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OpenShot
Easy-to-use video editor
Media & EntertainmentFreeOpen SourceReplaces Final Cut Pro ($300)
Quick Take: OpenShot
4.2
OpenShot 3.4 is a robust, reliable workhorse for anyone who needs free, unlimited video editing without the complexity of professional software. Its greatest strengths are its ease of use, unlimited tracks, and powerful 3D title integration with Blender. However, Mac power users may find the lack of native Apple Silicon support and occasional stability issues with 4K footage frustrating compared to highly optimized tools like iMovie or DaVinci Resolve. It is the perfect 'step-up' editor for students and creators who have outgrown basic tools but aren't ready to pay for a subscription.
Best For
- •YouTube beginners needing multi-track editing
- •Linux/FOSS enthusiasts on macOS
- •Students requiring free 3D animated titles
Install with Homebrew
brew install --cask openshotWhat is OpenShot?
OpenShot Video Editor is a free, open-source, non-linear video editor that prioritizes stability and ease of use without sacrificing power. Originally created in 2008 by Jonathan Thomas to bring a friendly video editing experience to Linux, it has since evolved into a cross-platform powerhouse available on macOS, Windows, and Linux. As of early 2026, the latest version, OpenShot 3.4.0 (released December 15, 2025), brings significant performance improvements, including a 32% boost in rendering speeds and new effects like 'Sharpen' and 'Color Map'. Unlike professional-grade tools such as DaVinci Resolve that utilize complex node-based workflows, OpenShot relies on a traditional layer-based timeline where any clip can be placed on any track. This 'track-agnostic' approach makes it uniquely intuitive for beginners and intermediate users. While it runs on macOS via Rosetta 2 (Intel emulation) rather than native Apple Silicon, its integration with Blender (for 3D animated titles) and Inkscape (for advanced vector titles) makes it a formidable tool in the open-source creative ecosystem. It serves as a perfect bridge for users outgrowing iMovie but not yet ready for the steep learning curve of paid professional software.
Deep Dive: OpenShot Architecture and Ecosystem
OpenShot is a fascinating case study in open-source longevity. It combines a Python-based interface (PyQt5) with a high-performance C++ video editing library (libopenshot), offering a unique blend of scriptability and raw power.
History & Background
Founded in August 2008 by Jonathan Thomas, OpenShot began as a Linux-only project to fill the gap left by Windows Movie Maker. A successful Kickstarter campaign in 2013 funded the complete rewrite of the engine (version 2.0), enabling cross-platform support for macOS and Windows. Since then, it has maintained a steady release cadence. The release of version 3.0 in 2023 and 3.4 in late 2025 marked significant milestones in stability, high-DPI support, and the introduction of more professional video effects.
How It Works
OpenShot is built on a split architecture: the interface is written in Python (using Qt for GUI), which makes it flexible and easy to modify, while the heavy lifting is done by 'libopenshot', a C++ library powered by FFmpeg. Audio is handled by the JUCE library. This separation allows for a powerful Python API, letting users script complex edits or batch-process videos programmatically—a feature rarely found in consumer video editors.
Ecosystem & Integrations
OpenShot acts as a hub for other open-source tools. It tightly integrates with Blender for rendering 3D animated titles (sending Python scripts to Blender's engine) and Inkscape for vector title editing. It supports a wide range of formats via FFmpeg, including ProRes, DNxHD, and HEVC. The project also offers a Cloud API (AWS/Azure) for enterprise automated video creation, showing its scalability beyond just desktop use.
Future Development
Looking toward late 2026, the roadmap emphasizes native Apple Silicon (M-series) support to move away from Rosetta 2 emulation. The team is also working on GPU-accelerated decoding for macOS to improve timeline scrubbing performance. Experimental features currently in daily builds include AI-assisted captions and object tracking, aiming to catch up with commercial rivals like CapCut.
Key Features
Interactive Crop & Transform
OpenShot 3.4 introduces a direct-manipulation workflow for cropping and resizing. Instead of typing abstract X/Y coordinates in a properties panel, users can now click the 'Crop' effect or 'Transform' tool to see on-screen handles directly in the Video Preview window. You can drag these blue handles to resize, rotate, or crop footage in real-time, similar to Canva or PowerPoint. This is particularly useful for picture-in-picture effects where you need to visually place a face-cam overlay into the corner of a gaming video without guessing pixel values.
Time Remapping (Timing Mode)
The new 'Timing Mode' simplifies speed ramping. By right-clicking a clip and selecting 'Time', you can access preset speed adjustments (1/2x, 2x, 4x, etc.) or use the new drag-to-retime feature. In this mode, dragging the edge of a clip doesn't trim the footage; instead, it stretches or compresses the playback speed to fit the new duration. For example, if you have a 10-second drone shot that needs to fit a 5-second gap, you simply drag the clip edge to the gap's limit, and OpenShot automatically calculates the necessary speed increase.
