The Best Open Source Video Editors for Mac

There are plenty of open source video editors for Mac, but finding one that's actually good is another story.

Some are powerful but have terrible interfaces. Others are easy to use but struggle with larger projects. And a surprising number of editors that still show up in recommendation lists haven't been updated in years.

There's also the Apple Silicon question. Some editors run natively on M-series Macs, while others still rely on Rosetta.

So here's a look at the open source video editors worth considering for Mac in 2026, including which ones I'd actually recommend.

We're also leaving out projects that haven't had a release this year. If a project isn't being actively updated, I don't think it belongs on a list of the best software to use today.

The short answer

For traditional video editing on a Mac, Kdenlive and Shotcut are probably your best options.

Both are free, actively maintained and run natively on Apple Silicon.

The problem is that they're ugly.

They're powerful editors, but the interfaces feel outdated. If you've used something like Final Cut Pro or even iMovie, the experience can feel like a step backward.

OpenShot is easier to learn, although it still runs through Rosetta on Apple Silicon Macs.

LosslessCut is excellent if you just want to trim videos without losing quality.

Blender is worth considering if you already use it for 3D or motion graphics.

And Donkey Cut is an option if you want something simpler, with a traditional timeline and an AI assistant that can help with editing. It runs in the browser and has a native Mac app.

Open source video editors for Mac compared

These requirements are based on the releases listed in October 2026. If you're using an older Mac, check the project's download page before installing.

I'm leaving OpenCut, Avidemux and Olive off the main list. OpenCut's original project has been archived, while Avidemux and Olive haven't had stable releases in years.

Kdenlive

Kdenlive is probably the most complete traditional open source video editor available for Mac.

It has multiple video and audio tracks, keyframes, effects, proxy editing, titles and most of the tools you'd expect from a professional editor.

It runs natively on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs, and supports macOS 13 or newer.

It also has some useful features you might not expect from a free editor. You can generate subtitles locally using Whisper, translate them and even remove backgrounds using SAM2.

For people who work with higher-quality footage, Kdenlive supports ProRes 422 and 4444 export. There are also experimental VideoToolbox presets for hardware-accelerated encoding.

But I have a hard time recommending it to beginners.

The interface is cluttered, and it feels like software built for people who already know how to edit videos.

If you're coming from Final Cut Pro, you might appreciate the control. If you're coming from iMovie, you'll probably find it overwhelming.

Still, if you want a powerful editor without paying for Final Cut Pro, Kdenlive is one of the best options.

Shotcut

Shotcut is another solid open source editor for Mac.

Like Kdenlive, it's powerful, actively maintained and supports most of the features you'd expect from a traditional video editor.

It runs natively on both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs, with support for macOS 12 or newer.

Recent versions have added HDR preview and export, hardware acceleration through VideoToolbox, automatic audio ducking and local speech-to-text transcription using Whisper.

On Apple Silicon, Whisper can use the GPU, which makes transcription faster.

But the interface is still a problem.

Shotcut lets you open and arrange different panels depending on what you're working on. Some people like that flexibility, but personally, I don't find it particularly intuitive.

It still feels like an older desktop application.

If you need a reliable editor that supports a lot of formats, Shotcut is worth trying. Just don't expect the experience to feel anything like Final Cut Pro.

OpenShot

OpenShot is probably the easiest traditional open source video editor for beginners.

The interface is relatively simple. You can drag clips onto the timeline, add transitions, insert text and export your video without spending hours figuring out how everything works.

That's a big advantage over Kdenlive and Shotcut.

But there are a couple of problems on Mac.

First, OpenShot doesn't currently have a native Apple Silicon version. If you're using an M-series Mac, it runs through Rosetta.

Second, OpenShot has a reputation for becoming unstable with larger projects.

For simple videos, it's a reasonable choice. If you're making your first YouTube video or editing something for school, it might be all you need.

But if you're editing regularly, you'll probably want something more capable.

Blender Video Sequence Editor

Most people know Blender as a 3D application, but it also includes a video editor.

And it's a real editor, with a timeline, effects, audio tracks and integration with Blender's compositing and 3D tools.

Blender 5 also improved its Video Sequence Editor, including better support for HDR and wide-gamut workflows on Apple Silicon Macs.

There's one important limitation: Blender 5 no longer supports Intel Macs. If you're still using an Intel machine, Blender 4.5 LTS was the last supported version.

The bigger problem, though, is the learning curve.

Blender is complicated. Even basic video editing can feel unnecessarily difficult if you're not already familiar with the software.

If you use Blender for 3D or motion graphics, having video editing built into the same application is genuinely useful.

But I wouldn't recommend learning Blender just to edit videos.

LosslessCut

LosslessCut is one of my favorite tools on this list because it knows exactly what it's trying to do.

It's not a replacement for Final Cut Pro or Premiere Pro.

It just makes cutting and trimming videos incredibly fast.

You can open a long screen recording, remove the parts you don't need and save the result without re-encoding the video.

That means no quality loss and, in many cases, exports that take seconds instead of minutes.

It runs natively on both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs and supports macOS 12 or newer.

You can download it for free from GitHub or install it through Homebrew. There's also a paid Mac App Store version if you want to support the developer.

The main limitation is that cuts aren't always frame accurate because LosslessCut works with keyframes.

But for trimming recordings or splitting large video files, it's excellent.

I wouldn't use it as my main editor, but it's a great tool to have.

