YouTube is now reportedly preparing to release its mobile video-editing app, YouTube Create, on iOS later this year, expanding its presence in a crowded field dominated by TikTok-linked tools and independent editing platforms.
Initially launched on Android in 2023, YouTube Create was designed as a streamlined editor to help content creators produce Shorts and other mobile videos more easily.
The app includes tools such as stickers, sound effects, GIFs, and auto-captioning—features increasingly seen as essential for viral video formats.
The move comes as Google intensifies efforts to compete with ByteDance’s CapCut, which remains the leading mobile editor among short-form video creators.
Apps like CapCut and InShot have long maintained an edge, both in total downloads and user engagement. While YouTube Create has been slower to gain traction, it has posted encouraging signs of growth over the past year, with active user numbers steadily increasing.
One of the clearest gaps has been on iOS. Until now, YouTube Create has remained exclusive to Android, limiting its reach among U.S.-based creators and many influencers in Europe.
Bringing the app to Apple’s platform is seen as a critical next step in YouTube’s ambition to close the loop between content creation, editing, and distribution—offering users a full ecosystem under the YouTube umbrella.
Still, the challenge remains formidable. CapCut not only boasts a larger user base but also enjoys deep integration with TikTok, giving it a natural advantage among short-form video creators.
User retention rates for YouTube Create also trail far behind, with only a small percentage of users continuing to use the app after several months.
India has emerged as the strongest market for YouTube Create, driving the bulk of its downloads. However, the company has seen growing adoption in other countries including Indonesia, Brazil, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
This global momentum, combined with the forthcoming iOS launch, may position YouTube to regain ground in a competitive space.
The release also underscores a broader trend: major platforms are no longer content to simply host user-generated content—they increasingly want to be the tools through which it is made.
For YouTube, extending Create to iPhone users could help ensure that more creators stay within its ecosystem from start to finish, rather than turning to third-party apps before uploading their work.
The company has not announced a specific release date for the iOS version.
[READ MORE: Amazon to Spend Billions to Expand Prime Delivery]
