Kdenlive can be used without paying: Free and open source under the GPL-3.0 license. Check the vendor’s pricing page for current limits.

Is Kdenlive open source?

Yes. Kdenlive publishes its source code under the GPL-3.0 license.

Which platforms does Kdenlive support?

Kdenlive is available on: Linux, Windows, macOS.

What is Kdenlive best for?

Open-source timeline editing on Linux. In our ranking of video editing software it is number 5 of 7 with a score of 85.0.

What are the best alternatives to Kdenlive?

The highest-ranked alternatives on listme.name are DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere Pro, Shotcut.

Kdenlive Review, Pricing & Alternatives (2026)

85.0score

Ranked 5 of 7 in best video editing software

A free GPL-3.0 editor for Linux, Windows, macOS and BSD, built on the MLT Framework. Its interface is dense, and it offers less guided help than the paid editors in this list.

Best for Open-source timeline editing on Linux

About Kdenlive

Kdenlive is a non-linear editor with a multi-track timeline. The project publishes it as free software for Linux, Windows, macOS and BSD, and it is built on the MLT Framework and KDE Frameworks. Its source is mirrored on GitHub, and the main repository is on KDE's own infrastructure.

The interface has many panels and settings, and it offers less guided help than the paid editors in this list. Kdenlive suits people who want a free timeline editor on Linux or Windows and are willing to learn its layout. Its active development is shown on the project's news page.

Key features

Multi-track timeline
Built on MLT and KDE Frameworks
Runs on Linux and BSD
GPL-3.0 license
Active KDE development

Strengths

Free and open source under GPL-3.0
Runs on Linux, Windows, macOS and BSD

Limits

Dense interface with many panels
Less guided than consumer editors

Where Kdenlive ranks

List	Rank	Score	Best for
Best Video editing software	5 of 7	85.0	Open-source timeline editing on Linux

Alternatives to Kdenlive

All 6 alternatives

Compare Kdenlive

Questions about Kdenlive

Is Kdenlive free?: Kdenlive can be used without paying: Free and open source under the GPL-3.0 license. Check the vendor’s pricing page for current limits.
Is Kdenlive open source?: Yes. Kdenlive publishes its source code under the GPL-3.0 license.
Which platforms does Kdenlive support?: Kdenlive is available on: Linux, Windows, macOS.
What is Kdenlive best for?: Open-source timeline editing on Linux. In our ranking of video editing software it is number 5 of 7 with a score of 85.0.
What are the best alternatives to Kdenlive?: The highest-ranked alternatives on listme.name are DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere Pro, Shotcut.