How Do I Buy More Time In Order to Create More Shorts?

Hi,

If buying extra credits didn’t increase your video length, that's because CapCut’s time limits are determined by the platform and plan, not by credits—which are typically used for stock assets like music or AI effects.

CapCut Time Limits

• Free Plan (Mobile/Desktop/Web):

  • Shorts: Up to 60 seconds

  • Regular edits: Up to 15 minutes

• Platform Restrictions:

  • YouTube Shorts now allow up to 3 minutes, but that’s on YouTube—CapCut still outputs the standard lengths above.

• CapCut Pro Subscription (US $7.99 / month):

  • Offers enhanced features and cloud storage, but it does not officially extend beyond 15‑minute project limits.

Understand Shorts Length Limits:

• YouTube Shorts: Limited to a maximum of 60 seconds. CapCut's "Long video to shorts" feature aims to help you trim down longer videos to fit this limit.

• Other Platforms (TikTok, Instagram Reels): While CapCut helps create content for these, each platform has its own length limits (e.g., TikTok usually up to 3 minutes, Instagram Reels up to 90 seconds). CapCut's "shorts" tools are primarily optimized for the 60-second YouTube Shorts format.

How to “Buy More Time” Effectively

1. Switch Platforms for Longer Shorts

   • To publish longer shorts (up to 3 minutes), upload your video as a Short directly on YouTube, not within CapCut.

2. Use Alternate Editors for Long Formats

   • If you need projects longer than 15 minutes, switch to software like DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere Pro, or Filmora—CapCut caps at 15 minutes.

3. Work Around Limits in CapCut

   • Split your long edit into multiple 15‑minute segments, export each, then combine them later in a more flexible editor.

CapCut Pro (Subscription) is your "More Time" Solution (for Features, not Raw Length):

If you want more features to make your shorts creation process more efficient and professional, then CapCut Pro is what you're looking for. It doesn't directly increase the maximum length of a "short" (as that's usually dictated by the platform you're exporting to), but it offers:

• Advanced AI tools: Features like "Long video to shorts" with enhanced capabilities, auto-captions, remove filler words, and more. These tools can save you time in the editing process.

• Premium effects, filters, and transitions: A wider library of assets to make your shorts stand out.

• No watermark: A cleaner, more professional look for your videos.

• Higher export quality: Up to 4K resolution and 60fps.

• Increased cloud storage: More space to save your projects and assets, which can help with workflow if you're creating many shorts.

• Multi-track and layered editing: More control and flexibility for complex edits.

What the "Additional Credits" are for:

The "credits" you purchased are for specific CapCut features that consume "credits" per use, such as:

• AI Video Generation: CapCut has a feature that generates video from text or other inputs, this would use credits.

• Specific AI Magic Tools: Certain advanced AI functions within CapCut are credit-based.

• Premium Asset Downloads: Some highly specialized stickers, effects, or stock media require credits beyond a Pro subscription.

How to "Buy More Time" (i.e., be more efficient) in CapCut for Shorts:

• Optimize your workflow:

  • Plan your content: Have a clear idea of what you want to achieve in each short before you start editing.

  • Batch record: If you're creating multiple shorts, record all your raw footage in one go.

  • Use CapCut's "Long video to shorts" feature: If you have longer videos, this AI tool can help you quickly identify key moments and generate shorter clips. You can then refine these.

  • Master basic editing functions: Learn to quickly trim, split, adjust speed (especially to make a video fit a shorter time limit if needed), and add text/music efficiently.

• Utilize Speed Adjustments: If your video is slightly too long for a short, you can try adjusting the speed (making it slightly faster) to fit within the time limit.

• Focus on key moments: Shorts are about being concise and impactful. Don't try to cram too much information into a short video.

• Consider CapCut Pro: If you're serious about creating a high volume of professional shorts and want to streamline your process with advanced AI and premium assets, then a CapCut Pro subscription is designed to offer those benefits and save you time in the long run.

What You Can Do Now

• Extra credits support asset usage—not extended time.

• CapCut Pro adds features but does not lift the 15‑minute cap.

Summary & Recommendations

• If your goal is longer-form content, you'll need to:

  1. Export multiple 15-min chunks from CapCut and stitch them together externally

  2. Or switch entirely to a different editing tool that handles longer timelines

• If your goal is 3-minute Shorts, create them in CapCut, export, and upload via the YouTube app—that bypasses CapCut’s 60-second export limit.