You might've stumbled across CapCut, an app trending in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. It's easy to get influenced by the popularity of a popular app, but should you install it just because it's generated a buzz worldwide? In short, you should ask yourself, is CapCut safe?

You need to learn more about privacy and security features before installing any app, even trending ones. Can you trust CapCut with your personal information? Where does the CapCut app store user data?

What Is CapCut App?

CapCut landing page image from Google Play Store

CapCut is a free video editing app available for both Android and iOS.

As an app, it offers several useful editing features that let you edit videos on your smartphone to share on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and others. However, there are plenty of other video editors for Android and iOS, so why is this particularly more popular?

CapCut app, as a video editor, is not exactly unique. Still, it's easy to use and includes a big music library with exclusive copyrighted songs that you can use for your videos. Additionally, it does not display any advertisements, which many users consider a positive point.

Who Created CapCut?

CapCut is a product of ByteDance—the parent company of TikTok. Since it is a Chinese app, it was originally available only for the Chinese audience in 2019 under the name Jianying.

ByteDance made it available to the rest of the world as CapCut in 2020. In 2021, it successfully made its way to the top charts of the iOS Store and the Google Play Store. Considering the same company behind TikTok has developed it, there are obvious privacy concerns, seeing as many consider TikTok a danger to your security.

What Data Does CapCut Collect About You?

You might be surprised to hear what data apps collect about you. For instance, TikTok's Privacy Policy allows it to collect user biometrics data. Most will have overlooked that section because few consider the inherent terms and conditions.

That's why you need to know what data CapCut collects when you install and use it on your device.

As per Google's Play Store page, the app collects a lot of data about you.

CapCut collects user identifiers like how you use your device, IP address, connection, manufacturer information, etc. It can store contact information, diagnostic information, and user content, each of which can be linked directly to you.

Data collection details for CapCut app

A video editor app does not need personal information to function. But, in this case, CapCut video editor does collect a significant amount of data about you.

If you are comfortable sharing that amount of data, you may continue using it; otherwise, this should raise some eyebrows.

For comparison, you can check the InShot video editor, another popular video editor for iPhones which uses minimal data.

Though identifiers are collected, they're not linked directly to you through diagnostics or usage data.

Things to Keep in Mind Before Using CapCut

The CapCut app is not malicious but does collect your data. However, there are a few privacy pointers that you need to know about:

  • Your data may be stored inside or outside your own country.
  • Data collected through CapCut can be shared across all other services owned by ByteDance, including TikTok.
  • Personal data can be shared with various third-party services.

CapCut maintains that information is collected "to improve, develop and administer [services]. We use your information to ensure your safety."

If curious, you can look at CapCut's privacy policy for more details.

Is Capcut Safe for Kids?

Is CapCut safe for children to use? This is a debatable question, which is on every parent's tongue. The app is not suitable for children younger than 13 years of age; the platform promises to erase the collected data of an underage individual, as soon as they collect the personal statistics during usage. As per the platform:

We shall erase the user’s information in accordance with applicable legislation if we learn that personal information was obtained from a person who was under the required age.

So no, youngsters who aren't yet teenagers shouldn't be using CapCut.

Should You Download CapCut?

There have been no security reports that make the CapCut app a dangerous app to use on your smartphone at the moment.

If the idea of ByteDance collecting your data doesn't bother you, you can consider CapCut safe enough for now. But if you don't want a video editor app to collect your data from your smartphone, it's best to avoid installing it and look for alternatives.