Top 12 Open Source Video Editors in 2024 [Free & Paid]

Top 12 Open Source Video Editors in 2024 [Free & Paid]-feature image
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Videos are one of the most important elements of your marketing plan and making them requires a lot of time and effort. But what if you want to up your game?

An ordinary video editor won’t be sufficient for you. You need something better, something more personalized like an open source video editing software.

We have got a list of the top 12 free open source video editors with their pros, cons, and platform compatibility that will help you choose the right one.

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12 Best Free and Open Source Video Editing Software

Let’s check out different video editing software that are free and open source.

Open Source Video EditorsCompatible Platforms
LiVESLinux
BSD
BlenderWindows
MacOS
Linux
OliveWindows
MacOS
Linux
PowerDirectorWindows
MacOS
LightworksWindows
MacOS
Linux
Openshot Video EditorWindows
MacOS
Linux
ShotcutWindows
MacOS
GNU/ Linux
KdenliveWindows
MacOS
Linux
Ubuntu
AvidemuxWindows
MacOS
Linux
NatronWindows
MacOS
Linux
FreeBSD
FlowbladeLinux
PitiviLinux
  • LiVES

LiVES is one of the best open source editing software that also works great as a Video Jockey (VJ) tool. The powerful video editor tool has a simple user interface that can work as good as any other professional film editing software.

In addition to some basic video editing features, LiVES open source video editor offers multiple real-time editing options such as allowing the VJ to control the audio and video in a live show. You can easily switch between transitions, design a customized key map, add effects, scratch forward and backward, etc. The software allows its users to have complete control over their live presentations.

LiVES Pros

  1. Works a LIVE VJ tool
  2. You can record audio in real-time
  3. Helps add real-time video effects
  4. Offers clip editor & multitrack window
  5. Supports 50+ file formats

LiVES Cons: Beginners might take some time to understand the tool

Is LiVES free?

Yes, LiVES video editing tool is free to download and use.

Compatible Platforms: LiVES is a free, open source video editing tool for Linux and BSD.

  • Blender

Blender open source video editor

Blender open source software for video editing is ideal for both beginners and industry experts with its features such as video cutting, slicing, color grading, and masking. Users can work on extensive projects with 32 available slots for adding videos, audio, images, scenes, effects, and masks.

With Blender, editors also have the freedom to work on 3D projects in the 3D viewport. Along with these, Blender offers other content creation features like digital sculpting, animation, VFX, scripting, and more.

Blender Pros

  1. Great customization options
  2. Add 3D animations and graphics
  3. Free tutorials available

Blender Cons: Frequent bugs in the file format

Is Blender free?

Blender is a completely free software, without any paid add-ons or memberships.

Compatible Platforms: Blender is an open source video editor for Windows, macOS, and Linux versions.

Suggested Read: Best Wedding Video Editors for Marriage Video Editing

  • Olive

Olive has launched its new version that is a rewrite from scratch to help you create stunning videos with cutting-edge features. This is one of the best open source video editors that gives you complete control over how you want to render your video with node-based composting. Node enables you to connect any effect to any other effect without adhering to a fixed pipeline for rendering.

Also, Olive ensures that video editors get a smooth playback experience with a quick pre-render of frames in the background. To enhance the performance, you can also manually specify the cache limit, although the higher limit will give a better performance.

Olive Pros

  1. Realistic color management
  2. Create virtual effects without coding
  3. Strong and quick disk cache
  4. Smooth playback even with 4K footage

Olive Cons: The new version has some bugs

Is Olive free?

Yes, Olive video editing software is free to download on any device.

Compatible Platforms: Olive is an open source video editing software for macOS, Windows, and Linux.

  • PowerDirector

PowerDirector is a simple video editing software with limitless video editing capabilities. It offers a great interface, continuously updated visual effects, resource libraries, and more for all levels of proficiencies.

This open source video editor allows creators to integrate images, animations, and graphics directly from PhotoDirector. It increases your workflow efficiency and enables you to quickly create animated clips and production stills.

PowerDirector Pros

  1. Growing resource library
  2. Cinema style transitions and visual effects
  3. Themed templates
  4. Access LUT color presets
  5. Add images and graphics directly from PhotoDirector

PowerDirector Cons: Frequent project crashes

Is PowerDirector free?

