Is a US version of CapCut on the way as well?
After news that ByteDance is working on a US version of TikTok, the same could be coming for CapCut.
A US-based version of CapCut could be on the way, as pressure builds for ByteDance to separate its American apps from Chinese ownership. Known for powering creative video content across TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, CapCut has become a go-to editing tool for millions of people. Now, like TikTok itself, it may be getting a US-specific reboot.
As Digital Music News reports, documents seen by Business Insider suggest that ByteDance is preparing to launch a separate app designed to meet the requirements of the US government’s divest-or-ban legislation. This comes as TikTok’s future in the country remains uncertain under pressure from US lawmakers.
ByteDance has already faced intense legal and political scrutiny over TikTok, and the situation escalated when the divest-or-ban law passed in 2024. Although the company challenged the law in court, it lost the case in the Supreme Court earlier this year. Since then, President Trump has granted ByteDance several extensions to find a buyer for TikTok and avoid a complete shutdown.
There has been much speculation around possible buyers of TikTok, though no official deal has been reached as yet. Trump recently revealed on Fox News that he’d found buyers – a group of “very wealthy people” – but approval from the Chinese government is still outstanding. Additional complications come from rising US-China trade tensions, slowing negotiations.
CapCut, unlike some of ByteDance’s other apps like Lemon8 and Gauth, enjoys widespread popularity. The editing app has been downloaded over a billion times on Google Play and is currently top-ranked in the photo and video category of Apple’s US App Store. Its easy-to-use templates and viral video tools have helped users create content not just on TikTok, but Instagram and Youtube Shorts as well.
What’s still unclear is how a US version of CapCut would function. Would it still allow access to global templates and content? Would it include the same editing features and algorithmic recommendations? The same questions that surround TikTok’s future.
The question of reception and adoption would also remain. While a March 2026 shutdown of the existing TikTok app in the US would likely encourage users to switch over to a new version, nothing guarantees they’ll stay loyal. Other tech companies are attempting to pull creators in by launching their own CapCut-style tool, like Meta with it’s new Instagram Edits tool.
So far, ByteDance hasn’t confirmed whether all of its US-facing apps will be split from their global versions. But with CapCut and TikTok being the most visible, they’re likely the company’s main focus for now. Whether a reworked CapCut US can match the success of the original remains to be seen.