PricingCount the work on your side
A freelancer might charge more while taking responsibility for organising the material and resolving the story. An AI tool might cost less in cash while asking you to write the brief, check the output, and direct revisions. Either arrangement can be good value.
Make a small worksheet for the same assignment. Include the quote or software usage, time spent preparing files, active review time, correction time, and any extra finishing. Keep waiting time separate, but record it if delivery speed affects the job.
Use a hypothetical calculation
Suppose one route costs $120 and needs half an hour of your time. Another uses $15 of software and needs three hours. If you choose to value your time at $40 an hour, the totals are $140 and $135. These are invented numbers to show the method, not market rates or Shorty prices.
Now add a correction that takes another hour in the second route. The conclusion changes. That is why you should compare an approved version rather than the cost of generating a first attempt.
| Cost item | Route A | Route B |
|---|---|---|
| Cash cost | $120 | $15 |
| Your time | 0.5 hours | 3 hours |
| Assumed value of your time | $40/hour | $40/hour |
| Total before extra corrections | $140 | $135 |
| If Route B needs another hour | $140 | $175 |
Check what the allowance actually covers
For Shorty, use the current pricing page and the estimate in the product. Plan for the work you expect to submit and the revisions you may need. For a service, read what counts as a revision, which exports are included, and how additional work is priced.
Try the calculation on a routine job and a demanding one. You may find that software works well for simple recurring cuts while a human editor remains good value for complex work. A mixed workflow can be more sensible than forcing every video into the cheapest-looking option.