The Avidemux Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Avidemux in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Avidemux
The Insider’s Guide
Free open-source editor for simple video cutting and encoding
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among screen recording and video tools, read from Avidemux’s own pages.
Made by Avidemux project · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Avidemux’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Avidemux’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.0
GPA, above 120 of the 133 other screen recording and video tools we grade
Avidemux is a free video editor meant for simple cutting, filtering and encoding jobs. Repeated work can be automated with projects, a job queue and scripting. It runs on Linux, BSD, macOS and Windows and is released under the GNU GPL.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Avidemux, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No store rating on record, but it is a program you install and start using with nothing to set up.
- 1
Best for simple video cutting and re-encoding
Avidemux is a free video cutter and encoder for Windows, Mac and Linux.
- 2
It is free
Avidemux has no paid plan at all.
- 3
It runs on 3 platforms
Windows, macOS and Linux.
- 4
Cutting
Designed for simple cutting of video, the main task the project describes.
- 5
Filtering
Applies video filters as part of its filtering tasks.
- 6
Encoding
Re-encodes video, which the project lists alongside cutting and filtering as its core jobs.
- 7
A 3.0 GPA, above 120 of 133
That is against the other screen recording and video tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Avidemux is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Avidemux at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- It is free
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- Avidemux project
- Category
- Screen Recording & Video
- Our grade
- 3.0 GPA, very good
The report card
Best for simple video cutting and re-encoding
Avidemux is a free video cutter and encoder for Windows, Mac and Linux. It is built for simple edits only, with no multitrack timeline, and the site's latest news item is a September 2022 release.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free and open-source, with no paid tier anywhere. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Free outright, with no paid tier to buy into. |
| Features | C | It cuts, filters and encodes fully, but that is a smaller job: no multitrack timeline or effects. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record, but it is a program you install and start using with nothing to set up. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Windows, Mac and Linux, but a program for computers only. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Avidemux is for
- Fits if you only need to trim or re-encode a file
- Works for people who want a free tool on any desktop system
Who it is not for
- 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
Good to know
Good for
- Quick cuts and format conversions without a full editor
- Users who want free software with no account
- Batch jobs that can be scripted or queued
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Avidemux is free to use.
Free and open-source, with no paid tier anywhere.
Free
$0
Free to download and use under the GNU GPL.
Read from avidemux.sourceforge.net on Nov 13, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: macOS, Windows and Linux
Free open-source editor for simple video cutting and encoding. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, video editing.
It cuts, filters and encodes fully, but that is a smaller job: no multitrack timeline or effects.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Avidemux is made by Avidemux project.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
120/133
Other screen recording and video tools it is graded above
Avidemux's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 120 of the 133 other screen recording and video tools we grade, and level with 8.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 117 of 133) and worst on features (C, above 0).
Avidemux has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4, and no tool on the category's chart scores higher without costing more.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 134 screen recording and video tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Avidemux’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 102 of 133
- AFree plan and trialAbove 117 of 133
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 133
- BEase of useAbove 87 of 133
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 17 of 133
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 102 screen recording and video tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Avidemux is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
Avidemux is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 120 of the 133 other screen recording and video tools we grade.
What you could not
- A video editor.
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
What this rests on. Avidemux’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
HandBrake, Shotcut, Kdenlive, OpenShot and Flowblade
The 5 tools Avidemux is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
HandBrake
Free
Free open-source video converter for Windows, Mac and Linux.
- HandBrake also covers file compression.
- 2.8GPA
Shotcut
Free
Free open-source video editor for Windows, Mac and Linux.
- Shotcut also covers screen recording.
- 3.0GPA
Kdenlive
Free
Free, open-source non-linear video editor from the KDE community.
- Kdenlive also covers transcription.
- 3.0GPA
OpenShot
Free
Free, open-source video editor for Linux, Mac and Windows.
- OpenShot also covers screen recording.
- 2.6GPA
Flowblade
Free
Free multitrack video editor for Linux.
- Only Avidemux lists Windows and macOS apps.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Avidemux free?
Yes. Avidemux is free to use.
How much does Avidemux cost?
Avidemux lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does Avidemux work on?
Avidemux is available on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does Avidemux have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Avidemux is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does Avidemux have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Avidemux is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Is Avidemux open source?
Yes. Avidemux is open source, according to its own site.
Who makes Avidemux?
Avidemux is made by Avidemux project.
What are the alternatives to Avidemux?
The closest alternatives to Avidemux in our directory are HandBrake, Shotcut, Kdenlive, OpenShot and Flowblade.
How does Avidemux compare with other screen recording and video tools?
Avidemux's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 120 of the 133 other screen recording and video tools we grade, and level with 8.
Is Avidemux good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Avidemux A for value for money. Avidemux has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Avidemux?
Avidemux is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Avidemux’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Avidemux's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Avidemux project. Prices change, so check avidemux.sourceforge.net before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Avidemux, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/avidemux
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Avidemux: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/avidemux
Know someone choosing between screen recording and video tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/avidemux/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded screen recording and video tools after Avidemux, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Screen Recording & Video Insider's GuideEvery one of the 134 screen recording and video tools we grade, compared
- DaVinci Resolve Insider's GuideVideo editing, color, effects and audio post-production in one app3.4 GPA
- Zencastr Insider's GuideFree podcast recording, chat-based editing and hosting in one app3.4 GPA
- Cap Insider's GuideOpen-source screen recorder with instant share links and an editor3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Avidemux’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Avidemux is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Avidemux project. Prices and plans change: check avidemux.sourceforge.net before you buy.