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Software · head to head

Adobe Audition vs Kdenlive

Adobe Audition logo

Adobe Audition

Software

Industry-standard professional audio editing

From
$22.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Kdenlive logo

Kdenlive

Software

Free, open-source non-linear video editor from the KDE community

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Kdenlive has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Adobe Audition listed on UK G-Cloud as part of Adobe Creative Cloud for business (which bundles Audition) at £58 to £80 per licence per month, via reseller ServiceKey; Kdenlive relies on volunteer development so release cadence and bug fixes can be slower than commercial tools.
  • They diverge on capability: Adobe Audition covers Multitrack editing, Kdenlive covers Multi-track timeline.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Adobe Audition and Kdenlive actually diverge.

Attributes where Adobe Audition and Kdenlive differ
AttributeAdobe AuditionKdenlive
Starting price$22.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionopen-source
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsMacos, Windowswindows, mac, linux
Founded1982Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Adobe Audition

  • Multitrack editing
  • Audio restoration
  • Noise reduction
  • Effects and mixing
  • Spectral editing
  • Batch processing
  • Premiere Pro
  • After Effects

Only in Kdenlive

  • Multi-track timeline
  • Proxy editing
  • Wide format support
  • Titler tool
  • Effects and transitions
  • Cross-platform

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Adobe Audition

  • Podcast editingnot Kdenlive
  • Audio restorationnot Kdenlive
  • Video post-productionnot Kdenlive
  • Music productionnot Kdenlive
  • Sound designnot Kdenlive

Kdenlive

  • Free video editing for hobbyistsnot Adobe Audition
  • Linux-native video productionnot Adobe Audition
  • Educational video editingnot Adobe Audition
  • Community/open-source project video worknot Adobe Audition

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Adobe Audition

  • Listed on UK G-Cloud as part of Adobe Creative Cloud for business (which bundles Audition) at £58 to £80 per licence per month, via reseller ServiceKey

Kdenlive

  • Relies on volunteer development so release cadence and bug fixes can be slower than commercial tools.
  • Lacks built-in advanced VFX/compositing found in tools like DaVinci Resolve.
  • Performance and stability can vary depending on system configuration and GPU drivers.
  • No official cloud collaboration or review features.

Pricing, plan by plan

Adobe Audition

$22.99/month
  • Audition Single App$22.99/month
    • Full Audition features
    • 100GB cloud storage
    • Adobe Portfolio
  • All Apps$59.99/month
    • All Creative Cloud apps
    • 100GB cloud storage
    • Adobe Portfolio

Kdenlive

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full editor
    • All effects and transitions
    • Community support

Which should you pick?

Choose Adobe Audition if

  • You need multitrack editing.
  • You work on Macos, Windows.
  • You also want audio restoration.
Adobe Audition review

Choose Kdenlive if

  • You need multi-track timeline.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on windows, mac, linux.
  • You also want proxy editing.
Kdenlive review

Questions people ask

Is Adobe Audition or Kdenlive better?
Neither clearly leads. Adobe Audition starts at $22.99/month and Kdenlive at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Adobe Audition or Kdenlive?
Kdenlive has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $22.99/month for Adobe Audition and Free for Kdenlive.
Does Adobe Audition or Kdenlive run on more platforms?
Adobe Audition runs on Macos, Windows. Kdenlive runs on windows, mac, linux.
Can I use Kdenlive for free?
Yes. Kdenlive has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Adobe Audition starts at $22.99/month.
What is Adobe Audition best used for?
Adobe Audition is most often used for podcast editing, audio restoration, video post-production, music production. Of those, podcast editing and audio restoration are not what Kdenlive is typically brought in for.
What can Adobe Audition do that Kdenlive cannot?
Adobe Audition covers Multitrack editing, Audio restoration, Noise reduction, Effects and mixing. Kdenlive covers Multi-track timeline, Proxy editing, Wide format support, Titler tool.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Kdenlive: Is Kdenlive free to use?

Yes, Kdenlive is completely free and open source, distributed under the GPL license with no cost to download or use, though donations to KDE e.V. are welcomed.

Source
Kdenlive: What platforms does Kdenlive support?

Kdenlive runs on Linux, Windows, macOS, and BSD.

Source
Kdenlive: Where can I get help with Kdenlive?

Users can consult the user manual at docs.kdenlive.org, join the community Matrix channel, or ask on the KDE discussion forum.

Source
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