OpenShot is a free, open-source video editor for Windows, released under GPL-3.0 with no price attached. The installer comes from github.com, the official server, rather than from us. Version 4.1.1 is published by OpenShot Studios, LLC and takes up 237 MB.
Open source and free under GPL-3.0
What defines OpenShot is its licence. It is open-source under GPL-3.0 and free. The developer describes it as award-winning.
Besides Windows, it runs on Linux, Mac and Chrome OS, so a project can follow you between systems.
What a session with version 4.1.1 looks like
You import clips, arrange them on a timeline and export the result. The developer describes the interface as easy to use.
Export is where the latest release changed most. It adds AMD AMF and HEVC NVENC/QSV presets, and it checks for a working GPU option before it falls back to CPU encoding. Saving on Windows and on network shares was also improved.
OpenShot against Shotcut, Kdenlive and CapCut
The alternatives are Avidemux, CapCut, MKVToolNix, Kdenlive, Lightworks and Shotcut. Kdenlive and Shotcut are the closest comparisons, since they are also general video editors. Avidemux and MKVToolNix cover narrower tasks.
OpenShot's clear points are its GPL-3.0 licence, its free price and its place among free editors without a watermark.
What's new in 4.1.1
Version 4.1.1 is a small maintenance release rebuilt with updated FFmpeg dependencies. It adds AMD AMF and HEVC NVENC/QSV export presets and uses libopenshot 1.1.1.
OpenShot Video Editor pros and cons
Pros
- Free to use
- Open source under GPL-3.0
- Also runs on Linux, Mac and Chrome OS
- New AMD AMF and HEVC NVENC/QSV GPU export presets
- Better saving on Windows and network shares
Cons
- The installer is 237 MB
- Interface cannot be previewed here
- No Google Play rating or install data applies to this Windows app
Is OpenShot Video Editor safe?
OpenShot Studios, LLC publishes this editor, and its source code is open under the GPL-3.0 license, so anyone can inspect how it works. We have no scan results for this file, so run your own antivirus check after downloading, as you would with any installer.
How to install OpenShot Video Editor
- Press the download button to get the official file.
- Run the installer you saved and confirm the Windows security prompt if the publisher matches.
- Follow the setup steps, then start OpenShot Video Editor from the Start menu.
