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Best free Premiere Pro panels: the short answer
For most editors the best free Premiere Pro panel in 2026 is Mako. It puts 13 one-click tools in one panel, from adjustment layers to a QC check, with no account and no license key, on Mac and Windows.
Shortcut by Filmit is the closest free alternative and also runs in After Effects. LayerDrop is a small free panel for adjustment layers and color mattes. Shifter now comes inside Easify 4 Pro, and Excalibur is the paid heavyweight at $120.
Free Premiere Pro panels compared
Prices and versions as of October 2026, from each maker's own pages.
| Feature | Mako | Shortcut by Filmit | LayerDrop | Shifter (Easify 4 Pro) | Excalibur |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free | Free | Part of Easify 4 Pro, $99 | $120 plus VAT |
| Premiere Pro versions | 2022 to 2026 | 2023 to 2025 (2022 limited) | 2022 and later | 2024 to 2026 | 2020 and later |
| Also runs in After Effects | No | Yes | No | Yes | Not listed |
| Mac and Windows | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Setup | Installer, no account, no key | Filmit account and desktop app | Manual install in debug mode | Bought with Easify 4 Pro | Paid license, two machines |
| Adjustment layer in one click | Yes, also per clip and on every cut | Yes, also per clip and on every cut | Yes | Not listed | Yes |
| Color matte | Yes | Not listed | Yes | Not listed | Yes |
| Staircase clips | Yes, and back | Yes, and back | No | Yes, with offsets | No |
| Freeze frame | Yes | Yes | No | Not listed | No |
| Nest and unnest | Both | Unnest | No | Not listed | Nest |
| QC check before export | Closes gaps, marks problems | Marks gaps and offline media | No | Not listed | No |
| Own shortcut per button | Yes, built in | Not listed | Not listed | Via Spell Book | Via Spell Book |
Why editors pick Mako
- Free for good. No account, no license key and no trial. Check out for $0 and the download is yours, updates included.
- 13 tools in one panel. Adjustment Layer, Color Matte, New Sequence, Staircase, Unstaircase, Freeze Frame, Fit to Frame, Clear Effects, QC Check, Transparency Grid, Nest, Unnest and Delete Empty Tracks.
- Works the way Premiere already works. New layers land over your selection, on the first free track above. If there is none, Mako adds a track and never overwrites a clip.
- A real unnest. Premiere has no unnest command. Mako opens a nest back up in place, with effects, keyframes, speed and linked audio.
- A QC check that fixes things. It closes empty gaps, then marks black gaps, offline media, switched-off clips and one- or two-frame clips.
- Your keys, your colors. Every button and every Shift-click or Cmd-click gets its own shortcut, and buttons can be tinted or solid in any color.
Shortcut by Filmit covers a similar list, but you create a Filmit account and install the Filmit Studio desktop app first. Mako adds the tools Shortcut's page doesn't list: color matte, new sequence with the same settings, fit to frame, clear effects, transparency grid, nest and delete empty tracks.
LayerDrop is free too, but it is an unsigned panel you install by hand in debug mode. It also needs one adjustment layer and one color matte in each project before it can work, and it covers two jobs where Mako covers 13.
How to get started with Mako
Mako is free, so you can be up and running in a couple of minutes.
Step 1: Download Mako for free
Add Mako to your cart and check out. It costs $0, so no card is needed, and the download appears on the order confirmation page.
Step 2: Install and open the panel
On a Mac, open Mako.pkg. On Windows, run MakoSetup.exe from the zip. Restart Premiere Pro, open Window > Extensions > Mako and dock it next to your Tools panel.
Step 3: Click your first tool
Select a few clips and click Adjustment Layer. Put a glow or a flash transition on it, then try QC Check before your next export. Our full Mako guide walks through every button.
When another panel is a better fit
If you also edit in After Effects and want the same buttons there, Shortcut by Filmit runs in both apps. Mako is a Premiere Pro panel only.
If you need fine control over staircase offsets, ascending, descending or random, Shifter inside Easify 4 Pro goes further. And Excalibur is far broader overall, with macros, export commands, track commands and effect search. For the everyday jobs on this list, Mako does them for free.
FAQ
What is the best free panel for Premiere Pro?
For everyday timeline jobs, Mako. It has 13 one-click tools, needs no account or license key and runs on Premiere Pro 2022 to 2026 on Mac and Windows.
Is there a free alternative to Excalibur?
For adjustment layers, color mattes, nesting and other everyday commands, yes. Mako is free and adds staircase, unnest, freeze frame and a QC check, which aren't in Excalibur's command list.
Does Shortcut by Filmit work in After Effects?
Yes. Filmit lists Premiere Pro and After Effects, on Mac and Windows. You need a free Filmit account and the Filmit Studio app to install it.
Can Premiere Pro unnest a sequence?
Not with a built-in command. Mako's Unnest button puts a nest's clips back on their tracks in one click, with their effects, keyframes and speed.
Is Mako really free?
Yes. There is no trial, no account and no license key, and updates are included. Mako updates itself in the background.
Thirteen everyday jobs, one click each, on Mac and Windows. Get Mako for free.
