CapCut for Business Ads: What Its Licence Allows

Which CapCut terms apply to a Singapore business

Two documents decide what you can do. CapCut's Terms of Service (last updated 15 April 2026) cover the app; for users outside the US they are with Bytedance Pte. Ltd. in Singapore, and say that if you use CapCut on behalf of a business, the business is bound and responsible. The CapCut Materials License Agreement (last updated 22 January 2026) covers the built-in templates, effects, fonts, stickers and music.

US users have separate versions with a different company, so guides written for US creators may not match your terms. Read the version shown when you open the links from Singapore.

Templates, stickers and effects: commercial vs non-commercial

The Materials License Agreement divides built-in assets into two types:

The key rule: if a video contains both Dual Use and Non-commercial Use material, the whole video can only be used for personal, non-commercial purposes. One unmarked sticker or transition can make an ad non-compliant. The agreement also says licences can be limited to a jurisdiction and a term, so a material licensed for one country can only be used there.

For e-commerce listings, Dual Use content may promote goods or services but must not be used to endorse the authenticity, legality or quality of the products. Our guide to AI video generators for commercial use compares how other tools handle ownership and licensing.

Music: Sounds vs Commercial Sounds

Music is where business videos most often break the rules.

The agreement says any use of Commercial Sounds outside the permitted platforms needs separate permission from the rights holders. So a Commercial Sound in a TikTok ad is fine, but the same video posted as an Instagram Reel ad or YouTube ad is not covered. TikTok's Commercial Music Library describes about 1 million pre-cleared songs and says businesses cannot use TikTok's general music library for commercial use.

Industries that can't use CapCut's built-in assets

The Materials License Agreement lists uses that are banned for its platform materials and music regardless of type. For Singapore SMEs, the most relevant are:

• Advertising for tobacco, pharmaceutical, healthcare, herbal or medical products, including dietary supplements, digestive aids, personal hygiene and birth control products.
• Adult entertainment, escort or dating services.
• Using materials as a trademark, logo or brand name, or on merchandise such as mugs, T-shirts and postcards, even if not for sale.
• Using a person shown in a material in a way that suggests illness or illegal activity.
• Editing CapCut's materials outside CapCut, or extracting them for use elsewhere.

If you run a clinic, pharmacy, wellness or supplement business, avoid CapCut's built-in templates, effects and music in ads altogether and use only your own footage and separately licensed music. Your sector's own advertising rules apply on top.

A safer workflow for business videos

A simple process keeps your ads clear without giving up CapCut's editing tools.

1. 1

   Start from your own footage

   Film product shots, staff and premises yourself. Get written permission from anyone recognisable, and from customers before reusing their videos.

2. 2

   Use only assets marked commercial

   Filter or check for the commercial-use mark on every template, effect, font and sticker. If an asset isn't marked, assume it's personal-use only.

3. 3

   Choose music per platform

   Commercial Sounds or TikTok's Commercial Music Library for TikTok; separately licensed music for Instagram, Facebook and YouTube versions.

4. 4

   Check your industry

   Health, medical and supplement businesses should skip CapCut's built-in assets for ads.

5. 5

   Keep a licence note

   Record which assets and tracks each ad uses and where they came from, in case a platform or rights holder asks.

6. 6

   Export the formats you need

   Vertical 9:16 for TikTok and Reels, and 1:1 or 4:5 for feeds; check each platform's current ad specs before uploading.

For TikTok ads specifically, a TikTok Business account shows only Commercial Sounds when you add a sound, which reduces the risk of picking the wrong track, according to TikTok's guide to using the Commercial Music Library.

Do it yourself or get help?

If you film your own clips and stick to marked commercial assets and per-platform music, CapCut is a fine tool for business ads. The risk is in shortcuts: an unmarked template, a trending sound, or one edit cross-posted everywhere. If you're deciding whether to run ads yourself or hand them over, our guide to choosing who manages your ads covers what to ask.

Our TikTok Ads Setup (S$590) sets up TikTok Business Center and an ad account in your name, the TikTok Pixel and Events API, one campaign with up to 3 ad groups, and 3 short video ads edited from clips you film, with a shot list telling you what to film. For static ads, the Extra Ad Creative Pack is S$290 for 6 designs in three sizes. IT Sorted is a Singapore-based team of developers with over 10 years of experience; you pay upfront and brief us in writing. Your ad budget is paid by you, straight to the platform. This guide is general information, not legal advice.