The Shotcut Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Shotcut 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.
Shotcut
The Insider’s Guide
Free open-source video editor for Windows, Mac and Linux
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among screen recording and video tools, read from Shotcut’s own pages.
Made by Meltytech, 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 Shotcut’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Shotcut’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
2.8
GPA, above 65 of the 84 other screen recording and video tools we grade
Shotcut is a free, open-source video editor built on the MLT framework and FFmpeg. It edits many formats natively on a multi-format timeline, captures from screen, webcam and audio devices, and supports 4K and 8K, 10-bit and HDR video. Releases are dated and arrive about every two months.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Shotcut, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It has no AI tools and no cloud sharing, and it's a program you learn rather than a template you fill in.
- 1
Best for a free desktop video editor
Shotcut is a free, open-source video editor for Windows, Mac and Linux with a timeline, filters and a wide range of formats.
- 2
It is free
Shotcut has no paid plan at all. Free and open source, with downloads offered at no charge and no paid tier listed.
- 3
It runs on 3 platforms
Windows, macOS and Linux.
- 4
Wide format support
Edits hundreds of audio and video formats through FFmpeg without importing, and mixes resolutions and frame rates on one timeline.
- 5
Capture
Records screen, webcam and audio, and takes input from Blackmagic Design SDI and HDMI devices, JACK and Pulse audio and network streams.
- 6
High-end video
Handles 4K and 8K, 10-bit end to end, HDR10 and HLG, alpha-channel files and tone mapping from HDR to SDR.
- 7
A 2.8 GPA, above 65 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
Shotcut is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Shotcut at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- Meltytech, LLC
- Category
- Screen Recording & Video
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for a free desktop video editor
Shotcut is a free, open-source video editor for Windows, Mac and Linux with a timeline, filters and a wide range of formats. It has no AI tools and no cloud sharing, and it's a program you learn rather than a template you fill in.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free to download, with no paid tier. A program anyone can download and run counts as free. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Nothing is locked: no trial, no watermark and no paid tier on the page. |
| Features | C | Timeline editing, 4K, capture, audio filters and subtitles, but the features page lists no AI tools or cloud collaboration, and VST2 and LV2 plugin support is still work in progress. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record. A full timeline editor has a learning curve. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Windows, Mac and Linux, which counts as computers only. No web or phone 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 Shotcut is for
- Fits if you want a no-cost editor for Windows, Mac or Linux and don't mind learning a timeline
- Works for people who edit offline and don't want a subscription
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want templates, AI captions or one-click social videos, as the features page lists no AI tools
- Not for you if you work in a team on the same project, since there's no cloud collaboration
- Too light for people who rely on VST2 or LV2 audio plugins, which are still work in progress
- Watch out: Windows 7 and 8 stop at version 22.12.21 and macOS 11 and earlier get older builds
Good to know
Good for
- People who want a free editor with no watermark or account
- Linux users who need a native video editor
- Editors who work with mixed formats and frame rates
Worth knowing
- Windows 7 and 8 users are limited to version 22.12.21, and macOS 11 and earlier to older builds.
- VST2 and LV2 audio plugin support is listed as work in progress.
- Versions are numbered by date and new releases arrive about every two months.
- The features page lists no built-in AI tools or cloud collaboration.
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
Shotcut is free to use.
A program anyone can download and run counts as free.
Shotcut
$0
The full editor, free to download for Windows, macOS and Linux.
The free plan
Free and open source, with downloads offered at no charge and no paid tier listed.
Read from shotcut.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 Windows, Mac and Linux. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, screen recording, video editing.
Windows, Mac and Linux, which counts as computers only.
- Wide format support
- Edits hundreds of audio and video formats through FFmpeg without importing, and mixes resolutions and frame rates on one timeline.
- Capture
- Records screen, webcam and audio, and takes input from Blackmagic Design SDI and HDMI devices, JACK and Pulse audio and network streams.
- High-end video
- Handles 4K and 8K, 10-bit end to end, HDR10 and HLG, alpha-channel files and tone mapping from HDR to SDR.
- Audio filters
- Includes scopes, volume control and filters such as compressor, equalizers, noise gate, limiter and RNNoise noise reduction.
- Subtitles and export
- Creates and imports SRT, VTT, ASS and SSA subtitles, and exports EDL, single frames and image sequences.
- Dockable interface
- Panels for playlist, filters, history, encoding and jobs can be docked or undocked, with drag-and-drop from the file manager.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
- Blackmagic Design
- FFmpeg
Shotcut is made by Meltytech, LLC.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
65/84
Other screen recording and video tools it is graded above
Shotcut's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 65 of the 84 other screen recording and video tools we grade, and level with 9.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 74 of 84) and worst on features (C, above 0).
Shotcut 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 85 screen recording and video tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Shotcut’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 67 of 84
- AFree plan and trialAbove 74 of 84
- CFeaturesAbove 0 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. Shotcut 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
Shotcut 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 65 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.
What this rests on. Shotcut’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, OpenShot, DaVinci Resolve, Lightworks and Vegas Pro
The 5 tools Shotcut 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.
- Shotcut also covers screen recording.
- Kdenlive also covers transcription.
- 3.0GPA
OpenShot
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.
- Shotcut is open source, according to its own site.
- DaVinci Resolve can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.4GPA
Lightworks
Free plan · from $20/mo
Pro video editor with a free tier and paid Create and Pro plans.
- Shotcut is open source, according to its own site.
- Lightworks can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Shotcut also covers screen recording.
- 1.8GPA
Vegas Pro
Free trial · from $8.33/mo
Windows video editor with AI tools, now published by Boris FX.
- Shotcut has a free plan. Vegas Pro does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Shotcut lists macOS and Linux apps.
- Shotcut 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 Shotcut free?
Yes. Shotcut is free to use.
How much does Shotcut cost?
Shotcut lists one plan. Shotcut: $0.
What platforms does Shotcut work on?
Shotcut is available on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does Shotcut have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Shotcut is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does Shotcut have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Shotcut is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Is Shotcut open source?
Yes. Shotcut is open source, according to its own site.
What does Shotcut integrate with?
Shotcut's listing names Blackmagic Design and FFmpeg. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Shotcut?
Shotcut is made by Meltytech, LLC.
What are the alternatives to Shotcut?
The closest alternatives to Shotcut in our directory are Kdenlive, OpenShot, DaVinci Resolve, Lightworks and Vegas Pro.
How does Shotcut compare with other screen recording and video tools?
Shotcut's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 65 of the 84 other screen recording and video tools we grade, and level with 9.
Is Shotcut good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Shotcut A for value for money. Shotcut has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Shotcut?
Shotcut 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 Shotcut’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 Shotcut'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 Meltytech, LLC. Prices change, so check shotcut.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
- Shotcut, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/shotcut
- 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, "Shotcut: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/shotcut
Know someone choosing between screen recording and video tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/shotcut/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded screen recording and video tools after Shotcut, 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 Shotcut’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. Shotcut is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Meltytech, LLC. Prices and plans change: check shotcut.org before you buy.