What this tutorial covers<\/h2>- What is CapCut?<\/a>
- What’s the difference between using CapCut for editing vs TikTok<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- How to use CapCut<\/a>
- How much is CapCut?<\/a><\/li>
- What is the difference between CapCut’s Standard, Pro, and Ultra plans?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- How to edit in CapCut<\/a>
- Getting started<\/a><\/li>
- Creating a new project and adding content<\/a><\/li>
- Navigating the editor<\/a><\/li>
- How to add text<\/a><\/li>
- How to add music<\/a><\/li>
- How to zoom in<\/a><\/li>
- How to blur<\/a><\/li>
- How to reverse a video<\/a><\/li>
- How to use CapCut templates<\/a><\/li>
- How to remove the CapCut watermark<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Final thoughts<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n
What is CapCut?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
CapCut<\/a> is a short-form video editing app with AI-powered features that\u2019s owned by the same company as TikTok, Bytedance. It also has image design and editing capabilities. But it\u2019s more widely known for the wide array of pre-made video templates, their AI lab, and advanced effects that users can easily use to hop on social media video trends<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat’s the difference between using CapCut for editing vs TikTok<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you create content for TikTok<\/a>, you know that you can find a selection of video and photo templates, along with effects, within the app. Not to mention that TikTok\u2019s video editor is fairly robust. So why use CapCut instead of what\u2019s in the TikTok app already? <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe best way to put it is that what TikTok makes available to you through the app is fairly simplistic compared to what you can do within CapCut. Some of CapCut\u2019s notable features include one-click background removal from videos, a dizzying amount of video templates, and AI enhanced features. It’s a good free beginner video editing tool<\/a>, especially for those who prefer to edit on their phone.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOne other reason to use CapCut vs TikTok\u2019s native options is the fact that TikTok\u2019s editor is notorious for glitching or crashing. I\u2019ve experienced it myself, and the feeling of seeing all your hard work disappear instantly is the worst. So using CapCut gives you some more stability comparatively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to use CapCut<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
To use CapCut, you can download it for free from any mobile app store<\/a>, access it through their online editor<\/a>, or get their desktop Mac or Windows application<\/a> for your computer. For this tutorial, we\u2019ll be using the free mobile application for Android.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow much is CapCut?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
CapCut currently has three different paid plans available as of August 2026: Standard, Pro, and Ultra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Standard<\/strong> is priced at $11.99\/month or $109.99\/year.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Pro<\/strong> is typically priced at $23.99\/month or $129.99\/year for a yearly subscription.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Ultra<\/strong> is only available on a monthly plan and costs $84 a month.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
However, CapCut does tend to usually run discounts on their plans, so if you\u2019re seeing those full prices, wait for them to go on sale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What is the difference between CapCut’s Standard, Pro, and Ultra plans?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The difference between CapCut’s plans is what you get access to – Ultra gives you full access to all of the features the app has available with no restrictions, while Pro gives you access to most<\/em> of their advanced time-saving features like auto captions and access to the desktop and web versions of the CapCut editor. CapCut Standard has more basic features, no access to their auto-caption feature, and limits you to just the mobile app version. <\/p>\n\n\n\nBe sure to carefully compare what you get with each if you’re planning to upgrade from the free version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Screenshot](\"https:\/\/sb-wp-assets.storyblocks.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/17145706\/Screenshot_20260814-142056-456x1024.png\")
Screenshot showing some of the differences between the Standard, Pro, and Ultra plan with CapCut.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nCapCut also offers additional cloud space you can purchase to store your video or image projects (though this is also included in the Standard, Pro, and Ultra plans as well).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to edit in CapCut<\/h2>\n\n\n\nGetting started<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Once you download the CapCut app, you\u2019ll see a series of questions asking you about what you\u2019re using the app for. Once you get through those, you\u2019ll be brought to the main editing page. Up top, there’s a large blue New Video<\/strong> button with a slightly smaller Edit photo<\/strong> button next to it. Below that, you’ll see two rows of buttons to give you easy access to different tools and features, then your project list beneath that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Screenshot](\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nCreating a new project and adding content<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
