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Clapshot
What it is
Clapshot is free, open-source, self-hosted software for collaborative review and annotation of video, audio, and image files, including subtitle tracks. Reviewers can share synchronized viewing sessions, seek together, and create review links. The browser client supports frame stepping, looping, time-coded threaded comments, timeline pins, drawing annotations, editable SMPTE timecode fields, and audio waveform visualization. Media enters through the web interface or a monitored folder, with folder-based user assignment options. FFmpeg handles transcoding, thumbnails, and metadata extraction, while custom scripts and hardware acceleration are supported. Authentication can connect through a reverse proxy to OAuth, LDAP, Kerberos, or SAML. Deployment options include Docker Compose and a Debian package for Debian 12 or 13. The server and client use GPLv2 licenses. Mobile browser support is limited, and desktop Chrome or Chromium is recommended.
For and against
For
- Free GPLv2 self-hosted deployment
- Supports video, audio, and images
- Synchronized playback and threaded comments
- FFmpeg and hardware acceleration support
- Multiple authentication integrations
Against
- Mobile browser support is limited
- Self-hosting requires networking and Linux comfort
- HTTPS reverse proxy recommended for internet exposure
- Desktop Chrome or Chromium recommended
The verdict
Clapshot provides extensive review and annotation tools while keeping media self-hosted. Its setup and limited mobile support make it better suited to technically capable teams.
Who it suits
Clapshot suits organizations that want local media hosting and collaborative review without commercial cloud storage. Users should be comfortable with networking and Linux administration.
Plans and prices
Clapshot (open-source self-hosted)
Self-hosted deployment · GPLv2 server and client
Read 11 Oct 2026 · github.com
On the record
- Audience and prerequisites
- The project advises people who do not need local hosting or are not comfortable with networking and Linux to consider commercial cloud services instead.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Collaboration
- Users can share remote viewing sessions with synchronized playback, seeking, and annotations, and generate shareable review links.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- The project documents Docker Compose deployments and a Debian package installer for Debian 12/13 hosts.github.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Extensibility
- Organizer plugins communicate over gRPC and can be written in Python, Rust, TypeScript, or other languages for custom workflows and integrations.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Authentication can be connected through a reverse proxy to systems such as OAuth, LDAP, Kerberos, or SAML, and custom Organizer plugins support external integrations.github.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The project advises users who do not need local hosting or are not comfortable with networking and Linux to consider commercial cloud services instead.github.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- License
- The Clapshot Server and Client are licensed under GPLv2, while the gRPC/proto3 libraries and example organizer plugins use MIT licenses.github.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Licensing
- The Clapshot server and client are licensed under GPLv2, while gRPC/proto3 libraries and example organizer plugins are MIT-licensed.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Media ingestion
- Media can be uploaded through the web interface or processed from a monitored folder; folder ingestion can assign users based on file ownership or folder names.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Media processing
- Clapshot uses FFmpeg for transcoding, thumbnails, and metadata extraction, with configurable scripts and hardware acceleration support.raw.githubusercontent.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Media types
- It supports video, audio, and image files, including subtitle track management.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Mobile limitation
- Mobile browser support is limited; the feature overview reports iOS/iPad player-control issues and failed drawing annotation submission on mobile browsers.raw.githubusercontent.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Platform limitations
- The project says Windows, macOS, and Linux are supported operating systems, while mobile support is limited and desktop Chrome or Chromium is recommended.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Player tools
- The player includes loop controls, frame-by-frame navigation, editable SMPTE timecode fields, and audio waveform visualization.raw.githubusercontent.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Processing
- Clapshot uses FFmpeg for transcoding and thumbnail generation, and supports custom processing scripts and hardware acceleration.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Clapshot is an open-source, self-hosted tool for collaborative video and media review and annotation, aimed mainly at organizations that cannot or will not put media in commercial cloud services.github.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Review features
- Reviewers can synchronize playback in real time, add drawing annotations, and discuss time-coded comments in threads.raw.githubusercontent.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Review tools
- The browser client includes frame stepping, loop controls, time-coded threaded comments, timeline pins, and drawing annotations with a seven-color palette.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
