YouClip vs Captions
Last updated 12 August 2026
YouClip and Captions both add captions to short-form video, but they aim at different jobs. Captions is a credit-based app built around AI editing and generative video, including AI actors, with per-minute charges once your credits run out. YouClip is a desktop app for captioning real footage, on monthly plans where unused tokens roll over, with no overage fees — just top up if you need more. Pick Captions for generative AI; pick YouClip for straightforward, real-footage captioning.
Side by side
| YouClip | Captions | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Monthly plans + pay-as-you-go top-ups; tokens roll over | Monthly subscription with credits |
| Free to start | 50 free tokens every month, real watermark-free exports | Limited lifetime credits |
| Paid pricing | Plans from £15/mo (400 tokens), or top-ups from £7 | Pro $9.99/mo (200 credits), Max $24.99, Scale $69.99+ |
| Overage fees | None — top up with tokens any time | Around $0.25 to $0.35 per extra minute |
| Do unused credits expire? | No — unused tokens roll over | Credits renew monthly, with limited rollover |
| Platform | Desktop app (macOS, Windows) | Mobile and desktop app |
| Main focus | Caption and cut real footage | AI editing and generative video |
| Karaoke captions | Yes, word-by-word, fully customisable | Yes, 100+ templates |
| Extras | Multi-cam editing, speaker-tracking vertical crops, multi-language voiceover & translation, bulk render queue, custom watermark | AI actors, digital twins, generative video, translation |
Captions pricing and features checked August 2026 and may have changed. Confirm the latest on their site.
Where YouClip stands out
- No per-minute overage charges: top up with tokens instead of paying a surcharge. Captions bills roughly $0.25 to $0.35 per minute once you pass your credits.
- Free tokens make real, watermark-free clips, and unused tokens roll over.
- A native desktop app built for working with footage you already have.
- Focused on captioning real video rather than generating AI clips, so there is less to wade through.
- Multi-camera editing on desktop: drop in 2–4 angles of the same session and YouClip syncs them by their audio and cuts between the speakers for you — then clips the result for social.
Where Captions might suit you better
- Generative AI video: create clips from a script, plus AI actors and digital twins.
- An AI editing styles library and a chat-based editor.
- A mobile-first workflow, so you can record and edit on your phone.
- A large template library and a broad, all-in-one feature set.
Which should you choose?
Choose Captions if you want AI-generated video, digital avatars and a phone-first workflow. Choose YouClipif you're captioning real footage, want to avoid per-minute overage charges, and prefer a desktop app where your tokens roll over .
Frequently asked questions
Does YouClip charge per-minute overages like Captions?
No. YouClip's unused tokens roll over, and you top up with a one-off pack if you need more — there are no surprise per-minute charges. Captions charges roughly $0.25 to $0.35 per extra minute once you exceed your monthly credits.
Can YouClip generate AI video or digital avatars?
No. Captions offers generative video and digital twins (AI actors). YouClip is focused on captioning and cutting footage you already have, rather than generating new video.
Which is better for editing on a phone?
Captions has a mobile-first app, so it is better if you want to record and edit on your phone. YouClip is a desktop app for macOS and Windows.
Do YouClip tokens expire?
No. YouClip tokens stay in your account until you use them. Captions credits renew monthly with only limited rollover, so unused credits can be lost.