To dive into the editor, click the New Video<\/strong> button. Once you click that, a prompt to let CapCut access your photos and videos on your device pops up. Click Allow<\/strong>, and you\u2019ll see your phone\u2019s videos and videos have populated underneath the Albums tab. You\u2019ll also see two other tabs, one that says (your username)\u2019s space<\/strong>, where you can upload specific projects and materials, and another that says Library<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nUnder the library tab, you can search and browse through a wide variety of video clips, transitions, green screen animations, and more. Most of these are free to use, though some are marked with a Standard or Pro logo (a blue or purple diamond for each), which means you\u2019ll need to upgrade to access them. To preview any of these, just tap on the clip. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To add them to your video, click on the circle displayed in the upper right hand corner. Once you do, that circle should turn blue and the content will appear next to any other clips or photos you\u2019ve added in the row along the bottom of your app. When you\u2019re done adding clips for your video, click the blue Add <\/strong>button in the bottom right corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNavigating the editor<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Once you\u2019re in the editor, you should see any clips you chose on the timeline. To add new content to your project, you can click the grey plus sign button located to the right of your timeline. Touch the black portion of your phone screen beneath the timeline and drag your finger to the left to scroll through your video. If you need to undo or redo any action, tap the curved arrows located on top of your timeline on the right hand side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlong the bottom of the editor is where you\u2019ll see all the tools you can use for creating your masterpiece. Tapping each of them brings up a number of options you can take, but we\u2019ll start with adding text.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to add text<\/h3>\n\n\n\n1. Tap the add text button<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Tap on the Text<\/strong> button located in the tools along the bottom of your editor and you\u2019ll see a few options shown, including Add text, Auto Captions, Stickers, Text template, and more. To just add basic text to your video, tap the Add text<\/strong> button. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n2. Type in your text<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Text will appear in the middle of your video and a text box will show where you can type in whatever text you want to add. To move your text to a different area in your video, just drag and let go of the text.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n3. Customize your text<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Beneath the text box, there are options for changing your text\u2019s font or style, adding effects or animations, and more. Since the current version of my text is hard to read on my video, I\u2019m going to navigate to the Styles<\/strong> > Background<\/strong>. I\u2019ll add a black background to it and reduce the opacity so it\u2019s not as harsh by moving the Opacity slider to the left. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThere\u2019s tons of ways you can customize your text, so play around with the settings until it looks exactly the way you want. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Finalize your text and adjust the duration<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Once you\u2019re done, click the grey check mark next to the right of your text box. You\u2019ll see a new orange bar for your text appear underneath your video in the timeline. To change how long your text shows in your video, just tap the bar and drag the grey box at either end to shorten or lengthen it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOnce you click out of the text settings, the text bar will show as a thin orange line above your video in the timeline. But if you want to edit your text again, you can click back into the Text settings to make changes and the orange bar will appear again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to add music<\/h3>\n\n\n\n1. Tap the audio button<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
To add music to your project, tap the Audio<\/strong> button located in the tools along the bottom of your editor, then tap Sounds<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n2. Browse and add music<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
From here, you can browse top TikTok sounds (or browse your saved sounds from TikTok, though you’ll need to connect your account), search by different categories, or use the search bar to look for specific songs or artists. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTo preview a song or sound, just tap on it. And to add it to your project, tap the blue plus sign to the right of the track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Note: CapCut doesn\u2019t have the same licensing<\/a> as TikTok does, so you may not see a wide variety of music in their library. If you want to use the latest Taylor Swift song or anything from a popular artist, you\u2019ll need to edit your video in CapCut without the music, then add your track once you port it over to TikTok or Instagram.<\/p>\n\n\n\n3. Finalize your audio<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Once you\u2019ve added your audio to your video, you\u2019ll see it appear beneath your video in your editing timeline. To adjust the duration of it, tap on the audio bar and drag the grey boxes at the ends to lengthen or shorten it. You can also split your audio, adjust the volume, add a fade, delete it, and more by using the audio tools that appear at the bottom of your screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow to zoom in<\/h3>\n\n\n\n1. Navigate to Effects > Video effects<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nTo add a zoom effect to your video, tap Effects<\/strong> in the bottom toolbar, then Video effects<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n2. Search for zoom<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Once you\u2019re on the Video effects page, you\u2019ll see trending effects shown. Type in zoom to the search bar, and you\u2019ll see a number of different