Alternatives to Kdenlive
KDE’s free video editor, with a multi-track timeline, proxy editing and a large effect set. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Kdenlive
KDE’s free video editor, with a multi-track timeline, proxy editing and a large effect set.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Kdenlive.
Shotcut
A free cross-platform video editor with a multi-track timeline that edits most formats without importing them first.
Shotcut is also free under GPL-3.0 on Windows, macOS and Linux, editing hundreds of formats natively without importing and adding screen and webcam capture.
DaVinci Resolve
Professional editing, colour grading, visual effects and audio post in one program, with a free version that is genuinely capable.
DaVinci Resolve adds industry reference colour grading, visual effects and audio post with a free version, but it is closed source, demanding on hardware and caps free output resolution.
OpenShot
A free video editor with unlimited tracks, keyframe animation, transitions and titles, aimed at people who are not professional editors.
OpenShot is a free open source editor aimed at people who are not professional editors, but it is less capable than Kdenlive on demanding projects.
Flowblade
Edit multitrack video projects on Linux.
Flowblade is a free GPL-3.0 multitrack editor with filters and layered compositions, but it runs only on Linux.
Lightworks
Professional video editor with a free tier limited to 720p exports.
Lightworks offers professional editing tools on Windows, Mac and Linux, but it is closed source and its free tier caps exports at 720p.
Adobe Premiere
Adobe's professional video editing and post-production application for Windows and macOS, formerly Premiere Pro.
Adobe Premiere is a paid, closed source editor for Windows and macOS widely used in film and broadcast, with no Linux version.
Final Cut Pro
Apple's professional video editor for Mac and iPad, with editing, audio, motion graphics and color grading.
Final Cut Pro is a paid professional editor for Mac and iPad with colour grading and built-in captions, but it runs only on Apple devices.
VEGAS Pro
Long-running professional video editor with strong audio-editing tools.
VEGAS Pro is a paid Windows-only editor with strong built-in audio editing tools, so Linux and macOS users cannot switch to it.
Also worth comparing
These listings name Kdenlive as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
Avid Media Composer
A professional non-linear video editor used for film, television and news production.
Kdenlive is a free, GPL-3.0 editor for Windows, macOS and Linux with multicam, three-point editing and proxy clips, but no shared storage workflow.
Cinelerra-GG Infinity
A non-linear video editor for Linux with 8K timelines, multicam editing and color grading tools.
Kdenlive is a free, GPL-3.0 editor that also runs on Windows and macOS, with multicam, proxy clips and automatic project backups.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
LosslessCut
Trims and joins video and audio without re-encoding, so a cut takes seconds instead of an hour.
Glaxnimate
Vector animation and motion design application.
Subtitle Edit
Creates, retimes, translates and fixes subtitles, with a waveform so you can see where the speech is.
OBS Studio
The standard free tool for recording a screen and for live streaming, built around scenes and sources.
HandBrake
A video converter that turns files and unprotected discs into MP4, MKV or WebM with presets for common devices.
Tahoma2D
2D drawing and stop-motion animation software based on OpenToonz.
