Design & UI
Best LosslessCut Alternatives 2026: 4 Ways to Cut Video Without Re-encoding
Four LosslessCut alternatives for cutting video without re-encoding: Avidemux, FFmpeg, Shutter Encoder and MKVToolNix, with platforms, licences and caveats.
LosslessCut trims and cuts video and audio files without a slow re-encode, so the cut is almost a direct data copy and keeps the original quality. It runs on macOS, Windows and Linux and is licensed GPL-2.0. The downloads from its GitHub page are free; the Mac App Store and Microsoft Store versions are the paid, convenient route.
People who search for alternatives are usually developers with a long screen recording or a camera file and one clip to pull out of it. They look elsewhere when LosslessCut does not open a particular format, when they want the cut in a script instead of a window, or when they want one tool that can also re-encode afterwards.
Below are 4 alternatives that can cut without re-encoding, with what each costs and one caveat each. Facts checked 6 November 2026 on each tool's own site or repository.
| Tool | Lossless cut | Platforms | Licence / price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avidemux | Copy mode, when the cut allows it | Linux, Windows, macOS | GNU GPL, free |
| FFmpeg | -c copy stream copy | Linux, macOS, Windows | LGPL 2.1 or later |
| Shutter Encoder | "Cut without re-encoding" | Windows, macOS, Linux | Free and open source, GPL-3.0 |
| MKVToolNix | Splits Matroska files at keyframes | Linux, Windows, macOS | Donations requested |
1. Avidemux — a small desktop editor with copy modes
Best for: people who want a simple window with in and out markers, and the option to re-encode when a cut cannot be done losslessly.
Avidemux describes itself as "a free video editor designed for simple cutting, filtering and encoding tasks". It runs on Linux, BSD, macOS and Windows and is distributed under the GNU GPL. Its cutting guide says Video Copy and Audio Copy modes may let you make a cut without re-encoding.
Caveat: its own cutting guide says you may not be able to use Copy modes and may have to encode the video, because a cut between keyframes leaves broken frames; the end marker needs to sit on a keyframe.
2. FFmpeg — the engine, from the command line
Best for: scripted or repeatable cuts, and anyone comfortable in a terminal.
FFmpeg is the multimedia framework that LosslessCut aims to be "the ultimate cross platform" GUI for. Its -c copy option selects stream copy: no decoding, filtering or encoding, so, in its documentation's words, "there is no quality loss". It runs on Linux, macOS and Windows, and is licensed LGPL 2.1 or later (GPL if optional parts are used).
Caveat: it has no interface. Its documentation says exact seeking is not possible in most formats, so -ss seeks to the closest seek point before the position you ask for.
3. Shutter Encoder — a converter with a lossless cut function
Best for: people who also need to convert files and want cutting in the same app.
Shutter Encoder is "a converter designed by video editors", built on FFmpeg. It lists a "Cut without re-encoding" function and runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. Its repository calls it free and open-source, lists "Lossless cut and trim" among its lossless operations, and carries the GPL-3.0 licence.
Caveat: it is a converter first, with dozens of functions, so the cut tool sits among many others rather than front and centre.
4. MKVToolNix — splitting Matroska files
Best for: MKV files that you want to split or keep ranges from.
MKVToolNix is a set of tools to create, alter and inspect Matroska files. Its mkvmerge tool can split by timestamps or keep chosen time ranges and drop the rest. It is not a general video cutter: it works on Matroska.
Caveat: tracks can only be split right before a key frame, so the cut may land slightly away from the time you asked for. macOS builds now come from community members: the project's news page says macOS binaries are provided again from release 98, after an earlier plan to drop them.
How to choose
- A window, like LosslessCut: Avidemux, or Shutter Encoder if you also convert.
- A script or a batch of files: FFmpeg with
-c copy. - MKV files only: MKVToolNix.
- Cuts that must land on an exact frame: every tool here that copies streams is limited by keyframes; where an exact frame matters, expect to re-encode that segment, for example in Avidemux.
FAQ
Is there a free alternative to LosslessCut?
Yes. Avidemux, FFmpeg and Shutter Encoder are all free software. LosslessCut itself is free to download from GitHub; only its app-store versions are paid.
Can FFmpeg cut video without re-encoding?
Yes. Add -c copy and it copies the streams without decoding or encoding them. The cut point snaps to the nearest seek point, not always the exact time.
Why is my lossless cut a little off?
Copying streams can only start at a keyframe, so a tool snaps to one. MKVToolNix and FFmpeg both document this.
Which LosslessCut alternative is easiest to use?
Avidemux and Shutter Encoder have graphical interfaces. FFmpeg is the most flexible but is command-line only.