Flowblade vs OpenShot (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, OpenShot 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
OpenShot 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.
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 OpenShot if
- Fits if you want a free editor with no watermark for home videos
- Works for people who also want a built-in screen and webcam recorder
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you have an Apple silicon Mac, since the page only describes an Intel installer
- Not for you if you need a phone or browser editor, as it's desktop only
- Too light for team editing, since nothing on the site covers sharing or cloud projects
How we grade them
| 2.6GPAFlowbladeGood | 3.0GPAOpenShotVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree and open-source, with no paid tier anywhere. | AFree to download and use, and anyone can run it. The site says no subscriptions or watermarks, and donations are optional. |
| Free plan and trial | AFree outright, with no paid tier to buy into. | AThe full editor is free on all platforms, with no project limits, per the site. |
| Features | CA multitrack editor that works with anything FFmpeg can read, with no effects or tracking gaps listed. | BUnlimited tracks, keyframes, transitions, titles, color grading and a screen recorder. 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, Linux and Chrome OS installers, and no phone or browser version. |
| Best for | a free multitrack editor on Linux | a free, simple desktop video 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 OpenShot. 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. OpenShot has no paid plan and scores 2.3.
OpenShot 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 OpenShot 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
- OpenShot also covers screen recording.
At a glance
| Flowblade | OpenShot | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | None | Free to download and use, with no subscriptions, watermarks or project limits, according to the site. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| Made by | Flowblade project | OpenShot Studios, LLC |
| Price read from | jliljebl.github.io | openshot.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.
OpenShot
- Desktop only: the download page lists Windows, Linux, macOS and Chrome OS installers.
- The macOS download is described as a 64-bit Intel installer; the page does not mention a separate Apple silicon build.
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.
OpenShot
- Timeline editing
- Video, audio and images go on unlimited tracks with snapping, waveforms and frame-by-frame stepping. Project files move between Linux, macOS and Windows.
- Keyframe animation
- Position, scale, rotation, opacity, volume and effect settings can be animated with linear, constant or Bezier interpolation.
- Transitions and effects
- More than 400 transition patterns, plus effects such as chroma key, blur and lens flare.
- Titles
- More than 40 editable 2D title templates, custom SVG templates, and 3D animated titles rendered with Blender.
- Color grading
- Color wheels, curves and LUTs, with waveform, histogram, vectorscope and RGB parade scopes.
- Built-in recorder
- Captures a screen, window or region plus a webcam and microphone, and places each recording on its own timeline track.
Plans
Flowblade
Free$0
Free and open source under the GPL3 license.
OpenShot
Free$0
The full editor on Windows, macOS and Linux. Donations are optional.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Flowblade or OpenShot?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Flowblade and OpenShot are free to use.
Which has a free plan, Flowblade or OpenShot?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Flowblade and OpenShot have a free plan.
Which platforms do Flowblade and OpenShot run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only OpenShot 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.