Shotcut is a free, open source video editor for Windows, macOS and Linux, built by the team behind the MLT framework. Its defining trait is a native timeline that mixes different resolutions and frame rates in one project without forcing you to convert your files first.
Shotcut
shotcut.org
Our take
Shotcut sits between the simple and the serious: more capable than a beginner toy, less cluttered than Kdenlive. The native multi-format timeline is a real time-saver when your clips come from mixed sources, and it runs well on modest hardware. The weak spot is the interface, a docked-panel layout that looks dated and takes some arranging before it feels right. A solid pick for anyone who wants genuine editing power without the steepest climb, and it asks nothing of the network to do it.
GitHub at a glance
mltframework/shotcut
Stars
14,345
+ 69 this week
Last commit
today
healthy
License
GPL-3.0
Latest release
v26.4.30
2mo ago
Stars, last 12d
Listed in
Shotcut alternatives
Kdenlive Mature, full-featured open source video editor from the KDE project, with multi-track timelines and a deep effects library, all offline.
Ardour Professional open source digital audio workstation for recording, mixing and mastering.
OpenShot Beginner-friendly open source video editor with a simple drag-and-drop timeline. Cross-platform and free.
OpenCut Open source video editor that runs in your browser and processes footage locally instead of on a server. A privacy-first CapCut alternative.
Tenacity Privacy-respecting open source audio editor forked from Audacity, with the telemetry stripped out.
Shotcut license, in plain English
GPL-3.0 Strong copyleft
Free to use and modify, but anything you distribute that is built on it must also be open under the same license.
Permits
- Commercial use
- Modification
- Distribution
- Patent use
- Private use
Requires
- Disclose source
- Same license
- State changes
- License and copyright notice
Does not provide
- Liability cover
- Warranty
Why it matters: Strong copyleft keeps every distributed version open. A vendor cannot fold this into a closed product and ship it without releasing their changes.
Plain-language summary of the project's license, not legal advice. Read the full text for the exact terms.