Instagram releases free desktop video editor for Mac to take on CapCut

Instagram has launched a desktop version of its Edits app for Mac, giving creators a free tool for making and publishing videos. The app was released on Thursday, November 5.

The Mac app includes a multi-track timeline, keyframes, audio waveforms, colour adjustment tools and the option to import custom fonts. Creators can add automatic captions in several languages, use Instagram's licensed music library and export videos in 4K without watermarks. Projects can be published straight to Instagram from the computer.

AI-assisted editing is available through connected agents, including Meta's Muse, which can help assemble rough cuts before manual adjustments. The app is currently available only on Mac, and Instagram has not announced a Windows release date. Saved audio and text styles can sync between devices, but full project editing across desktop and mobile is not yet possible. Edits was launched on mobile in April 2025 to compete with CapCut, owned by ByteDance. The company said more than 50 million creators use Edits on mobile and that it plans weekly updates for the desktop app.