It’s never been a better time to create video content. The medium is booming - according to data from Statista, 92% of global internet users checked out online videos at the end of 2023. With TikTok’s rising popularity, that trend looks set to continue. 

To make great videos for YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and other social platforms, you need the right video editor. InShot and CapCut are two major players - but which is the best for you? 

If you’re new to video editing or want to try out a new platform, it’s a confusing choice to make. Feeling stumped? There’s no need to worry. 

In this post, Whop will take you through the features, pricing, and pros and cons of InShot vs CapCut. Plus, we’ll also cover a few alternatives, so you know you’re making the best choice for your videos.

What is InShot?

What is InShot

InShot is a video editing app for Android, iOS, and Huawei devices. You can use the app free of charge, but there’s also a paid upgrade for extra features and no adverts. It’s an immensely popular tool, with 500+ million downloads on Google Play alone. 

It includes lots of features for editing your videos, including cutting, effects, captions, stickers, and much more.

InShot at a glance

Best for Not so good for
  • ⭐Editing social media videos on mobile
  • ⭐Free, reliable app/lots of useful features
  • ⭐Vast audio editing options
  • ❌Advanced editing, larger projects
  • ❌Problems with audio synchronization
  • ❌Customer service issues
  • Core features of InShot

    Cutting videos: One of the most fundamental features of a good video editor is cutting tools. On InShot, you can edit video clips with ease. That includes cutting, trimming, splitting, and adjusting the length of clips.

    Video manipulation: InShot features several useful tools for video manipulation, including video reversal, duplication, and freeze frames. 

    Video speed: It’s simple to tweak the playback speed of the full video or at particular segments with the Speed icon. 

    Text: Add extra details to your video through quotes or subtitles. With InShot’s Text icon, you can tweak text color, font, animation, and more. Plus, adjust the text position and duration, as needed.

    Stickers: Bring extra fun to your videos with stickers, including GIFs, emojis, and more. 

    Effects and filters: InShot features useful adjustments, like contrast and saturation, along with fun filters and effects. Some are free to use but other filters are paid.

    Audio and music: Audio matters, even in video content. InShot provides tools for adding and editing audio and music into your videos. You can choose from audio tracks saved to your device, from InShot’s own music library, or even extract audio from another video. You can also add sound effects and voice recordings. Tweak the volume or track length and incorporate multiple tracks.

    Looking for an easier way to edit audio and video? Read our guide to the AI editing tool Descript.

    Is the InShot interface easy to use?

    InShot is easy to use, and as an app, it’s good for use on the go. So, if you want to shoot and edit your videos for TikTok, YouTube, and other socials, it has everything you need. 

    With that being said, it’s more clunky when you want to work on a few different tasks. Plus, there’s no desktop version, so you can’t work on a larger interface when things get crowded.

    InShot pricing

    InShot is free to download and use. However, there are some limitations to this version, as it includes watermarks and adverts. If you want to remove these, you’ll need to upgrade to the paid version.

    There are three pricing options for the paid plans: 

    • $3.99 per month
    • $17.99 per year
    • $ 39.99 lifetime purchase

    You can also purchase additional filter and transition packs, which range from $1.99 to $3.99 each. 

    Overall rating of InShot

    Taking a look at InShot’s overall ratings shows they’re really positive. On Google Play, the platform has a 4.9* rating out of 5. That’s out of a staggering 21.4 million reviews.

    InShot Google Play

    That positive rating holds up on the Apple App Store, where it holds a 4.8* rating from 323.9 thousand reviews.

    InShot Apple App Store

    InShot has a lower rating of 3.3* on Trustpilot. However, this comes from just 10 reviews on the platform.

    InShot Trustpilot

    InShot pros

    Once you have a grasp of the features, it’s important to consider the pros and cons of InShot vs CapCut. First, we’ll take a look at the InShot app.

    Free options

    Although there are paid plans, there’s plenty to do with just the free plan. If you’re just looking to make some simple promotional videos, this might be enough for you. Even if you are looking to upgrade, then you can try out the app for free first. 

    Easy to use

    Users also appreciate the platform’s ease of use. If you’re looking for a platform you can get stuck into without much of a learning curve, you’ll appreciate the app's simplicity. 

    This Google Play reviewer even switched over to using CapCut, and they found the InShot app to be easier to use.

    Google Play reviewer

    On-the-go editing

    Another great bonus of InShot is its mobile functionality. As it works on Apple and Android devices, you can edit videos wherever you want. So, if you record an impromptu video while you’re out and about, you won’t have to wait to start editing. That’s a major time saver for digital content creators

    Vast features

    InShot has lots of different filters, stickers, music, and other useful features for developing your content. Great content stands out from the crowd - and the InShot app provides all the tools you need for editing in one place.

