At a glance
- Price: Free plan $0. Pro is $19.99 per month or $179.99 per year in the US on capcut.com.
- What Pro adds: 1,200 AI credits a month, all premium templates, 1 TB of cloud storage, and 4K/60fps and watermark-free export, according to CapCut’s help center.
- Worth it if you generate AI video or lean on Pro-tagged templates every week. Skip it if you cut and caption your own footage.
- Reach: the US App Store shows a 4.6 rating from about 1.1 million ratings, and Google Play lists 1B+ downloads.
How this review was made: we read CapCut’s pricing page, help center, feature pages and store listings on October 27, 2026. We did not test the app, so the verdicts are our reading of those documents.
What does CapCut Pro add over the free app?
| Feature | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Editing tools | Basic editing tools, free templates | Everything in Free |
| Premium templates, effects, fonts, music | Locked behind the Pro icon | All premium templates |
| AI credits | None listed | 1,200 a month |
| AI features | Some tools marketed as free | AI generation, auto captions, motion tracking, AI avatars |
| Export | 4K/60fps and no-watermark options locked, per CapCut help | 4K/60fps and watermark-free export |
| Cloud storage | None (the free 1 GB ended in August 2024) | 1 TB |
| Devices | Phone, desktop and web editors | One subscription on iOS, Android, PC, Mac and web |
The columns come from CapCut’s pricing page, its help pages on Pro prompts (April 2, 2026) and its Standard vs Pro comparison (September 23, 2026). CapCut’s own pages disagree on some details, listed further down.
Is CapCut free?
Yes. The app is free to download and the Free plan costs $0. CapCut sells Pro at $19.99 per month, and a cheaper Standard plan at $9.99 per month on the US App Store.
The catch is export. CapCut’s help center says you can preview Pro items for free, but exporting a project that contains one needs an active Pro subscription (April 2, 2026). Even a single Pro-marked font or sticker counts (March 31, 2026).
The watermark is a separate matter. The help center (March 25, 2026) says it usually comes from a template’s ending clip or a logo layer inside the template, not from the export itself, so deleting that clip often removes it.
Before paying, delete every Pro-marked item from your timeline, as CapCut’s help page suggests, and try the export. If the export works, you did not need Pro for that video.
CapCut AI: which features are worth paying for?
CapCut markets many AI tools as free, while its help pages say AI generation is a Pro feature. The table lists the Shorts-relevant tools and what CapCut says about each.
| AI feature | What CapCut says | Plan status |
|---|---|---|
| Auto captions | Speech recognition in 20+ languages, caption templates | Pro-only per the Standard vs Pro page and a help page (April 3, 2026); the tool page says “sign up for free” |
| AI video generator | Script or reference image to video with Seedance 2.5, avatars, templates | Credit-metered; AI generation listed as Pro |
| Text to speech | 200+ AI voices, custom voice from a short recording | Not stated on the tool page |
| Long video to shorts | “Long video to shorts” under Magic tools in CapCut Online (page dated May 16, 2025) | Not stated |
| Video background removal | Auto removal or chroma key | Marketed as free |
| Camera tracking, AI avatars | Listed under Pro | Pro (help center, April 7, 2026) |
Our reading: captions and AI video are where Pro could pay for itself. Captions matter on every Short, but CapCut’s pages conflict on whether they need Pro, so look for the Pro icon in your own app first. AI video generation is the clearest paid feature, because it burns credits. Tools CapCut calls free, such as background removal, are poor reasons to subscribe.
For a faceless Shorts workflow, see our guide to making an AI video. Dedicated generators and clippers are compared in our AI shorts generators roundup.
How do CapCut AI credits work?
- Pro: 1,200 credits a month. The Pro card says you can generate up to 240 seconds at 720p or 600 seconds at 480p with Seedance 2.0 Mini.
- Ultra: $79 per month for 8,645 credits. That is about 7.2 times Pro’s credits for 3.95 times the price, or roughly $0.009 per credit against $0.017 (our arithmetic).
- Expiry: subscription credits are valid for one subscription month, purchased credits for two years, and subscription credits are spent first.
