CapCut's AI video generator runs on ByteDance's Seedance models: Seedance 2.5 makes clips up to 30 seconds per pass, and the AI video maker turns a script into a finished, captioned video with avatars and voiceover. Generation is paid in credits, 1,200 a month on Pro (USD 19.99) and 8,645 on Ultra (USD 79), and Seedance 2.5 launched for subscribers outside the United States. Every figure was read on CapCut's own pages on 16 October 2026; we did not test output quality.
CapCut's AI video generator is the AI video maker in CapCut Web and Desktop, which turns a script into an edited video, plus Seedance 2.5 generation, which CapCut says makes clips up to 30 seconds per pass from text or images. Both run on credits that CapCut lists only on paid plans: 1,200 a month on Pro and 8,645 on Ultra. Where you live decides which models you get, and the terms on commercial use depend on which CapCut product and which materials you use.
Based on CapCut's own pages, checked October 2026 (16 October): the AI video generator and Seedance 2.5 pages, the 31 July announcement, pricing, credit rules, Terms of Service and Materials License Agreement. We have not generated videos with it, so this covers what it offers and costs, not output quality.
CapCut AI video in short
- Models: ByteDance's Seedance 2.5 (up to 30 s per pass) and the cheaper Seedance 2.0 Mini.
- Main tool: AI video maker, Instant AI video. A script in, a styled video with voiceover out.
- Where: CapCut Web and Desktop. The AI creator page runs Seedance 2.5 on the web.
- Credits: 1,200 a month on Pro, 8,645 on Ultra, 1,200 a seat on Teams. None listed on Free.
- Regions: Seedance 2.5 launched for subscribers in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and South America.
- Rights: commercial use depends on the product and on each material's commercial-use mark.
- Refund: full refund within 14 days only if you have not used the premium features.
What CapCut's AI video generator includes today
"AI video generator" covers five features in CapCut, and they cost and behave differently. Two make new footage, two animate or restyle what you already have, and one assembles a whole video around a script.
| Feature | Where it is | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Instant AI video (AI video maker) | CapCut Web: AI video maker, Instant AI video. Desktop: AI video maker on the homepage | Script or topic in, a full edited video out, with a style, aspect ratio, voiceover and duration you pick |
| Seedance 2.5 generation | CapCut Web AI creator | Text to video with timed directions, image to video from up to two images, up to 30 s per pass, with extension |
| AI avatars | Inside the AI video maker scenes | Over 100 stock avatars, or a clone made from a short video of yourself, reading a script |
| Motion effects (image to video) | Mobile and desktop project: Effects, Photo effects, Motion | Animates a photo inside an edit. Listed as a Pro AI feature paid for in credits |
| AI effects (video to video) | Project: Effects, AI effects | Restyles existing footage. Also a credit feature |
Sources: CapCut's AI video generator page (AI video maker, avatars, templates), Seedance 2.5 page (30 seconds per pass, two images, extension) and credit rules (Motion and AI effects locations), checked October 2026.
Seedance 2.5 is ByteDance's current video and audio model. CapCut's announcement says it can take up to 50 references for one clip, across images, video, audio and text, and that you can edit specific timestamps or characters inside a generated clip. Our Seedance guide covers the model itself, including where else it is sold.
How to use the CapCut AI video generator
The quickest path is the AI video maker on CapCut Web. It builds the video around a script, so write the script before you open it.
- 1Open AI video maker, then Instant AI video
From the main dashboard on capcut.com, signed in.
- 2Pick a visual style
The page lists realistic film, cartoon 3D and cinematic movie.
- 3Paste your script, or generate one
Paste it in the Enter script box, or use Generate script and rewrite what it gives you.
- 4Set aspect ratio, voiceover and duration
Choose 9:16 for Reels, Shorts and TikTok before you generate, not after.
- 5Create, then edit
Add music, subtitles or effects in the editor. Replace any scene that misses the script.
- 6Export and check the credit balance
Your balance is under Credits in your profile on the web, or Me, Pro on mobile.
On Desktop the same tool starts from AI video maker on the homepage and gives scene-by-scene control: a Scenes panel for the avatar and voice, Elements for synced subtitles and Music for the track, then resolution, format and frame rate at export. For a single generated shot rather than an assembled video, use the Seedance 2.5 AI creator on the web and describe the camera path, the subject's action and the timing in the prompt.
