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Webinars · head to head

Google Meet vs Shotcut

Google Meet logo

Google Meet

Webinars

Get on a video call in seconds

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
S

Shotcut

Video Production

Free, open-source, cross-platform video editor built on the MLT framework

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Google Meet google Meet only available as part of Google Workspace subscription; no standalone free option; Shotcut interface is dense and less polished than commercial competitors like VEGAS Pro.
  • They diverge on capability: Google Meet covers Video conferencing, Shotcut covers Native timeline editing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Google Meet and Shotcut actually diverge.

Attributes where Google Meet and Shotcut differ
AttributeGoogle MeetShotcut
Pricing modelfreemiumopen-source
PlatformsWeb, Mobilewindows, mac, linux
CategoryWebinarsVideo Production
Founded19982004

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Google Meet

  • Video conferencing
  • Screen sharing
  • Recording
  • Chat
  • Real-time captions
  • Hand raise
  • Grid view
  • Google Calendar

Only in Shotcut

  • Native timeline editing
  • Wide format support
  • 4K resolution support
  • Blackmagic Design SDI/HDMI capture
  • Multi-format timelines
  • Text and audio filters

What people use each for

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

Google Meet

  • Video conferencing for remote teamsnot Shotcut
  • Educational virtual classroomsnot Shotcut
  • Large-scale webinars with up to 1,000 participantsnot Shotcut

Shotcut

  • Free cross-platform video editingnot Google Meet
  • Working with mixed-format footage in one projectnot Google Meet
  • 4K video editing without a subscriptionnot Google Meet
  • Capturing footage from Blackmagic SDI/HDMI hardwarenot Google Meet

Where each one falls short

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

Google Meet

  • Google Meet only available as part of Google Workspace subscription; no standalone free option
  • Starter plan limits Meet to 100 participants; Standard tier required for 150 participants
  • Organisation-wide user cap of 300 users on Starter, Standard, and Plus plans
  • Enterprise tier requires custom pricing and sales contact; no transparent per-user cost
  • Free tier (from basic Google account) limits meetings to 60 minutes with 3+ participants

Shotcut

  • Interface is dense and less polished than commercial competitors like VEGAS Pro.
  • No built-in cloud collaboration or team review features.
  • Performance on very large 4K projects can lag on modest hardware.
  • Community-driven support model means no official paid support channel.

Pricing, plan by plan

Google Meet

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 100 participants
    • Up to 60 minutes per meeting
  • Google Workspace Starter$4.76/month
    • Up to 100 participants
    • 24-hour meeting duration
  • Google Workspace Standard$9.52/month
    • Up to 150 participants
    • 24-hour meeting duration
    • Recording capability
  • Google Workspace Plus$14.77/month
    • Up to 500 participants
    • 24-hour meeting duration
    • Attendance tracking

Shotcut

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Google Meet if

  • You need video conferencing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want screen sharing.
Google Meet review

Choose Shotcut if

  • You need native timeline editing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on windows, mac, linux.
  • You also want wide format support.
Shotcut review

Questions people ask

Is Google Meet or Shotcut better?
Neither clearly leads. Google Meet starts at Free and Shotcut at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Google Meet or Shotcut?
Google Meet starts at Free and Shotcut at Free.
Does Google Meet or Shotcut run on more platforms?
Google Meet runs on Web, Mobile. Shotcut runs on windows, mac, linux.
Can I use Google Meet for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Google Meet best used for?
Google Meet is most often used for video conferencing for remote teams, educational virtual classrooms, large-scale webinars with up to 1,000 participants. Of those, video conferencing for remote teams and educational virtual classrooms are not what Shotcut is typically brought in for.
What can Google Meet do that Shotcut cannot?
Google Meet covers Video conferencing, Screen sharing, Recording, Chat. Shotcut covers Native timeline editing, Wide format support, 4K resolution support, Blackmagic Design SDI/HDMI capture.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Google Meet: What are the participant limits in Google Meet's free plan?

The free version of Google Meet allows up to 100 participants per meeting. One-on-one calls and mobile calls have unlimited duration, but group meetings are limited to 60 minutes.

Source
Shotcut: Is Shotcut free for commercial use?

Yes. Shotcut is distributed under the GPLv3 license, which grants the freedom to run the program for any purpose, including commercial use, at no cost.

Source
Google Meet: How long can meetings last on paid Google Workspace plans?

All paid Google Workspace plans (Starter, Standard, Plus, Enterprise) support up to 24-hour meeting durations, removing the 60-minute limit of the free tier.

Source
Shotcut: Does Shotcut collect personal data?

No. Shotcut does not collect, store, or share any personal information, and it requires no network connection for activation or usage tracking.

Source
Google Meet: What participant limits apply to different Google Workspace tiers?

Starter tier supports 100 participants, Standard supports 150, Plus supports 500, and Enterprise tier supports up to 1,000 participants for in-domain live streaming.

Source
Shotcut: What operating systems does Shotcut support?

Shotcut supports Windows 10 (build 1809) and later, macOS 12-26, and 64-bit Linux with glibc 2.35 or higher.

Source
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