Shotcut

Shotcut is a free, open-source video editor for creators who need timeline editing, audio processing, filters and export without a subscription. It supports a broad range of formats through FFmpeg and can combine media with different resolutions and frame rates in a project.

Editing tools

Use multitrack timelines, trimming, transitions, keyframes, video and audio filters, subtitles and scopes. Audio waveforms and meters help with editing and mixing. Current release highlights include automatic audio ducking, volume controls and meters in track headers, and adjustment clips that apply filters to the composite of video tracks below them. The Elements panel introduced in 26.8.1 supplies a small stock-asset library with its own documented content licenses.

Installation, platform and hardware

Download the official DMG and move Shotcut into Applications, or use brew install --cask shotcut. Current Mac downloads require macOS 12 or later and are universal. The official download page warns that Macs from 2013 or earlier may show preview color problems after the move to Apple Metal; it recommends an older version for those systems. Windows and Linux builds are available separately with their own OS and architecture requirements. Video resolution, filters, codecs and concurrent processing determine practical CPU, memory and storage needs; a small installer does not imply low editing-resource requirements.

The current Mac artifact is shotcut-macos-26.9.28.dmg, published inside the official v26.9.27 release, and is 210,616,938 bytes. The catalog also records a separate 26.9.27 base and 26.8.1. The publisher separately confirms the Mac 26.9.28 subtitle-font-selection fix via its exact artifact link; this selected fix does not establish an exhaustive change list or identical content with 26.9.27.

Cost, license and connectivity

Shotcut is free software distributed under GPL version 3. No Shotcut service account or subscription is required for local editing. Initial downloads, upgrades and optional downloadable components need network access. Media assets, fonts and external audio plugins can have separate licensing terms; the software license does not grant rights to footage you import. The Elements panel's emoji, audio and animation assets use different licenses documented in the 26.8.1 release.

Permissions and practical cautions

Give Shotcut access to the media and output folders you intend to use. Camera or microphone workflows can require their corresponding operating-system permissions; not every editing workflow needs them. Back up project files and original media before upgrading or changing processing modes. External plugins can cause startup, shutdown or export failures; 26.9.27 makes Allow External Plugins an always-present option that defaults off and disables them after detecting a stuck startup. Review rendered exports before delivery. Network-download security fixes in 26.9.27 make updating particularly relevant for users relying on upgrade and Whisper downloads. The publisher screenshot shows the editor displayed on a desktop monitor rather than a capture of this exact build.

Sources: Features, Downloads and platform requirements, Official 26.9.27 release with Mac 26.9.28 artifact, 26.8.1 release, Project and license.

For the exact Mac 26.9.28 DMG, the publisher confirms a fix for subtitle font selection on macOS 27 and links directly to this artifact in the official forum. This is a confirmed selected fix, not proof that every 26.9.27 change or later source commit is identical in 26.9.28. Source: Publisher confirmation and exact Mac download.