DaVinci Resolve
by Blackmagic Design
Professional video editing, colour grading, and audio — free
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.
At a glance
Strengths
- ✓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
Worth knowing
- •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
Best Reviews
Tutorials & Learning
In the news
7 Nov 2026 · Software News
DaVinci Resolve 21.2 Out Now: Gen 6 LUTs, 5x Faster on M5
via CineD
DaVinci Resolve 21.2 is out now, free for all users across macOS, Windows and Linux. The update adds Blackmagic Generation 6 Color Science LUTs and film looks, support for the Apple MacBook Pro PROLED XDR touch display, and Blackmagic claims up to 5x faster rendering on M5 Pro and M5 Max. Studio adds ResolveFX False Color for Gen 5 and Gen 6 color science.
9 Sept 2026 · Software News
DaVinci Resolve 21.1: HDR Trims, Python Moves to Studio
via CineD
DaVinci Resolve 21.1 is out now as a free update. Notable additions: per-format HDR trim passes for Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and HDR Vivid on the Color page; Fujifilm, Leica, and Sony camera support added to the Photo page; a reworked multicam and trim workflow on the Edit page; 20 new scripting API calls; and updated Blackmagic Cloud Presentations. Python scripting has been pulled from the free version and moved to Studio only. Runs on macOS 15 Sequoia (Apple Silicon), Windows 10/11, and Rocky Linux 8.6.
6 Aug 2026 · Software News
DaVinci Resolve 21.0.4 Adds Native Sony FX5 X-OCN Support
via CineD +1
DaVinci Resolve 21.0.4 is out now with native Sony FX5 X-OCN support covering all three internal recording flavours (LT, C1, C2), timed to coincide with the first FX5 units shipping. Also in the update: proxies can now relink across different formats, Affinity legacy files import directly into Resolve, and the Color page keeps the selected clip visible when clip filters change.
24 July 2026 · Software News
DaVinci Resolve 21.0.3: Keyframe Ease, Interlaced Fixes, BURANO Decode
via CineD
DaVinci Resolve 21.0.3 is out now as a free update. New additions include configurable keyframe ease actions, a legacy speed mode retime curve option, and a fix for decoding certain Sony BURANO X-OCN clips. Broadcast editors get several interlaced media fixes covering Inspector display, generator and transition durations, audio duration, and field dominance detection. Fusion picks up PSD import and bezier window fixes, and the scripting API gains project attribute listing, user preference presets, and UI layout preset access.
6 June 2026 · Software Review
DaVinci Resolve 21 Photo Editor: Beta Review
via The Phoblographer
DaVinci Resolve 21 is adding a dedicated photo editing tab, and The Phoblographer put the beta through its paces. Short version: the headline says it all.
4 June 2026 · Software News
DaVinci Resolve 21 Released With New Photo Page and More
via PetaPixel
DaVinci Resolve 21 is out now as a full release. The headline addition is a brand-new Photo page built for still-image editing, which puts Resolve directly into territory previously owned by Lightroom and Capture One. The update also brings expanded codec and camera format support, plus workflow improvements across the color, audio, and Fusion pages. Free for existing Studio licence holders; the free version is also updated.
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