Video editing apps like CapCut have become extremely popular with the rise of video-first social media content. CapCut has 200 million active users as of 2023, according to Time, and it’s a favorite among creators. It’s versatile, has free and paid plans and it’s compatible with social media giant TikTok. But the ByteDance-owned editing app could be banned alongside its sister app TikTok this week.
TikTok has been through a long and convoluted legal battle, with the US government arguing the app is a threat to national security. In January, the US Supreme Court upheld the bipartisan-passed divest-or-sell law signed by former President Biden. Immediately following President Trump’s inauguration, an executive order gave the company a 75-day stay. That holding period expires this week, on Saturday, April 5. And while President Trump has said a deal to sell the app will be made before Saturday, TikTok and CapCut’s futures in the US are still uncertain in the meantime.
That’s why now is a good time for video editors and creators to explore other editing programs. Whether you’re looking for a beginner-friendly program or want to level up your skills, there are good options available. These third-party editing apps are especially useful if you’re planning on sharing a video on multiple platforms — editing in TikTok means you can’t save the video without a watermark, for example.
We’ve rounded up some of the best options below depending on your budget, skill level and operating system. Here are some alternative video-editing programs to use if CapCut gets banned.
For more, check out some of our expert filming tips and favorite filming equipment.
