CapCut vs Instories
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. CapCut starts at $9.99/mo and Instories starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Auto captions
- Background removal
- Trending templates
- Text-to-speech
- Script to video
- Reels and Stories templates
- AI video generator
- Long video clipping
- Auto captions
- Background removal
- AI voice
| Feature | CapCut | Instories |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Free video editor with AI captions, effects and templates | Template and AI editor for Reels, Stories, carousels and ads |
| Category | Video | Video |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | $9.99/mo | See pricing page |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Made by | ByteDance | Instories |
| Based in | – | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
|
|
Both offer: Auto captions, Background removal.
Pricing compared
CapCut starts at $9.99/mo and Instories starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
3 plans
Free
Free
- Free templates
- Basic editing tools
Standard
$9.99/mo
- Premium editing features
- More cloud storage
Pro
$19.99/mo
- All premium features and assets
- AI video generation credits
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
CapCut
- Powerful free editor
- Works on phone, desktop and web
- Huge template library
- Many AI tools moved to paid tiers
- Availability varies by country
Instories
- Large template library for social formats
- Web and mobile apps
- Many AI tools in one editor
- Paid plan details not shown
- Focused on short social content
- Templates can look familiar across brands
Which one should you choose?
Choose CapCut if you want:
- Powerful free editor
- Works on phone, desktop and web
- Huge template library
Watch out: many ai tools moved to paid tiers.
Choose Instories if you want:
- Large template library for social formats
- Web and mobile apps
- Many AI tools in one editor
Watch out: paid plan details not shown.
CapCut vs Instories FAQ
What is the difference between CapCut and Instories?
CapCut: Free video editor with AI captions, effects and templates. Instories: Template and AI editor for Reels, Stories, carousels and ads. Both are video tools.
Is CapCut or Instories cheaper?
CapCut starts at $9.99/mo and Instories starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Do CapCut and Instories have free plans?
CapCut: Yes. Instories: Yes.
Who makes CapCut?
CapCut is made by ByteDance.
Who makes Instories?
Instories is made by Instories.
Which should I choose, CapCut or Instories?
Choose CapCut if you value powerful free editor and works on phone, desktop and web. Choose Instories if you value large template library for social formats and web and mobile apps.