Donkey Cut

Donkey Cut is our open source video editor, so I'm obviously biased here.

I started working on it because I wanted video editing to be simpler.

Most editors have hundreds of buttons, panels and settings. That's great for professional editors, but it's overwhelming when all you want to do is make a video.

Donkey Cut takes a different approach.

You can edit videos traditionally, with a timeline, multiple tracks, captions, transitions, effects, music and color grading.

Or you can just describe what you want.

For example, you can ask it to remove pauses, cut filler words, add captions or assemble a rough cut.

It makes those changes directly on the timeline, so you can see what happened and adjust everything manually afterward.

On a Mac, the assistant can use your existing Claude Code or Codex subscription. You don't need to set up API keys or pay for another subscription just to use it.

The Mac app also supports local transcription, screen recording and projects stored as normal folders on your computer.

You can also use Donkey Cut directly in your browser without installing anything.

There are limitations. It's a much newer project than Kdenlive or Shotcut, so it doesn't have the same history or community behind it.

But if you're looking for a simpler way to edit videos, especially if you'd rather describe changes than do everything manually, it's worth trying.

The editor is free and open source under Apache 2.0.

You can try it at donkeycut.com, and the source code is available on GitHub.

What about OpenCut and OpenReel?

There are also a couple of browser-based open source editors that work on Mac.

OpenCut became popular in 2025 as an open source CapCut alternative. It attracted tens of thousands of GitHub stars, but the original repository was archived in May 2026.

The developers announced a complete rewrite, but the replacement hasn't delivered a usable editor yet.

The old browser editor is still accessible, but I wouldn't recommend building a workflow around a project that's no longer actively developed.

OpenReel is another browser-based option. It focuses on CapCut-style features, including text animations and templates.

It works best in Chrome or Edge rather than Safari.

If you want to experiment with browser-based editing, OpenReel is worth a look. But for a Mac editor I'd use regularly, I'd prefer something that's actively maintained and has a clear development path.

What about Avidemux and Olive?

Both still show up in recommendations for Mac, but I'd skip them.

Avidemux is a basic video cutter and encoder. Its last stable release was in September 2022, and its Homebrew installation has been disabled.

Olive is another project that looked promising. It was supposed to become a modern open source video editor, but its last official release was in 2019.

The available builds are still labeled alpha and highly unstable, and its Homebrew installation has also been disabled.

I don't think either belongs on a list of the best open source video editors in 2026.

There are better options that are actually being maintained.

Open source alternatives to iMovie and Final Cut Pro

If you're looking for an open source alternative to Apple's video editors, the best choice depends on what you're used to.

If you're coming from iMovie, I'd start with OpenShot or Donkey Cut.

OpenShot is easier to learn than most traditional editors. Donkey Cut gives you a regular timeline but also lets you ask an assistant to make edits.

If you're coming from Final Cut Pro, Kdenlive is probably the closest open source alternative in terms of features.

It has a full multitrack timeline, keyframes, effects, proxies and ProRes export.

Shotcut is another option, especially if you work with different formats or HDR footage.

If you're doing motion graphics or 3D work, Blender makes sense, particularly if you already use it.

None of these is a perfect replacement for Final Cut Pro. But depending on what you're editing, you might not need everything Final Cut offers.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best open source video editor for Mac?

For traditional editing, I'd recommend Kdenlive or Shotcut. Both are free, actively maintained and run natively on Apple Silicon.

If you're a beginner, OpenShot is easier to learn. If you want browser-based editing or an assistant that can make edits for you, try Donkey Cut.

Which open source video editors run natively on Apple Silicon?

Kdenlive, Shotcut, Blender, LosslessCut and Donkey Cut all have native Apple Silicon support.

OpenShot still runs through Rosetta.

Which open source video editors support Intel Macs?

Kdenlive, Shotcut, OpenShot and LosslessCut support Intel Macs.

Blender dropped Intel Mac support after version 4.5 LTS.

Is there a free open source alternative to Final Cut Pro?

Kdenlive is probably the closest alternative in terms of traditional editing features.

Shotcut is another good option, although neither has the same interface or workflow as Final Cut Pro.

Is iMovie open source?

No. iMovie is free to use, but it's proprietary software developed by Apple.

Why does macOS say it can't check an app for malware?

Some open source applications aren't notarized by Apple, which can trigger a warning when you first open them.

If you've downloaded an app from its official website and trust the source, you can use macOS's security settings to review the warning and allow the app.

Can I edit videos in a browser on Mac?

Yes. Donkey Cut, OpenCut and OpenReel all offer browser-based video editing.

Donkey Cut also has a native Mac app.

Can open source video editors export ProRes?

Yes. Kdenlive supports ProRes 422 and 4444 export, and Donkey Cut can render ProRes masters.

Final thoughts

I think Mac users have some decent open source video editing options in 2026.

Kdenlive and Shotcut are powerful enough for serious work, and both run well on Apple Silicon.

But I still think the biggest problem with open source video editors is the user experience.

A lot of these tools are complicated, ugly and difficult to learn.

And if you're someone who just wants to make videos, you shouldn't need to spend weeks learning an editor.

That's part of why we're building Donkey Cut.

I think there's room for open source video editors that are powerful without being complicated.

For now, if you want a traditional desktop editor, try Kdenlive or Shotcut. If you want something simpler, try OpenShot or Donkey Cut.

The best editor is the one that lets you spend more time making videos and less time figuring out how the software works.