Adobe Suite is the mainstay of creatives everywhere, and one of the most popular apps is the video editing software Adobe Premiere. However, I switched to open source alternatives and don’t regret it one bit.
What video editing features do you need?
No need to replace 1:1 Premiere
Many of the complaints about open source alternatives to premium software like Adobe Premiere boil down to one thing: a lack of functionality.
When looking for an alternative to Premiere, my only criteria was that the app should work on both Linux and Windows, and offer most of the features that Premiere offers. It doesn’t have to be perfect, just “close enough” is enough.
These are my go-to free alternatives to paid Windows apps
Why pay for something you can get for free, especially when the options are this good?
Most of the options I tried actually worked pretty well and had the features I was looking for, but Kdenlive stood out above the rest.
Kdenlive is feature-packed and reliable
it just works
In the time I was initially testing Kdenlive (probably 2 hours total), I didn’t experience any major issues or hangs during normal editing. This is impressive considering I was running it on my current old laptop.
How I installed Linux on my Surface Laptop
It’s painless, bug-free, and I haven’t missed Windows 11 yet.
It also never crashed even when I started pushing it by loading ridiculously large files, stacking and layering effects in ridiculous ways, and trying to break it in other ways. But my laptop, if it could talk, would have complained loudly.
Other than that, editing was smooth and error-free. Most of the user interface was very intuitive, especially if you’re familiar with common video editors.
Nor did I reach for a particular feature only to find out it was missing. A common complaint about open source projects in general is that they often lack many important features.
That wasn’t the case with Kdenlive from Premiere.
All the filters and effects I wanted to try were available, and I didn’t find them particularly difficult to use. They are not identical to Adobe Premiere, but they are not so different that they are difficult to learn.
Luckily, it’s not buried in weird places, and there’s a handy search feature.
Even relatively complex features such as motion tracking worked well.
My only complaint, which is admittedly small, is that the color grading tools don’t feel as good as other apps I’ve used. This is not a complaint specifically about Kdenlive. Premiere also falls short when compared to DaVinci Resolve, which is known for its excellent color grading tools.
The best free video editing software is DaVinci Resolve
You can use this professional video editor without paying a penny.
I’ll continue to use DaVince Resolve on the rare occasions I want to do color grading, but otherwise I’m perfectly happy with the move to Kdenlive.
As an added bonus, Kdenlive is nearly identical across Windows, Linux, and macOS, so you don’t have to relearn new tools when switching devices.
Professional video editing software is expensive
Too expensive for a hobby, that’s for sure.
Adobe Premiere costs $23 per month for individual programs or $70 for access to the entire Creative Cloud package, depending on which license you obtain. Other professional video editing software available for Windows is relatively expensive.
If you are a professional or freelancer using it, such a monthly fee will probably be relatively acceptable. However, I (and most other digital weekend warriors) only occasionally need to edit video files.
5 free video editors perfect for beginners
These free options are perfect for anyone looking to get started with video editing.
That makes the $300 annual cost of Premiere very unpleasant. Vegas Pro is much cheaper at about $100 per year, but expensive for intermittent use.
So for me, Kdenlive is a no-brainer. It should be one of the first applications you try before you actually pay for video editing software. Worst case scenario, it doesn’t work and you simply uninstall it. In the best case scenario, you could potentially save hundreds of dollars.
FOSS remains king
Kdenlive is not only completely free but also open source, giving you as much control over the app as you want. You don’t have to update if you don’t want to. No need to worry about DRM.
If a project is abandoned by the current developer, it will probably be picked up and taken over by another developer.
The combination of open source model, great features, and cost means that Kdenlive can be instantly installed on any PC you own, regardless of operating system or intended use. It’s just a great tool to have on hand.