No, PowerDirector opensource video editor is not a free video editor. Its pricing starts from ₹332 per month for the annual plan. You can also go for a lifetime license starting from ₹8,299.

Compatible Platforms: Windows, macOS

  • Lightworks

Lightworks open source video editor

Lightworks free open source video editing software is designed to match the global movie industry standards. It has recently upgraded the FX engine with OpenFX and added forces of NewBlue. NewBlue is a Titler Pros to enhance 2D/3D titling, footage stabilization, color correction, and more.

The video editor facilitates sharing, receiving, and reviewing of video files stored in the cloud. It makes your work flexible and faster with transcoding, automated transfer, and QC. You can now regularly export videos for social media platforms.

Lightworks Pros

  1. Smart auto save
  2. Real time project sharing for collaboration
  3. Supports multiple audio plugins
  4. Access integrated cloud storage
  5. Lightworks guides, tutorials, and blog available

Lightworks Cons

  1. Can only export project to mp4
  2. Not quite beginner-friendly

Is Lightworks free?

Yes, Lightworks is available for free to download. However, you can upgrade to Lightworks Pro starting from ₹1912.39 per month.

Compatible Platforms: Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Suggested Read: List of Top Free Video Editing Software in India

  • Openshot Video Editor

Openshot Video Editor

Openshot Video Editor is one of the most user-friendly, open source video editing software. It comes with all the basic features of video editing such as trim & slice, title editor, time effects, slow motion, and more.

In addition to this, users get access to unlimited video effects like inverting colors, brightness adjustments, 3D animations, presets, etc. Also, in Openshot video editor, you can visualize audio files as waveforms while editing and even import them into your project files.

Openshot Video Editor Pros

  1. Powerful animation frameworks
  2. Work on unlimited layers
  3. Access title templates
  4. Drag and drop feature
  5. Available in 70+ languages

Openshot Video Editor Cons

  1. Users might face slow down at times
  2. Limited features for professional video editors

Is Openshot Video Editor free?

Yes, Openshot Video Editor is a free open source video editor. You can also support this video editing software by making donations.

Compatible Platforms: Openshot is a free open source video editing software for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

  • Shotcut

Shotcut is a free open source video editing software that offers an extensive range of video editing features. In addition to this, it enhances the user experience of audio editing with features like audio scopes, volume control, audio filters, tone generator, and more.

With Shotcut, editors can also access 360-degree video filters, multiple blending, video transitions, etc. Some other editing features by Shotcut include 3-point editing, editing history, presets for filters and exports, timeline markers, and more.

Shotcut Pros

  1. Multi-format audio and video support
  2. Transport and device options
  3. Wide choice of audio and video filters
  4. Works on multitrack timelines
  5. You can create voiceovers with text to read
  6. User shortcut keys for quick operations

Shotcut Cons: Takes up a lot of space on your system

Is Shotcut free?

Yes, Shotcut is a completely free and open source software for video editing.

Compatible Platforms: Shotcut is one of those widely used open source video editors for macOS, Windows, and GNU/ Linux

  • Kdenlive

Kdenlive is a popular video editing tool that allows users to lock or mute video and audio tracks as per their convenience with multi-track editing. You can also use any video or audio format without converting or re-encoding it.

To customize and personalize your video editing experience, you can save custom interface layouts that might suit your workflow. Additionally, you can play around or experiment with multiple effects for color correction, audio adjustments, and other transform options.

Kdenlive Pros

  1. Multiple video and audio effects and transitions available
  2. Balance videos with video and audio scopes
  3. Automatic backup is created for project files
  4. Download wipes, render profiles, and title templates from Kdenlive’s interface

Kdenlive Cons: Not suitable for beginners

Is Kendlive free?

Yes, Kendlive is a free open source video editing software.

Compatible Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Ubuntu.

Suggested Read: OpenShot vs Shotcut vs VSDC: Choose Best Editing Tool

  • Avidemux

Avidemux is a simple and free open source video editing software that can be a great choice for beginners. You can easily cut, filter, encode, and export to create quick videos. Avidemux also automates tasks using job queuing, projects, and scripting capabilities.

