ViewGum vs Lumen5
Lumen5 is an AI video maker that turns blog posts, articles and documents into branded videos with AI voiceover and automated captions. ViewGum is a short-form video editor that makes a finished vertical short from a typed topic or one talking-head take, and you change it by asking in chat.
Facts about Lumen5 checked October 20, 2026, from its own public pages
ViewGum is an AI short-form video editor for creators who want to grow and earn on YouTube Shorts, TikTok, Instagram Reels and Facebook Reels. It turns a topic or a talking-head take into a finished short: faceless explainers, cartoon shorts and talking-head edits, with script, voice, captions and music.
ViewGum is best for
- Make monetizable YouTube Shorts with AI
- Faceless cartoon shorts for TikTok
- Edit a talking-head take into a Short
- Faceless explainer shorts for Instagram Reels
- Turn a topic into a finished short with captions and voice
At a glance
- Lumen5 turns blogs, articles and documents into videos, per its home page, checked October 20, 2026.
- Lumen5's Free plan gives 5 videos a month of up to 2 minutes at 720p, with a Lumen5 branded outro.
- Lumen5 lists Basic at $19 a month, Starter at $59 and Pro at $149 on yearly billing, per its pricing page.
- Lumen5 paid plans cap videos at 10 minutes and include automated captions and 1000+ AI voices.
- Lumen5's Starter plan includes 1 voice clone and its Pro plan includes 3.
Side by side
| Row | ViewGum | Lumen5 |
|---|---|---|
| What it makes | A finished vertical short: script, voiceover or your own take, pictures, captions, music and sound | Videos built from blog posts, articles, documents and scripts, with AI voiceover and automated captions2 |
| Starts from | A typed topic, or one talking-head take you upload | A link, script or document; the AI builds the first cut2 |
| Editing | Ask for changes in plain words in chat, swap a part, or pick another style | Drag-and-drop editor with 100+ customizable templates, brand kits and video blueprints2 |
| Vertical sizing | One 9:16 export that fits TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts and Facebook Reels | Not listed publicly |
| Length | 15 to 90 seconds for a faceless short | Maximum video length is 2 minutes on Free and 10 minutes on paid plans2 |
| Captions | Burned in, timed to each spoken word, kept inside one safe zone that clears all four apps' buttons | Automated captions on every plan2 |
| Voice | AI voiceover on faceless shorts; your own voice on talking-head edits | 1000+ AI voices on paid plans; 1 voice clone on Starter and 3 on Pro2 |
| Presenters | Your own on-camera take | Not listed publicly |
| Posting | MP4 export with post copy written for each platform; no direct posting | Not listed publicly |
| Free tier | No free plan; welcome bonus credits once, plus a small daily sign-in bonus | Free plan: 5 videos a month, up to 2 minutes, 720p, with a Lumen5 branded outro2 |
| Watermark | No ViewGum watermark | Free videos contain a Lumen5 branded outro; Basic and above list no Lumen5 branding2 |
| Price from | Bonus credits to start, then Creator at $19.00 a month | Free, $0 a month (5 videos a month, up to 2 minutes, 720p, Lumen5 branded outro)2 |
| API | No public REST API; software uses the MCP server | API documentation is linked from its site2 |
| Agent (MCP) access | An MCP server at https://viewgum.com/mcp for paid plans | Not listed publicly |
Two ways to make a short
| Step | ViewGum | Lumen5 |
|---|---|---|
| Script | Script: included with ViewGum.A script built for a short: a hook, a build and a payoff | Script: included with Lumen5.AI Script Writing is one of its listed tools1 |
| Voice | Voice: included with ViewGum.An AI voiceover, or your own voice on a talking-head edit | Voice: included with Lumen5.1000+ AI voices on paid plans2 |
| Pictures or video | Pictures or video: included with ViewGum.A picture or animation for each scene | Pictures or video: included with Lumen5.Millions of stock photos and video clips, plus AI image and video generation2 |
| Captions | Captions: included with ViewGum.Timed to each word, inside one safe zone that clears all four apps | Captions: included with Lumen5.Automated captions on every plan2 |
| Music and sound | Music and sound: included with ViewGum.Music and sound effects mixed under the voice | Music and sound: not listed publicly for Lumen5.Not listed publicly |
| Vertical export | Vertical export: included with ViewGum.One 9:16 export that fits all four apps, metadata stripped | Vertical export: not listed publicly for Lumen5.Not listed publicly |
| Change a part by asking | Change a part by asking: included with ViewGum.Ask in chat and ViewGum changes that part of the short | Change a part by asking: not listed publicly for Lumen5.Not listed publicly |
| Price before it runs | Price before it runs: included with ViewGum.Quoted in credits first and charged exactly the quote | Price before it runs: not listed publicly for Lumen5.Not listed publicly |
The main difference
Lumen5 starts from text you already have: a blog post, an article, a script or a document. It builds a first cut from stock and AI media, adds an AI voice and captions, and you finish it in a drag-and-drop editor with your brand kit. ViewGum starts from a typed topic or one talking-head take. It writes a script with a hook in the first seconds, voices it or uses your own take, and puts a picture or animation under each scene on faceless shorts. It times one-line captions to each word inside one safe zone that clears all four apps.
