Kdenlive (keɪdɛnˈlaɪv/; acronym for KDE Non-Linear Video Editor) is a free and open-source video editing software based on the MLT Framework, KDE and Qt.
The project was started by Jason Wood in 2002, and is now part of the official KDE Projects suite. The software is maintained by a team of developers.
Kdenlive can be used for professional video editing due to its advanced features and wide range of formats.
Kdenlive is freely available on FreeBSD, MacOS, Microsoft Windows, and on Linux. The software is distributed under the GNU Public License-3.0, while parts of the source code are available under different licenses such as GPL-2.0-or-later and GPL-3.0-or-later.
The project was initially started by Jason Wood in 2002. The development of Kdenlive moved on from the K Desktop Environment 3 version (which wasn't originally made for MLT) to KDE Platform 4, with an almost complete rewrite. This was completed with Kdenlive 0.7, released on 12 November 2008. Kdenlive 0.9.10 released on 1 October 2014 was the last KDE 4 release.
What is Kdenlive?
Kdenlive by KDE e.V. (developed by KDE) is open-source Windows software in the video editors category. It ranks 7th by popularity among video editors in this catalogue. The first release dates back to 2002. It is written in C++. Besides Windows, it is available for GNU/Linux, Mac operating system and BSD.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides EXE (NSIS) installers for 64-bit Windows. The main installer is 135.7 MB. It can be installed for the current user only, without administrator rights. A silent install is possible with the installer’s documented switches.
Updates and version history
The current version is 26.08.2, released on October 13, 2026. The version history goes back to March 30, 2021: 49 releases, all linked to the official files. That is about 8.8 releases a year. The last update is less than a month old.
Popularity and file types
The Chocolatey package has been downloaded 176,304 times. Wikipedia has an article about it in 22 of our languages. On Windows it registers 1 file type, including .kdenlive. Similar programs include Shotcut, OpenShot Video Editor and Subtitle Edit.
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Documented silent install
- Installs without administrator rights
- Frequent updates (about 8.8 a year)
- Also runs on GNU/Linux, Mac operating system and BSD
- Mature project (since 2002)
Cons
- No native ARM64 build
In short: Kdenlive is an open-source video editor tool for 64-bit PCs. It is actively maintained. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Key features
- Nested Sequences
- Configurable interface and shortcuts
- Scopes: Histogram, Vectorscope, RGB Parade, Waveform and Audio Meter
- Proxy editing
- Free online assets and templates
- Motion tracking
- AI powered tools
AppStream · Flathub
Screenshots
Is Kdenlive safe to download?
- The file is served by download.kde.org, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
9F89D8AC53B190BA506AF86FB37B31F17B60A532394BD5303AF4E505B3A5BEE6· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link answered when we last checked it (October 22, 2026)
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 49 versions ›49 versions over 6 years · about 8.8 a year
| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26.08.2Latest | October 13, 2026 | 135.7 MB | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 26.08.1 | September 10, 2026 | 135.6 MB | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 26.08.0 | August 28, 2026 | 135.6 MB | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 26.04.3 | July 9, 2026 | 135.3 MB | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 26.04.2 | June 6, 2026 | 134.2 MB | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 26.04.1 | May 8, 2026 | 134.0 MB | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 26.04.0 | April 27, 2026 | 134.5 MB | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 25.12.3 | March 9, 2026 | 128.1 MB | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id KDE.Kdenlive -echoco install kdenlive -yscoop install extras/kdenlivekdenlive-26.08.2.exe /SRelated guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Also for other systems
brew install --cask kdenliveflatpak install flathub org.kde.kdenliveInformation
- Publisher
- KDE e.V.
- Developer
- KDE
- Category
- Video editors
- Licence
- GPL-3.0
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- invent.kde.org
- Written in
- C++
- Content rating
- All ages
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit
- Installer
- EXE (NSIS)
- Other platforms
- GNU/Linux, Mac operating system, BSD
- Version
- 26.08.2
- Released
- October 13, 2026
- First release
- 2002
- Added to the catalogue
- March 30, 2021
- Versions listed
- 49
- Updates / year
- 8.8
- Chocolatey downloads
- 176,304
- Website
- kdenlive.org
- winget ID
- KDE.Kdenlive
- Chocolatey package
- kdenlive
- Scoop package
- extras/kdenlive
File types it opens (1)
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Kdenlive free?
Yes. Kdenlive is open-source software under the GPL-3.0 licence.
Is Kdenlive safe to download?
The download comes from download.kde.org, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install Kdenlive with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Can Kdenlive be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer.
Does Kdenlive run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 64-bit version through emulation.
Where can I download an older version of Kdenlive?
The versions page lists all 49 versions with links to their official installer files, back to March 30, 2021.
Can I use Kdenlive without administrator rights?
Yes, there is a per-user installer that does not need administrator rights.
What are alternatives to Kdenlive?
Shotcut, OpenShot Video Editor, Subtitle Edit, Aegisub and Lightworks. The alternatives page compares them.