Advanced Keyframe Animation
OpenShot's animation system is robust, allowing almost any property (volume, alpha, position, scale) to be keyframed. Users can now drag keyframes directly on the timeline to adjust timing, rather than just in the properties panel. A real-world use case is animating a travel map: you can set a 'Location X' keyframe at the start and end of a clip to pan across a map image. The interpolation mode can be set to 'Bézier' for smooth easing (slow-in/slow-out) by right-clicking the small green keyframe markers on the clip.
3D Animated Titles (Blender Integration)
This unique feature leverages the installed Blender application to render high-quality 3D text effects. Users navigate to 'Title > Animated Title' to choose from presets like 'Wireframe Text' or 'Dissolving Text'. OpenShot sends the data to Blender (requires Blender 3.x/4.x/5.x installed separately), which renders the animation in the background and returns it as a seamless video file to your project. It allows users to create cinema-quality 3D intros without ever learning the complex Blender interface.
Unlimited Multi-Format Timeline
The timeline is 'format agnostic,' meaning you can mix 4K video, 1080p footage, MP3 audio, and PNG images on the same track without pre-conversion. Tracks are not designated as 'Audio' or 'Video'; any layer can hold any media. For example, a podcaster can have Track 1 for their main video, Track 2 for a logo overlay, and Track 3 for background music. Layers lower in the list render on top (z-index), making compositing intuitive: simply drag your watermark PNG to a track above your video clip to make it appear on top.
Who Should Use OpenShot?
1The Indie Game Developer
Alex needs to create a 30-second trailer for their new pixel-art game on Steam. Using OpenShot, they import gameplay footage (OBS screen recordings) and layer 8-bit sound effects on separate tracks. They use the 'Pixelate' effect to transition between scenes and the 'Transform' tool to zoom in on specific UI elements during gameplay highlights. Because OpenShot supports unlimited tracks, Alex stacks multiple layers of fog and particle overlays (PNG sequences) on top of the gameplay without needing complex node compositing. They export the final cut in 4K 60fps using the 'YouTube HD' profile to ensure crisp pixel edges.
2The Remote Educator
Sarah, a high school history teacher, creates weekly flipped-classroom videos. She records her lectures via webcam and uses OpenShot to combine them with archival footage and map images. She uses the 'Slice All' keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+Shift+K) to quickly cut out pauses and 'ums' from her recording. When referencing a historical map, she uses the 'Zoom' animation preset to slowly pan across the image while she speaks. The 'Volume' keyframes allow her to automatically duck the background music when she starts talking, ensuring her voice is always clear.
3The Non-Profit Social Media Manager
Marcus volunteers for a local animal shelter and needs to produce daily Instagram Reels. He shoots video on an iPhone and AirDrops it to his Mac. In OpenShot, he sets the project profile to 'Vertical HD 30fps' (1080x1920) to edit natively for mobile. He uses the new 'Emoji' library to drag-and-drop animated stickers onto the video. He creates a custom 'Adopt Me' title using the Inkscape integration to match the shelter's brand fonts. The simple 'Export' dialog lets him quickly save a compressed MP4 that is small enough to upload instantly via the web.
How to Install OpenShot on Mac
Installing OpenShot on macOS is straightforward. While it runs on Apple Silicon Macs, note that it currently uses Rosetta 2 translation. The most reliable method is via Homebrew to ensure you get the verified 64-bit DMG.
1
Install Homebrew
Open Terminal (Cmd+Space, type 'Terminal') and paste: /bin/bash -c '$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)'
2
Install OpenShot
Run this command in Terminal: brew install --cask openshot-video-editor
3
Verify Installation
Launch OpenShot from your Applications folder. Go to 'OpenShot Video Editor' > 'About OpenShot' in the menu bar to verify you are running version 3.4.0 or higher.
Pro Tips
- • On first launch, macOS may ask to verify the developer; click 'Open' to proceed.
- • Ensure you have Rosetta 2 installed if on an M1/M2/M3 Mac (Terminal: softwareupdate --install-rosetta).
- • Grant 'Disk Access' permissions in System Settings if OpenShot cannot see your files.
Configuration Tips
Maximize Preview Performance
Go to Preferences > Cache. Set 'Cache Mode' to 'Memory' and increase 'Cache Limit (MB)' to roughly 50% of your available RAM (e.g., 8192 for a 16GB Mac). This drastically reduces playback lag (stuttering) by storing rendered frames in RAM rather than on your slower hard drive.
Link External Editors
To use advanced titles, go to Preferences > General. You must manually browse and select the executable paths for Blender and Inkscape. For standard macOS installs, these are usually '/Applications/Blender.app/Contents/MacOS/Blender' and '/Applications/Inkscape.app/Contents/MacOS/inkscape'. Without this, the 'Animated Title' menu will fail.
Match Audio Sample Rate
Go to Preferences > Preview and check the 'Default Audio Sample Rate'. Set this to 48000 Hz (or 44100 Hz) to match your system's audio output exactly. Mismatched rates are the #1 cause of 'audio drift' (audio slowly losing sync with video) and popping sounds in OpenShot exports.
