CapCut vs Apple Motion

CapCut and Apple Motion side by side, as of September 2026: what each one costs, what it's made for, and when smooth.video, a free animation tool that runs in your browser with no account, does the job instead.

Open the editorFree, no signup, nothing to install

CapCut vs Apple Motion at a glance

CapCutApple Motionsmooth.video
PriceFree version, with CapCut Pro for premium featuresUS$49.99 once, or in Apple Creator Studio at US$12.99 a monthFree, no paid plan

As of September 2026. Plans change, so check those of CapCut and Apple Motion before you decide.

CapCut

Account
Sign-up asked for in the online editor
Export resolution
Up to 1080p free, 4K and 60 fps with Pro
Premium templates, effects and fonts
Pro needed to export them
Built for
Editing videos: cuts, transitions, filters, effects
Phone and desktop apps
Yes
AI tools, music and sticker library
Yes

When CapCut fits better

You're editing footage: cutting clips, adding transitions, filters, trending sounds and effects, on your phone as much as on a computer. smooth.video isn't a video editor, and it has no app.

CapCut vs smooth.video

Apple Motion

Platform
Mac only, macOS 15.6 or later
Install
Desktop app from the Mac App Store
How you animate
Keyframes, 230+ behaviors, 2D and 3D space
Transparent video
ProRes 4444 and HEVC with alpha
3D and mask tracking
Yes
Final Cut Pro templates
Yes

When Motion fits better

You edit in Final Cut Pro and want titles and effects your editors adjust in its inspector, or you need 3D, behaviors, mask tracking or ProRes with alpha for a professional pipeline.

Apple Motion vs smooth.video

When smooth.video fits better

You need the graphics, not the edit: an animated title, a stat, a logo reveal or a lower third, in 4K or on a transparent background, and you'd rather not unlock Pro for a font or a template.

You're on Windows, Linux or a Chromebook, you edit in something other than Final Cut Pro, or you only need an animated title or logo from time to time and don't want to install anything.

Open the editor

Start from a template

See all 172 templates

Questions

Can I use a smooth.video animation in CapCut?
Yes. Export an MP4 and import it into your CapCut project like any other clip.
Can I edit my footage in smooth.video?
Only lightly: add a video file to the scene and put text, shapes and images on top. For cutting and arranging footage, a video editor is the better tool.
Do I need to sign in?
No. Your projects stay in your browser, and you can save any of them as a .smooth file.
Can I use smooth.video exports in Final Cut Pro?
Yes. Import the MP4 like any other clip.
Does smooth.video work on a Mac?
Yes, in a recent browser, and just as well on Windows, Linux or a Chromebook.
Is it really free?
Yes, with no watermark, no account and no purchase.