CapCut
Cappy’s Quick Take
| At a glance | Details |
|---|---|
| What it is | A free video editor for social media with templates, auto captions and AI tools |
| Pricing | Freemium · Standard $9.99/month (mobile) · Pro $19.99/month or $179.99/year · prices vary by region |
| Free plan | Yes, a full editor; Pro templates, effects and assets add a watermark or need Pro to export |
| Works with | Built for TikTok, YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels formats |
| Best for | Creators who make short social videos and want a capable free editor |
| Cappy Score | 4.4/5 |
What is CapCut?
CapCut is a video editor from ByteDance, the company behind TikTok. It runs on phones, desktop and the web, and it’s best known for making short social videos quickly with templates, effects and auto captions.
The free plan is a full editor, which is why it’s so popular. Paid plans unlock premium templates and effects, more AI tools, more cloud storage and higher-quality exports.
In 2026 CapCut split its paid offer: the old Pro became Standard, a mobile-focused plan, and a new Pro plan with 1,200 AI credits a month and 1 TB of storage now costs about twice as much.
Key features
- Multi-track editor: edit on a full timeline on mobile, desktop or web.
- Templates: start from trending templates sized for TikTok, Shorts and Reels.
- Auto captions: generate captions in many languages and style them.
- Background removal: cut out people or objects without a green screen (Pro for the full toolkit).
- AI generation: create images and short video clips with AI credits on Pro.
- Cloud storage and Teams: sync projects across devices and edit together on Teams.
Pricing plans
| Plan | Price | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Everyday editing with free templates and effects |
| Standard | $9.99/month (US App Store, monthly only) | Mobile users who want paid features without full Pro; not on CapCut’s web pricing page |
| Pro | $19.99/month, or $179.99/year (about $15/month) | Regular creators who want all Pro assets, 4K export, 1,200 AI credits a month and 1 TB of storage |
| Teams | From $12.49/seat/month | Small teams that share projects and assets |
| Ultra | Higher tier for heavy AI generation | Creators whose AI use regularly runs past Pro’s credits |
Which plan should you pick? Most people should start on Free, which covers standard edits. Choose Pro on yearly billing if you use Pro templates, need 4K or use AI tools often. Standard only makes sense if you edit on your phone.
CapCut free plan: what you get
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Editor | Full timeline on mobile, desktop and web |
| Watermark | Not on standard edits; Pro assets add one or need Pro to export |
| AI tools | Limited use |
| 4K export | May be watermarked or bitrate-limited on web |
The catch: The watermark appears when your project uses anything marked Pro, which is easy to do by accident. Prices also vary by region and app store, and CapCut isn’t available in some countries, including India.
Who is CapCut for?
- TikTok and Reels creators: edit short vertical videos quickly with templates.
- Social media managers: produce captioned clips for several brands.
- Beginners: learn editing on a free, capable tool.
- Small teams: share projects and assets on Teams.
Consider something else if you edit mostly long interviews or podcasts, or you live in a country where CapCut isn’t available.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Very capable free editor
- Works on phone, desktop and web
- Huge library of social templates and effects
- Fast auto captions
Cons
- Pro assets trigger a watermark on free exports
- Pro price roughly doubled in 2026
- Prices vary by region and app store
- Not available in some countries, including India
CapCut alternatives
| Tool | Why consider it |
|---|---|
| Descript | Edit talking-head video and podcasts by editing the transcript |
| Clipchamp | Microsoft’s free editor with watermark-free 1080p exports |
| Kapwing | Collaborative browser editor with AI subtitles and dubbing |
| OpusClip | Turns long videos into short, captioned clips automatically |
Compare them all side by side in our AI Video Editors list.
How to get started with CapCut
- Download CapCut on your phone or computer, or open the web editor.
- Start a new project or pick a template sized for your platform.
- Add auto captions and trim your clips on the timeline.
- Check for Pro labels before exporting, then export and post.
Tip: Before exporting on the free plan, look for the Pro badge on any template, effect or font you used. Swap those out to avoid the watermark.
Frequently asked questions
Is CapCut free?
Yes. CapCut’s free plan is a full editor, and standard edits export without a watermark. Projects that use Pro templates, effects or assets need Pro to export cleanly.
How much does CapCut Pro cost?
Pro costs $19.99 a month or $179.99 a year in the US, about $15 a month on yearly billing. Prices vary by region and app store.
What’s the difference between CapCut Standard and Pro?
Standard is a cheaper, mobile-focused plan sold in app stores at $9.99 a month in the US. Pro works across mobile, desktop and web and adds 4K export, the full AI toolkit, 1,200 AI credits a month and 1 TB of storage.
Is CapCut available in India?
No. CapCut has been blocked in India since 2020, so Indian users need an alternative such as Descript, Clipchamp, Kapwing or OpusClip.