types of zoom effects you can choose from. Tap each one to add it to your video and see what it looks like. Remove any effect by tapping it again. With some effects, you\u2019ll have the option to adjust the settings of the effect by tapping on it a second time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n3. Add your effect to your video<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Once you\u2019ve chosen an effect and adjusted the settings so you\u2019re happy with it, tap Cancel next to the search bar to exit the search results. Then tap the check mark next to the search bar on the Video effects screen to return to your editing timeline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To adjust the duration of your effect, you can tap on the effect bar shown underneath your video in the timeline and drag the grey boxes at either end. You\u2019ll also see additional options for adjusting your effect, replacing it, duplicating it, and more shown on the tool bar at the bottom of your screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow to blur<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Adding a blur to your video follows the same process as above to add a zoom effect to your video.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Navigate to Effects > Video effects<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nTo add a blur effect to your video, tap Effects<\/strong> in the bottom toolbar, then Video effects<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n2. Search for blur<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Once you\u2019re on the Video effects page, you\u2019ll see trending effects shown. Type in blur to the search bar, and you\u2019ll see a number of different types of blur effects you can choose from. Tap each one to add it to your video and see what it looks like. Remove any effect by tapping it again. With some effects, you\u2019ll have the option to adjust the settings of the effect by tapping on it a second time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n3. Add your effect to your video<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Once you\u2019ve chosen an effect and adjusted the settings so you\u2019re happy with it, tap Cancel next to the search bar to exit the search results. Then tap the check mark next to the search bar on the Video effects screen to return to your editing timeline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To adjust the duration of your effect, you can tap on the effect bar shown underneath your video in the timeline and drag the grey boxes at either end. You\u2019ll also see additional options for adjusting your effect, replacing it, duplicating it, and more shown on the tool bar at the bottom of your screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to reverse a video<\/h3>\n\n\n\n1. Tap on your video on your timeline<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Reversing a video on CapCut is easy. Just tap your video on your timeline, then swipe to the left on the toolbar at the bottom of your screen until you find the Reverse button.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n2. Add Reverse to your video<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Tap on the Reverse button in your toolbar (it has a right-facing triangle inside of a circular arrow going counter-clockwise) to start the reversal process. You\u2019ll see a small window pop up that will tell you the percentage progress of reversing your video. It should take less than a minute, but how long it takes will vary based on how long your video is. Once it\u2019s done, that\u2019s it! You\u2019ve successfully put your video in reverse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to use CapCut templates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
CapCut templates are a great way to easily add cool effects, transitions, and more to your videos without having to put in a ton of time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re planning on using a template for your video in CapCut, it\u2019s best to add it from the very start. Then add any other edits like text or effects in later. If you choose to add a template to a project that you\u2019ve already started working on, adding a template will completely erase your work.<\/strong> I thankfully learned this working on a test project, but I\u2019d hate for it to happen to someone who spent a lot of time on a video. You\u2019ve been warned!<\/p>\n\n\n\n1. Navigate to Templates<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
To use a template for your video, it\u2019s best to navigate to the Templates section of CapCut outside of the main editor. You can also access templates from inside the editor. But since it asks you to select what footage or images you want to use once you do select a template, it doesn\u2019t make much sense to start a project before adding a template.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n2. Search or Browse templates<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Once you\u2019re on the templates page, you can browse through specific categories like TikTok, Memes, Effects, and more. Or you can search for a specific template using the search bar. Once you\u2019ve found a template you like, click on it and then click the blue Use template<\/strong> button.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n3. Add your photos or videos<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Some templates work with photos or videos, while some work best with one or the other. Choose depending on what works your specific template.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On your media selection screen, you\u2019ll see how many photos or videos you need to select shown at the bottom. You should also see a preview of how long each one will be shown for. The template I\u2019m using is asking me to select 39 items that will each be shown for 0.1 seconds (with 2 seconds for the last one), so I\u2019m using photos for mine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOnce you select your video(s) and\/or photo(s), click the blue Next<\/strong> button to add them to the template.<\/p>\n\n\n\n4. Preview your template and make any edits<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
