OpenShot
A cross-platform video editor with unlimited tracks, keyframes, titles, chroma key and a command-line interface.
Unlimited tracks, curve-based keyframes, 3D titles, effects and color scopes for Linux, Mac and Windows.
OpenShot is a desktop video editor for Linux, Mac and Windows that aims to be quick to learn. It suits beginners and small teams making straightforward videos with titles, transitions and effects.
What it is
OpenShot has an unlimited-track timeline with snapping, trimming, rotation and frame-accurate stepping, curve-based keyframe animation, title templates and 3D animated titles, and effects such as chroma key. Its site also lists color grading with scopes, audio visualisation effects, interactive video masks and a command-line interface added in 4.1.
Who it's for
It suits beginners, teachers and YouTubers who want a simple editor without subscriptions or watermarks. Heavy colour or multicam workflows may outgrow it, and hardware encoding is described as experimental.
Key features
Unlimited tracks
Layer video, audio and images with drag-and-drop, snapping and zooming on the timeline.
Curve-based keyframes
Animate position, scale, rotation, opacity, volume and effect settings.
Titles and 3D animation
Title templates, SVG-friendly titles, scrolling credits and 3D animated titles.
Color grading and scopes
Color wheels, curves, LUTs, histograms, waveforms and vectorscopes.
Interactive video masks
Select a subject, refine the generated mask and preview the composite.
Command-line interface
OpenShot 4.1 added a CLI for automating edits.
Up and running in 3 steps
Our honest verdict
What's great
- The site states there are no subscriptions, watermarks or project limits.
- Time-mapping lets you slow, speed up or reverse clips.
- EDL and XML import and export help move projects between tools.
- Audio visualisation effects turn music into waveforms or spectrum bars without a separate tool.
Where it falls short
- Hardware encoding and decoding (VA-API, NVDEC, D3D, VTB) is labelled experimental in the README.
- Building from source needs Python, Qt bindings, libopenshot and FFmpeg, so use the installers unless you are a developer.
- Daily builds on the download page are experimental, so stick to stable releases for client work.
- Funding is by donations, so there is no dedicated support plan.
Pricing & license
OpenShot is free under the GPL. The site (https://www.openshot.org) shows a donate page and no paid editing plan, so the only cost is your own computer.
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Alternatives
These reviewed AI tools do the same job instantly — from our scored directory.
Use it, or have us set it up
FAQ
Is OpenShot really free?
Yes. The site says it is free to download and use, with no subscriptions, watermarks or project limits, and the code is under GPLv3.
Which platforms does it run on?
Linux, Mac and Windows.
Can it exchange projects with other editors?
The README lists import and export of EDL and XML formats.
