BeatCut vs CapCut
CapCut is a full video editor where beat sync is one feature among many. BeatCut is a web app that does one job: cut the footage you already shot to the beat. Here is how they differ and which one fits your edit.
Short answer
Pick BeatCut when the job is a beat-synced edit of your own clips and you want it done in a browser in about a minute. It detects kicks, percussion or every beat, assigns clips to the grid, and lets you export that grid as markers to Premiere, DaVinci Resolve or Final Cut.
Pick CapCut when you need a complete editor with text, stickers, effects, templates and a mobile app, and beat sync is just one step in a longer edit. Many creators use both: cut in BeatCut, then add text and effects in CapCut.
Side by side
| Feature | BeatCut | CapCut |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | BeatCutWeb app built only for beat-synced editing of your own footage. | CapCutGeneral-purpose video editor for mobile, desktop and web. |
| Beat detection | BeatCutThree modes: kick only, percussive, all beats. Hears kicks, snares, drops and section changes, then places every cut on the grid. | CapCutAuto Cut with Beat Sync marks beats and slices clips. Sensitivity runs from every beat to strong beats only. Manual beat markers are also available. |
| Auto-cut in the browser | BeatCutYes. Upload clips and a track, get a synced 9:16 edit in about a minute. | CapCutNo. CapCut states that Auto Cut works on mobile and desktop and is not yet supported on CapCut Web (2026). |
| Input | BeatCutYour video clips plus any track: MP3, WAV, FLAC, AAC or OGG. | CapCutYour clips plus music from the CapCut library or your device. |
| Editing depth | BeatCutAuto Beat in one click, or a multi-track timeline with trim handles, drag to reorder, custom beat selection and transitions. No text, sticker or effects library. | CapCutFull editor: text, stickers, effects, templates, captions, AI tools and a template marketplace. |
| Output | BeatCut9:16 vertical at 1080p on every plan. 2K and 4K, up to 60 fps, on Pro and Ultra. | CapCutAny aspect ratio. 1080p and 4K export up to 60 fps, including on the free tier. |
| Export to Premiere, Resolve, Final Cut | BeatCutYes. The beat grid exports as markers in FCPXML and Premiere XML, on every plan. | CapCutExports finished video. We found no built-in beat-marker or XML handoff to other editors. |
| Free plan | BeatCutFree plan with a BeatCut watermark and 1080p beat-sync builds. | CapCutFree exports carry no watermark in most cases. A watermark appears when a project uses Pro assets or certain templates. |
| Paid plans | BeatCutPro $19 per month, or $16 per month billed yearly. Ultra $59 per month, or $49 yearly. | CapCutPro is about $19.99 per month or $179.99 per year in the US. CapCut says the price varies by region and device. |
| Platform | BeatCutBrowser only. Nothing to install, works on desktop and mobile. | CapCutiOS, Android, Windows, macOS and a web version. |
| Best for | BeatCutCar, travel, gym, sports and event edits, music promos, any montage from real footage. | CapCutComplete TikTok and Reels edits with text, effects, voiceover and templates. |
Key differences
Specialist versus generalist
CapCut gives you everything and expects you to assemble the edit. BeatCut removes the assembly: it listens to the track, decides where the cuts go, and hands you a finished 9:16 video or a timeline you can adjust.
The beat grid is a deliverable
In BeatCut the detected beats are not locked inside the app. Export them as markers and finish in Premiere, DaVinci Resolve or Final Cut. CapCut keeps its markers inside its own project.
Web first
BeatCut runs entirely in the browser, so there is nothing to install and no phone storage to fill. CapCut's Auto Cut currently needs the desktop or mobile app.
Which one should you pick?
Choose BeatCut if
- You have real footage and want it cut to the beat without dragging clips by hand.
- You edit in a browser, on a laptop that cannot run heavy desktop software, or on a shared machine.
- You finish in Premiere, Resolve or Final Cut and want the beat grid there as markers.
- You post car, travel, gym or sports edits regularly and speed matters more than effects.
Choose CapCut if
- You need text, stickers, effects, templates and captions in one app.
- You edit mostly on your phone.
- Beat sync is a small part of a longer, hand-crafted edit.
- You want a free tier that exports without a watermark.
Frequently asked questions
Does CapCut have automatic beat sync?
Yes. CapCut's Auto Cut has a Beat Sync mode that marks beats and slices clips to them, and you can also add beat markers by hand. According to CapCut's help center, Auto Cut works on the mobile and desktop apps and is not yet supported on CapCut Web.
Is BeatCut a CapCut alternative?
For beat-synced edits made from your own footage, yes. For text, effects and templates, no. A common workflow is to cut in BeatCut, download the video, then add text and effects in CapCut or another editor.
Which is cheaper, BeatCut or CapCut?
The paid tiers cost about the same: BeatCut Pro is $19 per month or $16 per month billed yearly, and CapCut Pro is about $19.99 per month or $179.99 per year in the US. BeatCut's free plan adds a watermark. CapCut's free tier exports without one in most cases.
Can I use a BeatCut edit inside CapCut?
Yes. Download the finished 1080p or 4K video from BeatCut and import it into CapCut to add text, stickers or effects. If you finish in Premiere, DaVinci Resolve or Final Cut instead, export the beat grid as markers and cut there.
Does BeatCut work on a phone?
BeatCut is a web app, so it runs in a mobile browser as well as on desktop. There is no app to install. The full multi-track editor is most comfortable on a larger screen.