Kdenlive
Open-source multitrack editing with project archives
Where it fits
Kdenlive is a free open-source editor with a conventional multitrack workflow, a built-in title editor and proxy support. It is particularly relevant when license cost and an inspectable desktop tool matter more than a bundled subscription service. The official manual also documents subtitle and transcript workflows using installed speech models, plus archiving that collects project media for another computer. Those capabilities require setup and verification with your own files. Linux, Windows and macOS are supported, with the manual noting platform-specific issues. No hands-on result here establishes that one platform is faster or more stable. The documented feature set is a starting point for a realistic trial.
Consider it for
- Free multitrack desktop editing
- Users who value open-source software
- Projects needing packaged archives
Know the limits
- Speech models need installation and configuration.
- The manual notes platform-specific issues, including Windows differences.
- An archive preserves a Kdenlive job but does not convert it into another editor's project.
- Integrated online assets still require their own license checks.
Prices & plans
Published prices keep their original currency and billing terms. Taxes, promotions and checkout prices can differ.
Features and practical details
11 features
Documented differences. An unverified answer means we do not have enough evidence.
Platforms
Free plan limits
Timeline editing
Kdenlive
Multitrack and three-point editing with configurable layouts and shortcuts.
Vendor documentedSource
Export
Kdenlive
The manual documents FFmpeg-backed output including MP4, Matroska and image sequences.
Test the required codec on your installed build.
Vendor documentedSource
AI features
Kdenlive
VOSK and Whisper support subtitle or transcript workflows after model setup.
Vendor documentedSource
Transcript-based selection
Kdenlive
The speech editor can create timeline clips from recognized speech.
The documented clip-selection workflow applies to project-bin clips.
Vendor documentedSource
Lower-resolution previews
Kdenlive
Proxy editing uses lighter copies during editing and full-resolution originals for the final render.
Vendor documentedSource
Camera angles
Project portability
Kdenlive
Archive Project gathers media and updates file paths; archives can be reopened in Kdenlive.
Vendor documentedSource
Project recovery
Learning and setup
| Feature | Kdenlive |
|---|---|
| Platforms | Linux, Windows, macOS and BSD are listed. Vendor documentedSource |
| Free plan limits | The editor is free open-source software rather than a time-limited subscription trial. |
| Timeline editing | Multitrack and three-point editing with configurable layouts and shortcuts. Vendor documentedSource |
| Export | The manual documents FFmpeg-backed output including MP4, Matroska and image sequences. Test the required codec on your installed build. Vendor documentedSource |
| AI features | VOSK and Whisper support subtitle or transcript workflows after model setup. Vendor documentedSource |
| Transcript-based selection | The speech editor can create timeline clips from recognized speech. The documented clip-selection workflow applies to project-bin clips. Vendor documentedSource |
| Lower-resolution previews | Proxy editing uses lighter copies during editing and full-resolution originals for the final render. Vendor documentedSource |
| Camera angles | Multicam editing is documented in the feature overview. Vendor documentedSource |
| Project portability | Archive Project gathers media and updates file paths; archives can be reopened in Kdenlive. Vendor documentedSource |
| Project recovery | Automatic project backups retain previous versions. Vendor documentedSource |
| Learning and setup | A versioned user manual covers editing, formats and speech-model configuration. |
Compare the alternatives
Sources for this profile
- Kdenlive project archiving (opens in a new tab)
docs.kdenlive.org
- Kdenlive automatic backups and version recovery (opens in a new tab)
docs.kdenlive.org
- Kdenlive feature overview (opens in a new tab)
kdenlive.org · The current overview is on the homepage. Detailed proxy and backup behavior is cited to the relevant manual chapters.
- Kdenlive official overview (opens in a new tab)
kdenlive.org
- Kdenlive 26.08 manual introduction (opens in a new tab)
docs.kdenlive.org
- Kdenlive proxy settings and final rendering (opens in a new tab)
docs.kdenlive.org
- Kdenlive speech-to-text workflow (opens in a new tab)
docs.kdenlive.org