- Per-second rates: Seedance 2.5 starts at $0.12 per second on Pro, so a 30-second clip starts near $3.60. CapCut marks the rate “first month” and lists no later rate.
- Documentation lags: CapCut’s credit rules page names only two credit-eligible features and says the list will grow. The pricing page is newer.
Does CapCut Pro export in 4K without a watermark?
According to CapCut’s help center (April 2, 2026), 4K/60fps export and no watermark are part of Pro. On desktop, those options appear locked for non-Pro users. A separate page (January 14, 2026) says free accounts may face watermarks or bitrate limits on 4K exports on the web.
Other CapCut pages differ. The Standard vs Pro page says both Standard and Pro users can save 8K video, and a help page says the watermark usually comes from a template’s ending clip. CapCut publishes no resolution cap for Free, so treat any single number you read, including ours, as unverified.
For Shorts, check the pixel specs in our YouTube Shorts size guide before paying for 4K. Watermark-free export is the more useful part.
What does CapCut cost?
CapCut Pro costs $19.99 per month or $179.99 per year in the US on capcut.com, and the US App Store lists Pro Monthly at $19.99 (checked October 27, 2026). Yearly works out to $15.00 a month, which beats monthly billing after about nine months. A PC-only Black Friday sale runs October 20-30, 2026. Prices vary by country and platform, and the full breakdown is on our CapCut pricing page.
Pros
- A usable Free plan with basic editing tools
- 1,200 AI credits and 1 TB of storage in one plan
- Pro works on phone, desktop and web
- Monthly and yearly US prices are published
Cons
- A single Pro-marked asset can lock an export
- Subscription credits expire each month
- No mid-term plan switching, and refunds are generally not supported
- CapCut’s own pages conflict on export limits, Standard and Teams pricing
CapCut Pro vs Standard: what is the difference?
Standard is a cheaper plan sold on the US App Store at $9.99 per month. CapCut’s help center (April 7-8, 2026) describes it as built for casual, mobile editing: about 100 GB of storage, basic AI tools such as AI effects and noise reduction, and blue-diamond items. Pro adds purple-diamond items, auto captions, camera tracking, AI avatars and AI-generated images and video, plus use on desktop and web.
Standard benefits work on the mobile app only, and CapCut says it is offered in certain regions. The web pricing page does not list it, so check your own app before counting on it.
Who should pay for CapCut Pro?
- Stay on Free if you cut, caption and post your own footage. Remove Pro-marked items and see what exports.
- Pay monthly if one project needs AI credits or a Pro template. Cancel at least 24 hours before renewal.
- Pay yearly only if you will use Pro for nine months or more, for example a daily faceless channel.
- Consider Ultra only if you generate AI video at volume. Pro’s card lists up to 240 seconds of 720p generation, about eight 30-second clips (our arithmetic).
- Check the return. No plan guarantees views or income. Read the YouTube Shorts monetization rules before budgeting.
What other guides get wrong: MiraCamp lists Pro at $7.99 per month and $74.99 per year, Pexo lists about 200 AI credits a month, and BIGVU says Pro includes “100 GB+” of storage. CapCut’s pricing page (October 27, 2026) says $19.99 and $179.99, 1,200 credits and 1 TB.
Where do CapCut’s own pages disagree?
CapCut’s official pages contradict each other on several points, so this review states which page each figure comes from.
| Topic | One CapCut page says | Another says |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | “The free version” (Standard vs Pro page) | A paid plan, $9.99 per month (App Store, help center) |
| Storage | 1 TB (pricing page) | 100 GB (Why Pro Prices Vary help page) |
| Export | Standard and Pro can both save 8K (Standard vs Pro page) | 4K/60fps is a Pro feature (help center) |
| Teams | $12.49 per seat for 2 seats (pricing page) | “Around $24.99” (Standard vs Pro page) |
| Auto captions | Free tool page: sign up for free | Pro-only (Standard vs Pro page) |
What are the alternatives for Shorts creators?
| Tool | Free plan | Paid plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube Create | Free, no ads | None | Phone edits for Shorts |
| DaVinci Resolve | Free version | Studio, one-time $295 listed, $236 shown October 27 | Desktop editing and color |
| Descript | 60 media minutes a month, 720p export | Hobbyist $16 per month billed yearly, $24 monthly | Talking-head edits by text |
| OpusClip | 60 credits a month | Starter $15 per month | Clips from long videos |
The full table, with Runway, HeyGen and more, is on our AI video tools price list. YouTube Create requires an Android phone or an iPhone XR or newer on iOS 17.
