Kinocut
Kinocut is a local-first MCP server, Python library, and CLI for AI-agent video editing.
What Kinocut is
Kinocut is a local-first MCP server, Python library, and CLI for AI-agent video editing. It is built around turning local interviews into captioned vertical clips, with tools for trimming, merging, subtitling, reframing, audio normalization, AI highlight detection, and social platform presets. A workflow can create a JSON Video Receipt listing the request, operations, changes, guardrails, and items for human review. Before rendering, server-side validation checks for risky or invalid inputs. Quality gates can check VMAF, loudness, black frames, and audio/video sync, and hold work that misses a configured bar. The maker says FFmpeg and Whisper run locally and that media stays on the user's machine; the core needs no account or API key and has no analytics or phone-home telemetry. Integrations documented include Claude Code, Cursor, stdio MCP clients, Python automation, and CI. The free core is free. Kinocut supports API, Linux, macOS, and Windows, with setup instructions for macOS, Ubuntu/Debian, and Windows. FFmpeg must be installed separately; optional Hyperframes support needs Node.js 22 or later.
Good
- Free core with no Kinocut credit meter
- 203 structured MCP tools
- Produces JSON Video Receipts
- Quality gates can hold outputs below a configured bar
- Integrates with Python automation and CI
Watch out
- FFmpeg must be installed separately
- No hosted multi-tenant SaaS editor
- No paid SLA is claimed
- Does not provide fully automatic brand-safe publishing without human review
Who it suits
Kinocut suits AI agents, automation workflows, and agency teams that want local video editing with review before client delivery. Its receipts and quality gates are relevant when edits need documented checks and human review.
Verdict
Kinocut combines agent-oriented editing tools with pre-render validation, quality checks, and a record of each workflow. It is geared toward local processing and review, rather than hosted multi-tenant editing or fully automatic publishing.
Plans and prices
From Kinocut's own pricing page, checked 7 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free core | Free | Apache-2.0 · no Kinocut credit meter · local processing |
The facts
Each one read from Kinocut's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Core workflow
- It is designed to turn local interviews into captioned vertical clips with a Video Receipt.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Dependencies
- FFmpeg must be installed separately and available on PATH; optional Hyperframes support requires Node.js 22 or later.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Editing tools
- The published version provides 203 structured MCP tools for operations including trimming, merging, subtitling, reframing, and audio normalization.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The maker documents integrations with Claude Code, Cursor, generic stdio MCP clients, Python automation, and CI.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The maker describes it for AI agents, automation, and agency teams that need local video editing with review before client delivery.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Limitations
- The maker says it does not provide a hosted multi-tenant SaaS editor, a SOC 2 or ISO certificate package, or fully automatic brand-safe publishing without human review.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Local processing
- The maker says media stays on the user's machine and FFmpeg and Whisper run locally.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Preflight
- Server-side parameter validation catches risky or invalid editing inputs before FFmpeg renders.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Privacy claims
- The maker states that the core requires no account or API key and has no analytics or phone-home telemetry.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Kinocut is a local-first MCP server, Python library, and CLI for AI-agent video editing.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Quality checks
- Quality gates can check VMAF, loudness, black frames, and audio/video sync, and hold outputs below the configured bar.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Receipts
- Each workflow can produce a JSON Video Receipt recording the request, tools run, changes, guardrails, and items needing human review.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Support
- The maker identifies community support through Forgejo or GitHub issues and says no paid SLA is claimed.checked 7 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Platform support
- The install page gives setup instructions for macOS, Ubuntu/Debian, and Windows.checked 7 Oct 2026
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