YouClip vs Captions
Last updated 17 July 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, paid for with one-off tokens that never expire and with no overage fees. Pick Captions for generative AI; pick YouClip for straightforward, no-subscription captioning.
Side by side
| YouClip | Captions | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Pay-as-you-go tokens, no subscription | Monthly subscription with credits |
| Free to start | 25 free tokens, real watermark-free exports | Limited lifetime credits |
| Paid pricing | One-time packs from £10 (100 tokens ≈ 20 one-minute clips) | Pro $9.99/mo (200 credits), Max $24.99, Scale $69.99+ |
| Overage fees | None, buy more tokens whenever you like | Around $0.25 to $0.35 per extra minute |
| Do unused credits expire? | No, tokens never expire | 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-language voiceover & translation, bulk render queue, custom watermark | AI actors, digital twins, generative video, translation |
Captions pricing and features checked July 2026 and may have changed. Confirm the latest on their site.
Where YouClip stands out
- No subscription and no per-minute overage charges. Captions bills roughly $0.25 to $0.35 per minute once you pass your credits.
- Free tokens make real, watermark-free clips, and tokens never expire.
- 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.
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 a subscription and per-minute overage charges, and prefer a desktop app where your tokens never expire.
Frequently asked questions
Does YouClip charge per-minute overages like Captions?
No. YouClip is pay-as-you-go, so you buy token packs when you need them and 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.
Try YouClip with no subscription
New accounts get free tokens, enough to caption and export your first clips. No card, no monthly fee.