The OpenShot Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about OpenShot 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.
OpenShot
The Insider’s Guide
Free, open-source video editor for Linux, Mac and Windows
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among screen recording and video tools, read from OpenShot’s own pages.
Made by OpenShot Studios, LLC · checked Nov 12, 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 OpenShot’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on OpenShot’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.0
GPA, above 75 of the 84 other screen recording and video tools we grade
OpenShot is an open-source video editor made by OpenShot Studios, LLC. It offers an unlimited-track timeline, keyframe animation, color grading, more than 400 transitions, editable titles and a built-in screen and webcam recorder. The site says it has no subscriptions, watermarks or project limits.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about OpenShot, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No store rating on record, and a timeline editor has a learning curve.
- 1
Best for a free, simple desktop video editor
It's desktop only, and the Mac download described is an Intel installer.
- 2
It is free
OpenShot has no paid plan at all. Free to download and use, with no subscriptions, watermarks or project limits, according to the site.
- 3
It runs on 3 platforms
Windows, macOS and Linux.
- 4
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.
- 5
Keyframe animation
Position, scale, rotation, opacity, volume and effect settings can be animated with linear, constant or Bezier interpolation.
- 6
Transitions and effects
More than 400 transition patterns, plus effects such as chroma key, blur and lens flare.
- 7
A 3.0 GPA, above 75 of 84
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
OpenShot is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
OpenShot at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- OpenShot Studios, LLC, since 2008
- Category
- Screen Recording & Video
- Our grade
- 3.0 GPA, very good
The report card
Best for a free, simple desktop video editor
OpenShot is a free, open-source video editor with unlimited tracks, keyframes, more than 400 transitions and a built-in recorder. It's desktop only, and the Mac download described is an Intel installer.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free to download and use, and anyone can run it. The site says no subscriptions or watermarks, and donations are optional. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The full editor is free on all platforms, with no project limits, per the site. |
| Features | B | Unlimited tracks, keyframes, transitions, titles, color grading and a screen recorder. Nothing in the listing is missing from the core editing job. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record, and a timeline editor has a learning curve. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Desktop only: Windows, Mac, Linux and Chrome OS installers, and no phone or browser 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 OpenShot is for
- 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
Who it is not for
- 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
Good to know
Good for
- Beginners who want a free editor with no watermark
- Linux, Mac and Windows users who share project files
- Quick edits with titles, transitions and keyframes
Worth knowing
- 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.
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
OpenShot is free to use.
Free to download and use, and anyone can run it.
Free
$0
The full editor on Windows, macOS and Linux. Donations are optional.
The free plan
Free to download and use, with no subscriptions, watermarks or project limits, according to the site.
Read from openshot.org on Nov 12, 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 for Linux, Mac and Windows. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, screen recording, video editing.
Unlimited tracks, keyframes, transitions, titles, color grading and a screen recorder.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
- Blender
- FFmpeg
OpenShot is made by OpenShot Studios, LLC, and has been around since 2008.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
75/84
Other screen recording and video tools it is graded above
OpenShot's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 75 of the 84 other screen recording and video tools we grade, and level with 6.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 74 of 84) and worst on ease of use (C, above 1).
OpenShot 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 85 screen recording and video tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. OpenShot’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 67 of 84
- AFree plan and trialAbove 74 of 84
- BFeaturesAbove 49 of 84
- CEase of useAbove 1 of 84
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 6 of 84
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 71 screen recording and video tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. OpenShot 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
OpenShot 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 75 of the 84 other screen recording and video tools we grade.
What you could not
- A video editor.
- Recording the screen with its sound, and somewhere to keep the video.
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. OpenShot’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
Kdenlive, Shotcut, DaVinci Resolve, WeVideo and Wondershare Filmora
The 5 tools OpenShot is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.0GPA
Kdenlive
Free
Free, open-source non-linear video editor from the KDE community.
- OpenShot also covers screen recording.
- Kdenlive also covers transcription.
- 2.8GPA
Shotcut
Free
- 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.
- OpenShot is open source, according to its own site.
- DaVinci Resolve can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.4GPA
WeVideo
Free plan · from $4.99/mo
Browser-based video editor with screen recording for schools and teams.
- Only OpenShot lists Windows, macOS and Linux apps.
- Only WeVideo lists a web app.
- Only WeVideo lists iOS and Android apps.
- 3.0GPA
Wondershare Filmora
Free plan · from $49.99/yr
Desktop and mobile video editor with AI tools and a stock library.
- Only OpenShot lists a Linux app.
- Only Wondershare Filmora lists iOS and Android apps.
- OpenShot is open source, according to its own site.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
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 OpenShot free?
Yes. OpenShot is free to use.
How much does OpenShot cost?
OpenShot lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does OpenShot work on?
OpenShot is available on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does OpenShot have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. OpenShot is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does OpenShot have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. OpenShot is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Is OpenShot open source?
Yes. OpenShot is open source, according to its own site.
What does OpenShot integrate with?
OpenShot's listing names Blender and FFmpeg. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes OpenShot?
OpenShot is made by OpenShot Studios, LLC. It dates from 2008.
What are the alternatives to OpenShot?
The closest alternatives to OpenShot in our directory are Kdenlive, Shotcut, DaVinci Resolve, WeVideo and Wondershare Filmora.
How does OpenShot compare with other screen recording and video tools?
OpenShot's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 75 of the 84 other screen recording and video tools we grade, and level with 6.
Is OpenShot good value for money?
ToolGPA grades OpenShot A for value for money. OpenShot has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of OpenShot?
OpenShot 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 OpenShot’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from OpenShot's own pages on 12 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 OpenShot Studios, LLC. Prices change, so check openshot.org before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
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.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- OpenShot, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/openshot
- 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, "OpenShot: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/openshot
Know someone choosing between screen recording and video tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/openshot/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded screen recording and video tools after OpenShot, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Screen Recording & Video Insider's GuideEvery one of the 85 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 OpenShot’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. OpenShot is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by OpenShot Studios, LLC. Prices and plans change: check openshot.org before you buy.