Shotcut is a free, open-source video editor for Windows, macOS and Linux, developed by Meltytech. Its own site lists the main features as support for a wide range of formats, native timeline editing with no import step, Blackmagic Design support for input and preview monitoring, and resolution support up to 4K. It suits people who want a full timeline editor for YouTube videos, family footage or course material without paying for a licence or creating an account.
How to get the official version
All downloads start at shotcut.org/download. The project pledges that its downloads are free of malware, spyware and adware, but notes it can only guarantee that when you download through its own website. The download buttons send you to the project’s SourceForge and GitHub file areas.
- Windows: an installer or a portable zip, with separate builds for Intel/AMD and for Windows on ARM.
- macOS: one universal DMG for Intel and Apple Silicon Macs. An unsigned app bundle is also published for people who want to modify the build.
- Linux: an AppImage or a portable tar archive. Shotcut is also on Flathub, and on Snap with
snap install shotcut --classic.
The download page offers the Microsoft Store as the way “to avoid ads and get automatic updates”. That Store edition is paid (listed at $11.49 in the US Store when we checked). The direct downloads are the same editor and cost nothing.
Price and account
Shotcut is free software under the GPL. There is no subscription, no in-app purchase and no sign-in. The only paid option is the Microsoft Store edition described above.
System requirements
| Platform | Current release 26.8.1 | Last version for older systems |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | Windows 10 build 1809 or later, Windows 11; x64 or ARM | 22.12.21 for Windows 7 and 8 |
| macOS | macOS 12 to 26 | 24.11.17 for macOS 11; 24.01.31 for 10.14 and 10.15 |
| Linux | 64-bit Mint 21+, Ubuntu/Pop!_OS 22.04+, Debian 12+, Fedora 36+, Manjaro 21.3+, MX Linux 23+, elementary OS 7+ | – |
The download page warns that Macs from 2013 or earlier may show a preview colour problem after the move to Apple Metal, and recommends version 22.12.21 for those machines.
Verify your download
Each release ships sha256sums.txt and md5sums.txt. On Windows, run Get-FileHash .\shotcut-win64-26.8.1.exe and compare the result with the SHA-256 value in the table below. Sites that repackage Shotcut in their own installers are not covered by the project’s malware pledge.
Questions
Is the Microsoft Store version different from the free download?
Shotcut’s site presents the Store only as a way to avoid download-page ads and get automatic updates. It does not describe extra editing features in the Store edition.
Can I run Shotcut without installing it?
Yes. Use the Windows portable zip or the Linux portable tar. The Linux page says to launch the included Shotcut.app or shell script, not bin/shotcut directly.
Does Shotcut still support Windows 7?
No. Version 22.12.21 was the last release for Windows 7 and 8, and it remains available on the download page.
