CapCut is a free video and photo editing app built by ByteDance, the company behind TikTok. It combines a traditional timeline editor with a growing set of AI tools for captions, voiceovers, background removal, and text-to-video generation. It's aimed at social media creators, small marketing teams, and anyone making short-form video for YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok who wants professional results without a steep learning curve.
What does CapCut do?
CapCut works as both a desktop application and a browser-based editor, plus mobile apps for iOS and Android. At its core it's a clip-trimming, layering, and transition tool, similar to other consumer video editors, but its AI layer does a lot of the manual work: it can generate auto captions from spoken audio, remove a video or image background in one click, upscale low-resolution footage, and turn a script or set of photos into a finished video with its AI video generator.
The company also builds out from video into a broader creative suite. Its Dreamina and Pippit tools handle AI image generation and marketing-style content, and CapCut itself now includes an AI Design tool for social posts and covers, plus a text-to-speech engine with custom AI voices for narration and dubbing.
Because CapCut grew out of TikTok's internal editing tools, its templates and effects are tuned for short vertical video. That makes it a natural fit for creators publishing to Reels, Shorts, and TikTok, though the desktop and web versions also support standard widescreen exports for YouTube and ads.
Core features
- Timeline-based video editor with trimming, transitions, layering, and keyframe animation, available on desktop, web, and mobile.
- AI auto caption generator that transcribes spoken audio and adds styled subtitles automatically.
- One-click background remover for both video and still images, with no watermark on the free tier.
- AI video generator that turns text prompts, images, or keyframes into new video clips.
- Text-to-speech and AI voice-over tools with a library of natural-sounding voices for narration.
- Audio cleanup tools including background noise reduction and voice enhancement.
- A large library of ready-made templates for social platforms, business promos, and seasonal content.
- Image tools such as resolution upscaling, resizing, and an AI-based photo editor for quick touch-ups.
Use cases
Social media managers use CapCut to batch-produce short clips for multiple platforms without hiring a video editor, leaning on templates and auto captions to keep a consistent posting schedule. Small business owners use it to turn product photos and short clips into promotional videos and ads, using the background remover and AI image generator to create clean visuals without a studio.
Podcasters and YouTubers use the audio tools to clean up voice recordings, generate captions for accessibility, and extract audio for separate podcast feeds, while the AI video generator gives solo creators a way to fill gaps in footage without a reshoot.
Pricing
CapCut is free to download and use, with core editing, templates, and several AI tools included at no cost and no credit card required to start. A paid CapCut Pro subscription unlocks more AI generation credits, additional premium templates and effects, higher export and cloud storage limits, and early access to new AI features. Exact Pro plan pricing varies by region and billing cycle and is set on CapCut's own pricing page rather than being a single fixed global rate.
How to use CapCut
- Create a free CapCut account and choose desktop, web, or mobile depending on where you want to edit.
- Start a new project and import your video clips, photos, or audio, or pick a template to build around.
- Use the timeline to trim, arrange, and layer your clips, then apply transitions, text, or effects.
- Run AI tools as needed: auto captions for subtitles, background remover for clean visuals, or the AI video generator to fill in extra footage.
- Add voiceover with the text-to-speech tool or clean up existing audio with the noise reduction and voice enhancer.
- Export your finished video in the resolution and aspect ratio you need, then publish directly or download for upload elsewhere.
Frequently asked questions
Is CapCut free to use?
Yes. CapCut's core video and photo editing tools, many templates, and several AI features are free with no watermark. A paid Pro subscription adds extra AI credits and premium content.
Does CapCut work on both desktop and mobile?
Yes. CapCut offers a desktop app, a browser-based online editor, and mobile apps for iOS and Android, and projects can sync across devices when you're signed in.
Can CapCut generate captions automatically?
Yes. Its auto caption tool transcribes spoken audio in a video and adds styled, editable subtitles, which is useful for social clips and accessibility.
Who makes CapCut?
CapCut is developed by ByteDance, the company that also owns TikTok, which is why many of its templates and effects are optimized for short-form vertical video.
Learn more at CapCut.