The very real threat of a TikTok ban has caused Americans to search for alternatives to their favorite ByteDance-owned apps — including the popular video editing software CapCut. So it’s no surprise that the recently launched Instagram Edits is capitalizing on consumer uncertainty by adding features from one of its most popular competitors.
The latest update for the video editing app added a host of new features to better compete with similar pieces of software. These features mix existing technology with Meta’s algorithmic data to create a hybrid experience between social media and video editing.
The beat editing feature will help users align their audio and visual elements without a hassle.
Arguably, the most important addition to the app is beat editing.Â
What is beat editing?
Beat editing is a feature that CapCut has had for years, but its inclusion in the Instagram Edits app shows that Meta wants to seriously rival the ByteDance video editor.Â
This feature automatically creates beat markers on the editing timeline that helps you line up your audio with your visual components (clips, text and overlays) when merging them for a video.
“Beat markers are a small but important quality-of-life upgrade that will make it easier for creators to edit videos,” said Katelyn Chedraoui, CNET’s AI and social media reporter.
You’ll now have access to a new set of preset animations and visual changes that can be applied to your videos — many of these emulate shaky recordings, change color saturations or make similar changes to the final product.
Chedraoui included Instagram Edits on a list of the best CapCut alternatives, calling it “frankly a CapCut copycat.”
Instagram Edits is also testing more social features, implementing a social media approach to the video editing app. The new Inspirations tab allows you to browse Instagram Reel edits made by people the algorithm deems as being similar to you. From here, you can save trending audio you find to use in your own Reels, or bookmark certain clips you find for later use.
“As uncertainty still swirls around the future of TikTok and its sister app CapCut, Instagram is hoping Edits will entice creators and regular social media users to stay on its platform,” said Chedraoui. “The biggest thing Edits has going for it is its convenience and integration with Instagram.”
A representative for Meta, the company that owns Instagram, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
