YouTube to Launch Mobile Video Editor for iOS, Expanding Reach Beyond Android

YouTube is preparing to bring its mobile video editing tool, YouTube Create, to iOS devices nearly two years after it first launched on Android. The iOS version of the app is being developed by engineers in Bengaluru, India, according to job listings. YouTube Create, which debuted in the U.S. and seven other markets in September 2023, has been designed to help content creators edit videos with tools like stickers, GIFs, and special effects for both YouTube Shorts and longer videos. The app was developed after consultations with 3,000 creators to address their needs. Despite facing tough competition from established apps like ByteDance’s CapCut and InShot, YouTube Create has seen steady growth in active users. However, it still lags behind its competitors in terms of downloads and user engagement. While the app shows promise, with a 28% year-over-year increase in monthly active users, it struggles with retention rates and user engagement compared to CapCut, which leads the market with more than 442 million monthly active users on Android alone. As YouTube Create heads to iOS, it aims to expand its presence in the mobile video editing market, but it will need to overcome stiff competition from other platforms like Instagram’s Edit and CapCut, which dominate in downloads and active user numbers. Nevertheless, the iOS release could help YouTube Create tap into a broader audience, particularly in regions like India, where the app has shown impressive user retention improvements.