YouTube's mobile video editor is coming to iOS

YouTube Create, an Android video editor, expands its reach to iOS, enhancing competition.

: Google is set to introduce YouTube Create, initially exclusive to Android, to iOS users. The video editing tool aims to provide content creators with features such as stickers and GIFs. Despite strong competition from CapCut and InShot, YouTube Create is growing its user base, showing a 28% increase in user engagement. The app's expansion can potentially boost its market share, particularly in India and other emerging markets.

Google is preparing to launch its YouTube Create mobile video editing app on iOS, after being Android-exclusive since its debut in 2023. Initially available in eight countries, the app expanded to more regions in early 2024. The iOS version is currently under active development, with YouTube hiring engineers in India to accelerate the rollout. This move aims to bring the app’s editing features to a broader user base beyond Android users.

YouTube Create was built with input from thousands of content creators to offer a streamlined editing workflow. It includes tools for trimming, automatic captioning, adding transitions, filters, GIFs, stickers, royalty-free music, and more. The app supports both Shorts and longer-form videos and aims to simplify production for creators directly from mobile devices. Google positions it as a lightweight, no-experience-required alternative for casual and professional creators alike.

Despite these features, YouTube Create has struggled to gain significant traction compared to competitors like CapCut and InShot. Sensor Tower data indicates that YouTube Create had fewer than 500,000 Android downloads in Q2 2025 and just under 1 million monthly active users. In contrast, CapCut reached 66 million downloads and 442 million MAUs during the same period. Retention metrics for YouTube Create are also notably lower than rivals.

Nevertheless, YouTube Create is experiencing modest growth. It saw a 28% year-over-year increase in monthly active users, with user bases diversifying geographically. India’s dominance dropped from 67% to 51%, while growth surged in Indonesia, Spain, France, and South Korea. Engagement also increased, with average user time per month reaching 38 minutes, though still behind CapCut’s 62 minutes.

With the upcoming iOS release, YouTube hopes to close the gap and expand the app’s reach among creators. However, the mobile editing market remains competitive, dominated by apps already tightly integrated with social media platforms. Success will depend on YouTube’s ability to convert its massive creator ecosystem into active Create users.

Sources: TechCrunch, YouTube Blog, 9to5Google

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