- Google is developing an iOS version of its YouTube Create video editing app, nearly two years after its Android launch, and is hiring engineers in India for the project.
- YouTube Create has significantly fewer downloads and monthly active users compared to major competitors like CapCut and InShot, but it’s showing steady year-over-year user growth.
- Despite low retention rates and user engagement metrics, the app may be building a more loyal user base as returning users increase.
- The app’s user base, once dominated by India, is becoming more globally distributed, with notable growth in countries like Spain, South Korea, France, and Singapore.
Google is gearing up to release its mobile video editing app, YouTube Create, for iOS users, nearly two years after its Android debut. The company has begun hiring software engineers in Bengaluru, India, to work on the iOS version of the app, signaling a major push to expand its reach across mobile platforms.
YouTube Create was first launched in September 2023 across eight countries, including the United States. By early 2024, the app had rolled out to an additional 13 markets. Designed specifically for video creators, the app offers a suite of free editing tools, including effects, GIFs, stickers, and transitions.
It caters to both short-form content like YouTube Shorts and longer videos, offering a mobile-first editing experience informed by feedback from thousands of creators.
Falling Behind in a Competitive Market
Despite its potential, YouTube Create has struggled to compete with industry leaders like CapCut and InShot. On Android devices, CapCut saw a staggering 66 million downloads in the second quarter of 2025, followed by InShot with 21 million.
In comparison, YouTube Create has received fewer than 500,000 downloads in the same time frame, totaling just 4 million downloads since its launch.
Monthly user engagement further illustrates the gap. CapCut leads with over 442 million monthly active users, while InShot has 92 million. YouTube Create, in stark contrast, has fewer than 1 million active users. These numbers show the scale of the challenge Google faces as it attempts to carve out space in a crowded video editing market.
On iOS, the competitive pressure is just as intense. CapCut boasts 194 million monthly active users on Apple devices. InShot follows with 25 million. CapCut and Instagram’s native editing tools also lead in iOS downloads for the current quarter, at 28 million and 7 million, respectively.
Signs of Growth Despite Struggles
Although YouTube Create is far behind its competitors in raw numbers, it is showing some encouraging growth trends. The app recorded a 28 percent year-over-year increase in monthly active users in the second quarter of 2025. By comparison, CapCut grew by 9 percent, while InShot saw a 7 percent decline in the same period.
Analysts believe this may indicate growing loyalty among YouTube Create users. While downloads have slowed, the number of people actively using the app is on the rise. This suggests that users who initially tried the app are now returning more consistently.
However, the app still faces major hurdles. YouTube Create’s 90-day user retention rate was just 1 percent in the first quarter of 2025. CapCut managed a 7 percent retention rate, while InShot held onto 4 percent of users over the same period. Average time spent in the app is also lower.
YouTube Create users spend about 38 minutes per month editing videos, compared to 62 minutes for CapCut users. CapCut users also open the app nearly twice as often, with 23 sessions per month compared to YouTube Create’s 11.
Expanding Global Reach
YouTube Create’s user base, while still heavily concentrated in India, is becoming more globally distributed. In 2024, Indian users made up 67 percent of the app’s monthly active users.
That number has dropped to 51 percent in 2025 as new markets emerge. Daily-to-monthly active user ratios in India have improved from 9 percent to 12 percent, suggesting stronger engagement among existing users.
Indonesia has become the app’s second-largest market, accounting for 21 percent of global users. Germany, Brazil, and the United Kingdom also rank among the top five markets.
Several countries are seeing strong year-over-year growth, including Spain with a 119 percent increase in monthly active users, followed by South Korea at 91 percent, France at 89 percent, and Singapore at 71 percent.
What the Future Holds
Bringing YouTube Create to iOS could provide a much-needed boost to the app’s adoption and engagement. With millions of potential users on Apple devices and strong competition already dominating that space, Google’s expansion into iOS is both timely and critical.
Still, the road ahead will be challenging. CapCut’s integration with TikTok gives it a powerful advantage, while apps like InShot continue to maintain solid user retention and engagement. For YouTube Create to succeed, it will need to build on its current momentum, address retention issues, and offer compelling features that can win over creators on all platforms.
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