Overview
Kdenlive, short for KDE Non-Linear Video Editor, is a free and open-source editor developed within the KDE community by a small, mostly volunteer team[13]. It runs on Linux, Windows, macOS and BSD, and version 26.08.3 was released on 7 November 2026[13].
Kdenlive covers the full editing workflow: ingest of almost any audio or video format, metadata review, proxies for smooth playback on low-end systems, tags, filters and multiple bins; a non-linear timeline with multicam, three-point editing, nested sequences, markers and automatic backups; audio mixers, voiceover recording and an audio spectrum; hundreds of effects with keyframes; LUTs, colour grading and scopes; and subtitles with automatic transcription, plus integration with Glaxnimate for motion graphics[13].
Kdenlive is the most complete free editor on Linux. Its limitations are those of volunteer-developed software: support comes from the community, and stability and performance can vary by platform.
Kdenlive features
- Multicam and three-point editing
- Nested sequences and automatic backups
- Proxy workflow for low-end systems
- Colour scopes, LUTs and grading
- Subtitles with automatic transcription
- Glaxnimate motion-graphics integration
Kdenlive pricing
Free and open source; donations accepted.
Kdenlive strengths and limitations
Strengths
- Free with no watermark
- Runs on Linux and BSD
- Multicam and nested sequences
- Automatic transcription for subtitles
Limitations
- Community support only
- Stability varies by platform
- Fewer AI features than commercial tools
- Smaller ecosystem of templates
Appears in
Kdenlive alternatives and competitors
Alternatives to Kdenlive: companies ranked in the same lists.
Apple
Adobe Firefly
DaVinci Resolve
CapCut
Wondershare Filmora
CyberLink PowerDirector
VEGAS Pro
Lightworks
Shotcut
Microsoft Clipchamp
Descript
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