Nearly two years after debuting exclusively on Android, Google is preparing to launch its YouTube Create video editing app on iOS devices.

Job listings reviewed by TechCrunch confirm that Google is actively recruiting software engineers in Bengaluru, India, to build the iOS version.

YouTube Create was first launched in September 2023 in the U.S. and seven other markets, and expanded to 13 additional countries by February 2024. The app offers free mobile editing tools for YouTube Shorts and long-form videos, including stickers, GIFs, and special effects. It was designed with input from 3,000 creators.

The move to iOS comes as YouTube Create struggles to compete with more established apps like CapCut—owned by ByteDance—and InShot. According to Sensor Tower data, CapCut was downloaded 66 million times on Android in Q2 2025, while InShot reached 21 million downloads. YouTube Create, by contrast, recorded fewer than 500,000 downloads in the same period and has just 4 million total since launch.

User engagement also remains low. YouTube Create has fewer than 1 million monthly active users on Android, compared to CapCut’s 442 million and InShot’s 92 million. On iOS, CapCut dominates with 194 million monthly users, followed by InShot with 25 million.

Still, YouTube Create is showing signs of growth. The app reported a 28% year-over-year increase in monthly active users in Q2—outpacing CapCut’s 9% rise and InShot’s 7% decline.

“While YouTube Create is growing steadily, it’s still dwarfed by CapCut’s massive user base, driven in part by its tight integration with TikTok,” said Sensor Tower analyst Abe Yousef.

Retention remains a challenge, with only 1% of users sticking with the app after 90 days, compared to CapCut’s 7% and InShot’s 4%. However, improvements in user engagement in markets like India and Indonesia signal growing loyalty.

An iOS launch, analysts say, could give YouTube Create a much-needed boost—though intense competition will continue to pose a challenge.