Head-to-head · facts checked 22 Sept 2026
DaVinci Resolve vs Filmora
2 tools, 11 differing data points, mostly pricing and positioning.
From
Free
Free plan
Yes
The verdict
DaVinci Resolve or Filmora?
Section 01
Pricing, plan by plan
Every plan each vendor publishes, monthly and yearly where both are offered.
DaVinci Resolve
DaVinci Resolve
Free
The full editor, no expiry
DaVinci Resolve Studio
$295 once
One-time purchase, no subscription
FFilmora
Free
Free
Exports carry a watermark
Basic
— · $49.99/yr
Advanced
— · $69.99/yr
Includes monthly AI credits
Perpetual
$79.99 one-time
Updates for the current major version
Section 02
Pros and cons
From each tool's full review, written from the same checked facts.
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.
FFilmora
Pros
- A standing free tier lets you edit before paying anything, rather than a time-boxed trial.
- A one-time Perpetual licence is available alongside the annual subscription plans, so you can own a version outright.
- Editing includes multicam projects, motion tracking, and color grading with professional scopes and HDR support.
- AI Video Translation dubs a video into other languages with voice cloning and lip sync, and an AI Video Extender adds footage to a shot.
Cons
- The free tier's exports carry a watermark and a lower resolution cap until you upgrade.
- AI features are metered by a separate AI Credits allowance, with extra credits sold apart from the plan price.
- It has no shared-project collaboration feature for working with other editors on the same project.
Side by side
| Company | ||
| Founded | — | 2003 |
| HQ | Australia | China |
| Platforms | Windows, Mac, Linux, iPad | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android |
| Pricing | ||
| Pricing model | Free / one-time | Freemium |
| Free plan | Yes, the whole editor | Yes, with watermark |
| Free trial | No | Yes, 7 days |
| Starting price | Free | Free; paid from $49.99/yr (Basic) |
| All plans | DaVinci Resolve — Free DaVinci Resolve Studio — $295 once | Free — Free Basic Advanced Perpetual — $79.99 one-time |
| Positioning | ||
| Best for | 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 | Creators who want an easy desktop editor with pro colour tools and AI features, on a yearly plan or bought once |
| Differentiator | 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. | Filmora pairs multicam, scopes-based colour grading and proxies with AI translation, sold yearly or once. |
| Competitors | — | Adobe Premiere, CyberLink PowerDirector, DaVinci Resolve |
Section 03
DaVinci Resolve vs Filmora: common questions
Is DaVinci Resolve or Filmora cheaper?
DaVinci Resolve's cheapest paid plan is Free and Filmora's is Free; paid from $49.99/yr (Basic). Compare what each plan includes below before going on price alone.
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