head to head · open source
Shotcut vs ImageToolbox
Shotcut has 15,590 GitHub stars, 1,561 forks, 52 open issues and last shipped yesterday. ImageToolbox has 15,377 stars, 665 forks, 0 open issues and last shipped yesterday. Shotcut leads on adoption by 1% (15,590 vs 15,377 stars). Shotcut is written in C++ under GPL-3.0; ImageToolbox is written in Kotlin under Apache-2.0. Shotcut has attracted 10% as many forks as stars, ImageToolbox 4%. ImageToolbox was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee.
Two open source projects, one decision. Both are free and self-hostable — the differences are community size, license terms, language stack and release pace.
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Side by side
| Shotcut | ImageToolbox | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 16K | ★ 15K |
| License | GPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Written in | C++ | Kotlin |
| Last push | 2026-11-04 | 2026-11-04 |
| Forks | ⑂ 1.6K | ⑂ 665 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick Shotcut if
- You weight community size — 16K stars and counting
- You want the GPL-3.0 license terms
- Your stack matches C++
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick ImageToolbox if
- You want the ImageToolbox feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Kotlin
- You evaluated both and ImageToolbox fits your workflow better
About Shotcut
Shotcut a free, open source, cross platform video editor Features: Roadmap: Install Binaries are regularly built and are available at Contributors Dan Dennedy : main author Brian Matherly : contributor Dependencies Shotcut's direct (linked or hard runtime) dependencies are: MLT: multimedia authoring framework Qt 6 (6.4 minimum): application and UI framework FFTW FFmpeg: multimedia format and codec libraries Frei0r: video plugins SDL: cross platform audio playback See for a more complete list including indirect and bundled dependencies. License GPLv3. See COPYING. How to build Warning : building Shotcut should…
read the full Shotcut overview →
About ImageToolbox
Image Toolbox 🗺️ Project Overview ImageToolbox is a versatile image editing tool designed for efficient photo manipulation. It allows users to crop, apply filters, edit EXIF data, erase backgrounds, and even enhance images with AI. Ideal for both photographers and developers, the tool offers a simple interface with powerful capabilities. 📔 Wiki Check out Image Toolbox Wiki for FAQ and useful info ✈️ Telegram Links [ ](
read the full ImageToolbox overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is Shotcut or ImageToolbox more popular?
Shotcut has 15,590 GitHub stars and ImageToolbox has 15,377. Shotcut has the larger community by that measure.
Are Shotcut and ImageToolbox free?
Both are open source. Shotcut is licensed under GPL-3.0 and ImageToolbox under Apache-2.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between Shotcut and ImageToolbox?
Shotcut is written in C++ and ImageToolbox in Kotlin. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, Shotcut or ImageToolbox?
Choose Shotcut if you want the larger community (15,590 stars) or its GPL-3.0 licence terms. Choose ImageToolbox if its feature set, stack or Apache-2.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.