OpenCut: A CapCut Alternative That’s Open Source and Developer-Friendly

If you’ve ever needed a simple, powerful video editor but didn’t want to deal with proprietary software or cloud dependencies, OpenCut might be exactly what you’re looking for. This open-source alternative to CapCut gives you the core editing features you’d expect—without the lock-in. And with over 28k stars on GitHub, it’s clear the dev community is excited about it.

What It Does

OpenCut is a browser-based video editor that handles cutting, trimming, basic transitions, and more. It’s built with modern web tech (likely TypeScript + React, given the repo structure) and runs entirely client-side—no forced uploads to a third-party server.

Why It’s Cool

• Self-hostable: No need to rely on a SaaS provider; run it locally or deploy it yourself.
• MIT Licensed: Free to use, modify, and distribute—no hidden paywalls.
• Active Development: Recent commits (as of August 2025) show ongoing improvements, like UI tweaks and tooling upgrades.
• No Account Required: Unlike CapCut, you don’t need to sign in to start editing.

How to Try It

1. Web Demo: The quickest way to test it is the live demo at opencut.app.
2. Self-Host: Clone the repo (git clone https://github.com/OpenCut-app/OpenCut), install dependencies, and run it locally. (Check the README for specifics.)

Final Thoughts

OpenCut isn’t trying to replace professional editors like Premiere Pro, but for quick cuts, social media clips, or lightweight projects, it’s a great open-source option. If you’re a dev who occasionally needs to edit videos—or just want to hack on a well-structured web app—this is worth a look.

Got thoughts on OpenCut? Drop us a tweet @githubprojects.