My Thoughts On Edits: Meta's CapCut Rival

Instagram dropped Edits a few weeks ago, a new video editing app built specifically for creators, and it’s clearly their next big move to keep everything in-house. I tested it out, and here’s my raw thoughts. 😀 

1. Idea Capture & Inspiration Tabs

One of the biggest highlights is the Idea Capture feature, a dedicated space to write down content ideas, save inspiration, and organize creative thoughts all in one place. This allows creators to brainstorm and plan their content within the app, eliminating the need for external note-taking tools. 

2. Trend Tracking

The Trend Tracking feature allows you to pull trending audio and video directly from your feed without hopping between apps. This integration helps creators stay on top of current trends and incorporate them seamlessly into their content. 

3. User-Friendly Editing Tools

Edits offers a clean and beginner-friendly interface, similar to CapCut. It includes useful features like CutOuts, green screen effects, and smooth transitions. The app also provides more detailed analytics, giving creators insights such as retention data that the main Instagram app doesn’t provide. 

4. Analytics Integration

Edits provides real-time insights into your content's performance, including metrics like average view duration and skip rates. These analytics help creators make data-driven decisions to optimize their content strategy. 

⚠️ Areas for Improvement

1. AI Animation Tool

The AI animation tool still feels early-stage, producing blurry results in tests. While it's a promising feature, it currently lacks the polish needed for professional use. I wish they had spent more time developing this feature before the app released.

2. Multi-Account Management

There's no easy way to switch between multiple accounts, which can be frustrating for creators managing several profiles. This limitation hinders efficiency for social media managers and content creators with diverse portfolios. 

3. Caption Editing

Fine-tuning captions is difficult, and the in-app camera doesn’t match the quality of native phone video recording. Additionally, videos cannot currently be exported with sound, which limits how you can repurpose content. This is a significant drawback for creators who rely on cross-platform content distribution. 

Final Thoughts

Edits is off to a strong start. It’s a solid pick for creators who want to plan, film, and publish everything within one app. While power users might miss some advanced tools, it could quickly become a favorite for those who value simplicity and speed. As Meta continues to refine the app based on user feedback, we can expect improvements in areas like AI features, multi-account management, and export capabilities. 

For social media managers and content creators, Edits offers a promising platform to streamline the content creation process, especially for Instagram Reels. Its integration with Instagram and user-friendly features make it a tool worth exploring.