Should You Leave CapCut due to its Terms of Service? My Honest Take as a UGC Creator
- Hailey Krueger
- Jul 15
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 17
To leave CapCut or not to leave CapCut, that is the question. Let's break down the CapCut Terms of Service.
Hi! I’m Hailey. I’m a social media consultant and UGC creator here to help you thrive online. If you’ve landed here, you’ve probably seen the recent buzz about CapCut’s Terms of Service update. It has sparked confusion and concern, especially among creators. So let’s talk about what’s really going on, what CapCut has said in response, and what I’ve decided to do.
What’s the Controversy About?
CapCut recently updated their Capcut Terms of Service, and a particular section caught the attention of creators across the internet. It included legal language suggesting that CapCut claims ownership over your user-generated content in perpetuity.
Even though I’ve seen similar language in contracts before, it still raises serious concerns. Especially when the content in question is your face, your voice, and your original work.
The Terms That Alarmed Creators
Here’s a snippet from the user-generated content section:
“You hereby grant us an unconditional, irrevocable, non-exclusive, royalty-free, fully transferable, worldwide license to use, modify, adapt, reproduce, display, publish, transmit, distribute, and store your User Content…”
It also included language about using your image, voice, and likeness to identify you as the content creator. As someone who creates content professionally, this immediately felt like a red flag.
CapCut responded by saying that the language in question is not new. According to their statement, these terms have been in place for years, and the recent update did not change how CapCut uses your content.
They also emphasized that they do not use your content or likeness without permission. They said that the licensing is necessary to allow the app’s features to function properly, such as when users share or remix templates.
This explanation did not fully reassure me.
Why It Still Feels Unclear
Even after reading CapCut’s statement and their Terms of Service several times, I’m left with questions:
Is this language really only related to shared templates?
What about users who pay for the Pro version and store content in the CapCut cloud?
Why can’t I opt out of cloud storage if I want to?
I couldn’t even disconnect from their cloud service, which is especially frustrating as a paying customer.
Why I’ve Decided to Leave CapCut
At the end of the day, I’ve decided to move away from CapCut. Here’s why:
I no longer trust the platform.
The language in the terms feels too vague and too broad.
I value full control over my work, especially as AI technology advances.
CapCut didn’t offer any real options for people like me who don’t want to give up that control.
As a creator, my face and voice are part of my brand. I’ve seen more contracts lately that include clauses allowing brands to use your likeness or voice in AI-generated content. That is a hard no from me.
What I’m Using Instead
Here’s what I’ve switched to:
For Desktop Editing: Premiere Pro
More control over content
No forced cloud syncing
Better workflow overall
For Mobile Editing: Edits by Instagram
A newer app with a simple interface
Does what I need without overcomplicating things
I’ll miss the easy graphics and templates that CapCut offers, but peace of mind is more important.
Should You Stay or Go?
Only you can decide that. I encourage you to:
Read the Terms of Service carefully
Think about how you use CapCut in your business
Consider whether you’re comfortable with the platform’s policies
I’ve personally lost trust in CapCut and am in the process of trying to get a refund for my Pro subscription. I’ll keep you updated on how that goes.
Let’s Keep the Conversation Going
Have you read CapCut’s updated terms? Are you planning to leave the platform or stick with it?
Let me know in the comments or connect with me on Instagram. If you’ve found a better alternative to CapCut, I’d love to hear about it.
Thanks for reading!
– Hailey
P.S. Want more content creation tips and UGC insights? Subscribe to my YouTube channel for weekly videos.