How we verified this
We don’t run generation tests, we read the fine print. For Captions (by Mirage) we read the free tier’s own terms, its commercial-use, watermark and attribution rules, then confirmed the cheapest plan that lifts them against the official pricing page, cross-checked across multiple current sources. The watermark and license clauses below are paraphrased from those terms, and the quality score is our editorial read of the tool, not a lab benchmark. Everything here was last verified June 13, 2026.
Watermark & licensing, the part that decides monetization
Why the free plan fails: AI avatar and generative features are locked behind paid plans, free is basic editing only
Watermark
Captions' own help center lists "No watermarks" for the free plan, but that only applies to the basic editor (trim, captions, transitions). Multiple third-party reviews from 2026 report that free exports do carry a Captions badge. Either way it is moot for a faceless creator: the AI avatar and generative features that you would actually use are not available on the free tier at all, so the real wall is the feature lock, not just the watermark.
License
The Captions/Mirage terms state you own all rights to your Input and Output, subject to their rights in any Mirage Content baked into the output, and there is no clause restricting personal-only use. Commercial use is permitted across both free and paid tiers. The one carve-out: Mirage will not commercialize your voice or likeness on a standalone basis without written permission, which protects you rather than restricting you.
“"As between the parties, you own all rights in and to your Input and Output, subject to Mirage and its licensors' rights in the Mirage Content contained in the Output." The terms grant broad commercial use with no personal-use-only restriction on standard output.”
Pros & cons
Pros
- You own your Input and Output and can use it commercially on any tier
- No attribution requirement in the terms
- AI Twin and AI actors produce talking-head video without a camera or a face
- Genuinely fast mobile workflow, captions and editing on the phone
Cons
- Every AI generative feature (Twin, actors, text-to-video, lipdub) requires Max $24.99/mo or higher
- Free plan only exports basic edits, the moment you touch an AI tool it blocks export and asks you to pay
- Official prices are iOS-only, web and Android pricing differs and changes often
- Credit-based plans burn quota across transcription and editing, not just final export
Pricing, which plans are actually safe
| Plan | Price | What you get | Monetization |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Basic editing only (captions, trim, transitions, ~60-200 lifetime credits). No AI Twin, actors, or text-to-video. | Not safe |
| Max | $24.99/mo | 500 credits/mo, unlocks AI Edit, digital twins, AI actors, text-to-video and generative features. Cheapest plan that actually unlocks the AI tools. | Safe |
| Scale | $69.99/mo | 1,400 credits/mo plus access to more advanced AI models for heavy short-form output. | Safe |
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FAQ
Can I make an AI avatar video for free on Captions?
No. The free plan is a basic mobile editor only (captions, trimming, transitions). The AI Twin, AI actors and text-to-video features are locked to the Max plan at $24.99/mo and up. The moment you add an AI feature, Captions blocks the export and asks you to upgrade.
Is the free output watermarked?
Sources disagree. Captions' own help center lists the free plan as having no watermark on basic edits, but several 2026 reviews report a Captions badge on free exports. It barely matters for a faceless channel, because the AI generative features you would actually want are paywalled regardless. Confirm on your own device before relying on it.
What is the cheapest plan that lets me monetize avatar videos?
Max at $24.99/mo. That is the first tier that unlocks the AI Twin, AI actors and generative video, and the license already grants you commercial rights and full ownership of your output with no attribution required. Note the official price is for the iOS app; web and Android pricing can differ.