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VidStudio, a browser based video editor that doesn't upload your files

VidStudio, a browser based video editor that doesn't upload your files

by kolx·Apr 21, 2026·301 points·109 comments

AI Analysis

●●SolidSlickSolve My Problem

WebCodecs + FFmpeg WASM means zero uploads — Clipchamp alternative that respects privacy.

Strengths
  • WebCodecs hardware acceleration enables frame-accurate seeking without server roundtrips.
  • IndexedDB persistence and Web Workers keep UI responsive during exports.
  • No accounts, no uploads — genuinely private compared to Clipchamp and Canva.
Weaknesses
  • Browser-based video editors already exist — Clipchamp, Canva, Kapwing compete here.
  • WebGL fallback needed when hardware decoding isn't available limits performance.
Category
Target Audience

Content creators, privacy-conscious users

Similar To

Clipchamp · Canva · Kapwing

Post Description

Hi HN, I built VidStudio, a privacy focused video editor that runs in the browser. I tried to keep it as frictionless as possible, so there are no accounts and no uploads. Everything is persisted on your machine.

Some of the features: multi-track timeline, frame accurate seek, MP4 export, audio, video, image, and text tracks, and a WebGL backed canvas where available. It also works on mobile.

Under the hood, WebCodecs handles frame decode for timeline playback and scrubbing, which is what makes seeking responsive since decode runs on the hardware decoder when the browser supports it. FFmpeg compiled to WebAssembly handles final encode, format conversion, and anything WebCodecs does not cover. Rendering goes through Pixi.js on a WebGL canvas, with a software fallback when WebGL is not available. Projects live in IndexedDB and the heavy work runs in Web Workers so the UI stays responsive during exports.

Happy to answer technical questions about the tradeoffs involved in keeping the whole pipeline client-side. Any feedback welcome.

Link: https://vidstudio.app/video-editor

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