I Tried These Video Editing Apps in Case CapCut and TikTok Get Banned. These Are My Top Picks
Social media creators probably know CapCut is owned by the same parent company as TikTok, a Chinese-based company called ByteDance. That means that CapCut is included in the same potential ban in the US and is under the same 75-day extension for the company to find a US buyer approved by government officials. There's still a lot of uncertainty swirling around the apps' futures, which is why I began looking for potential replacements in case TikTok and CapCut eventually get banned.
Mobile video editing apps like CapCut have become popular with the rise of video-first social media content. CapCut has a lot that makes it a favorite among creators -- it's versatile, has free and paid plans, and it's compatible with many social media platforms. But there are some good alternatives that offer similar features and user-friendly set-ups.
I've spent some time with each of these programs and rounded up some of the best options below depending on your budget, skill level and operating system. Here are some alternative video-editing programs to use if CapCut gets banned. For more, check out some of our expert filming tips and favorite filming equipment.
James Martin/CNET Instagram Edits For Instagram creators
Instagram has just launched a free video editing app. It's called Edits, and it is, frankly, a CapCut copycat. It includes an in-app camera, along with a full suite of creative tools, including captions. You can share drafts of your videos with friends via DM and track your engagement, similar to Instagram insights.
Based on my initial testing, Edits isn't as feature-packed as some of its competitors. But if you post frequently on Instagram, it's a decent option worth exploring. The app is now available on both iPhone and Android. See at Edits
Apple Apple's Final Cut Pro For Apple users
Apple's pro video editing program is exclusive to iPad and Mac users, but if that's you, Final Cut Pro is definitely an option worth considering.
Final Cut Pro 11 was just updated in November 2024, and it came with a few new AI-enabled tools. Magnetic masking, now available, helps isolate specific objects for editing, and it now offers caption transcription and can handle spatial video editing. While it can easily handle basic video editing, it's designed as a more professional program. But for creators already adept in the basics from CapCut, Final Cut Pro offers a lot more advanced features that can help you level up your skills and content.
The cheapest way to use Final Cut Pro is on an iPad for $5 per month (or $49 annually), and you can deactivate and reactivate your subscription as needed. If you're more comfortable editing on a Mac, you're going to have to cough up a one-time payment of $300, but it does include all future software updates. See at Apple
Adobe Adobe Premiere Rush For budget-conscious creators
If you've ever looked at Adobe Premiere Pro and immediately gotten overwhelmed by the number of panels and windows, Premiere Rush might be a good option for you. It's a kind of Premiere Pro Lite, with the added benefit of being free. You can use it on your phone through the mobile app or as a desktop app.
Premiere Rush is designed for creating social videos, including an in-app camera for you to shoot with. Its editing capabilities are basic but inclusive, so it's likely everything you need. You can also easily record voiceovers as well as import audio. Overall, it's a solid option for people looking for video editing power without spending any money. See at Adobe
Veed.io Veed.io For extra AI power
CNET spoke with Veed.io's CEO and co-founder Sabba Keynejad last summer, who described the platform as one meant for "the-up-and-comer, the person just trying to get started." The AI startup's beginner-friendly features include subtitle generation, translation abilities, AI avatar and voice creation, and the typical video-editing tools.
Veed.io does offer a free plan, but its strict limits on many features might prod you to upgrade to the paid plan ($12-$29 per month depending on the plan), especially if you're editing a lot of content. Free videos are also automatically watermarked, so you'll need to upgrade to remove them. See at Veed
Splice Splice For beginners and basic editing
Splice is what I would call a very beginner-friendly program. It walks you through how to use the tools and doesn't overload you with features. With Splice, you can manually edit your clips or you can choose to let the app do the work for you and create an AI compilation. I created a couple of these AI compilations, which basically just combined all my clips into one timeline. I eventually found myself wanting to return to the manual editing tools for more hands-on control, but I appreciated that Splice offered the automatic option for folks who want to do less editing work.
This app is great for people who just want the basic tools to trim and combine clips, along with a large stock music library you can access. If you want more advanced editing features, I would recommend Premiere Rush or Final Cut Pro. You get a 7-day free trial before you have to upgrade to the Pro version of Splice for $10 per week or $70 annually. See at Spliceapp
These services are a great place for you to begin looking for mobile video editing apps, in case CapCut and TikTok get banned. For more, check out our list of TikTok alternatives.
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