Starts atFree trial · paid from $12/mo billed yearly
- No free plan
- Free trial3 short videos, watermarked downloads
- Watermark on free exports
Head-to-head
Submagic vs Captions (2026): which should you use?
At a glance
Starts atFree plan · paid from $24.99/mo
- Free planlimited feature set, no generative AI
- Watermark not statedThe provider does not say
Short answer: pick Submagic if you already have short clips and want animated captions, B-roll and zooms added in a browser, for the lowest watermark-free price ($12/mo billed yearly). Pick the Captions app if you film yourself on your phone and want editing, captions and AI avatars in one app, and want a free plan to start. Submagic has no free plan, only a 3-video watermarked trial.
Side-by-side comparison
As of 2026-10-15, from each vendor's pricing and help pages. USD.
| Detail | Submagic | Captions app |
|---|---|---|
| Starts from | A short clip you upload | Video you film or edit on your phone |
| Free plan | No. Free trial: upload and edit 3 short videos; download without watermark needs a subscription | Yes: basic tools (trimming, transitions), 1 caption template, no AI credits |
| Cheapest paid plan | Starter $19/mo, or $12/mo billed yearly | Max $24.99/mo (iOS price) |
| Usage counted as | Videos (15/mo on Starter, max 2 min each) | Credits (500/mo on Max; unused credits roll over up to 3x) |
| Watermark on paid | No | Not stated on Captions' pricing page (checked 16 Oct 2026) |
| Yearly pricing | Published | Offered, prices not shown on Captions' pricing page (checked 16 Oct 2026) |
| Caption templates | Animated caption styles on every plan | 1 on Free, 100+ on paid |
| Best for | High-volume styled Shorts | Talking-head creators on a phone |
Prices, plan by plan
Submagic
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $19/mo, or $12/mo yearly | 15 videos/mo, max 2 min, 1080p 30fps, no watermark |
| Pro | $39/mo, or $23/mo yearly | 40 videos/mo, max 5 min |
| Business | $69/mo, or $41/mo yearly | 100 videos/mo, max 30 min, 4K 60fps |
Captions app
| Plan | Price (iOS) | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Basic tools, some media library assets, 1 caption template |
| Max | $24.99/mo | 500 credits/mo, 100+ caption templates |
| Frontier | $69.99, $139.99 or $279.99/mo | 1,400, 2,800 or 5,600 credits/mo |
Captions lists iOS prices only. Android and web prices can differ, so check in the app before paying.
By use case
You batch edited clips at a desk
Submagic. Upload, pick a caption style, add B-roll and export. Starter's 2-minute cap fits finished Shorts, not raw footage.
You film yourself talking to your phone
Captions. You record, edit and caption in one app without moving files. Our captions for retention stack covers the caption side in more depth.
You want to try before paying
Captions Free lets you use the app indefinitely with basic tools. Submagic's trial is 3 short videos with watermarked downloads.
You need clips from long videos
Neither is the first pick. See OpusClip vs Submagic vs Captions.
Pick Submagic if / Pick Captions if
- Pick Submagic if you want the cheapest watermark-free styled captions and work in a browser.
- Pick Captions if you work on a phone, film yourself and want a free plan to keep.
- Who should NOT pick Submagic: anyone who needs a free plan, or posts clips longer than 2 minutes on a Starter budget.
- Who should NOT pick Captions: desktop-first editors, or anyone who needs clear yearly or Android pricing before signing up.
More options: Submagic alternatives and Captions alternatives.
Questions
Does Submagic have a free plan?
No. Its help center describes a free trial where you upload 3 short videos; downloading without a watermark needs a subscription.
Is Submagic cheaper than Captions?
Yes at the entry level: Submagic Starter is $12/mo billed yearly or $19 monthly, against $24.99/mo for Captions Max on iOS.
Is Captions free?
There is a free plan with basic tools and one caption template, but no AI credits. Most AI features need Max.
Which is better for TikTok captions?
For styling clips you already have, Submagic. For recording and captioning on the phone, Captions.
Common questions
Does Submagic have a free plan?
No permanent free plan, but there's a free trial. Submagic pricing: Paid, from $12/mo yearly ($19 monthly); free trial (3 videos). Prices change, so check the official site.
Does Captions have a free plan?
Yes. Captions pricing: From $24.99/mo. Prices change, so check the official site.
Sources: submagic.co/pricing, Submagic free-trial help article, captions.ai/pricing. Checked on 15 October 2026. Based on published plans, not a hands-on test. Prices change, so confirm on each provider's site.