Instagram Edits vs. CapCut: Choosing the Best Editing Tool

Discover the key differences between Instagram Edits and CapCut, and see which platform gives you more features and flexibility for making impressive videos. For an even better editing experience, you can also try using the CapCut desktop video editor.

CapCut
CapCut
Apr 30, 2025
75 min(s)

As far as video and photo editing tools go, Instagram and CapCut are some of the most frequently used by people around the world. Instagram has its own editing features, which enable the user to add filters, text, and effects within the app itself. CapCut, on the other hand, is a dedicated video editing tool and thus has more advanced features than Instagram. Videos can be produced on CapCut with intricate details like effects, transitions, and sound editing.

This article explores the differences between Instagram Edits vs CapCut to help you make an informed decision.

Table of content
  1. What is Instagram Edits
  2. What is the CapCut mobile app
  3. Feature comparison: Instagram Edits vs. CapCut mobile app
  4. How to create videos: Instagram Edit vs. CapCut mobile app
  5. Which tool is best for you
  6. Bonus tip: Create stunning videos on a PC with CapCut desktop
  7. Conclusion
  8. FAQs

What is Instagram Edits

Instagram Edits refers to in-app tools and features designed for photo and video enhancement within the Instagram application. Users can enhance their images by applying filters, adjusting brightness, cropping, and adding text or stickers. It also encompasses more sophisticated functions, such as editing videos in multi-clip mode and generating captions automatically. These capabilities enable content creators to enhance their posts promptly, eliminating the need for external applications.

Instagram Edits tool for images and videos

What is the CapCut mobile app

CapCut mobile app is a free and easy-to-use video editing application. It has many helpful features for both novice and experienced creators. Users can achieve AI editing, motion tracking, and even background removal, enabling effortless, professional-quality videos. Considering its proprietary integration with TikTok, WhatsApp, Instagram, and YouTube, it is a preferred option for content authors who seek to make enticing short videos.

CapCut mobile app for easy AI powered editing

Feature comparison: Instagram Edits vs. CapCut mobile app

Instagram Edits and CapCut mobile apps each have their own unique features. Let’s take a look at their features.

Platform integration

Instagram Edits: Instagram seamlessly integrates with its platform, enabling users to edit and share content directly within the app. This tight integration streamlines the process for creators who want to upload content instantly.

CapCut mobile app: CapCut provides easy integration with multiple platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, WhatsApp, and YouTube, making it versatile for creators who share content across different social media channels. When you see a video you like on TikTok, you can immediately jump to CapCut to create the same video.

Ease of Use

Instagram Edits: Instagram has a simple, intuitive interface that lets users quickly edit images and videos. The tools are designed for fast, on-the-go content creation. Through Edits, users are given the opportunity to quickly edit their videos within 10 minutes.

CapCut mobile app: CapCut is also user-friendly and provides more advanced editing tools for users who want greater creative control and flexibility. With CapCut, users can complete video creation in just a few minutes. In addition, CapCut offers desktop and web versions of its video editing tools, enabling users to edit on larger screens, enjoy faster performance, and access more advanced features.

Editing features

Instagram Edits: Instagram provides basic editing tools like filters, crop options, and text additions for quick edits. Camera tools like green screen and slow motion are built into the editor, making editing faster and easier.

CapCut mobile app: CapCut is also easy to use and offers more advanced editing tools. It features a wider range of options, including multi-track editing, transitions, effects, copyright-free music, voice changers, and more, making it suitable for users who need professional-level editing on mobile.

Templates and effects

Instagram Edits: Instagram has a limited set of templates and effects, focusing on enhancing photos and videos with filters and effects suitable for quick social media posts.

CapCut mobile app: CapCut shines with a wide selection of templates and effects, including pre-designed transitions, color grading, and cinematic filters, providing more creative freedom for video projects. Users can quickly generate popular videos through CapCut's templates.

Audio tools

Instagram Edits: Instagram includes basic audio tools, such as adding music from its library or syncing audio to video clips. These are great for enhancing short videos or stories.

CapCut mobile app: CapCut has advanced audio tools, including the ability to sync audio with video clips, add sound effects, and even adjust audio levels, giving users more control over the soundtrack of their content.

