Systems4 of 10
Price and licence24 of 30
Output16 of 16
Editing tools35 of 44
video editor · Meltytech, LLC
Shotcut
Free, open-source video editor for Windows, macOS and Linux with proxy editing, HDR and 10-bit support.
In short
- Shotcut is free and open source under GPLv3, with downloads for Windows, macOS and Linux2,3,4.
- It lists 4K and 8K support, 10-bit video end-to-end, and HDR10 (PQ) and HLG1.
- Proxy editing, motion tracking, Waveform and Vectorscope views, and speech-to-text are listed features1.
- Release 26.6 added HDR preview and export; HDR10 metadata is embedded only for libx265 and libsvtav15.
- The features page does not list multicam editing or shared projects1.
Shotcut suits anyone who wants an editor at no cost, on any desktop system2,4. It lists scopes, tracking, proxies, chroma key and plug-ins, and its code is public1,3. The catch: the features page names no multicam tool and no shared projects, and its VST and OpenFX support is marked work in progress1.
Best for: People who want a free editor with no paid tier.
Where the points come from
Systems 4 of 10 points
| Rule | What is published | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Other systems | macOS, LinuxDownload page lists Windows, macOS and Linux builds; it lists no iOS, Android or web version2. | 4 / 10 |
Price and licence 24 of 30 points
| Rule | What is published | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Free version | YesFree for all use; no time limit, and the download and features pages mention no watermark1,2,4. | 8 / 8 |
| One-time licence | NoNo licence is sold; Shotcut is free software4. | 0 / 6 |
| Cheapest paid plan | $0Entirely free; no paid plan is listed2,4. | 12 / 12 |
| Open-source apps | YesRepository is licensed GPLv33. | 4 / 4 |
Output 16 of 16 points
| Rule | What is published | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 4K export | YesFeatures page lists support for 4K and 8K resolutions1. | 4 / 4 |
| 8K export | YesFeatures page lists support for 4K and 8K resolutions1. | 3 / 3 |
| 10-bit and HDR | YesLists 10-bit video end-to-end and HDR10 (PQ) and HLG HDR1. | 4 / 4 |
| GPU-accelerated export | YesFeatures page lists hardware encoding and decoding; the Hardware Encoding doc names NVIDIA NVENC. Windows is not named on that page1,6. | 5 / 5 |
Editing tools 35 of 44 points
| Rule | What is published | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-camera editing | Not publishedNot published on the vendor's features page1. | 0 / 6 |
| Colour grading with scopes | YesLists Histogram, RGB Parade, RGB Waveform, Waveform and Vectorscope video scopes1. | 6 / 6 |
| Automatic captions | YesLists converting spoken word to subtitle text1. | 5 / 5 |
| Motion tracking | YesLists object motion tracking1. | 4 / 4 |
| Multitrack audio and noise reduction | YesMultitrack timeline with inserted tracks, and an audio Reduce Noise filter (RNNoise)1. | 4 / 4 |
| Proxy editing | YesLists low-resolution proxy editing to speed up seeking1. | 4 / 4 |
| Third-party plug-ins | YesLists Frei0r plug-ins; VST2, LV2 and OpenFX support is marked work in progress1. | 4 / 4 |
| Shared projects | Not publishedNot published on the vendor's features page1. | 0 / 3 |
| Green-screen keying | YesLists Chroma Key: Advanced and Chroma Key: Simple filters1. | 4 / 4 |
| Video stabilisation | YesLists a Stabilize video filter1. | 4 / 4 |
The rule behind each line: how we score video editors.
Plans and prices
As the vendor lists them, before tax. Prices are in US dollars unless the plan shows euros; the points use US dollars, with euros converted at the ECB rate.
Strengths
Other video editors
- 1DaVinci ResolvePeople who want one editor for cutting, colour grading and sound without a subscription87/100$8.19/mocheapest paid plan
- 3
Wondershare FilmoraHome creators who want a one-time purchase with colour scopes, proxies and plug-in support75/100$2.22/mocheapest paid plan - 4
KdenlivePeople who want free multicam and proxy editing on Windows, macOS or Linux73/100$0cheapest paid plan - 5
CyberLink PowerDirectorHome editors who want multicam, tracking and HDR export without a subscription66/100$3.89/mocheapest paid plan
Shotcut vs DaVinci Resolve · Shotcut vs Wondershare Filmora · All 12 video editors
Sources
- Shotcut features, Shotcut. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- Download Shotcut, Shotcut. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- mltframework/shotcut, GitHub. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- Shotcut, Shotcut. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- New Version 26.6: High Dynamic Range, Shotcut. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- Hardware Encoding, Shotcut Forum (documentation). Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
Website: shotcut.org · Markdown version · We are not affiliated with Meltytech, LLC.