CapCut Pro vs CapCut Free: Is CapCut Pro PC Worth It?

CapCut is one of the top video editing apps you can use on your computer and phone today.

But the big question is: Is the free version of CapCut good enough, or is it worth paying for the CapCut Pro Plan?

Let’s explore the features of both the free and Pro versions, compare them, and help you decide if the free version meets your needs or if upgrading to the Pro Plan will give you better tools for your video editing projects. So, let’s dive into CapCut Pro vs CapCut Free.

CapCut’s free video editing software packs many features at no cost. You can edit videos on both desktop and mobile devices and save them for use anywhere. While the video preview quality is limited to 720p, the final exported videos can be saved in up to 4k resolution.

One thing to note is that the free version automatically adds a CapCut logo to the end of your video, but you can easily remove it before saving the final product.

CapCut’s free version allows you to create professional-quality videos up to 15 minutes long. However, it excels at making short, dynamic videos, especially for TikTok. The app’s visual and audio library is frequently updated, not just to keep up with trends but also to provide new and easy ways to enhance your videos.

You’ll find hundreds of TikTok templates, filters, and audio options that you can use for free. CapCut also offers featured audio for trending TikTok videos, along with royalty-free music and templates that are ready to customize. If the audio library in CapCut isn’t enough, you can check out other sources for free music downloads.

You can even schedule videos from CapCut to be posted directly on TikTok or save them to your device to upload elsewhere. Just remember that commercial licenses for audio and fonts are limited to use on TikTok and CapCut only, so be cautious if you plan to use your video on other platforms.

CapCut Pro builds on the free version by adding a range of premium features, including special templates, filters, transitions, and audio options. These advanced tools can help your videos stand out, keep up with the latest trends, or even start new ones by giving you unique editing options that aren’t overused.

One of the big advantages of CapCut Pro is that it’s much more affordable than many other premium video editing programs. When compared to Adobe Premiere Pro, CapCut Pro holds its own, offering powerful editing capabilities with an easier learning curve and a much lower price.

CapCut Pro is available through different payment options. You can choose a monthly or annual subscription, or you can pay a one-time fee for a single month of use. This flexibility is great, especially compared to other editing software that often locks you into expensive long-term contracts.

While you can add captions manually in the free version, CapCut Pro offers an automatic captioning feature, which can save a lot of time. This can be especially helpful if you often create videos that need subtitles, making it a feature worth considering.

Although the video quality is the same in both the free and Pro versions, if you want to create high-quality GIFs, CapCut Pro is the better choice, as it offers a higher output quality for GIFs. If you’re not sure when to use a GIF, you might find it helpful to explore how and why they’re useful in different contexts.

Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the features available in CapCut Free and CapCut Pro to help you decide if upgrading to the Pro version is worth it.

Feature	CapCut Free	CapCut Pro
Price	Free.	7-day free trial, then $7.99/month or $9.99 for a one-time month. Annual subscription starts at $74.99.
Templates	Thousands of user-generated templates.	Same templates as the free version; no exclusive Pro-specific templates.
Fonts	Hundreds of fonts, including commercial-use typefaces, basic text presets, and artistic effects.	Extra text templates, additional effects, and toggle for commercial-use fonts.
Audio	Free commercial-use audio for TikTok, with access to all available tracks.	Same as free, plus a vocal isolation feature for clearer audio.
Transitions	Limited selection of transitions.	Full access to all transitions, including trending and creative styles.
AI Features	AI Characters, Product Models, Long-form to Shorts Converter, and Product Photos.	Includes everything for free, plus Script to Video, Text to Design, and Ad Script Generator.
Image Editing	Text-to-Image, Image-to-Image, 17+ filters, and background remover.	Adds Batch Editing, Old Photo Restoration, Portrait Generator, and more advanced tools.
Color Grading	Basic tools like HSL, Curves, and AI color correction.	Same tools as the free version.
Scheduler	Free for all users, allowing scheduled posts.	Same scheduling feature as the free version.
Brand Kit	Tools for consistent branding across videos.	Same branding tools as the free version.
Captions	Manual captions, highlights, and browser-only auto-captions.	Auto-captions, bilingual captions, filler word identification, and extra design presets.
Storage	1GB of Cloud Storage, expandable by completing small tasks.	100GB of Cloud Storage.
Platform Support	Available on Browser, Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.	Available on Browser, Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.
Download Quality	Video: 480p, 720p, 1080p, 2k/4k. GIF: 240p.	Video: Same as free, GIF: Higher quality options at 320p and 640p.

CapCut’s Beta features, which focus mainly on AI-based tools in the image editing section, are currently accessible to free users. However, these features are not officially listed as free, meaning they might only be available to Pro users once they exit the Beta phase.

As of now, you might find some Beta features available for free through CapCut’s browser version, but these may not be accessible on the desktop or mobile apps.

It’s also important to note that access to these features can vary depending on where you live. In some regions, certain features might be available for free, while in other areas, they could be locked behind the Pro version. During my research, I noticed that some users could access features for free, but people in other parts of the world reported that the same features were only available with a CapCut Pro subscription.

This regional difference in feature access means that what’s free for one user might not be free for another, so it’s always good to check which features are available to you. You should learn about how to edit the text in the CapCut template.

Right now, you can unlock CapCut Pro features for $9.99 a month. If you prefer a longer commitment, there’s an option to pay about $89.99 upfront for a full year, which ends up being more cost-effective.

When you look at what CapCut Pro offers compared to other professional video editing software, it gives you a lot of bang for your buck. You get a solid set of advanced tools without having to deal with the hefty monthly fees that other programs might charge.

CapCut’s free version is packed with so many features that it can hold its own against some professional video editors. The primary advantage of going Pro is the wider range of transition animations, filters, and the inclusion of advanced AI tools.

Deciding whether CapCut Pro is worth it depends on how you use the app. For many users, the free version provides more than enough transitions and filters to create impressive videos without the need to upgrade. You can still produce high-quality content without the Pro features.

One unique aspect of CapCut Pro is its option for a one-time monthly subscription. This allows you to access the premium tools only when you need them, rather than committing to a long-term subscription. This flexibility is great if you want to experiment with the Pro features or if you have a specific project in mind that requires them.

In conclusion, CapCut’s free version is powerful on its own, and for most users, it might be all you need. However, the one-off monthly Pro subscription can be a smart choice if you want to try out the advanced features without a long-term commitment.

Ultimately, whether you stick with CapCut’s free version or upgrade to Pro depends on your needs and how much you want to invest in your video projects. The free version already offers powerful tools, but the Pro features can take your editing to the next level. If you’re serious about enhancing your videos, CapCut Pro might be worth the investment.

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