AI tools

Instagram Edits: Edits adds AI features like image-to-video and captions. Soon, using Meta’s Movie Gen model, it will support background changes, outfit swaps, AI lighting, and more.

CapCut mobile app: CapCut features advanced AI tools, including automatic background removal, auto cut, AI video effects, and auto captions, which help automate editing processes and enhance video quality.

Export quality

Instagram Edits: Users of Edits are permitted to export edited videos of their content using the app's 4K capabilities without any charge.

CapCut mobile app: CapCut supports high-quality exports, including 4K resolution, without compromising the quality of the content, making it a better choice for creators needing top-tier export options.

Analytics

Instagram Edits: Instagram provides basic analytics for creators, including post reach, engagement, and audience demographics, helping users track how their edited content performs. It can provide creators with real-time Instagram video analytics to track key metrics and optimize content.

CapCut mobile app: CapCut lacks built-in analytics, but users can track performance through the platforms they share content on, such as TikTok or YouTube, providing insights into video engagement. In addition, CapCut has many tools to optimize video content, such as automatically adding subtitles, reducing noise, and making videos clearer etc.

How to create videos: Instagram Edit vs. CapCut mobile app

Both the Instagram Edits and CapCut mobile apps allow users to create and edit videos right on their phones, but they cater to different needs and skill levels. Here are the steps to creating a video.

Make a video using Instagram Edits

    STEP 1
  1. Create a new project

From the home screen, tap "Record" in the bottom center to record a video up to 10 minutes long. You can also tap "+" in the bottom right corner to import the current video clip from your phone's camera roll.

    STEP 2
  1. Edit your video

Once you select a clip on the timeline, you'll see a range of creative editing options to help you perfect your video. You can tap "Adjust" to adjust brightness, contrast, saturation, color temperature, and sharpness. With "Effects," you can use special effects such as zoom, camera shake, flash, strobe, and more.

Add "Text" to customize the font, color, size, style, and animation of your text to match the theme of your video. Don't forget to tap "Sound FX," from whooshes and pops to applause and ambient noise.

    STEP 3
  1. Export and share your video

Once your video is finished, you can export it as a 4K video without a watermark, perfect for sharing on Instagram.

Interface of the CapCut mobile app

Create a video using the CapCut mobile app

    STEP 1
  1. Open the CapCut mobile app

Open the application and tap on "New Project" to open your video for editing. The CapCut mobile app has no limit on video length, which is very friendly to users who want to edit long videos.

    STEP 2
  1. Edit your video

You can browse through the "Templates" tab and apply the search option to get the perfect preset for your video. Tap on "Use Template," then tap and import your preferred photos or videos into the template. This is a speedy, watermark-free editing option. Finally, cut your clip by tapping it to modify the length.

To add sound, tap on "Audio" from the menu, where you can choose to add either "Sound," "Record," "Sound FX," or "Sound" to add the corresponding audio elements.

To add an extra touch of elegance, you can add AI-powered features like "Auto adjust" or "AI stickers" to leave your mark. Utilize "Effects," "Text," or "Filters" to give your video a unique look and feel.

    STEP 3
  1. Export and share

Once you have edited your video, click "Export" to save the video straight to your phone. From there, you can easily share it on social media like TikTok, Instagram, or Facebook.

Interface of the CapCut mobile app

Which tool is best for you

After comparing the features and tools of Ins Edits vs CapCut, it's important to consider which app best suits your needs. Both apps provide unique advantages, depending on what you're looking to achieve. Let's explore who would benefit most from each tool:

Who should use Instagram Edits

Instagram Edits is perfect for users who want quick, hassle-free editing. Designed for Posts, Stories, and especially Reels, Edits simplifies content production and backend management. Through integration with the Instagram platform, it also tracks platform trends and inspiration to help users keep up with popular content. Instagram Edits is perfect for beginners and casual creators, especially for enhancing visuals without advanced tools.

