Where CapCut is a closed editor, Shotcut from Meltytech is open source under the GPL-3.0 licence and costs nothing. The Windows build is version 26.9.27, released September 28, 2026, and the file is 145.8 MB.
Free and open source, across platforms
Shotcut is a free, open source, cross-platform video editor. Its changelog lists Linux fixes alongside Windows ones, which fits that description.
What an editing session involves
A session centers on a Timeline where clips are placed, split and joined with transitions. Filters such as Mask: Draw (Glaxnimate) and Size, Position & Rotate are used on clips, and Export jobs write the finished file. Subtitles can be imported from a file.
Next to Kdenlive, OpenShot and Lightworks
Alternatives include OpenShot Video Editor, Kdenlive, Lightworks, CapCut, Avidemux and MKVToolNix. The clearest differences here are the licence and the price, since Shotcut is free.
What's new in 26.9.27
Version 26.9.27 fixed security flaws in upgrade and Whisper downloads, and moved audio to a 32-bit float pipeline. It also fixed LV2 plugin loading and subtitle import on Windows.
Shotcut pros and cons
Pros
- Free, with price listed as 0
- GPL-3.0 open source licence
- Audio pipeline kept in 32-bit float
- Windows fixes for LV2 plugins and subtitle import
Cons
- 145.8 MB download
- Few visual previews are available
- Changelog points to a web page for full notes
Is Shotcut safe?
Meltytech publishes Shotcut under the GPL-3.0 licence, so the source is open to inspection. Version 26.9.27 fixes flaws in the upgrade and Whisper downloads, where a failed HTTPS connection was retried over HTTP, certificate errors could be ignored, and a file could be used without a trusted digest.
How to install Shotcut
- 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 Shotcut from the Start menu.
