Meta’s latest creative tool, Instagram Edits, recorded a strong debut, accumulating over 7.1 million downloads across iOS and Android platforms within its first week.
Highlights
Designed to help users craft videos for Instagram Reels, Stories, and other posts, Edits has notably outperformed the early growth trajectory of ByteDance’s CapCut, a major competitor in the space.
Instagram Edits was downloaded 702,900 times on iOS within its first two days—approximately 37 times more than CapCut’s iOS downloads during a similar launch window.
By the end of three days, Edits had reached 1.2 million downloads on iOS and 5.9 million downloads on Android. While CapCut initially had more limited market availability, the scale of Edits’ launch reflects the advantage of Meta’s extensive social network reach.
In the U.S. market, Instagram Edits delivered a particularly strong performance. The app recorded 381,000 downloads within its first three days, compared to 3,400 downloads for CapCut during its U.S. launch.
This figure suggests that Edits’ early U.S. adoption was approximately 112 times greater than CapCut’s.
Momentum from its launch helped Instagram Edits quickly climb the App Store rankings. On its release day, April 22, the app reached No. 1 on both the Top Overall Apps and Top Non-Game Apps charts for the U.S. iPhone App Store.
It maintained high positions in the days following, staying at No. 2 before moving to No. 3 by the end of the week. In comparison, CapCut achieved No. 14 Overall and No. 10 among Non-Game Apps in its first three days.
App Store rankings, which are influenced by total download volume and the speed of installs, likely reinforced Edits’ initial growth.
Despite its strong start, Instagram Edits faces longer-term challenges. Since its launch in April 2020, CapCut has accumulated over 1.22 billion downloads worldwide (excluding China).
Sustaining user engagement and expanding its feature set will be critical for Edits if it aims to achieve similar longevity, especially given CapCut’s popularity among TikTok creators.
Instagram Edits vs. CapCut
- Instagram Edits: Over 7.1 million downloads in the first week (iOS + Android).
- CapCut: Over 1.22 billion cumulative downloads since launch.
U.S. Market Penetration
- Instagram Edits: 381,000 downloads in three days.
- CapCut: 3,400 downloads in its first U.S. launch window.
App Store Rankings
- Instagram Edits: No. 1 Overall and Non-Game Apps (April 22), remained in Top 3 in the following days.
- CapCut: Peaked at No. 14 Overall and No. 10 among Non-Game Apps in its first three days.
Feature Comparison: Instagram Edits vs. CapCut
Instagram Edits
- 4K video export without watermarks
- Built-in analytics for viewer engagement
- High-quality clip recording up to 10 minutes
- Seamless integration with Instagram for playback
CapCut
- Extensive library of templates and transition effects
- AI-powered editing tools
- Integration with TikTok for direct sharing
While Edits has been commended for its clean, ad-free experience and ease of use, some users have pointed out that it currently lacks a broad range of templates and transitions, which are available in CapCut.
Monetization and Expansion Plans
Given its strong initial traction, Instagram Edits may explore monetization strategies, potentially introducing a paid tier or ad-supported features similar to other Meta products.
Additionally, expanding its editing capabilities—such as incorporating more templates, transitions, and AI-based tools—could help sustain growth and improve competitiveness.
Early user feedback has been mixed. While many creators praised the app’s 4K export quality, built-in analytics, and seamless Instagram integration, others noted the absence of key features that CapCut already offers.
