OpenCut: A Free, Open-Source Video Editor

OpenCut (formerly AppCut) is a privacy-focused, open-source video editor available for web, desktop, and mobile. Whether you’re a content creator, student, or casual user, OpenCut is a solid CapCut alternative that respects your data and offers professional features without a paywall.

Why Choose OpenCut?

• Privacy-first: Videos never leave your device
• Truly Free: No hidden costs or subscriptions like CapCut
• User-friendly: Simple UI inspired by what made CapCut popular

Features

• Timeline-based video editing
• Multi-track support
• Real-time preview
• No watermarks
• Analytics by Databuddy (100% anonymized)
• Blog powered by Marble Headless CMS

Project Structure

• apps/web/ – Next.js frontend
• src/components/ – Editor UI components
• src/hooks/ – Custom React hooks
• src/lib/ – Utilities and APIs
• src/stores/ – State management (Zustand)
• src/types/ – TypeScript types

Getting Started

1. Fork the repo from GitHub
2. Clone your fork using git clone
3. Navigate to the project directory: cd apps/web
4. Copy .env.example to .env.local
5. Install dependencies: bun install
6. Start the development server: bun dev

Local Development Setup

1. Start database and Redis with Docker: docker-compose up -d
2. Configure .env.local with environment variables, including:
• DATABASE_URL, UPSTASH_REDIS_REST_URL, etc.
• Generate BETTER_AUTH_SECRET using:
• openssl rand -base64 32 (Unix)
• node -e "console.log(require('crypto').randomBytes(32).toString('base64'))" (Node.js)
3. Run migrations: bun run db:migrate (inside apps/web)
4. Start dev server: bun run dev (inside apps/web)

The application will be available at http://localhost:3000.

GitHub Repository

View on GitHub

OpenCut is shaping the future of open-source video editing. Contribute, fork, or start editing today.