Free alternatives to Adobe Premiere Pro

Adobe Premiere Pro: Professional video editing. Here are 3 free or open-source options.

Tool	Type	Best for
DaVinci Resolve	Free tier	Serious editing and colour work on a capable computer.
Kdenlive	Open source	General video editing on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Shotcut	Open source	Simple to moderate edits on modest hardware.

The alternatives in detail

DaVinci Resolve Free tier

A professional editing, colour grading and audio suite with a free version.

Best for: Serious editing and colour work on a capable computer.
Limits to know: Not open source. The free version leaves out some features of the paid Studio version, and it needs a reasonably powerful computer.

Visit DaVinci Resolve

Kdenlive Open source

A multi-track video editor with a wide range of effects and format support.

Best for: General video editing on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Limits to know: Stability and performance can vary by system and version.

Visit Kdenlive

Shotcut Open source

A lightweight cross-platform video editor with many built-in filters.

Best for: Simple to moderate edits on modest hardware.
Limits to know: The workflow is less polished than larger editors.

Visit Shotcut

When is Adobe Premiere Pro still worth paying for?

A free option is often enough, but not always. If you depend on specific features, file compatibility or support, check the limits above first. Visit Adobe Premiere Pro to compare.