Shotcut
A sturdy desktop editor that would rather give you controls than trends.
Technical Profile & Specs
verified 2026-08-10
- Cost
- $0 / forever (Open Source)
- License
- GPL-3.0
- Hosting Model
- Local (on your machine)
- Platforms
- desktopone-click install
- Installation
- Install an official Windows, macOS or Linux build; portable builds are also offered.
- Operational Setup
- Core editing installs cleanly; speech-to-text requires downloading a compatible Whisper model.
- Where Your Data Lives
- .mlt project files are MLT XML references to local media, with rendered files written wherever the user chooses.
- The Catch / Trade-off
- Shotcut provides editing controls rather than CapCut's trend templates, polished mobile workflow and automated social effects.
Replaces 3 paid apps
up to $71.98/mo ($864/yr) in subscriptions
Shotcut FAQ
Common questions
Is Shotcut free and open source?+
Shotcut is an open-source tool licensed under GPL-3.0 that runs on local. A sturdy desktop editor that would rather give you controls than trends.
What paid software does Shotcut replace?+
Shotcut serves as a free replacement for 3 paid SaaS applications: Adobe Premiere Pro, CapCut, Riverside, saving up to $71.98/month ($864/year) in subscription bills.
How do you install and set up Shotcut?+
Installation: Install an official Windows, macOS or Linux build; portable builds are also offered.. Setup notes: Core editing installs cleanly; speech-to-text requires downloading a compatible Whisper model.
What is the catch or trade-off with Shotcut?+
Shotcut provides editing controls rather than CapCut's trend templates, polished mobile workflow and automated social effects.