X Adds Native Video Editor to iOS App in Push to Compete with TikTok

X has rolled out a built-in video editor and recording tool for its iOS app, marking the latest effort by the platform formerly known as Twitter to compete with video-centric social networks like TikTok. The feature was announced by Nikita Bier, X’s head of product, on Tuesday.

The new editor arrives as part of X’s broader strategy to incentivize original content creation on the platform rather than the reposting of clips sourced from elsewhere. “One of our biggest priorities is to give creators the tools to create original content & reward those creators,” Bier wrote in a post on X.

What the Video Editor Offers

The in-app video editor includes several features designed to make mobile content creation more accessible. Users can add overlay captions in multiple languages with customizable styling, and there’s a green screen feature for replacing or altering video backgrounds — a staple of TikTok-style short-form video creation.

Bier noted that more updates to the video editor are expected “in the coming weeks,” suggesting this initial launch is just the beginning of X’s investment in native creation tools.

Part of a Larger Video Push

The video editor is the latest in a series of updates that signal X’s ambitions in the video space. Last month, the platform introduced a video reaction function, and it set aside $1 million in payouts for live video streamers — directly chasing features that have made TikTok and YouTube the dominant platforms for creators.

In April, Bier stated that X now reduces the visibility of reposts and content originating from other platforms. “I recommend recording original videos with your own voice over,” he wrote in a reply to one user. “We want net new content on the app.”

What About Android?

While the video editor is currently exclusive to iOS, TechCrunch noted that X is in the process of rebuilding its Android app from the ground up. It seems likely the video editor will make its way to Android users once that rebuild is complete.

A Dual Purpose: Content and AI Training

There’s another layer to X’s video push. Encouraging more original video content on the platform doesn’t just benefit user engagement — it also feeds Grok, xAI’s large language model, which trains on public content posted to X. More high-quality original videos mean more training data for the company’s AI ambitions.

What This Means for Creators

For creators already on X, the built-in editor eliminates the need to use third-party apps for basic video editing tasks like captioning and background effects. Combined with the platform’s recent creator monetization initiatives, the tool could make X a more compelling destination for video content creators looking for alternatives to TikTok and Instagram Reels.

As X continues its transformation under Elon Musk’s ownership, the addition of native creative tools signals that video — and the creators who make it — will remain central to the platform’s roadmap.

Photo by LoboStudioHamburg on Pixabay