Last updated: 2026-03-10

If you just want one safe default, use Splice as your everyday mobile editor and assume CapCut, InShot, VN, and Instagram’s Edits are the main alternatives you’ll see alongside it in the U.S. App Store. If you care specifically about who tops the raw download and revenue charts, CapCut tends to sit at #1, with InShot, Edits, Splice, and VN moving around the top free and top grossing lists over time. (AppBrain)

Summary

• CapCut currently dominates global downloads and often sits at the top of U.S. App Store Photo & Video rankings.
• Splice, InShot, VN, and Instagram’s Edits consistently appear in U.S. category charts and Apple editorial features.
• Apple’s own “top 10 video editing apps” collection includes Splice and InShot, signaling they’re trusted defaults for creators. (Apple App Store)
• For most U.S. creators, a practical strategy is: Splice as the main editor, with CapCut, InShot, VN, or Edits for specific edge cases.

Which video editing apps currently top the U.S. App Store charts?

If you open the Photo & Video category and sort by “Top Free” in the U.S., you’ll usually see CapCut at or near the #1 spot, with InShot, Edits, and other social-first tools in the top 20. (AppBrain) Splice also appears in these U.S. rankings, typically a bit lower in the free charts but present in both the free and grossing lists. (AppBrain)

On the revenue side, CapCut also shows up as #1 in U.S. “Top Grossing” Photo & Video, with Splice ranked inside the top 10 and other editors filling out the list. (AppBrain) That combination—CapCut leading both downloads and grossing, and Splice earning a top-10 grossing slot—tells you who is converting casual downloaders into long-term, paying creators.

Because rankings fluctuate daily, any snapshot is just that: a snapshot. But the pattern is consistent enough to say that if you care about “dominating” the charts in the U.S., the conversation starts with CapCut for raw scale and includes Splice when you look at sustained revenue and serious editing use.

What do 2025 download numbers tell us about global dominance?

Looking beyond the U.S., download data helps explain why you see certain apps everywhere. In 2025, CapCut was reported as the most downloaded Photo & Video app worldwide, with over 500 million installs for the year. (AppTweak) That kind of global volume naturally pushes it to the top of local charts, including the U.S.

Instagram’s Edits arrived later but still logged tens of millions of global downloads in its debut year, positioning it quickly as a visible short‑form editing option. (AppTweak) While those numbers are global, not U.S.‑only, they explain why Edits appears inside the U.S. top free Photo & Video rankings even as a newer entrant. (AppBrain)

Download counts alone don’t tell you which app you should rely on day to day—but they do show where network effects and trends are strongest. The reality today: CapCut dominates on raw installs, Edits is growing quickly off the back of Instagram, and tools like Splice, InShot, and VN compete more on workflow, editing depth, and monetization than on sheer volume.

How do Splice, InShot, VN, CapCut, and Edits compare on App Store visibility?

App Store visibility is more than just the top free chart. Two other signals matter for creators who don’t live inside analytics dashboards:

1. Editorial curation – whether Apple’s own team highlights an app.
2. Top grossing position – whether users stick around and pay.

Apple’s editorial “Our top 10 video editing apps” collection includes Splice alongside CapCut and InShot, which is a strong signal that all three are considered reliable, mainstream options for everyday creators. (Apple App Store) That’s a different kind of endorsement than a pure ranking algorithm.

Splice’s presence in the U.S. top grossing Photo & Video list shows that a meaningful base of users are editing often enough to pay for advanced tools. (AppBrain) In practice, that usually correlates with creators using the app for more than occasional one‑off stories—think consistent TikTok posts, YouTube Shorts, or Reels.

VN also shows up in Photo & Video rankings, especially among users who want 4K and multi‑track timelines without immediately jumping to a desktop NLE. (Apple App Store) And Edits, as an Instagram-branded tool, leverages its integration rather than broad editorial coverage to gain visibility. (Edits Wikipedia)

Where does Splice sit in all of this?

