Paying for audio minutes instead of per-video caps
Submagic meters your account by video count and duration: 15 videos a month on Starter (up to 2 minutes each), 40 on Pro (up to 5 minutes) and 100 on Business (up to 30 minutes). Every new project uses a slot, whether it is a 15-second Short or a 2-minute clip.
Cuecaps renders video locally on your computer, so we never cap how many videos you create or how many times you export. We only meter optional cloud transcription minutes: Creator includes 300 minutes a month and Pro includes 1,200. Fixing typos, tweaking styles or re-exporting in 9:16 and 16:9 uses zero minutes—and on-device transcription is free and unlimited on every plan.
For a channel posting two one-minute Shorts a day (~60 videos a month), Submagic requires the $69/month Business plan because Pro stops at 40 videos. In Cuecaps, 60 one-minute clips use just 60 cloud minutes—leaving 240 minutes to spare on the €9/month Creator plan.
Transparent NLE overlays vs. cloud re-encoding
Because Submagic runs in the cloud, you have to upload your finished video file and let their servers re-encode the picture with captions burned in. If you spot a color-grading tweak or cut Change in Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve later, you have to re-upload and re-caption.
Cuecaps works both ways: you can export a finished burned-in MP4 in your browser, or export a captions-only transparent MOV (PNG alpha) or WebM (VP9 alpha) overlay and drop it onto a track above your timeline in Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro or CapCut. Your source footage never uploads and never suffers cloud generation loss.
What Submagic does that Cuecaps doesn't
Submagic is an automated cloud editor as well as a caption tool: it inserts stock B-roll, selects clips from long videos with AI, adds sound effects and trims via text. Cuecaps does captions only. If you want an all-in-one AI editor to assemble and decorate raw footage for you, Submagic is built for that workflow.
What you get in Cuecaps
- Ten adjustable word-by-word caption styles, 24 video-licensed fonts (plus custom TTF/OTF/WOFF uploads on Creator and Pro), eight entrance animations and five active-word highlight modes.
- An interactive audio waveform timeline where every word is a draggable block that you can nudge in 10 ms increments, split, merge or emphasise with single-key shortcuts.
- Burned-in MP4 exports (up to 4K 60 fps on Pro), transparent MOV and WebM alpha overlays for NLEs, and raw SRT + VTT subtitle files.
- Dual transcription: free, unlimited on-device Whisper transcription, plus ElevenLabs Scribe v2 cloud transcription across 90+ languages with custom vocabulary hints.
Which one to choose
- Choose Submagic if you want an automated cloud editor that adds stock B-roll, zoom cuts and sound effects alongside captions.
- Choose Cuecaps if you already edit in Premiere, Resolve, Final Cut or CapCut and want frame-accurate word-by-word captions or transparent overlays at a flat monthly price.
- Choose Cuecaps if you work with client footage, large 4K files or NDA material that shouldn't be uploaded to a third-party server.
Prices and plan limits were verified on 26 October 2026. See the comparison table and sources below.
Side by side
| Compared on | Cuecaps | Submagic |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | Creator €9, Pro €19 (VAT included) | Starter $19, Pro $39, Business $69, per team member (before tax) |
| Paid yearly | €7 or €15 a month (€84 or €180 a year, VAT included) | $12, $23 or $41 a month (before tax) |
| Export & video limits | Unlimited exports and videos on every plan. Cloud transcription: 300 or 1,200 min/mo; on-device transcription is unlimited | Starter: 15 videos/mo (max 2 min each). Pro: 40/mo (max 5 min). Business: 100/mo (max 30 min) |
| Free plan | Unlimited on-device transcription, 10 cloud minutes/mo, unlimited 1080p MP4 (small watermark) and free SRT/VTT export | 3 videos a month with a watermark, up to 1 min 30 s and 200 MB each |
| Transparent NLE overlays | Yes on Creator & Pro: MOV with alpha (PNG codec) and WebM with alpha (VP9) | No (burns captions into uploaded video or exports text/SRT) |
| Highest resolution | 1080p up to 60 fps on Free & Creator; 1440p and 4K 60 fps on Pro | 1080p 30 fps on Starter, 2K on Pro, 4K 60 fps on Business ($69/mo) |
| Where your video goes | Stays on your computer; rendered in your browser. Only compressed audio is sent for cloud transcription | Full video file must be uploaded to Submagic servers |
| Scope | Dedicated word-by-word captioning studio (pairs with any video editor) | Cloud short-form editor with AI B-roll, clip selection and sound effects |
Checked 26 October 2026. Submagic: US dollars before tax; Cuecaps prices are in euros including VAT. Prices change, so check each company’s site before deciding. Sources: Submagic pricing page, October 2026; Submagic help centre, October 2026; Submagic free plan limits, CutSnap, June 2026.
Questions
Is Cuecaps cheaper than Submagic?
For captioning, yes. Cuecaps Creator is €9 a month including VAT with 300 cloud minutes and unlimited exports; Submagic starts at $19 a month before tax for up to 15 two-minute videos. If you rely on Submagic's stock B-roll and AI clip cutting, the two tools serve different workflows.
Can I try Cuecaps without paying?
Yes. Open the studio and test on-device transcription or the built-in demo clips without even creating an account. A free account gives you unlimited on-device transcription, 10 cloud minutes a month, free SRT/VTT exports and 1080p MP4 exports with a small “Made with cuecaps.com” mark.
Does Cuecaps add B-roll or cut my video?
No. Cuecaps focuses entirely on word-by-word captions. Cut your video in your preferred editor, then use Cuecaps to generate either a finished captioned MP4 or a transparent overlay track that sits above your edit.
Why are Submagic's prices shown in US dollars?
Submagic lists its pricing in USD excluding sales tax/VAT. Cuecaps prices are in euros and already include VAT, so the price shown is the exact amount on your receipt.
Try it on your video
You can also drop a file anywhere on this page. Or tryTry the demo clip