You want free animated captions on long videos
Caption a whole video locally with no AI service, or find clips first. No monthly video limit and no watermark.
Get Cutawan ↗A free Submagic alternative.
Captions without the cap.
Submagic is known for fast, stylised captions, with three watermarked videos a month on its free plan. Cutawan is a free, open-source desktop app for animated captions and clip finding, with no video limit or watermark.
Windows, macOS & Linux · No credits or watermark · What it costs
SHORT ANSWER
Cutawan or Submagic?
It depends how you work.
Submagic is captions-first with effects and B-roll. Cutawan is clip-finding-first, with animated captions on every export.
You want effects, B-roll and quick edits
Submagic focuses on polished caption styles, B-roll, transitions and effects for short videos in the browser.
Submagic pricing ↗Cutawan: $0. Submagic: from $19/mo
Cutawan’s local caption route is free. Clip finding uses Codex plan limits or an API billed by your provider.
See the cost routes ↗AT A GLANCE
Cutawan vs Submagic,
feature by feature.
From Submagic’s public pricing page and Cutawan’s documentation. Check the sources before you decide.
| Feature | Cutawan | Submagic |
|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | Windows, macOS and Linux desktop app | Browser service |
| Price | Free app | Free plan; Starter from $19/mo |
| Free plan limits | No video limit | Three videos a month |
| Watermark on free exports | Never | Yes |
| Animated word-by-word captions | Yes, with your own fonts | Yes |
| Captions with no AI service | Local Whisper | Cloud only |
| Clip finding from long video | Built in | Magic Clips, may be an add-on |
| B-roll and effects | Not included | Yes |
| Source code | MIT licence | Proprietary |
Submagic free-plan and Starter facts from its official pages; Magic Clips add-on pricing is from independent reviews. Submagic pricing ↗
HONEST TRADE-OFFS
Where each one
fits better.
Neither tool is right for everyone. Here is where the difference shows up in practice.
Where Cutawan is stronger
- No monthly video limit and no watermark.
- Caption a whole video with local Whisper and no AI service.
- Clip finding and speaker reframing for long recordings are built in.
- Use your own fonts and branding, rendered locally.
Where Submagic may fit better
- B-roll, transitions, sound effects and emoji styling.
- Very fast edits for videos that are already short.
- Nothing to install.
WHAT CUTAWAN COSTS
Free app.
Pick how clips are found.
The app never charges. Only the AI route you choose for clip finding can have a cost, and local captions need none.
ChatGPT sign-in
Uses a signed-in Codex CLI for analysis and local Whisper for speech. No API key. Your ChatGPT plan’s Codex limits apply.
OpenAI-compatible API
Bring your own key and endpoint. Your provider bills usage at its own rates; local Whisper can handle speech.
Local captions only
Transcribe, caption, reframe and export a whole video with local Whisper and no AI service. Does not find or score clips.
Every route exports without a forced watermark. Local Whisper needs Python 3.10+ and a speech model; the first-run wizard helps. Read the setup guide ↗
RUN A FAIR TEST
Three steps.
One honest answer.
A score printed by any clipper, including Cutawan, is an editing aid. It does not predict views.
- 01
Use the same recording.
Run one video you own through Cutawan and Submagic, ideally with two speakers and a few topic changes.
SAME INPUT - 02
Judge the clips, not the count.
Keep only clips that make sense to a new viewer. Check openings, endings, caption spelling and framing.
QUALITY OVER VOLUME - 03
Add up the real cost.
Compare plan prices, credit limits and any API usage at the volume you expect each month.
COST AT YOUR VOLUME
WHY A DESKTOP APP
Your footage.
Your workflow.
Your call.
Cutawan is free, MIT-licensed and built in the open. Use it. Inspect it. Make it better.
Explore the source ↗The heavy lifting stays here.
Video editing, face tracking, rendering and export run on your machine. Your original video is not uploaded to a hosted editor.
Clear about what leaves.
The API route can send audio for transcription, and both AI routes send transcript text and sampled frames for analysis. Local captions need no AI service.
No Cutawan subscription.
No credits, no app-imposed minute or clip quota and no paid watermark removal.
SUBMAGIC ALTERNATIVE FAQ
Good questions.
Straight answers.
Still weighing it up?
See every tool compared ↗
Is there a free alternative to Submagic?
Yes. Cutawan is a free, open-source desktop app that adds animated, word-by-word captions and can find clips in long videos. There is no monthly video limit or watermark.
Can I add animated captions for free without a watermark?
Yes. Cutawan’s local caption route transcribes with Whisper on your computer and exports an MP4 with captions burned in, with no watermark. See the caption guide.
Does Cutawan add a watermark?
No. Cutawan never adds a mandatory watermark, and there is no paid tier to remove one.
Which computers does Cutawan run on?
Windows, macOS and Linux. Download the matching installer from GitHub Releases. macOS builds are currently unsigned, so follow the installation notes before the first launch.
Can Cutawan post clips to social accounts?
Not currently. It exports ready-to-upload MP4 files and can help draft a post caption; you upload the file yourself.
KEEP COMPARING
Other tools
worth a look.
See all tools side by side in the full comparison ↗
Cutawan
A desktop editor that finds clips, adds animated captions and reframes the speaker, then renders MP4s locally.
- Runs in
- Windows, macOS, Linux desktop
- Free plan
- Whole app, no credit cap
- Watermark
- Never
- Paid from
- Free. AI clip finding uses Codex plan limits or your own API
OpusClip
The best-known AI clipper. A managed browser service with virality scores, an editor on paid plans and scheduled posting.
- Runs in
- Browser
- Free plan
- 60 credits a month, no editing
- Watermark
- On free exports
- Paid from
- $15/mo Starter
Vizard
A browser clipper and editor with team workspaces and scheduling to connected social accounts.
- Runs in
- Browser
- Free plan
- 60 credits a month, 720p
- Watermark
- On free exports
- Paid from
- $29/mo Creator ($14.50/mo billed yearly)
Plans checked . Sources: Cutawan documentation, Submagic pricing, OpusClip pricing, Vizard pricing. Check each provider’s current terms before you buy.