VN comes up whenever someone asks for "CapCut, but without the watermark worries." That is a fair summary of where it sits: a full timeline editor on a phone, free for almost everything, with fewer templates and less trend-chasing than CapCut.
What is VN?
VN, short for VlogNow, is a video editor published by Ubiquiti Labs. It runs on iOS, Android, macOS and Windows. It is a timeline editor rather than a template app: you get multiple video and audio tracks, keyframes, speed curves, masks, transitions, text and music, and you build the edit yourself.
Is VN really free?
Mostly. The editor and exports are free, and the export carries no logo over the video. Free projects end with a short "Made with VN" card, which you can delete from the timeline before exporting.
VN Pro is an optional in-app purchase for extra assets and AI features. The App Store lists it in several forms, including $7.99 and $69.99 options, as of March 2026. Prices change by region and over time, so check the paywall inside the app.
What is VN good at?
- A clean free export. Delete the end card and nothing marks the video.
- A proper timeline on a phone. Multiple tracks, keyframes and curve speed changes, which most simple phone editors lack.
- Desktop and phone. The same editor on a Mac or PC when the phone screen is too small.
- Beat markers. You can tap markers onto the music track and snap clips to them, which is faster than finding beats by eye. How to cut a video to the beat covers the method.
Where does VN fall short?
- Fewer templates and effects than CapCut, and fewer that follow what is trending on TikTok.
- Captions are less automatic than CapCut's. Auto captions apps lists the tools that do this well.
- Every cut is still yours. Beat markers help, but you place them and you align each clip.
VN vs CapCut: which one should you use?
| VN | CapCut | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, VN Pro optional | Free, Standard $9.99 or Pro $19.99 a month |
| Watermark on free export | No, end card you can delete | Only if a Pro asset is used, plus a removable end clip |
| Timeline, keyframes, speed curves | Yes | Yes |
| Templates and trending effects | Fewer | Many |
| Auto captions | Basic | Strong, partly behind Pro |
| Desktop app | Mac and Windows | Mac, Windows and browser |
| Available where CapCut is blocked | Yes, in most places | No |
Pick VN if you want a free editor with a clean export and you build your own edits. Pick CapCut if templates, effects and captions do most of the work for you. The current CapCut numbers are in CapCut pricing and review.
When is neither the right tool?
Both are made for editing one video at a time. If your reels follow the same pattern each week, a song, a set of clips cut on the beat and the same text, the slow part is not the editor's features. It is placing the cuts again for every video.
Easy Reels does that part for you: you give it a track and a folder of clips, it finds the beats and cuts the clips to them, ten or fifty at a time. Plans start at $19 a month after a 14-day free trial. Batch-creating reels shows how it works.
Common questions
Does VN have a watermark?
Not over the video. Free projects add a "Made with VN" end card, which you can delete from the timeline before you export.
Is VN safe to use?
Install it from the App Store, Google Play or VN's own site. As with any app, avoid modified "VN Pro" APKs from other sites.
Is VN better than CapCut?
Better for a clean free export and for people who build their own edits. CapCut is better for templates, trending effects and captions.
Can VN edit on a computer?
Yes. VN has desktop apps for macOS and Windows.
Is VN good for Instagram reels?
Yes. Set the project to 9:16 and export at 1080×1920. Vertical video size covers the safe area for text.