On the next screen, you\u2019ll be able to watch a preview of your template with all the media you just added. If you want to switch any photos or videos, you can tap on the specific photo or video and select Replace. Here, you\u2019ll also see options to crop the photo and make other edits or adjustments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nYou can also change out the audio or add\/change the text in the template by tapping either of those options on the bottom when you have the main part of the template selected. Keep in mind that if you change the audio, some templates may not work as well as they were created to work with the beat of the audio that came with the template.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n5. Export your video<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Once you\u2019re happy with how your final template is looking, click the blue Export<\/strong> button in the upper right hand corner. Here, you can adjust the resolution and choose whether you want to export to TikTok or just export to your phone storage.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow to remove the CapCut watermark<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
To remove the CapCut watermark from your video, you have to either export directly to TikTok or use one of CapCut’s paid plans. Otherwise, a CapCut watermark is added onto the exported version of your video. Unfortunately, there\u2019s no way around it besides those two options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Final thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
As someone who typically edits anything they post to TikTok inside the native editor, I can see the benefits of using CapCut. The editing workflow seems way more streamlined and stable compared to TikTok\u2019s editor. Not having access to most artists and songs is definitely one of the downsides to using CapCut, though you can always add them in once you bring it over to TikTok or another platform. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Overall, it\u2019s a pretty robust editing tool for beginners or mobile-only users that has a lot of template options to choose from, including viral ones. If you’re editing on the go, it’s not a bad option at all. But if you’re using the desktop version of CapCut Pro, there’s lots of better editors to choose from, including Premiere Pro<\/a>, DaVinci Resolve<\/a>, Final Cut Pro<\/a>, and more. Though those have a steeper learning curve, you can do far more with these professional-quality editors for a similar price compared to CapCut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- What’s the difference between using CapCut for editing vs TikTok<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- How to use CapCut<\/a>
- How much is CapCut?<\/a><\/li>
- What is the difference between CapCut’s Standard, Pro, and Ultra plans?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- How to edit in CapCut<\/a>
- Getting started<\/a><\/li>
- Creating a new project and adding content<\/a><\/li>
- Navigating the editor<\/a><\/li>
- How to add text<\/a><\/li>
- How to add music<\/a><\/li>
- How to zoom in<\/a><\/li>
- How to blur<\/a><\/li>
- How to reverse a video<\/a><\/li>
- How to use CapCut templates<\/a><\/li>
- How to remove the CapCut watermark<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Final thoughts<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n
What is CapCut?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
CapCut<\/a> is a short-form video editing app with AI-powered features that\u2019s owned by the same company as TikTok, Bytedance. It also has image design and editing capabilities. But it\u2019s more widely known for the wide array of pre-made video templates, their AI lab, and advanced effects that users can easily use to hop on social media video trends<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What’s the difference between using CapCut for editing vs TikTok<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you create content for TikTok<\/a>, you know that you can find a selection of video and photo templates, along with effects, within the app. Not to mention that TikTok\u2019s video editor is fairly robust. So why use CapCut instead of what\u2019s in the TikTok app already? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The best way to put it is that what TikTok makes available to you through the app is fairly simplistic compared to what you can do within CapCut. Some of CapCut\u2019s notable features include one-click background removal from videos, a dizzying amount of video templates, and AI enhanced features. It’s a good free beginner video editing tool<\/a>, especially for those who prefer to edit on their phone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One other reason to use CapCut vs TikTok\u2019s native options is the fact that TikTok\u2019s editor is notorious for glitching or crashing. I\u2019ve experienced it myself, and the feeling of seeing all your hard work disappear instantly is the worst. So using CapCut gives you some more stability comparatively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to use CapCut<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
To use CapCut, you can download it for free from any mobile app store<\/a>, access it through their online editor<\/a>, or get their desktop Mac or Windows application<\/a> for your computer. For this tutorial, we\u2019ll be using the free mobile application for Android.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How much is CapCut?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
CapCut currently has three different paid plans available as of August 2026: Standard, Pro, and Ultra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Standard<\/strong> is priced at $11.99\/month or $109.99\/year.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Pro<\/strong> is typically priced at $23.99\/month or $129.99\/year for a yearly subscription.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Ultra<\/strong> is only available on a monthly plan and costs $84 a month.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
