Is CapCut a One Time Purchase or Subscription? (Free vs Pro Explained)

Q: How do I cancel CapCut Pro?

You cancel it wherever you subscribed. If you subscribed on iPhone or iPad, cancel in your Apple ID subscriptions. If you subscribed on Android, cancel in Google Play subscriptions. If you subscribed on desktop or web, cancel inside your CapCut account settings.

CapCut isn’t a one-time purchase. The app uses a freemium model: you can edit and export videos for free, but some premium effects, templates, and advanced tools are locked behind a paid plan.

If you upgrade, you’re paying a subscription (monthly or yearly)—there’s no official lifetime / one-time buy option.

Prices and plan names can vary depending on whether you subscribe on mobile, desktop, or web, and by country.

Here’s a full breakdown of current CapCut pricing by platform.

Table of Contents

Overview of the CapCut Free Version

CapCut’s free version is surprisingly generous. You get access to:

Core video editing tools (cut, trim, speed, crop, reverse)
Free templates for TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts
Basic transitions, text effects, and filters
Audio editing, voiceovers, and free sound effects
Standard exports (up to 1080p with no watermark on most projects)

Most casual creators, influencers, and even small businesses can get pretty far without paying anything. There are no time limits, no forced upgrades, and no watermark slapped on every export (unless you’re using premium assets without Pro).

If you’re editing short-form content or learning video editing, the free plan covers almost everything you need.

Overview of CapCut Pro

CapCut Pro is the paid version of CapCut that unlocks advanced tools and premium assets. It’s designed for creators who want more control, higher-quality visuals, and fewer limits.

With CapCut Pro, you get access to premium effects, transitions, filters, and text styles that aren’t available in the free version.

You also unlock exclusive templates, stock videos, music, and cloud storage so you can save and sync projects across devices.

Another big upgrade is commercial-use licensing, which matters if you’re creating content for brands or clients.

CapCut Pro is subscription-only. There is no lifetime or one-time purchase option.

As of now, CapCut typically costs:

About $9.99 per month
About $89.99 per year (the cheaper option long-term)

Pricing can vary slightly depending on your country, platform, or promotions inside the app. You’re billed regularly, and you can cancel anytime through your app store or account settings.

If you stop paying, you won’t lose your projects, but premium features and assets will be locked again until you resubscribe.

Can You Buy Features Separately (One-Time)?

If you’re hoping for a “pay once, own it forever” CapCut deal, that option doesn’t exist. CapCut’s paid editing upgrades are built around subscriptions, not a lifetime license.

That said, CapCut does have something that feels kind of like a one-time purchase: credits.

Credits are pay-as-you-go tokens you can buy to use certain Pro AI features without subscribing. Think of it like topping up minutes on a phone plan.

You’re not buying the tool permanently; you’re buying usage.

A few important details that trip people up:

Credits cannot be used to buy CapCut Pro itself. So you can’t “stack credits” and turn that into a subscription.
If you buy credits directly, those purchased credits expire 2 years after purchase.
If you’re a Pro subscriber, you may get subscription credits, but those are tied to your billing period and can expire sooner.

So the honest answer is: CapCut doesn’t really do one-time purchases for “Pro forever.” It does subscriptions, and it also offers credits for specific AI tools if you want to pay only when you use them.

CapCut Pricing by Platform (Mobile vs Desktop vs Web)

One big reason CapCut pricing feels “inconsistent” is that the plan you’re shown depends on where you’re subscribing (phone app vs desktop app vs the web checkout).

On top of that, taxes, app-store fees, promos, and even older “grandfathered” rates can change what you see.

Mobile (iPhone / Android)

On mobile, CapCut often surfaces the Standard (mobile-only) option as the “entry” paid plan.

Standard (Mobile Only): $5.99/month or $89.99/year
This is typically the cheapest way to unlock premium assets/features on your phone. (LinkedIn)

Important note: because purchases can run through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, your total may look higher after store fees/tax—or you may see different pricing in different regions.

