Flowblade vs Olive (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Olive grades higher than Flowblade: 2.8 against 2.6 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Olive grades higher on platforms. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan, features and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
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 Olive if
- Fits if you want a free editor and can live with crashes
- Works for people who like testing open-source software
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you need to finish a project, as the README calls it alpha and highly unstable
- Watch out: the project website shows only a notice that Olive will return, with links to old downloads
- Not for you if you want support, as help is a wiki and an unofficial Discord
- Skip it if you want a phone or web editor, as it runs on computers only
How we grade them
| 2.6GPAFlowbladeGood | 2.8GPAOliveGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree and open-source, with no paid tier anywhere. | AFree to download and run, with no paid tier. |
| Free plan and trial | AFree outright, with no paid tier to buy into. | AFree outright, with no paid tier to buy into. |
| Features | CA multitrack editor that works with anything FFmpeg can read, with no effects or tracking gaps listed. | CNon-linear timeline editing on three systems, but alpha software the README calls highly unstable. |
| 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 with no vendor support. |
| Platforms and integrations | DLinux only; the download page says it focuses on Linux and other free platforms. | CWindows, Mac and Linux, but a program for computers only; no phone or web version. |
| Best for | a free multitrack editor on Linux | trying a free open-source editor |
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 Olive. 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. Olive has no paid plan and scores 2.0.
Olive 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 Olive 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
At a glance
| Flowblade | Olive | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| Made by | Flowblade project | Olive Team |
| Price read from | jliljebl.github.io | github.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 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.
Olive
- The README calls Olive alpha software and considered highly unstable; use it at your own risk.
- The project website currently shows only a notice that Olive will return and links to old downloads.
- There is no hosted or paid support; help comes from the wiki and an unofficial Discord.
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.
Olive
- Non-linear timeline editing
- A timeline editor for cutting and arranging video, built as a free alternative to commercial editors.
- Windows, macOS and Linux
- The README says Olive runs on all three desktop systems, with build instructions for each.
- Open source
- The code is public on GitHub under GPL-3.0, and anyone can compile it from source.
- Two download lines
- GitHub lists a 0.1.0 alpha binary and a 0.2.0 unstable development build.
Plans
Flowblade
Free$0
Free and open source under the GPL3 license.
Olive
Free$0
Open-source editor under GPL-3.0; the project asks for support through Patreon.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Flowblade or Olive?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Flowblade and Olive are free to use.
Which has a free plan, Flowblade or Olive?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Flowblade and Olive have a free plan.
Which platforms do Flowblade and Olive run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Olive 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.