Head-to-head · facts checked 22 Sept 2026
Avid Media Composer vs DaVinci Resolve
2 tools, 10 differing data points, mostly pricing and positioning.
From
Free (First); paid from $39.99/mo (Standard)
Free plan
Yes
From
Free
Free plan
Yes
The verdict
Avid Media Composer or DaVinci Resolve?
Section 01
Pricing, plan by plan
Every plan each vendor publishes, monthly and yearly where both are offered.
AAvid Media Composer
Media Composer First
Free
Standard
$39.99/mo
Ultimate
$79.99/mo · $539.99/yr
Standard for Teams
— · $309/yr
Ultimate for Teams
$84.99/mo · $589/yr
DaVinci Resolve
DaVinci Resolve
Free
The full editor, no expiry
DaVinci Resolve Studio
$295 once
One-time purchase, no subscription
Section 02
Pros and cons
From each tool's full review, written from the same checked facts.
AAvid Media Composer
Pros
- Media Composer First is a permanently free entry edition, and Avid says it removed the track and resolution limits that edition previously had.
- Multicam editing manages up to 64 camera angles using waveform and timecode matching.
- Shared Projects, built on Avid NEXIS, let multiple editors work on the same project with bin-locking.
- The MC API and SDK give read and write access to sequence creation, OTIO import and export, and transcription data.
Cons
- New copies are subscription only, since Avid no longer sells a new perpetual license, only support renewals to existing owners.
- FrameFlex reframes and zooms footage manually, with no automatic subject-tracking reframe tool.
- There is no built-in stock footage or music library, so media has to come from elsewhere.
DaVinci Resolve
Pros
- The free edition never expires and includes editing, color correction up to Ultra HD, visual effects, motion graphics, audio post and multi-user collaboration.
- Studio is a one-time $295 purchase rather than a subscription, so you own it once you buy it.
- Color grading includes professional scopes such as a waveform monitor and vectorscope alongside HDR color wheels, power windows and a node editor.
- Workflow integration and encoding APIs let you connect DaVinci Resolve to your own asset management and production tools.
Cons
- Magic Mask, advanced HDR grading and the AI Fairlight audio effects only unlock in the paid Studio edition.
- There is no built-in stock media library, so footage, music and graphics have to come from elsewhere.
Side by side
| Company | ||
| HQ | United States | Australia |
| Platforms | Windows, Mac | Windows, Mac, Linux, iPad |
| Pricing | ||
| Pricing model | Subscription | Free / one-time |
| Free plan | Yes, Media Composer First | Yes, the whole editor |
| Free trial | — | No |
| Starting price | Free (First); paid from $39.99/mo (Standard) | Free |
| All plans | Media Composer First — Free Standard — $39.99/mo Ultimate — $79.99/mo Standard for Teams Ultimate for Teams — $84.99/mo | DaVinci Resolve — Free DaVinci Resolve Studio — $295 once |
| Positioning | ||
| Best for | Film and TV editors who work on shared projects and need an industry-standard editorial toolset | Editors and colourists who want grading with scopes, compositing and audio post in one app, and would rather buy the upgrade once than rent it |
| Differentiator | Avid Media Composer is built for film and TV teams, with shared projects and script-based editing. | The free edition is the full editor, and the paid Studio licence is a one-time purchase that adds the Neural Engine tools and the deeper HDR work. |
| Competitors | Adobe Premiere, DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro | — |
Section 03
Avid Media Composer vs DaVinci Resolve: common questions
Is Avid Media Composer or DaVinci Resolve cheaper?
Avid Media Composer's cheapest paid plan is Free (First); paid from $39.99/mo (Standard) and DaVinci Resolve's is Free. Compare what each plan includes below before going on price alone.
Keep comparing
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