Desktop (Windows / Mac)

On desktop, CapCut usually pushes the Pro (cross-platform) plan more aggressively, since desktop workflows are positioned as “pro editing.”

Pro (Mobile + Desktop + Web): $19.99/month or $179.99/year

So if someone says “CapCut is $19.99,” they’re usually looking at the desktop/web Pro subscription, not the mobile Standard tier.

Web (CapCut website)

On the web checkout, CapCut commonly highlights Pro (and sometimes Teams), and it’s also where you’re more likely to notice annual savings or limited promos depending on your country.

Pro (Web / Cross-platform): $19.99/month or $179.99/year
Teams (Collaboration): $24.99/month or $214.99/year (often shown as per-seat / team billing depending on context)

The simple takeaway

If your readers only remember one thing, make it this:

Mobile shows the cheaper “Standard” more often ($5.99/mo).
Desktop + Web tend to show “Pro” ($19.99/mo).
Annual plans are the same plan, just billed yearly ($89.99/yr Standard; $179.99/yr Pro).

If you want, paste the next section of your article and I’ll stitch this excerpt into it so it flows cleanly into your “Which plan should you choose?” section.

Do You Need to Pay for CapCut?

Most people don’t. If you’re just making TikToks, Reels, Shorts, school projects, or fun edits for friends, the free version is usually enough.

Where CapCut starts nudging you to pay is when you want the “wow” stuff that saves time or makes your edits look more polished with less effort.

Paying for CapCut makes sense if you:

You use premium templates, effects, or fonts all the time and keep running into locked items.
You edit a lot and want faster results without hunting for free alternatives.
You make content for a brand, a client, or your business and want fewer licensing worries.
You rely on AI tools (like auto captions or other smart features) and don’t want to keep bumping into limits.
You need cloud sync so you can start on your phone and finish on your laptop without chaos.

Staying on free makes sense if you:

You’re editing occasionally and the basics cover what you need.
You don’t mind using free effects and templates.
You’re okay skipping locked Pro assets when they pop up.
You’re mostly posting casual content, not client work.

What happens if you cancel Pro?

You don’t lose your saved projects. But anything that depends on Pro gets restricted again.

That usually means premium effects, templates, and certain advanced tools won’t work the same way until you resubscribe.

If you’re unsure, the easiest test is simple: edit like normal for a week. If you keep hitting locked features and it’s slowing you down, Pro might be worth it. If not, keep your money.

How CapCut Compares to Other Editors

If you’re trying to decide whether CapCut Pro is worth it, it helps to see what you’d be paying for compared to other popular video editors.

CapCut sits in a sweet spot: it’s one of the strongest free editors for short-form content, and the paid plan is mainly for people who want premium assets, faster workflows, and fewer limits.

Here’s how it stacks up:

CapCut vs InShot
InShot is simple and beginner-friendly, but CapCut usually gives you more creative options for trendy edits, templates, and effects. If you care about making content that fits TikTok style fast, CapCut tends to feel more “plug-and-play.”

CapCut vs VN Video Editor
VN is great if you want a cleaner, more traditional editing layout and more control without relying on templates. CapCut is better when you want speed, viral-style effects, auto captions, and ready-made transitions without much effort.

CapCut vs Adobe Premiere Rush
Rush is made for people already in the Adobe world who want cross-device editing and a familiar workflow. CapCut usually feels easier for beginners and quicker for short-form creators, especially if you’re posting to Instagram Reels or YouTube Shorts.

CapCut vs Canva
Canva is solid for simple videos, slideshows, and branded content. But if you’re doing real edits like timing cuts to music, speed ramps, layered effects, or heavier transitions, CapCut is usually the stronger video editor.

CapCut vs iMovie
iMovie is smooth for basic edits, especially on Apple devices. CapCut usually wins for modern effects, templates, and features like auto captions and trending transitions.

