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Among different content types, videos are the most consumed online. Creators are investing time and money in creating interactive video content, driving the use of premium and free video editing apps.
While the market is growing, so is the competition. To succeed in this industry, it is essential to offer something unique that others do not.
Or at least, bring something good enough to attract a good user base. These days, AI integrations and engaging design with a smooth user experience are at the core of delivering something valuable.
According to Global Market Statistics, the compound annual growth rate for video editing apps is expected to increase by 10% over the next 10 years. Thus, if you’re looking to build an app like CapCut, this blog is for you.
We will discuss the costs, required technology, and potential advantages of creating a video editing app like CapCut.
If you want an expert by your side to help you through building a video editing app, send us a message at Trango Tech, and let us build an all-in-one video editing app for you.
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The total cost of building an editing app like CapCut ranges from $40,000 for a Basic MVP to over $250,000 for an advanced editing app.
The intricate features, design complexity, platform (iOS, Android, or both), and development team all affect the price range. AI integration with native code can cost hundreds of thousands. For a full-featured app, it usually takes 9 months and requires significant development hours.
Building a video editing app like CapCut requires low-latency video editing for a smooth user experience. It also involves the real-time AI effects and advanced features. Some essential tools and frameworks for an app like CapCut are listed below.
This is a crucial software component for editing. It is responsible for rendering video signals. It handles decoding, scaling, applying effects, and color correction.
This is the open-source library that is used to handle video & audio conversion, cutting, merging, and applying effects.
The developers use these pre-built tools rather than starting everything from scratch. They provide the timeline, filters, and AI masks (like green screens) immediately.
The use of technologies such as OpenGL ES or Metal (iOS) enables the system to add or preview files without lag.
The backend manages user data, template libraries, and complex video rendering tasks.
This includes the handling of automatic captions, background removal (green screen), and effects.
Frameworks: TensorFlow Lite or ML Kit (On-device ML to keep the app fast).
AI Functions: Auto Captions: Speech-to-text models (Whisper).
Background Segmentation: For background replacement.
Several factors affect the total cost of building an app like CapCut. Let’s find out about them.
Start by defining the scope before developing the app. Feature types are the primary cost drivers. What features do you want to keep? The development process becomes expensive when extensive, complex features are used. But it is also essential to provide a good user experience.
Features such as advanced editing tools, filters, smooth transitions, multi-track timelines, and AI integration. In fact, according to Statista, several photo and video editing apps available in the U.S. added artificial intelligence (AI) features between the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024.
You can begin by building a minimum viable product (MVP) with basic editing features. A basic feature will cost $30K-$50K.
Separate platforms increase app development costs by requiring separate coding, testing, and optimization for each platform. Before choosing a platform, check the user base on the respective iOS and Android app stores. Understanding the market will help you optimise the budget based on the app’s potential reach and impact.
Setting up the backend infrastructure, including cloud storage and APIs. An app like CapCut takes a significant investment in backend infrastructure and storage. It can cost anywhere from $35,000 to $65,000, and cloud infrastructure can cost around $ 5,000 to $15,000.
An intuitive design with seamless navigation is crucial for engaging customers. When editing large videos, customers prefer apps that are easy to use and have clear features. The UI/UX designers will need to create custom animations, icons, and a responsive layout. This includes smooth drag-and-drop functionality and real-time previewing, which add to the design cost.
The app will require third-party services and APIs, such as cloud storage and payment gateways for payment processing.
The developers must test each feature for performance. However, cloud integration for cross-device apps can increase complexity and add to ongoing infrastructure costs.
You will have to keep track of post-launch app maintenance for annual bug fixes, updates, and performance optimizations.
For an app like Cap-cut, adding new filters, templates, and effects is essential to keep up with trends—regular security updates and compliance are crucial.
The team’s size is an essential factor that affects the final cost. A bigger team completes the project on time. A team with expertise is technically sound and better at project management.
They create robust applications according to your needs and deliver on time. It is always better to hire someone with relevant, proven experience. A larger team increases costs, but the project’s complexity determines team size.