Who should use the CapCut mobile app

The CapCut mobile app is ideal for creators seeking advanced editing features combined with the power of AI. It’s perfect for those willing to invest time in crafting standout content with high-quality effects, smooth transitions, and professional sound editing. CapCut also includes AI-powered tools like auto-captions, background remover, AI voiceovers, and voice changers, making it a go-to choice for multi-platform creators on TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram who need a fast, flexible, and intelligent editing solution.

Bonus tip: Create stunning videos on a PC with CapCut desktop

With the growing demand for powerful desktop video editing tools, creators are looking beyond mobile solutions. Since Edits hasn't launched a desktop version, the CapCut desktop video editor stands out as the ideal alternative. It is better suited for people working on large projects such as detailed professional YouTube videos, Instagram Reels, or TikTok videos, as it provides precise editing control, faster rendering speeds, easier workflow, and advanced quality manipulation.

Key features

The CapCut desktop video editor has a variety of advanced features to help creators craft professional content more easily. Here are some key features:

  • AI video maker

Automatically generate engaging videos with AI, saving time while maintaining high-quality results. This is ideal for quickly producing content for social media or other platforms.

  • Convert a long video to shorts

Easily convert long videos to short, shareable clips, perfect for platforms like TikTok and Instagram. It's a great way to repurpose content for different formats.

  • 350+ AI voices

Access over 350 AI-generated voices to add professional narration to your videos. Perfect for voiceovers in multiple languages without the need for a recording setup.

  • Record video easily

Capture your screen or webcam directly in the editor for seamless video production. This feature is especially helpful for creating tutorials, presentations, or gaming content.

  • Video translator

Use CapCut's AI video translator to translate videos into different languages to make your content accessible to a global audience.

Interface of the CapCut desktop video editor

How to create videos on the CapCut desktop video editor

To create videos on the CapCut desktop video editor, first, download it from the official website. Install the application by following the on-screen prompts. Once installed, open the editor to start editing and creating your videos. Users can start the process by clicking on the download button below.

    STEP 1
  1. Upload your video

Upload your video to the CapCut desktop video editor. To do so, click on "Import" or simply drag and drop the video onto the workspace. Bring it to the timeline to start editing.

Uploading a video to the CapCut desktop video editor
    STEP 2
  1. Edit your video

Start by adjusting the video size using the "Auto reframe" feature under the Basic Editing tab. To improve accessibility, generate captions by going to "Captions" > "Auto Captions", selecting the spoken language, and clicking "Generate".

Editing a video in the CapCut desktop video editor
    STEP 3
  1. Export and share

After editing the video, click "Export", select a suitable format and resolution, and then click "Export" again to post on Instagram. You can also tap "Share" to export it directly to TikTok or YouTube.

Exporting a video from the CapCut desktop video editor

Conclusion

In summary, Instagram edits and the CapCut mobile app are both useful to different kinds of creators, but with distinct features to accommodate varying levels of sophistication. Instagram edits are best for effective and speedy additions to the content, perfect for users who want to make simple posts on social media. CapCut is tailored to more complex video editing as it provides even more features for customization and refinement. While the CapCut mobile app is sophisticated enough for a lot of users, some might need more. For those users, CapCut's desktop video editor has even more features and a better workflow, which makes creating professional-grade videos seamless.

FAQs

    1
  1. Which app is best for Instagram video editing?

For basic editing, Instagram works perfectly. Users can add filters, texts, and other effects. Everything is straightforward and tailored towards individuals who prefer uncomplicated content. However, if more control is needed, then CapCut's desktop video editor is highly recommended for professional video editing with fine-tuned control over edits.

    2
  1. What are the main differences between Instagram Edits and CapCut?

Instagram Edits are relatively simplistic, as they deal primarily with in-app photo and video modifications for quick posting. CapCut provides a wide array of filters and effects, but it's more known for its complex editing capabilities like multi-track editing, AI effects, and precise video controls. For professional video production, the flexibility and detailed features available on CapCut's desktop video editor make it an excellent option.

    3
  1. Can I share videos directly from CapCut to Instagram?

Sharing from the app directly to Instagram isn't a feature CapCut offers. That said, users can export their videos from CapCut and upload them manually to Instagram. Advanced editing with CapCut is possible. However, editing on the CapCut desktop video editor is more efficient in terms of streamlined editing and exporting workflows.