Pricing built around saved editing time
Start free for basic editing, then upgrade when auto highlights, better captions, cleaner exports, and repeatable publishing workflows start saving you hours each week.
Pricing
Charge for saved time, not basic access
OpenCut should stay easy to try for free, then monetize the moments where creators save real time every single week.
Charge for saved hours
Paid plans should remove repetitive editing work: clip picking, subtitle styling, export cleanup, and publishing prep.
Keep first value free
Free users should still finish a basic edit, export once, and understand why the workflow is useful before they ever see billing friction.
Monetize recurring publishing
The strongest upgrade trigger is not raw editing access. It is the creator who needs to turn long videos into short clips every week.
Free
$0
Validate the workflow before paying.
Pro
Best fit$19/mo
For solo creators shipping content every week.
AI highlight suggestions
Advanced animated captions
1080p exports and no watermark
Project sync and higher monthly AI minutes
Creator+
$39/mo
For heavy publishing and branded workflows.
4K exports
Batch exports
Brand presets and reusable templates
Priority processing and higher monthly AI minutes
What stays free
Free should prove the editor works. It should not try to monetize before the user completes a first real result.
Manual timeline editing and trimming
Basic subtitles and simple styling
720p exports for validation and testing
A small monthly AI allowance so users can feel the workflow
What unlocks payment intent
Paid plans should remove repetitive work for creators who clip and publish every week.
AI highlight suggestions from long-form content
Advanced animated subtitle presets
1080p or 4K exports and no watermark
Cloud sync, brand presets, and batch output for repeated publishing
Plan comparison
This is the simplest boundary structure for a first paid launch: free for activation, Pro for solo creators, Creator+ for heavier publishing.
| Feature | Free | Pro | Creator+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual editing | Included | Included | Included |
| Auto highlight suggestions | Limited trial | Included | Included |
| Subtitle styles | Basic | Advanced | Advanced + brand presets |
| Export quality | 720p | 1080p | 4K |
| Watermark | Optional or limited | None | None |
| Cloud project sync | No | Yes | Yes |
| Batch exports | No | No | Yes |
| Monthly AI minutes | Low | Standard | High |
Why this pricing model?
It follows KISS and YAGNI: one free plan to validate demand, one core paid plan for most creators, and one higher tier for heavier publishing needs. No team billing until the solo workflow proves itself.
FAQ
Free vs paid boundaries
Make the upgrade decision obvious: charge where the user buys back time, not where they are still evaluating the product.