However, CapCut does tend to usually run discounts on their plans, so if you\u2019re seeing those full prices, wait for them to go on sale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What is the difference between CapCut’s Standard, Pro, and Ultra plans?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The difference between CapCut’s plans is what you get access to – Ultra gives you full access to all of the features the app has available with no restrictions, while Pro gives you access to most<\/em> of their advanced time-saving features like auto captions and access to the desktop and web versions of the CapCut editor. CapCut Standard has more basic features, no access to their auto-caption feature, and limits you to just the mobile app version. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Be sure to carefully compare what you get with each if you’re planning to upgrade from the free version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Screenshot showing some of the differences between the Standard, Pro, and Ultra plan with CapCut.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n CapCut also offers additional cloud space you can purchase to store your video or image projects (though this is also included in the Standard, Pro, and Ultra plans as well).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to edit in CapCut<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Getting started<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Once you download the CapCut app, you\u2019ll see a series of questions asking you about what you\u2019re using the app for. Once you get through those, you\u2019ll be brought to the main editing page. Up top, there’s a large blue New Video<\/strong> button with a slightly smaller Edit photo<\/strong> button next to it. Below that, you’ll see two rows of buttons to give you easy access to different tools and features, then your project list beneath that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nCreating a new project and adding content<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
To dive into the editor, click the New Video<\/strong> button. Once you click that, a prompt to let CapCut access your photos and videos on your device pops up. Click Allow<\/strong>, and you\u2019ll see your phone\u2019s videos and videos have populated underneath the Albums tab. You\u2019ll also see two other tabs, one that says (your username)\u2019s space<\/strong>, where you can upload specific projects and materials, and another that says Library<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nUnder the library tab, you can search and browse through a wide variety of video clips, transitions, green screen animations, and more. Most of these are free to use, though some are marked with a Standard or Pro logo (a blue or purple diamond for each), which means you\u2019ll need to upgrade to access them. To preview any of these, just tap on the clip. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To add them to your video, click on the circle displayed in the upper right hand corner. Once you do, that circle should turn blue and the content will appear next to any other clips or photos you\u2019ve added in the row along the bottom of your app. When you\u2019re done adding clips for your video, click the blue Add <\/strong>button in the bottom right corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Navigating the editor<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Once you\u2019re in the editor, you should see any clips you chose on the timeline. To add new content to your project, you can click the grey plus sign button located to the right of your timeline. Touch the black portion of your phone screen beneath the timeline and drag your finger to the left to scroll through your video. If you need to undo or redo any action, tap the curved arrows located on top of your timeline on the right hand side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlong the bottom of the editor is where you\u2019ll see all the tools you can use for creating your masterpiece. Tapping each of them brings up a number of options you can take, but we\u2019ll start with adding text.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to add text<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
1. Tap the add text button<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Tap on the Text<\/strong> button located in the tools along the bottom of your editor and you\u2019ll see a few options shown, including Add text, Auto Captions, Stickers, Text template, and more. To just add basic text to your video, tap the Add text<\/strong> button. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n2. Type in your text<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Text will appear in the middle of your video and a text box will show where you can type in whatever text you want to add. To move your text to a different area in your video, just drag and let go of the text.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n3. Customize your text<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Beneath the text box, there are options for changing your text\u2019s font or style, adding effects or animations, and more. Since the current version of my text is hard to read on my video, I\u2019m going to navigate to the Styles<\/strong> > Background<\/strong>. I\u2019ll add a black background to it and reduce the opacity so it\u2019s not as harsh by moving the Opacity slider to the left. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThere\u2019s tons of ways you can customize your text, so play around with the settings until it looks exactly the way you want. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Finalize your text and adjust the duration<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Once you\u2019re done, click the grey check mark next to the right of your text box. You\u2019ll see a new orange bar for your text appear underneath your video in the timeline. To change how long your text shows in your video, just tap the bar and drag the grey box at either end to shorten or lengthen it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOnce you click out of the text settings, the text bar will show as a thin orange line above your video in the timeline. But if you want to edit your text again, you can click back into the Text settings to make changes and the orange bar will appear again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to add music<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
