You want an installer and an editor
Cutawan installs on Windows, macOS and Linux, finds clips, lets you edit every one and renders locally. MIT licensed.
Get Cutawan ↗Open-source Opus Clip alternatives,
compared.
Want an AI clipper you can inspect, modify and run yourself? Here are the open-source options, what licence each uses and how much setup each one takes.
Desktop & self-hosted · MIT & AGPL · Jump to the table
THE SHORT VERSION
Desktop app
or your own server?
The biggest choice is not the model. It is whether you want an installer or a Docker stack.
You want a web app on your own server
SupoClip and LibreClip run with Docker and need transcription and language-model API keys. Good for automation and teams with ops skills.
SupoClip on GitHub ↗You like trying new tools
ViralMint and OpenClipper are newer desktop projects. Young repositories move fast, so check recent activity and issues first.
Browse the GitHub topic ↗THE TABLE
Licence, platform
and setup.
From each project’s README and LICENSE file. Features and platforms change quickly in young projects.
| Project | Licence | Runs as | Platforms | What you need | Posts for you |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cutawan | MIT | Desktop app | Windows, macOS, Linux | ChatGPT/Codex or an API key for clip finding; local Whisper for captions | Upload yourself |
| SupoClip | AGPL-3.0 | Self-hosted web app (Docker) | Any machine running Docker | AssemblyAI key plus an LLM key or local Ollama | Not confirmed |
| ViralMint | AGPL-3.0 | Desktop or browser | macOS, Windows, Linux | Your own AI keys | Not confirmed |
| OpenClipper | MIT | Desktop app (Tauri) | Windows | Local Whisper or Parakeet, or OpenRouter/Groq keys | Listed |
| LibreClip | AGPL-3.0 | Self-hosted web app (Docker) | Any machine running Docker | AssemblyAI key plus an LLM key | Not confirmed |
✓ yes · ✕ no · ~ copyleft licence (AGPL-3.0) · ? not confirmed in the README. Checked .
LICENCES, BRIEFLY
What the licence
lets you do.
A plain summary, not legal advice. Read the licence file in each repository.
Permissive
- Use it for personal or commercial work.
- Modify it and build it into other products, open or closed.
- Keep the copyright notice and licence text.
Copyleft
- Use and modify it freely.
- If you run a modified version as a network service, share your source code with its users.
- Derivative works must use the same licence.
RUN A FAIR TEST
Three steps.
One honest answer.
A score printed by any clipper, including Cutawan, is an editing aid. It does not predict views.
- 01
Use the same recording.
Run one video you own through each project, ideally with two speakers and a few topic changes.
SAME INPUT - 02
Judge the clips, not the count.
Keep only clips that make sense to a new viewer. Check openings, endings, caption spelling and framing.
QUALITY OVER VOLUME - 03
Add up the real cost.
Compare plan prices, credit limits and any API usage at the volume you expect each month.
COST AT YOUR VOLUME
WHY A DESKTOP APP
Your footage.
Your workflow.
Your call.
Cutawan is free, MIT-licensed and built in the open. Use it. Inspect it. Make it better.
Explore the source ↗The heavy lifting stays here.
Video editing, face tracking, rendering and export run on your machine. Your original video is not uploaded to a hosted editor.
Clear about what leaves.
The API route can send audio for transcription, and both AI routes send transcript text and sampled frames for analysis. Local captions need no AI service.
No Cutawan subscription.
No credits, no app-imposed minute or clip quota and no paid watermark removal.
Is there an open-source Opus Clip alternative?
Yes, several. Cutawan is an MIT-licensed desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux. SupoClip and LibreClip are AGPL-licensed web apps you self-host with Docker. ViralMint and OpenClipper are other desktop options.
Which open-source clipper is easiest to install?
A desktop app with installers is usually easiest: download, run and follow the setup wizard. Self-hosted web apps need Docker and API keys configured on a server or your own machine.
What is the difference between MIT and AGPL-3.0?
Both let you use and modify the code. MIT is permissive: you can build it into other products, including closed ones. AGPL-3.0 requires you to share your changes if you run a modified version as a network service. This is a summary, not legal advice.
Do open-source clippers still cost money to run?
Often a little. Most use a paid transcription or language-model API for clip finding. Cutawan can use your ChatGPT plan’s Codex allowance instead of an API key, and can caption whole videos with local Whisper and no AI service.
Can I use Cutawan commercially?
Yes. The MIT licence allows commercial use. You are responsible for the rights to your footage, music and fonts.