Google is set to bring YouTube Create, its standalone mobile video‑editing app, to iOS — nearly two years after it debuted on Android. The move expands YouTube’s toolkit for creators and signals a push to compete more directly in the mobile editing space.
Rollout Details & Developer Push
- iOS launch follows the September 2023 Android debut, which initially covered the U.S. and seven markets, later expanding to 20+ regions by early 2024.
- Google is actively recruiting iOS engineers in Bengaluru, India, to build out the iOS version — indicating serious investment behind the initiative
Features & Creator Community
YouTube Create offers tools like stickers, GIFs, filters, transitions, and effects for both YouTube Shorts and longer videos. These features were crafted based on feedback from over 3,000 creators, aiming for a polished creator experience
Terrain: Fierce Competition
- The editor is designed to go head‑to‑head with CapCut (owned by ByteDance) and InShot.
- On Android in Q2, CapCut and InShot recorded ~66 million and ~21 million installs, respectively — while YouTube Create lagged behind at under 500,000 installs this quarter, totaling ~4 million since launch.
- Monthly active users: CapCut ~442 million; InShot ~92 million; YouTube Create trails at <1 million.
- On iOS, the competition is just as daunting: CapCut boasts ~194 million MAUs in Q2, followed by InShot with ~25 million
What It Means for Creators & the Market
- Rolling out to iOS opens YouTube Create to a new wave of creators — but overcoming rivals like CapCut and InShot, especially given their integration with TikTok and Instagram, remains a major challenge
- While early user growth is promising, retention and engagement are key — the upcoming iOS launch will be a critical test for YouTube’s effort to build a viable, cross‑platform editing ecosystem.
YouTube is stepping into the mobile editing arena with both feet — from Android onto iOS — but now faces a steep climb to gain traction against entrenched rivals. The iOS release, powered by a targeted recruitment in India, could be the catalyst to scale up engagement — provided Google can turn that initial interest into long-term usage.
