CapCut

What it is

CapCut is a video editor built for short-form social video. It runs as a phone app, a desktop app and in the browser, and it is widely used by creators making Reels, TikToks and YouTube Shorts. Alongside normal editing it bundles a long list of AI features: auto captions and caption templates, text to speech, an AI video and image generator, background and object removal, an image enhancer and a large library of templates and effects.

Why it matters for AI video work

Most AI video projects are many short generated clips cut together with a voiceover, captions and music. CapCut makes that last step quick, especially for 9:16 vertical ads where captions carry the message for people watching on mute. It is a practical choice when you need to turn around several ad variations in a day.

Availability: an important note

CapCut is blocked in India, as TikTok from the same group is, and it does not appear in Indian app stores. If you are in India, learn DaVinci Resolve or another editor instead. Also check whether your client's country or company allows it before building a workflow around it.

How to use it well

• Learn the basics properly: cutting on the timeline, trimming, keyframes, text, captions and export settings.
• Use auto captions, then read every line: names, brand words and local words are often wrong.
• Templates are fast, but clients pay for something that looks like their brand, not a trend template everyone else is using.
• Before using any template music, effect or stock clip in a paid ad, check that its licence covers commercial use; a track you can use in a personal post may not be cleared for advertising.
• Export at the resolution you edited in, and keep the project file so you can make changes later.

Limits to know

Many advanced features sit behind a paid Pro plan, and features differ between the phone, desktop and web versions. Read the current terms for commercial use of its AI features and assets yourself.

Who it suits

Freelancers making short vertical ads and social videos who want speed over deep control. For colour grading, sound mixing and long projects, a full editor such as DaVinci Resolve gives more.

Pair it with on Sefism

• Follow the AI video and design for clients roadmap and keep its cheat sheet open while you work.
• For platforms, proposals, pricing and getting paid, use the Freelancing roadmap.

Best for: fast vertical edits with captions, outside India.