Meta Launches Edits App Globally, Competing With CapCut

Meta has globally launched Edits, a new free video creation app for iOS and Android aimed at competing with ByteDance’s CapCut and capitalizing on regulatory uncertainty surrounding TikTok in the U.S. Edits offers a comprehensive suite of tools—including AI-powered features, organizational aids like 'Ideas' and 'Projects,' timeline editing, green screen support, and trending audio discovery—to help creators develop short-form videos for any platform, not just Instagram or Facebook. A key differentiator is its ability to export videos without watermarks, a feature that CapCut only offers through a paid subscription, positioning Edits as an attractive option for budget-conscious creators. The app’s advanced AI tools include animation from still images, object isolation and tracking, noise reduction, and smart filters, alongside direct sharing to Meta platforms and built-in analytics for performance tracking. While currently free, Meta has signaled that some features may become paid in the future to offset computational costs, particularly for resource-intensive AI functionalities. The release comes as Meta seeks to become the central editing hub for creators amid ongoing uncertainty over TikTok’s status in the U.S.