Alternatives to OpenShot
OpenShot occupies the 'middle ground'—more powerful than basic trimmers but less complex than pro NLEs. Here is how it stacks up against key Mac competitors.
i
iMovie
iMovie is smoother and optimized for Apple Silicon, but restrictive. It forces a 'magnetic timeline' that prevents gaps between clips and limits you to two video tracks. OpenShot allows unlimited tracks and overlapping layers, giving you far more creative freedom for compositing, though with less polish and stability than Apple's native tool.
D
DaVinci Resolve (Free)
Resolve is the industry standard for color grading and offers professional stability. However, it requires a powerful GPU and has a massive learning curve with its node-based Fusion effects. OpenShot runs on modest hardware and uses a simpler layer-based approach, making it much easier for a beginner to grasp in an afternoon.
S
Shotcut
Shotcut is OpenShot's closest open-source rival. Shotcut generally offers better performance and more native filter options but has a quirky, non-standard interface that many find confusing. OpenShot's UI is more traditional and approachable (similar to Premiere Elements), though Shotcut often renders faster on older machines.
Pricing
Free / Open Source
OpenShot is 100% free and open-source software (GPLv3). There is no 'Pro' version, no watermark, no subscription, and no export limit. All features, including 4K export, unlimited tracks, and the new 3.4 effects, are available to every user. The project is supported entirely by donations and Patreon supporters. Unlike 'Freemium' tools like Filmora, you will never hit a paywall when trying to export your final project.
Pros
- ✓Completely free with no watermarks or time limits
- ✓Unlimited tracks for video, audio, and images
- ✓Simple drag-and-drop interface easy for beginners
- ✓Powerful integration with Blender for 3D titles
- ✓Cross-platform project files (move between Mac/PC)
Cons
- ✗Not native for Apple Silicon (runs via Rosetta 2)
- ✗Can be unstable/crash with complex 4K projects
- ✗Hardware acceleration support on Mac is limited
- ✗Preview playback can lag without cache tuning
Community & Support
As an open-source project, OpenShot relies on community support rather than a dedicated help desk. The primary hub is the r/OpenShot subreddit, which is very active with over 35,000 members and often monitored by the lead developer, Jonathan Thomas. GitHub issues are used for bug tracking, though response times can be slow due to the small volunteer team. The official user guide is comprehensive and updated for version 3.4, covering everything from basic trimming to Python scripting. YouTube tutorials are abundant, with creators like 'Geekoutdoors' providing years of deep-dive content.
Frequently Asked Questions about OpenShot
No, as of version 3.4.0, OpenShot does not have a native ARM64 build for macOS. It runs using Apple's Rosetta 2 translation layer. While it is fully functional and stable, you may not see the extreme performance efficiency that native apps like Final Cut Pro or DaVinci Resolve offer on M-series chips. The developers are working on a native port for future releases.
Our Verdict
4.2/5
OpenShot 3.4 is a robust, reliable workhorse for anyone who needs free, unlimited video editing without the complexity of professional software. Its greatest strengths are its ease of use, unlimited tracks, and powerful 3D title integration with Blender. However, Mac power users may find the lack of native Apple Silicon support and occasional stability issues with 4K footage frustrating compared to highly optimized tools like iMovie or DaVinci Resolve. It is the perfect 'step-up' editor for students and creators who have outgrown basic tools but aren't ready to pay for a subscription.
Best for:YouTube beginners needing multi-track editingLinux/FOSS enthusiasts on macOSStudents requiring free 3D animated titles
About the Author
Creative Software Expert
Design & Graphics SoftwarePhoto & Video EditingUI/UX Design Tools
10+ years in graphic design · Former creative director
Related Technologies & Concepts
OpenShotJonathan ThomasBlenderInkscapeFFmpegRosetta 2
OpenShot (Primary subject), Jonathan Thomas (Creator / Lead Developer), Blender (Integration partner for 3D titles), Inkscape (Integration partner for vector titles), FFmpeg (Core media engine), Rosetta 2 (Compatibility layer for Apple Silicon)
Related Topics
Sources & References
Fact-CheckedLast verified: Feb 15, 2026
Key Verified Facts
- OpenShot 3.4 was released on December 15, 2025.[cite-1, cite-5]
- The software is licensed under GPLv3 and is completely free.[cite-1]
- OpenShot requires Blender 3.x+ for animated titles.[cite-1, cite-5]
- Runs on Apple Silicon via Rosetta 2 translation.[cite-3]
- 1OpenShot Official Blog - 3.4 Release
Accessed Feb 15, 2026
- 2OpenShot User Guide - Preferences
Accessed Feb 15, 2026
- 3GitHub Issue: Apple Silicon Support
Accessed Feb 15, 2026
- 4Homebrew Formula: openshot-video-editor
Accessed Feb 15, 2026
- 5OpenShot 3.4 Changelog
Accessed Feb 15, 2026
Research queries: OpenShot Mac 2026 features pricing review