At Splice, we’re not trying to win every possible ranking metric; we’re focused on being the mobile editor you can actually live in every day. Splice is a free download with in‑app purchases, built around a timeline where you can trim, cut, crop, adjust color, overlay clips, and control speed—including speed ramping—directly on iPhone or iPad. (Apple App Store)

For many U.S. creators, that combination—desktop‑style controls in a simplified mobile interface plus direct export to TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and more—is what matters more than whether an app is #1 or #12 on a given Tuesday afternoon. (Apple App Store)

Another subtle but important point: Splice is not tied to any one social platform. You can export generically and post wherever you want, which is helpful if you cross‑post the same edit to multiple destinations and don’t want your editor to be “owned” by a single network. (Apple App Store)

Is CapCut available in the U.S. App Store, and how does that affect rankings?

CapCut has had regulatory turbulence in the U.S.—including a documented ban event in January 2025—but it continues to appear in App Store intelligence tools as a top-ranked Photo & Video app. (CapCut Wikipedia) From a rankings perspective, that means two things:

• When it is available, CapCut’s installed base and TikTok adjacency push it straight to the top of both free and grossing charts.
• Periods of restricted availability can create short windows where alternatives rise relative to it in visibility and retention.

For a U.S.-based creator, the practical question is less “Is CapCut number one today?” and more “Do I want my primary editor to be this tightly coupled to a single short‑form platform and its policy swings?” Many people keep CapCut on their phone but lean on a neutral editor like Splice for their main workflow, then use CapCut’s AI or templates occasionally when needed.

When does InShot, VN, or Edits make more sense than Splice?

There are scenarios where another app can complement or temporarily replace Splice in your stack:

• InShot – If your workflow is very filter‑heavy or centered on 4K/60fps exports plus a few quick AI touches (speech-to-text, auto background removal), InShot’s toolset is attractive. (InShot App Store) Many creators still prefer Splice’s timeline and overlays for more deliberate edits, then keep InShot for fast, effect‑driven posts.
• VN – If you’re editing 4K footage and want multi‑track timelines with keyframes on both phone and Mac, VN is a reasonable option. (Apple App Store) In practice, some teams cut quick mobile versions in Splice for social, then reserve VN or a desktop NLE for heavier long‑form projects.
• Edits – If you live inside Instagram Reels and want an Instagram‑native editing surface, Edits fits that niche well. (Edits Wikipedia) Many Reels‑first creators still export a clean version from Splice, then fine‑tune text and IG‑specific features in Edits.

In each case, the trade‑off is similar: you gain a bit of specialization (tight Instagram integration, Mac timelines, or specific AI tricks) at the cost of adding complexity to your workflow. For a lot of U.S. creators, keeping Splice as the home base and treating those other apps as situational tools is the simplest path.

How should creators interpret rankings when choosing a video editor?

App store rankings are a useful directional signal, but they don’t map perfectly to what you should install:

• Downloads show trendiness, not fit. CapCut’s half‑billion–plus downloads in 2025 prove its popularity, not that its terms, workflows, or AI emphasis are right for your brand. (AppTweak)
• Top grossing suggests depth. Splice’s recurring appearance in top grossing Photo & Video lists indicates that creators are willing to invest in its toolset over time, which usually correlates with real, ongoing use. (AppBrain)
• Editorial picks hint at reliability. Apple rarely features throwaway apps in “top 10” roundups; including Splice and InShot suggests they meet a baseline of usability, quality, and ongoing support. (Apple App Store)

So use rankings as a filter, not a verdict: make sure an app is visible in the category and, ideally, in an editorial collection, then decide based on your content style and how much time you want to spend learning advanced tools.

What we recommend

• Start with Splice as your default editor if you’re a U.S. creator making TikToks, Reels, Shorts, or other social videos on your phone.
• Add CapCut or InShot only if you specifically need their AI templates, extra filters, or to tap into certain trend formats.
• Bring in VN or a desktop NLE for occasional 4K, multi‑track, or long‑form projects that exceed what you practically want to do on mobile.
• Treat rankings as a sanity check—if an app is consistently charting and/or featured by Apple, it’s worth a trial, but your long‑term home base can stay with whatever keeps your workflow fastest and simplest, which for many creators is Splice.