FAQ: How many tools do I actually need to post a Short?

Beginners buy five subscriptions before posting once. You need exactly one editor and your phone camera.

The minimum viable stack:
— Edit + caption: CapCut (free)
— Thumbnail/cover: Canva free tier
— Upload: YouTube native scheduler (free)

That's $0 and ships unlimited Shorts.

When to add a paid tool:
— Repurposing long videos at volume → Opus Clip ($9.50/mo)
— Need brand-consistent captions → Submagic ($16/mo)

Verdict: post 30 Shorts on the free stack before paying for anything. NOT for agencies juggling 10 clients — they need schedulers and that's a different conversation.