Kdenlive

Kdenlive is a nonlinear video editor for filmmakers, creators, educators and other users who assemble video and audio projects. It supports Linux, Windows and macOS, with additional community-supported platforms.

Editing tools

• Arrange video and audio on multitrack timelines and work with nested sequences.
• Organize clips in bins and use proxy media to reduce editing load.
• Apply transitions, compositing, effects and animated keyframes.
• Mix and record audio, create titles and subtitles, and use optional speech-to-text tools.
• Inspect color with scopes and use LUTs and correction effects.
• Render projects to supported delivery formats using the underlying media framework.

Installation and requirements

Download the stable macOS DMG matching Apple Silicon or Intel, open it and copy the application to Applications, or use brew install --cask kdenlive. The current official download page and cask require macOS 13 Ventura or later. The 26.08.1 Apple Silicon DMG is exactly 144,419,895 bytes, verified by HEAD against the official KDE download URL. Media, proxies, caches and exports need additional disk space.

The manual recommends 4 GB RAM for SD, 8 GB for HD and 16 GB for 4K, and working OpenGL 2.0 graphics support. Its general CPU guidance increases from a 2 GHz single core for SD to four cores for HD and eight for 4K; these are workload guidelines rather than a guarantee for every codec or Apple Silicon model. The current download requirement takes precedence over an older macOS 12 paragraph still present in the manual. Optional speech models, animation tools and device workflows may have additional dependencies. The normal packaged editor does not require a separate command-line build environment. The cask declares no named conflict.

License, accounts and network

Kdenlive is free software under GPL-3.0-only, with optional donations. There is no required editor subscription or cloud account for local editing. Network access is needed to download the application, updates and optional models or online resources; downloaded local media can be edited offline. Third-party footage, fonts, codecs, music and hosted tools have their own rights and terms.

Permissions and cautions

Grant access to the intended media and export folders. Microphone access is needed if recording audio, and additional macOS authorizations depend on the specific capture or device workflow; blanket Accessibility or Full Disk Access is not a standard editing prerequisite established by the checked sources. Keep backups of project files and source media, and test effects and exports before delivery. Untrusted project files can reference external resources or processing parameters: current releases include related security hardening, including protection against unwanted command execution with older MLT. Avoid daily/nightly builds for important work because the official download page warns they can be unstable and corrupt projects. Preserve stable-version backups when testing newer builds.

Sources: Official product site, Current downloads, Requirements and installation, KDE application and license record, Official releases.