Made for monetizable content
- An original script written for your topic, not a template.
- Your own voice on a talking-head edit, or an AI voiceover on a faceless short.
- Visuals made for each scene, in a Cutout, Paper or Cartoon look, so the short is transformed, not reposted.
- Guidance on labeling AI content: How to label AI videos
Each platform decides what it pays for, and nothing here promises views or earnings. The rules in plain words: Can you monetize AI shorts?
Pricing
Lumen5
| Plan | Monthly | Billed yearly | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Not listed publicly | 5 videos a month, up to 2 minutes, 720p, Lumen5 branded outro |
| Basic | Not listed publicly | $19 a month | Unlimited videos, no Lumen5 branding, 720p, 240 AI voice minutes a year, 12 animation minutes a year |
| Starter | Not listed publicly | $59 a month | 1080p, 720 AI voice minutes a year, 24 animation minutes a year, 1 voice clone |
| Pro | Not listed publicly | $149 a month | 2160 AI voice minutes a year, 60 animation minutes a year, 3 voice clones, custom watermarks and fonts |
Amounts are per month billed yearly, as shown on the pricing page, which says yearly billing saves 25%. Monthly-billing amounts are not in the page text. The Team plan is custom.
Source: Lumen5 pricing, checked October 20, 2026
ViewGum
| Plan | Monthly |
|---|---|
| Free | No free plan; welcome bonus credits once, plus a small daily sign-in bonus |
| Creator | $19.00 |
| Pro | $49.00 |
| Studio | $149.00 |
Credits are shared across shorts, edits and exports. Every paid action is quoted first and charged exactly the quote.
Who should pick which
Pick Lumen5 if
- You turn blog posts, articles or documents into branded videos for marketing or internal communications.
- You want a brand kit, custom colors and fonts, and 100+ customizable templates.
- You want voice cloning: Lumen5 lists 1 voice clone on Starter and 3 on Pro.
Pick ViewGum if
- You want a vertical short written for a hook, a payoff and a close.
- You start from a typed topic with no filming, or from one talking-head take you upload.
- You want to change a short by asking in chat and see the credit price first.
Questions
Is ViewGum or Lumen5 better for YouTube Shorts?
It depends on what you start with. Lumen5 turns articles, scripts and documents into videos. ViewGum makes a finished vertical Short from a typed topic or one talking-head take.
Does Lumen5 have a free plan?
Yes. Lumen5's Free plan gives 5 videos a month of up to 2 minutes, at 720p, with a Lumen5 branded outro, per its pricing page (checked October 20, 2026). ViewGum gives new accounts welcome bonus credits and a small daily sign-in bonus.
How much does Lumen5 cost?
Lumen5 lists Basic at $19 a month, Starter at $59 and Pro at $149, each billed yearly, per its pricing page in October 2026. The Team plan is custom.
Does Lumen5 add captions?
Yes. Lumen5 lists automated captions on every plan (Lumen5 pricing page, October 2026). ViewGum burns in captions timed to each spoken word, 1 to 6 words at a time, inside one safe zone that clears all four apps.
Can I edit the video after Lumen5 makes it?
Yes. Lumen5 builds a first cut and you finish it in a drag-and-drop editor with templates and a brand kit (Lumen5 site, October 2026). In ViewGum you ask for a change in plain words in chat, and ViewGum quotes it in credits first.
What is a Lumen5 alternative for faceless Shorts?
ViewGum makes faceless shorts from a typed topic in a Cutout, Paper or Cartoon look, or as a drawn Escalation, Size comparison or Explainer, with the script, voice, captions and sound included.
Sources
Facts about Lumen5 come from its own public pages, checked October 20, 2026. Prices change, so check Lumen5's own pricing before you buy. All comparisons as data: compare.json
ViewGum's own pages
Make a short you can post
Start from a topic or your own take. ViewGum writes it, voices it, captions it and hands you one vertical export, then you change it by asking.
Sign in with Google. New accounts get bonus credits to start.