Systems4 of 10
Price and licence24 of 30
Output7 of 16
Editing tools22 of 44
video editor · OpenShot Studios
OpenShot Video Editor
Free, open-source video editor for Windows, macOS and Linux with unlimited tracks and 4K profiles.
In short
- The editor is free to download and use, with no watermarks or project limits1.
- Source code is public under GPL version 3 or later3.
- Export profiles include 4K UHD 2160p and 8K UHD 4320p8.
- Official downloads cover Windows, Linux and macOS (Intel 64-bit only); no iPad, phone or web editor is listed2.
- Speech-to-text captions need a self-run ComfyUI server and the page calls them experimental11.
OpenShot suits people who want a no-cost editor with open-source code1,3. Its effects list includes chroma key, tracker and stabilizer, and scopes are built in5,10. It offers 4K and 8K export profiles8. The catch: GPU acceleration is labelled experimental6, and the guide pages mention no multicam, plug-in support, or 10-bit and HDR8,9,10,12.
Best for: People who want a free editor with no watermark and no project limits.
Where the points come from
Systems 4 of 10 points
| Rule | What is published | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Other systems | macOS, LinuxDownloads for macOS (Intel 64-bit only), Linux and Chrome OS; no iOS, Android or web editor listed2. | 4 / 10 |
Price and licence 24 of 30 points
| Rule | What is published | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Free version | YesFree to download and use, with no watermarks or project limits1. | 8 / 8 |
| One-time licence | NoThe download page says "OpenShot is funded by users, not licenses"; the Store copy is labelled paid but not described as a licence2. | 0 / 6 |
| Cheapest paid plan | $0The editor is free and exports without a watermark; the free installer is available1,2. | 12 / 12 |
| Open-source apps | YesGNU General Public License version 3 or later, on GitHub3. | 4 / 4 |
Output 7 of 16 points
| Rule | What is published | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 4K export | YesProfiles include 4K UHD 2160p at 24, 30 and 59.94 fps8. | 4 / 4 |
| 8K export | YesProfiles include 8K UHD 4320p at 24, 30 and 60 fps8. | 3 / 3 |
| 10-bit and HDR | Not publishedNot published in the export, profiles or colour guides7,8,10. | 0 / 4 |
| GPU-accelerated export | NoThe user guide calls GPU hardware acceleration experimental, so it is not counted as generally available6,7. | 0 / 5 |
Editing tools 22 of 44 points
| Rule | What is published | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-camera editing | Not publishedNot published in the user guide pages on files, clips or the timeline9. | 0 / 6 |
| Colour grading with scopes | YesLuma waveform, histogram and vectorscope are built in; colour wheels and LUTs are listed10,4. | 6 / 6 |
| Automatic captions | NoSpeech captions run through a self-installed ComfyUI server and are labelled experimental11. | 0 / 5 |
| Motion tracking | YesThe Tracker effect follows a bounding box in video5. | 4 / 4 |
| Multitrack audio and noise reduction | Not publishedTracks are unlimited12. The nine audio effects include an Expander said to reduce background noise, but no dedicated noise-removal effect5. | 0 / 4 |
| Proxy editing | YesOptimized preview files are lower-resolution copies used for editing; export uses the originals9. | 4 / 4 |
| Third-party plug-ins | Not publishedNot published in the guide or on the vendor's main pages1,12. | 0 / 4 |
| Shared projects | Not publishedNot published on the vendor's pages1,12. | 0 / 3 |
| Green-screen keying | YesChroma Key (Greenscreen) effect replaces a colour with transparency5. | 4 / 4 |
| Video stabilisation | YesThe Stabilizer effect reduces video shake5. | 4 / 4 |
The rule behind each line: how we score video editors.
Plans and prices
As the vendor lists them, before tax. Prices are in US dollars unless the plan shows euros; the points use US dollars, with euros converted at the ECB rate.
| Plan | Price as listed | Per month | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free download1 person | Free1,2 | $0 | Free installer for Windows; no watermarks or project limits |
The Microsoft Store version is listed as paid, with no price shown, and the page says it helps fund development; the free installer is a separate download2.
Strengths
Limits
- The macOS download is Intel 64-bit only2.
- GPU hardware acceleration is labelled experimental6.
- Automatic captions are experimental and need a separate ComfyUI server11.
- Audio effects include an Expander for reducing background noise, but no dedicated noise-removal effect5.
- The user guide pages on files and the main window mention no multicam tool9,12.
Other video editors
- 1DaVinci ResolvePeople who want one editor for cutting, colour grading and sound without a subscription87/100$8.19/mocheapest paid plan
- 2
ShotcutPeople who want a free editor with no paid tier79/100$0cheapest paid plan - 3
Wondershare FilmoraHome creators who want a one-time purchase with colour scopes, proxies and plug-in support75/100$2.22/mocheapest paid plan - 4
KdenlivePeople who want free multicam and proxy editing on Windows, macOS or Linux73/100$0cheapest paid plan
Sources
- OpenShot Video Editor, OpenShot Studios. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- Download OpenShot, OpenShot Studios. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- OpenShot/openshot-qt, GitHub. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- OpenShot features, OpenShot Studios. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- User guide: Effects, OpenShot Studios. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- User guide: Preferences, OpenShot Studios. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- User guide: Export, OpenShot Studios. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- User guide: Profiles, OpenShot Studios. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- User guide: Files, OpenShot Studios. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- User guide: Color, OpenShot Studios. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- User guide: Advanced AI: ComfyUI, OpenShot Studios. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- User guide: Main Window, OpenShot Studios. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
Website: www.openshot.org · Markdown version · We are not affiliated with OpenShot Studios.