    InShot cons

    App functionality issues

    Most negative (or mixed) reviews of InShot focus on technical issues with the features. For example, in the Google Play review below, the user noted issues with audio desynchronizing and problems with the cut-out system. Still, it’s interesting that the review still acknowledges that the app itself is good. 

    Google Play review

    Problems with customer service

    Other negative reviews seem to focus on customer service issues. For example, this Trustpilot reviewer reached out to InShot after the subscription ended abruptly, and didn’t receive a reply 2 weeks later. According to the review, InShot also didn’t respond to another issue from a year earlier. 

    InShot Trustpilot reviewer

    Getting started with InShot

    Like the sound of InShot? It’s really simple to set up the app on your phone - for this post, we’re using an Android device. You don’t need to add your details for the free version.

    Getting started with InShot

    When you load up the app, you’ll find the interface is straightforward to navigate. The main page has icons to create new videos, photos, or collages. You can also browse and download assets for use in your content and access your settings.

    You can browse through stickers and fonts. Switch between them with the icons at the bottom of the page.

    stickers and fonts

    See one you like? Tap on it to see what you’ll get in more detail - including what you can unlock with the free version. Keep in mind that some sets are Pro-only.

    Then once you’ve downloaded one, you can find it in the “My Material” tab.

    But what about editing? The timeline and features are really easy to access and adjust. When you first start a video, you’ll also get a quick tutorial on the main editing points, which is helpful for newbies.

    editing

    Editing the timeline, including making cuts, is easy to grasp. It’s very similar to desktop video editing tools, like DaVinci Resolve, albeit more simplified. So, if you’re used to editing, you can get stuck right in. You’ll notice a small advertisement at the top of the page, but this doesn’t get in the way of editing.

    advertisement

    There are lots of great features to develop your videos. For example, it’s very easy to change the aspect ratio for different platforms and video styles. Just tap the “Canvas” icon, and choose the right option for your video.

    Canvas

    The Speed icon is also very useful, as you can change speed across the entire video, or adjust certain points using the Curve tool. 

    Speed

    Plus, there are lots of different transition styles to choose from, which can make your video really creative and fun.

    transition styles

    Filters are simple and stylish, and you can add multiple across your video clips. There’s not quite as much choice here, though. Still, you can tweak and adjust filters as needed. 

    There’s also a nice catalog of music to add to your videos, and you can extract audio from your videos.

    Another cool feature is the option to add sound effects. These are split into different categories, including “Bells”, “Social”, “Food”, and “Vocal”. 

    When you’re done, exporting your video is also really easy. You can choose the resolution, frame rate, and format. It didn't take long to download, and the quality of the final video was good.

    It did have the InShot watermark on, though, so it wouldn’t be great for content. To remove this, you’d need to upgrade to the paid version.

    What is CapCut?

    What is CapCut

    CapCut is a video editing app available for Android and iOS devices. There’s also a desktop version for Windows and Mac and an in-browser option, which has extra features. 

    The platform is free to use and includes tools for editing videos, including resizing, trimming, adding effects and music, and much more. CapCut also offers AI tools for taking your content further. This includes image and voice generators. 

    Learn how AI tools can help you to sell more online.

    CapCut at a glance

    Best for Not so good for
  • ⭐Editing videos on mobile/desktop
  • ⭐Lots of features/effects/stickers
  • ⭐Text assets for commercial use/royalty-free music
  • ❌Free version is limited
  • ❌Technical app problems
  • ❌High pricing on Pro plan
  • Core features of CapCut

    Trim and cut: With CapCut, it’s easy to trim, merge, and split your video clips, so you only include what you want to share. Plus, you can change the size of your videos to meet the requirements of different social media platforms.

    features of CapCut

    Speed and slow-mo: You can get creative with video speeds using CapCut’s speed slider. This useful tool allows you to speed up or slow down parts of your video. Choose from a preset or customize the speed and even tweak the frame rate for great slow-mo clips.

    Video manipulation: Transform your video with video reversals, motion blur, and freeze frames. These features can add dramatic flair to your content to keep viewers engaged.

    Video effects and filters: With over 1,100 effects and 200+ filters, there are lots of ways to customize your video on CapCut. That includes effects to resolve issues with your videos or add transitions between clips. Plus, filters let you control the style of your video, including changes to lighting, colors, and more.

    Audio editing: On the CapCut app, you can tweak audio volume, pitch, background noise, and speed. Fade your audio in and out, add audio filters, and much more.

