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Both cover video editing. Here is what separates them on price, billing, what you can take with you, and coverage.
| OpenShot | Powtoon | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | From $15 |
| Pricing model | Free | Free plan, paid tiers |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Billing | Not stated | Annual only |
| Free trial | Not stated | None |
| API | Not stated | Not stated |
| Data export | Not stated | Not stated |
| Their cut | Not stated | Not stated |
| Runs on | macOS, Windows, Linux | Web |
| Covers | Video Editing | Motion Graphics & Animation, Video Editing |
| Works with | Nothing in particular | Nothing in particular |
| Founded | Not listed | Not listed |
| Reader rating | No reviews yet | No reviews yet |
| Live deals | None right now | None right now |
A simple open source video editor
OpenShot is an open source video editor released under the GPL, meant for somebody who wants to cut a clip without first learning a timeline suite. It runs on Linux, Mac and Windows, and the project is funded by donations rather than by a paid tier. It carries fewer features than the heavier free editors, which is the trade you are making.
Our note
Pick this over Shotcut if the simpler interface matters more than the format coverage, and pick neither if you already have DaVinci Resolve installed. The project has been going since 2008, which is worth something in free software.
Animated explainers from templates
Powtoon builds the whiteboard and cartoon explainer style that training departments have used for a decade, and it has since bolted on avatars, dubbing and text to speech from other vendors. Templates carry most of the work. The house style is recognisable enough that a viewer who has seen one Powtoon will know they are watching another.
Only on this side
Ratings are the average of reviews readers left. The facts are stated by each tool’s own listing and are not verified by CloutStack. How we make money.