Video editing

Cut, color and finish video, from quick edits to feature-length timelines.

Paid apps and their free alternatives

Open one to see every alternative, ranked.

Adobe Premiere
5 free alternatives
Top pick:DaVinci ResolveLicense: Free tier
Saves $264 USD a year
DaVinci Resolve
2 free alternatives
Best free option:Kdenlive(Strong)License: Open source
Saves $295 USD one-time
Final Cut Pro
4 free alternatives
Top pick:DaVinci ResolveLicense: Free tier
Saves $300 USD one-time

Free video editing tools

Every free tool in this category, by name.

Filter alternatives

6 alternatives

CapCut
Video editor with templates, effects and auto captions for desktop, web and mobile, free with a paid Pro plan.
License: Free tier
- Windows
- macOS
- Web
- iOS
- Android
Status: Verified Oct 7, 2026
This replaces Descript
FilmCraft
Open-source non-linear video editor written in Rust, with Premiere-style panels, multicam, captions and interchange formats.
License: Open source
- Windows
- macOS
- Linux
- Self-hosted
Status: Active
- MP4: opens and saves, partial fidelity. H.264 is the only delivery codec; HEVC and AV1 export are not in yet
- MOV: opens and saves, full fidelity. Includes ProRes and DNxHR
- XML: opens and saves, partial fidelity. Final Cut Pro 7 XML import and export; not independently checked
- FCPXML: opens and saves, partial fidelity. FCPXML 1.9 to 1.11; not independently checked
This replaces Adobe Premiere
iMovie
Apple's free video editor for Mac, iPhone and iPad with themes, trailers, green screen and basic color and audio tools.
License: Freeware
- macOS
- iOS
Status: Verified Oct 7, 2026
- MOV: opens and saves, full fidelity
- MP4: opens and saves, full fidelity
This replaces Final Cut Pro
Kdenlive
Open-source multi-track video editor built on the MLT framework, with proxies, keyframed effects, titles and subtitles.
License: Open source
- Windows
- macOS
- Linux
Status: Active
- MP4: opens and saves, full fidelity
- MOV: opens and saves, full fidelity
This replaces Adobe Premiere, Camtasia, DaVinci Resolve, Descript and Final Cut Pro
Olive Video Editor
Open-source non-linear video editor with a node-based compositor, in a stalled 0.2 alpha.
License: Open source
- Windows
- macOS
- Linux
Status: Stalled
- MP4: opens and saves, partial fidelity. Uses FFmpeg; export options in the 0.2 alpha are limited
- MOV: opens and saves, partial fidelity. Uses FFmpeg; export options in the 0.2 alpha are limited
This replaces Adobe Premiere
Shotcut
Open-source video editor with a multi-track timeline, keyframed filters and wide format support through FFmpeg.
License: Open source
- Windows
- macOS
- Linux
Status: Active
- MP4: opens and saves, full fidelity
- MOV: opens and saves, full fidelity
This replaces Adobe Premiere, Camtasia, DaVinci Resolve and Final Cut Pro