    Music: You can take your audio further by adding royalty-free background music to your videos for free. There’s even the option to customize the audio for use in your video.

    Adding text: Add info and promote your brand with text overlays. Tailor the text size, font, color, spacing, alignment, and more. Perfect for adding subtitles, watermarks, and credits to your content. Plus, CapCut’s text assets, including templates, are suitable for commercial use. 

    Stickers: Add fun, custom stickers to your videos, including symbols and emojis. There are thousands to choose from, and you can rotate and resize them to fit your video.

    Not sure what kind of video to create? Discover TikTok video ideas for inspo.

    Is the CapCut interface easy to use?

    CapCut’s user interface is streamlined and simple to navigate. It has both mobile apps for editing on the go and a desktop/browser version for more advanced edits. Plus, you’ve got a color-coded video timeline, so it’s very clear to edit your content.

    CapCut pricing

    CapCut pricing

    CapCut is completely free to download and use. There’s a paid Pro version available with some extra features. These include AI image and video creation, multi-platform publishing, and advanced templates and effects.

    CapCut Pro costs $9.99+ per month and $89.99+ per year. 

    Overall rating of CapCut

    CapCut reviews on Google Play are largely positive. From 10.3 million reviews, the app has a 4.1* rating. 

    CapCut Google Play

    It’s even more positive on the Apple App Store, where it holds a 4.8* rating from 10.3 thousand ratings overall.

    CapCut Apple App Store

    On the other hand, CapCut has a “Bad” rating of 1.5* on Trustpilot. That’s from 161 reviews overall. So, what’s the story behind the negative reviews? Let’s take a look in more detail.

    CapCut Trustpilot

    CapCut pros

    Intuitive UX

    First, we’ll look at the positives. Customers appreciate the simplicity of the editing tools, noting the balance between professional quality and ease of use. 

    Vast features

    Reviewers appreciate the range of features on the platform, including the cut-out tool and reversal feature. Some reviewers comment that it’s possible to do what you need with the free version. 

    Although, this will vary between users. If you’re aiming to create content or adverts for your business, you might prefer to upgrade.

    CapCut cons

    Limited free features

    Most negative reviews of CapCut are consistent. Users previously enjoyed the app but have now found many features are behind a paywall. 

    This is especially frustrating for long-term customers, who have suddenly lost access to their favorite features.

    Some reviewers feel that essential features are now limited to the Pro subscription, such as the smooth slow-mo tool.

    Technical issues

    Other negative reviews comment on technical problems with the app itself. Eloise on Google Play found that her videos kept coming out blurry and also had issues with audio synchronization. 

    reviewer CapCut

    Pro plan issues

    Users don’t just have issues with the free plan. There are also reviews critiquing the Pro version. One reviewer commented on features disappearing from the Pro plan, including Pro voiceovers, and the pricing increase. They also noted inconsistencies between the features that are available on the mobile and desktop apps.

    Getting started with CapCut

    The CapCut app is very simple to set up, and like InShot, you won’t have to make an account for the free version. It does prompt you to answer a few questions. This is just to personalize your experience, and you can skip this step if you want. 

    It asks you about your role, what you want to do on the app, the kinds of videos you want to make, and where you first found the app.

    After this, you land on the “Edit” page. This page is very streamlined, but there are quite a few features to choose from, which can be overwhelming. If you tap the “Expand” icon, there are more features to try, including AI tools.

    new project

    There are three other tabs to browse through. The next is the “Templates” page. As it sounds, you’ll find templates to use in your videos here. 

    Templates

    On the “Library” tab, you can view projects and videos on your device or across different social accounts.

    Finally, on the “Me” tab, you can sign in to synchronize projects and templates, view your history, access the Help Center, and more. 

    When you’re ready to create your first project, head to the “Edit” tab and tap on “New project”. Select the video(s) you want to edit and then you can start editing on the timeline. This is very similar to InShot but with the features at the bottom of the page.

    In the top right corner, you can tweak the resolution, frame rate, and code rate.

    Like InShot, there are lots of interesting elements you can add to your video, including trendy filters. Keep in mind that some are premium and require either the Standard or Pro plans.

    filters

    You can also add stickers and music to your videos. Plus, there’s a neat option to add auto-captions, which you can generate from your video, voiceover, or both. This does require the Pro version, though.

    auto captions

    Ready to export your video? Tap the blue “Export” button at the top right of the page. Ensure you don’t close the app or lock the screen as you download. Once it’s done, it will be saved to your device, but you’ll also be prompted to share on social media, including TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Plus, there’s no watermark to worry about, which is convenient.

