Avidemux vs Kdenlive (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Avidemux and Kdenlive share a 3.0 GPA, both are free, so the choice depends on whether you care more about ease of use, where Avidemux grades higher, or features, where Kdenlive does.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Avidemux
Free open-source editor for simple video cutting and encoding
Kdenlive
Free, open-source non-linear video editor from the KDE community
Which one is for you
Pick Avidemux if
- Fits if you only need to trim or re-encode a file
- Works for people who want a free tool on any desktop system
Look elsewhere if
- Too light for real editing, as it has no multitrack timeline or effects
- Watch out: the site's latest news item is release 2.8.1 from September 2022
- Watch out: the site is sparse, with documentation on a separate wiki and forum
- Skip it if you want a phone or web version, as it runs on computers only
Pick Kdenlive if
- Fits if you want a free editor for projects with several tracks
- Works for people who edit on Linux
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you need a phone or browser editor, since it's desktop only
- Watch out: daily builds can be unstable and can corrupt existing projects
- Tight if your computer is old, because Windows needs 10 and macOS needs 13
- Not for you if you want templates and a quick result, since it's a full editor with a learning curve
How we grade them
| 3.0GPAAvidemuxVery good | 3.0GPAKdenliveVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree and open-source, with no paid tier anywhere. | AFree to download and use, and anyone can run it. The project asks for optional donations. |
| Free plan and trial | AFree outright, with no paid tier to buy into. | AThe full editor is free on all three systems, with no caps or watermark. |
| Features | CIt cuts, filters and encodes fully, but that is a smaller job: no multitrack timeline or effects. | BMulti-track timeline, proxies, hundreds of effects with keyframes, color tools, audio mixing and subtitles. Nothing in the listing is missing from the core editing job. |
| Ease of use | BNo store rating on record, but it is a program you install and start using with nothing to set up. | CNo store rating on record, and a timeline editor has a learning curve. |
| Platforms and integrations | CWindows, Mac and Linux, but a program for computers only. | CDesktop only: Windows, Mac and Linux, with no mobile or browser version. |
| Best for | simple video cutting and re-encoding | free multi-track video editing |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Avidemux and Kdenlive. How we grade
Price against what you get
Avidemux has no paid plan and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Kdenlive has no paid plan and scores 2.3.
On this chart the two sit in the same place: the same score for the same starting price. Of the other screen recording and video tools on the chart, none scores higher than Avidemux for less, and none scores higher than Kdenlive for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- Kdenlive also covers transcription.
At a glance
| Avidemux | Kdenlive | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | None | Free to download and use on Windows, macOS and Linux; the site asks for optional donations. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| Made by | Avidemux project | KDE |
| Price read from | avidemux.sourceforge.net | kdenlive.org |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Avidemux
- The project site lists its latest news item as release 2.8.1 from September 2022.
- It is built for simple edits, not multitrack timelines or effects work.
- The vendor site is sparse; documentation sits on a separate wiki and forum.
Kdenlive
- Desktop only: the download page lists Windows, Linux and macOS builds, with no mobile or browser version.
- Windows needs version 10 or newer, and macOS needs 13 (Ventura) or newer.
- Daily builds are offered for testing, and the site warns they can be unstable and can corrupt existing projects.
Key features
Avidemux
- Cutting
- Designed for simple cutting of video, the main task the project describes.
- Filtering
- Applies video filters as part of its filtering tasks.
- Encoding
- Re-encodes video, which the project lists alongside cutting and filtering as its core jobs.
- Projects and job queue
- Saves work as projects and runs jobs from a queue so repeated tasks can be automated.
- Scripting
- Has scripting capabilities for automating tasks.
- Cross-platform
- Available for Linux, BSD, Mac OS X and Windows.
Kdenlive
- Multi-track timeline
- A non-linear workflow with multicam and 3-point editing, nested sequences, markers and automatic backups.
- Proxies and asset bins
- Imports footage in most audio and video formats, shows metadata, and can use proxies for smoother playback on slower machines. Clips can be tagged and sorted into several bins.
- Effects and transitions
- Hundreds of audio and video effects that can be keyframed, plus transitions and layer compositions.
- Color tools
- LUTs, basic corrections and detailed grading, with histogram, vectorscope, RGB parade and waveform views.
- Subtitles and titles
- Subtitles can be created with automatic transcription. Simple title clips are built in, and projects can connect to Glaxnimate for motion graphics.
- Audio mixing
- Audio mixers, built-in voiceover recording and an audio spectrum view.
Plans
Avidemux
Free$0
Free to download and use under the GNU GPL.
Kdenlive
Free$0
The full editor on Windows, macOS and Linux. The project asks for optional donations.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Avidemux or Kdenlive?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Avidemux and Kdenlive are free to use.
Which has a free plan, Avidemux or Kdenlive?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Avidemux and Kdenlive have a free plan.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.