a dedicated tab for inspiration, another to keep track of early ideas, a much higher-quality camera—which I used to record this video—all the editing tools you’d expect, the ability to share drafts with friends and other creators, and, if you decide to share your videos on Instagram, powerful insights into how those videos perform.”

In response to the mounting accusations that the app may be a ripoff of CapCut, Mosseri took to Threads to clear the air, noting that it's like "CapCut, but more for creators than casual video makers. Not just video editing, but an inspiration tab, idea tracking, and insights built in."

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The announcement came shortly after the announcement that the ban on TikTok is brief and that it would be coming back into use merely 12 hours after it was legally shut down. President-elect Trump took to social media to affirm that he would be issuing an executive order as soon as he's sworn in, granting ByteDance the time to figure out how to keep the app running in the States.