OpenRoll

OpenRoll

Free, open source alternative to CapCut

A full video editor that runs on your own computer

Captions, background removal, beat cuts and vertical reframing all happen on your machine. Projects are plain files you keep, and exports never carry a watermark.

The OpenRoll editor with a title selected on the timeline, text styles on the left and its size, weight and colour on the right.

Some features

Edit with AI

Claude Code, Codex and Cursor can work on the open project with you. You see each change live, and undo works as usual.

Timeline

A magnetic main track, ripple and roll edits, slip, markers and J K L shuttle. Playback holds 60 fps on 4K.

Captions

Speech to text on your computer, with word highlights and SRT or VTT export. Smart cut removes the silences.

Sound

Noise removal, voice enhance, music that dips under speech, beat detection and text to speech.

Look

24 filters, 22 effects, LUTs, curves, masks, green screen and keyframes on any value.

Smart tools

Background removal, stabilising, vertical reframe, smooth slow motion and upscaling.

Made for vertical

Long video to shorts, picture in picture, split screen and safe zones for TikTok, Reels and Shorts.

Export

MP4, WebM, ProRes, GIF and audio. Exports run in the background while you keep editing.

Templates and fonts

19 starter templates, a community library and 14 free fonts. Speed ramps follow a curve you draw.

What you don't get

accountsOpen it and start editing. There is nothing to sign in to.
watermarksExports come out clean, every time.
files sent anywhereYour footage and projects stay on your computer.
subscriptionsFree and open source under GPL 3.0.

Download

The command installs the right build for your computer and checks it against the release checksums. The regular installers are listed under each one.

Questions

Is it really free?

Yes. OpenRoll is open source under GPL 3.0. There is no paid tier, no trial and no watermark on exports.

Does anything get uploaded?

No. Editing, captions, background removal and exports all run on your computer. OpenRoll goes online to check for updates and to download a model the first time you use a feature like captions.

Why did my computer show a popup?

If your computer shows a popup the first time you open OpenRoll, that's only because the app isn't code signed yet. On a Mac, close it, then go to System Settings, Privacy and Security, and click Open Anyway. On Windows, click More info, then Run anyway.

Can AI tools edit with me?

Yes. Turn on "Let AI tools edit with you" in Settings, and Claude Code, Codex, Cursor and other MCP tools can edit the open project. You see each change as it happens, and you can undo it like any other edit.

How do updates work?

New versions download in the background and install when you quit. If you'd rather choose when, turn that off in Settings.

Can I help?

Report bugs and share ideas in GitHub issues. If you want to send a change, CONTRIBUTING explains how.