DaVinci Resolve

Name: DaVinci Resolve
Rating: 9

by Blackmagic Design

Professional video editing, colour grading, and audio — free

Freemium (Freemium)MacWindowsLinux

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auto_awesomePixelfetch Take

DaVinci Resolve is the most generous free software in creative history. A full professional video editor, the best colour grading tools in any NLE, visual effects, motion graphics, and audio post-production — all free. The Studio version at $295 (one-time, forever) unlocks GPU acceleration and some advanced features, but the free version handles 90% of what hybrid photographers need. If you shoot any video at all, there is no reason not to have this installed. The learning curve is real, but the Fusion and Color pages are genuinely best-in-class.

Our Take

Pros

✓Free version is genuinely professional-grade — not a demo
✓Best colour grading tools in any NLE, period
✓All-in-one: edit, colour, VFX, audio in one application
✓Studio version is a one-time $295 purchase — no subscription ever
✓Available on Linux in addition to Mac and Windows

Cons

✗Steep learning curve — it's a complex professional application
✗Resource-heavy — needs a powerful machine with decent GPU
✗Fusion (VFX) page has a particularly tough learning curve
✗Free version limits some GPU acceleration and codec support

Verdict: The most generous free software in creative history. If you're a photographer moving into video, start here. The colour grading tools are unmatched, and you can't beat free. The Studio upgrade at $295 one-time is also the best value in paid NLE software.

Composite Score

9.0

App Store

4.2/5(800 reviews)

Capterra

4.7/5(320 reviews)

4.5/5(450 reviews)

How we calculate this score

The composite score is a weighted average of ratings from major review platforms, normalized to a 0-10 scale. Each platform rating (out of 5) is doubled to fit the scale. Manual overrides may be applied by the editorial team.