ffmpeg
obs-studio
obsprojectFree, open-source software for live streaming and screen recording. It captures screens, windows, cameras and audio, switches between scenes with layered sources and filters, and streams to platforms such as Twitch and YouTube or records to file. It suits streaming, recording courses and gameplay.
mpv
mpv-playerA command-line media player. Built on ffmpeg, it plays almost any audio or video format with subtitles, can be scripted to control playback and processing, and extends through config files and Lua scripts. It has no interface of its own but works with front ends, which suits precise control or embedding playback in automation.
lossless-cut
mifiA lossless video and audio cutter. Working through ffmpeg it cuts at keyframes without re-encoding, so a large file can be trimmed in seconds with no change in quality, and multiple segments can be marked on the timeline and exported in one pass. It suits pulling clips out of recordings and dropping the rest.
openscreen
getopenscreenRecord your screen, ship a demo. Free and open-source, GPU-accelerated, no watermarks, no subscriptions. Windows, macOS, Linux. Actively maintained.
scrcpy
GenymobileDisplays and controls an Android device from the computer. Over USB or wirelessly it mirrors the phone screen to the desktop, where you can operate it with keyboard and mouse, drag files across and record the screen, with low latency and no root required. It suits replying to messages from the desktop, demoing mobile apps or running automated tests.
CartCut
cartesiancsVideo Editor for AI agents, built on the belief that open source can beat commercial tools