DaVinci Resolve vs Final Cut Pro
DaVinci Resolve scores 9.3 to Final Cut Pro's 7.2 among the professional video editors we rate, and is the better pick for 3 of the 4 kinds of buyer below.
DaVinci Resolve wins, 9.3 to 7.2
DaVinci Resolve runs on Windows, Mac and iPad; Final Cut Pro runs only on Mac and iPad. Final Cut Pro has no free tier at all, and its cheapest figure is the $12.99 a month Apple Creator Studio bundle, which also carries Logic Pro, Motion and other Apple apps. DaVinci Resolve's own free edition never expires, and Studio is a one-time $295 purchase instead of a subscription. Masking needs Resolve Studio, while Final Cut Pro has it in the app itself.
Pick DaVinci Resolve if you want several editors on one project or a free permanent editor.
Pick Final Cut Pro if you're on Mac or iPad and want masking without an upgrade.
Best for
Who each one suits, decided on the criteria that matter to that buyer and the checked facts where the two differ.
- Edit the video by editing its transcript: DaVinci Resolve yes, Final Cut Pro no
- Several editors on one project: DaVinci Resolve yes, Final Cut Pro no
- Scripting or workflow API: DaVinci Resolve yes, Final Cut Pro no
- Where it runs: Windows, Mac, iOS against Mac, iOS
- But Final Cut Pro leads on built-in stock media: Final Cut Pro yes, DaVinci Resolve no
- Free edition you can keep using: DaVinci Resolve yes, Final Cut Pro no
- Cheapest way to pay, monthly: $0 against $12.99
How they score
Both are scored the same way, against the other professional video editors we rate, from facts on each vendor's own pages. DaVinci Resolve leads on 3 of 5 criteria.
Where they differ
Every point where the two vendors' published facts disagree, with a link to where each fact was read. "Not published" means the vendor does not say either way.
Published by only one of them
Where they match (14)
Pricing, plan by plan
Every plan each vendor publishes, monthly and yearly where both are offered.
DaVinci Resolve
Final Cut Pro
Pros and cons
From each tool's full review, written from the same checked facts.
DaVinci Resolve
- 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.
- 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.
Final Cut Pro
- You can buy the Mac app outright for a one-time price instead of only subscribing.
- Camera raw footage is supported through ProRes RAW, which Final Cut Pro can also color correct directly.
- Magnetic Mask separates a subject from the background without a green screen or manual rotoscoping.
- Final Cut Pro for iPad is a free download, but its full features need the Apple Creator Studio subscription rather than a one-time purchase.
- There is no live shared-project collaboration between editors.
- Final Cut Pro does not run on Windows or Linux.
DaVinci Resolve vs Final Cut Pro: common questions
Which is better, DaVinci Resolve or Final Cut Pro?
DaVinci Resolve scores 9.3 and Final Cut Pro 7.2 out of 10 among the professional video editors we rate. DaVinci Resolve is ahead on aI in the editor, workflow and teams and pricing.
Is DaVinci Resolve or Final Cut Pro cheaper?
DaVinci Resolve's cheapest paid plan is Free and Final Cut Pro's is $12.99/mo (Apple Creator Studio bundle); $299.99 once for the Mac app. Compare what each plan includes below before going on price alone.
What can DaVinci Resolve do that Final Cut Pro cannot?
On the facts both vendors publish: edit the video by editing its transcript, several editors on one project, scripting or workflow API and free edition you can keep using.
What can Final Cut Pro do that DaVinci Resolve cannot?
On the facts both vendors publish: built-in stock media.
