Softwr

Video Production · head to head

Captions vs ScreenFlow

Captions logo

Captions

Video Production

AI video editor that automates post-production at scale

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ScreenFlow logo

ScreenFlow

Video Production

Mac-only screen recording and editing sold as a one-time purchase

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Captions has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Captions credit rollover limited to 3x monthly maximum, forcing spending within quarters; ScreenFlow it runs on macOS only, so a mixed fleet cannot standardise on it and project files cannot be handed to a Windows colleague in any form.
  • They diverge on capability: Captions covers AI Edit, ScreenFlow covers Screen and device capture.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Captions and ScreenFlow actually diverge.

Attributes where Captions and ScreenFlow differ
AttributeCaptionsScreenFlow
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownOne-time purchase
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidmacOS

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Video Production).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Captions

  • AI Edit
  • Auto-Captions
  • AI Avatars
  • Eye Contact Correction
  • Background Noise Removal
  • Pause Trimming
  • Text-to-Edit
  • Royalty-Free Music

Only in ScreenFlow

  • Screen and device capture
  • Callouts
  • Animated zoom and pan
  • Caption authoring
  • Stock media library
  • Direct publishing

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Captions

  • Rapid video production for social media content at scalenot ScreenFlow
  • Converting long-form recordings into short-form clipsnot ScreenFlow
  • Adding captions and translations for global audience reachnot ScreenFlow
  • Cleaning up podcast and interview audio automaticallynot ScreenFlow
  • Building library of branded videos with consistent stylingnot ScreenFlow

ScreenFlow

  • Producing a paid online course where a recurring software subscription would erode the marginnot Captions
  • Recording software tutorials for a support knowledge base on a fixed annual budgetnot Captions
  • Capturing an iOS app demonstration directly from a connected device without a screen mirroring workaroundnot Captions
  • Training teams who need captioned, annotated walkthroughs without a full editing suitenot Captions

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Captions

  • Credit rollover limited to 3x monthly maximum, forcing spending within quarters
  • Free plan provides limited editing capability, requiring immediate paid upgrade
  • Minimum 3-day refund window and 10-20 percent credit usage threshold restricts refunds
  • Per-credit pricing model increases costs for high-volume video production
  • Enterprise plan requires custom negotiation with no transparent pricing

ScreenFlow

  • It runs on macOS only, so a mixed fleet cannot standardise on it and project files cannot be handed to a Windows colleague in any form.
  • Each major version is a paid upgrade rather than an included update, so the one-time purchase is in practice a purchase every eighteen months to two years if you want current macOS compatibility.
  • New macOS releases have repeatedly broken screen and audio capture until an update arrives, which is a scheduling risk for anyone recording to a publication calendar.
  • Media lives inside a project bundle that grows quickly and there is no real media management, so a long-running series consumes disk with no straightforward way to consolidate or relink.
  • It is a recorder with an editor attached; multicam, colour work and audio repair beyond simple cleanup all require a proper non-linear editor.

Pricing, plan by plan

Captions

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Basic editing tools
    • Trim functionality
    • Transitions
  • Max$24.99/month
    • 500 AI credits per month
    • AI Edit styles
    • Digital twins and custom AI actors
  • Scale 1x$69.99/month
    • 1,400 AI credits per month
    • Everything in Max
    • Sophisticated generative AI model access
  • Scale 2x$139.99/month
    • 2,800 AI credits per month
    • Everything in Max
    • Sophisticated generative AI model access

ScreenFlow

On request
  • ScreenFlow$undefined/year
    • Perpetual licence for one major version
    • Screen, camera and device capture
    • Full editing timeline

Which should you pick?

Choose Captions if

  • You need ai edit.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want auto-captions.
Captions review

Choose ScreenFlow if

  • You need screen and device capture.
  • You work on macOS.
  • You also want callouts.
ScreenFlow review

Questions people ask

Is Captions or ScreenFlow better?
Neither clearly leads. Captions starts at Free and ScreenFlow at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Captions or ScreenFlow?
Captions has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Captions and On request for ScreenFlow.
Does Captions or ScreenFlow run on more platforms?
Captions runs on Web, iOS, Android. ScreenFlow runs on macOS.
Can I use Captions for free?
Yes. Captions has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. ScreenFlow starts at On request.
What is Captions best used for?
Captions is most often used for rapid video production for social media content at scale, converting long-form recordings into short-form clips, adding captions and translations for global audience reach, cleaning up podcast and interview audio automatically. Of those, rapid video production for social media content at scale and converting long-form recordings into short-form clips are not what ScreenFlow is typically brought in for.
What can Captions do that ScreenFlow cannot?
Captions covers AI Edit, Auto-Captions, AI Avatars, Eye Contact Correction. ScreenFlow covers Screen and device capture, Callouts, Animated zoom and pan, Caption authoring.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Captions: What is the price of the Max plan?

The Max plan costs $24.99 per month and includes 500 AI credits per month, AI Edit styles, digital twins, chat-based editor, and custom B-roll.

Source
ScreenFlow: Is it a subscription?

No. The application is bought outright. Major version upgrades are charged separately, and the optional stock media library is a subscription.

Captions: How many languages are supported for captions?

Captions supports 100+ languages for auto-caption generation with 100+ caption style options.

Source
ScreenFlow: Will it ever run on Windows?

No. It is a macOS application and Telestream has never shipped a Windows version.

Captions: Can I use Captions on mobile devices?

Yes, Captions is available on iOS App Store and Google Play for mobile editing, along with the web-based editor.

Source
ScreenFlow: How does it compare with Camtasia on cost?

Both are bought rather than rented and both charge for major upgrades. ScreenFlow is Mac only; Camtasia runs on both platforms, which usually decides it for a mixed team.

Captions: What does the Scale pricing tier include?

Scale plans offer 1,400, 2,800, or 5,600 AI credits per month at $69.99, $139.99, and $279.99 respectively, with everything in Max plus access to sophisticated generative AI models.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Captions

More on ScreenFlow

Keep looking

Other head to heads