# Kdenlive review

A free, open-source non-linear video editor from the KDE community, built on the MLT framework for Linux, Windows, and macOS.

By Noah — last updated & pricing verified September 15, 2026.

> **Kdenlive** — short for KDE Non-Linear Video Editor — is a free, open-source video editing application built by the KDE community.

It provides a full non-linear editing timeline with multi-track video and audio, keyframeable effects, color correction and grading, title and text generation, proxy editing for large 4K+ footage, and audio-video sync tools, running on top of the MLT Framework for playback and rendering and KDE Frameworks 6 for its interface. Kdenlive is written primarily in C++, licensed under GPL-3.0, and hosted on GitHub as part of the wider KDE project, with roughly 5,500 GitHub stars.

Because it has no commercial tier, Kdenlive's entire feature set — including things gated behind paid plans in Adobe Premiere Pro or CapCut Pro, like unlimited export resolution and no watermarks — is free from the first install. Development is community-funded through donations, and support runs through documentation, forums, and a Matrix chat rather than a paid support contract.

## Facts

- Website: https://kdenlive.org
- Pricing: Free (verified undefined NaN, NaN)
- License: Open source
- Platforms: windows, macos, linux
- Best for: independent video creators and hobbyists who want a full-featured, free video editor on Linux, Windows, or macOS without a subscription
- Standout feature: Every editing feature — multi-track timeline, keyframeable effects, color grading, proxy editing — is free and unlocked from install, with no watermarks, export limits, or paid tiers.
- Biggest weakness: Interface and workflow are less polished than Adobe Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve, occasional stability issues with very large or complex projects are a recurring community complaint, and support runs through community forums and chat rather than paid, guaranteed-response support.
- Categories: [Video Editing & Screen Recording](https://findalternative.to/categories/video-editing)

## Pricing snapshot

| Plan | Price | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kdenlive | $0/mo | Fully free and open source; no paid tier, account, or feature gating. Development is funded by donations. |

## Pros and cons

- Pro: Completely free and open source with no paid tier, watermark, or export limit.
- Pro: Cross-platform on Linux, Windows, and macOS with active KDE community development.
- Pro: Full non-linear editing feature set: multi-track timeline, keyframeable effects, color grading, proxy editing for 4K+ footage.
- Pro: Source code is public on GitHub under GPL-3.0, so the project can't disappear behind a licensing change.
- Con: Interface and stability lag behind paid NLEs like Adobe Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve, especially on large or complex projects.
- Con: No official paid support; help comes from documentation, community forums, and Matrix chat.
- Con: Fewer built-in stock media, motion graphics templates, and AI tools than commercial competitors.
- Con: Steeper learning curve for users coming from simplified consumer editors like CapCut.

## AI summary

- Kdenlive is free and open source under the GPL-3.0 license.
- It is maintained by the KDE community and built on the MLT Framework and KDE Frameworks 6.
- It runs on Linux, Windows, macOS, and BSD.
- The GitHub repository has roughly 5,500 stars.
- Best for: independent video creators who want a full-featured, free NLE without a subscription
- Pricing: Completely free with no paid tier; development is funded by community donations.
- Top alternatives: DaVinci Resolve, Shotcut, OpenShot, Adobe Premiere Pro
- Limitation: Less polished and occasionally less stable than paid NLEs on large projects.
- Limitation: No paid support option.
- Limitation: Fewer built-in stock assets and AI tools than commercial competitors.

## Alternatives

4 vetted alternatives to Kdenlive: https://findalternative.to/kdenlive — top picks: DaVinci Resolve, Shotcut, Adobe Premiere Pro

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