FAQ
Is CapCut Pro worth it?
It depends on your workflow. The Free plan covers basic cutting and text. Pro is worth paying for if you generate AI video with credits or regularly use Pro-marked templates. We have not tested the app, so this is our reading of CapCut’s published plans.
How much does CapCut Pro cost?
In the US, CapCut Pro costs $19.99 per month or $179.99 per year on capcut.com (checked October 27, 2026). Prices differ by country and platform, so confirm the amount at checkout.
Is CapCut free?
Yes, the app and the Free plan cost $0. Premium templates, AI credits, 1 TB of storage and Pro-only export options need a paid plan. Exporting a project that contains any Pro-marked item requires Pro.
Does CapCut Pro remove the watermark?
CapCut’s help center lists no-watermark export as a Pro feature (April 2, 2026), and it says template ending clips are the usual watermark source. Remove the ending clip first and check the export screen.
What AI features does CapCut Pro include?
CapCut lists 1,200 monthly AI credits, access to AI features such as AI video generation with Seedance, camera tracking, auto captions and AI avatars. CapCut’s pages conflict on which tools need Pro, so look for the Pro icon.
Can I try CapCut Pro for free?
CapCut offers a 7-day trial to eligible new users in supported regions, per its help center (April 2, 2026). It does not appear if you have subscribed before, and CapCut lists no countries.
Is CapCut available in the US?
As of October 27, 2026, the US App Store and Google Play list CapCut, and its pricing page shows US dollar prices. We did not research legal or regulatory status, which can change.
Sources
- CapCut: Pricing, checked October 27, 2026
- CapCut: Black Friday sale, checked October 27, 2026
- CapCut Help: Why Am I Prompted to Purchase CapCut Pro?, checked October 27, 2026
- CapCut Help: Why Am I Prompted to Join CapCut Pro When Exporting?, checked October 27, 2026
- CapCut Help: Why Am I Prompted to Join CapCut Pro When Exporting? (Pro-marked items), checked October 27, 2026
- CapCut Help: Why Am I Prompted to Join CapCut Pro as a Standard User?, checked October 27, 2026
- CapCut Help: How Can I Remove Pro Features from My Project?, checked October 27, 2026
- CapCut Help: How Do I Export 2K/4K Videos in CapCut?, checked October 27, 2026
- CapCut Help: Template Watermark, checked October 27, 2026
- CapCut Help: Standard vs Pro Subscription, checked October 27, 2026
- CapCut Help: CapCut Pro Free Trial, checked October 27, 2026
- CapCut Help: Why Pro Prices Vary, checked October 27, 2026
- CapCut Help: Diamond-Icon Items on Standard, checked October 27, 2026
- CapCut Help: Subscription Across Platforms, checked October 27, 2026
- CapCut: Credit rules, checked October 27, 2026
- CapCut: Standard vs Pro, checked October 27, 2026
- CapCut: AI caption generator, checked October 27, 2026
- CapCut: AI video generator, checked October 27, 2026
- CapCut: Text to speech, checked October 27, 2026
- CapCut: Video background remover, checked October 27, 2026
- CapCut: Long video to short video, checked October 27, 2026
- Apple App Store: CapCut, US, checked October 27, 2026
- Google Play: CapCut, checked October 27, 2026
- Descript: Pricing, checked October 27, 2026
- Blackmagic Design: DaVinci Resolve, checked October 27, 2026
- OpusClip: Pricing, checked October 27, 2026
- YouTube Help: Learn more about YouTube Create, checked October 27, 2026
- MiraCamp (third party): CapCut Pro vs Standard vs Free, checked October 27, 2026 (outdated-price example only)
- Pexo (third party): Is CapCut Free?, checked October 27, 2026 (credit example only)
- BIGVU (third party): CapCut Free vs Pro, checked October 27, 2026 (storage example only)