CapCut vs Descript
A spec-by-spec comparison of CapCut and Descript: pricing, free tier, clip length, resolution, watermark, commercial use and API access.
| CapCut | Descript | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan · Paid | Free plan · from $24/mo |
| Free tier | Free plan with basic editing tools and free templates | 60 media minutes/month, 100 one-time AI credits, 720p export |
| Max clip length | Web-link exports up to 1 hr (Free/Hobbyist) or 3 hrs (Creator/Business) | |
| Max resolution | 4K | 4K |
| Watermark on free plan | No | Yes |
| Commercial use | ||
| Developer API | Yes | |
| Open source | No | No |
CapCut is a timeline video editor available on desktop, browser and mobile, with templates, effects, auto captions and a growing set of AI tools such as text-to-video, AI dubbing, upscaling and long-to-short clipping. Paid tiers add monthly AI credits and access to Seedance video generation models. It is popular with TikTok, Reels and Shorts creators who want a capable editor at little or no cost.
- Free edition can export up to 4K without a watermark (per CapCut)
- Runs on desktop, web and mobile
- Paid plans include 1,200+ monthly AI credits and Seedance models
- Prices are regional and only show final pricing after sign-in
- 2K/4K export availability depends on device, platform and app version
- Premium templates, effects and AI features require Pro
Descript is a desktop and web editor that transcribes your recordings so you can cut video and audio by deleting words in a document. Its Underlord AI assistant handles tasks such as filler-word removal, Studio Sound cleanup, clip creation, dubbing and avatars. It suits podcasters, YouTubers and marketing teams who make talking-head or interview content.
- Text-based editing: cut video by deleting transcript words
- 4K watermark-free export from Creator plan
- API, CLI, Zapier and MCP access for automation
- Free plan capped at 720p with 100 one-time AI credits
- Hobbyist plan limited to 1080p export
- Usage metered by media hours and AI credits per editor
Specs last verified 2026-10-23 (CapCut) and 2026-10-23 (Descript). See each tool page for sources.