1. Tap the audio button<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
To add music to your project, tap the Audio<\/strong> button located in the tools along the bottom of your editor, then tap Sounds<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Browse and add music<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
From here, you can browse top TikTok sounds (or browse your saved sounds from TikTok, though you’ll need to connect your account), search by different categories, or use the search bar to look for specific songs or artists. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTo preview a song or sound, just tap on it. And to add it to your project, tap the blue plus sign to the right of the track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Note: CapCut doesn\u2019t have the same licensing<\/a> as TikTok does, so you may not see a wide variety of music in their library. If you want to use the latest Taylor Swift song or anything from a popular artist, you\u2019ll need to edit your video in CapCut without the music, then add your track once you port it over to TikTok or Instagram.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Finalize your audio<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Once you\u2019ve added your audio to your video, you\u2019ll see it appear beneath your video in your editing timeline. To adjust the duration of it, tap on the audio bar and drag the grey boxes at the ends to lengthen or shorten it. You can also split your audio, adjust the volume, add a fade, delete it, and more by using the audio tools that appear at the bottom of your screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow to zoom in<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
1. Navigate to Effects > Video effects<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
To add a zoom effect to your video, tap Effects<\/strong> in the bottom toolbar, then Video effects<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n2. Search for zoom<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Once you\u2019re on the Video effects page, you\u2019ll see trending effects shown. Type in zoom to the search bar, and you\u2019ll see a number of different types of zoom effects you can choose from. Tap each one to add it to your video and see what it looks like. Remove any effect by tapping it again. With some effects, you\u2019ll have the option to adjust the settings of the effect by tapping on it a second time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n3. Add your effect to your video<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Once you\u2019ve chosen an effect and adjusted the settings so you\u2019re happy with it, tap Cancel next to the search bar to exit the search results. Then tap the check mark next to the search bar on the Video effects screen to return to your editing timeline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To adjust the duration of your effect, you can tap on the effect bar shown underneath your video in the timeline and drag the grey boxes at either end. You\u2019ll also see additional options for adjusting your effect, replacing it, duplicating it, and more shown on the tool bar at the bottom of your screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow to blur<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Adding a blur to your video follows the same process as above to add a zoom effect to your video.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Navigate to Effects > Video effects<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
To add a blur effect to your video, tap Effects<\/strong> in the bottom toolbar, then Video effects<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Search for blur<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Once you\u2019re on the Video effects page, you\u2019ll see trending effects shown. Type in blur to the search bar, and you\u2019ll see a number of different types of blur effects you can choose from. Tap each one to add it to your video and see what it looks like. Remove any effect by tapping it again. With some effects, you\u2019ll have the option to adjust the settings of the effect by tapping on it a second time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n3. Add your effect to your video<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Once you\u2019ve chosen an effect and adjusted the settings so you\u2019re happy with it, tap Cancel next to the search bar to exit the search results. Then tap the check mark next to the search bar on the Video effects screen to return to your editing timeline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To adjust the duration of your effect, you can tap on the effect bar shown underneath your video in the timeline and drag the grey boxes at either end. You\u2019ll also see additional options for adjusting your effect, replacing it, duplicating it, and more shown on the tool bar at the bottom of your screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to reverse a video<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
1. Tap on your video on your timeline<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Reversing a video on CapCut is easy. Just tap your video on your timeline, then swipe to the left on the toolbar at the bottom of your screen until you find the Reverse button.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n2. Add Reverse to your video<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Tap on the Reverse button in your toolbar (it has a right-facing triangle inside of a circular arrow going counter-clockwise) to start the reversal process. You\u2019ll see a small window pop up that will tell you the percentage progress of reversing your video. It should take less than a minute, but how long it takes will vary based on how long your video is. Once it\u2019s done, that\u2019s it! You\u2019ve successfully put your video in reverse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to use CapCut templates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