Avidemux is great if you don’t want to make a lot of changes or modifications to your video and produce quick videos. Further, you can change the sharpening of your video and decrease noise to enhance the video quality.

Avidemux Pros

  1. You can simultaneously edit multiple videos
  2. Helps add stickers to your videos
  3. Supports multiple file formats
  4. Multiple aesthetic options to enhance your video

Avidemux Cons

  1. Users might face lags at times
  2. Not suitable for experts

Is Avidemux free?

Yes, Avidemux video editing software is available for free to use.

Compatible Platforms: Avidemux is an open source video for Linux, Windows, macOS.

  • Natron

Natron

Natron is a video editing software especially designed for motion graphics and VFX. It enables motion graphic artists to work with 2D and 2.5D with features like 2D tracking tools, powerful keying, etc.

Additionally, Natron also allows video editors to generate unlimited mask layers, shapes, and matters with Roto & Rotopaint tools. It will help you to minimize the time spent on rotoscoping and you can easily meet your deadlines. You can also access more than 250 Natron community plugins.

Natron Pros

  1. Great for adding visual effects
  2. Flexible and multi-layer rotoscoping
  3. You can access multiple keying tools
  4. GPU & network rendering for quick video production

Natron Cons: No 3D video making tools

Is Natron free?

Yes, Natron is an open source video editing software.

Compatible Platforms: Natron open source video editor is compatible with Windows, macOS, Linux, and FreeBSD operating systems.

  • Flowblade

Flowblade video editing software offers an extensive range of features that include trim, slip, roll, ripple trim, spacer, and more. The video editor allows users to insert, append, overwrite ranges and clips while adding clips on the timeline.

Flowblade makes audio editing easy, especially for beginners, by displaying audio levels, muting audio tracks, changing the speed of music clips, etc. Video editors can also access multiple audio and video filters such as blur, distort, transform, alpha, etc.

Flowblade Pros

  1. Supports multiple file formats
  2. Drag and drop videos on timeline
  3. Name your markers on timeline
  4. Change the speed of the clips
  5. Access multiple audio and video filters

Flowblade Cons: Lags with heavy footage

Is Flowblade free?

Yes, Flowblade open source video editing software is available for free to download.

Compatible Platforms: Flowblade is best among open source video editors that is available for Linux.

  • Pitivi

Pitivi video editing software works with multiple types of video formats. It creates automatic video backups to keep them safe and accessible. With Pitivi, you can work on audio waveforms to balance your audio and give your videos a professional touch.

Further, this tool generates waveforms, clip proxies, and thumbnails in the background without disturbing your workflow.

Pitivi Pros

  1. Beginner friendly
  2. Work on multiple file formats
  3. Helps use multiple animated effects
  4. You can auto-save projects

Pitivi Cons

  1. Might face bugs while editing
  2. Doesn’t support heavy files

Compatible Platforms: Pitivi is a free open source video editor available only for Linux.

Suggested Read: Best Instagram Video Editing Apps for PC & Mobile

FAQs

  1. Is there any open source video editor?

    Yes, PowerDirector, Olive, Lightworks, etc., are open source video editors.

  2. Is Filmora video editor open source?

    Yes, Filmora video editor is one of the best open source video editors available for beginners to start video editing.

  3. Is Openshot safe?

    Yes, Openshot is safe to use. It comes with powerful animation frameworks, title templates, and drag and drop features in 70+ languages.

  4. Which is the best open source video editor?

    Openshot, Pitivi, and Flowblade are the best open source video editing software.

  5. What software do most video editors use?

    Most video editors use Blender, Openshot, Kedenlive, and similar open source video editing software. They all offer industry-standard features for professional video editors.

  6. What do most Youtuber use to edit videos?

    Kdenlive and Flowblade are the most used open source video editing tools used by Youtubers as they are quite beginner friendly.

  7. Which editing software is best for beginners?

    Pitivi and Flowblade are the open source editing software that is best for beginners.

  8. Can I edit a video for free?

    Yes, you can easily edit videos for free with open source video editing tools like Natron, Avidemux, Shotcut, etc.

Related Categories: Video Editing Software | Video Making Software | Animation Software | Audio Mixing Software

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