Drift is a desktop non-linear video editor built with Qt 6 and FFmpeg. It combines a multitrack timeline with compositing, effects, transitions, audio processing, subtitles and export tools in a single application. Projects can mix video, audio, text, subtitle and shape tracks, while editing operations include trimming, splitting, snapping, ripple editing, speed changes and clip animation.
The program also offers specialist tools including multicamera editing, scene detection, subject cutouts, face tracking and optional locally installed models for speech and image analysis.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- Provides a multitrack timeline for video, audio, text, subtitles and graphical elements.
- Supports trimming, splitting, snapping, ripple editing and closing gaps between clips.
- Offers GPU-accelerated video effects and transitions with visual previews.
- Supports effect presets and copying effect settings between clips.
- Provides keyframe animation for clip properties and effects.
- Supports speed changes, speed ramps, reverse playback and fades.
- Includes colour adjustment and compositing tools.
- Supports masks, green-screen workflows and subject cutouts.
- Provides titles, text styles, stickers, emoji and reusable templates.
- Generates and edits timed subtitles, with optional speech-to-text models.
- Includes EQ, compression, limiting, noise gating, de-essing and other audio processing.
- Provides beat detection and tools for synchronising edits to music.
- Supports multicamera editing with simultaneous angle previews.
- Provides scene detection and optional object and face analysis.
- Supports hardware-accelerated video decoding and encoding where available.
- Can package projects together with their media for transfer or backup.
- Exports video, animated GIFs and selected In/Out timeline ranges.
- Offers optional local MCP agent access for external tools that can inspect and modify an open project.
Website: github.com/CutWire-Studios/Drift
Support:
Developer: CutWire Studios
License: GNU General Public License v3.0

Drift is written in C++. Learn C++ with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
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Read our verdict in the software roundup.
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