    If you’re still finding CapCut difficult to get to grips with, it’s best to learn from the experts. On Whop, CamXEditzz shares their 4+ years’ experience as a CapCut editor. They offer a few different pricing tiers to meet students’ needs, which provide access to their exclusive Discord for tutorials and tips for video cuts, captions, pacing, color correction, and much more.

    CamXEditzz

    InShot vs CapCut: Alternative video editors

    We’ve covered the showdown between InShot vs CapCut, but they’re not your only options. If you’re still stuck or want to check out other options, we have you covered. Here are a few alternative video editors to try:

    1. Canva Video Editor

    Canva Video Editor

    You might already be using Canva for social media images, but you can use it for video editing too. 

    Keep in mind that it’s a little basic compared to fully-fledged editing software. Still, if you’re looking for something simple to create content for your socials, Canva will work for you. 

    You’ll have access to Canva’s library of elements to use in your videos, and there are also templates to speed up your creation process.

    2. Adobe Express Video Editor

    Adobe Express Video Editor

    This app works well for creating short videos for social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. As with most Adobe platforms, it’s very intuitive to use - though you’ll need a premium subscription to use some assets. Still, there are also plenty of free assets available, as well.

    3. DaVinci Resolve

    DaVinci Resolve

    If you’re interested in something more professional, then you might want to try out DaVinci Resolve. This video editor is free to use and can be downloaded onto your desktop. It features an intuitive drag-and-drop timeline where you can easily cut and splice video clips. 

    You can do simple tasks, like resizing your video and correcting your audio, or add more advanced effects. There’s no Android app available, unfortunately, but there is an iPad app if you’re an Apple user.

    4. Filmora

    Filmora

    If AI tools are a priority for your video creation process, you might want to try Filmora. This video editing platform is available for Windows and Mac, along with iOS and Android. 

    Smart Short Clips

    Filmora includes a lot of time-saving AI features, including “Smart Short Clips”. This tool makes it easier to transform longer videos into several short clips for TikTok, Insta, etc. 

    Rather than wasting time rewatching videos to find highlights, the AI does this for you. You can then tweak and adjust the clips as needed. Keep in mind that this feature is only available on the Advanced plan, which costs $50.99 per year. There is a free plan available, but this is more restricted and exported videos include a watermark.

    In terms of Filmora vs CapCut vs InShot, you’ll typically want to go for Filmora when you have more advanced editing needs and want to automate more processes.

    Check out more of the best free video editing tools in our guide for creators.

    Monetize your videos and grow your brand on Whop

    Whop

    Once you’ve settled on the right video editing app, you can focus on developing your content. If you want to get serious about video creation, you’ll need to find a platform for monetization.

    While there are a few options out there, Whop gives you the best features in one. Here are just some of the ways you can monetize your content on Whop:

    • Sell access to exclusive videos and content for your fans
    • Offer ebooks, PDF guides, and more 
    • Develop a paid podcast
    • Set up a digital community and sell paid memberships
    • Create and sell courses 

    What’s great about selling on Whop is that it’s completely tailored to you. Some online marketplaces limit the types of products you can sell. For example, Domestika just sells courses. 

    On Whop, you can create custom product bundles. Just add in the native Whop apps that your product needs. So, for example, if you wanted to create a paid community membership for your YouTube channel, you could sell that in a bundle with exclusive video or audio content.

    Take your video content to the next level and set up a whop today.


    InShot vs CapCut FAQs

    CapCut vs InShot, which is better?

    Both InShot and CapCut have strengths and weaknesses, and choosing the right platform will depend on what you want to create. CapCut has more advanced features and a desktop/browser version. On the other hand, InShot has more positive reviews and fewer premium features.

    Is there something better than CapCut?

    It depends on what you’re looking for. CapCut is a very popular app for editing videos, particularly for social media. If you need something more advanced, you might want to use a more professional tool, like DaVinci Resolve. 

    What are the disadvantages of InShot?

    Although the app is free to download and use, some features are only available on the paid plans. There are also ads on the free version. Beyond this, there are also some technical issues reported in user reviews, including audio synchronization problems.

    Why not to use CapCut?

    If you’re looking for a completely free video editing app, you might find CapCut frustrating. The platform is free to use, but many user reviews comment on how restrictive it has become over time. They note that features that were previously free are now behind a paywall. 

    Is CapCut owned by TikTok?

    CapCut is owned by ByteDance, the Chinese tech company that also owns the popular social media platform TikTok. So, both platforms are owned by the same company.

    What do most YouTubers use to edit their videos?

    There are a few video editors that are popular with YouTubers, including:

    • Adobe Premiere Pro
    • DaVinci Resolve
    • CapCut
    • Apple Final Cut Pro