Kdenlive

Powerful open-source non-linear video editor with multi-track editing.

Best for: Linux, Windows, and Mac creators looking for a free, subscription-free non-linear video editor

Free plan

4.6/5Editorial score 89/100kdenlive.org

Starts at

Free Forever (GPLv3)

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Editorial score89/100

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The editorial note

What to know about Kdenlive

Kdenlive is a powerful, open-source non-linear video editing suite developed by the KDE community. Powered by the MLT framework and FFmpeg, Kdenlive provides professional multi-track timeline editing, audio mixing, color correction scopes, titling, and hardware-accelerated rendering completely free of charge.

Is it right for you?

Who Kdenlive suits

Choose it if

Linux, Windows, and Mac creators looking for a free, subscription-free non-linear video editor

Look elsewhere if

Hollywood post-production studios requiring high-end collaborative color grading servers

What you get

Key features

Multi-track video and audio timeline
Automatic audio-to-text subtitle generation
Hardware accelerated rendering (NVENC, VAAPI)
Proxy editing for high-resolution 4K footage
Color grading with scopes (Waveform, Vectorscope, RGB parade)
Keyframeable video effects and transitions

Works with

Integrations5

FFmpegMLT FrameworkKDEOpenShotBlender

What it costs

Pricing

Kdenlive pricing plans
Plan	Price	What it includes
Open Source	Free Forever (GPLv3)Billed one-time	100% free download for Windows, macOS, and Linux with full commercial video rights

Prices are recorded from the vendor's public pricing page and can change. Check before you buy.

The trade-off

Pros and cons

Pros

100% free and open-source with no export watermarks or artificial resolution limits
Multi-track video and audio editing with support for virtually any media format via FFmpeg
Automated audio speech-to-text subtitling and proxy editing for smooth playback

Cons

Can experience occasional stability hiccups on very complex 4K timeline projects
Motion graphics and VFX capabilities are simpler than Adobe After Effects or DaVinci Fusion

Quick read

At a glance

Category: Video & Audio
Pricing model: Free
Entry plan: Free Forever (GPLv3)
Free plan: Available
Free trial: Not listed
Website: kdenlive.org

The verdict

Our take on Kdenlive

Kdenlive is the most capable open-source video editor for everyday creators and YouTubers who refuse to pay expensive recurring subscriptions.

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