Security is crucial to protect consumer data and prevent fraud. The security-focused development will add a high cost to the initial cost, and regular maintenance fees will also be involved.
| Development Component | Estimated Costs | Description |
| Video Processing Engine | $25,000 – $120,000+ | Frame rate conversion, noise reduction, trim, merge, and multi-track timeline. |
| AL features and ML | $25,000 – $70,000+ | Auto-captions, background removal, voiceover, 3D zoom, body effects |
| Assets Library & Effects | $12,000 – $30,000+ | Transitions, filters, music library, stickers, and creative assets |
| Design (UI/UX) | $8,000 – $30,000 | Intuitive interface, drag-and-drop, mobile-first design |
| Backend & Cloud (AWS) | $15,000 – $50,000+ | Cloud storage, synchronization, high-concurrency 5G support |
| Quality Assurance & Testing | $5,000 – $20,000+ | Performance, stress testing (rendering), bug fixes |
| DevOps & Launch | $2,000 – $10,000 | App Store/Play Store deployment, & security, compliance |
Time is an essential factor while developing an app. Timeline affects the cost and market strategy. Knowing how long it will take to build an app like CapCut is just as important as the cost.
The time varies depending on the app’s complexity and the size of the development team. However, on average, it takes 4-7 months to build an app like CapCut.
Here is a feasible timeframe you should consider for developing an app like CapCut.
| Editing essentials (Cut, Trim, Transitions) | 200 – 300 hours |
| Audio/Music Tools | 100 – 150 hours |
| Filters and stickers | 150 – 200 hours |
| AI Tools helping with captions and BG Removal | 200 – 400 hours |
| Media Sharing and exporting | 100 hours |
Using open-source libraries like FFmpeg for video processing is a good option, as it saves time and reduces costs while allowing you to build on existing, tested prototypes. This opens the door for collaboration and information sharing within the community.
The primary revenue model is freemium. This is when a video editing app offers free, high-quality features to its users but charges for premium features.
Here are some of the ways the apps earn money.
Users can subscribe monthly or annually to access premium features. The premium features are locked behind a paywall. Once the user pays, the premium features are unlocked. Some premium features include pro effects, unlocking 4K export, and extra cloud storage.In-App Purchases
Sometimes users pay a one-time fee for a specific purchase, such as premium templates, special effects, or extra space, without becoming a full premium user.
Apps like CapCut display ads on their interfaces. These are pay-per-click ads or pay-per-impression apps. This is a good way to earn by displaying relevant ads for goods and services from the 3rd parties. However, the ads must be appropriate, non-intrusive, and not frustrating to users.
To stand out, you will need to provide an app focusing on speed, AI-driven automation, and specialized, niche-focused features. AI integrations and features that solve the common frustrations for the creators.
Enable social-first tools for the users to build content for social media platforms. AI can help automate tedious tasks.
Rather than competing with professional suites like Premiere Pro, you should focus on the prosumer niche like TikTok, Instagram Reels, by offering a user-friendly interface and quick editing features.
You can have innovative art templates, scripts, various audio files, and opportunities for users to collaborate on projects.
The cost range is between $40,000 for a Basic MVP and around $250,000 for an advanced video editing app.
TikTok and Instagram are the most popular apps among people. It is because of their highly engaging, short-form video content. Creating apps for these platforms requires robust, user-friendly video editing apps.
While there is an opportunity, building an app within a limited budget that stands out is crucial for success. Therefore, focus on the rightful integration, user experience, and offer something unique to compete within the industry. You should start with an MVP (minimum viable product) before building a full-featured app. Focusing on a gap and offering customised video editing apps for specific niches is a good way to reach a larger share of the market while avoiding competition.
If you want to explore your ideas further, look no further than the best in the business, the app development company chicago. 24/7 at your service.
How much does it cost to build an app like CapCut?
It will range from $40,000 for a Basic MVP to $250,000 for an advanced video editor with AI implementation. However, the cost depends on the scope and the features and functions you want to incorporate.
How much time does it take to build an app like CapCut?
It will take from 5 to 9 months to build an app like CapCut. However, it is subject to certain factors such as the sophistication, the developmental team size, and third-party integrations.
How is it beneficial to build a video editing app?
The video editing apps are popular among content creators. Videos are the most consumed type of content. And the content creators, especially on TikTok and Instagram, use video editing tools to build apps. It offers the opportunity to attract a huge user base, and one can earn from subscription fees, & ad revenue, etc.
How to get online assistance to develop an app?
You can find freelancers on a freelancing website, or if you’re looking for a credible video editor, you should consult Trango Tech, which has been in business for 20+ years and has helped partners grow their businesses.
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Sahir Khan is a content writer with 4 years of experience in creating blogs, web content, & product listings. He excels at technical writing by making complex SaaS & Tech topics clear and concise, and covering trends in mobile app development services.
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