Runway vs CapCut
Generated footage versus editing what you already shot
These two get compared because both are called "AI video tools", but one makes footage that did not exist and the other edits footage you already have. Buying the wrong one wastes a subscription.
Side by side
| Dimension | Runway | CapCut |
|---|---|---|
| Core job | Generate and edit AI video, images and audio | Template-driven video and photo editing |
| Starting price | Free $0; Standard $15/mo (US logged-out reference) | Free $0; Pro $19.99/mo or $179.99/yr (US logged-out reference) |
| Where footage comes from | Generated by the model from a prompt or a reference image | You supply it — phone, camera or another tool |
| Where it runs | Browser-based creative suite | Mobile, desktop and web |
| The licensing trap | Runway takes a perpetual licence to train on your inputs and outputs; free-tier output is a one-time 125 credits with a watermark | Many templates and library sounds are personal-use only — check each asset for the commercial-use mark |
Which to buy first
Pick Runway if you need shots that were never filmed, or a model-driven look you cannot get in an editor.
Pick CapCut if you already have footage and the job is cutting, captions and templates fast.
Where each one stands alone
Full entries: Runway andCapCut. Each carries its own sourced facts, its own list of unverified items, and its own last-checked date.