Freedom251 › Video Annotation Software
Kinovea
What Kinovea is
Kinovea is a free Windows application for annotating video and analyzing sport and motion. It can capture footage, slow it down, compare clips, add annotations, track movement and measure it. To compare motion, users can place two videos side by side and synchronize them around a shared event. Measurements include angles, distances and times, which can be checked manually; point trajectories can also be tracked semi-automatically. Grid-based calibration supports rotated or perspective-aware coordinate systems, and a separate tool compensates for lens distortion.
Kinovea captures video from UVC cameras, supported machine-vision cameras, and network camera streams in JPEG or MJPEG formats. Annotations can be saved in KVA files, measurements exported as CSV, and videos exported with annotations or synchronized frames. Users can create or modify custom tools described in XML, including tools for tracking points and measuring distances or angles.
The desktop software works without an internet connection or user account and collects no user data or telemetry. Kinovea is released under GPL v2 and may be used for personal, academic or commercial purposes without registration. The supported operating systems are Windows 7 to 11 with .NET Framework 4.8. It is described as suitable for classroom use and Olympic training.
Who it suits
Kinovea suits coaches, athletes, educators and researchers who need to review sport or other movement on video. Its synchronized comparisons, motion measurements and camera capture options also suit classroom instruction and training settings.
What it does well
- Free forever, with no licenses or subscriptions.
- Compare two videos side by side around a synchronized event.
- Measure angles, distances and times, or track point trajectories.
- Export measurements as CSV and annotated video.
- Works offline without accounts, data collection or telemetry.
- GPL v2 permits personal, academic and commercial use.
What to know first
- Available for Windows only.
- Requires Windows 7 to 11 and .NET Framework 4.8.
- Does not work on Apple Silicon Macs, including through virtualization.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Kinovea | Free forever · no licenses or subscriptions · no use limits stated | Free |
As kinovea.org lists them, read 7 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Visit https://kinovea.org/ and open the download page.
- Check that your system runs Windows 7 to 11 and has .NET Framework 4.8.
- Download and install Kinovea for Windows.
- Open a video or capture footage from a supported camera.
- Annotate or measure the video, then save or export the result.
Verdict
Choose Kinovea if you need free Windows software for video annotation, synchronized comparison and motion measurement. Its offline use and GPL v2 license support classroom, academic and commercial use. Look elsewhere if you need software for macOS, especially an Apple Silicon Mac.
Questions
How much does Kinovea cost?
The Kinovea plan is free, free forever, with no licenses or subscriptions.
Is there a free plan or trial?
Kinovea has a free plan and no free trial.
Which platforms does Kinovea support?
It supports Windows 7 to 11 with .NET Framework 4.8. It will not work on Apple Silicon Macs, including through Parallels or virtualization.
Is Kinovea open source?
It is released under the GPL v2 license.
Can Kinovea be used commercially?
Yes. The license allows personal, academic or commercial use without registration.
Does Kinovea need an internet connection or account?
No. The desktop software requires no internet access or user account, and collects no user data or telemetry.
Facts from Kinovea's own pages
- Calibration
- Measurement tools include grid-based calibration for rotated or perspective-aware coordinate systems and compensation for lens distortion. · kinovea.org, 7 Oct 2026
- Camera support
- Capture supports UVC cameras, supported machine-vision cameras, and JPEG or MJPEG network camera streams. · kinovea.org, 7 Oct 2026
- Core tools
- It provides tools to capture, slow down, compare, annotate, track and measure motion in videos. · kinovea.org, 7 Oct 2026
- Custom tools
- Users can create and modify custom tools described in XML, including tools with tracked points and distance or angle measurements. · kinovea.org, 7 Oct 2026
- Integrations and exports
- Annotations can be saved in KVA files, measurements exported as CSV, and videos exported with annotations or synchronized frames. · kinovea.org, 7 Oct 2026
- Intended audience
- The project describes the software as suitable for classroom use and Olympic training. · kinovea.org, 7 Oct 2026
- License and use
- Kinovea is released under GPL v2 and may be used for personal, academic or commercial purposes without registration. · kinovea.org, 7 Oct 2026
- Measurement
- Users can measure angles, distances and times manually or track point trajectories semi-automatically. · kinovea.org, 7 Oct 2026
- Operating system
- The download page lists Windows 7 to 11 with .NET Framework 4.8 as the supported operating system requirement. · kinovea.org, 7 Oct 2026
- Platform limitation
- The download page says Kinovea will not work on Mac computers with Apple Silicon chips, including through Parallels or virtualization. · kinovea.org, 7 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- The desktop software requires no internet access, has no user accounts, and does not collect user data or telemetry. · kinovea.org, 7 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Kinovea is a video annotation tool designed for sport and motion analysis. · kinovea.org, 7 Oct 2026
- Support
- Users can ask questions on the forum and contact the project at [email protected]. · kinovea.org, 7 Oct 2026
- Video comparison
- Users can view two videos side by side and synchronize them on a common event. · kinovea.org, 7 Oct 2026
Where Kinovea stands on Freedom251
- Video Annotation Software#14 of 34