Kdenlive is a free, open-source video editor made by KDE. The name stands for KDE Non-Linear Video Editor. It runs on Linux, Windows, macOS and BSD. The project describes it as covering the whole job from ingest to the final touch: you can bring in footage in almost any audio or video format, use proxy clips for smooth playback on low-end machines, sort assets with tags, filters and multiple bins, and edit with a non-linear workflow that includes multicam and three-point editing.
It is a good fit for people who want a capable desktop editor on Linux, and for Windows or Mac users who prefer open-source tools with no licence fees.
How to get the official version
Go to kdenlive.org/download. The stable release (26.08.1 when we checked) is offered as:
- Windows: an installable version and a standalone version that runs without installation.
- Linux: an AppImage, plus the Flatpak on Flathub.
- macOS: separate DMG files for Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.
The download files are served from KDE’s own server, download.kde.org.
Daily builds are for testing only
The same page offers daily builds with the latest features and fixes. Kdenlive warns that these can be unstable and can corrupt existing projects, and recommends them for testing only. If you edit real work, use the stable release. An archive of older versions is linked for people who need to open old projects.
Price and account
Kdenlive is free, with no account, subscription, ads or in-app purchases. After the download starts, the site asks for an optional donation to KDE.
System requirements
- Windows 10 or newer.
- macOS 13 (Ventura) or newer, with separate Apple Silicon and Intel builds.
- Linux: any distribution that can run the AppImage or Flatpak.
Safety notes
Only kdenlive.org, download.kde.org, Flathub and your Linux distribution’s own repositories are official sources. Kdenlive is free, so any site that asks you to pay for it, or that wraps it in its own “download manager”, is not the official build.
Questions
What is the difference between the installable and standalone Windows builds?
The installable version installs like any other Windows program. The standalone version runs from a folder without installation, which is handy if you do not have admin rights.
Is there a winget package?
Yes: winget install KDE.Kdenlive. Its manifest downloads the installer from download.kde.org, the same file the website offers.
Can I open projects made in an older Kdenlive?
Newer versions normally open them. If you run into compatibility problems, the download page links an archive of previous versions.
