Flowblade vs Kdenlive (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Kdenlive grades higher than Flowblade: 3.0 against 2.6 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Kdenlive grades higher on features and platforms. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Kdenlive
Free, open-source non-linear video editor from the KDE community
Which one is for you
Pick Flowblade if
- Fits if you run Linux and want a free multitrack editor
- Works for people who install from a distribution's repository
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you use Windows or macOS, as neither is supported
- Watch out: repository versions may lag the latest release
- Watch out: the development version can be unstable or need new dependencies
- Skip it if you want a phone or web version, as it is a Linux program
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
| 2.6GPAFlowbladeGood | 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 | CA multitrack editor that works with anything FFmpeg can read, with no effects or tracking gaps listed. | 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 | CNo store rating on record, and a timeline editor has a learning curve. | CNo store rating on record, and a timeline editor has a learning curve. |
| Platforms and integrations | DLinux only; the download page says it focuses on Linux and other free platforms. | CDesktop only: Windows, Mac and Linux, with no mobile or browser version. |
| Best for | a free multitrack editor on Linux | 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: Flowblade and Kdenlive. How we grade
Price against what you get
Flowblade has no paid plan and scores 1.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Kdenlive has no paid plan and scores 2.3.
Kdenlive scores higher for the same starting price. Of the other screen recording and video tools on the chart, none scores higher than Flowblade 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
| Flowblade | 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 | Flowblade project | KDE |
| Price read from | jliljebl.github.io | kdenlive.org |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Flowblade
- Windows and macOS are not supported; the download page says it focuses on Linux and other free platforms.
- Repository versions may lag behind the latest release.
- The development version can be unstable or have new dependencies.
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
Flowblade
- Multitrack timeline
- Industry-standard editing tools for adding, moving and trimming clips on a timeline.
- Wide media support
- Uses FFmpeg, and the site says a typical startup reports 146 formats, 78 video codecs and 58 audio codecs.
- Composite, mix and filter
- Combine images and audio, add filters and animation, and color-correct the picture.
- G'MIC tool
- A dedicated tool exposes G'MIC open-source image filtering.
- Flatpak and repository installs
- Installs from Flathub, from an operating-system repository or from the development source.
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
Flowblade
Free$0
Free and open source under the GPL3 license.
Kdenlive
Free$0
The full editor on Windows, macOS and Linux. The project asks for optional donations.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Flowblade or Kdenlive?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Flowblade and Kdenlive are free to use.
Which has a free plan, Flowblade or Kdenlive?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Flowblade and Kdenlive have a free plan.
Which platforms do Flowblade and Kdenlive run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Kdenlive lists macOS and Windows apps. Both list a Linux app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
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.