shotcut vs Recordly
Desktop video editing compared
shotcut is a cross-platform desktop video editor built on Qt and MLT. Recordly combines screen recording and timeline editing, with effects and export options aimed at polished demos and walkthroughs.
shotcut: Edit Video Across Desktop Platforms with Qt
Shotcut is a free, cross-platform video editor built with Qt and the MLT multimedia framework. It brings video editing and playback together for desktop users, with regular releases and support for Linux, macOS, and Windows.
Recordly: Create Polished Screen-Recording Demo Videos
Recordly is an open-source Electron screen recorder and editor for polished walkthroughs, demos, and product videos on macOS, Windows, and Linux. It uses PixiJS for scene composition and adds timeline editing, cursor effects, webcam overlays, and MP4 or GIF export.
| shotcut | Recordly | |
|---|---|---|
| Language | C++ | TypeScript |
| License | GPL-3.0 | — |
| Stars | 15.5k | 34.6k |
| Forks | 1.6k | 2.8k |
| Last analyzed | Oct 26, 2026 | Oct 21, 2026 |
Key differences
- shotcut is a general-purpose video editor, while Recordly focuses on screen recordings, demos, and product walkthroughs.
- shotcut uses Qt and MLT, with FFmpeg, Frei0r, and SDL; Recordly uses Electron and PixiJS for scene composition.
- shotcut is written in C++ and licensed under GPL-3.0; Recordly is written in TypeScript and identifies its license as AGPL 3.0.
- shotcut supports Linux, macOS, and Windows; Recordly supports those platforms too, with capture limitations and prerequisites that vary by platform.
- shotcut's source builds require Qt 6.4 or newer and dependencies including MLT and FFmpeg; Recordly development requires Node.js and platform-specific native capture prerequisites.
- shotcut's activity is concentrated in a large share with one contributor, while Recordly reports contributions from dozens of developers.
Choose shotcut if you…
- need a desktop editor for video work beyond screen-recording demos.
- want an editor built with Qt and MLT that supports Linux, macOS, and Windows.
- plan to contribute to or beta-test a C++ project and can work with its source-build dependencies.
Choose Recordly if you…
- need to capture a display or app window and edit the result on a timeline.
- want cursor effects, zooms, webcam overlays, and MP4 or GIF export for demos or walkthroughs.
- prefer a TypeScript and Electron app and can account for platform-specific capture requirements.
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This comparison is generated with AI from the OSRepos analyses of both projects. Always check each project's repository and documentation before choosing.