CapCut templates are a great way to easily add cool effects, transitions, and more to your videos without having to put in a ton of time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re planning on using a template for your video in CapCut, it\u2019s best to add it from the very start. Then add any other edits like text or effects in later. If you choose to add a template to a project that you\u2019ve already started working on, adding a template will completely erase your work.<\/strong> I thankfully learned this working on a test project, but I\u2019d hate for it to happen to someone who spent a lot of time on a video. You\u2019ve been warned!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Navigate to Templates<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
To use a template for your video, it\u2019s best to navigate to the Templates section of CapCut outside of the main editor. You can also access templates from inside the editor. But since it asks you to select what footage or images you want to use once you do select a template, it doesn\u2019t make much sense to start a project before adding a template.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n2. Search or Browse templates<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Once you\u2019re on the templates page, you can browse through specific categories like TikTok, Memes, Effects, and more. Or you can search for a specific template using the search bar. Once you\u2019ve found a template you like, click on it and then click the blue Use template<\/strong> button.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n3. Add your photos or videos<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Some templates work with photos or videos, while some work best with one or the other. Choose depending on what works your specific template.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On your media selection screen, you\u2019ll see how many photos or videos you need to select shown at the bottom. You should also see a preview of how long each one will be shown for. The template I\u2019m using is asking me to select 39 items that will each be shown for 0.1 seconds (with 2 seconds for the last one), so I\u2019m using photos for mine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOnce you select your video(s) and\/or photo(s), click the blue Next<\/strong> button to add them to the template.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Preview your template and make any edits<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
On the next screen, you\u2019ll be able to watch a preview of your template with all the media you just added. If you want to switch any photos or videos, you can tap on the specific photo or video and select Replace. Here, you\u2019ll also see options to crop the photo and make other edits or adjustments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nYou can also change out the audio or add\/change the text in the template by tapping either of those options on the bottom when you have the main part of the template selected. Keep in mind that if you change the audio, some templates may not work as well as they were created to work with the beat of the audio that came with the template.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n5. Export your video<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Once you\u2019re happy with how your final template is looking, click the blue Export<\/strong> button in the upper right hand corner. Here, you can adjust the resolution and choose whether you want to export to TikTok or just export to your phone storage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to remove the CapCut watermark<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
To remove the CapCut watermark from your video, you have to either export directly to TikTok or use one of CapCut’s paid plans. Otherwise, a CapCut watermark is added onto the exported version of your video. Unfortunately, there\u2019s no way around it besides those two options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Final thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
As someone who typically edits anything they post to TikTok inside the native editor, I can see the benefits of using CapCut. The editing workflow seems way more streamlined and stable compared to TikTok\u2019s editor. Not having access to most artists and songs is definitely one of the downsides to using CapCut, though you can always add them in once you bring it over to TikTok or another platform. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Overall, it\u2019s a pretty robust editing tool for beginners or mobile-only users that has a lot of template options to choose from, including viral ones. If you’re editing on the go, it’s not a bad option at all. But if you’re using the desktop version of CapCut Pro, there’s lots of better editors to choose from, including Premiere Pro<\/a>, DaVinci Resolve<\/a>, Final Cut Pro<\/a>, and more. Though those have a steeper learning curve, you can do far more with these professional-quality editors for a similar price compared to CapCut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Pro<\/strong> is typically priced at $23.99\/month or $129.99\/year for a yearly subscription.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Creating a new project and adding content<\/a><\/li>
- What is the difference between CapCut’s Standard, Pro, and Ultra plans?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- How to use CapCut<\/a>
![\"Screenshot](\"https:\/\/sb-wp-assets.storyblocks.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/11162205\/Screenshot_20251209-181100-e1765488175161-504x1024.png\")
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