The Olive Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Olive 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.
Olive
The Insider’s Guide
Free open-source video editor, still in alpha
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among screen recording and video tools, read from Olive’s own pages.
Made by Olive Team · 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 Olive’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Olive’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
2.8
GPA, above 104 of the 133 other screen recording and video tools we grade
Olive is a free non-linear video editor for Windows, macOS and Linux, released under the GPL-3.0 license. Its GitHub page calls it alpha software that is highly unstable. The project's website currently says Olive will return and points to old downloads on GitHub, so treat it as a project on hold.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Olive, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Its own README calls it alpha software that is highly unstable, and the project site shows only a notice that it will return.
- 1
Best for trying a free open-source editor
Olive is a free, open-source video editor for Windows, Mac and Linux.
- 2
It is free
Olive has no paid plan at all.
- 3
It runs on 3 platforms
Windows, macOS and Linux.
- 4
Non-linear timeline editing
A timeline editor for cutting and arranging video, built as a free alternative to commercial editors.
- 5
Windows, macOS and Linux
The README says Olive runs on all three desktop systems, with build instructions for each.
- 6
Open source
The code is public on GitHub under GPL-3.0, and anyone can compile it from source.
- 7
A 2.8 GPA, above 104 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
Olive is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Olive at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- It is free
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- Olive Team
- Category
- Screen Recording & Video
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for trying a free open-source editor
Olive is a free, open-source video editor for Windows, Mac and Linux. Its own README calls it alpha software that is highly unstable, and the project site shows only a notice that it will return.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free to download and run, with no paid tier. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Free outright, with no paid tier to buy into. |
| Features | C | Non-linear timeline editing on three systems, but alpha software the README calls highly unstable. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record, and a timeline editor has a learning curve with no vendor support. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Windows, Mac and Linux, but a program for computers only; no phone or web version. |
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 Olive is for
- Fits if you want a free editor and can live with crashes
- Works for people who like testing open-source software
Who it is not for
- 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
Good to know
Good for
- People who want a free editor and can tolerate an alpha build
- Developers who want to read or build the editor's source
Worth knowing
- 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.
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
Olive is free to use.
Free to download and run, with no paid tier.
Free
$0
Open-source editor under GPL-3.0; the project asks for support through Patreon.
Read from github.com 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 video editor, still in alpha. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, video editing.
Non-linear timeline editing on three systems, but alpha software the README calls highly unstable.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Olive is made by Olive Team.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
104/133
Other screen recording and video tools it is graded above
Olive's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 104 of the 133 other screen recording and video tools we grade, and level with 15.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 117 of 133) and worst on features (C, above 0).
Olive has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 134 screen recording and video tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Olive’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 102 of 133
- AFree plan and trialAbove 117 of 133
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 133
- CEase of useAbove 2 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. Olive 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
Olive 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 2.8 is higher than 104 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. Olive’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
Shotcut, Kdenlive, OpenShot, Flowblade and DaVinci Resolve
The 5 tools Olive is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 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 Olive lists Windows and macOS apps.
- 3.4GPA
DaVinci Resolve
Free plan · from $94.99
Video editing, color, effects and audio post-production in one app.
- Only DaVinci Resolve lists an iOS app.
- Olive is open source, according to its own site.
- DaVinci Resolve can be bought with a one-time purchase.
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 Olive free?
Yes. Olive is free to use.
How much does Olive cost?
Olive lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does Olive work on?
Olive is available on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does Olive have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Olive is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does Olive have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Olive is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Is Olive open source?
Yes. Olive is open source, according to its own site.
Who makes Olive?
Olive is made by Olive Team.
What are the alternatives to Olive?
The closest alternatives to Olive in our directory are Shotcut, Kdenlive, OpenShot, Flowblade and DaVinci Resolve.
How does Olive compare with other screen recording and video tools?
Olive's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 104 of the 133 other screen recording and video tools we grade, and level with 15.
Is Olive good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Olive A for value for money. Olive has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Olive?
Olive 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 Olive’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 the Olive project'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 Olive Team. Prices change, so check olivevideoeditor.org 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
- Olive, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/olive
- 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, "Olive: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/olive
Know someone choosing between screen recording and video tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/olive/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded screen recording and video tools after Olive, 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 Olive’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. Olive is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Olive Team. Prices and plans change: check olivevideoeditor.org before you buy.