CapCut
Video editor from ByteDance with templates, auto captions and AI effects across mobile, desktop and web.
Overview
CapCut is a video editor developed by ByteDance, the company behind TikTok, and it is available on iOS, Android, Windows, macOS and the web. It combines a conventional timeline editor with a very large library of trend-driven templates, transitions, effects, music and stock media, plus AI tools such as automatic captions, text-to-speech, background removal and script-to-video generation. Projects sync across devices, and there is a direct publishing path to TikTok and YouTube.
It is used mostly by social media creators, small ecommerce brands making product clips and marketers who need fast vertical video. The free tier is unusually generous for basic editing, which explains its reach.
Most AI features, premium effects, higher export settings and cloud storage sit behind the CapCut Pro subscription, which is billed per user and varies by region. Many of the AI tools consume credits even on Pro. Two things are worth checking before adopting it professionally: its terms of service around content rights have drawn criticism, and its ByteDance ownership led to a brief removal from US app stores in early 2025. Serious color grading, multicam and advanced audio work are better served by a dedicated professional editor.
Key features
AI
- AI content generation
Getting started
- Templates
Platforms
- Mobile app
- Desktop app
Video
- Text to video
- AI voiceover
- Stock media library
- Auto subtitles & captions
Design
- Background removal
- Photo editing
Writing
- Multi-language support
- Integrations
- TikTok, YouTube
- Platforms
- Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
Pros & cons
Strengths
- Generous free tier with a full timeline editor and no watermark on most exports
- Huge template, effect and music library tuned to short-form trends
- Works across phone, desktop and browser with cloud project sync
- Auto captions and text-to-speech are quick and usable
Limitations
- Many AI tools and premium assets require Pro or consume credits
- Terms of service on content rights have drawn criticism from professionals
- ByteDance ownership brings regulatory uncertainty in some markets
- Limited professional-grade color, audio and multicam tools
Pricing
Freemium. Core editor is free; CapCut Pro is approximately $10/month billed monthly or less on an annual plan, with prices varying by region and app store, and some AI features use credits on top.
Free
Free
Full timeline editor with a large free asset library.
- Timeline editing, templates and effects
- Auto captions and basic text-to-speech
- Watermark-free exports for most projects
CapCut Pro
Popular$9.99/mo
Unlocks premium assets, AI tools and cloud storage; price is approximate and varies by region.
- Premium templates, effects and stock media
- AI tools such as background removal and upscaling (some use credits)
- Cloud storage and cross-device project sync
- Discounted annual billing available
Prices are listed in USD and can change. Confirm current pricing on the vendor's website.
Best for
A good fit if you are
- TikTok, Reels and Shorts creators
- Small ecommerce brands making quick product clips
- Beginners who want a free editor with templates
Not ideal if you
- Agencies or enterprises with strict data and IP policies
- Long-form or broadcast-quality post-production
Compared in these shortlists
CapCut alternatives
See all alternativesUser reviews
No user reviews yet
The rating above is VERILO's editorial assessment. User reviews for CapCut will appear here once they are collected and moderated.
CapCut
From $9.99/mo · Free plan