CapCut AI video pricing and credits
Generation is paid in credits, and CapCut publishes plan allowances, not a per-clip price. The pricing page showed these figures in US dollars, with a note that "displayed pricing is for reference only" and that the final price, taxes and offers appear after you sign in.
| Plan | Price | AI credits a month | Seedance 2.5 | Seedance 2.0 Mini |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | USD 0 | Not listed | Free templates and basic editing | Not listed |
| Pro | USD 19.99 a month | 1,200 | Seedance 2.5 from $0.12 a second (first month) | Up to 240 s at 720p or 600 s at 480p |
| Ultra | USD 79 a month | 8,645 | Seedance 2.5 from $0.18 a second (first month), plus exclusive AI features | Up to 1,700 s at 720p or 4,300 s at 480p |
| Teams | USD 12.49 a seat a month | 1,200 a seat | Seedance 2.5 from $0.12 a second a seat, brand kit | Not listed |
Source: CapCut pricing, checked October 2026. The per-second Seedance 2.5 rates are first-month prices. Yearly billing was advertised at up to 30% off.
The credit rules explain how credits behave. Subscription credits last one subscription month and are used first; purchased credits last two years; credits from promotions follow that promotion's rules. Credits cannot buy a plan, move to another account or be cashed out, and purchased credits are not refundable. A Pro member still on the older "Pro uses" can convert them to credits, and CapCut warns you cannot switch back and will not be able to use as many Pro AI features as before.
Where CapCut's AI video generator is available
Model access depends on the country of the account. CapCut's 31 July 2026 announcement said Seedance 2.5 would roll out "in the coming week" to subscriber accounts of people over 16 in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and South America. It named the United States only for the image model, Seedream 5.0 Pro.
- 22 Jan 2026Materials License Agreement updated
Sets which CapCut templates, sounds and effects allow commercial use.
- 15 Apr 2026Terms of Service updated
US users contract with TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC; elsewhere, Bytedance Pte. Ltd.
- 31 Jul 2026Seedance 2.5 announced for CapCut
Subscriber accounts, over 16, in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and South America.
- Oct 2026Pricing lists Seedance 2.5 and 2.0 Mini rates
Pro, Ultra and Teams. CapCut says to sign in for your final price and offers.
The United States now runs on its own contract. CapCut's Terms of Service, last updated 15 April 2026, apply to US users as an agreement with TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, and say the platform "may differ" by jurisdiction and that services may not be available everywhere. Outside the US the same terms name Bytedance Pte. Ltd. The service is for people aged 13 and over, with parental consent under 18. If a model is missing from your account, that is the likely reason; the pricing page does not list regions.
Commercial use and content licence
Read two documents before you put a CapCut AI video in an ad or client work. The Terms of Service say commercial use "may vary depending on the CapCut product you are using" and point to the Materials License Agreement for the editor's own content.
- Materials marked for commercial use (Dual Use) in promotional or advertising content
- Commercial Sounds for brands and advertisers, on the permitted platforms
- Pippit (CapCut's commerce product): company content for commercial purposes
- Cancelling a new subscription for a full refund within 14 days, if unused
- Standard Sounds: no commercial use without your own rights
- A video mixing commercial and non-commercial materials: non-commercial use only
- Dual Use content may not be used to endorse products
- Dreamina: generally for private, non-commercial use
The licence runs the other way too. CapCut's terms grant it "a non-exclusive, royalty-free, transferable, sub-licensable, perpetual and worldwide license to use your User Content", and the right to use your username, image and likeness to identify you as its source. Dreamina's terms say you own your inputs and outputs if you follow them, that outputs may not be unique, and that you grant ByteDance and other users a perpetual, irrevocable licence to use them "for any purpose".
Instagram's labelling rules for AI video are in our Instagram AI label guide.
