Kdenlive vs OBS Studio (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, we pick OBS Studio: it is third in our ranking of screen recording and video tools, though Kdenlive grades higher (3.0 against 2.8) on features.
Checked Oct 5, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan, ease of use and platforms.
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
Free
OBS Studio
Free, open-source software for video recording and live streaming
Free
Which one is for you
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
Pick OBS Studio if
- Fits if you stream live and want control of scenes, sources and audio
- Works for recording gameplay, tutorials or talks without paying for software, on Linux too
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want to trim or edit afterwards, as its feature list doesn't include editing a recording
- Not for you if you want a click-and-share recorder, since you build scenes and sources first
- Too light for anyone who wants a support desk, since help is a knowledge base, forums and a community Discord
- Watch out: Game Capture is Windows only, and the Mac version needs macOS 13 or newer
- Skip it if you want to record from a phone or a browser, as no mobile or web version is listed
How we grade them
| 3.0GPAKdenliveVery good | 2.8GPAOBS StudioGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree to download and use, and anyone can run it. The project asks for optional donations. | ANothing to pay, ever. It's free and open source under the GNU GPL v2 with no paid edition, against a category whose middle plan is $10 a month. Sponsors and donations through Open Collective and Patreon keep it going. |
| Free plan and trial | AThe full editor is free on all three systems, with no caps or watermark. | AThe whole program is free on Windows, macOS and Linux: recording, live streaming, the virtual camera, plugins and scripting. There is no paid tier waiting further in and no cap to reach. |
| Features | 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. | CIt does the record-and-stream job completely, with scenes, an audio mixer with VST filters, Studio Mode, an 8-scene Multiview and a virtual camera. But that's the smaller job: its own listing says the feature list doesn't include editing a recording afterwards. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record, and a timeline editor has a learning curve. | CNo store rating on record, and there's real setup here: you build scenes out of sources before you record anything, and streaming means pointing it at a service or a custom server. Help is a knowledge base, forums and a Discord, not a support desk. |
| Platforms and integrations | CDesktop only: Windows, Mac and Linux, with no mobile or browser version. | CWindows 10 and 11, macOS 13 or newer and Linux, so computers only, with no web version and no phone app. There is a plugin API and Lua and Python scripting, and the Game Capture source is Windows only. |
| Best for | free multi-track video editing | free live streaming and recording |
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: Kdenlive and OBS Studio. How we grade
Price against what you get
Kdenlive has no paid plan and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. OBS Studio has no paid plan and scores 2.0.
Kdenlive scores higher for the same starting price. Of the other screen recording and video tools on the chart, none scores higher than Kdenlive for less, and none scores higher than OBS Studio 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 and video editing.
- OBS Studio also covers noise cancellation and screen recording.
In commonFree planWindowsmacOSLinuxOpen source
At a glance
| Kdenlive | OBS Studio | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Free to download and use on Windows, macOS and Linux; the site asks for optional donations. | Free and open source under the GNU GPL v2, with no paid edition. The project is funded by sponsors and by donations through Open Collective and Patreon. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| Made by | KDE | OBS Project |
| Price read from | kdenlive.org | obsproject.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Oct 5, 2026 |
Worth knowing
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.
OBS Studio
- It captures and mixes video in real time; the feature list on its site does not include editing a recording afterwards.
- Downloads are offered for Windows 10 and 11, macOS 13.0 or newer, and Linux; no mobile or browser version is listed.
- The Game Capture source is Windows only, according to the quick start guide.
- Help comes from a knowledge base, forums and a community Discord server rather than a vendor support desk.
Key features
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.
OBS Studio
- Scenes and sources
- Compose a scene from window and display captures, webcams, capture cards, images, text and browser windows, and set up as many scenes as you need.
- Recording and live streaming
- Record to a local file or stream to one of the included services or a custom server. A replay buffer can save recent footage with a hotkey.
- Audio mixer with filters
- Each audio source can take filters such as a noise gate, noise suppression and gain, and VST plugins are supported.
- Studio Mode and Multiview
- Studio Mode lets you preview and adjust a scene before it goes live. Multiview shows 8 scenes at once and cues any of them with a click.
- Virtual camera
- Sends an OBS scene, or a single source, to any app that accepts a webcam, such as Zoom or Discord.
- Plugins and scripting
- An API supports native plugins and scripts written in Lua or Python, and community-made plugins are shared in the site's Resources section.
Plans
Kdenlive
Free$0
The full editor on Windows, macOS and Linux. The project asks for optional donations.
OBS Studio
OBS Studio$0
The complete program for Windows, macOS and Linux, including recording, live streaming, the virtual camera, plugins and scripting.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Kdenlive or OBS Studio?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both Kdenlive and OBS Studio are free to use.
Which has a free plan, Kdenlive or OBS Studio?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both Kdenlive and OBS Studio 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.