YouTube Mobile Video Editor Now Available on iOS

YouTube Create Set to Launch on iOS

Google is preparing to extend the availability of YouTube Create to iOS devices, almost two years following its initial release as an Android exclusive. Recent analysis of job postings indicates the company is actively recruiting engineers in India to spearhead the development of the iOS version.

Android Launch and Expansion

The job advertisements confirm Google’s focus on hiring software engineers in Bengaluru specifically for building the iOS application. The original Android app first became available in the United States and seven other countries in September 2023. Further expansion occurred in February 2024, encompassing an additional thirteen markets.

Features and Development Philosophy

YouTube Create offers a suite of complimentary mobile video editing tools tailored for content creators. These tools include features such as stickers, GIFs, and various effects, supporting both YouTube Shorts and longer-form video content. Google’s development process involved consultations with 3,000 creators to ensure the app effectively addresses their requirements.

Competitive Landscape

This launch represents Google’s effort to directly challenge ByteDance’s CapCut editor. However, exclusive data from Sensor Tower reveals that YouTube Create currently trails significantly behind both CapCut and another prominent competitor, InShot, in terms of market presence.

Download and User Statistics

The competitive disparity is substantial. During the second quarter of the current year, CapCut and InShot recorded 66 million and 21 million downloads, respectively, on Android devices. Conversely, YouTube Create has accumulated fewer than 500,000 downloads this quarter, with a total of just 4 million downloads since its initial launch.

User Engagement Comparison

The gap in user engagement is even more pronounced. CapCut boasts over 442 million monthly active users on Android in Q2, while InShot reports 92 million. YouTube Create, in comparison, has fewer than 1 million monthly active users.

iOS Market Dynamics

The iOS platform, which YouTube Create is now targeting, presents a similarly competitive environment. CapCut currently leads with 194 million monthly active users in Q2, followed by InShot with 25 million. Downloads on iOS this quarter have been dominated by CapCut (28 million) and Instagram’s Edit (7 million).

Growth Trends and Momentum

Despite these challenges, YouTube Create is demonstrating some positive momentum. Sensor Tower data indicates a 28% year-over-year increase in monthly active users in Q2, exceeding the 9% growth observed for CapCut and the 7% decline experienced by InShot.

Analyst Insights

“While demonstrating solid user growth year-over-year, YouTube Create has struggled to match the performance of larger, more established competitors like CapCut, which currently has over ten times the number of monthly active users,” stated Abe Yousef, a senior insights analyst at Sensor Tower.

User Retention and Loyalty

Yousef suggests that YouTube Create may be cultivating a more dedicated user base. The combination of rising active user numbers and decreasing downloads could signify that users who have previously experimented with the app are returning for regular use.

Integration and Competitive Advantages

“The long-standing presence of CapCut, coupled with its seamless integration with TikTok, likely contributes to this significant size difference compared to YouTube Create,” Yousef explained.

Retention Rate Analysis

However, YouTube Create is still facing challenges with user retention. Its 90-day retention rate – the proportion of users who continue using the app 90 days after downloading it – was approximately 1% in Q1, considerably lower than CapCut’s 7% and InShot’s 4%.

Usage Patterns and Engagement

Engagement metrics further illustrate the disparity. Users spend an average of 38 minutes per month on YouTube Create, compared to 62 minutes for CapCut users. CapCut users also launch the app more frequently, averaging 23 sessions monthly versus 11 for YouTube Create.

Geographical Distribution

The user base of YouTube Create is becoming increasingly diversified geographically. India accounted for 67% of total monthly active users in the second quarter of last year, but this share has decreased to 51% this quarter as the app gains popularity in other regions.

Emerging Markets

Despite this shift, India remains a key market for YouTube Create, with improving daily-to-monthly active user ratios, rising from 9% last year to 12% currently. Indonesia has emerged as the second-largest market, representing 21% of global monthly active users. Germany (5%), Brazil (4%), and the U.K. (3%) complete the top five markets.

Regional Growth

The app is experiencing particularly strong growth in several other markets, with year-over-year monthly active user increases of 119% in Spain, 91% in South Korea, 89% in France, and 71% in Singapore.

Future Outlook

“An iOS release of YouTube Create could certainly contribute to the platform’s market share growth, although intense competition from other social media-backed video editing platforms and native video editors will persist,” Yousef concluded.

Google did not provide a response to requests for comment.