Local-first video editor

Your footage.Your final cut.

Trim video, mix audio and add captions on your own computer. Start by hand or from an optional AI draft, then make every cut yours.

  • Free
  • No watermark
  • MIT open source
  • Runs on your computer
Actual editor · Synthetic demo footageFrom source to MP4

Choose how you start

Three ways into one editor.

  1. Create a Short / Reel

    Find a strong moment and make it vertical.

    Optional AI draft
  2. Edit a YouTube video

    Build a focused first draft, then refine it.

    Optional AI draft
  3. Edit it yourself

    Full manual control. No AI required.

    No account needed

Inside the editor

Six workspaces. One timeline.

The bottom workspace bar keeps every tool in order, while the player and timeline stay in view.

Media

Bring everything in.

Import recordings, music and images. Combine a camera and a screen recording as sources A and B.

  • Your originals stay untouched
  • Source waveforms, no AI needed
  • Optional stabilization as a separate local copy

Edit

Cut with precision.

Split, trim, move and restore clips on independent A/B timelines, with Undo and Redo.

  • Track protection locks a source
  • Green screen with live preview
  • Color, image or underlying video backgrounds

Layout

Frame every shot.

Choose stacked, side by side, picture in picture, camera only or screen only, for one range or the entire edit.

  • Two-source Reels default to a 30/70 stack
  • Focus and zoom per clip
  • Source roles and sync offset

Audio

Mix like a studio.

Balance Original, Voiceover, Music, Effects and Master with live level meters.

  • Mute applies to preview and export
  • Solo auditions in preview only
  • Music and voiceover layers

Captions

Words on screen, your way.

Add titles and captions, import SRT or VTT, or correct and style an optional AI transcript.

  • Editable style presets
  • Export an SRT file
  • No AI or account needed

Output

Export without a watermark.

Render an MP4 on your computer, landscape or vertical, from 720p to 4K at up to 60 FPS.

  • Rendered locally
  • Landscape or vertical
  • Higher settings do not add missing detail

AI is optional

Use AI only when you want it.

A new AI draft never replaces your manual timeline until you apply it, and Undo stays available.

  1. 01

    Manual

    Cut, mix, caption and export with no AI models, API key or account.

  2. 02

    On my computer

    Local transcription and Story models. Every download waits for your confirmation.

  3. 03

    My own API

    Groq or a compatible provider with your own key. Audio is sent only after your consent.

Install

Start on your computer.

Windows and Mac in beta. Linux from source. First setup needs internet; manual editing needs no account or AI.

Install on Windows, Mac or Linux

WINDOWS + MAC · 1.1 BETA

Choose the ZIP for your computer and extract it. Keep the launcher, START HERE.html and App together. Runtimes and AI models are not bundled.

Windows: Double-click START CUTROOM.bat beside App. Setup downloads missing dependencies; keep the launch window open.

Mac: macOS 15+, Apple Silicon or Intel. Open START CUTROOM.command beside App. It needs Python 3.11/3.12 and FFmpeg 7; setup uses existing Homebrew with your approval. This is not a signed Mac app. Local transcription uses the CPU. The beta guide lists the remaining Finder, Gatekeeper and Safari checks.

Linux: source only, with no packaged download or verified native Linux QA. It needs Python 3.11/3.12, venv/pip and FFmpeg/FFprobe with subtitle support. Follow the platform guide.

The compatible combined ZIP still has exactly two folders: windows and mac. Open your platform folder first.

Combined ZIPCombined SHA-256 Platform installation guideMac beta guide
AI is your choice

Manual editing and export need no AI models or account. Optional local AI needs model downloads; Story AI also uses Ollama.

You can connect a compatible cloud provider with your own key. Audio and transcripts are sent after your choice and consent; provider quotas and charges apply.

AI setup and privacy
Your footage stays with you

This website does not accept recordings. Editing, preview and export run on your computer. Sharing with a cloud AI provider is a separate choice requiring consent.

Privacy and cookies

Make the cut. Make it yours.

Free, open source and built for creators.

Get the beta
Actual CUTROOM editor with original synthetic demo footage