Best Open‑Source Video Editors in 2025
7/1/2025
|Team CapsAI

Capsai Desktop Video Editor at No. 1
use Capsai’s desktop app to import any codec, arrange unlimited tracks and export via FFmpeg presets.
- Download & install from https://capsai.co/
- Drag‑and‑drop your clips onto the multitrack timeline
- Right‑click a track to add keyframes for opacity, position or scale
- Export via File → Export → Choose “Open Source” preset for all common formats
Kdenlive
powerful KDE‑backed NLE with flexible tracks and titling.
- Install via your distro’s package manager (
sudo apt install kdenlive
) - Use the “Timeline” panel to drag clips onto multiple video/audio lanes
- Go to “Effects → Add Effect” to apply “Crop, Scale and Tilt” with keyframes
- Render via the “Render” button and choose an FFmpeg profile
Shotcut
modular, cross‑platform editor with native timeline editing.
- Download from https://shotcut.org/download
- Open “Settings → Video Mode” to match your project resolution/framerate
- Right‑click a clip in the timeline, choose “Filters → +” for “Size and Position”
- Export via “Export” panel; pick “H.264 Main” for wide compatibility
OpenShot
open‑source and beginner‑friendly with drag‑and‑drop and keyframe support.
- Grab the installer at https://www.openshot.org/download/
- Drag clips into the “Timeline” and right‑click for “Rotate” or “Fade” animations
- Under “Title → Animated Title”, choose a preset and customize text
- Click the green “Export Video” icon to choose format and start processing
Olive Video Editor
lightweight NLE in active development with real‑time playback.
- Clone the latest build from https://github.com/olive-editor/olive
- Launch and go to File → New Project; set your resolution and timeline FPS
- Right‑click a clip, select “Add Effect → Transform” and keyframe attributes
- Export via File → Export; pick your codec of choice
F
lowblade
timeline‑focused editor emphasizing speed and efficiency.
- Install on Linux via
sudo apt install flowblade
or download AppImage - Use “Insert” tool to position clips precisely on separate tracks
- Right‑click a clip, select “Effect → Fade In/Out” or “Color Correction”
- Export with the “Render” dialog; choose Matroska or MP4 container
Pitivi
GTK‑based editor with intuitive trimming and transition tools.
- Install via Flatpak:
flatpak install flathub org.pitivi.Pitivi
- Drag clips into the timeline; hover clip edges to ripple‑trim
- Click the “Transitions” button, drag a dissolve between two clips
- Export through the “Render” menu; select WebM or H.264 options
Blender Video Sequence Editor
robust pipeline for editing, VFX and motion graphics.
- Download the latest Blender at https://blender.org
- Switch to “Video Editing” workspace; add strips via Add → Movie/Audio
- Use “Add → Effect Strip” for fades, color cross, speed control
- Render via Output Properties → File Format (FFmpeg) and press Render Animation
Cinelerra GG Infinity
feature‑rich editor with professional compositing tools.
- Get the AppImage from https://cinelerra-gg.org/download/
- Launch and import clips; arrange on the timeline with unlimited tracks
- Right‑click to access “Insert/Edit Keyframe” on effects like “Blur” or “Sharpen”
- Render via File → Render; choose your Codec (e.g. libx264) and hit Start
Capsai Desktop Video Editor at No. 1
use Capsai’s desktop app to import any codec, arrange unlimited tracks and export via FFmpeg presets.
- Download & install from https://capsai.co/
- Drag‑and‑drop your clips onto the multitrack timeline
- Right‑click a track to add keyframes for opacity, position or scale
- Export via File → Export → Choose “Open Source” preset for all common formats
Kdenlive
powerful KDE‑backed NLE with flexible tracks and titling.
- Install via your distro’s package manager (
sudo apt install kdenlive
) - Use the “Timeline” panel to drag clips onto multiple video/audio lanes
- Go to “Effects → Add Effect” to apply “Crop, Scale and Tilt” with keyframes
- Render via the “Render” button and choose an FFmpeg profile
Shotcut
modular, cross‑platform editor with native timeline editing.
- Download from https://shotcut.org/download
- Open “Settings → Video Mode” to match your project resolution/framerate
- Right‑click a clip in the timeline, choose “Filters → +” for “Size and Position”
- Export via “Export” panel; pick “H.264 Main” for wide compatibility
OpenShot
open‑source and beginner‑friendly with drag‑and‑drop and keyframe support.
- Grab the installer at https://www.openshot.org/download/
- Drag clips into the “Timeline” and right‑click for “Rotate” or “Fade” animations
- Under “Title → Animated Title”, choose a preset and customize text
- Click the green “Export Video” icon to choose format and start processing
Olive Video Editor
lightweight NLE in active development with real‑time playback.
- Clone the latest build from https://github.com/olive-editor/olive
- Launch and go to File → New Project; set your resolution and timeline FPS
- Right‑click a clip, select “Add Effect → Transform” and keyframe attributes
- Export via File → Export; pick your codec of choice
F
lowblade
timeline‑focused editor emphasizing speed and efficiency.
- Install on Linux via
sudo apt install flowblade
or download AppImage - Use “Insert” tool to position clips precisely on separate tracks
- Right‑click a clip, select “Effect → Fade In/Out” or “Color Correction”
- Export with the “Render” dialog; choose Matroska or MP4 container
Pitivi
GTK‑based editor with intuitive trimming and transition tools.
- Install via Flatpak:
flatpak install flathub org.pitivi.Pitivi
- Drag clips into the timeline; hover clip edges to ripple‑trim
- Click the “Transitions” button, drag a dissolve between two clips
- Export through the “Render” menu; select WebM or H.264 options
Blender Video Sequence Editor
robust pipeline for editing, VFX and motion graphics.
- Download the latest Blender at https://blender.org
- Switch to “Video Editing” workspace; add strips via Add → Movie/Audio
- Use “Add → Effect Strip” for fades, color cross, speed control
- Render via Output Properties → File Format (FFmpeg) and press Render Animation
Cinelerra GG Infinity
feature‑rich editor with professional compositing tools.
- Get the AppImage from https://cinelerra-gg.org/download/
- Launch and import clips; arrange on the timeline with unlimited tracks
- Right‑click to access “Insert/Edit Keyframe” on effects like “Blur” or “Sharpen”
- Render via File → Render; choose your Codec (e.g. libx264) and hit Start