CapCut vs DaVinci Resolve
Resolve is powerful and more “professional,” but it has a learning curve. If you just want to make content fast without spending hours learning editing, CapCut is the easier choice.

Bottom line: if you want a free video editor that’s built for social content, CapCut is hard to beat. If you want full pro-level control for long videos and cinematic editing, tools like Resolve make more sense.

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to common questions about whether CapCut is a one-time purchase or a subscription, plus billing, cancellations, and what happens after you stop paying.

Is CapCut a one-time purchase?

No. CapCut doesn’t offer a lifetime or one-time payment option. If you want premium features, you’ll pay through a monthly or yearly subscription.

Is CapCut a subscription?

CapCut itself is free, but CapCut’s paid tier is subscription-based. If you upgrade, you’ll be billed on a recurring plan until you cancel.

Does CapCut charge you automatically?

Only if you start a free trial or subscribe. After that, it renews automatically each billing cycle unless you cancel before the renewal date.

How do I cancel CapCut Pro?

You cancel it wherever you subscribed:

If you subscribed on an iPhone or iPad, cancel in your Apple ID subscriptions.
If you subscribed on Android, cancel in Google Play subscriptions.
If you subscribed on desktop or web, cancel inside your CapCut account settings.

Can I still use CapCut after canceling Pro?

Yes. You can keep using CapCut for free. You won’t lose your projects, but premium features and locked assets won’t be available anymore.

Will my videos get watermarked if I don’t pay?

Most exports don’t add a watermark, but you may see watermarks or restrictions if you use premium assets that require Pro or certain licensed content.

Is CapCut Pro worth it?

It’s worth it if you’re constantly using premium templates/effects, rely on advanced tools like auto captions, or create content for work or clients. If you edit casually, the free version is usually enough.

Can I use CapCut Pro on multiple devices?

In many cases, yes—if you’re signed into the same CapCut account. But availability can depend on the plan type and where you subscribed (App Store, Google Play, or web/desktop).

Why do CapCut prices look different on mobile vs desktop vs web?

Prices can vary due to platform checkout rules, regional pricing, taxes, and promotions. Also, some plan names may show up more often on one platform than another.

Do I lose my projects if I stop paying for Pro?

Usually, you won’t lose your projects. However, anything that relies on Pro-only features or premium assets may become locked. To be safe, export final versions of important videos.

Does CapCut offer refunds?

Refund rules usually depend on where you subscribed (App Store, Google Play, or web/desktop checkout). Start the refund request in the same place you were billed.

Can I use CapCut for commercial work without Pro?

You can edit videos for business use on the free version, but be careful with assets (music, templates, stock items). Usage rights can differ depending on what you use—especially for client work.

Final Verdict

CapCut is not a one-time purchase—and there’s no lifetime, pay-once option.

It’s free to use, and you can do a lot without paying: basic editing, standard exports, and plenty of templates/effects are available on the free plan.

But once you start wanting premium effects, exclusive templates, advanced tools, and “extra perks” like smoother workflows and more pro-level features, you’ll be looking at a subscription upgrade.

Here’s the simplest way to think about it:

If you only edit occasionally and the free tools already give you the results you want, stick with CapCut Free. You won’t lose access to the core editor, and you can still create solid videos without spending anything.
If you edit frequently or you keep running into “locked” features (premium effects, certain templates, or Pro-only tools), then upgrading to CapCut Pro makes sense. It’s usually worth it when time matters, you want more creative options, or you’re producing content consistently for social media, clients, or a brand.

A good rule of thumb:
If CapCut is something you open once in a while, free is enough. But if it’s part of your weekly (or daily) workflow—and you’re constantly trying to access Pro features—then a subscription stops feeling like an “extra cost” and starts feeling like a productivity shortcut.

Related CapCut Guides (Worth Reading Next)

If you’re deciding whether CapCut is worth paying for, these quick guides cover pricing comparisons, device support, offline editing, and common Pro/desktop issues.