Kdenlive for MAC
Free, open-source video editor from KDE with multicam editing, effects and automatic subtitles.
Kdenlive Overview
Kdenlive is a free, open-source video editor made by the KDE community. It offers a full non-linear editing workflow, with a multitrack timeline, multicam editing, hundreds of effects and transitions, color correction tools and automatic subtitles. Kdenlive is developed by a mostly volunteer team, released under the GPLv3 license, and has no watermarks, no subscription and no paid version.
Kdenlive runs on Linux, Windows and macOS. On the Mac there are separate downloads for Apple Silicon and Intel Macs, and both need macOS 13 (Ventura) or later. It suits YouTube creators, students and anyone who wants a capable editor without paying for one.
Key Features
Kdenlive handles a project from importing footage to the final export, with tools usually found in paid editors.
- Imports almost anything: nearly any audio and video format, with clip metadata, tags, filters and multiple bins to organise your media.
- Proxy clips: edit with lightweight copies of large clips, so even 4K footage plays smoothly on older Macs.
- Professional editing: multicam editing, three-point editing, nested sequences, markers and automatic project backups.
- Effects and transitions: hundreds of audio and video effects and transitions, all animatable with keyframes.
- Color correction: LUT support, basic and detailed color tools, and scopes including a histogram, vectorscope, waveform and RGB parade.
- Audio tools: an audio mixer, built-in voice-over recording and an audio spectrum display.
- Subtitles: automatic speech-to-text transcription creates subtitles that you can edit on the timeline.
- Titles and motion graphics: title clips, plus Glaxnimate for animated graphics.
What’s New in Version 26.08.2
Kdenlive 26.08.2 is a maintenance release with stability fixes.
- The Dynamic Text filter can start its frame count at 1, useful for animation
- Fixed a crash when proxying clips from Kdenlive playlists
- The monitor now refreshes after subtitles are cut, added or deleted
- Arrow keys move a grabbed clip after using the monitor, instead of the playhead
- Fixed master audio levels and a possible freeze when audio recording fails
- Fixed NVIDIA encoding broken by a wrong proxy setting
- Title images are found again when a project is opened
Kdenlive FAQ
Is Kdenlive free for Mac?
Yes. Kdenlive is free and open source, released under the GPLv3 license. It has no watermark, no subscription and no paid version.
Who makes Kdenlive?
Kdenlive is made by the KDE community, a mostly volunteer team from around the world. KDE also makes many other free apps.
Does Kdenlive run on Apple Silicon Macs?
Yes. Kdenlive has separate Mac downloads for Apple Silicon and for Intel Macs, so it runs natively on both.
Which Kdenlive download do I need for my Mac?
Open the Apple menu and choose About This Mac. If it shows a Chip such as Apple M1 or later, take the Apple Silicon (arm64) download; if it shows an Intel processor, take the Intel (x86_64) download.
Which macOS version does Kdenlive need?
Kdenlive 26.08.2 needs macOS 13 (Ventura) or later.
Can Kdenlive create subtitles automatically?
Yes. Kdenlive can transcribe the speech in your video and turn it into subtitles, which you can then edit on the timeline.
Will Kdenlive run smoothly on an older Mac?
Kdenlive can create proxy clips, lightweight copies of your footage used while editing. They keep playback smooth on slower Macs, and the final export still uses the original files.
Is Kdenlive safe to install on a Mac?
Yes, when you download it from the official website, kdenlive.org, which is where the download button on this page leads. Kdenlive is open source and published by KDE.
How do I update Kdenlive on my Mac?
Download the latest version for your Mac from kdenlive.org and replace the old copy in your Applications folder. Your projects are kept.
Where does the Kdenlive download on kdenlive.FULLMAC.app come from?
The download button leads to Kdenlive's official download page at https://kdenlive.org/download/. kdenlive.FULLMAC.app does not change or repackage the installer.
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