Try Cubix if…
- You edit on a Windows PC, or want a browser-based editor on your Mac.
- You like to describe an edit and revise it, with the timeline there for precise changes.
- You are happy to download the export and post it yourself.
Desktop alternative · Instagram Edits
An Instagram Edits desktop alternative for your footage
Instagram Edits has a free desktop app for Apple-silicon Macs (M1 or later), but no Windows version, according to Meta. Cubix is an alternative for editing your own footage in a desktop browser on Windows or Mac: describe the edit, review it and refine the timeline.
Cubix is an independent editor, not a Meta or Instagram product. It does not open Edits projects or publish to Instagram for you.
Desktop availabilityChecked November 10, 2026
| Computer | Edits desktop | Cubix |
|---|---|---|
| Mac with Apple silicon | Free download | Desktop browser |
| Windows PC | Not available | Desktop browser |
Example brief in Cubix
“Make a vertical recap from these clips. Keep the spoken opening and shorten the B-roll.”
Then: “Keep the full last sentence and hold the closing shot longer.”
Where Edits runs, and what it does
From Meta’s Edits desktop page. Edits is a capable editor; this is about whether it fits the computer you use and the way you like to work.
- Mac
- A free download for Macs with Apple silicon (M1 or later).
- Windows
- Not available. “Edits on desktop is only available on macOS.”
- Editing
- A multi-track timeline with keyframes, audio waveforms for beat-accurate cuts, and colour wheels and curves.
- Captions
- Unlimited automatic captions.
- Export and publishing
- 4K export with no watermark, and publishing directly to Instagram.
- Account
- Signing in with Instagram keeps your projects with you and lets you share without leaving the app.
Source: Meta, “Edits for Desktop” and its FAQ, checked November 10, 2026.
Direct the edit, then revise it
An example of the way Cubix works with your own footage: describe the edit, check the first pass, then ask for a specific change. The timeline is always there for precise adjustments.
1First request
“Make a vertical recap from these clips. Keep the spoken opening and shorten the B-roll.”
Check the first pass
- The frame is vertical, with faces and any text inside it.
- The spoken opening is complete, with no clipped first word.
- The B-roll is shorter without losing what it shows.
2Revision
“Keep the full last sentence and hold the closing shot longer.”
Check the revision
- The last sentence ends on its final word.
- The closing shot holds long enough to land.
A specific revision is easier to check than “make it better”. If a request lands differently than you meant, change it on the timeline: see how to cut, trim and reorder clips.
Illustration · an editing brief and revision to adapt, not an executed result. Check on the timeline what was actually applied.
Compare the desktop workflow
Edits rows are from Meta’s desktop page; Cubix rows from Cubix feature and help pages. No row is a runtime test of either product.
Swipe across the table to see both columns.
| Decision | Cubix | Instagram Edits desktop |
|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | A desktop browser on Windows or Mac; the full editor is designed for desktop and laptop browsers. Cubix documentation | Mac with Apple silicon (M1 or later). Not available on Windows. Meta Edits desktop page |
| Price and account | Explore the editor before choosing a plan. Plans, trial availability and billing are on the pricing page. Cubix pricing page | Free download on macOS. Meta Edits desktop FAQ |
| How you edit | Describe changes in an editing request or make them on the editable timeline. Workflows such as Beat Edits and Social Clips start a first pass. Cubix feature pages | Multi-track timeline with keyframes, audio waveforms for beat-accurate cuts, colour wheels and curves. Meta Edits desktop page |
| Captions | Generate captions, then fix the text and choose a caption style. Cubix help | Unlimited automatic captions. Meta Edits desktop page |
| Export and publishing | Export options depend on your plan. Download the file and post it yourself; direct Instagram publishing is not a documented Cubix feature. Cubix pricing page | 4K export with no watermark; publish directly to Instagram. Meta Edits desktop page |
| Projects and media | Start from your original footage. Edits projects do not import into Cubix. Cubix scope | Signing in with Instagram keeps your projects with you. Meta Edits desktop FAQ |
Meta facts as published on its Edits desktop page; check the current page before relying on them. Nothing here is a benchmark.
Sources checked November 10, 2026: Meta: Edits for Desktop (Desktop page and FAQ) · Cubix editing requests (Feature page) · Cut, trim and reorder clips (Cubix help) · Add and edit captions (Cubix help)
Which Cubix workflow fits your footage?
Cubix has no special “Edits mode”. Start from the existing workflow that matches what you filmed.
Shots that should move with music
Beat Edits times your clips to a track and leaves the cuts editable.
A long recording you want short clips from
Social Clips suggests separate candidate clips for you to review.
A spoken video or a specific change
Describe the edit you want, then refine it with follow-up requests or on the timeline.
Which one fits how you work?
Stay with Instagram Edits if…
- You are on an Apple-silicon Mac and want a free desktop app.
- You want to publish straight to Instagram without downloading.
- You rely on Instagram’s audio libraries and your existing Edits projects.
Instagram Edits is Meta’s product; Cubix is an independent alternative. Start in Cubix from your original footage; Edits projects cannot be imported.
Instagram Edits desktop alternative: FAQs
Is Instagram Edits available on Windows?
Not on desktop. Meta’s Edits desktop page says Edits on desktop is only available on macOS. Cubix runs in a desktop browser, so you can edit with it on a Windows PC.
Does Instagram Edits have a Mac app?
Yes. Meta says Edits is a free download for Macs with Apple silicon (M1 or later), with a multi-track timeline, keyframes and colour grading.
Is Cubix an official Edits app or download?
No. Cubix is an independent video editor. It is not made by Meta or Instagram and is not a version of Edits.
Can I import my Edits projects into Cubix?
No. Start from your original footage in Cubix. Edits projects stay in Edits.
How do I revise my edit in Cubix?
Ask for a specific change, such as keeping the full last sentence or holding the closing shot longer, or make it yourself on the timeline. Check what was applied before you export.
Can Cubix publish to Instagram, and what does exporting require?
Plan on downloading your export and posting it to Instagram yourself; direct publishing is an Edits feature. You can explore the Cubix editor before choosing a plan, and plans, trial availability, export options and billing are on the pricing page.
Edit your footage on Windows or Mac.
Bring your clips to Cubix in a desktop browser, direct the edit and refine it before you export.
Edit my video on desktopCUBIX