CapCut vs other AI video generators
CapCut is the pick when the AI clip is one part of a finished, captioned short. For raw clips, a free daily allowance or commercial-friendly terms, look at the alternatives below.
| Tool | Models | Clip length | Allowance and price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CapCut Pro | Seedance 2.5, Seedance 2.0 Mini | Up to 30 s per pass (Seedance 2.5) | 1,200 credits a month, USD 19.99 | Script-to-video with avatars and captions, finished in the same editor |
| Dreamina | Seedance 2.5 and earlier Seedance models | Up to 30 s; long-video mode 5 to 180 s | 150 free credits a day, varying by region | Raw Seedance clips, but terms are generally private, non-commercial |
| Canva Pro | Google's Veo 3 (per Canva) | 8 s with audio, 6 s without | Share of up to 20 Ultra AI uses a month | A short clip dropped into a Canva design |
| Google Flow (no subscription) | Veo 3.1, Gemini Omni Flash | Veo 3.1: 4, 6 or 8 s | 50 credits a day; Veo 3.1 Lite costs 10 | Free daily Veo clips |
| Runway Standard | Gen-4.5, Kling 3.0, Seedance and others | Priced per second | 625 credits a month, $15 ($12 billed yearly) | Choosing among models in one account |
Sources: CapCut pricing; Dreamina and its terms; our Canva AI video generator guide; Google's Flow credits page; Runway pricing. All checked October 2026.
For a recurring AI character the clip tool matters less than the stills you feed it, because a consistent face comes from consistent first frames. The AI Influencers program covers that pipeline, from character design to image-to-video in Kling and Runway. The free plans are compared in our free AI video generator guide, and the paid ones in the best AI video generator ranking.
Common CapCut AI video problems
- Seedance 2.5 is missing. It launched for subscriber accounts in four regions and for users over 16. A free account or a US account may not see it.
- Credits ran out early. Credit use depends on the model, duration and resolution. Draft on Seedance 2.0 Mini at 480p and generate shorter shots.
- Credits vanished after cancelling. Subscription credits last until the end of the subscription month, then expire. Purchased credits last two years.
- A refund was refused. The 14-day full refund applies only if you have not used the premium services. App store purchases follow Apple or Google's rules.
- Music in a sponsored post. Standard Sounds are for non-commercial use. Use a Commercial Sound or a track you have licensed.
CapCut AI video generator: FAQ
What model does CapCut's AI video generator use?
ByteDance's Seedance models. CapCut's AI video generator page names Seedance 2.5, which CapCut says generates clips up to 30 seconds per pass, and its pricing page also lists Seedance 2.0 Mini, a cheaper model that uses up to 58% fewer credits. Read on CapCut's pages on 16 October 2026.
Is the CapCut AI video generator free?
Not in any amount CapCut publishes. Its pricing page lists AI credits only on the paid plans: 1,200 a month on Pro and 8,645 on Ultra, checked October 2026. The tool page says you can export in HD for free but gives no free credit figure. Dreamina, ByteDance's separate generator, lists 150 free credits a day, varying by region.
How much does CapCut Pro cost?
CapCut's pricing page showed Pro at USD 19.99 a month, Ultra at USD 79 a month and Teams at USD 12.49 a seat a month when checked in October 2026. It also says displayed pricing is for reference only, and that the final price, taxes and offers show after you sign in, so the price in your country may differ.
Is Seedance 2.5 available in CapCut in the United States?
CapCut's 31 July 2026 announcement said Seedance 2.5 would roll out to subscriber accounts of people over 16 in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and South America, and did not list the United States. Its pricing page lists Seedance 2.5 rates on Pro without naming regions, so sign in and check what your account offers before you pay.
Can I use CapCut AI videos commercially?
CapCut's terms say commercial use may vary by CapCut product, and its Materials License Agreement marks which templates, music and effects allow commercial use. Content that mixes commercial and non-commercial materials may only be used non-commercially. Dreamina's terms say its services are generally for private, non-commercial use. Checked October 2026.
What rights does CapCut get over my uploads?
CapCut's terms grant it a non-exclusive, royalty-free, transferable, sub-licensable, perpetual and worldwide licence to use your User Content, plus your username, image and likeness to identify you as its source. Dreamina's terms grant a perpetual, irrevocable licence to use your inputs and outputs for any purpose. Read both before uploading a client's material.
Can I get a refund on CapCut Pro?
CapCut's terms allow cancelling a premium subscription with a full refund within 14 calendar days of the start, only if you have not used the premium services. Subscriptions bought through Apple or Google also follow those stores' refund rules. Purchased credits cannot be refunded or exchanged for cash. Checked October 2026.