DaVinci Resolve vs Kdenlive
DaVinci Resolve scores 9.3 to Kdenlive's 6.1 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 6.1
DaVinci Resolve's free edition is the whole editor and never expires, and its Studio tier adds extras like Magic Mask as a one time purchase, no subscription. Kdenlive is free, open source software with no company behind it, and it lacks HDR export, camera raw import and a scripting API that DaVinci Resolve has. Kdenlive still masks a subject locally with its own Object Mask tool, and reaches you only through its community forum, while DaVinci Resolve also answers by email and phone.
Pick DaVinci Resolve if you need HDR export, camera raw import or a scripting API.
Pick Kdenlive if you want open source software with local AI masking.
Best for
Who each one suits, decided on the criteria that matter to that buyer and the checked facts where the two differ.
- HDR editing and export: DaVinci Resolve yes, Kdenlive no
- Camera raw video: DaVinci Resolve yes, Kdenlive no
- Third-party plugins: DaVinci Resolve yes, Kdenlive no
- Edit the video by editing its transcript: DaVinci Resolve yes, Kdenlive no
- One-click dialogue clean-up: DaVinci Resolve yes, Kdenlive no
- Reframes to vertical or square by itself: DaVinci Resolve yes, Kdenlive no
- Several editors on one project: DaVinci Resolve yes, Kdenlive no
- Scripting or workflow API: DaVinci Resolve yes, Kdenlive no
- Where it runs: Windows, Mac, iOS against Windows, Mac
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 4 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 (11)
Pricing, plan by plan
Every plan each vendor publishes, monthly and yearly where both are offered.
DaVinci Resolve
Kdenlive
For everything else about each tool, read the full DaVinci Resolve review and Kdenlive review.
DaVinci Resolve vs Kdenlive: common questions
Which is better, DaVinci Resolve or Kdenlive?
DaVinci Resolve scores 9.3 and Kdenlive 6.1 out of 10 among the professional video editors we rate. DaVinci Resolve is ahead on pro editing, aI in the editor, workflow and teams and privacy and support.
Is DaVinci Resolve or Kdenlive cheaper?
DaVinci Resolve's cheapest paid plan is Free and Kdenlive's is Free. Compare what each plan includes below before going on price alone.
What can DaVinci Resolve do that Kdenlive cannot?
On the facts both vendors publish: hDR editing and export, camera raw video, third-party plugins, edit the video by editing its transcript, one-click dialogue clean-up, reframes to vertical or square by itself, several editors on one project and scripting or workflow API.
